LDS Baptism Interview Questions, Pt I

[_sock puppet]

I understand that the current LDS baptism interview involves certain questions that I find to be either unique or open to interpretation. This series of posts addresses, serially, these questions.

Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?

Implicit here is the Great Apostasy. So "the Church" is still teaching that all other Christian religions had apostatized from the 'true church' and a restoration was necessary. Most Americans will love to embrace "President" Romney, a man who believes most are marching to the wrong drum beat. Very inclusive, very tolerant.

What does it mean that TSM is a prophet of god? Through this oracle, what has god told him? What does it mean to be a prophet of god if god has nothing to say through that prophet? Is it now just a prefunctory position, merely a title?

Maybe the baptism interview ought to really press the baptism candidate to the wall--name three prophecies that god imparted through the Presidents of "the Church" in the last 20 years? (Oops, there'd be no baptisms then, would there?)

[_Buffalo]

Prophet is a euphemism for "doddering disseminator of banal Hallmarkisms."

[_bcspace]

Implicit here is the Great Apostasy. So "the Church" is still teaching that all other Christian religions had apostatized from the 'true church' and a restoration was necessary. Most Americans will love to embrace "President" Romney, a man who believes most are marching to the wrong drum beat. Very inclusive, very tolerant.

Indeed it is. We don't believe others are inferior or incapable simply because of their beliefs.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
AoF 1:11

[_harmony]

What does it mean to be a prophet of god if god has nothing to say through that prophet?

Maybe God doesn't give instruction to prophets who aren't listening or who directly disobey God's instructions?

[_Drifting]

Implicit here is the Great Apostasy. So "the Church" is still teaching that all other Christian religions had apostatized from the 'true church' and a restoration was necessary. Most Americans will love to embrace "President" Romney, a man who believes most are marching to the wrong drum beat. Very inclusive, very tolerant.

Indeed it is. We don't believe others are inferior or incapable simply because of their beliefs.

No, but you do if they have skin of blackness or boobs.

[_SteelHead]

No one else has ever sat through a fast and testimony meeting whose timbre was more akin to rameumptom via the smugness of belonging to the only true church on the face of the earth from the elevated stand where only one can enter?

[_Infymus]

Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?

This has to be changed because in the media, they are no longer publishing this very damaging PR piece.

Who else is a prophet of God? Oh yeah, Warren Jeffs - that polygamous guy that is in prison right now.

No, TSM is now the "President", no longer a "Prophet". They no longer testify of Jesus Christ, they testify of the NAME of Jesus Christ.

Again, more Mormon doctrine that can't be pinned down.

I love this, these clowns at the COB have got to be bleeding members. And with the huge influx of people coming through the recovery boards these years, I'm sure of it. People I've reconnected to on Facebook - who were as staunch TBM as you could get 15-20 years ago - have now either left or are just plain sick of it.

[_Buffalo]

For a long time after the death of Joseph Smith, Joseph was "the Prophet" and the current leader was just "the President." They need to return to that. The current leadership display the same level of prophetic activity as any corporate board of directors.