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:
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.
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
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. |
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.
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.
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. |