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November 1, 2024

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RitaSeptember 24, 2019

Joel, it is helpful to hear from a Jewish convert. I don't think the author was speaking about all Jews, but about those who participated in the referenced survey, and who appeared to be mostly Orthodox and Reformed. They are obviously not a complete representation of worldwide Jewish thought or experience. As for their need for conversion to the Restored Gospel before Christ's return, I would respectfully disagree. I have found that people are where they are for a reason, and not everyone will embrace, or even learn of, the Lord's true church during mortality. And that's OK. Whether in this life or the next, all of His children will have an opportunity to hear and choose. As we witness to our brothers and sisters in love and compassion, the Lord will take care of their ultimate outcome. His beloved Jewish sons and daughters receive blessings for their faithfulness to the Law they know, even if the traditions temporarily prevent them from embracing the gospel in this life.

G. JohnsonSeptember 24, 2019

Brother Marks makes an important point, the same I came to, in that many of the Jewish faith and culture, seem to have lost their connection to the traditions that give it it's vitality and dynamism. Some would contend that it is those very traditions that have cost Judaism those very characteristics. I worked for over 40 years in the television business and counted as my friends and co-workers many who identified themselves as Jews, yet, were not "practicing" the religion. We, as LDS, suffer from the same fate, when we make life choices that separate us from the essence of our religion; ongoing and continuous revelation and direction from our prophet and his emissaries. Much as some Jews neglect those traditions that guide their faith. Further, I find it curious that as citizens, the Jews seem to support political philosophies, parties and candidates that run entirely contrary to their theology. I asked one of my Jewish friends about this and they theorized that it was due to what they termed, "Jewish guilt"; guilt coming from that which posited their traditional values against what they perceive as their "chosen" nature as a culture versus the injustices that characterize modern life. Further, they felt that, at one time, one specific political party addressed those concerns better than others. That proclivity finds it's persistence in a generational tradition passed from parents to children. That the political landscape as well as the values that characterize and define one political party from another are constantly changing in this day, modern Judaism has a difficult time overcoming these traditions. Support for Israel, is another factor that seems to run contrary to the American Jewish experience; it seems to have no correlation to what one would expect of Jews in supporting their homeland as they seem to support a political party that has shown hostility towards Israel.

Joel Robin MarksSeptember 24, 2019

As a Jew and a Mormon I have a different unique perspective of your polyannish article. Yes it is true that religious Jews want thebest for their families and friends, but so do irreligious Jews. Many Jews are not attending SHUL or synagogue much and if they do its tradition or peer pressure. Modern Judaism is not homogeneous and does not fit as your article implies into a neat orderly dynamic. Jews need today to know that the Messiah has returned and though dedicated somewhat to traditions and long beliefs they are not in the scope of real truths though many traditionas and cultural distinctions are Talmudic converted from Biblical or as we say Old Testament writings. God bless my Brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith to see the light before the heat of Armageddon. Thanks you for writing such an insightful article on the forgotten Jewish faith which encompasses pure religion not just Zionism.

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