Preacher says vote for Romney is vote for Mormon 'cult'


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Updated: 10/08/2011 5:31 pm | Published: 10/07/2011 3:12 pm
Robert Jeffress
Robert Jeffress
"I know it's not politically correct to say, but it's true, Mormonism is a cult." -Pastor Robert Jeffress
WASHINGTON (ABC 4 News) - Evangelical Baptist preacher Robert Jeffress called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a "cult" and that conservatives should vote for a "Christian" candidate instead of Mitt Romney.

Jeffress made the statements during a speech at the Values Voter Summit, a gathering of religious conservatives in Washington, D.C. on Friday.

Jeffress reiterated his views on Mormonism to reporters outside the meeting afterward.

Jeffress said, "Do we prefer somebody who is a believer in Jesus Christ, or somebody who is a good moral person, but is part of a cult?"

Jeffress added, "I know it's not politically correct to say, but it's true, Mormonism is a cult."
"...those who want to understand the centrality of Christ to our faith can learn more about us and what we believe by going to mormon.org." -LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter
Jeffress was asked to introduce Rick Perry to the gathering and made similar statements to reporters outside the meeting.

Rick Perry's campaign later issued a statement, saying Perry himself didn’t choose Jeffress to introduce the candidate and that Perry does not share his view of Mormonism.

A campaign spokesman later said that Romney would not comment on Jeffress' statements about the LDS Church.

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter later released the following statement regarding Jeffress' comments, saying:

"We really don’t want to comment on a statement made at a political event but those who want to understand the centrality of Christ to our faith can learn more about us and what we believe by going to mormon.org."

Stay tuned to ABC 4 News and ABC4.com for more on this story.

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rationalgab - 10/14/2011 11:12 PM
1 Vote
I judge a man by how well he exemplifies the teachings of Christ in his actions, not just his words or professed beliefs. God may or may not judge a man by his “actions” but I am not God nor do I profess that I am qualified to take His place. Those who boastfully pretend that they are qualified to assume God’s authority to judge another have already disqualified themselves by their very own ignorance and blasphemy. Many may seem to draw close to Christ in their words or professed religious beliefs but fail miserably in their prideful behavior. In light of man’s imperfection, the best chance for men to fairly predict another’s future ethical and moral behavior is to look at their past behavior. Mitt Romney exemplifies the commonly held morals and ethics that Christ taught, in his actions as well as his words. I challenge anyone who is trying to persuade others that Romney’s religion will surely cause him to make decisions contra to Christ’s teachings while serving in Public Office, to name even one instance where this has taken place before, during either his public service or his private sector business behavior. Show me examples of what you claim he might do in the future, in his past. There are many men regardless of religious or political persuasion who self-righteously boast that only they are “the true Christians”, yet contradict His example in their public and private behavior. Romney is also unparalleled among the other candidates at building incredibly successful companies and managing major projects in our American free enterprise system. It’s one thing to talk about our economy but it is a far more difficult task to not only understand the complexities of our free economy but also to be undeniably successful at creating economic prosperity and jobs. He has an undeniably successful record of effectively managing the very economic issues that have been so badly mismanaged by the present Administration to the detriment and demise of America’

satine - 10/11/2011 5:06 PM
1 Vote
I have something to say to that baptist preacher .Don't be ignorant" and How come you're not fired up against say Seventh day adventists? I've heard them say "you'll burn in hell if you don't go to church on Saturday" Why are you not fired up against Jehovahs witnesses..or Catholics who confess to a Priest..or pray to various saints..Would you freak out if a Jew was running for President? The devil is working on you Preacher Robert Jeffress...

numberonefan - 10/10/2011 11:36 AM
1 Vote
People can say what they want to say we can not stop them. We know the truth and god knows the truth and that is all the matters

Shulamitefire - 10/9/2011 3:57 PM
0 Votes
Until latter-day idolaters aka Mormons/the church of Joseph Smith repent of their stinking thinking & vain imagination that 1. God was once a man 2. Jesus does not atone for all sin 3. Christ is a carnal, creature-craftsman, impotent to create, merely able to manipulate anything else & everything else they set forth is elementary & of little to no worth or consequence in ascribing to the Beautiful God the honor & the glory & the power due the superscendent splendor of His Name.

mattgordonmd - 10/9/2011 1:41 AM
0 Votes
Churches should start paying corporation income taxes or refrain from direct political action like this. Bring back the lions

Jan Riley - 10/8/2011 8:31 PM
0 Votes
The only definition of who and what being a "christian" is that matters to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is God and well, God has made it very clear in the Bible. 1 John 2:3-5 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." Mormons believe in the Bible and believe God when He says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Mitt Romney believes the Bible, believes this true doctrine, and God ~~~ not Rick Perry's pastor ~~~ knows how well Mitt Romney knows Him. The life he has lived is his evidence: he is a true christian, by the only definition/standard that counts, to Him whom he follows.

NetScanr - 10/8/2011 7:25 PM
0 Votes
Let's remember and enjoy the proclamation by Joseph Smith & Brigham Young (prophets 1 & 2) back in 1892 of their absolute certainty that Earth's moon and sun were indeed inhabited. Only true prophets would have such knowledge! It sure beats anything Jesus professed! URL to photograph of LDS publication bearing this great revelation: http://www.challengemin.org/moon.html

nrajeff - 10/8/2011 12:30 PM
0 Votes
Irrational accusation of the day: "Mormons believe black people are the devil's spawn. American cannot let a Mormon into the white hous! African Americans will be second class citizens and possibly put to death by him!!!" Not a big step from that paranoia to "It was the Mormons who REALLY had JFK assassinated, and probably had Lincoln and Elvis assassinated, too!"

AntiRomney - 10/8/2011 10:57 AM
0 Votes
I am an independent voter and I know for an absolute fact that I will not vote for a President who believes non-white people are inherently bad and only white people get into heaven. Mormons believe black people are the devil's spawn. American cannot let a Mormon into the white hous! African Americans will be second class citizens and possibly put to death by him!!!

nrajeff - 10/8/2011 9:54 AM
1 Vote
Amen to anetvm8's point that not all Baptists are extremist as Jefress. Let's examine Jeffress' logic: "Any vote for JFK was a vote for the Catholic Church." "Any vote for Nixon was a vote for The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)." "Any vote for Bill Clinton was a vote for the Baptist Church." See the huge flaw in Jeffress' reasoning? Maybe one could reason that if Romney wins the GOP nomination and the next POTUS will be either Obama again, or Romney, then "any opposition to Romney is a vote for Obama." Is that who you're rooting for, "conservative" Pastor Jeffress???
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