While in the park today, two lovely young women came over to talk to me. They wore smiles, but they had a sadness in their eyes and both looked so forlorn. They were Mormons. I could tell they were both really nervous and just talked about my dog at first. Then when they introduced themselves as Sister whatever, I said 'You have no chance of converting me, sorry, I am a Gnostic Theolalite Bishop.' they both looked shocked and asked what being Gnostic Theolalite is about. I told them a little. Just the basics like the answers are within and everyone deserves to become a Priest/ess themselves and everyone is responsible for their own path. Also that although we don't believe in a sky daddy God in the same sense they do, we do believe in a Divine Masculine & Feminine.
I asked them if they knew their religion was based on Freemasonry and some made up stuff by Joseph Smith. They said 'Yes, but Joseph Smith was a Prophet and had been given messages from God.' I told them that to trust in the say so of someone else, is not being true to you. The truth can not be found outside yourself, it resides inside.
I feel so sorry for them, they have been sent over here from US to walk the streets trying to get people to join up to their cult. They will end up having to marry some pig of man who has 5 other wives and will just use them as baby making factory, to breed more Mormons. I didn't say that to them, I didn't try to influence them at all.
I just said to them that when you know something is true and you 100% know within yourself, without any doubts, then you know you really have found the truth. If you are just pretending, and accepting things, because of what others have told you, it is not the answer you are seeking and never will be. We chatted for a little while more, and they went on their way.
They were happy that someone actually spoke to them and was polite to them, without swearing.
I hope they escape.
I feel pity for Mormons too, Tau, but just a little comment: they are not the people who have many wives, those are called Lebarons', the ones who followed their leader Ervil Morrell LeBaron and was he the polygamist priest, Mormons no longer use that lifestyle. May the light be with you!!
ReplyDeleteThe private practice of polygamy, or more specifically, polygyny, was instituted in the 1830s by founder Joseph Smith, Jr. The public practice of polygamy (“plural marriage”) by the church was announced and defended in 1852 by one of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Orson Pratt, by the request of the church President at that time, Brigham Young. In 1862, the United States Congress passed the Morrill Act, which prohibited plural marriage in the territories (including Utah) and dis-incorporated the church. In spite of the law, Mormons continued to practice polygamy, believing that it was protected by the First Amendment. In 1879, in Reynolds v. United States, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Morrill Act, stating: "Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinion, they may with practices."
ReplyDeleteIn 1890, church president Wilford Woodruff issued a Manifesto that officially terminated the practice of polygamy. Although this Manifesto did not dissolve existing plural marriages, relations with the United States markedly improved after 1890, such that Utah was admitted as a U.S. state. After the Manifesto, some Mormons continued to enter into polygamous marriages, but these eventually stopped in 1904 when church president Joseph F. Smith disavowed polygamy before Congress and issued a "Second Manifesto" calling for all plural marriages in the church to cease. They might not be allowed to officially have more than one wife, but it still goes on in private.
I live in Utah,the Mormon capital of the world.A lot of your stereotypes are in correct.I am not Mormon, but I don't pity them, hate them or think they're stupid. That is despite the discrimination I have experienced from them. Everyone is searching for their own truth. Who am I to look down on anyone who is a seeker.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately they are not seekers, they are forced into it by their parents. If they refuse they are disowned by their family. Of course it would be wrong to hate them or look down on them.
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