Mormon apologists describe LDS church as "bigoted"

[_Buffalo]

Of course, they didn't mean to. But in the FAIR-backed Mormon Voices "Top Ten Anti-Mormon Statements in 2011", they identify 10 statements about Mormons that they consider to be bigoted. Number 10:

10. “The Christian coalition, I think [another candidate] could get a lot of money from that, because Romney, obviously, not being a Christian…” Ainsley Earhart, Fox and Friends, July 17, 2011.

Their explanation:

10. Again, Mormons are Christian.

“Mormon” is a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are Christians in every sense of the word.

We believe in Jesus Christ.

We follow Jesus Christ.

We believe Jesus is divine the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father.

We believe Jesus is our personal Lord and Savior.

It is only through Him we are saved to return to our Heavenly Father.

We are saved through his Grace.

He is God the Son.

To say that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are non-Christian, is not only wrong, it is offensive.

The fundamental belief of Mormons, the reason we exist as a denomination, is that we believe that Jesus Christ established a church in his time that was changed over time. We believe we are a re-establishment of that original Christian Church.

One can say we are not Protestants. One can say we are not Nicene creedal trinitarians. But, one can not say we are not Christian.

Now, here's the church's official approach to competing Mormon denominations:

http://newsroom.LDS.org/style-guide

When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, the terms "Mormons," "Mormon fundamentalist," "Mormon dissidents," etc. are incorrect. The Associated Press Stylebook notes: "The term Mormon is not properly applied to the other ... churches that resulted from the split after [Joseph] Smith's death."

If it's bigotry to say that Mormons aren't Christians even though they self-identify as such (nowadays), it's equally bigoted to say that groups like the FLDS aren't Mormons.

http://principlevoices.org/our-library/ ... rch-claims

The Principle Voices Coalition has learned that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sent a letter to media outlets asking that the term “fundamentalist Mormon” not be used. In the recent past, the Church has insisted that we instead be defined as “polygamous sects”, even though most of us are not (and do not refer to ourselves as) polygamists.

We strenuously object to any efforts to deprive us and others of the freedom to name and describe ourselves by terms of our own choosing. Fundamentalist Mormons have been referred to by that name since the 1930s, often by the Church itself. We are proud of our Mormon heritage. Plural marriage is only one of the tenets of our religion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through Joseph Smith.

Ironically, the LDS Church has been justifiably uncomfortable with repeated assertions by members of some Christian denominations that Latter-day Saints are not Christians. In many ways, we consider ourselves to be adherents to Mormonism (and Christianity) no less than were Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor. What distinguishes us from the modern, mainstream Church is that we have endeavored to observe the original, fundamental precepts of the restored Gospel, while the Church itself has, since the early 1900s, repudiated several of them.

Thanks to John Larsen for pointing this out in the recent Mormon Expression podcast.

[_Drifting]

*Left Hand* 'Pleased to meet you'
*Right Hand* 'Likewise'

[_ldsfaqs]

You are in ERROR as usual.....

LDS would be bigoted if we were claiming that other Mormons were NOT "Christian".....

Further, the LDS are only "quoting" the Associated Press StyleBook..... "We" are not claiming that other Mormons aren't a "type" of Mormon. We only indicate what has been designated as the appropriate writing style.

As usual, the anti-mormon bears false witness, pretending he's smart and "got us" on something.
John Larsen and his useful idiots like in this thread are wrong as usual.

[_Buffalo]

You are in ERROR as usual.....

LDS would be bigoted if we were claiming that other Mormons were NOT "Christian".....

Further, the LDS are only "quoting" the Associated Press StyleBook..... "We" are not claiming that other Mormons aren't a "type" of Mormon. We only indicate what has been designated as the appropriate writing style.

As usual, the anti-mormon bears false witness, pretending he's smart and "got us" on something.
John Larsen and his useful idiots like in this thread are wrong as usual.

As usual, you don't understand what you're reading. These are the conditions they try to dictate to the press - only the Brighamite church gets to be called Mormon. Just like evangelicals try to say that Mormons aren't Christian. Either both are bigoted or neither are. Your choice. :)

[Guest]

You are in ERROR as usual.....

LDS would be bigoted if we were claiming that other Mormons were NOT "Christian".....

Ummm....no.

To put is simply, LDS are to mainstream Christianity as FLDS are to LDS.

Which is to say, mainstream Christians don't want LDS called "Christian" for the same reason LDS don't want FLDS to be called "Mormon". It's not about "doctrine", it's all about protecting the brand.

[_Hoops]

Which is to say, mainstream Christians don't want LDS called "Christian" for the same reason LDS don't want FLDS to be called "Mormon". It's all about protecting the brand.

Or Truth.

But whatever.

[_cinepro]

Which is to say, mainstream Christians don't want LDS called "Christian" for the same reason LDS don't want FLDS to be called "Mormon". It's all about protecting the brand.

Or Truth.

But whatever.

If it were about "truth", LDS Church leaders would acknowledge how closely the doctrines of the FLDS are related to our own. And they would publicly speak to them as close relatives, brothers and sisters in our belief in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

You can also compare the attitude of LDS towards FLDS and the Community of Christ (i.e. RLDS). We fear the FLDS more because they are far closer to us both doctrinally and geographically. On my mission, we visited an RLDS service and it was just similar enough to be humorous but not threatening. But when I see video footage of FLDS and the way they worship and express their beliefs, it makes me uncomfortable. It's too close.

[_maklelan]

Thanks to John Larsen for pointing this out in the recent Mormon Expression podcast.

I agree that it is inappropriate for the LDS Church to insist on the exclusive use of the term "Mormon," although "Mormon" and "Christian" are at opposite ends of the spectrum of broadness.

[_ldsfaqs]

Thanks to John Larsen for pointing this out in the recent Mormon Expression podcast.

I agree that it is inappropriate for the LDS Church to insist on the exclusive use of the term "Mormon," although "Mormon" and "Christian" are at opposite ends of the spectrum of broadness.

That is correct..... Mormon is equivalent to the "sect" designation.

Further, every single person in this thread STILL ignores the fact of what the LDS Church actually said, thus misrepresenting the Church.
It wasn't the Church saying it....

The Church didn't create the "Associated Press Stylebook"..... The Church simply asked that reporters follow the rules. Simple. Yet, the anti's pervert the facts and try to claim the Church was being "bigoted".

And you all still really believe you don't use a little truth to lie??? You just did it again!!!

[_moksha]

I think one indicator of Mormon tolerance is that hardly any Mormons go on websites to denounce other religions.