Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 7/27/2005

Question
Hello!

I regularly attend governmental meetings which begin with a prayer. The person in charge of the meetings usually takes on the role of saying the prayer instead of asking others to do it. He is LDS. Most other people are Protestant, predominately Baptist.

When I heard this, I looked up the basic tenets of Mormonism. I realized that while they use many of the same WORDS we do, they have very different MEANINGS to the LDS.

I might be slightly off, but this is what I got as Mormonism in a nutshell: They don't believe in the Trinity, but do believe in three separate persons of God, including Jesus and the Holy Ghost (which they believe is different than the Holy Spirit, which is god's thoughts). But they believe God is one of any number of gods (which they themselves are also trying to be in the celestial heaven), and he did everything right in his planet and got to be a god himself, and he came over here (in his literal, physical body) and had literal, physical sex with someone (I can't figure out who) and they had Jesus, who did not redeem us, but who opened the door to allow us to redeem ourselves. If they are good enough, following the rules in place and going through certain rituals in the temple, the men can also become gods. If they choose to, and their wives are good enough, they can allow their wives to go to the upper reaches of heaven with them. While modern-day LDS have pooh-poohed the polytheism talk, the highest level of heaven does still allow several wives. Again, this is with physical bodies, and gods obviously do have sex, so a man could choose to have a harem in heaven as well. Their Holy Ghost is also a separate man (again, no trinity and not the same as the Holy Spirit), but purely spiritual, and can only be in one place at a time, and not being one with God, can't see, hear, or know everything going on. It sounds like Greco-Roman polytheism using Christianity as the basis for the terminology to me.

So assuming I got even a relatively accurate picture, how does this affect me? The man, while praying, is using Christian words. But if you were able to see what was going through his head and heart during the prayer, it would not be something I would agree with. It is like the head of Planned Parenthood saying she is against abortion--but defining abortion as the killing of a just born baby. I'm not going to agree with her motivations, her definitions, or her, even though the words at face value I would. I am against abortion, as well as murder. Her definition is the latter. We're talking two different worlds here! I do want the Holy Ghost to guide our meetings, but not some guy without a body who is completely detached from God. So as a Catholic, what is my obligation? Do I say Amen, since the words have different meaning to me? Do I say my own silent prayer and not join his? If I do so, do I make the sign of the cross before my own prayer? (I do not currently make it for two reasons: 1) I don't agree with the motivations of the prayer or the prayer leader and 2) it would cause far-reaching repercussions as many attendants are vehemently anti-Catholic.) Do I stay silent entirely? I know these are all options, but what would be recommended for a person in my position?

Marianne

Answer
                          Peace

Dear Marianne
 I agree with your general assessment of Mormonism, but would go abit future and say: Greco-Roman Gnostic polytheism. Either way, still a raving wolf in sheep clothing.
  I would see if you can lead prayers at times, using Scripture. If you can't lead, then not attend meeting until prayer is over.I would do sign of the cross because it would show perhaps your amen means yes to something else.
  Also let others know of your concern of the falsehoods of Mormonism, it might open their hearts to the fullness of truth confessed by the Church.
  Also can I post your "question" to a blog I have. Here's a link: http://ozanamsociety.blogdrive.com/ as basic review and idea source for others.


                       your servant in Christ
                           george