Utahns Receiving Anti-Mormon DVDs
Mar 28th, 2007 by Jeremy
I just don’t get it. Really, why do people feel such a compulsion to try and beat down good things?
On this site I generally steer clear of very personal topics such as religion, race, etc. I prefer to talk about things that are either common sense or just plain funny to talk about without being offensive. There are plenty of hot headed sites out there that love to rile people up in the interest of generating traffic or voicing their opinion. Me, I’m just happy to write a few things that I either find funny or feel strongly about. I just can’t leave this one alone though.
Honestly, I don’t care what religion you are. Perhaps care is the wrong word. I care that people have something to believe in, to give meaning and provide a foundation for values and morals. I am happy to share how I derive my beliefs, but I am also happy to leave people to their own. I have my strong beliefs and I am happy if you have your own or none at all. You can have a sense of ethics, values and morals without religion. That is a basic premise of our modern society, to each their own. I don’t mind anyone that feels strongly enough about their beliefs to actively try and share them with others, as long as they are sharing this with people that are interested in hearing it and the message is a positive one.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, i.e. a Mormon. I grew up as one and have made my own adult decision to remain as one and raise my family as such. I served a two year mission for my church and shared the message of love and Christianity to anyone who was interested in mine. I shared a message of love, hope, peace and values. I did not share a message of what is wrong with everyone else and try to beat down the “competition.”
I simply cannot figure out why people feel so strongly about bringing down the beliefs of others to the point they have to actively campaign against them. I have often laughed at these types that show up for church gatherings and not only protest the meeting of well intentioned, value driven people, but even do it in such a belligerent and insulting fashion to try and pick a fight with anyone taking their bait. I really can’t laugh at it any more.
These groups and individuals don’t just proclaim their beliefs and invite others to see what truths they have to offer. They are not even borderline bigots, they are bigots. They will resort to childish name calling, slander and all they have to offer are the same message of half truths and lies in an attempt to deceive. I have looked at some of these message in the past and they are well written, placing truthful statements alongside lies and shaded comments strategically designed to trick those that don’t know better. I am sure some of these types really believe they are doing “good” in what they are attempting, but truly believe most are doing it for some other agenda, likely a personal vendetta for who knows why.
No wonder so many people have such a misunderstanding about Mormons and what the believe. Not only do people not get the opportunity what we actually believe, they are bombarded by ill-intentioned falsities produced by people with an agenda. The problem is we are a loving, long-suffering, turn your other cheek Christian group of people, so we typically take our beating and move on. Every time I see something like this new campaign I shake my head in disgust and wish we could do even more. I am the hot head of the bunch, so I make sure and not cross paths with people like this. I don’t need the stress and I would likely take the bait and join the fight.
All we ask is that we be allowed to live and let live. Share uplifting messages and share in our family values. Is that too much to ask? Why work so hard to bring others down. It simply doesn’t make sense.
This reminds me of when my sister was trying to get pregnant and had to cross a picket line of anti-abortion people in order to get in the building where she was going through IVF. I think it is rather ironic that anti-abortionists were picketing a place that helped couples have babies.
WELL SAID JEREMY !!!!!!!!!!!!!
At long last someone has spoke up for what we believe.
Reading your comments reminded me of when i decided to be baptised “Mormon” 10 years ago.
Thanks to Donny and the rest of The Osmond family, i have always been interested in the true church but never got baptised until a very traumatic time in my life. I wont go into details about what happened to me, just to say that my mother passed away suddenly and had said to me just a few hours before that if i was still interested in becoming LDS then “to get off my backside and do something about it” !!!!!!!
Two weeks after her “passing” i was at the point of suicide and then had a very spiritual moment. After following what i felt compelled to do, i rang the ward i visited many years before and the next day began having the lessons prior to baptism.
I immediatly knew i had found “the truth” and was so happy i told all who would listen in the tiny Church of England village where i lived, and had been raised C of E.
Within hours the vicar of my village came to see me and brought ALOT OF PAMPHLETS slandering the Mormon church. I have never in my entire life heard such awful lies and slanderous things about what i knew with all my heart was true. No matter what i said he told me i was a liar and threatened me that if i continued with my baptism to be a Mormon he would make sure THE ENTIRE VILLAGE WHERE I HAD LIVED ALL MY LIFE,STOPPED SPEAKING TO ME !!!!!!!!! I told him to leave my home and that THERE WAS NO WAY HE OR ANYONE ELSE WAS GOING TO STOP ME FOLLOWING WHAT I BELIEVED WITH ALL MY HEART.
He then stormed out my home and i rang the bishop at the ward i was to join 3days later. he came over and threw the pamphlets on the fire. We talked and i was baptised as arranged. That was definitly the best decision i have ever made.
Within HOURS of “the vicar” leaving my home, the only person in the village that would speak to me was my best friend. The village housed about 150 people and ONLY ONE FAMILY OF 2 adults and two children (both under 10) would speak to me. People even crossed the road to avoid me. This continued for 4 years until i moved into my present home. i wasnt even allowed to go to my friends school to see her children in school plays or sports days. If i did go to the school, i was asked “in front of everyone else” to leave IMMEDIATELY as i was not welcome there because i was not a Christian !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I held my head high and walked out.
Even since ive been in my present home ive been subject to religious abuse but have stayed strong and walked away. i know what i believe is true, so, if individuals feel compelled to “try and pull us down” all i can say is “BRING IT ON, BECAUSE YOU AIN’T PULLING ME DOWN TO YOUR LEVEL”.
Sorry ive gone on for so long about this subject but, this is something, like you Jeremy, i feel VERY STRONGLY ABOUT.
Regards
Liz Pyne.UK
I have not posted (nor been reading) many posts on this site lately. Mostly because I’m trying to live my life on a different wave length so to speak…one filled with positive. So a site on Rants (yes I know some with humor) I’ve found to put my mind in the wrong mindset so I’ve chosen to not go there…that said I did stop to read this Jeremy and felt compiled to post.
First I am so sorry and I can feel your frustration in your written words…being raised a Catholic and going to Catholic school I can relate to a point….as I was picked on just about every day for being Catholic in my uniform. And found my faith brought up and questioned often…how could I listen to the Pope tell me how to live my life? Not use birth control in this day and age? Many people have strong feelings against Catholics as well…I think many religions have found themselves persecuted throughout history. My husband who is a Christian Scientist…a very misunderstood religion finds it frustrating when TV shows have used his religion in their story line as the religion that allows kids to die without a doctor’s care and the court system has not given them justice. What this all means is people in general are a species of animal that attracts what it sees as different…pick on the fat kid…the kid with glasses…the Jewish kid…the gay couple….sad…but tends to happen. And the things done in anger are out of fear…the saying “Anger is only fear on the way out…” is so true. Anything not “the norm” is deemed wrong. And the LDS faith isn’t one that you can find all the information about easily and an informed person understands it’s not an open book due to the fact it’s scared…the ignorant label it secretive. There was a time in the history of this country (and still happens I am sure) where an American family just living their life could wake up to find a cross burning in their front yard. Toss the DVD out…know in your heart the truth and pray for those people that are still ignorant.
Hi Jeremy!
This is my first post here!
I just wanted to also comment on the actions of people who’s life’s existence is to bring down other people’s beliefs. It totally baffles me! What bothers me most is, is it’s OK to do that to Mormons..but not any other religion! What do you think would happen if a bunch of LDS people picketed at a Baptist convention, calling THEM names and telling them they are of the devil etc? Or if LDS protested in front of a Jewish synagogue , calling them sinners and burning yamakas? Why the whole WORLD would jump down our throats so fast , it would make your head spin!! BUT..when other religions protest at OUR gatherings, tear up and stomp on sacred items we hold dear, call us blasphemous etc etc ….the whole world just looks away and could care less! It’s ok to bash Mormons….! We don’t count! Grrrrr!! Makes my blood boil sometimes…
On the other hand…for me personally, it makes my faith stronger….why?…because I believe in Satan’s plan to try to destroy the most righteous on earth…that if there really IS a ‘true’ church on the earth? Then wouldn’t Satan do his darnest to fight against it? :) So…all this persecution against us, just makes my faith stronger, knowing that if we weren’t the true church?…then nobody would care about us and leave us alone!… that’s JMHO….:)