19 year old abducted by parents for joining Church

[prisonchaplain]

So many "Christian" religions have spent so much time and effort demonizing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This father sounds like he was a piece of work to begin with, but the constant slander and attack on the LDS faith should rightly be seen as "accessories in kidnapping" and whatever else happens to this poor girl. Every person who spends altogether too much time badmouthing our religion has had blood on their hands in the past. Let's hope that they have not added more blood to their guilt. It is impossible that he would have reacted this way had she joined ... oh say the Methodist Church.

This is the type of thinking that gives us hate crime laws. That may be fine. But remember, if your church gets protected, so do the many many other victim groups. Both these parents, and perhaps the supporters of prop. 8 would both be seen as hate criminals. Slippery slope, I know...but I would hate to have to be so guarded in my opinions, for fear of inciting something, that I end up saying nothing. We'll all end up "tolerating" each other, but never really interacting at all.

[Misshalfway]

This is the type of thinking that gives us hate crime laws. That may be fine. But remember, if your church gets protected, so do the many many other victim groups. Both these parents, and perhaps the supporters of prop. 8 would both be seen as hate criminals. Slippery slope, I know...but I would hate to have to be so guarded in my opinions, for fear of inciting something, that I end up saying nothing. We'll all end up "tolerating" each other, but never really interacting at all.

I don't see these parents as hate criminals and I don't think the church does either. We meet people all the time who don't understand us or whose first reactions are those of fear. Most of us just shake it off in compassion. Heck, it is been that way since the beginning. As long as no crime has been committed and the girl is safe, this situation will be viewed as a private family matter.

And anyway, the girl is safe. No one hurt her. The parents, I am sure, had no idea that the young worried roommate would call the cops. They are now cooperating with authorities. I highly doubt any charges will be filed. Just a story that the news couldn't wait to sensationalize.

Edited May 13, 2009 by Misshalfway

[prospectmom]

The daughter herself called the police at first so no wonder the roommate did. The roommate must have been terrified from all the girl said and how they were advised by the police. The girl alleged physical abuse also so that makes it even scarier.

[Faded]

This is the type of thinking that gives us hate crime laws. That may be fine. But remember, if your church gets protected, so do the many many other victim groups. Both these parents, and perhaps the supporters of prop. 8 would both be seen as hate criminals. Slippery slope, I know...but I would hate to have to be so guarded in my opinions, for fear of inciting something, that I end up saying nothing. We'll all end up "tolerating" each other, but never really interacting at all.

I remember an instance at the University of Wyoming where a gay male college student was killed by a group of fellow students. A bunch of peole from the community showed up to protest (if you can call it that) with signs saying, "God Hates Fags" and things like that. I would call that kind of behavior an extremely inappropriate way of disagreeing with that young man's life choices, and obviously, it was incredibly mean-spirited considering the guy was already dead.

If you venture through the comments responding to that article, there were a number of people who said they'd have done the same thing (when it was assumed the girl had been kidnapped and was in danger.) All is well that ends well, and in this case it ended well. But the fact that there are people out there who are so poisoned in their opinions that they can justify kidnapping, coersion and violence to stop a person they love from joining the "Mormon" Church. It's the same sort of thing. Other Christians disagree with our beliefs, but there is such a thing as going too far with that notion. Christian leaders have been the driving force behind the vast majority of injustices inflicted upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints throughout it's history, but for some reason there does not seem to be any sense among them that they've been overdoing it. I've been told by many a "Christian" that "the Mormons got exactly what they deserved." I think that's an extremely unChristian sentiment considering the severity of the crimes perpetuated against the Latter Day Saints.

[ADoyle90815]

As someone who is not LDS, I think what those parents did is just wrong. Once someone reaches the age of 18, they're legally adults and have the right to join whatever church they want to, and that includes the LDS church. That also applies to any adult over 18 who decides that the LDS church isn't for them as well, so they resign(have their names removed) from the church.

With this particular case, if the parents were in fact, abusive, then it's likely that this woman joined the LDS church in order to escape the abuse. I wouldn't be surprised if the parents get a restraining order against them, and this woman get on with her life in the LDS church.

[prisonchaplain]

Faded, imho the internet sometimes brings out the worst in people. We restrain ourselves amongst civilized people, and cyber-forums often remove that healthy caution and thoughtfulness. Nevertheless, there are a few people of faith who will engage in very anti-Christian behavior in a foolish attempt to help protect God (Yeah...wow!!!)

My concerns about hate crime laws have unintended consequences that could backfire on people of faith was not meant in any way to condone what these parents did. Most parents want their children to stay with the faith of their family--but ultimately we must let them claim their own relationship with God.

[Faded]

Faded, imho the internet sometimes brings out the worst in people. We restrain ourselves amongst civilized people, and cyber-forums often remove that healthy caution and thoughtfulness. Nevertheless, there are a few people of faith who will engage in very anti-Christian behavior in a foolish attempt to help protect God (Yeah...wow!!!)

My concerns about hate crime laws have unintended consequences that could backfire on people of faith was not meant in any way to condone what these parents did. Most parents want their children to stay with the faith of their family--but ultimately we must let them claim their own relationship with God.

It does sound likely that the parents in this story were not doing such a good job of living their religion -- if the alleged abuse did indeed happen.

It has been my experience that currently, the people who get all zealous and subsequently do something very stupid usually range between semi-involved to completely uninvolved with the Church. The trouble is that when they were active, they heard (or think they heard) that there is absolutely nothing good about Mormons and the Mormon Church. We're possessed by demons from hell, or some such nonsense, we're all doomed to spend an eternity in hell, we denounce God and Christ, we're a brainwashing Satanic cult, etc, etc, etc. The fact of the matter is, great effort is gone to in order to make the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints seem like a bunch crazy people, frothing at the mouth and all that. Why? To protect their flock from what they perceive as heresy I guess. But lies and exaggerations are not becoming of those who claim to follow Christ. The trouble is, some people take those notions and act on them. Again, usually those who are not exactly living their religion at all. All they know is that Mormonism is the worst possible religion on Earth because their pastor told them so in church growing up. So when somebody does something illegal, violent or reprehensible, you have to place some of the blame on the pastor who taught them to think that way.

[bytebear]

Stephen Robertson in the book "How Wide the Divide" recalls a story of when he was in the deep south, and the church was involved in an interfaith board established to stop some sex shops that had recently opened. Well the Baptist church withdrew their support if they had to be on the same board as the Mormons. Robertson's comment was that he discovered that "some Evangelicals oppose Mormons more vehemently than they oppose pornography". That's the depths of their fear and hatred of the LDS Faith.

Edited May 13, 2009 by bytebear

[Faded]

Stephen Robertson in the book "How Wide the Divide" recalls a story of when he was in the deep south, and the church was involved in an interfaith board established to stop some sex shops that had recently opened. Well the Baptist church withdrew their support if they had to be on the same board as the Mormons. Robertson's comment was that he discovered that "some Evangelicals oppose Mormons more vehemently than they oppose pornography". That's the depths of their fear and hatred of the LDS Faith.

So sad and so very true.

[gigi]

That's the depths of their fear and hatred of the LDS Faith.

So sad and so very true.

Yep, that's why it wasn't Mitt Romney who lost to Obama.

[HEthePrimate]

Yikes! Her parents probably think the Church is some kind of cult, and wanted to "save" her from "drinking the Kool-Aid," so to speak.

*sigh*

When will people learn better?

HEP

[Misshalfway]

So the girl is fine. Not being held against her will. Just a misunderstanding. Perhaps all involved will learn to act instead of overreact.