Tag Archives: Mormonism

Trouble With Topix

March 31, 2008 6:51 pm / 1 Comment /

I have been active in Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons for the last couple of months through a news site called Topix. Along with reading all sorts of news items, readers can also participate in conversation about those news items or they can post their own comments and questions in the Forum. Obviously I participate in the JW and Mormon forums.

Because of some research that I was doing for a Mormon who asked me a question, I found that a great number of my posts were either never posted to Topix or have been taken down. Now that I realize that there are a substantial number (23) of my posts missing from the conversation, I understand why some of the Mormons have been confused and/or angry with me. I’m not too happy about it either.

I’ve spent a good amount of time writing these responses only to have them disappear into cyberspace. The interesting thing is, I can see the posts from my computer when it is signed into Topix, but I cannot see them when I am not signed in. Frustrating the say the least!

I am writing this blog in hopes that someone from the “Are you scared we are right” conversation thread will see it and let the others know that I have been having trouble with my posts. I have also contacted Topix in order to get the issue resolved. Here is an e-mail that I have written to Topix.

Topix,
I have been having some real issues with a number of my posts either not showing up on the Topix Forum or indiscriminately taken down. I assure you that they are not in violation of the terms of service. The thread with which I am having trouble is titled “Are you scared we are right?” and can be found on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Forum. http://www.topix.net/forum/religion/latter-day-saints/TT0IDLHULVDIVKMJV

If there is a problem with posting, please let me know how to resolve the issue. If this is some sort of “moderation punishment,” I would like to speak with a supervisor. I have screenshots of my missing posts so that I can prove that they are completely in line with the terms of service. I eagerly await your response.

Keith Walker

The slide show below shows the screen shots I have taken of my missing posts. The quality of the pictures was much better before I converted them into the slide show. If anyone wants to see the pictures of the posts, I can e-mail them to you. Please pray that this issue is resolved soon.

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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Kingdom Hall…

March 26, 2008 4:29 pm / 1 Comment /

Kingdom Hall… When Becky and I were going to the JW memorial last Saturday night, we decided to make it a date night too. We got a babysitter and left early to go out to eat.
We were sitting down and our waiter came up to us, took one look and said, “I know you guys.” We immediately recognized him as the younger brother to one of our ex-Mormon support group members. He was very happy to see us.

We talked a bit and he told us that his sister had invited him to the support group. E. has left the LDS Church and knows it isn’t true, but has still not committed himself to Jesus.
I think is is pretty cool how God does things some times. When I suggested the restaurant to Becky, she was not all that thrilled about it because it is a little more expensive than we are use to. I told her that I did not feel guilty and that we needed to just go and enjoy ourselves. This proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that some times a Man’s craving for ribs is divinely inspired. 😉

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Mormon Prophet Dies

January 28, 2008 7:36 pm / 1 Comment /

The very first e-mail I saw this morning was an announcement that Gordon B. Hinckley had died. I can honestly say that I was saddened by this news. Even though I am an most outspoken critic of Mormonism, I realize that there is more to Hinckley’s death than religious news. He was a man with family, friends and followers. I feel for them and pray that God will use Hinckley’s death to draw them to Jesus.

For those who look at this as an opportunity to kick Mormons while they are down, please just take the day off. There isn’t anything you can say with that attitude that will help them. Just offer your heartfelt condolences and let the Mormons heal. If you don’t have any heartfelt condolences, then at least wait to talk to them once they have grieved. If you love the Mormons, and you should, then that is the very least you can do.

You can read more about Hinckley here.

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MLK Day-I Marched With Romney And Martin Luther King!

January 21, 2008 9:03 pm / 1 Comment /

Happy Martin Luther King Day! This holiday is unique in that Martin Luther King is a relatively recent figure who has received the honor of having a holiday named after him. The work he accomplished in his short life has impacted the world and continues to do so to this day. Our children are already familiar with him and know what he stood for.

Today being MLK day, I was reminded of an article I had read last December about Mitt Romney stating that his father, a four term governor of Michigan, had marched with Martin Luther King back in the 60’s. When Romney was recently asked about Mormonism’s past policies regarding Blacks, he stated that his father had marched with Martin Luther King. That statement did not ring true for a number of journalists who decided to investigate the matter. One such journalist, DAVID S. BERNSTEIN of The Phoenix, wrote an article on the matter, which contrary to Mitt Romney’s claim, clearly shows that George Romney did not march with Martin Luther King. Not in Michigan or anywhere else.

I invite you to read the article for yourself, but I did want to quote one statement made by the Romney Campaign. Evidently the they had heard about Bernstein’s article so they released a statement in an attempt to explain what Mitt Romney really meant when he said that his father had marched “together” with King. Not only is this statement appropriate for MLK Day, I also think it is a statement that gives us an example of how Mormonism works. In his article, Bernstein quotes that Romney Campaign as stating that “together” may mean different cities and on different days. Here is how it appears in Berstein’s article;

“UPDATE: ROMNEY CAMPAIGN SAYS “TOGETHER” MAY MEAN DIFFERENT CITIES, DIFFERENT DAYS

A spokesperson for Mitt Romney now tells the Phoenix that George W. Romney and Martin Luther King Jr. marched together in June, 1963 — although possibly not on the same day or in the same city.”

Now, I admit that english and grammar are my absolute worst subjects, but does this explanation strike anyone else as humorous? Together at different locations at different times? Huh? I understand the idea the Romney campaign is trying to convey, but the choice of wording is bizarre. I’m sure they meant something akin to saying that George Romney marched for the same reasons King marched and that he was in total agreement for that which MLK stood, but it is a stretch to say that Romney marched “together” with Martin Luther King. It is even more of a stretch to say that “together” means on different days at different times.

According to this definition, would it not be possible to say that I marched with Mitt Romney’s father and Martin Luther King despite the fact that I was not yet born? I am in a different place and in a different time, but I agree with Martin Luther King on this issue. All races should have equal rights and protections. In fact, just today San Antonio held their annual MLK day parade in honor and remembrance for what King accomplished. Oh sure, there is the little annoying detail that I did not attend today’s march and have never marched in a civil rights parade, but why should that keep me from claiming that I stand with Romney and Martin Luther King? If the Romney campaign can redefine “together” then I can redefine “march.”

This incident is a perfect example of what I see the LDS Church doing when it claims the title “Christian.” All is fine and dandy until someone does the research to prove the claim as false. Once the lie is detected, a cover-up explanation is fabricated and words are redefined. Almost every basic theological term that Mormons and Christians use in common have completely different definitions. God, Jesus, salvation, repentance, heaven, etc., they all mean something different once world views are contrasted.

Let us just compare the term “God.” Within Mormonism God is two things really; one, a position and two, a species. Man is considered an underdeveloped God (species) with the potential of attaining Godhood (position). In Christianity, the Triune God is completely unique and does not share His position with anyone else. He alone possesses authority, glory and power. With these two contradictory definitions, it is impossible for Mormons and Christians to say that they believe in the same God. The two views are too far apart to consider them in the same category.

So with this in mind, we can say that Mormonism is “together” with Christianity. We’re just not in the same place at this time. They are too different to be considered in the same company.

read more digg story

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Is There Scientific Proof Authenticating the Book of Mormon?

January 14, 2008 9:45 pm / 3 Comments /

Look what I just stumbled across on Youtube. The public affairs office for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has their own Youtube channel. I first noticed the title of the video and then noticed that it is from the LDS Church itself. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addresses the question of whether there is scientific proof of The Book of Mormon. Although this is a short two minute video, this has got to be the longest “No” answer I’ve ever heard. Watch the video first and then scroll down and read my comments following the video. They will not make sense unless you watch the video first.

Now think about this for a moment. If God wanted us to exercise that kind of faith, why on earth were the first century disciples allowed to see the dead body of Jesus get up and walk?

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