gdp's Comments

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 16:50:43 +0000

"No they worship some BS Messiah who was supposed from the Continental US." Another superlative without foundation? "10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers," (Alma 7). And before declaring that he was born in Bethlehem, which he was, and not "at Jerusalem" please remember that Alma was speaking of Jerusalem from across the world and referred to it as the "land of Jerusalem"; not the "city of Jerusalem". Likewise I grew up just outside of Chicago and so here in Houston I tell people I am from Chicago although strictly speaking I am not, at least from Chicago proper but note that I am deceiving noone, nor erring as to where I am from. So responding to people "I am from Chicago", which I am, is not the same as "I'm from the city of Chicago", which i am not. Furthermore, using the terminology "land of" is perfectly acceptable in both the Dead Sea Scrolls aswell as Near Eastern literature. Neither of which Joseph Smith was privy to.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 06:09:02 +0000

Actualy, I think I was simply foolish to have taken you seriously inte first place. From the BlackLDS link I previously provided you you can read: "Elijah Abel Requests Permission to Receive Endowments. Brigham Young denies the reqeust. Abel had already been through the Kirtland Temple for washings and anointings and he was already baptized for the dead in Nauvoo." Kirtland and Nauvoo would be in Joseph Smith's time. Unfortunatey for Abel, he was not allowed to receive his endowments by Brigham Young. Also, in 1902, Jane Manning received the sealing ordinance of the temple. The priesthood ban is a painful aspect for me n LDS history. I wish it never happened but it did. At least you can present it accuratly. That is, if you're interested in doing so.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 03:34:18 +0000

LOL. Claiming absolute knowledge is in and of itself the most unscientific conclusion one could make.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 02:15:17 +0000

No, anti-polygamy laws were not "on the books" in 1820. What laws are you referring to?

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 02:13:29 +0000

"I operate from empirical fact." Yeah, and to trust your emperical "fact" you don't have faith in your methodology? How about the interpretation of "emperical fact"? It's impossible to do anything without exercising at least a centilla of faith.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:43:47 +0000

"An official explanation doesn't exist because no black person ever set foot in an LDS temple prior to 1978. " Except for those who did under Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Sheesh, you're an expert on superlatives with no foundation. I bet you graduated with honors from Liberal High.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:42:13 +0000

"Joe Smith" was decades dead by the latter 1800s when that compromise was offered. Good grief, where do you get your information?

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:41:07 +0000

"Why do you think he came "out West? Because the authorities were after him "back East" " Over what? You cannot cite a single criminal conviction upon Joseph Smith. Governor Boggs of Missouri issued an Extermination Order upon the Mormons, and Governor Ford of Illinois promised Smith his ersonal protection and then left Smith and other in Carthage Jail with the mobs swarming around them. "Smith taught that "congress has no power to make a law that would abridge the rights of my religion," and that they were not under the obligation to follow laws they deemed as being contrary to their "religious privilege."Smith may have thus felt justified in promoting polygamy despite its violation of both traditional ethical standards and the criminal law. " What criminal law? There was no anti polygamy law that i know of until after the Mormons chose self-exile nd were in Utah.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:22:18 +0000

No, she wouldn't since he never dumped Emma Smith. Good grief, where do you people get your info?

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:17:16 +0000

There is always an element of faith in religion (and everything ese we do) but true religion has the confirmation of the Holy Spirit. Open your mind and heart to the Holy Spirit and let it guide and influence you.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 22:23:18 +0000

Pratt was only one of several peope I referred to and the only one besides Joseph Smith himself to have practiced polygamy.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 21:14:28 +0000

"specifically mentions Mo as one of “the great religious leaders of the world” who received “a portion of God’s light” " Historically-speaking, Mohammad was ne ofthe "greatest" religious leaders as the realigion he founded, like it or not, is one of the world's largest. And, yes, he did receive a "portion" of God's light. However, aspects of Mohammad which do not support Christianity are not considered by any LDS leader as inspired. For example: "14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world." (3 Nephi 11). Islam does not have any doctrine which comes close to declaring Jesus as the "God of Isreal" and of "the whole earth". Nor do they have anything which declares Jesus to be the Son of God such as: "7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him." (3 Nephi 11)

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 21:07:50 +0000

"The reasons behind it are too numerous to list here, but the most important reason was probably that the Lord decreed a restoration of all things from previous points in the Gospel." Exactly my view. "This is, in fact, the only time in recorded history in which all faithful men of the church are allowed to hold the priesthood." Excellent point.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 21:00:25 +0000

Find the links on your own. You can search the words of all people who knew him personally: Orson Pratt, his own family, Emma Smith, David Whitmer, etc. You need to step up the type of reading you do regarding Joseph Smith. You can find any "anti" site you wat about any historical figure. You no doubt visit the webstie, or check out the readings about the LDS faith and its leaders that are hung strung on showing them in an ill-favored manner. Start by reading the Book of Mormon and tell me it is not a poignant and powerful testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our Savior and great and eternal Redeemer.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 18:26:52 +0000

"ditto their restrictions against dark skinned people joining the LDS church" The priesthood ban is complex as there is no official reason given for it. I wish there were and we could dialogue from there but put plainly, an official explanation does not exist. I do highly recommend your reading http://www.blacklds.org/, specifically, a driect link to the timeline of blacks and the priesthood and the long-awaited revelation given to lift the ban: Timeline: http://www.blacklds.org/history Revelation: http://www.blacklds.org/declare2#thoughts "Only thing that is not funny is how sincerely Mittens believes this hogwash" Actually, the only thing not funny is the very high probability that you believe in the drivel posted.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 18:25:56 +0000

"We think it is odd, that plural marriage, the foundation of the religion, was tossed aside with nary a whimper "" "Whithout a whimper" canot be further from the truth. In fact, the LDS Church had to forbid plural marriage and then reissue a second statement reiforcing that ban. It also set out to nulligy existing plural marriages. Imagine you're in chare of nullifying marriages which were perfectly legal at the time.

Big Journalism : Why the Left-Wing Hates Mormons and How to Respond

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 18:24:01 +0000

"With their earnest belief in Magical underwear and a living, Male, Caucasian, 6'2" God who lives on the Planet Kolob" First off, the LDS scriptures do not say God "lives on" the planet Kolob, only that Koob is the panet which resides cosest to God. Second, you'll find no official doctrine whatsoever which describes God as "6'2"" or as "Caucasian. That God is revealed as "white" is as much more symbolic than physical. Also, God's appearance as white could hold scientific validity. The color white is merely the reflection of all colors. God, therefore, is the being which radiats all virtue; thus, perhaps, the whitesness before our eyes. This is mere speculation but far better than your own speculation speciously presented as some sort of "fact".

Big Peace : In Memoriam: Andrew Breitbart (1969-2012)

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 14:19:29 +0000

Wow, talk about unexpected misfortune! I'm still skeptical as to the autenticity of this report. I sure hope it isn't true. If so then may God be with Andrew and with his surviving loved ones.

Breitbart.tv : Obama Gaffes: Calls Chair Of Governors Association Wrong Name

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:10:42 +0000

This all shows what an utter waste of money giving all Americans the "right" to go to college would be.

Big Peace : U.S. Military Burned Bibles at Bagram in 2009

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:59:31 +0000

Huh? Burn Bibles = Ethical Burn Korans = Intolerable While I agree with rules not to proselytize in Afghanistan under civil circumstances, why in the world would we die for another country's freedom if that country does not tolerate the freedom we fight for? We now burn Bibles out of sensistivity but prosecute those who burn Korans out of the same sensitivity? Politicla correctness is clearly tyranny. My thinking is that if we go to liberate another country it will be done under our rules and our standards otherwise, don't send the troops in the first place. Sheesh!