Utah State Rep: Obama's ambassador to China will try to convert country to Mormonism

[nichomachus]

http://www.americablog.com/2009/05/mormon-utah-state-rep-says-obama.html

As the Utah state representative explained in a Web posting that was quickly removed - unfortunately for him, Google lives on - soon to be US Ambassador to China, Republican governor of Utah Jon Huntsman, himself a Mormon, is under ecclesiastical mandate to proselytize to the Chinese when he goes to there to be Obama's ambassador. He has no choice.

Here is what the Utah state rep. wrote:

This is a big deal for the Governor, Utah, the United States, and…the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

Although the LDS church’s missionary program has an ecclesiastical presence throughout many parts of the world, the countries with the largest population bases (China and India) are not currently open to the church’s missionary efforts. Huntsman served his LDS mission as a 19 year old young man in the Taiwan Taipei Mission in the early 1980’s. He has since been back to the Far East on a number of occasions. Huntsman not only takes to China his political acumen but also a lifetime of membership in the LDS church. This should bode well for the LDS church’s mission to spread the gospel throughout the world, since all members of the LDS faith are under divine mandate to…”Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” (Matt 28:19)

Huntsman’s ambassadorship not only puts him in an excellent position to address US-China relations, it puts him in an even better position to teach the gospel…in Mandarin.

From what I understand, China will allow you to belong to any religion you want, but no one is allowed to proselytize. I was told that by a Chinese friend. So, our ambassador could end up in a bit of hot water.

[rpannier]

1. Huntsman will do his job the way an ambassador is supposed to

[MineralMan]

2. Not really. He's not going to proselytize.

That's the the wishful thinking of some blogger. Our ambassadors don't try to convert anyone to their religion. Basic State Department rule.

[nichomachus]

3. Wow -- State Dept. has two people on one blog today -- cool.

[mitchtv]

4. think of all the post mortem conversions

after an earthquake or flood

[SidneyCarton]

5. Gov. Huntsman will do his job.

You will note that the Mormons (unlike many Fundies) do not send missionaries to the Middle East. It is accepted doctrine that when the time is right, these areas will be opened for proselyting, attempting to force the issue is ignoring the hand of God, and his divine timing. What is true for the Middle East is equally true for China. What one blogger thinks about the Church is no more authoritative about Mormonism than it is for Catholicism.

[Occam Bandage]

6. He'll do his job professionally.

The Mormons will have to wait until Chinese are dead to convert them.

[moroni]

7. The Ambassador

... went on his mission for the Church to Taiwan in the 80s. I suspect he may still speak fluent Mandarin. This bodes well for the administration especially since he has made a few trips back since then. He might need to brush up a little but if he still speaks the lingo, he will be way far ahead in his job. The diplomatic corp is a fascinating career. I've had the privilege of knowing a few folks in the field. They were all very professional... a cut above so to speak. I even met a married couple from Taiwan. He was the envoy at the time when I was assigned to the Washington DC area. Very very nice, almost regal. Very tall too as I recollect, both he and his wife. I had forgotten about the encounter actually until I read this thread.

By the way, Latter-day Saints (Mormons) don't convert either the living or the dead. I know, I know; you are astonished at this revelation... it is true though.

Blessings to all,
moroni

[Occam Bandage]

8. Oh really.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1ec52f2324d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____