- ReTx on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “I’ve always found the LDS view of the Jewish people mildly condescending. There’s this feeling when it comes up in church meetings that we view them as children or pets or other lesser creatures, in need of our protecting and assisting, rather than as equals. Certainly we don’t like them enough to teach their history in a way that is true to them and their religion. Most of the lessons (especially when concerning the Pentateuch) are twisted to support our own (non-Jewish) history and LDS beliefs. That’s always felt deeply disrespectful to me.” Apr 25, 18:15
- on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “Dr. Cocoa and Stephen Fleming: On the issues of Seders, I’m open to there being an appropriate way to do one, but I’d have to think through the specifics (e.g. not breaking the third wall about how they have a chair for Elijah, but we know Elijah already came to the Kirtland Temple). Last Lemming: That’ s a beautiful quote I wasn’t aware of, thanks! It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the Judah connection we forget about their neighbors. IAW: I actually had no idea that Chesterton ever said anything about us (or knew about our existence beyond Sherlock Holmes), so that’s kind of fun, even if he managed to flatter and insult us at the same time. Last Lemming: That’s a really interesting historical factoid. I understand the hesitancy obviously given the history, but I’ve sometimes wondered if we’re weird enough Christans that our proselytizing doesn’t trigger the same reaction that it would coming from a more mainstream Christian faith that is more genetically and theologically related to Martin Luther, the Cossacks, or other not so great figures in Christian-Jewish relations (but maybe not). RLD: Lol, it would take a lot to beat the cringe of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”” Apr 25, 15:22
- on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “Not many faiths have a warning against antisemitism in their scriptures. Not to mention us having invited ourselves into The Tribe, or least The House, via our patriarchal blessings. I think (hope?) peak cringiness was Senator Orrin Hatch writing a song for Hanukkah. I just think of it as revenge for some of the Christmas songs I hate that were written by Jews. :)” Apr 25, 13:37
- on 13th International Art Competition Opens Today: “Thanks so much for this. I never would have known without this post!” Apr 25, 12:52
- on A New Look at the 1832 Account of the First Vision: “LHL, while I agree there are important differences between the 1832 and 1838 accounts, I also very much believe that humans understanding God is generally an unclear process. As Paul said, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor 13:12). There’s lots we don’t know in this life and we hope to know more when we die (I hope so too). Such a sentiment is at odds with how we usually talk about things in the church and the First Vision account I think is a good illustration of the dichotomy. We like the 1838 account as clear and absolute, but I really do think other accounts, especially 1832, calls some of the clarity into question. And for me, that lack of clarity IS the reality of the human interaction with God. Paul’s statement is very much in line with Plato’s philosophy. On earth we only have glimpses of the fuller truth that exists in heaven. As Plato say in his Timaeus, “Now to find the maker and father of the universe is hard enough, and even if I succeeded, to declare him to everyone is impossible” (28c). I know such a statement doesn’t sound very “Mormon,” but that’s been my own experience.” Apr 25, 10:44
- on A New Look at the 1832 Account of the First Vision: “Chad Nielson: Hey, good buddy: when you are so inclined, why don’t you hop online here and tell me why an all powerful, all knowing, all wise Heavenly Father would feel inclined to obsfugate his messaging to his prophet and his people; from one moment in time to another.” Apr 25, 10:15
- on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “I see that I forgot to include the link to the Hunter article. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1979/06/all-are-alike-unto-god?lang=eng” Apr 25, 09:47
- on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “When I was bishop, we had a guy in the ward with a Jewish wife and our ward council proposed doing a ward seder. She very graciously came with a friend and helped us perform it. When the idea was suggested in the council, I said, “Uh, are they going to feeling like we’re appropriating their religion?” And a member said, “Oh, it’s only a small percentage of people who get worked up about that. I’m sure it will be fine.” It was.” Apr 25, 09:13
- on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “One other thing. When Hugh Pinnock was president of the Harrisburg Mission in the mid-70s, he was authorized to target Jews in his proselyting efforts. (I understood at the time, and continue to understand, that such authorization was specific to that mission and to that time period only.) I had a high school friend who was called to that mission and was excited to participate in the program. Later, when I lived in Philadelphia, I home taught a Jewish couple who had joined the Church as a result of that effort. They had fond memories of Elder Pinnock (whose son was a member of our ward at the time). Now, all references to that effort seem to have been scrubbed from the internet. I can understand why, given my earlier observation that Jews tend not to return the “love” they receive from Mormons. But it is history and it should be remembered. I hope somebody has kept a record that can be brought forth at a later time.” Apr 25, 08:39
- on Latter-day Saints Love Jews: “From GK Chesterton’s remarks on Mormons: “these people crossed a great desert with their guns and oxen, patiently, persistently, and courageously, as if they were following a vast and visible giant who was striding across the plains. In other words this strange sect, by soaking itself solely in the Hebrew Scriptures, had really managed to reproduce the atmosphere of those Scriptures as they are felt by Hebrews rather than by Christians. A number of dull, earnest, ignorant, black-coated men with chimney-pot hats, chin beards or mutton-chop whiskers, managed to reproduce in their own souls the richness and the peril of an ancient Oriental experience.”” Apr 25, 08:20
