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Close Topic OptionsLDS Religious Zeal A Common Theme In Broken Minds?
Lds Religious Zeal Common Theme Broken Minds - Mormon Doctrine Studies - Posted: 28th Dec, 2004 - 11:24pm
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LDS Religious Zeal A Common Theme In Broken Minds?
I found this interesting article about how some people who were LDS at some point of time and who obviously are mentally I'll, have done crazy things in the name of 'God'. I find also very interesting how this same people have some kind of attraction or obsession with the Church of the old times. Here some extracts, I would recommend to read the whole article located here, this web site is NOT 100% LDS friendly but I posted here because it was taken from an article of the Salt Lake Tribune:
QUOTE "Ervil Morel LeBaron believed he was the prophet, the "One mighty and strong" when he sought to tighten his grasp on his polygamist Lamb of God church in the late 1970s by executing rival polygamists Joe LeBaron, his brother, in Mexico, and Murray chiropractor Rulon Allred. LeBaron didn't carry out the murders himself, but rather directed his "Soldiers" to accomplish the tasks.
About the time LeBaron was sending henchmen to slay Allred under his dictum of blood atonement, law enforcement officials in Summit County were pursuing another polygamist, John Singer. A German-born TV repairman and convert to the LDS Church, Singer, too, believed he was communicating directly with God. He had run afoul of Summit County officials when he took his children out of public school. Singer then took a second wife, as he said God had directed him, a Kamas woman named Shirley Black who was already married. Singer sealed himself to Black at a religious font he had created behind his house near the foothills of the Uinta Mountains.
Swapp and his younger brother Jonathan had watched the Singer saga unfold on TV from their central Utah home. Believing Singer and his family had been wronged, the Swapps set off to Summit County where Addam eventually married two of John's daughters, Heidi and Charlotte. He also forged a close bond with John's widow, Vickie.
Later, Addam said he had a revelation from God to blow up the Marion LDS stake center on Jan. 16, 1988.
One of the most horrific acts driven by religious belief occurred in Salt Lake City on Thursday morning, Aug. 3, 1978 when Rachal David threw her seven children, one by one, off the 11th floor balcony of a hotel at 200 South West Temple. She then jumped to her own death. Rachal David was the widow of a self-proclaimed prophet who called himself Immanuel David. It is believed that Rachal David wanted to join her husband who had committed suicide two days earlier. Only one of the children survived.
Another self-proclaimed prophet, Christopher Fink, made news in 1998 with his former wife, Kyndra, after their 21-month-old child was hospitalized for severe malnutrition. Disillusioned with the LDS Church, Fink created his own cult based on revelations from God.
The Finks fed the toddler watermelon and lettuce and little else in order to fulfill their religious beliefs.
The Finks took the infant from state custody and fled to the mountains of Montana.
They were on the run for 16 days before being arrested. Prosecutors later dropped kidnapping charges in exchange for a guilty plea from Christopher Fink on felony child abuse charges. Christopher was sentenced to 18 months in jail and Kyndra divorced him." Source
About the time LeBaron was sending henchmen to slay Allred under his dictum of blood atonement, law enforcement officials in Summit County were pursuing another polygamist, John Singer. A German-born TV repairman and convert to the LDS Church, Singer, too, believed he was communicating directly with God. He had run afoul of Summit County officials when he took his children out of public school. Singer then took a second wife, as he said God had directed him, a Kamas woman named Shirley Black who was already married. Singer sealed himself to Black at a religious font he had created behind his house near the foothills of the Uinta Mountains.
Swapp and his younger brother Jonathan had watched the Singer saga unfold on TV from their central Utah home. Believing Singer and his family had been wronged, the Swapps set off to Summit County where Addam eventually married two of John's daughters, Heidi and Charlotte. He also forged a close bond with John's widow, Vickie.
Later, Addam said he had a revelation from God to blow up the Marion LDS stake center on Jan. 16, 1988.
One of the most horrific acts driven by religious belief occurred in Salt Lake City on Thursday morning, Aug. 3, 1978 when Rachal David threw her seven children, one by one, off the 11th floor balcony of a hotel at 200 South West Temple. She then jumped to her own death. Rachal David was the widow of a self-proclaimed prophet who called himself Immanuel David. It is believed that Rachal David wanted to join her husband who had committed suicide two days earlier. Only one of the children survived.
Another self-proclaimed prophet, Christopher Fink, made news in 1998 with his former wife, Kyndra, after their 21-month-old child was hospitalized for severe malnutrition. Disillusioned with the LDS Church, Fink created his own cult based on revelations from God.
The Finks fed the toddler watermelon and lettuce and little else in order to fulfill their religious beliefs.
The Finks took the infant from state custody and fled to the mountains of Montana.
They were on the run for 16 days before being arrested. Prosecutors later dropped kidnapping charges in exchange for a guilty plea from Christopher Fink on felony child abuse charges. Christopher was sentenced to 18 months in jail and Kyndra divorced him." Source
Edited: JB on 31st Oct, 2012 - 5:46pmSponsored Links:
Post Date: 23rd Jul, 2004 - 10:48pm / Post ID: #
Minds Broken Theme Common Zeal Religious LDS
I couldn't get the link to work but I've heard of all the incidents you described. It is horrible what evil men can accomplish. It makes you wonder why so many of the most awful crimes have a connection to the church. Especially when Jesus taught, " By their fruits ye shall know them. "
I think part of the answer has to do with the fact that once you have had the light of the Gospel in your life, then reject it, your potential for wickedness is greater than someone who has never had the truth. This is taught in the Book of Mormon. As a general rule, the Nephites were righeous and the Lamanites were wicked. But when a nephite became an apostate and joined with the Lamanites, the Nephite became more hard and bitter than the Lamanites.
So, today it is the same...there is a lot of evil going on but some of the grossest crimes are commited by those who once had a testimony of the Gospel. Maybe once you have sinned against the greater light and knowledge, Satan has more control over you.
LDS Religious Zeal A Common Theme In Broken Minds? Studies Doctrine Mormon
While I agree that bizarre crimes are often committed "in the name of God" or "by revelation" from God, I don't think it's limited to the LDS church. Plenty of others from the various Christian faiths commit similar crimes and horrors because "God told them to."
A matter of mental illness, rather than religious zeal, in my opinion.
Roz
Minds Broken Theme Common Zeal Religious LDS
People could use any excuse (in my opinion) to justify their actions or lack of action. There are loop holes in the way leaders handle things at a local level that can make members irate, but not to go out and kill.
| Offtopic but, The link works for me, LDS had it wrong. |
Minds Broken Theme Common Zeal Religious LDS
In my humble opinion, I agree with Farseer. This is a matter of mental illness, I think all these people were 'nuts' before joining the LDS Church. As a matter of fact, as a sad note, I have seen many mentally disturbed individuals being baptized into the Church and I never understood why! so when things like this happen, I don't know why everybody around is amazed because I think people like the ones describing in this article have must give some sort of signs, the thing is that the leaders sometimes do not observe those 'signs' or do not take them on until it is way too late to do anything about it.
LDS Religious Zeal A Common Theme In Broken Minds?
I think part of the problem stems from our zeal as members of the Church to proclaim the Gospel to everybody, and to try to help them conform to the standards, practices, and doctrines of the Church so they can enjoy the blessings of the gospel. We sometimes do not show good judgement in our rush to proclaim salvation to every creature. If a person is not mentally accountable, he or she should not be baptized. If a person does not have a correct concept of who God is, what his commandments are, the truthfulness of Joseph Smith and his successors, and the covenant associated with baptism, he or she is not ready for baptism. There is a reason that interview are required before baptism. Missionary Zone and District leaders who conduct interviews need to have the courage to tell some people, under the direction of the Holy Ghost, that they need additional preparation for baptism. Members, especially home teachers, must consistently visit and teach new members so the true principles of the gospel are instilled without room for doubt. I feel that missionaries who baptize mentally ill people just because they want better statistics will be accountable before God. If a person is not competent enough to comprehend the commitment he or she is making at the level that an 8-year old can at baptism, he or she is not competent to be baptized.
LDS Religious Zeal Common Theme Broken Minds
| QUOTE |
| I think part of the answer has to do with the fact that once you have had the light of the Gospel in your life, then reject it, your potential for wickedness is greater than someone who has never had the truth. This is taught in the Book of Mormon. |
This is especially true if they have attended the Temple. When we make Temple covenants and then break them, we are much more under the power of Satan than if we have never been to the Temple. Satan's power and influence is very real.
TOPIC: LDS Religious Zeal A Common Theme In Broken Minds?