Don’t Mormons Believe That Jesus and the Devil are Brothers?
Posted on December 11, 2007
That is what Mike Huckabee slyly asks in an article that will appear in Sunday’s New York Times. Mitt gave his speech explaining that his religion would not influence his decisions as a President that was given much praise and media attention. Should someone’s religion be a consideration in American minds as they ponder who they will choose to lead the nation? Well, whether or not it should…it is, and Huckabee being a Baptist preacher is obviously wanting to fuel the fire that one in six Americans will not vote for a Mormon to be the Commander in Chief.
The article, to be published in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine, says Huckabee asked the question after saying he believes Mormonism is a religion but doesn’t know much about it. His rival Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, is a member of the Mormon church, which is known officially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The authoritative Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992, does not refer to Jesus and Satan as brothers. It speaks of Jesus as the son of God and of Satan as a fallen angel, which is a Biblical account.
A spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Huckabee’s question is usually raised by those who wish to smear the Mormon faith rather than clarify doctrine.
”We believe, as other Christians believe and as Paul wrote, that God is the father of all,” said the spokeswoman, Kim Farah. ”That means that all beings were created by God and are his spirit children. Christ, on the other hand, was the only begotten in the flesh and we worship him as the son of God and the savior of mankind. Satan is the exact opposite of who Christ is and what he stands for.”
Romney did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month in Iowa, Huckabee wouldn’t say whether he thought Mormonism — rival Romney’s religion — was a cult.
”I’m just not going to go off into evaluating other people’s doctrines and faiths. I think that is absolutely not a role for a president,” the former Arkansas governor said.
Very sly Huckabee. Faith is pretty personal though, and what one person believes may seem loony to others. While throwing rocks, the person you are trying to hit may just view that you live in that glass house. What was that belief about wives submitting to their husbands?
Look, the press is going to do as much as it can to keep voters focused on the “Jesus freaks and spooky Mormons†in the GOP, and without saying very much about them - just allowing the religious hype and in-fighting to play out before the nation’s eyes, they’ll manage to scare the country into the Dem column.
Question: Why is everyone giving Romney a pass on his religious beliefs while scrutinizing past religious statements of Huckabee?
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, News, Politics As Usual
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23 Responses to “Don’t Mormons Believe That Jesus and the Devil are Brothers?”
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When will people realize that Huckabee is as liberal as Republicans come. Like National Review said, Romney is the most conservative candidate that can also beat Hillary.
This appears to be an animated and updated version of 1982’s “The God Makers”,
which is regarded my most Mormons as one of the most notorious anti-Mormon
productions of the past half century.
I would describe it as a sensationalist caricature of Mormon teaching. There
is some truth to it, but more is distorted, and some of it is outright false.
Without going into specifics, If you have not actually read the Book of Mormon for
yourself, I would invite you to do so. I think you will find that there is some
similarity, but not nearly enough to justify a description of this vidoo as an accurate
portrayal of its content.
I’ve read it and agree that the video is not completely accurate, however as you stated it has truth to it.
You have me feeling like I’m insulting Mormons, so I’ll remove the video.
The issue is a complicated theological one. Satan was created by God which does make him God’s son but not in the same way that Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
I am sure that most of us on this forum disagree on theological issues to some degree so I see your point.
All a couple points here. First: From the official LDS website I send you this:
link
Go down to the second topic where they give an answer on the devil and Jesus being brothers.
But here is the really point. This AP report was taking wrongly out of context which makes me sick. Read the response that The Huckabee campaign just released:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressRelease&ID=425
Mormons do draw a spiritual equivalence between Jesus and Lucifer (see The Kingdom of God, by Oscar McConkie Jr pg 46; Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses, 4:1-3).
For more information, visit http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm
Google is your friend, here. Check out the official LDS publication, Gospel Principles
link
The third chapter, 4th through 6th paragraphs make it quite clear that Mormon doctrine DOES teach that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers. If you read the statement from the LDS spokeswoman carefully, she manages to make it sound like this is some sort of smear without ever just calling it a lie. That’s because it’s actually official Mormon doctrine.
I’m not a fan of Mike Huckabee, but it’s the Mormon spokeswoman who’s being slyly misleading here.
I believe that alot of people are scared of Romney just because of him being a MOrmon. That has nothing to do with his politics. If he weren’t Mormon, most of you would embrace him as the next president. Put aside your feelings of the Mormon people and just look at the issues.
Why is Huckabee under such religious scrutiny while Romney is getting a pass from conservatives about his religious views?
I keep hearing this “mormon-bashing” hogwash when in reality…the only people to draw attention to Romney’s religion is his own campaign!
If conservatives and liberals alike are finding it important to question Mike Huckabee’s views because of a questionaire he completed in ‘92…and conservatives and liberals alike are willing to scrutinize Huckabee’s every sermon from the pulpit, why is it off-base to question the outrageous beliefs of a Mormon candidate?
If you think Huckabee will face tough questions during a general election, you should really do a little research into the beliefs of Mormons…Romney doesn’t have a chance in the GE.
As long as Mormons are not flying Jets into buildings and strapping on suicide belts I have no problem with them.
I guess Shawn Troxel and Tom Henderson are betting you don’t actually follow the links and read for yourself.
In Moses 4 and Gospel Principals we see Satan -
who, in his arrogance, attempts to be the Son of God.
God listens to this (I imagine with some amusement) and says -
“Nah. I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Good try there Satan; No really. So how’s that Pit of Doom comin’ along?”
I might be off a bit with God’s reply.
The point is that Shawn Troxel and Tom Henderson are trading their integrity here to perpetuate a lie. As a recovering Fundamentalist Christian I remember the animosity that used to drive me to do the same thing.
Go read the links for yourself. Here’s the verse from which the lies are crafted… This is Satan talking, attempting some half-baked idea to become God’s Only Begotten.
“Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.”
As badly as Shawn, Tom and the anti-Mormon machine
want God or Christ
to declare Satan equal with Christ in these verses,
it doesn’t happen.
In my studies of the anti-Mormon-ites and their organizations, I’ve come to find some interesting consistencies.
First is, to a man, these guys have issues; as did I when I was one of them.
I found that anti-Faith leaders
are consistently Black Hats - in deeds,
far beyond anything you or I have ever done.
To expound:
1.There is often an expectation, when you’re saved, that Christ will suddenly heal you of all you preexisting, self-made, crap.
2.There are plenty of clergy will spoon feed misrepresented Bible verses in a manner to create boogie men out of a number of faiths.
3.Since it’s easier to redeploy the inner crap,
as attacks against others,
than it is to set about the hard work with Christ,
to begin healing,
we have ‘ready made’ fuel for an anti-faith entity.
4.That same misdirected crap
that initially motivated one to become anti-faith,
will usually yield ones Will and Self Control
over to those leaders
that perpetuate a target
for their unresolved, inner conflicts.
If your wondering why anyone would bother starting up an anti-faith org; It’s Profitable! CRI grosses Millions, and it’s head and his wife clear ½Million/year (see MinistryWatch.org).
Further, the anti-faith aspect of the org give it tremendous influence over those who are susceptible to an anti-faith doctrine.
There are no examples in the Bible of entire ministries dedicated to the destruction of somebodies faith; though we have some examples in modern times. That’s a creation of man, partnered with someone other than Christ. It’s also top level indicator of the need to turn ones self FULLY over to Christ for humility to take over and healing to begin (or to see Guido the Therapist if your secular).
I’d recommend lots of prayer for Shawn and Tom that they find their way free of the trap of animosity based doctrine.
HK
I would love for this whole religion issue to go away. First, I’d like to know which Mitt Romney is going to be serving if elected? The pseudo-liberal governor of a liberal eartern seaboard state, or the suddenly hard right christofascist that he’s suddenly become for the republican primarys. I am not a Christian and cannot comment on either’s religion, but I have read the sermon on the mount. Of the two of them Huckabe’s position seems to me the most Christlike. But, there again, is still the question of which Mitt Romney will be the one serving as President as opposed to running for the office.
Christian evangelicals are the base of the modern Republican party. They like HUCK!!!
I couldn’t care less about what Mitt or the Mormons believe. Did Mitt as governor create a mini-theocracy in Mass? Of course he didn’t! He and his family seem to be very nice, good, productive, hard-working highly moral people. That’s enough for me.
Mitt wouldn’t have brought up his religion in any way had the media and others not attacked him for being Mormon.
Frankly, as a non-believer in any religion, all religions sound like cults in some way or another. But most people are religious and if they need that crutch to go about their lives, that’s fine. I’m with Dennis D. “As long as Mormons are not flying Jets into buildings and strapping on suicide belts I have no problem with them.”
Thanks for taking the video down. Parodies and caricatures
would have no point if they were not recognizably similar to
the originals, but that does not make them portraits.
“Why is everyone giving Romney a pass on his religious beliefs while scrutinizing past religious statements of Huckabee?”
I’m not sure what you mean here Jay, especially in the context of the post. Romney’s faith has been on the table from the outset and he has been attacked for it. Jan Mickelson’s cheap blindside in Iowa, Janet Folger (whenever she can accost someone in a hallway or an elevator), Laurence O’Donnell, World Net Daily and Bill Keller are just a few examples. Then we have the mysterious push poll calls from last month.
What’s more, this isn’t a “past statement” we’re discussing. This is a statement Huckabee made for an article that isn’t even published yet.
The big difference is this and I think it might hit your posed question more directly: Huckabee made this statement about Romney’s faith while Romney has not attacked anyone’s faith. I have not seen anyone attack Huckabee’s FAITH (yet — just wait for the onslaught if Huckabee is served up as the disastrous nominee). What I have seen is his record analyzed. I personally have criticized him for “Christianeering” — trafficking his own brand of social gospel faith as his SOLE qualification. So, if anyone is using faith both ways (to his own advantage and to attack competitors) it is Huckabee.
What does this have to do with slandering the ACLU, one of our only hopes of stopping the fascist Bush regime and the theocrats?
Anyone who believes in Satan and Jesus’s virgin birth, etc., are superstitious fools. May Pat Robertson, Bush, Huckabee, Romney, and all the other war-mongering pro-torture faux Christ-ies burn in their imagined hell for the damage they have done.
I’m sorry tommo. Did you say something? It seems none of us were paying any attention. Here’s a subsidy. Now run along like a good leftist.
HK
tommo,
E-mail me from the afterlife and remind me who’s a superstitious fool then. I’m sure you’ll
have a lot more first-hand details about whether Pat Robertson’s in Hell, but for your sake,
I hope not.
Our system actually works against a theocracy as we have so many different denomination in the U.S. There may be an anti-this or that trend but the people are the ones ultimately responsible for that.
I got to know that Mormons believe that Jesus and devil are brothers.
Hey there (anti)Jesus.
You got to know that Mormons believe that Jesus and devil are brothers?
Why you got to know that for?
Why are we both typing in Ebonics?
Anyway, post #12 above says that Mormon’s don’t believe that.
It also gives the scripture
that the ignorant and deluded use
to PRETEND Mormons believe in an equality of Christ and satan.
Mormons DO NOT believe in an equality of Christ and satan.
There is a commonality though. It’s the same commonality that tied you and Lucifer together.
You were both created by God.
Lucifer, “Son of the Morning”, an indescribably beautiful creation of God, came from God.
You came from God, I came from God.
Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten of the Father,
which would have Him coming from God;
since God begot him.
Seeing how all these very different beings are creations of God,
we share something (God as Creator)
that is sometimes called brotherhood.
Is it similar to the brotherhood that you and I share?
NO.
Do Mormons teach that it is?
NO.
There are people who are driven
by something that is not of Christ
who desperately want you to believe
that Mormons teach the equality of Jesus and satan;
when Mormons do no such thing.
So why do Mormons bring up the slim commonality between Gods different creations at all?
It’s a cautionary tale.
Mormons continuously teach how Christ taught the Gospel, on Earth, as one of us. In this, Christ was our brother, but not our equal. His humanity showed that we could be with God; as He was and would be.
Before the Earth was, we were all present before God; Christ, all angels, and us.
We were independent beings,
one in our commonality,
in that we were God created beings.
Commonality is not Equality.
With all Lucifer had and was, he still aspired to more. He desired to be as Christ. He formed a rebellion against God to force his desire. The result was Lucifer being cast from Heaven and we now know him as satan.
The cautionary tale is that any of us can be tempted into rebellion, even the especially blessed.
Lucifer is personalized,
A LITTLE BIT,
to help us learn
how rebellion against God
can lead to a most beautiful and gifted being,
becoming a most corrupt and evil being.
Now you have the lesson of The War in Heaven as it is actually taught.
For one to believe that Mormons teach the equality of Christ and satan, requires delusion or profound ignorance.
Let’s hope you have neither. Perhaps you could go forth and sin no more.
HK