Before I begin, I need to make it clear that I am not an official spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I’m just a lowly member living in my home state of Nevada. Also, how a person lives their religion is a very personal thing, but every religion has rules and standards and leaders with which they said they would follow. If you don’t want to follow them, then find one you can. The words you are about to read are harsh, similar to those spoken to a traitor to our country. These are not peacful words spoken to invite others to listen to the doctrine of the church and they may offend many. My sincerest apologies to them, but the truth needs to be spoken. Unfortunately I cannot speak edifying words of encouragement at the same time I must speak to a person of power, who I believe has misused that power. For non-members of the church who wish to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, please go to www.Mormon.org for a far more appealing and uplifting message of hope, peace, restoration and salvation in a chaotic world.
Because of the length of my message to explain my reasoning, and the advice from some friends, I am giving you my 7 reasons right up front. I encourage you to read the rest of my post and truly understand the details as I have spent a LOT of time on this. I want to be clear on some very specific and important issues that many people will not have heard before. I can no longer sit back and watch what I see happening in our country and not say something! Hopefully I can help people realize just who I believe they are really being asked to vote for, and who may or may not be the person portrayed in his million dollar ads.
Here is my list of the 7 reasons why I will not be supporting Harry Reid as Senator of the great state of Nevada (you will find these are far more poignant after reading the rest of the article below):
- He has ignored the advice and counsel of the living prophet of God, which he says he follows.
- He supports ideologies that will reduce the freedom of our country and set up a Ruling Class of Socialism to spread the wealth.
- He is purposely promoting the destruction of our economy for political gain.
- He has committed Treason by giving the enemy ammunition against our own troops fighting in the field.
- Like Saul of old, he has been corrupted by power. He now seeks only to maintain that power no matter what the cost, and now resorts to political corruption to maintain his standing and get his way.
- He ignores the wishes of those whom he is over in his home state.
- He has served long enough in this position and it is time he turn it over to new blood. He is a perfect example of why we need term limits on those who serve in Congress and the Senate!
Now, lets get into the details:
To understand the positions I’m about to reiterate it is important that you be aware of a number of teachings and doctrines of the LDS church as I understand them. You may or may not wish to hear some of these things but I hope you will be open to these revelations. They are at the heart of the reason so many members of the Church are also not voting for Harry Reid. Why say you believe something with all of your heart and do the complete opposite for political gain? Is that not a perfect definition of hypocrisy?
First of all, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has as its foundational scriptures the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. We also have the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price, all of which came through the inspiration of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We claim that the church is the Restoration of that same church established by Jesus long ago but which was destroyed with the death of his chosen apostles.
We also lay claim to having a living prophet on the earth today who is currently Thomas S. Monson. His authority is no different than Abraham, Moses or Isaiah of old and speaks God’s will today. There are numerous examples in the Bible of people who have gone against the leadership of prophets during that time. Similar stories are contained within the Book of Mormon. History itself is replete with examples of those who decided to do things their own way and ignored leadership directives and official teachings. In every case it has brought problems, shame, death and more importantly, the loss of intended heavenly help by following that advice. I will explain that in a moment.
Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty
There is one particular story in the Book of Mormon that I think has great relevance to us today (among many!). In 61 B.C., in the midst of a terrible war between the Nephites and the Lamanites (two warring factions who had been fighting for around 500 years by this time), a group of people decided that this would be a good time to take advantage of the situation and set up a different form of government, one run by a king. They refused to give their support to their own nations’ armies and in fact, pledged allegiance to the opposing forces if they would be allowed to become the Kings and leaders of their own people once the opposing army overtook them. They called themselves King-men and the people called Freemen, who wanted to maintain a free country, opposed them. The great Captain Moroni saw what was happening and rallied the nation behind a flag entitled, “the Title of Liberty”. Under his leadership the Freemen ended up overcoming these King-men and defeating the opposing army keeping the country free. You may read this story on pages 354 through 366 in the Book of Mormon.
It is my opinion that Harry Reid is part of a similar group today who seeks to establish a ruling class over our country. They have either caused or are taking advantage of our current economic malaise to put forth a political agenda that will lead to the destruction of liberty of the people in this country.
During the Iraq war while our men and women were fighting for our country and the freedom of the Iraqi’s, Harry Reid said, “this war is lost” in order to bring down George Bush and promote his own parties ideas! That was nothing short of unforgiveable and even treasonous! Whether you agree with the war or not, you NEVER give the enemy ammunition in any form to fight our own soldiers! He should be removed or impeached from office for such a statement!
Harry Reid, in the name of “politics,” fed politicians from other states at the trough of the American people’s money to gain their vote for his programs. The disastrous “health care bill” is the perfect example of someone who will purchase the allegiance of leaders in Nebraska, Florida, Louisiana (and who knows how many other states!), with anything they wish as long as he can get their vote. This is nothing short of political corruption, yet he thought nothing of it and said it was just what politicians do!
I cannot vote for someone who has resorted to such tactics to get his way; who is purposely destroying our economy and who supports any other country or belief to demoralize our troops for political gain!
(If you are even the slightest bit interested in the Book of Mormon and what it reveals about our future, you will find that a group called the “Gadianton Robbers” are what destroyed the people of the time and also the nation before the Nephites. Just know that it is similar to Mafia-like gangs and corrupt politicians working together in a secret society, which ended up causing its destruction. It is prophesied that it will destroy us too in a Civil War if we are not careful, and not a terrorist attack like we are so worried about today. I urge you to read it because it was written for our day! It’s not too late to change the direction we are heading!)
Point number two: This may be fairly deep doctrine for many of you and something, which the majority will have never heard before. One of the basic tenets of the Mormon Church is that we believe that we all lived with God before we were born onto this earth. It’s called the “pre-mortal life” and where you and I were born as spirits to heavenly parents. We are all brothers and sisters, children of God. In a pre-mortal council our Heavenly Father proposed a plan whereby we may become like him. That plan entailed the creation of an earth where we may obtain these precious physical bodies and be allowed the freedom to choose our course and reap the benefits or consequences of those decisions. We needed to be tried and tested here to experience the required growth, without memory of where we came from or who we really are and thus totally free to choose.
Jehovah is Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer
Because God knows all things and cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, he made it possible for us to repent of the inevitable mistakes and sins we would commit. This plan required a Savior whereupon all of our sins would be vicariously placed so mercy could be extended to those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. If we decided to accept that atonement on our behalf, we could be forgiven, otherwise we would be subject to the fullness of Justice and unable to return to His presence. He chose his firstborn Son in that pre-mortal council as our savior. His name was Jehovah who became known as Jesus Christ after his birth as prophesied.
One of Heavenly Father’s other sons then spoke up and offered an alternative plan. Recognizing that many of those spirits would not return to live with Heavenly Father because of the choices they would make, and desiring a greater standing for himself, Lucifer said that he had a better idea. He said (paraphrasing), “I will go down and make sure that no one makes any mistakes. No one will be lost and I will force everyone to make it back to live with you again. If you (the other spirits) follow Jesus, there will be great wars, diseases, death, injustice and sin. I will make sure that none of this happens and because I’m going to do this great thing, God, I deserve your power. I am doing this for You! I deserve Your honor because of this difficult thing I am willing to do!” He then appealed to the rest of his brothers and sisters to choose his plan instead of the Father’s.
Lucifer’s plan required the removal of free agency–the freedom to choose that which we were willing or wanted to do. Free agency was so important that God said, “I choose the first” and thus began a War in Heaven. This war lasted for some time until the final deciding vote came and those who chose to follow Lucifer were thrust out of His presence. They were never allowed to obtain these priceless physical bodies with which we have, and Lucifer became Satan, our enemy and tempter. It is said that one third of all God’s children followed Satan, fell from their standing and lost their potential for any future growth.
Many of the liberal ideologies of our day are just a continuation of Satan’s plan. The War in Heaven has just changed locations and is now fought here in our mortal existence. To use such phrases as “no one left behind” or “we will take care of you from cradle to grave” are right out of his handbook. To seek to control other people’s lives and receive the praise and adoration of the masses while being paid more because of your status, are also similar tactics. To seek a redistribution of wealth out of “fairness” is also a major tactic he uses. While there are many things that are wrong in this world and certainly unjust, there must be free agency. If there was no opposition, we could not grow or understand the significance of wrong choices and the consequences thereof.
It is my personal belief that Harry Reid promotes many of these ideologies. His words are plenteous and need not be repeated here. Sadly, oftentimes when someone has been in power, it goes to their head and the only way to maintain that power is to support and promote dogmas similar to Lucifer’s. I’m very wary of anyone who can whip up the masses into a frenzy of emotion and injustice while promising to fix everything! I’ve already heard this argument before! We all have! It was shouted in the pre-mortal councils before we were born. We all chose God the Father’s plan. Satan’s plan didn’t work then and it can never work here in mortality. America was set up as a free society for a purpose and when its freedom is removed, so is its purpose and ability to further God’s work in these the last days. I cannot vote for someone who continues to promote a plan I already voted against. No matter how “fair” it sounds, Socialism has never worked in all the times it has been tried in the history of the world! Socialism’s purpose is to set up a ruling class that is “above” the masses, who are therefore paid more because of their “benevolence” and supposed desire to make things “fair” by spreading the wealth and destroying the freedom of the people.
I cannot vote for someone who supports such a plan.
My Final Point: The levels of morality of our country have deteriorated rapidly over the last couple of decades. Many of the so-called “progressives” of our day claim that this is a new way of thinking and that sexual limitations of the past should be removed, as we are now a “liberated” society. These are not progressive ideas but actually ideas that have failed every time in the past as history has shown. One of Satan’s greatest tools is the misuse of the divinely inspired plan of procreation through proper marriage, thereby causing guilt and the loss of God’s spirit. The Greeks, Romans, Mayans and a host of nations have all succumbed to sexual deviancy and drugs and lost their power or ceased to exist. Sodom and Gomorrah were real places destroyed by God because they had degenerated to the point of no return. Pompeii was destroyed because of yielding to similar temptations.
Ever since the 60’s our society has been heading in that same direction and now, even the basic tenets of traditional marriage are under attack in every possible manner. Make no mistake about it, Satan is doing his best to destroy the family! The reason? If he can destroy a family and its divinely inspired structure, then he can either prevent other spirit children from being born (those who voted against him) or he will cause them to be raised under false and misleading traditions that will cause their destruction in the future and thus overpower them in this manner.
President Gordon B. Hinckley
This attack on traditional marriage was prophesied of many years ago by the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They have put forth a number of proclamations and declarations over the years to do their best to promote proper traditions. A couple of years ago the opportunity to declare that marriage should only be between a man and a woman was before Congress. President Gordon B. Hinckley (then President and Prophet of the Church), urged members of the church, the people of our nation and the leaders of the Congress and Senate to establish this as the law of the land.
Harry Reid was in a position of power at the time, but instead of following the desires of the majority of Americans and the prophet of the church he says he follows, he said “No”. He would not even bring it to the floor for a vote! Now, you and I are continuing this fight to maintain this divinely inspired tradition of marriage and the future for our children and grandchildren on a state-by-state basis. There is a great risk it will fail. There are too many activist Judges who have to power to disallow the voices of millions of voters as already witnessed in California.
Who knows what reasoning was going on inside his head at this time? Would this have given some perceived value to his opposing party? Would it have resulted in a loss of support for his political aspirations? Did he somehow think that this was giving a particularly vocal group of people an unfavorable setting? Was he thinking that the prophet was wrong and should not speak out on such issues?
Sexual unions to whomever or whatever or however many you wish is not marriage! It’s just sexual satisfaction and calling it marriage is an attempt to remove the guilt they feel by making it “legal”. It won’t work! “Wickedness never was happiness!” (Alma 41:10 Book of Mormon) It is against God’s plan and purpose for true marriage, which is to provide the means for his spirit children to continue on their path of progression in a family patterned after our pre-mortal family. (Read the Proclamation on the Family). Harry Reid had the opportunity to do the right thing and save our country from prophesied destruction if it continues along this path. Harry Reid had the power to bring forth the will of the Prophet of the Lord in these latter days, yet chose to follow his own political aspirations at our expense.
Its one thing to disagree with someone, it happens all the time in families, businesses, politics and everything in-between. But when you make a solemn vow to uphold someone as The Prophet of God; as the only one on earth who has the authority to speak for God; to follow his teachings and sustain him but then go against that vow for personal gain or political correctness? God will not be mocked and this will not be taken lightly. Many people when reading the Bible ache when they see the people of that day not following those chosen by God to deliver His message. They lost His help and were forced to suffer, sometimes for generations! This is exactly what has happened here in our day!
Here is the repeating of the breakdown of the 7 Reasons why I will not be supporting Harry Reid as Senator of the great state of Nevada (after you have read the reasoning above, I hope you realize they are more important than when first glanced at):
- He has ignored the advice and counsel of the living prophet of God, which he says he follows.
- He supports ideologies that will reduce the freedom of our country and set up a Ruling Class of Socialism to spread the wealth.
- He is purposely promoting the destruction of our economy for political gain.
- He has committed Treason by giving the enemy ammunition against our own troops fighting in the field.
- Like Saul of old, he has been corrupted by power. He now seeks only to maintain that power, no matter what the cost, and now resorts to political corruption to maintain his standing and get his way.
- He ignores the wishes of those whom he is over in his home state.
- He has served long enough in this position and it is time he turn it over to new blood. He is a perfect example of why we need term limits on those who serve in Congress and the Senate!
Please remember that I have my 1st Amendment right to speak out on such issues whether you agree with them or not. That’s what the Founding Fathers set up the Constitution for. But again, my apologies to those who I have offended. I would much rather spread the Gospel of Peace and Restoration than waste so much time on trying to set things right.
Also, because we live in such a crazy world, I want to make clear that the only way I support the removal of Harry Reid from office is through the normal means of voting or by impeachment (if that is possible for a Senator) and NO OTHER WAY! I do NOT support or promote violence against ANY politician for ANY reason.
Thank you,
Kelly Smith
Excellent article Kelly (although a little long.) As you know I don't have any problems expressing my views as far as politics is concerned. It is my personal belieif that all Christians have been sold a huge lie when it comes to the so-called doctrine of "Separation of Church and State." This doctrine is a false claim that has no substansive historical standing. Almost all political/patriotic messages that supported the patriot cause during the War of Independence, was voiced in the Churches.
Also there is a huge difference between between "principles" and "politics." Today the liberals have told us that principles are political and therefore are taboo when they are addressed from the pulpit. What is even worse is when someone in authority says that it is wrong for principles to be addressed because a few people are "offended."
There are basic truths that are difficult to deny. Principles of good government are as important to individual salvation as are universal, doctrinal truths. God is no socialist. He has taught us that freedom and liberty are as important to the human race as any other religious truth.
Thanks for you comments. I decided to get to the point right at the beginning and left the details for those who wish to know the whole reasoning behind them .
I also agree with your assessment of the separation of church and state issue. There was to be no State Run Religion, not a complete abolishment of the discussion of religion. Our founding fathers discussed religion all the time in schools and promoted it as a topic to be discussed. Now, sadly you can't hardly even mention God without having someone be offended. So instead of worrying about offending them, we don't mind offending God by totally ignoring him and removing all discussion of him.
Wow! This is great. How I wish I could say all that and be so eloquent!
I believe all the things you are saying about Reid. Too bad he isn't showing love to his brothers and sister. Would not want to be him "later".
I know I have a Heavenly Father and he loves me. I know I have an elder brother, Jesus Christ, and he died for me. He will walk with me to help plead for me when I see Father in Heaven again. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on earth and is run by Jesus Christ through His living Prophet. I love The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love all of my brothers and sister (some are easier to love then others). I believe in service.
Thank you so much for all you do for me and others, Your sister in Zion, Kay
As Latter-day Saints we run into several problems when we begin discussing politics in a secular forum. I am sure that you have sent this email to non-members who love to point out the fact that Harry Reid is a member of our Church! Yes, I have received that message from select individuals who love to point out that fact.
Unfortunately these folks don't realize that there is a high percentage of Church members that are embarrassed by Reid. There used to be a time when it was permissible to talk about political principles in a Church meeting. But this unwritten law; or governmental decree; about "the separation of Church and State" has made the Churches believe that it was a political principle that was handed down by the Founders and by Jefferson in particular. The American people have been conned. As you already have pointed out, when Jefferson spoke those few words, he was saying that the government had no right to interfere with the free exercise of religion. By turning his words around, his statement has come to mean the exact opposite.
There is a book that every Latter-day Saint should have in their library. It is called Prophets, Principles and National Survival, by Gerald Newquist. While it needs to be expanded to the present day, the book gives a very complete compilation about what the Presidents of the Church and the General Authorities have said about Communism, Socialism and most of the basic societal principles that damage free institutions. Unfortunately the book is out of print and I am probably the only person within 500 miles that has an extra, brand new copy that I am willing to sell (for twenty times its original, last printing price!) Just kidding. But I do have one brand new, unused copy in my library.
The progressives who control our government have hijacked America’s Churches though the I.R.S. law, of “tax exempt status.” By manipulating the law and by using extortion, the government has rendered the Churches impotent when it comes to speaking out on either political or secular morality. The government threatens Churches when they speak out standards of morality and the principles of good government by threatening their income.
The wonderful thing about the principles of right and wrong is that they never change. Times ad conditions might change, but right and wrong do not. They continue though the ages and are just as valid today as they were since the time of Adam. (Albert E. Bowen, Council of the Twelve, 1946.)
Here are a few examples about subjects that our Church members get upset about hearing from the pulpit, or in a Church meeting because they don’t understand the difference between right and wrong and spiritual principles as they pertain to freedom and liberty. Did you know that the subject of “taxes” is found in the Book of Mormon eight times, and the in the Bible sixteen times? Is it both a spiritual and political principle?
Here is what the Book of Mormon says about the principles of:
Taxation:
Is taxation a spiritual issue?
Mosiah 2: 14; And even I (king Benjamin), myself, have alabored with mine own bhands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be claden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.
Mosiah 7: 15; Ammon said:
15 For behold, we are in bondage to the Lamanites, and are ataxed with a tax which is grievous to be borne. And now, behold, our brethren will deliver us out of our bbondage, or out of the hands of the Lamanites, and we will be their cslaves; for it is better that we be slaves to the Nephites than to pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites.
Mosiah 11: 3, 6
3 And he (King Noah) laid a atax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their bziff, and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain.
• • •
6 Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity.
Ether 10: 5-6
5 And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and aconcubines, and did lay that upon men’s shoulders which was grievous to be borne; yea, he did btax them with heavy taxes; and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings.
6 And he did erect him an exceedingly beautiful throne; and he did build many prisons, and whoso would not be subject unto taxes he did acast into prison; and whoso was not able to pay taxes he did cast into prison; and he did cause that they should labor continually for their support; and whoso refused to labor he did cause to be put to death.
Government:
Mentioned/addressed twelve times in the Book of Mormon, seven times in the Bible, eight times in the Doctrine & Covenants and twice in the Pearl of Great Price.
Is good government a spiritual principle?
D&C 134: 1; WE believe that all governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men baccountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
Secret Combinations; e.g., conspiracies:
Mentioned seventeen times in the Book of Mormon, once in the D&C, once in the P of GP and the bible twelve times.
Are Secret Combinations and Conspiracies a spiritual topic?
D&C 42: 64: And even now, let him that goeth to the east teach them that shall be converted to flee to the awest, and this in consequence of bthat which is coming on the earth, and of csecret combinations.
Gadianton Robbers (Politicians and Bureaucrats)
Mentioned ten times in the Book of Mormon:
Are politics, politicians and the existence of criminal activity in government a spiritual issue?
Hel. 7: 4 And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having ausurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;
Hel. 11: 26; And thus in time, yea, even in the space of anot many years, they became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they did search out all the bsecret plans of Gadianton; and thus they became robbers of Gadianton.
Freedom and Liberty
Freedom is mentioned seventeen times in the scriptures and liberty is mentioned forty-nine times!
Are the subjects of freedom and liberty spiritual?
D&C 134: 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of aworship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish bguilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
I don’t think that I have to say any more than this. We cannot separate right from wrong or spiritual principles from the affairs of government. We either expose corruption on all levels, or bear the consequences of failing to do so.
Thank you for taking the time to express these thoughts. This is very insightful.
As for speaking in church about political things, I totally uphold the decision to not speak on politics in church. Politics can easily turn to contention and the spirit will leave once contention enters the room. Church is the place for people to find peace and the spirit and to reconnect with God, to partake of the Sacrament and to find friendship with others who desire the same things. It is not a place to foment contention, no matter how important it is to the world. There are plenty of places for people to speak out about political issues, just not in church.
I love your list of how many times certain principles are listed in the scriptures and each of these things can be taught in church, through the scriptures, without contention or political bent.
Kelly: I just responded to Harry Reid's answer to my letter regarding the "Disclose Act" and I thought you might be interested in my message to him:
Senator Reid:
I just received your response regarding the status of the "Disclose Act" and your position on that legislation.
As you know I stated in my correspondence that am OPPOSED to it. And with your usual arrogance, you write back and make the following statement:
"Unfortunately, the DISCLOSE Act failed on a procedural vote on July 27, 2010, with a vote of 57-41. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as I work for responsible reform."
This paragraph is just as much a gesture that as the photo that shows you giving the "middle finger" to whoever you were giving that message to!
You don't hear your constituency, you don't care about your constituency and in fact you hold all of us in contempt. All you are interested in is maintaining your office and power as majority leader in the Senate and pushing Obama's failed prgrams.
I have no idea why I continue to write because it is like talking to a brick wall. Nothing ever gets through. If the progressives allow it to happen, I pray that you, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the liberal incumbents up for reelection are replaced by people wo understand and support our Constitutional Republic. As a member of the United States Senate and member of our Church, you are a disgrace!
Sincerely,
Richard Popovich
Here is an interesting article that I found on the net. Thought you might be interested:
Pastors to Challenge IRS by Talking Politics from Pulpit
By Jennifer Riley|Christian Post Reporter
At least 100 pastors nationwide will challenge a 56-year-old tax code law by talking politics in their sermons Sunday.
Participants of the third annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday, organized by the Christian legal group Alliance Defense Fund, will use the Bible’s teachings to preach on the positions of electoral candidates or current government officials in defiance of an IRS rule proposed by then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson and passed by Congress in 1954.
The rule states that a non-profit organization with tax exemption cannot “participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.” The penalty for violating the rule is the loss of tax-exempt status.
“Pastors and churches shouldn’t live in fear of being punished or penalized by the government – in this case, the IRS,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “ADF is not trying to get politics into the pulpit; we want to get government out of the pulpit.”
“Churches should be allowed to decide for themselves what they want to talk about,” he said. “The IRS should not be the one making the decision by threatening to revoke a church’s tax-exempt status.”
ADF noted that pastors spoke about politics, including specific candidates and elections, from the pulpit without worrying about their churches’ tax exemption status being revoked until 1954. Since the Johnson Amendment to the Federal Tax Code, many pastors have ceased to talk about politicians’ stances on social issues from a biblical perspective.
The IRS rule, ADF contends, has in effect “muzzled” pastors from speaking freely in the pulpit. It has also given groups such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State a “political tool” to advance its agenda to silence the Church in the public square.
“Rather than risk confrontation, many pastors have self-censored their speech, afraid to apply the teachings of Scripture to specific candidates or elections,” remarked Stanley. “As in years past, the participants in Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2010 are taking a stand against being intimidated into sacrificing their First Amendment rights.”
This year, there are more pastors participating in Pulpit Freedom Sunday than in 2009, when at least 80 pastors dared to defy the IRS rule. In 2008, the first year of the movement, only 33 pastors participated.
“Decisions about what is preached from the pulpit of a church should not belong to the government but to the individual pastor and church itself,” wrote Chuck Colson, founder of the prison ministry Prison Fellowship and a former aide to President Richard Nixon, in a column this week.
“That is why I support Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” he said, “in which pastors across America will take a courageous stand and boldly challenge the IRS’s restrictions on their freedom of speech when it comes to political candidates and issues.”
ADF attorneys have vowed to legally defend participating pastors if the IRS tries to revoke their church’s tax exempt status.
The mission of the Ariz.-based legal alliance is to defend the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and direct litigation.
Kelly:
In regards to support Mitt Romney, I'm afraid that I'll have to pass on the invitation. While Mitt is head and shoulders above Obama and his followers and the rest of far-left Democrats, he is still a progressive.
My reasons for not having a lot of trust in Romney are as follows:
1. He is a supporter of the United Nations. I asked him about the UN after his speech, when he was in Sparks at the Nugget. He said, "There are problems with the UN, but we need that organization to maintain a dialogue among nations."
We don't need the United Nations. Is their one thing other than the creation of Isreal that the UN can claim as a success? I suppose that question is answered in the eyes of the beholder, and for this "beholder" the UN is not just a colossal failure, it is a detrement to the sovereignty of all nations.
2. Romney supported government-sponsored healthcare and developed the model in Massachusetts.
Romney was way ahead of Obama in developing socialized healthcare. And just like what will happen on the Federal level, the Massachusetts "Romney Care" has proven to be a huge, financial disaster for the State.
3. Romney was sympathetic to gay rights; and
4. He opposed harsh restrictions on abortion.
I don't believe that Mitt is that much different than Harry Reid in many of his ideas. He certainly leans towards the progressive side of the Republican party. He is best described as a RINO as far as I'm concerned.
I would like to see a Latter-day Saint in the White House, but I want one that is a Constitutionalist and is a follower of the Founding Fathers. Unfortunately, Mitt is not a good choice.
Sadly, I think it is time for term limits. There were no term limits on the Presidency until after FDR was elected four times. It is clear now that nearly all politicians have placed self-interest above the interests of the American people. We have seen the corrupting influence of power, from both Republicans and Democrats. I think many a decent person has gone to Washington, only to be corrupted by the money and other influences to be found in the halls of power. Politicians begin running for their next term the day after they are elected or re-elected. I believe that is a major part of the problems we are facing. Short term fixes are preferred because the bill won't come due until much later, after the legislators have retired or died. Sometimes we have to endure pain for the long-term benefit of this great country. An amazing example of this is found in the Frontline documentary entitled "The Warning." If you want to see how politicians and powerful people shut down anyone who might rain on the parade, please watch it – It is streaming on Netflix and possibly on the PBS site. Brooksley Born is a modern American hero (maybe Reid could have listed her name when he was asked who the greatest LIVING American is, instead of naming two DECEASED career politicians – Ted Kennedy (Chappaquiddick?!?) and Robert Byrd ( KKK?!?) – just an idea – And he thinks Angle is crazy?).
Although the thing I miss most about Nevada are friends and family, I definitely miss the opportunity to vote against Harry Reid, even though I've already done it several times.
Jake, thanks for your comment, you make a great point. Someone needs to stand up and get the process going to install term limits on all members of Congress and Senate. The longer they are in office, the more damage they do.
On another note, I hope all works well for you and your family in Texas. We miss you already and see a gaping hole where your family used to sit. Please send us photos and keep us up to date.
Hi Kelly,
Good to hear from you. I hope all is well and I did read your blog. You're a great guy, but I just disagree with you on Harry Reid. I've been a Republican all my life. Voted for every Republican Presidential Candidate since Reagan. Never have voted for Senator Reid until now. He has done more for us than many people realize.
He is not trying to set up a Socialist Country and the ruling Elites seem to be in Corporate America more than in political office. You should check what the real Socialists are all about before identifying Harry Reid as a Socialist.
Harry's quoted phrase "The War is Lost" misses the broader point he was making when he said "I know I was the odd guy out at the White House, but I told him (Pres. Bush) at least what he needed to hear … I believe the war at this stage can only be won diplomatically, politically and economically." I disagreed with Senator Reid saying what he said at the time, but he was entitled to his point of view and I don't think it gave aid and comfort to the enemy.
I disagree that Health Care Reform is disastrous, it still uses free market principles that Republicans are so enamoured with, it leans toward prevention of disease, and does a lot of good for millions of people. It is also only a start toward reducing the cost of health care for which we pay more than twice as much as anywhere else in the world, and yet we do not have the best health care system on the planet.
Senator Reid has not purposely destroyed our economy for political gain, that destruction was already in progress, climaxing in the losses of hundreds of thousand of jobs per month at the end of the last administration. They tried as recently as last month to repeal corporate tax advantages for shipping jobs overseas and the Republicans wouldn't even let that pass.
Suggesting that Harry Reid is like a member of the Gadianton Robbers isn't right. Nor is it right to paint all liberal/progressive supporters as backers of Satan's Plan or Lucifer's minions. The increasing immorality and crudeness in our society is the fault of a lot of things: Hollywood, Judges, Sports Stars, even Politicians (Ensign) making poor moral choices. I don't think you can lay the entire fault for eroding morality at the feet of "Progressives".
Regarding redistribution of wealth – I don't see it that way. I see taxation as a necessity to help our society run smoothly. Check taxfoundation.org and see how high taxes have been in our past. I would agree with you that taxes were excessive when they were as high as 70% and 90% for the top tax brackets. Right now the President is talking about a paltry increase of less than 5% on incomes greater than $250,000. That puts the tax rate at the same level it was before President Bush launched two major wars. If tax cuts were the answer to our economic woes then where are the jobs now? Taxes are as low as they have been in a very long time.
Regarding marriage, Senator Reid voted in favor of DOMA. In his speech regarding the attempt at a constitutional ammendment he specifically stated that he believed that marrriage should be between a man and a woman. You can see his complete remarks at http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?i… . It wasn't that he was opposed to it. It was that the measure had no chance of passing and they had other matters to deal with.
Harry Reid has not gone against his vows. As a matter of fact, according to a Salt Lake Tribune article October 26, 2009, he has a Temple Recommend and a home teaching companion named Jim Vlach. I ran into Senator Reid in the Oakland Temple years ago when I used to think the D in Democrat stood for Devilish, Devious, and Dishonest. I've grown to learn that not everything the Democrats do is wrong and not everything the Republicans do is right.
Now regarding Reid's opponent, I just don't think she's qualified or skilled to be a suitable legislator for Nevada. Thanks to national handlers she has scrubbed all her positions pre primary, she carefully controls who she will talk to in the media, she runs away from questions she finds difficult, and completely contradicts positions she has clearly taken for years. She is not averse to making backroom deals with political opponents. I find her position on forcing a raped teenager to carry the baby to term a repugnant position. I find her votes in opposition to a law that extended an out of state restraining order's protection to cover people who move to our state, her oppositon to allowing youth groups to do background checks to keep out sex offenders, her opposition to insisting that insurance companies include coverage for mammograms and colonoscopies, her insistance that it's not her job to create jobs – all show poor judgement. She is not a coalition builder. If she won, she would be a junior Senator with zero clout and little ability to get anything done. In contrast, Harry Reid made some phone calls that saved City Center which saved about 22,000 jobs – something Sharron Angle said she would not have done. Bruce Breslow needed federal money for an intersection on Pyramid. The entire congressional delegation wouldn't do anything for him, except Harry Reid – he got $18 million for the project. With the oil tank farm negotiations/settlement, Harry Reid was helpful in getting $12 million for development of the Marina. He helped expand the VA hospital here in Reno. And he's done a lot more than that. As I said before, he has done a lot for the people of Nevada that people don't give him credit for. If you were able to check with Church Headquarters, I think you would find that he has also been helpful with some Church related matters. How helpful will Sharron Angle be to the LDS cause – not very.
So, for these reasons, and more – I am voting for Harry Reid.
Good hearing from you. Hope you have a great day!
Mitch, Thanks for taking the time to spell out your points, I appreciate what you have done but entirely disagree with them because they were once what you stood for too, but something has changed your position. I am not sure what that is or what has caused this change, but Harry Reid stands for everything that is of a Socialist nature. Socialism will never save this country, only constitutionally conservative principles will. Every time that we have forgotten these principles we have lost something in our country and only by returning to them can we get back on the right track. I can tell you story after story of people who have worked with Reid and have been completely turned off by him. A friend (that shall remain nameless) once was hired by him to distribute flyers for his campaign (this was several years ago). When he and his brothers were done, Harry tried to get them to sign off that their work was a political contribution. They said, "No, we want to be paid like you promised!" He replied, "I know you parents and am going to tell them." They said, "No you don't! Go ahead anyway and see what they say." He then scrambled around and went to the bank to finally get them their money to pay them.
Another man was a Stake President here in Reno and Harry Reid would interrupt their meetings at a Stake Conference and run around and shake everybody's hands, from room to room, just to be seen. The Stake Pres was very turned off by this tactic and these two short stories show what type of person Harry Reid really is.
Please reconsider who you are voting for: a Socialist or a Conservative Constitutionalist? Choose the right my friend. Don't go back on principles you know to be true for some personal reason. No one can be taken care of from cradle to grave. It has bankrupted every country that has ever tried it throughout history. No one is talking about removing all taxes. Read "The 5000 Year Leap" to get a better understanding the role and place of government. This is the model that was set up by our founding fathers, not the Socialist model being promulgated by Obama and his minions.
Wake up my friend. Don't be deceived.
Just spent a long time responding to your answer and it got lost because of the CAPTCHA code. Don't have time to re-write all that was said and it's to bad.
It is not a socialist statement to vote for Senator Reid and President Obama is not trying to bring about Socialist Utopia. To see what the socialists are really all about check out . If voting for Senator Reid were a socialist statement then it is odd that Republican leaders and big business leaders around the state agree that he is the better choice. It's interesting to note that even the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce couldn't bring themselves to endorse Mrs. Angle.
I'm voting for many Republican Candidates, just not Mrs. Angle. Can't see voting for someone who refuses to answer reasonable questions from the press. Can't see voting for someone who literaly runs from and ignores the press. Can't see voting for someone who will only answer pre-screened questions. Can't see voting for someone who had a terrible record during her time in State office. Can't see voting for someone who has no negotiating, cooperation, or compromise skills. Can't see voting for someone who lies repeatedly in her ads about her opponent (Senator Reid did not vote to raise taxes 300 times and did not vote to give Social Secuity benefits to illegal aliens). Can't vote for someone who accuses her opponent of causing unemployment and at the same time says it's not her job to bring jobs to Nevada. Can't vote for someone who has an unusually rose colored view of what she thinks the free market means in the US. There was a lot more in what I wrote before that I don't have time to repeat.
Regarding the flyers and Stake Conference matters. I've seen Senator Reid at a number of Church meetings and he has never shown the behavior you describe. He has kept to himself and shaked the hands of people who came up to him, but not run around the building shaking people's hands. On the flyers, I suspect there may be more to the story.
I am wide awake and not deceived. Senator Reid is the better choice to continue getting things moving in the right direction for Nevada.
Mitch, we have been friends for a long time. I value that friendship more than I do winning this argument. I will not respond to these statements but stand by what I said earlier. I wish you all the best and am glad that you have found the means to overcome your asthma and lung scarring of earlier years. You are a great guy that I look up to. I am happy that your family has you around to be with and watch them grow up. Again, I wish you all the best.
I came across this forum today, and I feel that it has been an answer to my prayers. I hope that all of you do not mind a young man such as myself joining in. I must say that I agree with everything I have read in both the article itself and the comments. I am currently in high school, and it seems that every where I look, people are showing an ever increasing lack of morals. One of my fellow students seem to believe that it is perfectly normal to allow illegal immigrants to flow into our country. Now at first, this may seem like it has nothing to do with the above, however, it goes hand in hand with Mr. Kelly's remarks regarding the distribution of wealth, so that it is "fair". To clarify, because those who enter our country illegally receive the benifits due citizens, without having to pay taxes, we are expected to pay the bill. The foundation of our country is that all men may succeed or fail according to their own merits, and will not be supported by forcing others to take care of them. This, I believe, goes hand in hand with the Plan of Salvation. The true beauty of this plan is that baisc pricipal. We are allowed to fail, but we are also allowed to succeed. In fact, God provides us with the means to succeed.
I do hope that this is in the spirit of this discussion. I have to say, this forum has been like a rope tossed to a drowning man. I thank you for your words, and ask you to please, contiue to share your opinions.
John, Thank you for the kind words. You are most welcome to join this forum and I am glad to be of any assistance. I felt inspired to write what is written so I give God the credit. You have made my day. Thanks, Kelly
[…] as I am. I know what he has been taught and did not feel that he had lived up to those teachings. Harry Reid is a perfect example of someone who has been taught the same things and even says he still believes […]