WASHINGTON – Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will cross the line of no return this week when he delivers the much anticipated speech on his Mormon faith and how it will affect his role as U.S. president if elected.
-
(Photo: AP Images / Cheryl Senter)Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaks to the Rotary Club in Manchester, N.H. Monday, Dec. 3, 2007.
The issue of Romney’s Mormon faith has dogged his campaign since the beginning, but has lately intensified as former presidential underdog Mike Huckabee seizes evangelical voters in Iowa with his conservative Christian platform.
Huckabee for the first time took the lead in a Des Moines Register newspaper poll Sunday, beating Romney, who has long been the favorite Republican candidate in the hawkeye state. The poll showed Huckabee overtaking Romney by 29 to 24 percent in Iowa, according to Agence France-Presse.
Romney’s campaign, however, dismissed heavy speculation that its candidate’s decision to speak about his faith is somehow related to Huckabee’s surge in Iowa. Instead, the campaign said the poll had “zero” influence on his decision to give the speech, according to The Politico.
Campaign spokesman Kevin Madden said Romney’s speech on Thursday will be an opportunity for the presidential hopeful to speak about religious liberty, religious tolerance and how his faith will influence his presidency.
“Governor Romney understands that faith is an important issue to many Americans, and he personally feels this moment is the right moment for him to share his views with the nation,” said campaign spokesman Madden, in a statement.
Madden noted that Romney personally made the decision to deliver the speech “sometime last week,” overturning the candidate’s dismissal in mid-November on the prospect of a speech on his Mormon faith.
While Romney’s speech on Mormonism has long been anticipated, it is not without dangers.
“The risk is that it brings to the fore the way Mormonism diverges from conventional Christianity, and it will make people ask the question, ‘Do I really want to vote for someone who believes that conventional Christian churches are ‘apostate?’” said Mathew Schmalz, a religious studies professor at the College of the Holy Cross, to The Associated Press.
Many Christians regard the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the formal name of the Mormon church, as a cult for rewriting the Bible and for its views on its founder Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ among other biblical figures.
A poll last month by AP and Yahoo showed half of those surveyed had expressed discomfort with voting for a Mormon presidential candidate, including 20 percent who said it would make them very uncomfortable.
Despite the potential risks involved with speaking out on the Mormon faith, some experts say it is a step Romney must take.
“It’s something Romney has got to deal with,” said Dennis Goldford, a political science professor at Drake University in Iowa, to AP. “He’s tried to deal with it by underplaying it and not mentioning it, but the emergence of Huckabee – who has defined himself in terms of his religious background – has forced Romney’s hand.”
Romney said Monday that his speech will not focus on the tenets of Mormonism, but rather be a discussion on openness to religion, according to AP. He also plans to share the stage with his wife and sons to support the idea that he holds the same values as most Americans, especially evangelical Christians.
Romney’s speech, “Faith in America,” will take place Thursday, Dec. 6 at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas at 10:30 a.m. EDT.
RSS
Thanks Pastor.
I think I understand well the Nicaean Creed. But I don't agree with it. It does not describe the God of the Bible, in the least degree of accuracy. I am not "confused" at all.
Hesadanza ~ Might wanna check this out . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaean_Creed . . . the source of your confusion on "God".
Also, consult this . . .
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3803/is_199810/ai_n8808757
We Christians sometimes make mistakes because we don't spend enough time studying, or considering sources. Diagnosis, then treatment.
They are one in purpose, deed, action, principle, mission, love, grace, redemption, power, authority, and every other quality EXCEPT their distinct personal individualities. They are distinct persons, yet they are one in principle. That accords with every scripture of the Bible, something that the Trinity is in contradiction with the Bible time and time again throughout.
The Godhead is not multiple Gods, for they are one God.
HesadanzaMon Dec 10, 2007 9:22 am : 0 : 0 Flag
These are three distinct individuals - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Anyone who believes otherwise has been deceived.
So from Jesus' own mouth, it is not evident that he and God are one? This is where the trinity comes in. If you take the scripture I quoted and the scripture you quoted we get the idea of 3-in-1 and 1-in3. This is not a 4 th century creed. This is Biblical, if you don't believe that then re-read the versus that both you and I have quoted.
Maybe I mis-understood what you said about Jesus not being God. If I did I'm terribly sorry. I guess what your saying is that you believe in multiple God's. Which by the way is idolatry.
Servent - you love to put words in people's mouths, don't you (which is bearing false witness against your neighbor, a breach against God's commandments).
I have never said that Christ is not God. Christ is God. He is a member of the Godhead; the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost. These three Godhead members make up God, as is clearly evident from the scriptures you quote.
Christ was not a ventriloquist, did not "send" Himself, was not "with" Himself, and He wasn't talking to Himself when He addressed the Father many many times. He also didn't make Himself into the Spirit of God when it descended from heaven after His baptism, or make the heaven speak "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". These are three distinct individuals - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Anyone who believes otherwise has been deceived.
marantha,
do you have some resources/info. on freemasonry? I would really like to know more about it. I really like ot be educated about these types of things in case my congregation ever asks. I am much more enlightened to the cult of mormonism now. Thanks all for sharing the true beliefs of mormons.
Again, let me say to every mormon, we love you and want you to come and know Jesus Christ of the Bible, God in the flesh who was sinless and died for our sins. THank You Jesus for paying the ultimate price so we can have grace and mercy, it is only by your work on the cross that we can come to salvation. I pray that you convict hearts and minds of everyone that reads this post to the true Jesus and what he did for that person on the cross. Jesus we need a Holy Spirit revival in this country please help each and every true Christian stand up and lead the charge against satan. In Jesus name Amen!
HesadanzaSat Dec 08, 2007 6:23 pm : 0 : 0 Flag
and since He is God,
I have seen you say so many times that Christ is not God, now which is it? You say the trinity is 4th century man made. Let's do a quick Bible study and see.
John 1:1; John 1:10; John 1:14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 12:44-45
44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
John 14:7; John 14:9-11
7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Matthew 3:16
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
To the Mormon bashers:
As an agnostic, its interesting to read the bashing of the mormons for what are described as bizarre beliefs. Equally bizarre are the beliefs of non-mormons I read on these posts. Strange, strange stuff. If their is a creator of the universe, it seems unlikey that it is all caught up in what goes on in the little speck in the universe called earth. its more likely that man created god in his own image rather than the other way around. there may very well be a creator, but logic would dictate that its nothing like anything I read here.
Online4Him,
Oh it is supported by the word of God all right, in more ways than one.
See, we have the Bible, which is the word of God. We also have the Book of Mormon, which is the word of God. We have 138 revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, which are the word of God. We have the Pearl of Great Price which is the word of God. And we have living prophets and apostles that receive revelation from God, which is the direct word of God.
So, I think we're on a pretty sure foundation with the word of God. We've got many sources to check if we think we might be in error on the particulars.
As far as Galations 1:6 goes, have you ever actually considered that we might be preaching the SAME gospel of Jesus Christ?
Yes, we worship God with all our heart, might, mind and strength. We are certainly guilty of that. He is the object of our unending and unyielding devotion and veneration. For Christ commanded, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37). How much devotion and veneration do you have for God, and His Son, Jesus Christ?
Online4Him, have you truly considered the consequences of spending your life tearing down another Christian faith, especially if it might be a work which Christ the Lord heads personally? I'd be really careful about that. You know, Saul thought he was doing a great service too until he was struck down in the road and heard a voice which said, "Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:3-6). I guess it will take such an experience to convince some of their errors.
Hesadanza,
Have you truly considered the consequences of accepting a faith (Mormonism) that that cannot be supported by the word of God? Consider the following text -
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed - Ga. 1:6.
Definitions of "cult":
* adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
* a system of religious beliefs and rituals
* a religious group that follows a particular theological system
* the rituals and observances of a particular religion
* formal religious veneration
* great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work
* the object of such devotion
If that is a cult, Mormons are guilty as charged, . . . . .
Mormonism definetly qualifies, well said!
Definitions of "cult":
* adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
* a system of religious beliefs and rituals
* a religious group that follows a particular theological system
* the rituals and observances of a particular religion
* formal religious veneration
* great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work
* the object of such devotion
If that is a cult, Mormons are guilty as charged, as is the rest of Christendom.
These unbiblical teachings are exactly why the Mormon church is identified as a cult and the reason why Mitt Romney will not be our next president.
Yes, isn't the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wonderful? These doctrines have been lost for centuries, but now they are revealed from God in heaven anew. I am so grateful for a loving God who knows us, loves us, cares for us, and sends His servants to teach us His will and guide us into ever growing knowledge and light.
And by the way, these doctrines are perfectly in harmony with the holy scriptures. It is the Nicene Creed which departs drastically from what is taught there, and creates a Neoplatonic God which can't be seen, can't be known, and can't be physical. Which basically means that He can't exist in the world as we know it. Doctrines such as these were condemned by Christ and the apostles as the most heretical.
"Christ Not Begotten of Holy Ghost ...Christ was begotten of God. He was not born without the aid of Man, and that Man was God!" (Doctrines of Salvation, Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954, 1:18).
"Elohim is literally the Father of the spirit of Jesus Christ and also of the body in which Jesus Christ performed His mission in the flesh ..." (First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, 1916, God the Father, compiled by Gordon Allred, pg. 150).