All of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No, ma'am," and churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached.
Many of the Mormons I've met here are genuinely moral people who are trying to conform to the LDS' expectations. The fourth of July celebrations were today (the 5th) to allow for Sabbath-keeping on the 4th. Grandparents start "mission funds" so their grandchildren can travel for two years as evangelists after high school. Utah has the highest birth rate in the nation and the youngest average age of marriage. Cute little children are everywhere.
But the pressure to conform may be behind Utah's high suicide rate, and the mass of extra-biblical theology that drives their moral behavior covers up the gospel of grace.
For instance, marriage is required to be eligible for exaltation after death. Doing their best throughout their life on earth is believed to be required to reach higher attainments in the life to come.
From what I observe living among the LDS, they affirm what sounds like the Gospel of grace. But what they don't see is that it has been so covered over by man-centered duties (along with a fundamentally un-Christian view of God) that the true Gospel is in effect lost and, as Barnhouse suggests, they are a moral people without Christ.
4 comments:
How sad :(
'Donald Barnhouse could have been describing our quaint LDS community when he hinted at what a town could look like if Satan took it over,
All of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No, ma'am," and churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached.'
Fascinating.
False religion can serve Satanic plans as well as no religion, replaced by some other philosophy.
Well-done post.
Russ (Blogger next blog)
Forgive me for maybe commenting out of line, but I just happened to stumble across your blog while wasting a little time today.
I am a Latter Day Saint. I do not live in Utah, although I have. I truly hope you are not basing your comments about un-Christlike Mormons based solely on those you've been in contact with there.
We, as a "group" are not perfect. However, most of us try our hardest to center our lives around Christ. To treat each other in a Christ-like manner and strive daily to emulate Christ in our everyday lives. Jesus Christ is my saviour; I know that with every fiber of my being. He has blessed me and my family is ways I cannot even being to describe. My one single goal is to return to Him some day by living the way he would have me live and to raise my children the way He would want me to. That is the entire focus of my household. Love each other, love the Lord and serve those around us.
I do appreciate you acknowledging some positive attributes of the latter day saints you see there in Utah. But Russ, I have to disagree...we are NOT serving Satanic plans. Just the opposite.
Well wishes to you all-
Thanks for the comment Dave & Alyssa; I'm glad you took the time to write.
I applaud much of what the LDS stand for and much of their lifestyle, it's the official LDS doctrine regarding Christ and salvation that I find so dangerous.
If you'd like to discuss that more in private, please feel free to write me at timandkrisbailey [at] yahoo [dot] com
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