16. Michael - I believe you have done a great service by your study of the LDS. There are many teachings in the Scriptures about our body being the temple of God, our body being the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the indwelling also of Jesus. To deny these truths is to destroy the Holy Scriptures. Eternal life is in Jesus Christ and to "have Christ" is to have eternal life.

Richard Glommen at 11:24AM on May 28th 2007

17. . I was a high priest in the mormon church active and temple recomend holder for over 25yrs. to answer the question of the church and its business practices its is true the church is more of a large corporation at its heart. It uses the non tax statis to acquire buisnesses and then leases them back at a very high rate so as to take most of the profits ,which are then not taxable this is legal as they are tax exempt ,but is certainly unethecial. It does not pay its fair share and therefore puts more of a burden on us all. It does benefit from money made at the casinos in Las vegas and else where as many of the wealthy mormons OWN casinos. THis is what led me in the first place to do look into the matter and fianlly leave it. I was told by my first bishop that I was not to gamble not even buy a lottery ticket as it was against gods way of earning money you must work for it. The change in policy took place in 1985 when after many complaints about owners of casinos being given recomends while any one who worked at a casino was denied them. his all started as east coast members moved west from the Jersey shore casinos to Las Vegas.To settle the matter the church leaders decided to take a stand , they sided with the almighty on the issue not the almighty god but the almighty buck$. Now all who either work or own a casino can get recomends.When I first learned about this I went to my bishop to find out why ther ewas a change in policy, I got no answer then to the stake president where I did not get an answer,fianlly I called salt Lake and after having my call transfered 5 times my call was transfewred to the office of the president of the church where I was very polity told to mind my own buisness . After that I started to take a real hard look into the church starting with its history. It took me around 3yrs to full research the church,I was very disapointed from what I found out. I had no choice but to leave. the question of looking at all other religions they like most other extreme groups teach that all others are led by satan, blood oaths and the like are practiced . It is true they do not now practice plural wifes. That said they don't only because the US government put an end to it, they still hold the practice sacred and ALL temple worthy members are planning on this in the next life.As far a Joseph Smith is concerned it is true he is a convicted felon a con artist if you will I never believed it until I saw the court records in NY. from 1825. He was convicted for their money by saying he could find treasure by using a special stone putting it in his hat and looking into it to find buried treasure. This is also the way he is said to have written the book of mormon. Most of the book of mormon was taken from an earlier book written by a cousin of one of the founders of the LDS church Ethen Smith the book "View of the Hebrews" was in its second printing at the time 1825. The idea of the American Indian being of hebrew origen as well as over 100 or more other ideas were in fact taken from this book which was intended to be a work of fiction by the author. In answer to the questionable foundation of the church set up on lies sadly I found it to be true. To me though it is far more important the way the church uses its non tax statis to dodge not paying their taxes that hurts us all more than the religious truth or not of its founder. sadly I have found out that all religions have the many of the same issues to deal with .if one takes a real hard look at them. TO anyone who thinks that only christians are going to heaven you too are just as wrong as the Smith followers. The origin of the Jesus stories are as old as time itself . the god man is an ancient tale which goes back well before jesus . Any way as far a romney is concerned he is just another snake oil sales men not much different than the rest. He like old Joe Smith will tell you what you want to hear . The LDS church does do a good job of brain washing but in all fairness only a little better than the other religions of the day. They do fear and guilt and have found a really good way to get into the pockets of the members.

george at 9:26AM on Nov 14th 2007