Mormons quit church in mass resignation ceremony

[Sparko]

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...-brigham-young

A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage.
...
Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage and doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist.

Others cite inconsistencies in the Mormons' explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy. The church renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood.

[onefour1]

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...-brigham-young

A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage.
...
Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage and doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist.

Others cite inconsistencies in the Mormons' explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy. The church renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood.

It only shows that these ex-members would have been apostates also in the days of Abraham or in the days of Jesus for that matter. The church never renounced the doctrine of plural marriage but only ceased to live it by the instruction of the prophet.

[Dee Dee Warren]

That is quite some double talk.

[Sparko]

It only shows that these ex-members would have been apostates also in the days of Abraham or in the days of Jesus for that matter. The church never renounced the doctrine of plural marriage but only ceased to live it by the instruction of the prophet.

so you still think polygamy is good, you just put it aside for a while?

[Cow Poke]

It only shows that these ex-members would have been apostates also in the days of Abraham or in the days of Jesus for that matter. The church never renounced the doctrine of plural marriage but only ceased to live it by the instruction of the prophet.

Wow! Under the bus, guys! Either TBM, or scrap pile of life!

[Raphael]

so you still think polygamy is good, you just put it aside for a while?

One that vein, 141, in your opinion, what do you think the direction of the LDS would be if they started getting a number of high profile converts in a country where polygamy isn't illegal? Like South Africa or Swaziland
The South African president, Jacob Zuma has 4 wives (been married 6 times widowed once, divorced once)...and a few girlfriends.
The Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelethini has 6 wives.
The Swazi king, Mswati III has 14.

[nrajeff]

One that vein, 141, in your opinion, what do you think the direction of the LDS would be if they started getting a number of high profile converts in a country where polygamy isn't illegal? Like South Africa or Swaziland
The South African president, Jacob Zuma has 4 wives (been married 6 times widowed once, divorced once)...and a few girlfriends.
The Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelethini has 6 wives.
The Swazi king, Mswati III has 14.

I think something like that actually happened once. Don't remember it well, but there was an African village where a small LDS branch had been started, but then the missionaries got taken away, leaving the new converts to try to continue however they could. They dropped off the map or the radar or whatever metaphor you like, for years, probably decades, and no one knew what had become of them; it was probably assumed that they had gone back to their original religion. Then they were rediscovered, and it was learned that they had carried on the best they could running an LDS branch on their own, isolated from the outside world and from LDS oversight and assistance.

I may be remembering wrong, but it may be that they had gone back to some of their cultural customs, one of which was polygamy. So the church had to decide what would be best for them--to make the husbands "divorce" all but one wife, or to "grandfather" them in, or what. Memory very sketchy on that part, so don't hold me to it.

[technomage]

A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage.

Interesting. Mainstream Christianity has, of course, had several similar incidents, but it is interesting to see both the similarities and the differences.

[technomage]

Wow! Under the bus, guys! Either TBM, or scrap pile of life!

How does that differ from Christian organizations that practice shunning, in accord with 1 Cor 5:11 or Gal 6?

[Xru]

A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage.
...
Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage and doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist.

Others cite inconsistencies in the Mormons' explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy. The church renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood.

I'm not quite sure what this OP is about. Are you asking for comment about the story? Just reflections or whatever come to mind?

[Cow Poke]

How does that differ from Christian organizations that practice shunning, in accord with 1 Cor 5:11 or Gal 6?

There comes a point, of course, where it is necessary to separate problem members. However, Matt 18:15-17, for example, shows a pattern for attempting to reconcile, first. I believe we should do everything we can to restore a brother to fellowship before coming to a point where we "pitch him out" or, seemingly, rejoice in his downfall.

I think, too many times, we're a little too anxious to throw people on the scrap pile of life, when Jesus is in the "reclaiming and restoring people" business. Peter is a good example.... he cursed and swore and claimed not even to know Jesus.... Yet Jesus made it a point to restore Peter, and commissioned him to "feed my sheep".

I have known some Churches that have done the "shunning" thing. One of the "shunned" was a teenage girl who got mixed up with the wrong people, got pregnant, and was "shunned" by her Church. What she needed was love and direction -- and that can be done without condoning sin. Our Church took her in, gave her assistance in raising the baby, and she became a very vibrant part of our fellowship. Her parents, at first, were in agreement with the "shunning", but later realized how much this young lady needed their love and support and forgiveness.

Jesus seemed drawn to these troubled types.

[nrajeff]

There comes a point, of course, where it is necessary to separate problem members. However, Matt 18:15-17, for example, shows a pattern for attempting to reconcile, first. I believe we should do everything we can to restore a brother to fellowship before coming to a point where we "pitch him out" or, seemingly, rejoice in his downfall.

I think, too many times, we're a little too anxious to throw people on the scrap pile of life, when Jesus is in the "reclaiming and restoring people" business. Peter is a good example.... he cursed and swore and claimed not even to know Jesus.... Yet Jesus made it a point to restore Peter, and commissioned him to "feed my sheep".

I have known some Churches that have done the "shunning" thing. One of the "shunned" was a teenage girl who got mixed up with the wrong people, got pregnant, and was "shunned" by her Church. What she needed was love and direction -- and that can be done without condoning sin. Our Church took her in, gave her assistance in raising the baby, and she became a very vibrant part of our fellowship. Her parents, at first, were in agreement with the "shunning", but later realized how much this young lady needed their love and support and forgiveness.

Jesus seemed drawn to these troubled types.

But in the case of the "mass" exodus (150 is a mass exodus? Don't tell Moses that) in question, those "troubled souls" quit, right? We didn't kick them out or shun them. They chose to shun US. So maybe a bit of not quite analogous case.

[technomage]

There comes a point, of course, where it is necessary to separate problem members. However, Matt 18:15-17, for example, shows a pattern for attempting to reconcile, first. I believe we should do everything we can to restore a brother to fellowship before coming to a point where we "pitch him out" or, seemingly, rejoice in his downfall.

I am aware of the passage, and of the necessity for it. But I must note that, in a mainstream church, if members of that church made a public display of quitting the church for reasons of disagreement with the doctrine, the members of that church would be quite ... final in their pronunciation.

More to the point, I don't see Jeff as "rejoicing." That was a rather ... untowards accusation on your part.

[Cow Poke]

I am aware of the passage, and of the necessity for it. But I must note that, in a mainstream church, if members of that church made a public display of quitting the church for reasons of disagreement with the doctrine, the members of that church would be quite ... final in their pronunciation.

You're right.

More to the point, I don't see Jeff as "rejoicing." That was a rather ... untowards accusation on your part.

It was 141, not Jeff, but, again, I agree with you.

[OtherCheek]

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...-brigham-young

A group of about 150 Mormons quit their church in a mass resignation ceremony in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a rare display of defiance ending decades of disagreement for some over issues ranging from polygamy to gay marriage.
...
Among the reasons cited by those resigning are the church's political activism against gay marriage and doctrinal teachings that conflict with scientific findings or are perceived as racist or sexist.

Others cite inconsistencies in the Mormons' explanation of its own history, including the practice of polygamy. The church renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood.

Sounds like a publicity stunt to me. Something you would almost expect from gay-marriage supporters. As far as polygamy is concerned, the Church ended this practice over 100 years ago. But apparently news travels very slowly in some circles.