Posted by
Phil E. on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:57:06 PM
A "Solemn Assembly?"
Mormon General Conference juxtaposition with a Nazi General Conference.
Both groups raise their right hand to "sustain" their leader.
Credit where due
Credit for the graphic goes to "the son I never had," who suggested "it sounds like Nazi's" when I told him that Mormons were commanded to raise their right hand to "sustain" their leader at their Solemn Assembly. (Apparently too "politically incorrect" for one image hosting website.)
Over the top?
No doubt the Townhall editors will hear howls from Mormons everywhere about this one, calling this "offensive" as they (Mormons) try to squelch my speech. (Sorry Chris.) Much like C.A.I.R. where the Muslims are trying to silence Michael Savage. That's the typical Mus... err, Mormon M.O.
Okay, so maybe my caricature is little over the top. But, is it really?
To be clear, I am not, at this time, equating Mormonism with Nazism with respect to any type of Holocaust and murdering Jews. Although there was a massacre of innocent Americans (Gentiles) by Mormons once. (The Mormon Meadows Massacre.) And while there have been abuses by Mormon police officers and individual Mormons against Christians who evangelize to the Mormons, this is not a coordinated effort from Mormon church leadership on high, as was the Holocaust.
In my usual due diligence, I plan to supply links for the statements I make here. But later. I plan to take the computers off line for a day or two and wanted to get this photo up while the Mormon Solemn Assembly was still a timely topic. For now, treat this post as a rough draft, still awaiting final fact checking.
But, the Holocaust notwithstanding, in many scary ways, Mormonism has a lot in common with Nazism. They both think they are the chosen race. They both claim a divine mandate. They both stress being White as a sign of purity.
And, of course, as it pertains to the photo above, they both raise their right hand to sustain their "chosen" leader. ("Chosen," but not by them.)
Christians.. or Jewish people: Do you ever raise your hand to your leader? That would be an act of worship, wouldn't it? When we raise our hands, we raise them to God. Not a mere man. (So then, Catholics who raise their hands to their leader (their pope) or Mary are also not Christian.)
Do you solemnly swear?
Now, this is a point of controversy among Christians, although I think God is very clear about it. (Even if He's not, I choose to err on the conservative side, instead of the presumptuous.) When you raise your right hand, say, in court, what are you doing? Are you not swearing an oath and invoking God, with your raised right hand? (Implied.) Whereas Jesus said not to swear an oath. This was echoed by James.
James elaborates on part of the reason. There is not to be a time that a Christian is not telling the truth. But by swearing an oath, you are in effect saying, "Okay, now I really mean I'm telling the truth." There should not be a distinction for the Christian.
The other reason for not swearing an oath is given by King Solomon. It's very difficult to keep an oath. (Look at how many people have broken their marriage vows. i.e. divorce). God will hold you accountable for breaking yours. This is so serious that Solomon said it was better not to make an oath than to break one.
Now, Mormonism is not Christian. So there's no Biblical controversy for them about swearing oaths.
And, as is typical with unbelievers, they're double-minded about their Solemn Assembly oath. On one hand, they call it "voting," to "sustain" their leader. (I didn't see anyone vote "No" in the videos. Wonder what would happen to you? Instant ex-communication? Cast out of heaven?) You mean that if a majority of Mormons voted "No" that their Living Prophet would be rejected?
I don't think so!
From
Mormonwiki,
[Our beloved "prophet"] Joseph Smith was first sustained by a congregation. Following his first solemn assembly, and after his remarks and members' sustaining votes, he said:
"The vote was unanimous in every instance [imagine that!], and I prophesied to all, that inasmuch as they would *** UPHOLD *** these men in their several stations, the Lord would bless them . . . in the name of Jesus Christ, the blessings of heaven should be theirs; and when the Lord's anointed go forth to proclaim the word, bearing testimony to this generation, if they receive it they shall be blessed, but if not, the judgments of God will follow close upon them until that city or that house which rejects them shall be left desolate." (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 2, pp. 416-18.)
Brigham, likewise, was sustained on March 27, 1846, and was "unanimously elected president over the whole Camp of Israel..." by the council. (B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church,vol. 3, p. 52).
But don't call it a cult. They all WANT to vote unanimously for their leader.
Not even Jesus—God manifest in the flesh—got this kind of cooperation from His followers. (See Peter arguing with the Lord.)
So there's more to it than simply "voting." The Mormon "Solemn Assembly" invokes key words from the Mormon temple ceremony, including the raising of the right hand. That is, it's "sacred" (but televised? I thought the temple ceremony was sacred (as opposed to secret) and that's why Mormons won't talk about it.) They use the word "solemn" in both ceremonies. And they hold their arm to the square. Mormons get the message loud and clear.
They are essentially swearing allegiance to their leader. Just as the Nazi's did.
Here's how a Mormon tells
at in Mormonwiki. (Current as of this writing, until another Mormon changes it.)
During this solemn assembly, and by the raise of the right hand, members of the Church will stand and signify their sustaining vote of the Lord's leaders [presumed already, before any "vote"] and their willingness to heed their counsel and support them. This vote is not a means of showing popular support, but is an outward sign of inward commitment to follow the divinely called leaders.
Where was Mitt?
I don't remember hearing anything on the news when Gordon B. Hinckley (the previous Mormon living 'prophet') was "sustained" in a solemn assembly in 1995. (That was a few years after the Mormon temple ceremony had changed as reported in TIME magazine.) But boy, the Solemn Assembly made the news this time around. Like anyone cares about Mormonism in our country, a minority off-shoot religion? You can thank Mitt Romney for that.
But, strangely, amidst all the press coverage of the Mormon Solemn Assembly, I didn't hear any mention of Mitt Romney.
Where was Mitt? Was Mitt Romney there in Salt Lake, raising his right hand? Anyone know? (Leave a comment.)
I solemnly swear
No matter. From Mormonwiki,
Those watching the Conference via satellite in meetinghouses [via satellite? As in "Mormon church satellite?" How many churches are so monolithic as to disseminate marching orders via satellite? But don't call it a cult.] or in their homes, are also invited to stand and participate in the sustaining of the officers of the Church as constituted at that time.
So, I have to assume that Mitt Romney, "proud of my faith" as he is, must have participated in the Assembly in some form.
Now, when Mitt Romney raises his right hand, will he be swearing to uphold our Constitution and our the President of the United States? Or will he be swearing to uphold his President of his church?
Hint: (And an easy way to remember this, since it makes a nice pun.) The Latter.
You really don't want to find out. You really don't want a Mormon in the White House. Let's hope he doesn't come in the back door, by way of the Vice Presidency.