Mormon Direction

An interesting event happened today at Church. During the sacrament session, there was a fellow walking about nervously in the hallway adjacent to the chapel. Periodically he would stand in the doorway, watch the speaker at the front and then retreat into the hallway again. There was a second male with him, but I did not see him until after the event occurred.

When the congregation began to sing the last hymn, this male went at the front of the congregation and started to preach out loud of how we are following a false prophet as he held his large Bible up above his shoulders for us to see. At that moment the Bishop with his counsellors and without hesitation about 15 priesthood holders approached this man and escorted him out the nearest door.

Apparently, the male walked away toward a Baptist church which was about 2 blocks down the road. At that time I saw the second male hover around the chapel door in the hallway. Within moments, other priesthood members approached that male and escorted him out as well. From what I was told, a similar event recently occurred at the local United church.

In the elders quorum session, we spoke about this event and how much danger this posed to the small children running about in the church which proved disconcerting considering that radical thinking people, as was with that male, endangers the safety of children in the Church. Also mentioned in this discussion that this type of event occurs more often in our Churches located in large cities.

This brought to mind our Articles of Faith and how important those articles are to our faith. The one in particular was,

Articles of Faith
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

This eleventh article of our faith speaks of free will and choice, the right to worship God as we choose. It is no coincidence that Heavenly Father wanted to restore his Church in North America, the land of the free, with the freedom for religion. Think about that for a few minutes. Freedom of religion did not exist in the middle ages because of the Roman Catholic church (Wikipedia-Religious Intolerance). Would God restore his Church as Jesus organized in the New Testament under the heavy handed rule of the bishops found in the Roman Catholic church, or even when Constantine made Christianity his state church under his rule? (Christian State Church ). The importance to have this freedom of religion, the right to worship as we choose cannot be overstated, but this freedom does not give any person the right to interfere no matter what right he or she self-proclaims.

When this fellow interrupted the worship hymn, to attack our faith and beliefs as he announced his condemnation against our Church as he held his Bible up, is clearly not a man of God. Tolerance was not part of that man’s faith. Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke on religious tolerance,
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According to a recent news report at Gospel for Asia UK, a Christian denomination that professes worship of Jesus Christ is under threats of death if the pastor and followers refuse to reject Jesus for another (extremist) religion. This means people who disagree with the beliefs of this Christian group are trying to impose their will and their beliefs unto them, even using threats of death.

You can read this story here >> http://www.gfauk.org/skelapp/gfa/news-IfYouGoToChurchYouDie-Nov09.asp

This example shows religious intolerance, also showing a type of dictorship and evil, to force, impose, rule over, violate freedoms and civil liberties to worship as we choose, even threaten death. Such intolerance and actions against freedoms and liberties, in any degree, shows an evil that is becoming more prominent today.

Do Mormons know this kind of intolerance? Certainly they do and Joseph Smith suffered this intolerance to his death at the hands of evil men who violated his freedoms and liberties. Then today, this intolerance toward Mormons continue, under the guise and false label of “cult”. How many ex-Mormons and Anti-Mormons would literally take up their guns and shoot down Mormons if it were not for the laws we have in North America? How many Anti-Mormons and ex-Mormons would cheer and rally for such intolerance?

To God’s dismay, many would, as intolerance is not a Christian trait or belief. So how many Anti’s and Ex’s are not Christian? – Many.

A prayer is appropriate for these Christians who are suffering threats to their right to worship God as to what their conscience dictates, an article of faith that Mormons believe and follow.

I pray for the well being, safety and support for these Christians in Uttar Pradesh India.

Amen

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (others call the “Mormon” Church) sent a representative, Elder Pieper, to Third Congress of Traditional and World Religions which convened at Astana, Kazakhstan, 1-2 July 2009. He presented a paper to the congress that emphasised a collective effort and focus that would result in blessings for all mankind (you can read the entire news article >>here).

Elder Pieper offered three principles which the world religions can follow,

1. The right to choose ones worship
2. Friendship to all denominations and
3. A unified approach to the world’s challenges where possible.

After reading this article, I immediately felt impressed that God was speaking to worldly religions and groups. The principles depicted are of God and when given to the diverse religious groups at this conference, it cannot be anything less and nothing else but God speaking throug Elder Pieper.

Peace is the central message. Principles given are designed for peace. There is no special interest in Elder Pieper’s message, it was given to all people at the conference to glorify God and bless all mankind. The message did not condemn anyone or their beliefs, but gave clear grounds and principles by which even they, the worldly religions, can please God. For it pleases God to see peace as the foremost goal in every man and womans heart and to live and practice that peace.

The message given by Elder Pieper also speaks against religious intolerance. The freedom to choose which religion to follow is one of the paramount principles listed. This means each person has the right and freedom to accept or reject Christianuty and take up any other religion and the principles allow for that freedom. This means that those who take up bashing religions or another religion is working against God and no person can claim the right to do that by the Bible.

As Elder Pieper gave the basic principles of peace, how many will accept those principles for the benefit of peace and to bless others? The results, of course will be seen in the fruits of their works.