Religion
See other Religion Articles
Title: Mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremony
Source:
Yahoo News - Reuters
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mormons-quit- ... nation-ceremony-010739174.html
Published: Jul 1, 2012
Author: By Jennifer Dobner
Post Date: 2012-07-01 09:22:03 by SJN
Keywords: None
Views: 3728
Comments: 8
SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage. Participants from Utah, Arizona, Idaho and elsewhere gathered in a public park to sign a "Declaration of Independence from Mormonism." "This feels awesome," said Alison Lucas, from West Jordan, Utah, who took part in the rally amid soaring temperatures. "I don't know if I would have had the courage except in a group." The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known for its culture of obedience, and the mass ceremony was a seldom-seen act of collective revolt. After gathering in the park, participants hiked a half-mile up nearby Ensign Peak, scaled in 1847 by church President Brigham Young to survey the spot where his Latter-day Saints would build a city. At the top, those gathered gave three loud shouts of "Freedom," cheered, clapped and hugged. "It's been a hard journey and this is a symbolic end," said event organizer Zilpha Larsen, of Lehi, Utah. "I just hope that it boosts people up and helps them feel more comfortable in their decision." The church bills itself as the one "true" Christian faith, and its theology promises families eternal relationships among those who remain faithful, sealing those gifts through special religious rites. Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage and doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist. Others cite inconsistencies in the Mormons' explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy. The church renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood. Asked about the resignations, a church spokesman said the church loves and respects each member. "People make their own decisions about the direction they will follow in life," spokesman Michael Purdy said in an email. "While there are very few who take this action, it is sad to see someone choose to leave. We wish them well." The most recent figures show the Mormon church claims 14.4 million members worldwide. The number of those resigning from the church are not publicly reported. Among prominent Mormons is Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee facing off against President Barack Obama in November. Should he win office, Romney would be the first Mormon elected to the White House. 'WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL' Some leaving the church Saturday did so with trepidation, as Mormon culture often stigmatizes those who fall away, leaving some without social or business connections. "It's hard, so we have to be very careful," said Robin Hansen, a participant who said she quit over a "culture of abuse" which she believes is cultivated by church teachings promoting obedience. Hansen said her husband had not joined her in leaving the faith because he works in a church-related business and could lose his job if he doesn't maintain his membership. To resign from the church, Mormons must submit a formal letter asking their names be removed from church rolls, a church instructional handbook for lay leaders published on the Internet in 2010 shows. On Saturday, participants filled a basket with their letters for mailing by Larsen, who split with the church over doubts about the veracity of a translation of ancient Egyptian writings which are included in sacred Mormon texts. A sixth-generation Mormon, Kris Fielding, 35, traveled from Phoenix for the resignation event in part to represent those who do not yet have the courage to do so, he said, including his wife, who worries about reaction from their families. Married in a Mormon temple, Fielding said the couples shared disaffection from their faith is tied in part to their local church leader's response to questions Fielding had about polyandry and polygamy - taking multiple husbands and wives - in the early church. "I went to him looking for a faithful perspective. He called my wife and told her she needed to find a new husband," Fielding said. He said he felt relief after his decision. "The monkey's off the back ... I don't feel like I have to explain myself or the positions of the church anymore."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: SJN (#0)
Don't they all?
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
Of course, but there is a huge difference. The original organized Church started about 300 years after Christ was crucified. That church split in the Great Schism of 1054 into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church due to Catholics elevating the Bishop of Rome (now called the Pope) above the other church Bishops and changing the Filoque in the Nicene Creed. After the split, the Eastern Orthodox Church kept the traditional faith, while the Catholics had many innovations including purgatory, celibate Priests, etc. In 1517, Martin Luther challenged the teachings of the Catholic Church and created Lutheranism, which eventually become a larger Protestant community including Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, and countless others. In spite of their many differences, the Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants are true Christians who believe in the teachings of the New Testament. Mormons (and other Resorationists) are very different because they claim a new set of revelations that supplement the New Testament, e.g., Mormons have an entirely new book (like Muslims), Jehovah's Witnesses changed the New Testament to fit their views, etc... There is a traditional Christian faith. Here it is in a nutshell: Humans are born with sin. Jesus is the son of god. Jesus was both god and human (the Nestorians were kicked out of the early church for holding another view). Jesus died on the cross to pay of our sins. If you believe all of this, you will have eternal life. Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, and all of the various Protestant groups believe this (and argue about everything else!!!). Restorationist groups (and Muslims) have modified these views in various ways. So, they cannot be included in the true Christian community, just like Nestorians can't. Having said that, I know a whole bunch of Mormons. Almost every Moron I know is a salt of the earth, hard working, family-oriented person. They are great Americans, great co-workers, great neighbors, and great friends. The Mormon Church is absolutely doing something very right and good in building the character of the people in their community. America would be a much better place if other churches had such a positive, impactful influence on their members. Don't they all? LOL! I'm pretty sure that you are correct pete. In fact, don't MOST religions make that exact type of a claim? That their way is the only way? That their religion is the only "true" religion? LOL! Maybe there is something MORE than just "religion" at work here eh pete? LOL! I don't mean to be rude, it's just funny, beyond mere words; that FAITH is something a nonbeliever, (or anybody else for that matter), can never understand intellectually. It doesn't need to be so difficult. IMO you don't strictly NEED any specific CHRISTIAN religion between you and OUR LORD. ALL "religion" is just flawed men doing what flawed men do. HE doesn't exist so that religions can have power or money. HE IS.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
ALL "religion" is just flawed men doing what flawed men do. HE doesn't exist so that religions can have power or money. IF there is a God,I couldn't agree more. In fact,if anyone really and truly believes there is a God,there IS a God for that person. I just object when they all want to insist I agree with them,and then threaten me when I don't.
"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011 Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.
I can't think of anybody that would like being treated that way pete. I sure wouldn't.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
They each may declare it, but God is the determiner of people's hearts. Before these Christians go around inspecting other people, they should be inspecting their own hearts.....and comparing what is there to what scripture says should be there.
Actually, Jesus Christ began his church (outcalled ones) during his ministry. He established his church and said what it was all about. KJV: Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He didn't set up these various denominations or sects. Man did that. BTW, I, too, know a number of Mormons. In fact, my best friend here where I live is a Mormon. She is the salt of the earth. Wonderful gal. Exhibits those values Jesus told us to have.......and yes, she sins just like we all do. And like we all should do, she goes to him in prayer. What I like about her, and there is a lot more to like than this...whenever I ask something about her religion, she doesn't jump on some bandwagon and try to beat me over my head to get me to accept her beliefs. She will usually just drop off a booklet or book and mark for me or show me where to start reading about it. Would I ever become a Mormon? Nope! Are they going to heaven or hell? It is not my place to speculate on that--God knows their heart.
Talking about GOD, have you ever heard the story of the blind men and the elephant? There were a bunch of blind men on a road when they encountered an elephant. They were from a place where elephants were unknown to them. One man lean against the side of the elephant and said "an elephant is like a wall!" Another man felt the elephant's ears and said, "no, an elephant is like a palm tree!" One of the other men felt the elephant's trunk and exclaimed "you are both wrong! an elephant is like a SNAKE!" While another man, all the way aft, felt the elephant's tail and declared, "no an elephant is like a riding crop!" Which caused the last of their company who was hugging a front leg to exclaim, nope! An elephant is like a TREE! Then they got down to arguing about what the real nature of an elephant really was? Each man was convinced by his own direct KNOWLEDGE that HIS interpertation of what an elephant's true nature was correct. So they argued, and argued, and argued, and argued with each other for years still disputing the TRUE nature of an elephant. That's a bad retelling of a very famous Buddhist parable. Google it for a better telling.
Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms.
The church bills itself as the one "true" Christian faith,
#2. To: sneakypete (#1)
(Edited)
Don't they all?
The tyrannical, lunatic left in a nutshell: we must as a species go into a period of shrinkage that we have not experienced since the Dark Ages and the Black Plague -- lucysmom (A.K.A. minnigold)
#3. To: sneakypete, SJN (#1)
The church bills itself as the one "true" Christian faith,
#4. To: Mad Dog (#3)
IMO you don't strictly NEED any specific CHRISTIAN religion between you and OUR LORD.
#5. To: sneakypete (#4)
I just object when they all want to insist I agree with them,and then threaten me when I don't.
#6. To: sneakypete (#1)
#7. To: jwpegler (#2)
#8. To: rowdee, jwpegler (#7)
He (sic) didn't set up these various denominations or sects. Man did that.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]