| Mormons and Catholics, Same Game |
| I recently spent a week during 4 days in Utah and visited the center of Mormon religion, the Temple/Tabernacle compound downtown. The wealth and opulence stuck me, but also the similarities to the Catholic Religion. The downtown was clean and really nice looking, the compound surrounded by a very high wall was immaculate. The people were friendly as long as you might be convertible, the minute it was clear that you would not, they were gone. The young girl in the north visitor center was well groomed and pleasant, but seemed almost in a glazed over state. My name and where I was from passed right through her like the wind. They appeared to use a lot of young attractive females and fewer males. A tactic that the cult of "The Way" used on me in the early seventies. Pretty girls attract young males, not being young and also being married made me resistant to their tempting ways. The miniature model of Jerusalem was fantastic though, amazing what unbridled wealth can buy. They even had a whole room devoted to patting themselves on the back for giving. The Bible doesn't like that. I grew up Catholic so I know the Catholic Church also very well. Here's what I noticed: Both churches are extremely wealthy and the whole religion seems to revolve around wealth Mormons like very opulent churches, so do Catholics They think the Mormon President is a prophet merely by election, Catholics think the pope is infallible merely by election. Both violate the 2nd commandment of no graven idols, and both think they are not violating it. Graven images are everywhere. Catholic Priests like to be called "Father" and Nuns like to be called "sister," Mormon's demand to be called "elder" and "sister." Catholics have the Vatican, Mormons have the Salt Lake City Temple. Both members do pilgrimages to them. Both are walled compounds. Both don't like evangelicals. Both place control very high on the ladder of membership. Both seemed fixated on titles and positions in the church. Only Mormons with a card can enter the main Temple, Catholics also are restricted on entering the Vatican. Fancy professional dress seems to be desired for attendance in both churches. Both like to advertise what they do for all to admire. Now lets look at Evangelicals! Jesus is know to everyone by His first name, and we call each other by our first names. We allow anyone in our churches, no card necessary We follow the 2nd commandment and try to have no graven images in our Churches. You can wear shorts to church and that's okay. You do not have to pilgrimage to anywhere to belong. Titles are usually non-existent. We believe we are ALL sinners like the Bible tells us, not perfect. Our churches are usually plain,sometimes in shopping malls and homes with at least 3 members like the Bible says. Control is loose, most pitch in when they can. Gifting in the Evangelical Church is always voluntary and no amount is required, as the Bible says. .........And most of all we like evangelicals!!! Why Priests should be married: 1 Timothy 3:2, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" Good list of doctrinal differences |