Aug

21

I know that this is a very difficult topic.  Mormons by principle should love all men, but loving does not mean to give up correct principles. God loves the world but it does not give us all that we ask for.

Presidente Gordon B. Hinckley said:

“People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gay and lesbians…We love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be very difficult to control…If they do not act on these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are.” (See Ensign, November 1998: 70).

I learn several things from this statement.

1) There are people who consider themselves gays or lesbians but it is not correct to say that “they are gays and lesbians” as if their situation was immutable or if they were something different from other people.

2) They are worthy of love and help like any other son or daughter of God.

3) The Church recognizes that they may be struggling.

4) Their inclinations do not determine their actions, and therefore they are responsible as any other person (who may have other inclinations that are not in harmony with Church standards).

I was reading yesterday a book by A. Dean Bird, Mormons & Homosexuality and it is clear from his book that an important point is to decide if homosexuality is inborn or not, because when people think that homosexuals are that way, they are more likely to support gay rights.

He says,

Though there is no science to support the notion that homosexuality is inborn, the gay activists in the mental health organizations as well as in the media still continue to trumpet the “born that way” notion.

Dr. Bird explains how gay activists in 1973 were able to pressure the American Psychiatric Association to the point that

By a vote of 5,854 to 3,810, homosexuality was eliminated as a diagnostic category from the psychiatric manual, making it the first time in the history of the healthcare that a diagnosis was decided by popular vote rather than by scientific evidence.

Very interesting! The consequence is that

American Psychiatric Association had established precedents that medical and psycological diagnoses are subject to political fiat.

Similarly, many proclamations by national organizations

are simply activism masquerading as science (p.22-23).

Now this activism is pushing to a point that is illustrated by this email I received today,

The California Supreme Court, which recently legalized same-sex marriage, has ruled by a 7-0 vote that homosexual rights trump religious freedom. The ruling barred doctors, because of their Christian beliefs, from withholding unnecessary medical care to gays and lesbians. The ruling says that under state law sexual orientation rights trump religious freedom.

Justice Joyce Kennard wrote in the ruling that two Christian fertility doctors who refused to artificially inseminate a lesbian have neither a free speech right nor a religious exemption from the state’s law, which “imposes on business establishments certain antidiscrimination obligations.”

Doctors at the Christian clinic referred the lesbian to another clinic, but the lesbian refused their referral - demanding that the Christian clinic perform the procedure. When the Christian doctors refused to violate their religious convictions, the lesbian sued and the Supreme Court gave her the victory.

Why do they have to force those doctors to perform a procedure that they do not approve? Are there not enough other doctors who could do it?  It seems to me that gay activists are eager to defend their rights but they easily dismiss or trump other people rights.

There would be a lot more to say, but this is enough. Mormons try to love every son or daughter of God, including those who have homosexual tendencies. However, Mormons believe that to act on those tendency is wrong. Finally, since we live in a democratic society, Mormons believe that if gays has the right to promote their cause, everybody else also has the same right.

Aug

13

I know that this is old stuff, but people still ask for this. The answer is that neither Snoop Dogg or the actor Steve Martin are Mormons. This does not mean that it will never happen, but I would say that it is highly unlikely, especially in the case of Snoop Dogg (but who am I to judge?).

In any case, there was a fake CNN report that portrayed rapper Snoop Dogg reading a Book of Mormon and an article about how he converted to Mormonism. It was very well done, but the date of the story was April 1 — April Fools’ Day.  Also,  the URL of the alleged CNN article, wasn’t a valid CNN site at all.  Finally, the fine print at the bottom of the phony Web page, was saying: “You just got fooled! Snoop’s not Mormon… yet!”

And what about Steve Martin. This is not true also, in spite of this being a little more credible (at least after watching the movie Cheaper by the Dozen).

According to http://www.compleatsteve.com/person/mormon.htm

There is a great deal of fan interest in Steve’s religion. Although raised in a Southern Baptist family, his statements in the press tend to suggest that he is probably more agnostic than anything else.

However, rumors persist that Steve is secretly a Mormon.  After years of such rumors, he has publicly said he is not.

Aug

11

I grew up in Italy during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. In 1989 I was still living in Italy and I can vividly remember the impact and the excitement created by the fall of the Berlin Wall. On a particular day I was in my lunch break and I saw those historic images on TV when East Germans started climbing onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side. It really was the ushering of a new era for Europe. In the following year Germany was reunified in a process that seemed impossible even a few months before.

In spite of the importance of the US President Ronald Reagan in the process, I still think that the change was possible mostly because of the reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union. It was a lot harder for him than for Ronald Reagan to lead the change in his own country, where the opposition against reforms was a lot stronger and dangerous.

Now, the same day of the opening of the Olympics in China, Russia invaded Georgia. I was looking around in the news and I found this recent comment by Gorbachev: US could start new Cold War. Mikhail Gorbachev has accused the United States of mounting an imperialist conspiracy against Russia that could push the world into a new Cold War.

This is very interesting. We are now in 2008 and we got used to this new situation, post Cold War. However, Russia is still a major world power and even if many changes in Russia happened, it is still a very young democracy and very fluid, I would add.

According to Gorbachev,

“We had 10 years after the Cold War to build a new world order and yet we squandered them.”

“The United States cannot tolerate anyone acting independently.”

“Every US president has to have a war.”

I am not an expert in foreign policies, and I am not sure if I agree completely with Mr. Gorbachev. However, I remember President Gordon B. Hinckley - and before him many others, including President Kimball, warning against putting our trust in the arm of flesh or in the military, while at the same time forgetting that the real protection come from the Lord, who delights himself in protecting a just people, but does not respond to the pleas of an evil nation.

In the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), in October 2002, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave a talk “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” where he said,

Peace is a prime priority that pleads for our pursuit.The commandments to love God and neighbor are interrelated. We cannot fully love God without loving our neighbor. We cannot fully love our neighbor without loving God. Men really are brothers because God really is our Father. Nevertheless, scriptures are studded with stories of contention and combat. They strongly condemn wars of aggression but sustain obligations of citizens to defend their families and their freedoms.

I am not sure what is the right things to do, and I am glad I am not in the position of making very difficult decisions in terms of war and peace, but I know that hatred, aggression, and war only create more hatred and more wars. Russia is now creating a difficult situation, and the day they choose to attack is quite troubling, but the response to their actions may make a big difference.

If people think that there are too many pages about wars in the Book of Mormon, they simply need to realize that that book was written for our generation. It becomes always more evident why.

Jul

14

A new official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the only true Mormon Church) website offers a very direct and clear message to those who want to know the truth about Mormons and Poligamy.

The new website Mormons and Polygamy is amazingly clear.

The Mormon Church or the LDS Church iS NOT the FLDS Church.

As explained in the website:

  1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn’t allow anyone practicing polygamy to be a member.
  2. Polygamy was part of our past, for about 50 years in the 19th century. But it is not part of our present. Polygamy was officially discontinued in 1890  —  118 years ago.
  3. When practiced by Mormons in the 19th century, polygamy was quite unlike the depictions of polygamous groups now seen on TV. For instance, a woman had freedom of choice as to whom she would marry. She made her own decisions about life, education and personal pursuits and did not isolate herself from the world.

I think that this last point is particularly important. Beyond the fact that Mormons do NOT practice polygamy now and they have not for more than 110 years, they way the practiced it was very different from what we see on TV.

Finally, and this is my personal view, not necessarily the Church’s, even what we see in TV about the FLDS Church is often exaggerated and distorted.

In short:

  1. True Mormons do not practice polygamy
  2. When they used to practice polygamy they did it in a different way
  3. Not all the bad things shown about the FLDS are true

A good video from our beloved true prophet, the late President Gordon B. Hinckley (very different from Warren Jeffs, self proclaimed prophet of the FLDS Church), explains a little more about the standing of the Mormon Church about Polygamy:

“This Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy.” The late Gordon B. Hinckley, speaking about the clear distinction between the Church and polygamous sects.

Jul

10

As I mentioned in a previous blog, my son Luca Martinengo received his mission call for February 6, 2008. However, since he received the mission call around November 10, I thought that it would be a waste to wait for three full months. He had already finished school (he got his associate degree from UVSC a few months before) and even his institute (religion) class would end in the beginning of December.

So, I could not see any benefit in having him stay at home for another 3 months. Moreover, to leave on February 6 means to come back also on February 6 or 5 (Mormon missions for males last 2 years), right in the middle of a school term. In short, that would be another waste of time.

Based on this reasoning, I decided to call the missionary department and ask if it was possible to anticipate his call to serve. I was told that they could anticipate his mission to December 26, but that the Stake president should call the missionary department and authorize the change. We all thought that December 26 was a great day to leave, right after Christmas.

However, when the Stake president called the missionary department he was told that they did not have any groups leaving on December 26 and that the only option would be December 19.

Well…we found another good reason to accept the new date. To leave on December 19 means that he will come home right before Christmas…a great timing!

In short, Luca left on December 19, almost 2 months before the date he was originally called. Many friends were surprised that the missionary department had accepted to make the change. Probably many members of the Church think that even the date of a mission call is 100% inspiration. In reality, most of the time, it is simply the first date available, after the date the missionary indicate he will be ready to go on a mission. So, once we told them that we could anticipate our date, they were happy to anticipate theirs.

Follow a few pictures of Luca when he went to the MTC.

Jul

9

Why did the Mormon Church before 1978 denied priesthood ordination to male members with Black African ancestry? There is an interesting small book by Marcus H. Martins, a Brazilian Mormon, who was the first full-time Mormon missionary (after the revelation that extended the priesthood to worthy men with Black African ancestry) and among the first to be ordained a bishop in 1987. He was also the first of his race to work as a religion professor in the Church’s universities - Brigham Young University - in Provo, Idaho and Hawaii.

In his book he mentions that as a researcher he probably read almost every official or semiofficial statement available to the public about the priesthood ban.

One of the main points of his book is that the priesthood ban is not part of the restored and eternal gospel as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it was only a temporary law.

The problem is not with the ban, but with the explanations that many tried to give for this ban. However, in 1969, under the presidency of David O. McKay the Church made an official statement declaring that the priesthood ban was established for,

“reasons which we believe are known to God, but which he has not made fully known to man.”

In other words, we do not know and the theories that have been used to explain it are men’s theories and may be wrong.

One interesting point, that should be remembered when critics attack the Mormon Church on this topic, is that contrary to the national trend of that era, early Mormons leaders did not establish segregated congregations, as did many other denominations that sometimes accuse Mormons of being racists. The only limitation was about the priesthood, but all other blessings were available from the beginning and no segregation was imposed in the Mormon Church.

However, why there was a priesthood ban until 1978? Marcus Martins has his own theory that looks very compelling and logical to me. Again, we need to remember that this is just a theory, the only certainty is that the Lord timetable is often a mystery.

Dr. Martins suggests that perhaps for a long time the priesthood ban was not an urgent enough matter, since leaders of the Mormon Church had more urgent priorities, such as defending against a hostile U.S. government, dealing with political adaptations to obtain statehood in Utah, avoiding financial banckrupcy, dealing with the turmoil of two world wars and the depression, and so on. Those were issues that involved the survival of all members of the Church, and not just a small group.

Only during President Spencer W. Kimball’s administration (1973-85) did the priesthood ban moved up in the scale of priorities and became an issue that affected the very identity of the Church.

I have two examples of situations very similar to this one that may help to put the priesthood ban in context.

First, in Act 10:15 we read that even Peter, the old apostle, needed a revelation from God to understand that the gospel had to be preached to the Gentiles and not only to those of Israel. Moreover, it was the same Jesus who had told previously to his apostles not to preach to the Gentiles. Was Jesus racist, or was he simply following His timetable?

Second, I can use the example of my country, Italy. Until 1963 Mormon missionaries were not sent to that country and only Italians living in other places of the world could become members. There wasn’t an official ban, but in practice, Italians living in Italy had even less opportunities than black American to enjoy the blessings of the gospel.

Black Americans at least were able to become members of the Church; but Italians, in practice, had a very little chance to become members. Why this racism against Italians? Was this because they lost the war against the U.S.? Was that because Italians were not prepared?

I think that again, it is just the Lord timetable, and we need to learn to accept it. We may try to explain, and we may create theories, but in many cases those theories will be wrong and will generate more prejudices and confusion.

Follow a great video about Priesthood to Mormon men of all races. This video is not directly related to Dr. Martins’ books but it is another great resource to understand better this topic.

Jul

7

This year, 2008, the American people will choose their new president. Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church), was among the candidates of the Republican party for a while. However, even if he was one of the best candidates, the fact that he was a Mormon clearly created a strong opposition even in the republican party.

It is unfortunate that prejudice against the Mormon Church is still so strong in America. However, it was a lot worse in the past.

I was reading an interesting book by Arnold K. Garr, Joseph Smith: Presidential candidate.

Joseph Smith

Why did Joseph Smith decided to be a candidate in the 1844 presidential election? It is hard to believe that he thought he could win the election, but he was not a frivolous candidate.

Joseph Smith said on February 8, 1844:

I would not have suffered my name to have been used by my friends on anywise as President of the United States, or candidade for that office, if I and my friend could have had the privilege of enjoying our religious and civil rights as American citizens…But this as a people we have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled upon our heads from time to time…. because of our religion; and no portion of the government as yet stepped forward for our relief. And in view of these things, I feel it to be my right and privilege to obtain what influence and power I can, lawfully, in the United States, for the protection of injured innocence.

Clearly, Joseph Smith was trying to gain as much influence as possible to protect his people, even if he probably knew that he could not become president. In fact, he even speculated that he could be killed because of his campaign.

Joseph Smith’s platform was contained in a pamphlet titled General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States.

Among other interesting ideas, he proposed the abolition of slavery by the year 1850. His solution to the problem was to

pay every man a reasonable price for his slaves out of the surplus revenue arising from the sale of public land, and from the deduction of pay from members of Congress. Break off the shackles from the poor black man, and hire them to labor like other human beings

Was this solution economically impractical? According to Dr. Garr

…the way that ultimately the United States settled the slavery issue was through civil war - a conflict that cost more than fifteen billion dollars and more than 600,000 lives….a conflict that left the South in economic ruin and implanted bitterness and hatred in the hearts of millions…In retrospect, it would seem that Joseph Smith’s solution to the slavery was more sensible than Civil War.

Joseph Smith was killed on June 27, 1844 and obviously he never became president. The American people could not find a better solution to slavery and it went through a terrible Civil War.

I can’t avoid thinking how different could have been U.S. history if the American people has listened to Joseph Smith’s counsel.

Jun

26

I have recently read a very inspiring book by Dr. Belnap, A Brain Gone Wrong - help for troubled teen.

I have noticed that on Meridian Magazine there is a series of articles about this book and I will refer to them for more information at the end of this blog post.

But this is the starting point of the book:

The twenty-first century faces a war with no name and no marked battleground. The casualties are our youth. They come from every address and ability and they are being squandered in what was once considered the lifestyle of only a degraded few.

Our feel-good culture, eroded by bad behavior, bad choices, and for many teens a succession of very bad days has drugs, alcohol, suicide, eating disorders, violence and the occult just a quick step from the corner lemonade stand. Some youth survive the onslaught; many do not.

Today’s youth face a society with blurred lines of right and wrong and in many cases, no wrong at all. Teens are raised amid decay in families, schools and the streets on which they live or roam. Gangs have stepped in to fill the void of family; media, fashion, peer pressure and popularity now dictate what were once decisions made at the kitchen table. The scenes are ugly, scarred and riddled with pain. Youth are forced to live beyond their years and to make decisions not even contemplated by their parents: Do I drink? Take meth? Smoke? Use birth control? Join a gang? Bring a gun to school or even stay in school? Do I distinguish myself by the way I dress, tattoos, the color of my hair? Or my sexual preferences? Should I consider suicide because my life is sad and hopeless?

It is hard to be a teenagers in our current society, and it is not easy to be the parent of teenagers, but still the family is where they can find the best opportunities to survive the war.

A Brain Gone Wrong - on Meridian Magazine

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven

Part Eight

Jun

12

I have found something really interesting, called “The Baptist Version of The Book of Mormon - Protestant Doctrines within the Book of Mormon” by Lynn Ridenhour, a Southern Baptist Minister.

It is an amazing article. I am copying it here because I do not want to see it disappear in the future from the internet, but I recognize his authorship and commend it for what he did and his sincerity.

This is his article that currently can be found at http://www.centerplace.org/library/bofm/baptistversionofbofm.htm

“I’m a licensed Southern Baptist minister and I embrace the Book of Mormon.

That is, I believe the truths recorded in it. No, I’m not a convert to the Mormon faith, nor am I a member of any particular “spin-off” restoration group such as the RLDS (Reorganized Latter-day Saints), Hedrikites, or Strangites. I’m still a Baptist minister. To be exact, I’m “charismatic Baptist.” That is, I still embrace the “born again” experience. I still believe you’re saved by grace. By the shed blood of Christ. Salvation is by faith alone in His finished work on Calvary. I still believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. I believe and embrace those cardinal doctrines of Protestantism.

And you know what?…

I still believe the Book of Mormon too! Read more

Apr

25

Many of the news reports coming from Texas about the problems with the FLDS Church have left the impression that they are ‘Mormons’ in the sense that they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, they are not. They are a different church, and a very small one. However, several of our non-member friends have asked us quite sincerely about it. Some here who oppose the growth of the Church are promoting the idea to damage the reputation of the Church.
So, for those of you who may have been watching the news lately and may have wondered…

Some Mormon women sing…

Some Mormon women dance…

Julianne Hough – Dancing with the Stars

Some Mormon women write New York Times best sellers that are immediately made into movies…

Stephenie Meyer “Twilight” series

Some Mormon women have lots of money and really great hair…

Marie Osmond

I know hundreds of Mormon women. They do all kinds of different things and live all different kinds of lives. This woman served as a leader in the Mormon Church. She recently spoke to teenage girls worldwide. She encouraged them to stand up to peer pressure, strengthen their families and serve others.

Susan Tanner

None of the Mormon women I know look like this…


None of them are marrying off their teenage daughters and none of them really want to share their husband with anyone.

Furthermore…

Some Mormon guys can throw a ball…

Some Mormon guys yell at the ball…

Andy Reid – Philadelphia Eagles Football Coach

Some Mormons are Democrats and some are Republicans . . .

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Senator Orin Hatch

Some Mormon guys are fun to listen to on radio AND TV . . .

Glenn Beck

Some Mormon guys at 17 are insanely adorable and sing like an angel…

David Archuleta- American Idol

In fact, lots and lots of Mormons sing really, really well . . .

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Some Mormon guys make funny movies…

Napoleon Dynamite

Some Mormon guys have a lot of money and really great hair…

I know hundreds of Mormon guys. They do all kinds of different things and live all kinds of different lives. This is one of the leaders of the LDS (Mormon) Church. This month he spoke about honoring women, especially mothers, and gave advice to husbands and children about how to treat the women in their lives.

Russell Ballard

None of the Mormon men I know look like this…

The Mormon men I know are honest and hard-working. They don’t cheat, smoke, drink or gamble. And TRUST ME….the last thing any of them want is another wife.

The leaders of our church, along with the 13 million members worldwide, want the world to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not the FLDS practicing polygamy where the federal government just raided and took over 400 children into state custody to protect them. In fact, we have absolutely no connection with them at all.

Get the word out to everyone who may be confused!

Your Mormon Friend

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