President Obama met with with Mormon president Thomas S. Monson today, a meeting that was prompted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who is Mormon. Monson presented Obama with a breakdown of his family history.
"I enjoyed my meeting with President Monson and Elder Oaks. I'm grateful for the genealogical records that they brought with them and am looking forward to reading through the materials with my daughters," Obama said in a statement. "It's something our family will treasure for years to come."
The Salt Lake Tribune gives some background for the visit. Two church leaders attended Obama's inauguration and attended the a prayer service at the National Cathedral the next day. Former President George W. Bush stopped in Utah twice during his last term to talk with church officials.
Update: Here's the press release from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on July 20, 2009 2:43PM
Comments
Why is the president meeting with this cult? What is He going to do next, meet with satanists?
Posted by: Tim at July 21, 2009
FYI: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
is NOT a cult. Do some research before you make off the wall comments.
Posted by: Brenda at July 21, 2009
Tim's comment was completely out of line, even if the LDS church were a cult. Whether a cult or not, however, the LDS church is completely out of line with Biblical Christianity, which has often needed reformation but never restoration.
Posted by: Kevin N at July 21, 2009
The LDS and its aberrant offshoots are indeed a non-Christian heretical sect (some would justifiably say 'cult')that makes outrageous claims for itself that totally contradict the revealted Word and Holy Gospel of the real Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Anyone doing thier research would discover that they elevate the questionable, plate-inspired, angel-of-light "Moroni" writings (Book of Mormon)far above the canonical and only divinely inspired Holy Scriptures (OT and NT) of the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The fact is, they regard the true Christian church as false and apostate and consider themselves the only true believers on earth. Imagine that; The Lord Yahweh waited until the 1800's for spiritualist-seeking Joseph Smith to appear to finally reveal His truths to the world; NOT! As far as President Obama, he is President of the Mormoms too, and should not be attacked for extending a courtesy audience to Majority Leader Reid and his LDS leadership. It means nothing but democratic political back-slapping. Do not read more than this into this visit.
Posted by: Carlos at July 21, 2009
As long as he doesn't get in bed with these cultist folks. I'm good!
Brenda and Kevin - If you are in this cult. You had better get out.
Do your research!
Posted by: Tim at July 22, 2009
Honestly, I am embarrassed by some of the outlandish, and quite frankly un-Christian, comments made by some in the “Comments columns†of Christianity Today. I am not a Mormon, never intend to become one, but they are for the most part God fearing men and women. The President is President of all the people: Jews, Muslims, gays, circus clowns, what have you; he is President of all.
Posted by: Jim M Roane at July 22, 2009
I'm listening to all your comments. Mine is that I just feel so sorry for the LDS friends. They are so fooled by their church and need to come to faith in Christ alone.
Posted by: Kent at July 22, 2009
Leave it to the Christians to take an article about the president meeting with someone and turn it into an opportunity to proclaim their own righteousness and someone else's heresy. It's baffling how people aren't falling over themselves to become Christ-followers, isn't it?!? (That last line needs to be read with a thick sarcastic tone.)
We all have one thousand heresies within us at any one time. What about the plank-eye verses again?
Posted by: Bart Wang at July 23, 2009
Why Obama's meeting with the LDS is such a big deal? Obama meets with all sorts of people. Except common folk like me, haha.
As for the LDS, they are not Christian.
Posted by: hs at July 23, 2009
Quote: It's baffling how people aren't falling over themselves to become Christ-followers, isn't it?!? (That last line needs to be read with a thick sarcastic tone.) Unquote
Because people don't want to face their sins and repent. Christians point out your sins so that you can repent of them, not to make ourselves look better than anyone else. We are sinners just the same. The difference is that we have faced our sins, repented, and trusted in Christ alone. We hope that others will do the same.
Posted by: Snave at July 26, 2009
Snave wrote:
"Because people don't want to face their sins and repent. Christians point out your sins so that you can repent of them, not to make ourselves look better than anyone else. We are sinners just the same. The difference is that we have faced our sins, repented, and trusted in Christ alone. We hope that others will do the same."
Are you facing your sin of arrogance, self-righteousness and placing yourself on God's throne? That is why Christians point out the sins of others - because we are sinning ourselves.
Jesus publicly judged those who declared themselves righteous before God and people, the religious leaders of the day. Paul only suggested we judge other Christians (and then in the context of loving, intimate community). We have not been given permission to judge non-Christians. I'm pretty sure the Holy Spirit is active in doing that. We work against Him when we try to point out the sins of non-Christians when we are not in a loving, close relationship with a person and God has not explicitly told us to speak.
If I told you that you were sinning and that my motivation was because I wasn't sinning, would you listen to what I had to say? Because I have within this message. How did that make you feel?
Posted by: Bart Wang at July 27, 2009
I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so yes, I am definitely Christian in belief and I hope to be a true Christian in my love and service for others. That's why I'm here enjoying this site as well.
Our 11th Article of Faith says, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." Any time your religious rights are endangered, you're likely to find the LDS Church filing a Friend of the Court brief on your behalf.
I hope President Obama and President Monson had a great visit. I would imagine that despite deep disagreements on the moral issues you probably also care about, they probably found common ground on matters of compassion and service. I hope our US presidents all visit Salt Lake City. It's always an eye-opener for leaders to tour an entire city block dedicated to welfare needs, and learn out how it is that we organize ourselves around the world, and how we can ship supplies to a natural disaster on a day's notice. If you ever have a problem like that, you'll probably find us right there supporting the Red Cross and so many wonderful faith-based organizations that we support, and it might surprise you that some of your good friends are among us. And we'd feed, clothe, and shelter you even if you don't believe we're Christian.
Posted by: Gwyn at July 30, 2009
i think that gwyn just kicked some booty. good job, gwyn.
Posted by: katie at October 7, 2009
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