Enough is Enough................

The following was taken from this link:

http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/107785/I-May-Not-Be-Mormon%2C-But....%22Enough-Is-Enough%21%22..%2F%2FIn-Defense-Of-Truth

In Defense of Truth
A Candid Response to Anti-Mormon Criticism
Another Jewish Voice in Defense of Mormons « Two Sticks

Ever since the origin of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church members (Mormons) have experienced religious and physical persecution. Today's persecution comes from pseudointellectual attacks by "Christian scholars." Using media technology, they spread false claims about the LDS Church and its teachings to large audiences, in the same spirit and manner as anti-Semitic polemics of earlier times.

[Note: I am a democrat and will probably not vote for Mitt Romney (for purely political reasons), however, I have been appalled at the way he has been treated in media. I found Lawrence O’Connel’s recent rant on the McLaughlin group particularly outrageous. In any case, I have been pleased that a number of my fellow Jews have been writing in defense of Mitt and Mormonism and, as far as I know, none have been against him.]

In Iowa, at the end of Mitt Romney’s speech, he told a story from the early days of the First Continental Congress, whose members were meeting in Philadelphia in 1774: “With Boston occupied by British troops . . . and fears of an impending war . . . someone suggested they pray.” But because of the variety of religious denominations represented, there were objections. “Then Sam Adams rose and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.”

Were Adams alive today, he most certainly would hear a prayer from a Mormon. It is hard to imagine a group more patriotic than the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But there is reason to believe that voters in Iowa and elsewhere will not accept Mr. Romney’s invitation–put forward implicitly in his remarks at the George Bush Library–to ignore religious differences and embrace him simply as a man of character who loves his country.

Born Again Mormons...

Being "born again" is an area that the anti-Mormons like to center their attacks on, and it is very confusing as to why they do so. For Mormons, being born again is a highly desirable state to be in. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or affectionately known as the Mormons, being born again can not only relate and define the physical act of baptism by immersion, but it can also relate to a later spiritual experience as well. These two events don't necessarily take place at the same time, and often don't.

Quoting from the Book of Mormon, in Alma 5:14, we read: " And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

And quoting again from the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah 27:25-26 : " And the Lord said unto me: marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons, and daughters. And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."

The above quotes certainly show that the Mormons do believe in being born again, and contrary to what the anti-Mormons proclaim, Mormon theology is closer to their own idea of being born again than they suspect. To a Mormon, being born again, requires a full submission to God and complete trust and acceptance of Christ. I can see no difference in the born again Evangelical or the born again Mormon. Anti-Mormons who insist that Mormons don't believe in being born again are at best uninformed, and at worst, deceitful.

The only difference in the anti-Mormon born again Christian, and the Mormon born again Christian, is that the anti-Mormons go around proclaiming in a loud voice that they are born again. How much is this like the Pharisee's of Jesus' time? Mormons show that they are born again Christians by example, by living their lives as Christ set the example on how to live- with kindness, goodness, and charity.

Next - anti-Mormons and Christ. IMHO