Luke M

@CarlRigson So I'm curious, what do you believe the origin of Satan is?

@Luke_ehM For example, they accurately identify the belief that Satan and Jesus are spirit brothers. But the way they just flat out say it makes it sound worse than it is (in my opinion), but it’s definitely a non-Christian idea The afterlife chart is also accurate, but Mormons dispute it

I’ve often heard it said, primarily in jest, that other denominations feel threatened by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have a lay ministry that is all voluntary, so if their congregation converts the other churches lose funding. I never quite believed it. You know how many of the people attacking us online have “pastor” in their bio? Most of the ones I have looked at. These people are paid by the donations to their church. These donations should be serving their community, not enriching the preacher.

@splashvolume Sad that I didn't see my typo until I saw a comment. 🤦‍♂️

@splashvolume Approximately. Drom whag I understand about 2/3 of this is emergency use investments and savings and 1/3 is property, assets, etc. The church counsels all members to live within your means, save for emergencies both monetarily and things like food, and they practice the same.

@realDrTT Undortunately I think there is some truth here. I don’t know the origin of this, but we even joke about it. We joke about being a “peculiar people” and I think some take it too far. “My kids name will be peculiar too!”

To my new LDS friends… Care to explain yourselves??

@jonathanplumb I agree I didn't really think it was important. But in a way I'm grateful Mike took the opportunity to proclaim his faith and I've seen some great posts over the last few days.

The whole “ThEy DiDn’T aDd ChRiStIaN tO oUr NaMe” fiasco is embarrassing. And I think it was incredibly childish of Mike Lee to make as big of a deal of it as he did. Maybe you’ll disagree. But it is what it is. We cried for 200 years to be called by our proper name. The moment they do it, we cry that they didn’t add “Christian” to it? The entire foundation of the Restoration is that we don’t want to be associated with “them.” Not to mention, BOTH the Bible and the Book of Mormon explicitly state that it was outsiders of the Church that began calling members “Christian.” It wasn’t members. The name was originally derogatory — but of course why would we be offended to be called after Christ? So early Saints embraced it. But that doesn’t change the fact that it was made to be a weapon — same as “Mormon,” which was used originally as a weapon — yet we weren’t bothered by it and embraced it. Our leaders have been very clear that we should abandon these derogatory nicknames and embrace our true names. Yet here we are fighting to claim one of these names that has been associated with so much evil throughout world history (viz. Crusades). It’s this kind of nonsense that gives our enemies ammo and distracts from the important work of the Lord. Can we just get back to sharing the gospel now and stop fighting over stupid stuff?

@SierraSamIV @joepoopie12 Who do you think is responding in defense of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Everyday members.

@joepoopie12 @Luke_ehM Well Mr. Poopie, I was just trying to say that if you pose a theological argument don’t be shocked if theologians respond

Not sure how you go from us not talking about other faiths in church to a comment from Mitt Romney. I'm sure he wasn't in church in front of the congregation when he said that. However, this kind of thing isn't what this topic is about. Other faiths, repeating lies about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in front of their congregation.

@TruthHolder2023 @Luke_ehM ... Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims.

@ThePathHQ @Andres_ond @grok King Follett Discourse is not doctrine.

@Andres_ond @Luke_ehM @grok what did Joseph smith explicitly teach about each of the questions listed above? Why do you think Mormons dodge these questions when their prophet was explicit about them?

@Leprakon76 Nope. Our tithing does a lot of good in the world. I happily pay my tithing every time I get paid.

@Luke_ehM Wait, so your argument is tithing is a bad thing?🤣😂😂😂😂😂🤔🤔🤔

@John_Stone_ x.com/jaredadairbell…

It’s inaccurate and dishonest to suggest that LDS leaders are not monetarily compensated. As you know, the highest ones are. Also, nobody feels threatened by a church that, after 200 years, still comprises less than 0.2% of the global population. People just think your theology is weird, obviously man-made, and cannot believe you can excuse your founder for marrying 14 year-old girls when he was 38 years old—more than twice their age!

I have never heard the Church claiming missionaries as employees for tax purposes so you'll need to provide some proof. As far as other responses saying "I paid my own way" and "church helps". It mostly depends on the family and the community. I was a finance clerk for a few years and we had families who had parents and grandparents for example, who donated to support a missionary. We also had single mothers who paid what she could, and the church made up the difference. On a donation slip there is an option for "General Missionary Fund".

@Luke_ehM What a crock of shit. Meanwhile you claim missionaries as employees for tax purposes while simultaneously forcing their family to pay for their missions to Djibouti.

I guess every faith loses money if it loses members. Not sure what the point is. Missionaries largely fund their own missions. If a family is struggling the church or other members will often help. If tithing goes to the pay a pastor and he serves the community, then yes, but wouldn't that same tithing go further if he wasn't being paid out of those donations?

@Luke_ehM And if tithing should always go to the community but never support spiritual leaders (who are set aside to serve the community, mind you) then you have the same problem in principle, just at a different scale

@CarlRigson I disagree they are better argued. Most of them are full of lies and made up information you find online.

@Luke_ehM They don’t feel threatened by you, it’s a Mormon conceit to think so Pastors’ criticisms are generally better argued, so they’re the ones you notice Setting aside their own testimonies, they feel compelled to teach against heresy, as a physician would against bad medical advice

@ProtoHiro1 @JackMoCoalition Utah does seem to be in trouble. I would be interested to look at research because generally I would say religion is declining in the state. So this tells me that decline in the church in Utah is probably less about the church and more about our sick culture in the country.

@JackMoCoalition @Luke_ehM Correction. It's worse than that - The downward trend in Utah, estimating self-identified LDS affiliation at roughly 42% (down from ~60% around 2020).

@Tra296 Which leaders? What is powerful? My local Bishop is just a guy who goes to work during the day and spends probably 15-20+ hours a week serving his congregation. The 12 apostles and first presidency? They go around the world talking about Jesus. Their words may be powerful.

@Luke_ehM Aren’t the leaders of your church powerful?

@Rittentweet @FischerKing64 I think you missed the point so completely it has to be intentional.

@Luke_ehM @FischerKing64 Yeah, people have a tendency to want to pull others into fake and dangerous things along with them. Then they feel justified.

I spent a chunk of my early years around Mormons and they were in general exemplary people. Solid families, friendly and open. If I had one complaint it would be aggressive proselytizing - which even happened on the school bus. But that is also a healthy sign of confidence in their way of life. Exact discussions of their theology strike me as beside the point when they frequently live more ‘Christian lives’ than men serving as Jesuit priests or leaders of prosperity gospel megachurches - which are basically a Sunday infomercial.

@robbysoave @RealDeanCain The third option is that this never happened.

I have never once in my life encountered someone expressing this sentiment. Either I live in quite a bubble, or Ezra Klein does.

@realDrTT I think this is a very unfortunate development in recent years. I think it is important to discuss issues with people who disagree so that we can find common ground, refine our thinking, be challenged on our bad takes, and get a better feel for the opposing view.

I used to be able to, yes. However, outrage culture fueled by social media has made it far more difficult. My own brother refuses to speak to me.

@TimReeves_ First I’m in the wrong business if I can sell an Articles of Faith print for almost $100. I’m curious which of our Articles of Faith you disagree with? Are there any that you actually find no disagreement with? churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptur…

@Luke_ehM Well they may have had “live, love, laugh” somewhere. Lol But what I was talking about was these: amzn.to/4gaz9iq

I’ve never… read the Book of Mormon. been to a Mormon church. read a book about Mormonism. But… I occasionally house sit for my Mormon neighbors. Their living room wall has 3 statements of faith. None align with the statements of faith my Christian Church holds.

@Bull_Moose01 I don’t gatekeep Christianity. To me the definition is simple. Believe in Jesus Christ, miraculous birth, matchless life, atonement, crucifixion, death, and resurrection, and that through him, and only through him, all mankind may be saved = Christian.

@Luke_ehM That is 💯! You idiots claim that your church is the new reform church and salvation only comes through the mormon church!!! Also, you considered everyone not Mormon not Christian—nice try.