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Yahweh or No Way? - Mormons & God's Poll Numbers
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Being a Christian Means Living A Christlike Life
The Savior taught basic principles of and directions about leading a Christlike life. For example, when Christ instructs his disciples to "Pray for them which despitefully use you" (Matthew 5:44), Matthew uses the Greek word eulogeite, which means not just to pray for them privately, but also "to speak well of, to thank, and even to praise." Christ gave his followers clear instructions on how to implement this higher moral law: the sermon concludes by instructing listeners and readers to build our "house upon [the] rock" of Christ (Matthew 7:24). (John W. Welch)
Words Can Become Weapons Of Persecution
Most don't stop and think how 'Words' can become weapons of Persecution. Evil starts in the heart of men and then it is communicated out through 'Words.' Throughout history there are examples where persecution was preceded by bias, bigotry and hatred communicated through words. As sentiments spread and fear is perceived the stage is set for those who are influenced by Satan and conditions soon deteriorate to the point that persecution is justified.
One of the best examples is from the writings of Martin Luther (1483-1546). Luther wrote a book called, "On the Jews and Their Lies" in the year 1543. A wonderful article by Jim Walker called, Martin Luther's dirty little book: On the Jews and their lies--A precursor to Nazism spells out in vivid detail of the writing on the Jews by Martin Luther how it influenced the German people some 400 years later to act upon that information. Luther's writings were praised by the Nazis and the atrocities prepetrated against them had their start in the 'Words' of Martin Luther...almost to a tea.
Walker tells us:
"In Mein Kampf, Hitler listed Martin Luther as one of the greatest reformers. And similar to Luther in the 1500s, Hitler spoke against the Jews. The Nazi plan to create a German Reich Church laid its bases on the "Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther." The first physical violence against the Jews came on November 9-10 on Kristallnacht (Crystal Night) where the Nazis killed Jews, shattered glass windows, and destroyed hundreds of synagogues, just as Luther had proposed [in 'Jew and Their Lies']. In Daniel Johah Goldhagen's book, Hitler's Willing Executioners, he writes:
"One leading Protestant churchman, Bishop Martin Sasse published a compendium of Martin Luther's antisemitic vitriol shortly after Kristallnacht's orgy of anti-Jewish violence. In the foreword to the volume, he applauded the burning of the synagogues and the coincidence of the day: 'On November 10, 1938, on Luther's birthday, the synagogues are burning in Germany.' The German people, he urged, ought to heed these words 'of the greatest antisemite of his time, the warner of his people against the Jews.'"
No apologist can claim that Martin Luther bore his anti-Jewishness out of youthful naivete', uneducation, or out of unfounded Christianity. On the contrary, Luther in his youth expressed a great optimism about Jewish conversion to Christianity. But in his later years, Luther began to realize that the Jews would not convert to his wishes. His anti-Jewishness grew slowly over time. His logic came not from science or reason, but rather from Scripture and his Faith. His "On the Jews and Their Lies" shows remarkable study into the Bible and fanatical biblical reasoning. Luther, at age 60 wrote this dangerous "little" book at the prime of his maturity, and in full knowledge in support of his beliefs and Christianity.
This is a lesson of history that all should take heed of. And that is to beware of the power of words and even if they would not act on their own words they should realize that others may use them later to justify evil towards another. Bearing false witness throughout history has had horrific consequences and shows how evil is spawn.
Thoughts about Attacks on the Book of Mormon
"Most anti-Mormon attacks on the authenticity of the Book of Mormon suffer from several severe logical flaws. The authors are inadequately informed about Latter-day Saint history, doctrine, and scripture; they have not read the text of the Book of Mormon carefully; they distort both what the text of the Book of Mormon says and the variety of Latter-day Saint interpretations of the text; they attempt to make all Latter-day Saint scholars responsible for the private opinions of some Latter-day Saint authors or General Authorities; and they frequently argue solely from the authority of selected authors or scholars, rather than providing evidence, analysis, and argumentation to support their case. They seldom advance the discussion by dealing with current Latter-day Saint thinking on the matter, being content instead to rely on an ad nauseam repetition of anti-Mormon arguments, many of which have been around-and have had adequate Latter-day Saint responses-for over a century."
~~William J. Hamblin (LDS Scholar)
~~William J. Hamblin (LDS Scholar)
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Mormon Apologetic Scholarship and Evangelical Neglect: Losing the Battle and Not Knowing It?
One of the best articles I've ran across on speaking out against Mormons by Anti-Mormonism was mostly indented to be a rallying cry to the troops of the Countercult Movement to get into action. It was written by two respected Evangelical scholars. Their article 'Mormon Apologetic Scholarship and Evangelical Neglect: Losing the Battle and Not Knowing It?' is an amazing piece of writing but lays out precisely what the Anti-Mormons are up against. So in essence it is saying, know they enemy...and in this case it is the Mormons. Being a Mormon I was quite impressed by this article how it laid it all on the line of what the true dilemma really is. The Mormons are winning the the Countercultist are oblivious to what is really going on. You be a judge for yourself:
Mormon Apologetic Scholarship and Evangelical Neglect: Losing the Battle and Not Knowing It?
Carl Mosser and Paul Owen
1997 Evangelical Theological Society Far West Annual Meeting
Mormon Apologetic Scholarship and Evangelical Neglect: Losing the Battle and Not Knowing It?
Carl Mosser and Paul Owen
1997 Evangelical Theological Society Far West Annual Meeting
“Be charitable in your thoughts, in your speech and in your actions. Be charitable in your judgments, in your attitudes and in your prayers. Think charitably of your friends, your neighbors, your relatives and even your enemies. And if there be those whom you can help in a material way, do so in a quiet, friendly, neighborly way, as if it were the most common and everyday experience for you. Tongues of men and angels, gifts of prophecy and all mysteries and all knowledge are as nothing without charity.”
~Patrick Joseph, Cardinal Hayes
“I owe much to my friends; but, all things considered, it strikes me that I owe even more to my enemies. The real person springs to life under a strain even better than under a caress.”
~André Gide
~Patrick Joseph, Cardinal Hayes
“I owe much to my friends; but, all things considered, it strikes me that I owe even more to my enemies. The real person springs to life under a strain even better than under a caress.”
~André Gide
What Do Those Baptist Know Anyway?
A great quote about Anti-Mormonism comes from Daniel C. Peterson's article, 'What Certain Baptist Think They Know About the Restored Gospel.'
"Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may well be surprised and perplexed that one church would devote its official resources to assaulting another. There is nothing remotely comparable among the Mormons. I teach Islamic studies at Brigham Young University, and I often lecture on Islam to Latter-day Saint groups across the country. I have written a book about Islam, directed to a Latter-day Saint audience, and have participated in other efforts of the kind. I have been involved in Mormon-Muslim dialogues at Brigham Young and Idaho State universities, and in "trialogues" between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Austria and Israel. Never have I been asked to concentrate on the "errors" and "evils" of Islam, nor have I ever felt the slightest pressure from anybody to do so. Quite the contrary. I have sought always to treat the religion of the Muslims with sympathy and respect, and my efforts to do so have been well received at every level of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"To the best of my knowledge, not a single Latter-day Saint makes his or her living as a professional critic of anybody else's faith. We don't run anti-Protestant "ministries." We don't have a Sunday School curriculum focused on the errors of the Baptists. No Mormon tabloids exist that aim at refuting Calvinism. We don't buy or sell books with titles like 'Forty Years an Evangelical Slave.' We don't produce sensationalistic videos devoted to attacking Protestant fundamentalism. I have never seen a Latter-day Saint cartoon lampooning, say, the Assemblies of God. We don't flit around the world trying to disrupt the work of other religious organizations. We don't picket them when they dedicate new buildings. We don't haunt their meetings. We don't distribute leaflets assaulting other faiths. We don't sponsor lectures or seminars in our chapels assaulting the "evils" of our neighbors' religions, and we don't have television and radio programs "exposing" the stupidity or depravity of others' beliefs.
"Latter-day Saints can, I think, be quite happy that this is so."
"Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may well be surprised and perplexed that one church would devote its official resources to assaulting another. There is nothing remotely comparable among the Mormons. I teach Islamic studies at Brigham Young University, and I often lecture on Islam to Latter-day Saint groups across the country. I have written a book about Islam, directed to a Latter-day Saint audience, and have participated in other efforts of the kind. I have been involved in Mormon-Muslim dialogues at Brigham Young and Idaho State universities, and in "trialogues" between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Austria and Israel. Never have I been asked to concentrate on the "errors" and "evils" of Islam, nor have I ever felt the slightest pressure from anybody to do so. Quite the contrary. I have sought always to treat the religion of the Muslims with sympathy and respect, and my efforts to do so have been well received at every level of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"To the best of my knowledge, not a single Latter-day Saint makes his or her living as a professional critic of anybody else's faith. We don't run anti-Protestant "ministries." We don't have a Sunday School curriculum focused on the errors of the Baptists. No Mormon tabloids exist that aim at refuting Calvinism. We don't buy or sell books with titles like 'Forty Years an Evangelical Slave.' We don't produce sensationalistic videos devoted to attacking Protestant fundamentalism. I have never seen a Latter-day Saint cartoon lampooning, say, the Assemblies of God. We don't flit around the world trying to disrupt the work of other religious organizations. We don't picket them when they dedicate new buildings. We don't haunt their meetings. We don't distribute leaflets assaulting other faiths. We don't sponsor lectures or seminars in our chapels assaulting the "evils" of our neighbors' religions, and we don't have television and radio programs "exposing" the stupidity or depravity of others' beliefs.
"Latter-day Saints can, I think, be quite happy that this is so."
Video Clips of Anti-Mormon Street Preachers
American Testament: The Book of Mormon is a super blog put together by Steve Smoot a a senior in high school in Salt Lake City. He has put together an amazing site with video he is producing on the Book of Mormon and other evidences he comes across. You can tell that is a very savy LDS youth with an impressive intellect. I first ran across Steve at the LDS FAIR Conference last summer. To meet Steve Smoot see the last video in this post.
Steve also posts in an LDS forum and when conference came around he announced to everyone how he was going to video the Street Preachers. Here are just two of the videos, a link below shows all the videos. These video show just how depraved and sick these Anti-Mormons are. If they weren't so disruptive of our religious meetings this would pass as a comedy. One has to ask how they would like these types of disruptions at their place of worship?
Street Preachers Video-see all of them here.
Meet Steve Smoot:
(about half-way through-4:35 on the time)
Steve also posts in an LDS forum and when conference came around he announced to everyone how he was going to video the Street Preachers. Here are just two of the videos, a link below shows all the videos. These video show just how depraved and sick these Anti-Mormons are. If they weren't so disruptive of our religious meetings this would pass as a comedy. One has to ask how they would like these types of disruptions at their place of worship?
Street Preachers Video-see all of them here.
Meet Steve Smoot:
(about half-way through-4:35 on the time)
More Video Clips of Anti-Street Preachers (warning-these are disgusting)
Video Clips of Rabid Anti-Mormons Street Preachers in Salt Lake City.
Allen L. Wyatt, Anti-Mormon Protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference, (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, April 2003) In this short video clip, an anti-Mormon protester at the April 2003 General Conference throws LDS scriptures on the ground and taunts those passing by.
Allen L. Wyatt, Anti-Mormon Protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference, (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, April 2003) In this short video clip, an anti-Mormon protester at the April 2003 General Conference shouts his opinions about the Book of Mormon, drowning out nearby missionaries trying to sing hymns. Another protester waves temple garments at passersby. This event is also talked about in this article Without the Walls of Temple Square.
Allen L. Wyatt, Anti-Mormon Protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference, (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, April 2003) In this short video clip, an anti-Mormon protester at the April 2003 General Conference calls people out of the Church and out of sin.
Allen L. Wyatt, Anti-Mormon Protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference, (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, April 2003) In this short video clip, an anti-Mormon protester at the April 2003 General Conference throws LDS scriptures on the ground and taunts those passing by.
Allen L. Wyatt, Anti-Mormon Protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference, (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, April 2003) In this short video clip, an anti-Mormon protester at the April 2003 General Conference shouts his opinions about the Book of Mormon, drowning out nearby missionaries trying to sing hymns. Another protester waves temple garments at passersby. This event is also talked about in this article Without the Walls of Temple Square.
Allen L. Wyatt, Anti-Mormon Protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference, (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, April 2003) In this short video clip, an anti-Mormon protester at the April 2003 General Conference calls people out of the Church and out of sin.
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Orgins of Anti-Mormonism
The young boy Prophet, Joseph Smith first experienced the sting of hatred and bigory not long after his vision from God at the age of 14.
The term "anti-Mormon" first appears in the historical record in 1841, as part of the title of a New York publication with the stated goal of exposing the errors of Mormonism. On August 16th of that year the Latter Day Saint Times and Seasons reported the Mormons' confidence that although the Anti-Mormon Almanac was designed by "Satan and his emissaries" to flood the world with "lies and evil reports", still "we are assured that in the providence of God they will ultimately tend to the glory of God--the spread of truth and the good of the church". The anti-Mormon newspaper certainly wasn't the first of its kind; Mormonism had been criticized strongly by dozens of publications since its inception, most notably by Eber D. Howe's book Mormonism Unvailed (1834). The Saints initially labeled such publications “anti-Christian”, but the publication of the Almanac and the subsequent formation of an "Anti-Mormon Party" in Illinois heralded a shift in terminology. "Anti-Mormon" became, on the lips of the church's critics, a proud and politically charged self-designation.
"[...] one of the Methodist preachers [...] treated my communication [...] with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of them. I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects -- all united to persecute me." (History of Joseph Smith, 21-22)
The term "anti-Mormon" first appears in the historical record in 1841, as part of the title of a New York publication with the stated goal of exposing the errors of Mormonism. On August 16th of that year the Latter Day Saint Times and Seasons reported the Mormons' confidence that although the Anti-Mormon Almanac was designed by "Satan and his emissaries" to flood the world with "lies and evil reports", still "we are assured that in the providence of God they will ultimately tend to the glory of God--the spread of truth and the good of the church". The anti-Mormon newspaper certainly wasn't the first of its kind; Mormonism had been criticized strongly by dozens of publications since its inception, most notably by Eber D. Howe's book Mormonism Unvailed (1834). The Saints initially labeled such publications “anti-Christian”, but the publication of the Almanac and the subsequent formation of an "Anti-Mormon Party" in Illinois heralded a shift in terminology. "Anti-Mormon" became, on the lips of the church's critics, a proud and politically charged self-designation.
Anti-Mormons Protesting
Here are some links to photo essays of Anti-Mormons protesting outside our meeting place and at pageants. I've just a couple of photos from each photo essay, click the links to see the rest.
Anti-Mormon protesters at the October 2003 LDS General Conference.
Anti-Mormon efforts at the 2003 Mesa Easter Pageant.
Anti-Mormon protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference.
Anti-Mormon protesters at the April 2004 LDS General Conference.
Anti-Mormon efforts at the 2004 Mesa Easter Pageant.
Anti-Mormon protesters at the October 2003 LDS General Conference.
Anti-Mormon efforts at the 2003 Mesa Easter Pageant.
Anti-Mormon protesters at the April 2003 LDS General Conference.
Anti-Mormon protesters at the April 2004 LDS General Conference.
Anti-Mormon efforts at the 2004 Mesa Easter Pageant.
How About Tolerance For All?
This article was written by a reporter by the name of Bob Lonsberry and it happens to illustrate just how evil Anti-Mormons are.
Some Muslims wear sacred clothing.
So do some Jews. The same for Native Americans and some Hindus and others.
Bits of cloth or string that are physical reminders of God and his bond with man. Sacred things, really. Prayer shawls or beads, head coverings or aprons, medicine bags. Things that are special to people, honorable and good things.
Things that should be respected.
One would not, for example, rip the yarmulke from a Jewish man's head and mockingly fling it like a Frisbee. Nor would you wear a yarmulke as a spoof or joke. Certainly not as an attack on Judaism. Not as a mockery of Jews and their faith.
Yet something like that happened this weekend.
In front of thousands of people in one of America's great cities. An act of religious desecration, bigotry and discrimination.
And the perpetrators boast of it to the press.
It was in Salt Lake City. And it was against Mormons.
And somehow that makes it acceptable.
Here's what happened.
Over the weekend, Mormons gathered for what they call "general conference." It is a twice-a-year meeting that draws tens of thousands to Salt Lake City and is broadcast around the world to an audience in the low millions. It is a worship service. It is sacred and special to them.
And each year it is protested.
So-called Christian evangelists stand on the sidewalk outside the Mormon meetings and shout rude condemnations of the religion to the thousands who pass in and out. It is an odd spectacle, unmatched in American society. To think that crude protesters would stand outside a mosque or synagogue, or a cathedral or church, and harass worshippers and denounce a religion is just beyond the pale.
It is an act of indefensible religious bigotry.
And yet it happens, and is often applauded and boasted of.
This column started with a mention of sacred clothing. Well, Mormons have sacred clothing, too. Like a variety of religious garments, it is worn against the skin. It is a type of underclothing. They don't talk about it. They don't show it to people. They keep it sacred. Like virtually all religious clothing, it is a specific reminder of promises made to God. Like virtually all religious clothing, it is precious and significant to the people who wear it.
Well, Sunday the evangelists had some.
Maybe six guys, Baptist ministers, mocking the Mormons as they came out of a meeting. Shouting rude things to people coming out of church.
And they had these sacred garments.
And one supposed minister of the gospel was wiping his backside with them, laughingly treating them like toilet paper as thousands who held them sacred walked by.
Can you see that being done to a prayer shawl in front of a synagogue, or a prayer rug in front of a mosque?
Wouldn't that sacrilege be publicly denounced by all decent people?
He also draped them around his neck, and pretended over and over to sneeze into them. And loudly blow his nose into them. While families and children walked past.
Stop for a moment.
Lay aside what you do or don't think about Mormons. But was that right? More to the point, was that Christian? Is that what Jesus would do? Is that what any decent person of any faith would do?
Absolutely not. It is wrong, bigoted and un-American. No matter who it's against.
It was an affront. It smelled like the bigotry of the Klan and the Third Reich. And yet the ministers boasted of it to reporters and posed for pictures and no one in the Utah or American religious, media or civil rights communities has condemned it.
And, oddly, two worshippers were taken away in handcuffs.
One man, dressed in his church clothes, walked past in the crowd, saw the insults and desecrations, and grabbed the piece of clothing. To protect it. He was charged with robbery and taken to jail.
Half an hour later another worshipper similarly grabbed a molested garment and attempted to take it away. He was unsuccessful and waiting police stepped in to take him into custody.
And that's the world we live in.
You are harangued for your beliefs and arrested for defending them.
And the bigotry of our society is illustrated by how selectively we practice tolerance.
Religious Tolerance
The word "tolerance" does not occur in the Bible. At least, it does not appear in three common English translations: King James Version, New King James and American Standard Version.
There are very few Biblical passages that promote tolerance, in comparison with its many instances of religious intolerance.
We could only find one reference in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) - and it was a vague prophecy about religious peace, at some undefined time in the future. There are only a handful of examples in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament). Most of them deal with tolerance by one Christian to another.
An overall theme of the Bible is religious exclusivity and intolerance.
Religious Tolerance in the Hebrew Scriptures:
World religions at peace with each other: The prophet Micah prophesied about a coming time when nations will stop making war. The various peoples of the world will live in peace and pursue their different religions, each worshipping their different Gods and Goddesses. Meanwhile, the Jews will continue to follow Jehovah. His prophesy came to pass for the known western world during the Roman Empire where religious were generally tolerated (except for the intermittent persecution of Christians). There has not been any period since the fall of the Roman Empire when tolerance of religious minorities has been generally observed worldwide.
Micah 4:3-5
Religious Tolerance in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament):
Tolerance of other types of "Christianity": Jesus' disciples had rejected a healer who was exorcising demons in Jesus' name, yet was not one of Jesus direct followers. Jesus criticized his disciples and accepted the healer. Mark and Luke report the incident in parallel passages:
Jesus refused to curse non-believers: Jesus' teachings were rejected by the inhabitants of a village in Samaria. His disciples asked that he exterminate the people of the village by issuing a curse. Jesus refused to do it, and simply move on to the next village.
Jesus treats a Samaritan women with respect: Jesus initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman in Sychar, Samaria. This is unusual in at least two ways: Jewish men did not talk to women who were not their wives or were not from their family. Also, Jews normally treated Samaritans with contempt. Jews did not have dealings with them, because they had deviated from Judaism.
There are very few Biblical passages that promote tolerance, in comparison with its many instances of religious intolerance.
We could only find one reference in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) - and it was a vague prophecy about religious peace, at some undefined time in the future. There are only a handful of examples in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament). Most of them deal with tolerance by one Christian to another.
An overall theme of the Bible is religious exclusivity and intolerance.
Religious Tolerance in the Hebrew Scriptures:
World religions at peace with each other: The prophet Micah prophesied about a coming time when nations will stop making war. The various peoples of the world will live in peace and pursue their different religions, each worshipping their different Gods and Goddesses. Meanwhile, the Jews will continue to follow Jehovah. His prophesy came to pass for the known western world during the Roman Empire where religious were generally tolerated (except for the intermittent persecution of Christians). There has not been any period since the fall of the Roman Empire when tolerance of religious minorities has been generally observed worldwide.
Micah 4:3-5
"...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hat spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever." (KJV)
Religious Tolerance in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament):
Tolerance of other types of "Christianity": Jesus' disciples had rejected a healer who was exorcising demons in Jesus' name, yet was not one of Jesus direct followers. Jesus criticized his disciples and accepted the healer. Mark and Luke report the incident in parallel passages:
Mark 9:38-40 "...we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." (KJV)
Luke 9:49-50 "...we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."
Jesus refused to curse non-believers: Jesus' teachings were rejected by the inhabitants of a village in Samaria. His disciples asked that he exterminate the people of the village by issuing a curse. Jesus refused to do it, and simply move on to the next village.
Luke 9:52-56: "...they did not receive him...And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
Jesus treats a Samaritan women with respect: Jesus initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman in Sychar, Samaria. This is unusual in at least two ways: Jewish men did not talk to women who were not their wives or were not from their family. Also, Jews normally treated Samaritans with contempt. Jews did not have dealings with them, because they had deviated from Judaism.
John 4:7-27: "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink...Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water...Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father...And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman..."
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