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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Mormon America: The Power and the Promise/Index
Index to claims made in Mormon America: The Power and the Promise
A FAIR Analysis of: Mormon America: The Power and the Promise A work by author: Richard N. Ostling and Joan K. Ostling
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Quote mining |
This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible.
Chapter 10: Families Forever
160
Claim
The author's claim that LDS believe that even God himself is married.
Author's source(s)
- No source given
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Was Jesus Christ married?
161
Claim
Couples are "sealed forever" through secret ritual in a Mormon temple.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Celestial Marriage
Chapter 19: Are Mormons Christian? Are Non-Mormons Christian?
320
Claim
The people of the New World were visited by the "Mormon Jesus."
Response
- The term "Mormon Jesus" is a pejorative term used by evangelicals to imply that Latter-day Saints do not worship the "true" Jesus.
- For a detailed response, see: Latter-day Saints aren't Christians?
- See Quote manipulation
Dissenters and Exiles
352
Claim
Author's quote: "The church has often swatted down intellectuals individually"
Author's source(s)
- Quote by Lavina Fielding Anderson
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Excommunication of scholars
354 - The Church operates a clipping service called the "Strengthening Church Members Committee" to monitor individual members
The author(s) of Mormon America: The Power and the Promise make(s) the following claim:
The Church operates a clipping service called the "Strengthening Church Members Committee" to monitor individual members, which Lavina Fielding Anderson refers to as "an internal espionage system."
Author's sources: Lavina Fielding Anderson
FAIR's Response
Question: What is the Strengthening Church Members Committee?
The SCMC was originally created as a "clipping service"
The Strengthening Church Members Committee has been described as a "clipping service" which kept track of public statements by Church members who openly criticized the Church in the media. Some have accused the committee of hunting down and exposing historians and intellectuals in order to subject them to Church discipline.
Although a "clipping service" probably made sense back in 1985, in the internet-rich world of the present, it seems somewhat anachronistic. Anyone with Internet access can likely find any information more quickly than it could have been "clipped" from newspapers in 1985.
The following is from the Church News, August 22, 1992 off-site
First Presidency statement cites scriptural mandate for Church committee
Generally, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not respond to criticism levied against its work. But in light of extensive publicity recently given to false accusations of so-called secret Church committees and files, the First Presidency has issued the following statement:
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in 1830 following the appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph Smith in upstate New York. This sacred event heralded the onset of the promised `restitution of all things.' Many instructions were subsequently given to the Prophet including Section 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants:" `And again, we would suggest for your consideration the propriety of all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings and abuses put upon them. . . .
" `And also of all the property and amount of damages which they have sustained, both of character and personal injuries. . . .
" `And also the names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions, as far as they can get hold of them and find them out.
" `And perhaps a committee can be appointed to find out these things, and to take statements and affidavits; and also to gather up the libelous publications that are afloat;
" `And all that are in the magazines, and in the encyclopedias, and all the libelous histories that are published. . . . (Verses 1-5.)'
"Leaders and members of the Church strive to implement commandments of the Lord including this direction received in 1839. Because the Church has a non-professional clergy, its stake presidents and bishops have varied backgrounds and training. In order to assist their members who have questions, these local leaders often request information from General Authorities of the Church.
"The Strengthening Church Members Committee was appointed by the First Presidency to help fulfill this need and to comply with the cited section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This committee serves as a resource to priesthood leaders throughout the world who may desire assistance on a wide variety of topics. It is a General Authority committee, currently comprised of Elder James E. Faust and Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They work through established priesthood channels, and neither impose nor direct Church disciplinary action.
"Members who have questions concerning Church doctrine, policies, or procedures have been counseled to discuss those concerns confidentially with their local leaders. These leaders are deeply aware of their obligation to counsel members wisely in the spirit of love, in order to strengthen their faith in the Lord and in His great latter-day work."
- The First Presidency
Response to claim: 354 - The LDS system of internal discipline "operates more like a small cult than a major denomination"
The author(s) of Mormon America make(s) the following claim:
The LDS system of internal discipline "operates more like a small cult than a major denomination."
Author's sources: *Author's opinion
FAIR's Response
Fact checking results: This claim contains propaganda - The author, or the author's source, is providing information or ideas in a slanted way in order to instill a particular attitude or response in the reader
The statement that the Church is "like a small cult" is pejorative. See Quote manipulation
Question: Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a "cult"?
Modern Definitions
Dictionary.com defines cult as:
- a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
- an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the object of such devotion.
- a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. [1]
By modern definitions, the term cult encompasses a group of people sharing the same belief, as well as that of worship; or forms of ceremony. In the past, the word cult held a derogatory connotation by common language speakers. Thus, because the Jews revere Moses, Lutherans revere Martin Luther, Seventh-day Adventists are devoted to the teachings of Ellen G. White, and Christians revere Jesus Christ, all these groups could be considered "cults" by this definition. However, it would seem that even historical usage of the word may have been incorrect.
Historical Usage
The word “cult” as some speakers have used the term with reference to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka “Mormons”) may be understood as more of an opinionated label implying a dislike, misunderstanding, or disagreement with particular religious practices or ideas.
For example, when early Christians were unpopular, uncommon, and powerless they too were labeled as a cult. However, when they later came into common practice and acceptance, they in turn began applying the same label in return to religions with whom they disagreed.
The advantage of common speakers or those opposed to a particular religious sect or idea using the term "cult", is that it tends to have a negative connotation. When the general public hears the term "cult," they do not simply think, "religious group devoted to some person or ideal." Nor, usually, do they think, "religion that has deviated from the beliefs of a parent religion." To many, a "cult" implies a fanatical, probably dangerous, religious group—and it is this image which critics seek to exploit. This is primarily because The term cult as it is sometimes used, often suggests extreme beliefs and bizarre behavior.
Conclusion
By definition, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a “cult” because it is a specific system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and concepts deity and because it is a sect of Christianity devoted to such a system. The same conclusion can be drawn to any other Christian faith as well as many non-Christian ones. Is the Church a “cult” with regards to extreme beliefs and bizarre behavior? As an organizational whole, no. But extremism tends to exist within many facets of belief.
This new Jewish-Christian party in the eyes of the religious leaders of the time was, at the worst, simply regarded as guilty of minuth (cultism), namely, a variety of Jewish heresy, or rather, Jewish sectarianism...early passages in the Talmud still contain hostile references to the minim (cults), among whom were numbered the Jewish Christians... [2]
Pliny, an early Roman leader also said that Christians were a “superstition, a foreign cult,” and this characterization was re-iterated by two more Roman writers, Tacitus, and Suetonius. Tacitus explained the attacks on Christians as being due to their 'cult' status, and also because “of their hatred toward mankind”. Tacitus also said that they were “an enemy to mankind”, and a “deadly superstition”. Suetonius called the Christians a “mischievous superstition” or, in other words, a cult. [3]
Families sometimes worry when a family member shows an interest in the Church. This worry can stem from fear of indoctrination which could lead to extremism. They can be reassured that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints puts a high value on maintaining and strengthening family relationships. The Church will not baptize children or youth under the age of eighteen without their parents' permission.
Response to claim: 354 - The LDS Church penalizes members for "merely criticizing officialdom or for publishing truthful-if uncomfortable-information
The author(s) of Mormon America make(s) the following claim:
The LDS Church penalizes members for "merely criticizing officialdom or for publishing truthful—if uncomfortable—information," and "shroud their procedures with secrecy."
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Mormonism and Church discipline [needs work]
Response to claim: 354 - The LDS Church prosecutes "many more of its members" than other religious groups
The author(s) of Mormon America make(s) the following claim:
The LDS Church prosecutes "many more of its members" than other religious groups.
FAIR's Response
Fact checking results: This claim contains propaganda - The author, or the author's source, is providing information or ideas in a slanted way in order to instill a particular attitude or response in the reader
This is the author's conjecture, and is without supporting data.
Notes
- ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cult?s=t
- ↑ Herbert Danbys, "The Jew and Christianity," p. 8.
- ↑ Robert Louis Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (Yale University Press; 2nd edition, 2003), 22, 49–50, 66. ISBN 0300098391.