I am starting this thread to offer information to you. Clint mentioned on another post that I was setting up that straw man and knocking him down in reference to my comments about the Tanners, Ed Decker, James White et al. (correct me if I am wrong Clint)
Now folks, what I am really trying to say is that I believe many of you have obtained bad information. There are many Christian Ministry sites that try and offer you some SHOCKING" new information about Mormons that supposedly is known know to the communities in general. In fact, here are a few of the websites that some of you may (or may not) have been pulling from that contain these "Shocking " comments from Christian Ministries.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-11,GGLD:en&q=What+Mormons+wont+tell+you&sp ell=1
http://www.freedomintruthoutreach.com/facts.shtml
http://www.contenderministries.org/mormonism/missionaries.php
http://www.answers.net.nz/Other/Morm.htm
Please all, these claims are not only redundant, but ridiculous. They are quotes that have all come from one source that I mentioned earlier (The Godmakers by Ed Decker). These arguments are old and worn out. They have been disproved and do not have the "shock" value that one might think they do. Ed Decker has promulgated this stuff for over 20 years, taking it to all kinds of Evangelical ministries all over the country. I find it interesting that so many Evangelical Ministeries quote is as if it were their own and don"t even give Decker his "credit." (Although the credit is completely non-credible!)
If you really want the answers to these questions, Start here: http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/tagm/
Better yet, buy a copy of Gilberts book at: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Book+The+truth+about+the+God+makers& hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-11,GGLD:en&sa=N&tab=ff&oi=froogler
Compare this with all the stuff you are reading from Web sites. Do an honest study of it. More importantly, pray about it. Not that you need to be converted, but just that you will have better, more honest information. I"ll guarantee that you come away with at least half the stuff you have been told about Mormons or our beliefs is untrue. Honestly you"ll see that this is the genesis of most of your information!
Read what other Christians and Jews had to say about the stuff you are being fed and web sites or from the uninformed.
Complete Report from The Nationational Conference of Christians and Jews
An Advisory Report to the Religious Executives of Arizona
Background
For more than three years, an organization known as "Concerned Christians, Inc." of Mesa, Arizona has conducte programs in the Valley area (and into neighboring states) which have two purposes:
1. "exposing and bringing to full knowledge the real doctrines of false prophets and teachers of the Mormon Church"
2. "service to the Christian community by keeping them informed, equipping them. . . that they may be effective witnesses"
(Quotations from information brochure published by Concerned Christians, Inc.)
Much of the activity of Concerned Christians, Inc. has been in the form of presentations in churches aften accompanied by the showing of a 59 minute, color film titled,
The Godmakers. The group has also sponsored meetings in rented public halls for lectures and showing of the film.
Public awareness of a developing controversy became wide-spread following the publication of a feature article (about a March 8, 1983 showing of the film) which appeared in the Mesa
Tribune. Shortly thereafter, a delegation of sixteen Mesa citizens asked the Arizona Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews to investigate and to assist in any way possible. An ad hoc study committee was appointed, composed of representatives of several faiths (including both laity and clergy). Since mid-summer 1983, it has met numerous times, viewed the film in question, interviewed Concerned Christians leaders on three occasions, listened to Dr. Truman Madsen, holder of the Richard L. Evans Chair for Christian Understanding at Brigham Young University, and ultimately presented its information to the full Arizona NCCJ Board for a decision at the March 2, 1984 board meeting.
NCCJ REAFFIRMS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The National Conference of Christians and Jews reaffirms its allegiance to the First Amendment of the Constitution and our American tradition of religious freedom in both faith and practice. At the same time, we strongly urge responsible use of that freedom. It must be exercised with self-restraint, fairness, good judgement and in a spirit of tolerance for the convictions of others.
The NCCJ does not seek -- nor has it ever sought -- to censor, restrict or limit the activities of any religious group. Neither do we take a judgemental position with regard to the theology or doctrines of any religious body.
We do, however, recognize that in a complex, religiously pluralistic society such as we live in today, a great variety of sincerely held beliefs guide the individual and collective consciences of the American people. Each is deserving of our mutual respect and forbearance.
Thus, we are concerned lest continuing religious controversy unfavorably affect the peace, harmony and tranquility of our Valley communities. Prolonged divisiveness based on religious differences can be detrimental to the business, social, political, educational and even the personal lives of the citizenry. We would not like that to happen to us.
PROSELYTIZING ACTIVITIES
The NCCJ accepts without reservation the legal right of any religious group to engage in proselytizing activities. We have little quarrel with the kind of low-key, highly personalized proselytizing programs engaged in daily by numerous religious groups. In fact, we note that wherever such activities are prohibited by governments, tyranny results and a free society is lost. We would not wish to live in a nation which imposes sanctions on religiouis activity of any kind.
We do question, however, those types of proselytizing activities which utilize fraud or deception, e.g., numerous instances have been reported to us of persons posing as Jews, in order to gain entree in order to seek the conversion of Jews to Christianity. We deplore such tactics.
Neither do we believe that it serves the best interest of community good will for any group to attack the central faith, beliefs, doctrines, or validity of any other religious group. Religious belief is of vital importance to many Americans. It must be recognized that very deep feelings and emotions are stirred when the most important concepts, traditions, personalities and institutions of any religious group are alleged to be based on falsehood. Such frontal assualts promote community divisions and cause persons to be deeply hurt.
We recognize as a positive value the right of any religious group to assert their belief in the absolute truth of their own religious beliefs and practices. However, this basic right also suggests the necessity for tolerance toward others who may hold similar views about their own particular beliefs and customs.
THE GODMAKERS FILM
Because showing of The Godmakers is an integral part of the program of the Concerned Christians group, we offer these opinions based on our viewing of the film, research and reflection.
The film does not - in our opinion - fairly portray the Mormon Church, Mormon history, or Mormon belief. It makes extensive use of "half-truth", faulty generalizations, erroneous interpretations, and sensationalism. It is not reflective of the genuine spirit of the Mormon faith.
We find particularly offensive the emphasis in the film that Mormonism is some sort of subversive plot - a danger to the community, a threat to the institution of marriage, and is destructive to the mental health of teenagers. All of our experience with our Mormon neighbors provides eloquent refutation of these charges.
We are of the opinion that The Godmakers relies heavily on appeals to fear, prejudice and other less worthy human emotions. We believe that continued use of this film poses geniune danger to the climate of good will and harmony which currently exists between Valley neighbors of differing faiths.
It appears to us to be a basically unfair and untruthful presentation of what Mormons really believe and practice.
NCCJ'S POSITION
The National Conference of Christians and Jews has no power to coerce Concerned Chritians or any other group into any course of action, nor do we seek it. All that we can do is to appeal to the Concerned Christian group to reevaluate their goals, methods, priorities and activities. We would like to persuade them to voluntarily monitor their own programs seeking to minimize any which threaten our climate of interreligious harmony and good will. We ask them as responsible community citizens to eliminate those which have or may prove to be divisive.
By and large, Valley residents do not share the views of our Mormon neighbors espoused by
The Godmakers. We believe that most fair-minded people who would happen to view this film would be appalled by it, because their attitudes have been previously formed through many day-to-day experiences with Mormons which demonstrate that they are good friends, neighbors and fellow citizens.
There are, unfortunately, some who lack adequate knowledge about the Mormon faith, who may unwarily be misled by this film. We recommend to all persons that they utilize every opportunity for face-to-face dialogue with their neighbors in an atmosphere of mutual respect. This will help to provide authentic, firsthand information about the faith of our fellow citizens. Dialogue will offer a palliative for controversy and a positive basis for continuing understanding, good will and friendship.
May all our people enjoy fully their constitutional right to practice their faith, guided by conscience, free from stress or harrassment from others.
The Arizona Regional Board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews
Thanks for the consideration God Bless.
Porter.
What Mormons Won't Tell You!
