Elohim is the common name for God. It is a plural form, but "The usage of the language gives no support to the supposition that we have in the plural form Elohim, applied to the God of Israel, the remains of an early polytheism, or at least a combination with the higher spiritual beings" (Kautzsch).

According to Renan (Histoire du peuple d'Israel, I, p. 30) the Semites believed that the world is surrounded, penetrated, and governed by the Elohim, myriads of active beings, analogous to the spirits of the savages, alive, but somehow inseparable from one another, not even distinguished by their proper names as the gods of the Aryans, so that they can be considered as a confused totality. Marti (Geschichte der israelitischen Religion, p. 26), too, finds in Elohim a trace of the original Semitic polydemonism; he maintains that the word signified the sum of the divine beings that inhabited any given place. Baethgen (op. cit., p. 287), F.C. Baur (Symbolik und Mythologie, I, 304), and Hellmuth-Zimmermann (Elohim, Berlin, 1900) make Elohim an expression of power, grandeur, and totality. Lagrange (op. cit., p. 78) urges against these views that even the Semitic races need distinct units before they have a sum, and distinct parts before that arrive at a totality. Moreover, the name El is prior to Elohim (op. cit., p. 77 sq.) and El is both a proper and a common name of God. Originally it was either a proper name and has become a common name, or it was a common name has become a proper name. In either case, El, and, therefore, also its derivative form Elohim, must have denoted the one true God. This inference becomes clear after a little reflection. If El was, at first, the proper name of a false god, it could not become the common name of a false god, it could not become the common name for deity any more than Jupiter or Juno could; and if it was, at first, the common name for deity, it could become the proper name only of that God who combined in him all the attributes of deity, who was the one true God. This does not imply that all the Semitic races had from the beginning a clear concept of God's unit and Divine attributes, though all had originally the Divine name El.

Reference:

VIGOUROUX in Dict. de la Bible, s.v.; KNABENBAUER, Lexicon Biblicum (Paris, 1907), II, 63; KAUTZSCH in Encyclopaedia Biblica (New York, 1902), III, 3323 sq.; LAGRANGE, Etudes sur les religions semitiques (Paris, 1905), 19, 71, 77 sqq.

Quit being such a wimp. There is nothing wrong with debate. If you are unaware, it is called Freedom of Speech.

Even the Mormon apologists have their opportunity to defend their religion. So pull up your panties and get back in the debate.

I agree with your statements. I too think people should exercise tolerance. However, I think those who have posted messages that oppose Mr. Romney's faith are expressing that they will not vote for a person because of his or her belief.

I think most people vote for a person because they share the candidates beliefs.

With that said, all sides should be heard on this debate...

As I read in the preface of the same Book of Mormon, the Lamanites are the ancestors of the American Indian. As we all know American Indians are dark skinned – so according to the Book of Mormon all American Indians are a cursed people?

Thanks – Glenn

I looked up the definition of a cult, and Mormonism does not meet that definition. At least, no more so than any church.

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

This is every church.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

Again, this does not single out Mormons.

3. the object of such devotion.

Doesn't fit with religion

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

You could use this, but it's no different than Baptists, or Catholics, Jews, etc.

5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

Hmmm....the Masons?

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

Mormons are considered false by many other Christians....just as Christians are considered false by other religions. Are all Christians a cult? Mormons don't live outside of regular society, and they certainly are not any more extremist than say...orthodox jews.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

See above.

8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

Irrelevant to religion.

So, again, why is Mormonism a cult? I'd love to know why you think this. What personal insights do YOU have into this church that make it a cult? The Mormons have 11 million members. This is no small-town Texas cult here. This is a worldwide religion with members in ALL walks of life, including senators in our country in both parties.

You've taken an event that happened with a specific tribe in a specific period of time and are trying to show racism. Here is what the Book of Mormon says in various ways and at various times:

2 Nephi 26: 33

For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; an ALL ARE ALIKE unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

And the book was traslated and published at a time when slavery was accepted by all America, including Baptists, Methodist, etc. Joseph Smith politically campaigned for the freedom of blacks too, when that was not the least bit fashionable, some 50 years before the real abolitionist movements.

No, it specifically said the Lamanites and isn't referring to anyone else.

Hope this helps.

Southern Baptists going to elect Romney??? Are they the only people that get to vote? Last time I checked, Catholics still outnumber the Southern Baptists.

Look up "Flip" Romney. He is a former bishop of the Mormon church. I believe that Mormonism is a cult. If you disagree, look up the definition of a cult and then compare that to LDS doctrine. Even beyond religion, Romney has flipped on EVERY MAJOR ISSUE since he declared his candidacy. A little convenient, don't you think?

Then, look up Mike Huckabee. He is a man of integrity and character. Even if you don't agree with him on every issue, at least you know who he is and what he stands for.

"And the skins of the Lamanites were, dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a "curse" upon them because of their transgressions and their rebellion against their bretheren..."

Does this chapter and verse imply that people with dark skin are cursed?

Reference: Book of Mormon, Copyright 1981 by Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.

First English Edition published in 1830

Could I make a similar statement about my neighbors: "Gosh, they are the nicest couple, so well behaved. But I gotta keep an eye on them because they drive a Green Car"

Personally, I don't care if the guy worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I'm looking for a candidate that is solid on the issues, holds strength in his/her convictions, has a basic understanding of economic and foreign policy, won't sell America [any further] to special interest groups and won't shove religion down everyone's throat. Our founding fathers referred to God in the terms of a Natural God, not in context of endorsing Christiantity. Yes, they were Christian, yes they believed in God, but they were adamently against having religion (regardless of the flavor) having an undue influence in governmental affairs.

In fact, Thomas Jefferson himself said: "Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law." and "History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes."

George Washington himself had many opinions as well including, "Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated."

So, let's cut out this 'Who is more Christian than the other' but focus on real issue and not this smoke and mirrors drum beating which will get us nowhere and simply distract us from the very real challenges that face our nation.

Now I see why Republicans espouse family values. You argue like my two preschoolers.

Some death cult leader in SC first supports and then reneges on that support of a politician who happens to be a member of a different death cult.

That about it? I just hope they will all be sending each other to Jesus soon and leave the rest of us non-cultists live in peace.

No gods – no masters.

Do your homework – we know that at least the Epistles of John were written after the BOOK OF REVELATION, and it is possible that Timothy, Titus, Jude, and the Gospel of John were also. Also, if you had done your research, you would know that the bible as an entire book did not come into existence until well after the apostles had died. In fact, when John warns against adding to this book, he is referring to THE BOOK OF REVELATION, otherwise he would be telling disciples to reject other works that were subsequently included in the modern Bible. In short, the scriptures in the Bible were not necessarily written in chronological order, including the Book of Revelation. You might have other reasons to not like Mitt, but as stated, your current reason is inaccurate.

As a Latter-day Saint I beleive that every individual lived in heaven with a heavenly Father and Mother before birth. We had spirit bodies that looked very similar to the bodies we have now. Christ was the first-born spiritually of the Father, and we are literally his brothers and sisters. Christ is the ONLY-begotten of the Father in the flesh-we do not pretend to understand the methods by which this was accomplished save that which is written in holy scripture, namely that the spirit overcame Mary. Inferrence concerning this topic only diminishes faith. We believe that the Savior lived an absolutely perfect life; that he suffered the pains, sicknesses, trials, tribulations and sins and transgressions of every soul ever born. He then willingly commended his soul to death. 3 days later he was resurrected. Because of this we ALL will be resurrected, and those who follow him and exercise his atonement in their lives will be saved to live with God again. In this way Christ is our personal savior-his atonement and power alone provide salvation, which does not come without effort on our part. Christ is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Brother and My Friend-the Son of God in the Flesh. I know that God has a plan of eternal progression for all of us! Think of an eternity without progression! It would be terrible. Exactly what this plan entails we do not pretend to know exactly (why would God reveal the tenants of the next life if we cannot abide by those of this life?). However, I do know that we will eternally progress in family units. Even God progresses, though not of Himself. We are his work and his glory-his progression is through his literal children. I love the Lord and respect anyone who lives a life of goodness in the pursuit of truth. Good Mormons do not demean the truths of others, but simply offer greater light and truth.
Mormon missionaries are more that willing to explain this further, and the power of their words will be a witness to you of truth if you earnestly seek it.
Again, thank you for your sincere concern and genuine interest in what is good and right. I won't vote for Mitt Romney because i don't like his policies-good mormons will vote based on platform, not church affiliation.

Why do people care if Gov. Romney exercises the same Constitutional right that all So. Baptist, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, etc. exercise? How does his theology determine if he is qualified to be president? Look at Bush, he is a Methodist (aka "mainstream" Christian) and he has turned out to be quite possibly the most inept president ever.

Does it matter if a Mormon is Christian according to Rev. X, Y & Z? Where does it say that that is a qualification to be president? I can't stand ignorant people that make uneducated decisions based on irrelevant information.