Is Mitt Romney a Christian?

It is still amazing to hear.

For the first time since I moved to Utah (nineteen years ago), this state and the LDS faith is the topic of national conversation! CNN, FOX, Hannity, Rush-everybody is talking about things that we have dealt with daily for almost 2 decades! It's fascinating, but since the news media simply doesn't know that much about such things, here's some simple truths to help people who might be confused.

Are Mormons Christians?

Well, Mormons think they are. But the truth is , they are the only ones! Virtually every Christian denomination or church (i.e. Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Protestant, etc.) deny Mormonism as a part of the Christian faith and have issued official statements as such. Sure some individuals may disagree (e.g. Jimmy Carter has said something to that effect), but that is pretty irrelevant. They just don't know much about the LDS faith (or their own, for that matter).

But Isn't the Name "Jesus Christ" in the Name of Their Church?

Yes it is, but really-so what? I can call myself Tom Selleck, but that doesn't make me him does it? China calls itself "The People's Republic of China". Does it belong to the people? Is it a Republic? Of course not-it's a communist dictatorship!

The name means nothing. (I just thought of a fast food place I know called "Quick and Tasty"-it is neither quick.... nor tasty.)

So Why Aren't Mormons Considered Christians?

Simple, really. Their foundational beliefs are too different from historic Christianity and the Bible to be considered Christian e.g. the nature of God and Jesus Christ, salvation, inspired revelation ,etc. (There are plenty of web sites to explain all this, so I will leave it to you to google them if you are interested! ) Virtually all non-Mormon scholars consider the Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, etc. to be utterly untrue. Joseph Smith, who said he translated golden plates into the Book of Mormon, is rejected as a prophet by every Christian church in the world.

So whatever the Mormon Church is, it just isn't accurate to call it Christian. This doesn't have anything to do with whether it's true or not ( I obviously don't believe it is, but that's not the point.)

And so, it looks like Mitt in in trouble already. The media is already pointing out his, well, truthstretching. As he tries to paint his faith as Christian, the Democrats aren't going to let him get away with it (just search his name on youtube for an interview on CNN, or MSNBC-one of those)

And so, it looks like my prophecy of a few months ago will not come true.

Apparantly, like Joseph Smith, I am not a prophet either!!

The Power of One or ____________(Your Name Here), Cultural Warrior

I am nobody.

Really.

I will never be famous or even well remembered,except perhaps by my family. But I can make a difference in the lives of hundreds, even thousands of people. So can you.

One day last summer I walked into our local Shopko (sort of like a Wal Mart). As I walked by a rack of dvds I noticed a famous X-rated film, the Last Tango in Paris (there is an R version, but this was the X, or NC-17 version). I was not in a neutral mood that day, so I grabbed one and looked for the manager. I found the asst. manager.

"Did you know you are selling X-rated material?" I asked politely, but firmly.

""What? Oh wow....I don't think we realized that..." the college age male stammered. He then defended the store-it was a "corporate decision," not theirs. I stayed with it and said I wanted the manager to call me as soon as he came back and I intended to go public with everyone I knew if they did not do something about it. Within 24 hours he called, apologizing profusely and telling me they had pulled all the copies. I thanked him and assured him I would let people know about his prompt and responsible decision.

I have called my kids elementary and middle school over the years, as teachers have shown videos with profanity, etc. in class. Every time, the principal has acted immediately and stopped further incidents. In one case. a substitute had showed the offending material. When the regular teacher got back, he apologized to the class (because I had called) and even took the video and tore out the tape, shredding it in the process, while he said he too had had enough of the crassness pervading our culture.

This past Christmas, I noticed a local all-Christmas music station was rarely playing any carols, i.e. any song having to do with the birth of Christ. Lots of Santa and snow, but no Jesus. I called the 800 number and discovered this was one of 200 stations, anchored in LA. I again politely, but firmly, asked if this was intentional, part of the "war on Christmas". The DJ said he had no idea what I was talking about, but would certainly look at the play list. From that day on there were a lot more carols played every hour-on 200 stations! All from a nobody, making a simple request.

I have other friends who do similar things and have similar results. But too many of us are too passive, too busy, or just don't think they can make a difference.

Dear reader, speak UP! By all means, pray first, be polite, but be firm. The examples above are small things, but consider this:

How many children were spared being molested because a disturbed individual did not see the porn they most easily could have purchased? One would be enough.

How many kids will remember what that teacher did and make better choices about what they watch or listen too?

How many people might have been encouraged when they heard the Christmas carols of their youth, maybe in a nursing home?

I'll never know.

But I believe if we speak up on the small things, we will be ready for the big things when they come.

So go ahead. Make a difference.

You are somebody.