Comments about ‘Q&A: Evangelical leader Richard Land shares views on LDS Church, threats to religious liberty, other issues’

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Published: Friday, Sept. 6 2013 3:50 p.m. MDT

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Christian 24-7
Murray, UT

This guy is awesome! He is smart, articulate, knows the battle he faces, and is unafraid. On top of that he is open-minded, shown by his willingness to meet with a traditional enemy. He isn't caving on his beliefs, but he is looking for the common ground. What a refreshing view!

No wonder the anti-religious posters here, and the liberal secularist groups nation wide, are trying to take him down. It is actually really funny to watch them froth and flail against well stated truths they can't lie their way out of.

Go Dr Land!

Morgan Hill, CA

@skeptic: Religious people weren't the ones who tired to hound other people out of their jobs for supporting Proposition 8 in California. Similarly, they aren't the ones who shout "bigot" or 'homophobe" at anyone whose perspective is different from theirs, or who force their morals over on small business owners. Since the "politically correct" crowd never defines hate, I am forced to conclude that "Hatred" simply means any opinion that they don't happen to like.

Pleasanton, CA

Mr. Land says that the term "cult" does not apply to the LDS Church. So far so good. But he goes on to say that The Mormons have to accept that a lot of evangelicals are not going to accept them as fellow Christians. that's not much better than being called a cult. It seems to me Mr. Land could do a lot about this if he wanted to, so what is he doing?


"Good will" between Southern Baptist and LDS leaders is only going to go so far. LDS missionaries are working hard to convert So. Baptists (and others) to the LDS Church.

Obama's March 2012 response to a reporter's question about Trayvon Martin (which Land responded to) is too long to post. Obama (in part) stated, "And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together -- federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened....."


Phoenix, AZ

Why do we live in a society where so many people feel it's all or nothing? We can live in a society that we have Judeo-Christian values governing the people. Religious liberty, under the protection of Judeo-Christian values. In other words, religious freedom until you rape little girls (Darrel that's why Jeff's in jail, regardless of who he said told him to do it), blow up people (Islam), or perform other atrocities. Get rid of religious law and we fall to survival of the fittest which means murder, stealing, and doing what ever anyone wants to do to someone because they are stronger. Law protects the weak. The Law came from Judeo-Christian values. The weak want to remove the law, they will remove their protection.

Salt Lake City, UT

Non acceptance of immoral behavior is not hate. Attempting to force others to accept immoral behavior against their conscience is not tolerance. Failure to understand that same-sex attraction is very real to a small percentage of human beings is unrighteous judgment and counter factual. The gay community ultimately must face the fact that most Christians and other folks with moral underpinnings simply will not come to believe that immoral behavior is acceptable now or in the future. It is what it is.

ray vaughn
Ogden, UT

Mr. Lamb condems some LGBT people for not allowing live and let live attitude. Yet he condems others who do not adhere to his viewpoint on what is proper. A true live and let live attitude would encourage people to be in a healthy loving relationship. It would condemm laws that forbid others from enjoying all of the benefits enjoyed by others it would condemm discrimination based on sexual orientation. It would encourage all family relationships. Believe me, I have traveled throughout the Baaptist Bible belt anf the evengical Christians do not believe Mormons are true Christians.

San Francisco, CA

-- "Reading this story and reading stories about the current Pope, I can't help but notice the difference in tone between the two. One seems much more loving and Christ-like than the other." --


Who said, "Think not that I am come to set peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother"?

Who went to the temple and "cast out all them that bought and sold…and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers"?

How loving and Christ-like was that?

Just as children need parents who both love and chastise them, we humans need both "loving and Christ-like" and "stern and Christ-like." We need God to love us always but get our attention when we mess up. We need inspired people of God like both Pope Francis and Pastor Land. At times, we need one approach more than the other when the other is clearly not being heard or heeded – and that is not Pastor Land's fault.


Wonder why so few young people are interested in "religion" these days? Throwbacks like Richard Land are a pretty good reason.

What is the LDS leadership thinking? Close associations with Catholics, of all people, on "social issues", and now Richard Land? This is not progress, brethren. This is moving backwards. The Catholic hierarchy has zero credibility and so does Richard Land.

not from utah, 00

@1aggie says quoting the article, "They want their behavior affirmed as normal and healthy, and they want anyone who disagrees with that for whatever reason to be ostracized to the level of Klansmen"

This guy is downright offensive. Way to alienate me as a member by inviting this guy to town."

His comment is spot on and true. What's offensive about his comment? How is he wrong in his assertion? One only has to read the "civil" comments allowed on the Dnews threads to know that name-calling is the preferred method of communicating by those who support homosexuality as something normal, equal and embraceable.

It's not, nor should it ever be embraced. Homosexuality should be shunned at every corner known to man.


We are instructed as Christians to walk "with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love".

This guy is the opposite of what we are taught and chumming up to him is a big mistake. It really feels like the train has gone off the tracks lately.

not from utah, 00

@truthseeker: re your 12:10 post today. Which part of Land's comments is incorrect? I find them to be spot on.

and as someone else has mentioned, you really aren't for truthseeking since you turn away so many truths for your own opinion.

Roanoke, VA

There is no merit in visiting a Christian community and telling them with polite words and a smiling face that they are not Christian, which is what Land believes. Neither is saying "I don't believe you're an 'alcoholic', but you drink too much." So his refusal to call the LDS Church a 'cult' is little comfort. His is a very condescending visit to Utah.

The Caravan Moves On
Enid, OK

Article quote: "Deseret News: How would you characterize Mormon/evangelical relations today? Land: ....... To some degree (members of the) LDS Church have to get used to the fact that the majority of evangelicals are not going to accept them within the framework of orthodox, Apostles' Creed Christianity. And I think that evangelicals have got to accept the fact that the LDS Church is a tremendous ally and fellow combatant against the things that are the most threatening to us in America."

Translation: "The majority of us non-Mormons will accept Mormons' EFFORTS at fighting evil alongside us but we will not accept YOU as equals."

Did he just say that?

He sure did. Read it again yourself.

What to do? What do do?....

Well, being angry and hurt over it won't help at all so I guess the thing to do is be like Nephi and "frankly forgive" him like Nepghi "frankly forgave" his own murderous brothers.

Sure would be nice if non-LDS Christians accepted us as Christians lock, stock and barrel like we accept them as Christians.


Dan Maloy
Enid, OK

@ BlueHusky - Mission Viejo, CA - "My issue is with the right's assertion that God forbids homosexuality."

Uhhh....BlueHusky, that's because God DOES forbid homosexuality....



@ BrentBot: “Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person’s life, freedom of religion affects every individual. State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion. Erecting the “wall of separation between church and state,” therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society. We have solved the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to the laws." Thomas Jefferson, Speech to the Virginia Baptists, 1808

ray vaughn
Ogden, UT

Reading Pastor Lands comments in the story remind me of what Ghandi said. "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians, for your Christians are so unlike your Christ".

Lethbridge, 00


Wouldn't you think that they would pray about such a potentially divisive action? And wouldn't you think that the Lord would answer those prayers when they sincerely seek it? I know that this can seem bold by my writing this, but I believe that it needs to be said, for everybody's sake. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve always act in unity, whenever and wherever they act. The question here is the same question that members of the church could ask about the church's support of proposition 8, or any other stance that the church makes on any pertinent moral issue. The question isn't "Is this really the right thing to do?" The question is "Is Thomas S. Monson a prophet? Are the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve apostles, seers, and revelators?" And the answer to that question is the same answer to "Was Joseph Smith a prophet of God?" I can understand that it will come under scrutiny, and be misunderstood and misread. But this isn't the "LDS leadership's" church. It's the Lord's church, and He is the one who directs it.

Provo, UT

If Mormons aren't Christen why are they the first church to answer the call for help whever it is needed.


Which part of Land's comments is incorrect?

"n African-American president who is in deep, deep, deep trouble for re-election"

Obama was never in "deep, deep, deep, trouble for re-election. Furthermore, in March 2012, not a single poll had Romney ahead of Obama. Even conservative-leaning polls, Fox had him up by 4, and Rasmussen had him up by 3.

Land: "those using race to polarize the electorate" "gin up the black vote"
Is Land a mind reader? Are you? We can use the same "mind-reading" techniques about Land's statements to believe Land was taking the opportunity to "gin" up the conservative vote can't we?

Land: " "There is going to be violence." "people are going to get hurt."

Fox News: "Demonstrators from coast-to-coast boisterously -- yet for the most part peacefully."

Land was not "spot-on" according to the available facts.
You provided no facts.

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