Close Topic Options

Can A Member Of The Church Be Communist?

Can a member of the Church become a Communist and remain in good Standing?

Would Communism be included as a group who teaches practices opposed to those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?

Communist Church The Member Can

That interview question has a historic reason (enforcement of Manifesto) which may have grown to be other things now. On my mission I remember meeting a non-Member who was married to an active Member who said he could never join the Church because of the words of Ezra Taft Benson in one of the Priesthood Manuals condemning Communism. This Thread reminded me of him. To answer the question I would say in certain eras probably not, but nowadays I would say yes they can.

Can A Member Of The Church Be Communist? Studies Doctrine Mormon

I am sure there are still Bishops (maybe some of the older ones) that may have a concern if someone said they were communist in an interview.

From the Communist Manifesto

Can this coincide with the 12th article of faith?

I also believe that when the Manifesto declares that they want to "overthrow all existing social conditions" that this means the overthrow of religion.

I know Historically the Church leadership (especially David O Mckay and Ezra Taft Benson) have decried the 'evils' of Communism. Are any contemporary (after 1990) words from the apostles or prophets on this subject?

Communist Church The Member Can

First, who is going to release info that they are Communist unless specifically asked? As I said, that question is open ended to interpretation. Additionally, one may have interest in some Communist ideals, but not necessarily a zealot, were it so then the person would voluntarily leave the Church anyway, not so?

I doubt, but LDS_forever . a knack for these things and may find something. The Church has become more hushed on specifics such as naming a political ideal. (This is actually covered more in depth in the LDS Mature section.)

Communist Church The Member Can

Dbackers:

Nope, none. Only leaders mentioning Communism in European countries but not at all compared to Pres. Benson's statements. This is what I found about Pres. Hinckley speaking about Pres. Benson's stand on Communism:

https://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem...a____&hideNav=1

Personally, I do not think someone can truly be a member of the Church and support the political views of Communism that tries to take away Religion in the lives of people where God has no place whatsoever.

Can A Member Of The Church Be Communist?

I remember in early High School when I first started studying communism I thought:

"Hey this communism is just like the United Order" and I thought it wasn't so bad.
All things are in common and the like. All are equal.

Then I realized in my study that Communism was nothing like what I had assumed it to be. I began to see that it was in fact a Satan inspired copy of the United Order.

Everything good that god creates Satan has to have a counterfeit. Love within Marriage is counterfeited by premarital sex, or extramarital sex. Righteous defence of oneself is counterfeited by violence against innocence. And the original Christian Church apostasized leaving a counterfeit copy. This is why I think that there was so much antipathy for communism at one time(besides the trend for communist leaders to kill millions of people and destroy religion).

("Message of the First Presidency," 112th Annual Conference, April 6, 1942.)

I still think members of the Church should have some caution when dealing with communism, but I am not sure of its (communism) influence anymore.

Rather off topic, but... There are many "philosophies of men" that members should be cautious of. I would not be surprised if the Church presidency becomes more political as wickedness increases. Consider the Declaration on the Family. That is a political statement if I ever saw one. It discusses Marriage as between one man and one women. Gender is eternal (cannot be changed). The Sanctity of Life(Abortion). The roles of men (preside) and Women (Nurture), and that Nations can face calamities if they choose to ignore the family.

Can Member The Church Communist

Specific statements, possible real prophecies and Communism and other forms of Government including World Religions as approached from a unique LDS view that cannot be made public are covered in the LDS Mature Section.

Can Member The Church Communist Mormon Doctrine Studies

I think it is a matter of perspective. We can say the comments about the 12th article of faith with the American Revolution as well. We can also say that all social and political organizations (including capitalism) are oppressive and create a divide of prejudice, class, poverty, sexiest and racial oppressions so do we not have a obligation as Christians to free the oppressed, and to correct such evils?
Remember the word capitalism comes from the Greek Capital or Temple, where the wealth and power was collected and massed by the priestly class. It is where sacrifices in some instances human were made at the expense of the poor, and oppressed of their society. The word and concept itself in the Greek implies gain through a victim. Thus even today Capitalism is based on the principle that in order for it to work there must be victims. There must be poor, for the expense of the Rich. Such order survives on Victims as the word in the Greek suggests. Thus in many ways Communism exposes these vices of the world structure. Now how it deals with them may be in question. Now I am not a champion for communism, but I think that it has some qualities that we as LDS may need to look at more seriously instead of dismissing it altogether. Is communism Zion? No of course not, but neither is capitalism, if it was we would have no need to create Zion because we would have it. Like capitalism it is a earthy idea, and thus not a heavenly idea. I do not think it is any more counterfeit or Satanic then capitalism. I think that we get ourselves in trouble some times as LDS when we get trapped in this false paradigm. I have spoken to LDS who call themselves communist from the 50's and 60's. They had a rough time in the church back then, but have felt that times have changed a lot for them in the church.