Elder Dallin H. Oaks: Religious Freedom At Risk (Full Interview) 10/13/09

[byusoftball17]

Elder Oaks you're the best! Explained this greatly! You put in words exactly what occurred where I live in California during prop 8.

[ahay321]

@EsClayWilson Homosexuality is an abomination to God. Read the scriptures. The old testament calls it an abomination. The apostle Paul calls it "vile". Homosexuality is temptation & sin and must be resisted. It is the carnal man that must be overcome. Jesus taught that even thinking adulterous thoughts make you an adulterer. The solution is to repent and fight the temptations of homosexuality and carnal sexual desires. Sex is only permitted in between a husband and wife legally married.

[schellenberg1]

@ahay321 I sometimes wish I could see life as a grand narrative with strict boundaries and rules like you do, unfortunately I am inescapably aware of the real world. Perhaps you should open your eyes and attempt to overcome your insecurity-based fantasies.

[broncofan57]

@ahay321 Hey man i am with you 100%!the problem is this.I speak out against this ALL the time.I do it in the most NON judgemental,most loving and compassionate way I can think of,looking for the guidance of the spirit.Then I am immediatly,attacked,have words put in my mouth,labeled,judged,told I hate them etc. I dont hate them,i am just standing up for morals and God.People living in sin want to justify it and will go to GREAT lengths and low tacticts to do it.You cant change them.Sad..

[rebelnomo]

@zubDabber Don't forget the internet. It is very easy to now find legitimate information about whether or not a church is telling historically accurate 'doctrine' .

[ahay321]

@rebelnomo And don't forget to study the scriptures to tell if those internet 'doctrines' are scripturally supported. Take polygamy for example, the LDS church is constantly under fire due to the practice of polygamy in the past, but if you read the SCRIPTURES you will see the practice of polygamy was scripturally justified at certain times in history ie during old testament times and 1800s..But not today. You will also learn that God can introduce new laws and abolish old laws.

[MrGmarshall41]

How does Religious Freedom diminish if it is in the Constitution and it is a civil liberty to worship who and how they may? Is the Government removing this liberty? Legal protection, I thought Religious Freedom was protected by the Constitution?

[GunClingingPalin]

/watch?v=C5YC0t75yLE Joel Skousen - Tea Party Deception.. Joel tells how to keep the movement clean of Evil influence and how to spot it.

[solowookie]

@EsClayWilson there is a big difference between condoning, and sympathizing. we all have our own sins to battle, and we are very sympathetic with the inappropriate tendencies of every human as we have ours as well. what we do not / cannot do is condone the actions that we feel are not appropriate.

this has everything to do with religious freedom, and if you don't believe that is true your both ignorant and short sited. do some more research this is a fact.

[jgdmlw]

If ramming their insane superstition down everyone's throat is religious freedom, time to end religious freedom. Listen to Irreliosophy podcast or visit them online for their ex-mormon take on things.

[solowookie]

@EsClayWilson you could not of expressed my point any better. they have a religious belief, and the definition of being driving by morals is 'went out of our way to piss people off'... thanks for proving my point you stated perfectly well that it will turn into suppression of religious freedom.

[solowookie]

@EsClayWilson dishonest paranoid nonsense? watch the future this is what you will see LGBT and HRC bullying religions (already happening). new definition of homophobic, bigot, etc includes somebody with a religious belief it is sin that is drawing the battle lines in a way which is directed at destroying freedom of religion, and expecting all to condone the lifestyle.

[jgdmlw]

Someone burned a cross on a mormon's lawn?

[12jownbey3]

This man is speaking about what the founders of this great country were trying to protect. AWESOME!

Don't be intimidated, or in other words "Be not Ashamed" !

[FireYourJOB]

This country NeeDS more GooD men and women like ElDer Oaks

[FireYourJOB]

Mitt Romney Will be PresiDent in 2013......

[Slimane649]

Well, he exagerates.

[omiolo]

The other would be former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who fell far short of the prize in 2008, but whose legendary self-discipline has put him in a strong position for 2012.

The trouble is that Romney has already declared war on secular America. In December 2007, you may recall, he delivered a speech in which he defended his Mormon religion at a time when he was under assault from evangelical Christians. It was, in many respects, a sensible plea for religious tolerance.

[omiolo]

If not treated immediately, the leg eventually would become infected with gangrene from the dying muscles and ultimately need to be amputated.

The team of LDS volunteer doctors at the Centrale Ward chapel recommended the man seek immediate attention at the nearby Sacred Heart Central Hospital, where another handful of the church's medical team also were working.

[omiolo]

There, volunteer doctors and nurses from the church's team of American doctors sent to Haiti on a humanitarian mission this week made their diagnosis: The man was suffering from compartment syndrome in his leg; a compound fracture was cutting off the arterial blood supply, resulting in painful swelling and pressure.

[Starvalleybotany]

I listened to Elder Oaks' talk on BYU-Idaho radio & I thought a lot of it was thought provoking & understandable. Unfortunately he paints the Church (& some other churches) out as being victimized by some imaginary gay thugs who were out there while at the same time conveniently ignoring the fact that there were many gay people who were either emotionally and some who were physically injured by religiously motivated prop 8 supporters I'm planning on seeing the Sundance Movie on Prop 8.

[loqutor]

And here I was, hoping that the gay rights movement had outgrown the adolescent tantrum phase.

[Rockymtntruth]

LOL - you're very funny.

[loqutor]

If harassing Mormons on their way to church and vandalizing Institute classrooms isn't a mark of extreme immaturity, what is?

[Reeder113]

Renting clothing and purchasing food to eat (because many of the people who work in the temple are there all day) are not "money-making" intentions. The money goes to pay for the food and clothing, nothing more.

The food and clothing have to be purchased, somehow. Its certainly better than stealing it, wouldn't you agree?

[Rockymtntruth]

Of course the food and the clothing have to be purchased. It would be better that the Church membership grew the food and made the clothing themselves however. Self sufficiency. I have heard that you can't even make your own temple clothing anymore as the Church stopped that.

I wish Mormonism would return to a more agricultural culture instead of like a big corporation. Some of the most tremendous breakthroughs and revelations occurred during the Church's agricultural days.

[Tami77100]

oh, and I agree with you on self-sufficiency. It is just wisdom for the whole world around to be self-sufficient. However, technology is available and we are blessed with "short cuts" per se so that we may focus on further education, service, etc and not solely survival.

[Rockymtntruth]

Tami77100 we have major problems in this country of ours with our farm land being turned into tract housing. This trend has got to stop. Technology can't save us. Only if we work with nature. The D&C supports this. We can learn alot from nature.

[Tami77100]

I'm not quite convinced that there were amazing breakthroughs because people were in an "agricultural day" era per se. I believe there were breakthroughs because truth was being restored to the earth, ideas and revelations that were lost after the death of the ancient apostles.But, if I were you, I'd examine closely the recent speeches given by these men of God.I think you may be surprised to find that the revelations may at times seem subtle,but they are there. God still talks to us today.

[Rockymtntruth]

Tami77100 these folks who lived during the good old days were very close to nature. They watched the sun the phases of the moon and paid much closer attention to the signs of nature in order to plant crops at a good time and when to harvest at the best time. They lived in a slower fashion. I have heard the leaders give deeply inspiring talks and inspired counsel and advice. I think our noisy modern technological world makes it more difficult to hear the Spirit. There are so many distractions

[Rockymtntruth]

notwithu2 the Church has always striven to teach these principles but it has not always acted on them. The Church is made up of humans who make mistakes.  Only God is perfect not man.

[Rockymtntruth]

krisqo8 you'll probably be surprised when I tell you that I believe Brigham Young was a prophet of God. I also know he was a man who was human just like all of us. He was influenced by the same bigotry that permeated the majority of society at the time. The Church was a microcosm of the greater society. Joseph Smith, Jr. was the only one who seemed to be able to transcend that weakness as he ordained more than one black man. The Church took a few steps backward after his martyrdom.

[krisqo8]

That did take me by shock actually. I'm a late responder sometimes. I've read a lot of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith, and yes, I've wondered about some of Brigham's assertions. I know he was a Prophet too, but yes, best said, a mortal like us all and susceptible to frailty. Blacks have struggled for years and years to find a place of equality in this world and I believe God is more than aware of this. I believe firmly that in a world that hated them, this church still has their hope.

[krisqo8]

Brigham Young did say some tough statements that I have a hard time swallowing. I can only speculate (which isn't always safe, but is logical), he shared his opinion at moments and didn't speak as a prophet. God has blessed certain tribes in the human family in different ways, the bible manifests this, but in the end all advantages will be welded together for all to partake of equally. When a White person merges with a Black person, is their scientific grounds for a disadvantage healthwise?

[krisqo8]

I have no idea on that last comment I made, but just speculation. I've heard some people talk about the lower life expectancy of a child who has come from a white and black parent. I'm not sure if there is scientific basis for this thought, but just wondering if Brigham might have been referring to the health of the body from interracial marriage or union. I'm just as curious.

[Rockymtntruth]

krisqo8 I don't think there is any evidence of interracial marriage producing children with a shorter life expectancy. I've even read that our genes are not much different at all between white and black. Brigham Young was also a product of his time and when you think about it pretty much all of the United States was steeped in bigoted views about black folks back then. I'm sure that Brigham Young had to extricate himself from the most extreme forms of bigotry like most would have then.

[Jacksonholenativ]

Republicans & Ron Paul Libertarians have been doing the kind of intimidation during their Tea Party mob rallies that is reprehensible as well. When Elder Oaks speaks of intimidation during the Civil Rights era and compares it to the minority cases (very rare) of intimidation (backlash) from the prop 8 case in California; he is standing on shaky ground in the light of LDS history of bigotry toward black people of African descent especially prior to 1978.

[krisqo8]

The entire Protestant movement in the early history of this country demonstrated forms of bigotry and condescending idealogy towards the African-American people. It's a sad history. The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS is not a Protestant Christian religion and never rendered an attitude of bigotry towards them. The Priesthood issue was in regards to certain periods of time when certain tribes of Israel (reference the Bible) were allowed the Priesthood. Levi, Ephraim, etc. All had their time

[Rockymtntruth]

This is very true about many of the Protestants especially during the days of yore, however when you say "the Church of Jesus Christ...never rendered an attitude of bigotry toward them." Here is Brigham Young on the issue. "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p.110)

[Rockymtntruth]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which is the largest Church of the Restoration Movement is the only one of the two largest Churches of the movement to enact a priesthood ban on black men of African descent. The Reorganized LDS (now the Community of Christ) did not deny priesthood to black men.

[BrianTerrill]

You can't deny someone something that you don't posses. The Community of Christ never had the priesthood. Priesthood leaders that formed the Community of Christ were already excommunicated from our church.

[Rockymtntruth]

BrianTerril if you knew your history you would understand that Joseph Smith, Jr. NEVER denied the priesthood to black men of African descent. I invite you to show me any proof (hard facts from primary historical sources) to prove otherwise. The Reorganized LDS only followed what Joseph was teaching as they (whether it was wise or not) did not follow Brigham Young. Your statement about them ALL being excommunicated is another invitation to back up your claim with hard factual evidence.

[BrianTerrill]

I never said Joseph Smith denied black men the priesthood. I said that the Community of Christ never could deny someone something they never had, the priesthood.

And no, the Reorganized church did not teach what Joseph taught, and in fact today they spend a great deal of time trying to distance themselves from him without making it look too obvious.

[BrianTerrill]

ALL priesthood holders who ordained Joseph Smith III in 1860 to his office were excommunicated members of our church.  Do you need names? William Smith, Jason Biggs, Zenas H. Gurley, and William Marks

[Rockymtntruth]

Likely excommunicated by order of Brigham Young and the RLDS (Community of Christ) does not believe he had the authority to do that so it all depends on your point of view. The RLDS also did not believe in polygamy either.

[BrianTerrill]

Who cares what the RLDS church thinks, they were made up of excommunicated priesthood holders and their church quite frankly is a joke right now as evidence of that

[Rockymtntruth]

Prove that their Church is "a joke" Brian Terril. Your religious bigotry toward other faith's is very apparent in that statement.

[BrianTerrill]

You can call it bigotry all you want, the fact is that church is a joke. Take the gay issue itself, the President of their church ordains gay people to be priesthood holders and the church changes their minds, they still can't decide if gays should hold the priesthood or not. That is just one point that proves it a joke (note when I say gays I'm talking about active gays)

[Rockymtntruth]

Prove that statement about the RLDS going back and forth on gays and the priesthood.

[BrianTerrill]

If you don't know that the RLDS church has gone back and forth on gays in the priesthood, that's your problem. I'm not going to prove anything to someone who can't do their own research.

[Rockymtntruth]

LOL I know that BrianTerrel likely gave me the thumbs down on asking me to backup his statements with facts. Obviously he has a problem with being called out on his statements.

[BrianTerrill]

Want some more jokes, how about their temple, that's a joke. Am I being respectful? The whole revelation behind that attacks our temple practices. Oh and their temple is complete with a gift shop. Can you say MONEYCHANGERS

[Rockymtntruth]

Also regarding the "gift shop" btw LDS Temples have cafeterias and they charge the members for temple clothes if they don't have them. It all has to do with intent. That's what God looks at. I know the intention is not to do wrong.

[BrianTerrill]

Ahh, their intent is to make money, that is their intent, it is wrong. Gift shops sell merchandise, Jesus was against using the temple as a place of merchandise. Like I said, that church is a joke.

[BrianTerrill]

Tea Parties are not mob rallies. They are patriotic Americans seeing that the IRS has taken America hostage and are left unaccountable because of people like you.

There is a difference between striking fear in the government to check their tyrannical actions and intimidating religious groups or people from voting their conscious. Intimidating the government is a part of a free society, intimidating voters is something the KKK, the gays and the government does.

[Rockymtntruth]

BrianTerrill your screaming at the government and the repts that we the people have elected and telling us that the government that represents us is tyrannical. That's not only extreme that's just bullshit. Keep screaming & making an idiot out of yourself at a tea party all the while the Huge Corporations (esp. the Banks) continue robbing us, getting more corrupt and placing more Americans out on the street. The Chicago protests are far more sensible than the Tea Party joke.

[BrianTerrill]

"That's not only extreme that's just bullshit. Keep screaming & making an idiot out of yourself at a tea party all the while the Huge Corporations (esp. the Banks) continue robbing us, getting more corrupt and placing more Americans out on the street. The Chicago protests are far more sensible than the Tea Party joke."

How about you libs get your facts up to snuff before coming after us "tea partiers". Ron Paul has been the only Congressman at the Federal Reserve's neck for a long time

[BrianTerrill]

Your Elected and anointed Official Barak Hussein Obama along with Geroge W. Bush both supported the bank bailouts, not the tea party crowed.

[krisqo8]

I came in late on this one LOL. Well it can always get heated on these subjects, people have been fighting for years on this topic. I think you both have good points, but Brian you'll never convince someone if you can feel the anger through your words. Well this is youtube I guess and not some formal discussion on religion seminar, heh. So an example of Black Leadership, Elder Sitati of Ghana Africa is a General Authority of the church. I'll admit they are few on the General level, local no