Zion's Best (25) Movies for Latter-day Saints
"Church Standards"
1.Princess Bride
2.Sound of Music
3.Ever After
4.Pride and Prejudice
5.Calamity Jane
6.Casablanca
7.Chariots of Fire
8.The Quiet Man
9.E.T. The Extraterrestrial
10.Hoosiers
11.It's A Wonderful Life
12.The Kid
13.The Lion King
14.The Mighty Ducks
15.Some Like it Hot
16.The Spy Kids
17.Star Wars (The Original)
18.Swiss Family Robinson
19.Toy Story
20.The Wizard of Oz
The list isn't complete on the website where I got this from. The movies are of "Church Standards" and are the point of view of the website. (www.zionsbest.com)
The Mormon church does make "recommendations" for their members to view certain movies. I remember how I was taught in many of my church classes to only view movies that are "G" rated and view some "PG" movies. I never saw "R" rated movies at all when growing up. I don't think that too many of those "R" movies were at the theater. The town I grew up in had way too many Mormons for the theater to permit those movies from being shown. The theater, more than likely, would have had to shut their doors due to no people in the seats.
As a Mormon, I didn't want to have my Priesthood dad breathing down my neck or sit in the Bishop's office because of a movie. It wasn't an option to choose the movies I watched. (Hardly went to the movies as a kid.) The church does give strong advice in avoiding unhealthy viewing of movies that invite temptation to enter in. All movies are to uplift and be "faith promoting."
The advise from the Mormon church, or any other church, to its members to view "healthy" movies isn't bad, it's when the Bishop or any other church official gets involved, is when the line is drawn. The Holy Spirit should be our guide, not a church.
Movies for Mormons
Mormon Prophets--
I was told that they are "Christian Prophets."
Mormon prophets are not Christian prophets, never have been, never will. If you ask Joseph Smith if he is a Christian prophet, he might say he is not in the sense of other Christians, however, he will say yes he is, in his Christian world.
Thinking-A Follow up
I was told in another comment, "Anyone that believes that "when our leaders speak, the thinking has been done" is an ignoramus and is in direct conflict with both the Church and his or her Heavenly Father"
Here are some quotes that support that saying:
"Always keep your eye on the President of the church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, even if it wrong, and you do it, the lord will bless you for it but you don't need to worry. The lord will never let his mouthpiece led you astray." (LDS President Marion G. Romney, quoting LDS President Heber J. Grant, Conference report October 1960, p78)
"When the Prophet speaks the debate is over." (N. Eldon Tanner, August Ensign 1979, pp2-3)
"Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the prophets, seers, revelators' of the church, is cultivating the spirit of apostasy. One cannot speak evil of the lord's anointed... and retain the holy spirit in his heart. This sort of game is Satan's favorite pastime, and he has practiced it to believing souls since Adam. He {Satan} wins a great victory when he can get members of the church to speak against their leaders and to do their own thinking." "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan--it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give directions, it should mark the end of controversy, God works no other way. To think otherwise, without immediate repentance, may cost one his faith, may destroy his testimony, and leave him a stranger to the kingdom of God." (Ward Teachers Message, Deseret News, Church Section p. 5, May 26, 1945; also included in the Improvement Era, June 1945, which was the Church official magazine before the Ensign)
There is more. I'll post it if I need to. The Mormons are to obey their prophet and not go against them or "suffer."
Read the fourteen fundamentals in following the Prophet and you'll see that "suffer" is in there.
God Bless!
Eternal Life-Mormon and Christian
I was told in a comment, "LDS have never strayed from Christian doctrine that Eternal Life in heaven with God can only be achieved through the Atoning grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
It is true that Mormons believe that Jesus saves them from eternal death and gives them eternal life.
It is true that Christians believe that Jesus saves them from eternal death and gives them eternal life.
Now lets look deeper into the separate definitions of each:
Christian:"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV, italics added) "Eternal life is, in simple terms, a life that doesn't end. "Eternity" refers to the life-in heaven or hell-after this present one on the created earth. Our sin condemned us to an eternal death of pain and suffering. Those who accept Christs gift of salvation are granted life with Him" (Christianity.com, Christian Foundations, Eternal Life)
Mormon:"Accordingly, eternal life is not a name that has reference only to the unending duration of a future life; immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state, and by the grace of God all men will gain this unending continuance of life. But only those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life (D&C 29:43-44.) It is "the greatest of all the gifts of God" (D&C 14:7), for it is the kind, status, type, and quality of life that God himself enjoys. Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation; they are sons of God, joint-heirs with Christ, members of the Church of the Firstborn; they overcome all things, have all power, and receive the fulness of the Father. They are gods." (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, p237, italics added)
Have the Mormons strayed from Christian doctrine? YES!!!
Footfprints in the Sand
Here is a little thought for ya....
Zionsbest.com under the topic of "twinkies" wrote a little thought about the lovely poem, "Footprints in the Sand."
Sad to see such an inspirational poem to be thought of in this way.
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes of his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. Etc. blah, blah.
Is this the gospel? I don't think so. Try something from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or the Book of Mormon."
The Gospels are full of how our Savior carries us through our lives if only we lean on Him.
The poem spoke about here is an illustration of how Jesus carries us through the rough times in our lives. There is nothing bad about the poem at all.
Click on the poem below and read it for yourself.
Fourteen Fundamentals?
Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet
By Elder Ezra Taft Benson
February 26, 1980
1.The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2.The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
***Brigham Young stated, There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now, "said he," when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books..." Then Joseph F. Smith followed up and said, "Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth." (Conference Report, October 1897, pp 18-19)
3.The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
***"Our marching orders for each six months are found in the general conference addresses which are printed in the Ensign magazine."
4.The prophet will never lead us astray.
***"I say to Israel, the Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of the church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God." Discources of Wilford Woodriff, Selected by G. Homer Durham, Sec: Bookcraft, 1946, pp 212-213)
5.The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
***A prophet may not have his Ph.D., but he certainly has his LDS.
6.The prophet does not have to say "Thus saith the Lord" to give us scripture.
***I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture.
7.The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
***Now I tell you that a man in his position is on the way to apostasy. He is forfeiting his chances for eternal life. So is every one who cannot follow the living prophet of God. (President Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1953, p. 125)
8.The prophet is not limited by mens reasoning.
***"Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof until long after the events transpire." (Joseph Smith, Scrapbook of Mormon Literature, Vol. 2, p. 173)
9.The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
***"Temporal and spiritual things are inseparably connected, and will ever be." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 10:363-364)
10.The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
***"Those who would remove prophets from politics would take God out of government."
11.The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
***My Thought***Why does the LDS have BYU then?***
12.The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13.The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency-the highest quorum in the church.
***"Whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those...the First Presidency, whom I have sent.: (D&C 112:20)
14.The prophet and the presidency-the living prophet and the First Presidency-follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.
***Brigham Young stated, "You cannot destroy the appointment of a prophet of God, but you cna cut the thread that binds you to the prophet of God and sink yourselves into hell." (President Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, 1963, p81)
"I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captains. How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lords anointed-the living prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency."
This is not the complete talk given, but it is in part. The asterisks were added by me for emphasis. The point I'm trying to convey is that the 14 points here are not in line with the Bible.
Control Panel Follow-up
*Where I'm from, the common unwritten thought was "As a man Thinketh." I know the book with the same title contributes to this...The encouragement of "Faith Promoting" literature is 'highly' recommended.
*The celestial kingdom is the goal after we "Do all we can do" in this life; in order to gain godhood. If there is a Priesthood holder in the house who wants to achiever this, then FHE (family home evening) is a mandatory activity.
*Seminary IS voluntary, however, a "good upstanding member" who wishes to go on a mission and get married in the temple, seminary IS necessary! It's another one of those questions, "Do I want to be a god in the celestial kingdom?" If the answer is 'yes', then seminary is more than voluntary.
*The Priesthood holder monitors the TV and what is listened to. Again, "Faith Promoting!" And don't forget the celestial kingdom is at stake here.
*Non member friends are at arms length. "Every member a Missionary" is the rule. Lets not forget the celestial kingdom is the goal in this.
*The church doesn't like members to question authority even though a member has that right. The consequences of this action usually if followed by being released from callings, temple recommend is denied, bishop discipline, and excommunication. These actions are taken against members all the time when they 'question authority'.
*The priesthood holders, again, who wish to gain the celestial kingdom will instruct their family to sing and listen to "Faith Promoting" hymns and songs. Discipline IS a result by those who believe that the family isn't striving for the goal in the heavens.
The accurate information in the "Control Panel" is logical and real. They are factual and there is *no problem*......Unless you want to be part of a cult........
This is feedback to a comment.
The Consent of Joseph?
"If I can pass brother Joseph, I shall stand a good chance for passing Peter, Jesus, the Prophets, Moses, Abraham, and all back to Father Adam, and be pretty sure of receiving his approbation...If we can pass the sentinel Joseph the Prophet, we shall go into the celestial kingdom, and not a man can injure us. If he says, "God bless you, come along here, if we will live so that Joseph will justify us, and say, "Here am I, brethren, we shall pass every sentinel." (Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, Vol. 4, p. 271-272)
"No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are - I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last dispensation - the keys to rule in the spirit world." (Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, Vol. 7, p.289)
"He stands, therefore, at the head of this dispensation and will throughout all eternity, and no man can take that power away from him. If any man holds these keys, he holds them subordinate to Joseph Smith...If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him, if we enter into our glory, it will be through the authority that he has received. We cannot get around him." (Journal of Discourses. Apostle George Q. Cannon, Vol. 24, pp.275-277)
Just a few quotes to show that Mormons DO believe that nobody can get through to heaven without going through Joseph Smith first!
I give all the credit to Reachout Trust Research Ministries for the information. Please click on their icon at the bottom of the side bar and look under the article, "Mormons and Judgement" and read the whole article. It gives a complete look as to why the Mormons think Joseph Smith has such a role.
Christ: Begotten of Mary and Elohim
"Since Adam, all who have been born into the world have come as the offspring of mortal parents, except on the Lord Jesus. He came into the world as the Son of a mortal mother and an Immortal Father" (Gospel Doctrine, pg 85)
"...to come to this particular earth as the literal Son of the Father....He was born unto this world as the Son of Mary (inheriting from her the power of mortality) and as the Son of Man of Holiness (inheriting from Him the powers of immortality). (Gospel Doctrine, pg 129)
Brigham Young stated: "[Jesus] partook of the flesh and blood-was begotten of His Father, as we were of our fathers." (Journal of Discourses, July 8, 1860)
Heber C. Kimball stated: "I was naturally begotten; so was my father, and also my Savior Jesus Christ...[T]here was nothing unnatural about it." (Journal of Discourses, September 2, 1860)
Brigham Young stated: "The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband." (Deseret News, October 10, 1866)
"The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father: we use the term lawful Wife, because it would be blasphemous in the highest degree to say that He overshadowed her or begat the Savior unlawfully. It would have been unlawful for any man to have unterfered with Mary, who was already espoused to Joseph; for such a heinous crime would have subjected both the guilty parties to death, according to the law of Moses. But God having created all men and women, had the most perfect right to do with His own creation, according to His holy will and pleasure: He had a lawful right to overshadow the Virgin Mary in the capacity of the husband, and beget a Son, although she was espoused to another; for the law which He gave to govern men and women was not intended to govern Himself, or to prescribe rules for his own conduct. It was also lawful in Him, after having thus dealt with Mary, to give her to Joseph her espoused husband. Whether God the Father gave Mary to Joseph for time only, of for time and eternity, we are not informed. Inasmuch as God was the first husband to her, it may be that He only gave her to be the wife of Joseph while in this mortal state, and that He intended after the resurrection to again take her as one of his own wives to raise up immortal spirits in eternity." (Orson Pratt, "Celestial Marriage", The Seer, October 1855, vol. 1, no. 10, 158)
The conception and birth of Jesus Christ is not as described as above. Spend some time in your own Bible and note the true way Christ came to earth.
