A Mormon definition of Charity.....

Charity is a subject that we, as Christians, don't ponder nearly enough.When one looks at the definition of charity, either from the Bible or the Book of Mormon, we see that charity is greater than faith or hope. We can give all of our money to the poor, but if we don't have charity, we are nothing. And we can have the gift of prophecy; understand all mysteries; have all knowledge; have all faith; and we can literally move mountains, but if we don't have charity, we are nothing, according to the Bible.

Some of the characteristics of charity that we need to be aware of daily in our own lives are:

1. it suffers long
2. is kind
3. does not envy
4. is not puffed up
5. is not easily provoked
6. thinks no evil
7. rejoices in the truth
8. beareth all things
9. endureth all things
10. believes and hopes in all things.

The bottom line definition of Charity is that it is the Pure Love of Christ. Ponder this definition, pray about it, and you will come to a better understanding of the pure love of Christ and charity. IMHO


One of American Heritage dictionary's definition of Charity:

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This char·i·ty (chār'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. char·i·ties

1. often Charity Christianity The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one's neighbors as objects of God's love.

The Bible's definition of Charity:

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13:8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1 Corinthians 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

The Book of Mormon's definition of Charity:

Moroni 7

[45] And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
[46] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail --
[47] But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

The Resurrection Is Not a Fable

Each of us will have our own Fridays--those days when the

universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered
about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems
we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.


"But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered
death--Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday
will come.

"No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday
will come. In this life or in the next, Sunday will come.

"I testify to you that the Resurrection is not a fable. We have the personal
testimonies of those who saw Him. Thousands in the Old and New Worlds
witnessed the risen Savior. They felt the wounds in His hands, feet, and
side. They shed tears of unrestrained joy as they embraced Him."


(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 30)

Witnesses of the Resurrection Boldly Proclaimed It

"After the Resurrection, the disciples became renewed. They traveled
throughout the world proclaiming the glorious news of the gospel.

"Had they chosen, they could have disappeared and returned to
their former lives and occupations. In time, their association with Him
would have been forgotten.

"They could have denied the divinity of Christ. Yet they did not. In the face of danger, ridicule, and threat of death, they entered palaces, temples, and synagogues boldly proclaiming
Jesus the Christ, the resurrected Son of the living God.

"Many of them offered as a final testimony their own precious lives. They died as
martyrs, the testimony of the risen Christ on their lips as they perished.

"The Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it.
Should it not transform ours? We will all rise from the grave. . . .

"Because of the life and eternal sacrifice of the Savior of the
world, we will be reunited with those we have cherished.

"On that day we will know the love of our Heavenly Father. On that day we will
rejoice that the Messiah overcame all that we could live forever."


(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 30)

Mockers...

Job 21:3
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

Jude 1:18
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jude 1:17-19 (in Context) Jude 1 (Whole Chapter)

Mat 20:19
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again. ( Even Christ was mocked)

Job 11:3
Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Job 11:2-4 (in Context) Job 11 (Whole Chapter)

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
2 Chronicles 36:15-17 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 36 (Whole Chapter)

Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:6-8 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter)

anti-Mormons & Christ...

Why is it that anti-Mormons insist on spending time and money to judge the faith of others, instead of promoting Christianity and faith? Why are there so many anti-Mormon blogs, web sites, books, pamphlets, and videos dedicated to negative proselytizing? Why do the anti-Mormons promote ill feelings and mistrust with their negative feelings toward Mormons? This is unfortunate, especially in the United States, where religious freedoms encourages respect for individuals of all religious beliefs.

What makes the vicious attacks by the anti-Mormons so shocking is that they do it in the name of Christianity. Mormons could expect such an attack from an atheist or a non-Christian, but from someone who professes a belief in Jesus Christ? If one really wants to know what Mormons really believe in, ask a Mormon - not someone who is filled with hate against another Christian sect.

You will not find The Church of Jesus Christ wasting time and money tearing down someone else's religion - there are just to many sick, hungry, and poor in the world today to care for.

The Bible makes it clear that toleration, peacefulness, kindness, understanding, etc. are the true Christian standards. In Mark 9:38-42, we learn that even Christ was not concerned with doctrine or theological differences. The message in these verses are to let those who worship Him, worship Him, because those who are for Him are not against Him.

The anti-Mormons hold rallies, have booths at state fairs, and try to disrupt church services of the Mormons - all this in the name of Christianity. Jesus would be ashamed if He were here on earth today. That is what the Pharisees did against Jesus in his day. Not much has changed since the days of Christ.

Didn't Peter tell us in 1Peter 2:21-23 to follow in Christs footsteps, that when reviled, revile not again? Didn't Jesus say to turn the other cheek in Matthew 5:39? Didn't James say to be slow to wrath and that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God? James 1:19-20 James also says that if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. James 3:2 If the anti-Mormons really believed in the New Testament, how do they justified their attacks on Mormons?

I have personally been to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints general conferences held in Salt Lake City and I have witnessed the biting, hateful, and ugly attacks on the Mormons that goes on there. Street corner after street corner is filled with the anti-Mormons yelling and holding up signs telling us that we are all liars and all going to hell. The police presence during this time is high due to the violence that has erupted in the past. I have personally witnessed the anti-Mormons taking the garments that Mormons hold sacred and rub them on their behinds or spit on them. I wonder if they would have the courage to walk down to the local Jewish synagogue and do the same with a Jewish yarmulke. I doubt it. I have never been asked by the LDS Church to go to another Christian church and hold a rally and speak hurtful and hateful things to them. Never.

Anti-Mormons are so busy spending time and money looking for faults in the faith of Mormons, that they don't have the time, evidently, to read their own Bibles. In Romans 2:1 we read ; " Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whoseoever thou art that judgest: for thou that judgest doest the same things".

One can never judge another religion righteously without hypocrisy. It is God's right to judge, not man's. The Bible tells us that the true followers of Christ is not to judge at all: no excuses. See the following: Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 19:22, John 8:15, 12:47, Corinthians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:23, James 2:13, and Revelation 16:7.

It is those who choose to ignore Christ and the Bible who execute their own personal judgements.

More on this topic on the next posting. IMHO

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