Our inboxes are full of mail concerning the Glenn Beck Interview being pulled from Focus of the Family's site. Many people were upset, others were trying to seek understanding, and others had their own experiences to share as they have tried to work with Focus on the Family. Please read from the select group of letters below, this is the “small plates” abridgement of a huge number of letters. To read the Glenn Beck article, click here.

Opportunity to Talk about the Gospel

I have lived in Colorado Springs thirty-six years. There are four Stakes in  El Paso County  where there was only one that went from Castle Rock to New Mexico when we moved here. Everyone knows who we are. We do not worry about Focus on the Family. It is a just business. The Saints in this community are active in politics, schools, and other venues. People know who we are. They are surprised we are normal. Incidents like this cause lots of opportunities to talk about the Gospel.

--Amy Lee Corbin
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Editor's Note: Colorado Springs is the World Headquarters of Focus on the Family.

Should They Withdraw from Jews, Muslims and Buddhists as Well as Mormons?

As I read the Family Focus groups response for pulling Glenn Beck's interview because we don't believe in the true Christian Christ, I really found no reason to be offended and to withdraw from that group. I felt they were trying very hard to not be offensive. They don't believe as we do. We will never agree with them. My question to them would be, are you going to withdraw Jews, Muslims and Buddhists, etc as well, because they are not Christians? They believe as they believe. We should be as respectful of their beliefs as we wish them to be of ours. We are not going to agree all the time. We should not let our religious beliefs get us sidetracked from our common ground of saving the traditional family. If we do that, then Satan has won again. After teaching in a Catholic school in the Bronx for a number of years and living in the multicultural setting of New York City I rejoice in our differences and only hope that they enrich our lives rather than divide us. When I learn of other beliefs it only strengthens my belief in mine - which is the Latter-day Saint Church.

--Terri Ann Petersen

Not So Personal After All

I read with interest your feature article today on the "personal" response to Mary Wilson from Ron Hall from the Focus on the Family. I must admit that I had to control my feelings of disappointment that led to a touch of anger for two reasons.

The first reason should be obvious to any member of the Church with a testimony of the Savior.

The second reason deals with the "personal" response from Focus on the Family as it is not as personal as one would think.

My son living in Amarillo, TX, forwarded to me with the permission of his bishop a "personal" response from Focus on the Family. I will add it here at the end of my remarks. As you read it, I believe you will find that the response to Sister Wilson is not so personal. You may note that the author of her personal response is not the same author of the response to my son's bishop.

I realize that an organization as big as Focus on the Family must be prepared to respond many times to the same question. It appears that what they do is select from a menu of options to include in response to those questions. Or, perhaps Sister Wilson simply thought it was a personal reply, which makes the response even worse as it suggests that FOTF geared up for the onslaught of outcries from the LDS population.

--Greg Talley
Vestal, New York

Editor's Note: The Letter was only slightly different in the opening and then word-for-word the same.

Would Dr. Dobson Approve?

Thanks for the update on Glenn Beck's Focus on the family article.

I too wrote a note to Focus on the family and received basically the same form letter back.  It would be nice to actually hear from Dr. Dobson himself as he approved the whole thing. I still think it goes back to some over zealous person who is not fond of the Mormons, and is behind all of this...and that the almighty dollar and/or threat of loss of followers was a key factor.

--Sheri Bird

The Nicene Creed Biblical?

It is ironic that the evangelicals who are part of Focus on the Family reject the Book of Mormon because it is extra-biblical, but embrace the extra-biblical Nicene Creed. The Nicene Council never even pretended that the creed was revelation. As much as evangelicals reject the tradition of the Catholic Church as being outside the scriptures, they still continue the tradition of the Nicene Creed as though it is biblical. The “traditions of the fathers” remains a stumbling block.

--Anon

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Great article on Glenn Beck. To illustrate why LDS doctrine is a “Restored Truth” please point the family and friends of Meridian Magazine to the great articles that Kevin Christensen has written regarding Margaret Barker's work on the First Temple period of the Old Testament. Your posting of Kevin's articles in the past has led me on a wonderful journey of scriptural study of “Wisdom”. Now when ever I read the word Wisdom in all the standard works, I think Temple knowledge not wisdom as the world sees. It is true, my Savior is the God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the god of 325AD. The link below is a wonderful study on Margaret's discovery of Wisdom.

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/papers/?paperID=6

--Craig A. Mills
Olds, Alberta, Canada

Others Sometime Stand Up for Us

I forwarded the article and Focus on the Family to my Lutheran non-member husband of 32 years. He has the same view as Focus on the Family: LDS people do not believe in the Nicean Creed, and the Trinity, therefore, they do not have the truth. I have read Elder Holland's conference talk many times, but this time using it to defend truth just makes it more powerful. My husband seems to be happy believing the restoration started and ended with Martin Luther. I don't think he actually believes in the Nicean Creed as it is written, as he has been exposed to LDS doctrines and teachings for years now, but he holds to it kind of like a constitution--It is his creed.

One of my long time Methodist friends who spent a great deal of time with the LDS teens during her youth while growing up in Mesa did not attend her church for a two year period as they were intent on having classes to "Disprove the Mormon Religion". My friend stood up to leave. She told them when they got finished disproving the Mormon Religion, she would be back. I have shared with her our Articles of Faith, etc. but she is happy with her faith, AND shows great love and tolerance. I think the basic problem is rooted in fear--You really don't have anything to fear when you have the truth.

You don't have to be angry at another group of people. You just work together with your beliefs that you share, love each other if you can, and let the Savior handle the rest of it. We tell our youth to stand steadfast and immoveable. Isn't it wonderful when people of different faiths stand up for us, as my friend did. They may not be interested in joining our faith, but they do not wish to attack us, either. Anyway, too bad these other Christian groups do not have a Thirteenth article of faith. Glen Beck's interview would have been covered under that--We seek after good things.

--Sandy Nelsen
Phoenix, Arizona

There Was a Fight at Nicaea

As a member of LDS chruch I also was shocked by this action. Thank You for publishing the complete answer of Ron Hall. I just want to let you know that a German brother has published a very thoroughly researched book on the Niceaen Council and has found many proofs of the decisions made there as false and political after a fight between Athanasius and Arius—the latter supporting the doctrine together with other Church fathers as it is taught now in our Church. Athanasisus wanted to be on Konstantin's side and Konstantin made it a political Church to support his empire. There is no proof to the alleged heavenly sign. It is a really shocking story to read. The name of this good brother who is a staunch member and defender of the Church in Neubrandenburg and has overcome the Nazi and Communist regime in Eastern Germany is Gerd Skibbe . The title of the book is "Alles war anders"(All was Different--ISBN 978-3-00-026096-4 I am a happy reader of Meridian .

Sincerely

--Dr. Harry Merl
Gramastetten, Austria

Explanation of Focus on the Family is Very Illogical

Excellent article. Troubling, but this is the reality we're dealing with.

I have an addition to the thoughts offered. Focus on the Family has given us their EXPLANATION of why the interview was pulled. I don't believe they're given us the REASON.

Their explanation is very illogical. Another doctrine they complain about is the idea of continuing revelation. Yet they cite the Council of Nicaea as the authority for their objection to Mormonism rather than the Bible, as if that Council represented a new revelation of doctrine the Lord didn't see fit to explain in the Bible. Their resorting to irrationality makes it seem that we don't have the reason for their feelings - only the explanation.

Let me offer a couple of possible explanations:

I have worked in public affairs and have dealt with many fine ministers of other faiths. I have a line of Lutheran ministers in my family and feel they are servants of the Lord and I have great respect for them. I think they are in tune, to a good extent, with the Spirit of Christ. And I believe that, confronted with Mormonism, their hearts are pricked, and this scares them. And that is part of the reason they react so irrationally.

Also, I had an interesting discussion with a born-again Christian that opened my eyes as to how they feel. I asked a question of this dedicated man. If he indeed believed that confessing Christ was all that was necessary for salvation, I asked, why could not I, a Latter-day Saint who confessed Christ, be saved? He became very flustered and didn't know what to say. Others who have maybe grappled with this issue have thought of a convenient "out:" We don't confess the same Christ.

An irrational response—but very understandable.

 --David Hall
Mesa, Arizona

Apostolic Christian vs. Nicaean Christian

When someone argues that I am not Christian, I merely respond that I am not a Nicaean Christian but an Apostolic Christian, whose belief in the Savior more closely approximates that of the pre-Nicaean Christians.

Why should we take umbrage if Focus on the Family or our Christian neighbors reject us as "true Christians" because we don't endorse their Nicaeane view of the Trinity? Why should we care if they don't think we're Christians; in fact, we should be flattered. Even so, we can work with them on some social issues and be good neighbors; but, please, let's face up to the fact that we, in reality, don't worship the same Jesus -- thank God.

--Curt Burnett

Introspection is in Order

I am disappointed at the logic employed in the response from Ron Hall. I was caught by the comment,

“Herein lies the crux of our concern. Much as we respect and appreciate our friends in the LDS Church , it would be dishonest of us to conceal our firm conviction that at its heart, Mormon doctrine is incompatible with Christianity.”

There is a lot that could be said in response, but I find myself wondering where Mr. Hall and his organization stand on the Constitution of the United States of America . After all, that document has been developed by men and women of diverse beliefs and conviction, some with atheistic preferences. Certainly, such philosophies are “incompatible with Christianity.” In truth, wouldn't it be better to look for truth and embrace it wherever it is found? I believe introspection is in order.

-- Clifton J. Warner

Focus on the Family's View of Mormons

As a convert, I am not surprised by Focus on the Family's response to their audience. If they totally endorse Mormonism as an equal, then other religions will remove their financial support. I am just surprised people within the LDS Community want to be aligned with Focus on the Family. If the LDS community understood the emotional tide that drives their stances, they would also realize Focus on the Family really does consider Mormons to be a non-Christian cult. There are some within FOTF's fold that would go so far as to consider Mormons "brain-washed."

--Vickie Hatcher
Charleston, West Virginia

The GPS Coordinates of the Argument

Your article is cogent and clearly brings us to the precipice of the argument.

As LDS we can go a long way on the “good works” road with our Christian friends but there does come a point of departure and you have properly identified the GPS coordinates of the argument.

Nicene Christians claim the high ground of history and tradition as their authority base. We are the iconoclasts to their icon. An ultimately incompatible alliance.

-- Eric L. Stoddard
San Ramon, California

Stay tuned as we publish more Letters to the Editor on The Real Reason Why the Glenn Beck Interview was Pulled from Focus on the Family.