(Transcribed by Gecko the words of my wife, Streisand, who is in Honolulu Pro Bowl with Hawaii Special Olympics)
In addition to fabrication, the Protestant and Catholic reject the Mormon through distortion. They distort known LDS doctrines then criticize their distortions as if ours. They distort our dialogue and then criticize their distortions. There is nothing innocent about it, it being one of their primary strategies
Just this week in a brief exchange with Thomisticguy, I remarked in his lament of so little effort made by Protestants in strengthening the faith of the masses of weak membership and the finding of fresh members.
I wrote, “Imagine requiring your patrons to really change in order to return. Imagine expecting them to run the programs of the Church. Sacrificing for one's faith where it is a true principle brings God's confirming blessings.”
The Mormons do not have paid preachers or other integral positions filled by those who receive financial compensation. My point being, imagine a church filled with people so converted that they did ALL the work as the Lord ordered it to be done, charitably! Remember the Apostles of Jesus Christ while you think about that.
But I wrote it to no avail. Thomisticguy quickly stated, “To my knowledge, no denomination of orthodox Christianity has ever required the unconverted to “really change in order to return” to its public services. This, I believe, would be a violation of the spirit of Christ who was a “friend of sinners” and came to “seek and save the lost.” The church rightly requires that those who are converted demonstrate a change in behavior from sin to righteousness. Yet, even this is understood to be a life process of growth in God’s grace. On the other hand, LDS doctrine is grounded in a man-centered form of religious ethical behavior, so, it makes sense that people must “change in order to return” to an LDS church.”
The Mormons through Thomisticguy’s wild distortion commit a “violation of the spirit of Christ…to (have members) change in order to attend church”. He continues in his condemnation of his own distortion with, “LDS doctrine is grounded in a man-centered form of religious ethical behavior, so, it makes sense that people must ‘change in order to return’ to an LDS church.” Real smooth to grossly distort in order to justify the complete fabrication of our church now being uniquely “man-centered”.
Well, for the investigator, all are welcomed at our church services. Our own excommunicated are welcomed at our church services. We deny nobody access to our church services. The opposite view as stated by Thomisticguy is a FABRICATION. As for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints being “man-centered”, you better believe it. As was the case with the Church Christ established and the Priesthood stretching back several millennia prior to him, it too was “man-centered”. Read your Bible, please. Condemn us and you must condemn the Apostles and all the old testament prophets with them.
Womens organizations within the Mormon Church are decidedly "Women Centered" throughout. This worldwide organization is called the Relief Society and is the largest womens service organization in the world, I am told. Perhaps that is only the free world where we know little about the other world.
The fact remains, fabrications and distortions make for an impossible give and take with anti-Mormons.
Why the fabrications? Why the distortions? If what you have invites more members than it loses, why resort to such tactics? If what you have as a denomination loses more members than it gains, does that explain these tactical strategies?
"And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
"For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you."
