Posted by:
schrodingerscat
(
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Date: March 21, 2023 11:22PM
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/03/17/gordon-monson-can-lds-church-fix/“Can we dump the proud narrative held among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having had the notion crammed down their — our — throats for decades, that they — we — are a “peculiar” people?
“Peculiar,” in a good way.
A lot of Latter-day Saints read into “peculiar” another word — “special,” maybe even “chosen,” which is to say, “favored by God.”
A lot of Americans read something else into the word “peculiar,” or the reputation that goes along with it. They read “weird” or “odd” or “strange.” Whatever the exact interpretive term is, it’s not a compliment.
You may have read in The Salt Lake Tribune that a recent Pew Research Center poll of more than 10,000 Americans found that neither Mormons nor Latter-day Saints, call them whatever you want, even if they’re all the same people, is seen in a favorable light.“
A lot of Americans read something else into the word “peculiar,” or the reputation that goes along with it. They read “weird” or “odd” or “strange.” Whatever the exact interpretive term is, it’s not a compliment.
You may have read in The Salt Lake Tribune that a recent Pew Research Center poll of more than 10,000 Americans found that neither Mormons nor Latter-day Saints, call them whatever you want, even if they’re all the same people, is seen in a favorable light.
If God supposedly favors you, but Jill and Joe Sixpack think you’re kooky, how’s that help to build the Kingdom of God on earth? Just wondering here.
Sure, some Latter-day Saint doctrines are different. They center on Christ, but some Christian churches disapprove of the focus of that centering. Some don’t like the belief that God the Father is a separate being from Jesus Christ the Son. They don’t approve of the idea that prophets and apostles have been restored to the earth and that those folks get ongoing revelation directly from God in guiding their church. And they might not think it’s too cool that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims itself to be the only true religion.
That’s all problematic, as is the worldwide missionary effort by the church that seeks to snatch converts away from other faiths, Christian and otherwise, declaring that the Latter-day Saint way is the better way.
Throw in historical mistakes such as racism, sexism, polygamy and the whole Proposition 8 debacle along with a general rejection, either perceived or actual, of LGBTQ individuals and, well, such matters send a message to humans near and far of severe judgment and exclusivity.
It’s fair to assume that Americans don’t like being judged and don’t like being excluded. They find that not just “peculiar” but objectionable.’
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‘Historical mistakes such as racism, sexism and polygamy…’?
Those were not ‘historical mistakes’ they were and are doctrinal. MORmON scriptures are irredeemably racist, sexist and abusive. I know a lot of ExMos are quick to defend the racist, sexist, abusive cult we were born into, unfortunately, by saying all scriptures are racist, sexist and abusive.
That’s nonsense.
No other scriptures I’ve ever seen say God cursed two entire races with dark skin for the sins of their Fathers. No other scriptures I’ve ever seen treat women like breed stock. MORmON scriptures do.
Monson lets Mormons off the hook, by saying they’re mostly good neighbors who just want to be good people. Good neighbors don’t sing the praises of a serial rapist, or pray to a cruel Gid who cursed two entire races with dark skin for the sins of their Fathers.