March 25-Joseph Smith DVD released

[_harmony]

harm,

What sort of Baptist "shindigs" are you thinking of?

Jersey Girl

I'm assuming Baptists have manuals, training sessions, seminaries, etc. where they teach how outreach and how to do missionary work. I doubt they or any other EV sect has LDS at the table when they develop their outreach programs.

[_moksha]

harm,
What sort of Baptist "shindigs" are you thinking of?
Jersey Girl

Hopefully one of those hoedowns or hootenannies with a lot of barbecue. Just don't make love standing up, lest they think you are (shudder) dancing.

[_Jersey Girl]

harm,

What sort of Baptist "shindigs" are you thinking of?

Jersey Girl

I'm assuming Baptists have manuals, training sessions, seminaries, etc. where they teach how outreach and how to do missionary work. I doubt they or any other EV sect has LDS at the table when they develop their outreach programs.

I see, harm. My question was in response to the EV statement that I quoted and finding an LDS comparision. Can FAIR rightfully "accuse" the makes of the video of "secrecy"? Does the LDS Church function in no ways that are "secret"? That was my point and I'm not sure if I made it or not.

Baptists do have teaching manuals, training sessions and seminars for various functions such as those for SS teachers, VBS, outreach and the like. LDS are welcome to participate (in my church at least) in, view and observe any of those. LDS would not be chosen to teach or facilitate those.

Baptists (and other Protestant churches) in my area often have "workshops" on "cults" and outreach. These are open to the public.

In your best estimation, harmony, why do you think the makers of the film didn't want the DVD to be viewed by LDS prior to a specific release date?

Jersey Girl

[_harmony]

harm,

What sort of Baptist "shindigs" are you thinking of?

Jersey Girl

I'm assuming Baptists have manuals, training sessions, seminaries, etc. where they teach how outreach and how to do missionary work. I doubt they or any other EV sect has LDS at the table when they develop their outreach programs.

I see, harm. My question was in response to the EV statement that I quoted and finding an LDS comparision. Can FAIR rightfully "accuse" the makes of the video of "secrecy"? Does the LDS Church function in no ways that are "secret"? That was my point and I'm not sure if I made it or not.

I missed your point entirely. Sorry, Jersey. The LDS church does much that is secret, and you know how I feel about that. But developing doctrine, outreach, missionary training, etc. would likely be not open to the public in most churches, for reasons that are self-evident to me. I mean, the development of training in my own agency is kept under wraps, even from the majority of the employees, until the training department is ready for roll out. I don't find that at all strange.

Baptists do have teaching manuals, training sessions and seminars for various functions such as those for SS teachers, VBS, outreach and the like. LDS are welcome to participate (in my church at least) in, view and observe any of those. LDS would not be chosen to teach or facilitate those.

But would LDS be welcome at the table when Baptist leadership was developing those tools?

Baptists (and other Protestant churches) in my area often have "workshops" on "cults" and outreach. These are open to the public.

And it's no wonder LDS don't attend. Did the Baptists and other churches invite LDS to the development of those workshops?

In your best estimation, harmony, why do you think the makers of the film didn't want the DVD to be viewed by LDS prior to a specific release date?

Jersey Girl

It would ruin the surprise. It would allow the LDS church time to mount a counterattack.

[_Seven]

In your best estimation, harmony, why do you think the makers of the film didn't want the DVD to be viewed by LDS prior to a specific release date?

Jersey Girl

I know you asked Harmony, but I think it's because they want LDS to see it and don't want it labeled "anti Mormon" before they do. Before you know it, there will be an e-mail campaign going around asking members to not view the video and telling LDS it's Satan working against the church. I predict I will get an e-mail about this movie within the next few weeks from a Mormon warning me against it, just like the Martha Beck book, Big Love, etc.

[_Jersey Girl]

In your best estimation, harmony, why do you think the makers of the film didn't want the DVD to be viewed by LDS prior to a specific release date?

Jersey Girl

I know you asked Harmony, but I think it's because they want LDS to see it and don't want it labeled "anti Mormon" before they do. Before you know it, there will be an e-mail campaign going around asking members to not view the video and telling LDS it's Satan working against the church. I predict I will get an e-mail about this movie within the next few weeks from a Mormon warning me against it, just like the Martha Beck book, Big Love, etc.

Thanks, Seven,

The letter quoted states why:

"Why such extreme caution? If the leadership of the Mormon cult
learns of our plans, they will publicly instruct their people not
to watch the video and many Mormons will blindly obey."

Do you think that the reason for the caution was valid?

Jersey Girl

[_Runtu]

Thanks, Seven,

The letter quoted states why:

"Why such extreme caution? If the leadership of the Mormon cult
learns of our plans, they will publicly instruct their people not
to watch the video and many Mormons will blindly obey."

Do you think that the reason for the caution was valid?

Jersey Girl

That's preposterous. They know damn well that when they blanketed Utah with Baptists going door to door, the church encouraged its members to engage in friendly dialog. They are just trying to reinforce the idea that Mormons are all just mindless sheep following the whims of an evil leadership.

[_Jersey Girl]

Good luck reading my reply here, harm!

harm,

What sort of Baptist "shindigs" are you thinking of?

Jersey Girl

I'm assuming Baptists have manuals, training sessions, seminaries, etc. where they teach how outreach and how to do missionary work. I doubt they or any other EV sect has LDS at the table when they develop their outreach programs.

I see, harm. My question was in response to the EV statement that I quoted and finding an LDS comparision. Can FAIR rightfully "accuse" the makes of the video of "secrecy"? Does the LDS Church function in no ways that are "secret"? That was my point and I'm not sure if I made it or not.

I missed your point entirely. Sorry, Jersey. The LDS church does much that is secret, and you know how I feel about that. But developing doctrine, outreach, missionary training, etc. would likely be not open to the public in most churches, for reasons that are self-evident to me. I mean, the development of training in my own agency is kept under wraps, even from the majority of the employees, until the training department is ready for roll out. I don't find that at all strange.

Jersey Girl: You use the phrase "self evident" here. I agree with you on that. I don't find it strange at all that such publications would be prepared privately by a group. The statement from FAIR seems to think that's an issue, where I think it's simply SOP for any such group.

Baptists do have teaching manuals, training sessions and seminars for various functions such as those for SS teachers, VBS, outreach and the like. LDS are welcome to participate (in my church at least) in, view and observe any of those. LDS would not be chosen to teach or facilitate those.

But would LDS be welcome at the table when Baptist leadership was developing those tools?

Jersey Girl: I think that ex-LDS who were like minded in wanting to see LDS outreached might be. Otherwise, my answer is no.

Baptists (and other Protestant churches) in my area often have "workshops" on "cults" and outreach. These are open to the public.

And it's no wonder LDS don't attend. Did the Baptists and other churches invite LDS to the development of those workshops?

Jersey Girl: But LDS do sometimes attend, harmony. My answer to workshop development would be the same as I gave above.

In your best estimation, harmony, why do you think the makers of the film didn't want the DVD to be viewed by LDS prior to a specific release date?

Jersey Girl

It would ruin the surprise. It would allow the LDS church time to mount a counterattack.

Jersey Girl: The letter stated why:

"Why such extreme caution? If the leadership of the Mormon cult
learns of our plans, they will publicly instruct their people not
to watch the video and many Mormons will blindly obey."

I haven't seen any warning not to watch the video by the church or FAIR. I do see a FAIR pre-emptive strike and I have to say that I think it's to tell the membership what to think about it. The reason I say that is because when LDS are asked what they think about this on the boards, I see them referring to the FAIR response.

Jersey Girl

[_Gazelam]

I don't think any of the seminars given by Baptists, Mormons, whoever are private or hidden. They distribute an invite among their own, and usually encourage their members attending to bring a friend.

I went with a Christian friend of mine to two of his classes. One was on Missionary work and the other was on in depth Bible study. I found them both interesting as they were from a non-Mormon perspective. I even had a nice conversation before one of the classes with the minister/teacher that I really enjoyed.

There are a number of outreach programs between the Mormon Church and evangelical chritians. Robert Millet has written a book with one of them and its available at Deseret, although it is not published through the church, merely made available through the Bookstore. It addresses the doctrinal discussions betwen the two groups. Its called "A Different Jesus" and I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the gap between the two faiths.

Gaz

[_Jason Bourne]

This story broke on MAD a few weeks ago (ironically the MAD board actually linked to SamueltheUtahnite's blog, who broke the story even earlier). I thought it was hilarious that Sam was getting all that publicity from the MAD board.

If you guys in Utah get this DVD return and report.

I live no where near Utah and had someone stop by my house with this DVD today. I was not home and my wife sent them packing. I would have liked to see the DVD. I guess lots of homes in my area got it and the people passing it out left it on doors of people were not home.