Friday, December 14, 2007

Half Truths

Bluedogs.us (more specifically, Jon Garrido) is afraid of Mitt Romney. The top three articles on their website make personal attacks on his religion in an attempt to discredit his candidacy for President. You can read them for yourself here. I am publishing here an open letter in response to the mess of half-truths and baseless claims. I sent the letter to Jon, but got no response or acknowledgement.

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I have an issue with your attempts to "expose" Mormonism. It is undeniable that politicians attempt to garner support by telling people what they want to hear. But, it is also true that differing religious viewpoints can still find a common ground. The differences do not disappear when people work together. But, once the commonalities are established, you have a framework on which you can build harmony and understanding. What is inexcusable in your essay is the claim that "
From the beginning, Mormons have used half truths to evangelize the world". More accurately, critics such as yourself are listening to the half-truths told by non-Mormons than the things that Mormons are saying about themselves. The "other 'Mormon truths' that as of late have been exposed" have been around for 150 years.

You spend the majority of your essay delving into concepts that are not preached by the leaders and scholars in the church, due to the fact that they lie beyond the scope of what has been revealed, or is even relevant, in this mortal existence. The prophets, apostles, and other leaders of the LDS religion do not seek to reason out a hypothesis on how a man can become like God, exactly how Mary conceived her first child, or whether DNA evidence will substantiate the Book of Mormon. In the same manner, Mormon leaders do not attempt to debate over whether Job's persecutions truly happened, why the sinless Jesus had to be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness", or how the Red Sea could part to allow the people of Israel to cross on dry land. They don't seek for a historical record to confirm the plagues on Egypt, the divine creation, or the flooding during the time of Noah. These are accepted on faith, as substantiated in Holy Scripture. But, these generally accepted similarities with other Christian religions do not make the divisive and titillating argument you are seeking. In reality, your omission of the numerous similarities is a much greater half-truth than Governor Romney's omission of the differences. At least he acknowledged both sides of the argument.

Mormon leaders advise their adherents to avoid argument over religious matters, and follow to the advice in James 1:5 – "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally". Mormons share the foundation of Christianity: prayer, scripture study, repentance, forgiveness, and good works. The main difference is in the fact that they worship God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, as 2 separate Gods. Any person who joins a church simply because they believe Ancient Americans believed it first or to become like God is not going to endure for long in Christianity.

I can see from your website that you are a Democrat that opposes abortion, gay marriage, and gun control. Until today, I didn't know a group called "Blue Dogs" exists. If you told me you were Democrat, I would have believed you support what the leaders of the Democratic Party so firmly pronounce: unrestricted abortion, fully accepted Gay Marriage, and complete restrictions on guns and ammunitions. But, to your benefit, I have personally met and talked to rational people who happen to be registered Democrat. I would suggest you offer the same courtesy to Republicans and Mormons.

You are free to express your beliefs about a candidate for President. But, you have gone beyond that to state that each one of the 13 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is deluded, a liar, or both.