Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Does Mitt Romney, as a Mormon, believe in the Divine Birth of Jesus Christ? Do Mormons even believe in the celebration of Christmas? The answer is an unequivocal yes.

"Christmas is the holiday when Latter-day Saints and other Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This epochal event, seen in vision by ancient prophets, heralded the entry into mortality of the Son of God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the promised Messiah. Even though Latter-day Saints believe that the birth of Jesus actually occurred in the spring of the year (D&C 20:1; see April 6), they observe the December celebration when, more than at any other time of year, the Christian world unites in remembering Christ's birth and practicing his teachings of love, charity, self-sacrifice, and tolerance."

"Latter-day Saints are cautioned that holiday shopping, decorating, and festivities should not obscure the remembrance of Christ nor hinder the quest for peace on earth."

Thanks to 
http://www.lightplanet.com/
mormons/daily/holidays/
christmas.html for the above excerpts and photograph, which are from the article, "Mormon Christmas" by Mary Ellen Stweart Jamison. You may click this link to read the entire article.

(See Daily Living home page; Holidays home page; Christmas home page)

Bibliography

Packer, Boyd K. "Keeping Christmas." In BYU Speeches of the Year, 1966-1967. Provo, Utah, 1967.

The Conservative Wordsmith can't help but notice that the above article refers to Jesus as the Son of God, and also as the promised Messiah, which is contrary to what some of my commentators have been posting. I was pleased to read that Mormons believe that Jesus taught tolerance. I support this particular belief 100%. Please click on the tolerance link above to read George Romney’s interesting article entitled "Religious Tolerance." *Also, see my related posts about religious tolerance.

Please note that Mormons seem to have a similarity to evangelical Christians in their warning to not let the commercialism of the Christmas "obscure the remembrance of Christ nor hinder the quest for peace on earth." (I refer to the phrase commonly used by evangelicals: "Jesus is the Reason for the Season.") 

Perhaps during this special Christmas season there might be a glimmer of hope that true tolerance could be appreciated by more evangelical Christians. Then perhaps Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney could actually become the first Mormon U.S. President, triumphantly overcoming the obstacles of intolerance. The bigotry against Roman Catholics did not prevail when Senator John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic U.S. President, and it is my hope that the inherent evilness of religious intolerance will not prevail against Governor Mitt Romney. 

Related Links

http://www.mittromney.com/ 

http://www.mittromney.com/
Ann-Romney/index 

http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/ 

http://www.mittreport.com/

My Related Posts

Seeing Christmas Rightly With One's Heart

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.

 
*Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin's Christmas Message To My Readers:

translated from the French by Katherine Woods

end of Chapter 21

Related Links

http://littleprince.8m.com/exupery.html

Conclusion: Seeing Rightly With the Heart

 

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/ -

My Related Posts

Mitt Romney, Mormons, Jesus, and Christmas
A Prayer For Those Who Seek God's Face
St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of Praises

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: I wrote this prayer for you, my readers. I ask God to bless all of you, especially those who seek God's face.

If you have been the target of physical, intellectual, or emotional intolerance, then this prayer is for you.

King James Bible
Psalm 24:6: "This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah." 1

King James Bible
Psalm 27:8: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." 2 


A Prayer For Those Who Seek God's Face

May you always be blessed by the one, true God.

May He always lift you up out of depression and hopelessness.

May you always be directed and guided by Him whenever you need to make decisions about anything important in your life.

May you recognize that there are those who belong to other Christian denominations (such as Mormons), and even other religions, who are living holy lives, and are, in fact, actually following God, regardless of your preconceived notions.

May you learn to be tolerant toward those that believe differently than you do.

May you learn to be tolerant toward those of other ethnic and religious backgrounds.
 
May you understand that the Lord's tolerance far surpasses your imperfect interpretation.

May you come to an understanding that even those who vehemently protest belief in God may, in fact, be closer to Him than you realize. Sometimes protest is an outward form of an inner spiritual struggle.

May you continue to walk on a good and righteous path, and may no harm or evil ever befall you.

May you never allow fear the power to destroy your dreams.

Amen.

Related Links

1 http://bible.cc/psalms/24-6.htm

2 http://bible.cc/psalms/27-8.htm

My Related Posts

St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of Praises
Part 1 Of Why America Is Unique
Why America Is Unique - Part 2
Why America Is Unique - Part 3
Why America Is Unique - Part 4
Good Mormon: Ancient Samaritan Parable?
Mitt Romney, Mormons, and Pacifism
Vote "No" on Anti-Mormon Rhetoric
Three Mormon Classics by CW

*The Conservative Wordsmith is currently the #1 Top Ten Blog on KRLA 870 AM Conservative Talk Radio.
http://krla870.townhall.com/youropinion/

*The Conservative Wordsmith is currently the #2 Top Ten Blog on Townhall.com.
http://www.townhall.com/youropinion/ 

The original date of this revised post was
October 14, 2007.

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Do you think you could have survived in Charles Dickens' 19th century London, England? Use your conservative or liberal ethics and skills to find out. The United Kingdom's BBC has an educational, fun, and eye-opening game. Dare to click the link below to enter the extremely dangerous, unhealthy, unsanitary, and impoverished Victorian London. This game was based on the BBC's Masterpiece Theater serial adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel, Bleak House. I have played it more than once, and thought I would share it with you.

After you play the game, ask yourself these questions: Is America basically a good country or an evil country? Is the American economy good or bad? If there really was a time machine, and you were given a choice of either living in America as it is today or going back in time to live in Dickensian London, which would you choose? (Remember, the choice would be to live there permanently, and you would not be able to return to America, in the present time period, ever again.)

This game, which is also accompanied by rather intriguing music, takes more than a few minutes to play, so please allow ample time to fully explore the world of Charles Dickens. Warning! It can be addicting! I have also provided extra links below, including an artistic and humorous life of Charles Dickens animation, created by Rufflebrothers, for your enjoyment.

Click SURVIVE DICKENS' LONDON to play the game now.

Related Links

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/
bleakhouse/

On campaign trail, ex-president hails senator's experience

updated 5:11 a.m. PT, Fri., Dec. 21, 2007

WOLFEBORO, N.H.

Related Links

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/
liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031019_
madre-teresa_en.html -“'By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."  "Small of stature, rocklike in faith, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was entrusted with the mission of proclaiming God’s thirsting love for humanity, especially for the poorest of the poor." “'God still loves the world and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor.'”  "She was a soul filled with the light of Christ, on fire with love for Him and burning with one desire: 'to quench His thirst for love and for souls.'” 

http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Mother_Teresa 

My Related Posts

*Hillary Clinton Wants MY Stuff?
Bush Says Hillary Is "Formidable Candidate"
St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of Praises
A Prayer For Those Who Seek God's Face

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.

* Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Read St. Francis of Assisi's Praises of the Creatures, or The Canticle of the Sun, popularly known as Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon. Holiness is something few of us attain, and St. Francis of Assisi was indeed a holy man, a true Christian Saint in every possible meaning of the word. I hope you enjoy this offering as a refreshing start to your busy day.  
 

The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi, tr. by Paschal Robinson, [1905],    at sacred-texts.com

p. 150

V.

THE CANTICLE OF THE SUN.

1 http://www.sacred-texts.com/
chr/wosf/wosf22.htm#canticle - Click this link to read Pascal Robinson's brief history of St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle.

Related Links

http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/
Albums/index.asp?id=41 -Troubadour of the Great King - I personally own this album, and highly recommend it. The above Canticle of the Sun, (a.k.a. Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon) by St. Francis of Assisi, was put to beautiful music by Third Order Franciscan John Michael Talbot, a contemporary Christian songwriter, singer, and guitarist. Click http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/Biography/ to read more about John Michael Talbot, and his Franciscan community, "The Brothers and Sisters of Charity."

http://www.usask.ca/relst/jrpc/article-brothersun.html - Click this link to read about Franco Zeffereli's film, Brother Sun, Sister Moon.  I also highly recommend this film, with an inspiring soundtrack written and sung by Donovan Leitch. This film is profoundly moving in its spiritual portrayal of the early life of St. Francis of Assisi, and his friendship with St. Clare of Assisi.

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wfXR_ct0jc to watch a You Tube video of Brother Sun, Sister Moon accompanied by Donovan’s music, plus other related videos pertaining to the film.

My Related Posts

A Prayer For Those Who Seek God's Face
Mitt Romney in The Mittchant of Venice

Thomas Jefferson's Interview With God

Shall Romney and Jefferson Meet In Hell?
Mitt Romney and A PLEA FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Good Mormon: Ancient Samaritan Parable?

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Republican Tom Tancredo, a five-term Colorado congressman, quit the 2008 presidential race on Thursday, December 20, 2007, and endorsed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney as "the best hope for our cause".

"He said he decided to drop out in part because of concern that staying in could split the vote for other candidates who have taken a hard line on immigration, helping those who would take a less restrictive approach."

"'I fear remaining in this race, one which I cannot win, would contribute to the nomination of one of these candidates,' he said."

"Tancredo identified former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Arizona Sen. John McCain as two Republican candidates whose records indicate they wouldn't be tough enough on immigration."

"He said Romney has a proven record of opposing illegal immigration while governor of Massachusetts, ending driver's licenses and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants."

"He also said Huckabee's recent rise in the polls was a factor in his decision to drop out of the race."

"Tancredo said he and Romney met Thursday for more than an hour and he left the meeting convinced that the former Massachusetts governor would do what's necessary to fight illegal immigration."

"'He is the best hope for our cause,' Tancredo said."

"None of the other candidates, including Romney, has hit the issue as hard as Tancredo. One of his campaign ads showed a man in a hooded sweat shirt with a backpack in a crowded mall. The screen went dark at the sound of an explosion, then showed clips of the aftermath of terrorist acts in Europe."

The above story and quotations are from

Republican Tancredo quits ’08 presidential race

Colorado congressman endorses Mitt Romney for GOP nomination. Please click this link to read the entire article.

"Sidebar:
So Mitt's cabinet is shaping up nicely...
  *Duncan Hunter, Vice President
  *Tom Tancredo, Secretary of Dept of Homeland Security
  *Hugh Hewitt, Secretary of the Press" - from

Tancredo Endorses Mitt because of Huck...

Posted by: Kevin McCullough  at 4:36 PM
Thursday, December 20, 2007

I wonder if Kevin McCullough would mind if were to add The Conservative Wordsmith to his list of Mitt's cabinet members. This could be a brand new position called Blogger of Defense for the Department of Religious Tolerance.

Seriously, though, I have been writing about Mitt Romney, Mormons (Latter-day Saints), and religious tolerance for months now. I made my official endorsement of Mitt and Ann Romney public on Monday, October 1, 2007.* I fully agree with Tom Tancredo when he said, referring to Mitt Romney, that "he is the best hope for our cause." Mitt is a person who could truly bring new energy, vitality, and hope to the American public and to the world at large.

Mitt Romney, as the first Mormon U.S. President, could also inspire many more Americans to embrace the concept of religious tolerance, and apply it in their everyday lives, which would mean even more religious liberty in this great country called America.**

Related Links

http://www.mittromney.com/ 

http://www.mittromney.com/
Ann-Romney/index 

http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/ 

http://www.mittreport.com/ 

My Related Posts

Romney, Clinton Full Speed Ahead In NH
Romney 33%, Huckabee 11%, In NH Fox News Poll
*Mitt and Ann Romney Have My Vote
**Mitt Romney and A PLEA FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Mitt Romney Qualifies With Article 6
Romney: Religious Attacks Are Not American
Romney and Kennedy: Two Voices of Tolerance
Mitt Romney in The Mittchant of Venice
Good Mormon: Ancient Samaritan Parable?
Shall Romney and Jefferson Meet In Hell?
Thomas Jefferson's Interview With God
Three Mormon Classics by CW
Mitt Romney, Mormons, and Pacifism 
Mormon Inventions For Everyman

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments. 

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton are both leading in New Hampshire, according to a Miami Herald article posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007. "The telephone poll for CNN and Manchester, N.H., television station WMUR reached 411 likely Republican voters and 469 likely Democratic voters Dec. 13-17. In both surveys, the margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points." 1

"THE NUMBERS - DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton, 38 percent

Barack Obama, 26 percent

John Edwards, 14 percent

Bill Richardson, 8 percent

---

THE NUMBERS - REPUBLICANS

Mitt Romney, 34 percent

John McCain, 22 percent

Rudy Giuliani, 16 percent

Mike Huckabee, 10 percent" 1

Governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon (Latter-day Saint), continues to be the most popular candidate in New Hampshire, and Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister and evangelical Christian, is apparently the least popular Republican presidential candidate.

People in New Hampshire are not so easily fooled by self-righteous proclamations of religious belief, and yes, I do refer to Mike Huckabee when I say this in all sincerity. Unlike Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney has never, to the best of my knowledge, taken a swipe at anyone else's religion. Mike Huckabee made a big mistake when he recently asked a question about whether Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers. *(See my related post.)

Mike Huckabee demonstrated to his potential voters that his brand of Christianity might include more than a touch of Christian intolerance. The Conservative Wordsmith votes "No" for Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian, and "Yes" for Mitt Romney, a Mormon Christian. Furthermore, The Conservative Wordsmith is not at all disturbed about the likely possibility that a Mormon, Governor Mitt Romney, may well be the next President of the United States of America.

1 http://www.miamiherald.com/
692/v-print/story/350105.html 

Related Links

http://www.mittromney.com/ 

http://www.mittromney.com/
Ann-Romney/index 

http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/ 

http://www.mittreport.com/ 

My Related Posts

*Romney: Religious Attacks Are Not American
Romney Year In Review Live Web cast Wed 12-19
Mitt Romney Endorsed By Judge Robert Bork
Romney 33%, Huckabee 11%, In NH Fox News Poll
Romney Endorsed By National Review As "Ally"
Will Romney Follow In Kennedy's Footsteps?
Mitt: Founders Prohibited Religious Test
Romney and Kennedy: Two Voices of Tolerance
Mitt Will Go By Constitution, Not LDS Church
Romney, Kennedy, and "Faith in America"

Mitt Romney, Mormons, and Pacifism 
Mitt Romney Qualifies With Article 6
Mitt Romney and Two Political Deists 
Mitt Romney and A PLEA FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Mitt Romney in The Mittchant of Venice
Good Mormon: Ancient Samaritan Parable?
Shall Romney and Jefferson Meet In Hell?
Thomas Jefferson's Interview With God 

The original date of this post was
December 19, 2007.

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney responded to what I consider to be an intolerant religious question asked by Republican candidate Mike Huckabee: "'In an article to be published Sunday in The New York Times,* Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, asks, "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?'" 

"Romney, vying to become the first Mormon elected president, declined to answer that question during an interview Wednesday, saying church leaders in Salt Lake City had already addressed the topic."

"'But I think attacking someone's religion is really going too far. It's just not the American way, and I think people will reject that,' Romney told NBC's 'Today' show."

"Asked if he believed Huckabee was speaking in a coded language to evangelicals, Romney praised his rival as a 'good man trying to do the best he can,' but he added, "'I don't believe that the people of this country are going to choose a person based on their faith and what church they go to.'"

"But Huckabee's campaign did not provide more information about the exchange, which the magazine reported this way in the article by Zev Chafets:* "'I asked Huckabee, who describes himself as the only Republican candidate with a degree in theology, if he considered Mormonism a cult or a religion. 'I think it's a religion,' he said. 'I really don't know much about it.'"

"'I was about to jot down this piece of boilerplate when Huckabee surprised me with a question of his own: 'Don't Mormons,' he asked in an innocent voice, 'believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?'"

"Huckabee has been surging in recent opinion polls, taking the GOP lead in Iowa and pressing closer to Rudy Giuliani in polling."

"The former Massachusetts governor also was asked why he used the term 'Mormon' only once last week in a highly publicized speech about religion in which he said he was proud of his faith."

"'Actually, we prefer the name 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,'" he said. '"'Mormon' used to be a nickname and I don't use it a lot, but now and then I do because people know what faith I'm referring to, and I talked about 'my faith' a number of times, and I don't imagine anybody is confused about what faith I have.''"

"The authoritative Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992, does not refer to Jesus and Satan as brothers. It speaks of Jesus as the son of God and of Satan as a fallen angel, which is a Biblical account."

"A spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Huckabee's question is usually raised by those who wish to smear the Mormon faith rather than clarify doctrine."

"'We believe, as other Christians believe and as Paul wrote, that God is the father of all,'" said the spokeswoman, Kim Farah. "'That means that all beings were created by God and are his spirit children. Christ, on the other hand, was the only begotten in the flesh and we worship him as the son of God and the savior of mankind. Satan is the exact opposite of who Christ is and what he stands for.'"

"Romney dismissed Huckabee's rise in the polls — saying he's seen similar surges from GOP rivals John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson — but he said scrutiny will follow his rival's rise to the top tier."

"'I think Mike was desperately hoping that we would get through this without people taking a close look at his positions and his record, but his record on immigration, on pardons for criminals, on reducing the penalties for meth lab dealers, on taxing and spending — he increased spending from $6 billion to $16 billion. I think those features in his record will cause those numbers to turn around,' Romney said."

The above quotations are from the article
Romney: Attacks on religion go too far

By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer.
Please click this link to read the entire article.
Associated Press Writer Libby Quaid in Washington contributed to this report.**

There is really no excuse for Mike Huckabee's seemingly innocent anti-Mormon comment, especially in light of the fact that he is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, and ought to know more about religious tolerance than the average lay Christian. 

I would like to believe that our next U.S. President will not be elected based solely on assertions that he is an evangelical Christian. I think this tactic to be dishonest. I am looking for the most honest candidate, and Mitt Romney definitely qualifies. Mitt has been honest enough to admit his mistakes, something not everyone is capable of doing.

Mitt Romney has also been consistent as a man who not only believes in conservative values, but practices them as well. I have never heard that Mitt Romney ever criticized anyone else's religious faith, and, in fact, Mitt's recent "Faith In America" address, which was similar to John F. Kennedy's famous 1960 "Catholic" address, demonstrates his immense concept of the meaning of religious tolerance.*** Perhaps Mike Huckabee should consider taking a few lessons from the next President of the United States of America, President Mitt Romney. I like the way that sounds.

Related Links

*Magazine Preview

The Huckabee Factor 

By ZEV CHAFETS

Published: December 12, 2007

Mitt, Freedom, and Destiny's Question

Mitt Romney #1 Fave Of Top Evangelicals 
Is Mitt Romney Still That MORMON Person?  
Mitt Romney, Mormons, and Nine Christians
Mitt Romney Support Urged By Evangelical
Mitt Believes In Jesus Per Joel Osteen
Mitt Romney, Mormons, and One Martyr
Mitt Not Hampered By Mormon Roots
Mitt: "I WILL BE A Pro-Life President!"
Mitt On Fire Electrifies Values Voters

Mormon Inventions For Everyman
Three Mormon Classics by CW
Meaty Mitt/Mormon Writings
Mitt Romney, Mormons, and Pacifism 
Mitt Romney Qualifies With Article 6 - Recommended Reading
Mitt Romney and Two Political Deists - Recommended Reading
Mitt Romney in The Mittchant of Venice - Recommended Reading
Good Mormon: Ancient Samaritan Parable? - Recommended Reading 
Shall Romney and Jefferson Meet In Hell? - Recommended Reading
Thomas Jefferson's Interview With God - Recommended Reading

The original date of this revised post was
December 12, 2007.



Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.