Local Congregation Hosting Former/Apostate Bishop

[blooit]

It must be quite the event. They are talking about it even on Cougarboard.com. I guess they made a big show of inviting "all your mormon friends".

That's me

[why me]

We predicted the tone of it and the content of it too. It is unfortunate that the former bishop mocked the lds church and its current leaders. I don't think that this could happen in a lds ward fireside. At least I hope not. No mention of the mormon god? I am surprised if the former mormon bishop did not say that phrase.

[why me]

The one other thought that I really left with was this: the claims made by my faith are significant enough on their own. Living prophets, modern revelation, polygamy, temples, exaltation, etc. So if these differences are enough, why do other faiths often feel the need to caricaturize the church, and even out-and-out deceive? To me, as a latter day saint, the answer seems clear. If our outlandish claims are false, they would be sufficient. If they are true, then they must be blurred through mischaracerizations and deception, or their truthfulness will become apparent.

I plan on writing a very nice, respectful letter to Pastor Rick, and sharing my feelings with him. I hope that maybe he will hear me out, or even come over for dinner. I plan on serving green jello and funeral potatoes.

The lds lifestyle can also be backed up by scripture. This can be seen when one reads the bible and hears what the early apostles were saying.I also think that there can another source for the mocking and bashing because the attacks can be quite harsh. However, the former bishop knew what he was doing and repeated much from what he read on the internet, discarding what the church may say or church apologists. Good luck with the letter.

[blooit]

One of my favorite statements (by Pastor Rick actually):

"If Mormons read the Bible, but we know they don't..."

(Mormons read the Bible more than almost any other church - http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/54-protestants-catholics-and-mormons-reflect-diverse-levels-of-religious-activity)

[kolipoki09]

I plan on writing a very nice, respectful letter to Pastor Rick, and sharing my feelings with him. I hope that maybe he will hear me out, or even come over for dinner. I plan on serving green jello and funeral potatoes.

If you ever want to have a

, I'm a mean charcoal griller. Todd Wood, the pastor at Berean Baptist on the northeast end of town is a very good man and takes interest in these kinds of things as well.

Earl Erskine is the former Bishop's name by the way. Mocking the Church and its leaders may be one of the reasons why his relationship with his daughter-in-law quickly deteriorated. I'm open to honest, intellectual, and respectful critiques of certain practices in the Church, but when things I hold sacred are openly mocked, I can't help but turn the other cheek and close the door.

Not long ago I had a Bishopric member whose teenage daughter essentially left the Church and began attending Calvary Chapel with her friends. For culturally LDS kids who don't necessarily feel "at home" among their active LDS counterparts, Calvary Chapel provides a friendly haven. In my opinion, Calvary Chapel's Youth Ministry is the most influential segment of their entire congregation.

I know that Shawn McCraney is affiliated with Calvary Chapel, and received his ministerial training from Chuck Smith. It may be the case that Erskine has affiliated with the Calvary Chapel movement after years of listening to Shawn, and may have been introduced to Rick's Idaho Falls congregation that way.

[blooit]

Todd Wood is a personal friend, and I use him as an example of what a Christian pastor should be. He attended a FAIR conference a while back and met Daniel C. Peterson. Several of my friends who have left Calvary have moved over to Pastor Todd's at Berean. So glad to know someone else recognizes what a stud he is.

[kolipoki09]

Todd Wood is a personal friend, and I use him as an example of what a Christian pastor should be. He attended a FAIR conference a while back and met Daniel C. Peterson. Several of my friends who have left Calvary have moved over to Pastor Todd's at Berean. So glad to know someone else recognizes what a stud he is.

Last fall as part of a BYU-Idaho committee organizing a forum for Robert Millet, I was asked to find as many local pastors as I could, get their addresses if available, and draft a formal invitation on behalf of the university to come and hear him speak. The plan was scrapped at the last minute out of fear that we would overlook one or two pastors, who might in turn feel left out. Even then, I regret that I didn't contact Todd and extend a personal invitation. He, probably more than anyone else, would have enjoyed Brother Millet's comments on the King James Bible. MP3 version here. I know that he enjoyed the KJV exhibit in the Special Collections at the McKay Library. In my opinion, BYU-Idaho may very well have missed an opportunity to forge a better relationship with the community. But I digress.

Thanks for the update and info Blooit.

[why me]

One of my favorite statements (by Pastor Rick actually)

"If Mormons read the Bible, but we know they don't..."

(Mormons read the Bible more than almost any other church - http://www.barna.org...igious-activity)

He wasn't being literal but figurative. He meant that mormons may read the bible, but they don't understand it because if they did, they would know that they don't worship the one true god.

[Scott Lloyd]

He wasn't being literal but figurative. He meant that mormons may read the bible, but they don't understand it because if they did, they would know that they don't worship the one true god.

Looks like classic double-speak to me. Saying somebody doesn't read the Bible because they don't agree with someone's interpretation of it is blatantly dishonest.

[Jaybear]

Looks like classic double-speak to me. Saying somebody doesn't read the Bible because they don't agree with someone's interpretation of it is blatantly dishonest.

Technically, it an example of drawing an unwarranted conclusion.

Its like saying people leave the mormon chuch because they want to sin.

He assumes his interpretion is the only reasonable interpretation, ergo, Mormons must not have read the bible.

Mormons assume the LDS Church is the "true church" ergo anyone who leaves must not be capable of meeting the required standard.

No need for you to go right to the liar card. The statement only become blatently dishonest, if he know that its wrong.

[Storm Rider]

Looks like classic double-speak to me. Saying somebody doesn't read the Bible because they don't agree with someone's interpretation of it is blatantly dishonest.

Maybe not dishonest, but it is beyond stupid. The take-away is this fellow has all the mental ability of an ant. Let him rest in his ignorance.

[why me]

Technically, it an example of drawing an unwarranted conclusion.

Its like saying people leave the mormon chuch because they want to sin.

Some do leave because they are sinning. However, they usually don't leave but go inactive. But there are many other reasons why people leave or go inactive. But sinning is one of them. But what the pastor said was blatantly false whether in its literal meaning or figurative meaning. And this is why your comparison is unworkable.

Edited April 17, 2012 by why me

[gmormon]

.... And this is why your compassion is unworkable.

How dare you contribute "compassion" to ****, (to protest I mean protect the innocent,) efforts to belittle the church..

[why me]

How dare you contribute "compassion" to ****, (to protest I mean protect the innocent,) efforts to belittle the church..

Ooops..I meant comparison and not compassion.

[why me]

How dare you contribute "compassion" to ****, (to protest I mean protect the innocent,) efforts to belittle the church..

I just changed it to comparison. Thanks for pointing this out. I typed too fast or it was late at night. But that makes much more sense when one reads jaybear's post.

[selek1]

I just changed it to comparison. Thanks for pointing this out. I typed too fast or it was late at night. But that makes much more sense when one reads jaybear's post.

Ironically, when I read it yesterday, I read "comparison", rather than "compassion".

Apparently, the human mind has a tendency (particularly when speed-reading) to read the first and last letters and fill in the rest from context.

Either I've gotta slow down or get my prescription checked!

[Antoni]

I think it is a peculiar nature of Evangelicals to hold these types of meetings etc. (I speak as a former Evangelical )

I remember growing up hearing talks like this about, LDS, JW's, Freemasons, Christian Science, Catholics, Christadelphians, ad nauseum!

Looking back it is ridiculous, I'm reminded of the analogy that a person trained in counterfeiting rather than spending time looking at fake notes, spends there time getting to know a REAL note so that should a fraud ever come their way they can instantly recognise it. All this focusing on other beliefs and name calling/pointing finger actually harms and weakens them in the long run. It's reassuring to younger people to know they are "right", but my experience is, that as you go through life you realise it's a bigger world (and a bigger God) out there. These types of events help close-minded people keep their minds closed, rahter than acutally having to engage it.

Dialogue is a good thing, as usually both parties can learn something then, alas this appears to not be route this church is going down.