Mormonism, LDS, I'm trying to learn about them

[MBony]

I am trying to educate myself on this branch of Christianity and would like to know more about it. Please don't post your views on it and/or why it is or isn't good. I am not looking for opinions. If you have a point to make about it, please list references, not just "what I heard."

I have read this and am also reading the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Coventants, and Pearl of Great Price.

I am especially interested in those who were once LDS and quit or those who are comtemplating joining.

Please don't stink up the thread about how this is another religious thread either. I'm just trying to educate myself.

I hope this doesn't turn nasty...:sun:

 

[bobbybe01]

Please PM for more info, I'll be glad to help you out. I'll see if I can get some good stuff on this thread.

I would suggest the following sites:

The Offical LDS Church website

A Very Well Documented FAQ

FAIR (another well documented site)

Perhaps the Message Board is better?

Here's another: Another well done FAQ site Check under "Response to Criticism" for some of the tougher questions

Here are some about.com resources

Mormon Apologetics and Defense Info

General About.com LDS site

 

[bradruth]

I suggest talking to Ken Jennings.

 

[Encryptic]

/drops pants and squats in the corner of the thread

Your thread has officially been crapped in. Carry on.

 

[dc]

their views/beliefs are extreme enough that many people wouldn't consider them a sect/denomination of christianity.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Mormons have some very extreme theological beliefs, but their family values are great.

 

[halik]

wow i spent about 2 mins reading everything and then i noticed its LDS and not LSD... doh

 

[Atomicus]

Mormonism was founded by a MAN named Joseph Smith Jr. who claimed to be a modern-day prophet. Called Church of Latter Day Saint and believes that when one dies, they become a God-like spirit and have "celestial" sex (which is what their polygamy stems from).

No offense, but the more you look into it, the more absurd that crap should become. Don't get sucked in.

 

[dc]

celestial marriage and the getting of your own planet in the afterlife = WTF.

 

[waitman]

I was born in the LDS hospital in SLC, baptized in the church and am still listed on the rolls, even though I requested that I be removed. I just never believed the doctrine, so contradictory to the King James bible they use. Have lots of relatives still in the church, a brother and sister even and we never communicate. Oh well,too bad but whatever floats the boat you know.

 

[Spamela]

This might be a good place to ask.

 

[bobbybe01]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
Mormonism was founded by a MAN named Joseph Smith Jr. who claimed to be a modern-day prophet. Called Church of Latter Day Saint and believes that when one dies, they become a God-like spirit and have "celestial" sex (which is what their polygamy stems from).

No offense, but the more you look into it, the more absurd that crap should become. Don't get sucked in.

What the heck are you talking about, son? Of course Joseph Smith was a man. Just like Moses, Peter, or Paul. In addition, your whole criticism about becoming God-like is very twisted and has no foundation. Celestial sex? Are you kidding me? It is that Mormons believe that we have the potential to become like God (but in no way that ever replaces our relationship to Him). Jesus even commanded us to be perfect like He and the Father are (Matt. 5:48); they believe they can become joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17; Revelations 3:21 and 21:7).

Thanks for playing.

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
Mormonism was founded by a MAN named Joseph Smith Jr. who claimed to be a modern-day prophet. Called Church of Latter Day Saint and believes that when one dies, they become a God-like spirit and have "celestial" sex (which is what their polygamy stems from).

No offense, but the more you look into it, the more absurd that crap should become. Don't get sucked in.

It's no more absurd than any other religion.

 

[VictorLazlo]

I was raised Mormon, but I stopped going to church when I left for college.

I think it is a very good religion, with good people and fewer loopholes than most.

Personally though, I haven't been able to find any religion that satisfies me. There always comes a point when religious explanation breaks down, and they have to rely on blind faith in order to stand up against scientific inquiry.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dc
their views/beliefs are extreme enough that many people wouldn't consider them a sect/denomination of christianity.

Yet they proclaim their faith in Christ as their Savior. To the majority of Christian sects (and in my own opinion), that is sufficient for salvation.

As an ex-Mormon, my complaint with the church is how involved the church seeks to become in your personal life, how much conformity they require, and how little they tolerate individual thought.
For example, when talking with a Mormon about their beliefs, they invariably say "We believe that... " If you say, "That's fine, but what do YOU personally believe?" the conversation is likely to end right there.

Originally posted by: Atomicus
Mormonism was founded by a MAN named Joseph Smith Jr. who claimed to be a modern-day prophet. Called Church of Latter Day Saint and believes that when one dies, they become a God-like spirit and have "celestial" sex (which is what their polygamy stems from).

No offense, but the more you look into it, the more absurd that crap should become. Don't get sucked in.

First, the celestial "sex" is complete bullsh!t.

Second, Christianity itself was founded by a MAN, known as Paul, who claimed to be an apostle of Christ, and Christians believe that when one dies, they become a spirit and join God in Heaven.

No offense, but the more you look into it, the more absurd your crap argument becomes. Don't get sucked in. :roll:

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: bobbybe01

Originally posted by: Atomicus
Mormonism was founded by a MAN named Joseph Smith Jr. who claimed to be a modern-day prophet. Called Church of Latter Day Saint and believes that when one dies, they become a God-like spirit and have "celestial" sex (which is what their polygamy stems from).

No offense, but the more you look into it, the more absurd that crap should become. Don't get sucked in.

What the heck are you talking about, son? Of course Joseph Smith was a man. Just like Moses, Peter, or Paul. In addition, your whole criticism about becoming God-like is very twisted and has no foundation. Celestial sex? Are you kidding me? It is that Mormons believe that we have the potential to become like God (but in no way that ever replaces our relationship to Him). Jesus even commanded us to be perfect like He and the Father are (Matt. 5:48); they believe they can become joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17; Revelations 3:21 and 21:7).

Thanks for playing.

<- franticly searching for a lawnchair and some microwave pocorn

 

[Rumpltzer]

I attended the LDS church with my ex for about four years. I've had all of the "lessons" presented by the missionaries.

I'll tell you that LDS is the most social and friendly church I've ever been to. Whenever I'm overseas and see missionaries (the two guys on bikes with the tie and white shirts), I ALWAYS talk to them. They're usually not pushy at all and they often seem to want to speak English with someone from "back home".

If you're serious about getting into it with the LDS, call or walk into ANY temple or grab a guy on a bike and tell them you're interested. They'll take your info and the two guys will show up at your place or call you. They'll take you through the "lessons" and then meet with you weekly or whatever until you're ready to convert or until you tell them to stop.

Be warned, though. Once they have your number, they WILL call. Even when you think they've forgotten about you, they'll call again.

Nice people.

 

[Bassyhead]

Originally posted by: MBony
I am trying to educate myself on this branch of Christianity and would like to know more about it.

I don't consider it a branch of Christianity.

 

[DougK62]

An old friend of mine was LDS. He had to have surgery and during the surgery he would need to be given blood. He had to go to a fancy hospital in the southwest to get it done because they would give him plasma instead of blood. He said that getting blood was a sin. Can any LDS explain the reasoning for this?

I love how whenever anyone mentions LDS all the other people of different Christian denominations think that they have to blab about why they're right and everyone else is wrong. That's sad.

 

[bobbybe01]

Originally posted by: Bassyhead

Originally posted by: MBony
I am trying to educate myself on this branch of Christianity and would like to know more about it.

I don't consider it a branch of Christianity.

That's good, as far as being a "branch" of Christianity. Mormons didn't break off from another church or sect, so I guess you are right. However, if you are saying that Mormons are not Christians, then I would have to strongly disagree with you.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: Bassyhead

Originally posted by: MBony
I am trying to educate myself on this branch of Christianity and would like to know more about it.

I don't consider it a branch of Christianity.

It's ignorant to deny that they're Christians. They believe in the Jesus guy and they follow his teachings... it's just that they continue to follow him even after what's written in the New Testament.

I'm from the South. Lots of Baptists in the South. Lots of Baptists who hate the Mormons for some reason. I don't get it.

 

[styrafoam]

Originally posted by: waitman
I was born in the LDS hospital in SLC, baptized in the church and am still listed on the rolls, even though I requested that I be removed. I just never believed the doctrine, so contradictory to the King James bible they use. Have lots of relatives still in the church, a brother and sister even and we never communicate. Oh well,too bad but whatever floats the boat you know.

They will never take you off you know. My wife is still on, who hasn't been in about 15 years, as I'm sure all of my children are (who were never members). My father served as a deacon in a Preysbeterian church here in the SLC area, one of the things he dealt with in that time was new members and getting their records transferred. Every lds person who attempted to join basicly had their requests for record transfers ignored but had wave after wave of visitors to their home to councel them on the gravity of the decision they were making.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
I attended the LDS church with my ex for about four years. I've had all of the "lessons" presented by the missionaries.

I'll tell you that LDS is the most social and friendly church I've ever been to. Whenever I'm overseas and see missionaries (the two guys on bikes with the tie and white shirts), I ALWAYS talk to them. They're usually not pushy at all and they often seem to want to speak English with someone from "back home".

If you're serious about getting into it with the LDS, call or walk into ANY temple or grab a guy on a bike and tell them you're interested. They'll take your info and the two guys will show up at your place or call you. They'll take you through the "lessons" and then meet with you weekly or whatever until you're ready to convert or until you tell them to stop.

Be warned, though. Once they have your number, they WILL call. Even when you think they've forgotten about you, they'll call again.

Nice people.

Same holds true for Jehova's Witnesses. Mostly. Unfortunately the local church is -- or was anyway -- headed by a real asshat, and as such all the people picked to go door-to-door were also asshats.

Mormons are a little weird to me though. Not the religion itself -- though the excommunication frenzy that I've seen is pretty strange -- but their reaction to Catholicism(sp?). When I mention I'm Catholic, or at least that I was raised Catholic, they sort of shy away like I'm Satan embodied. Bizzare.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
I attended the LDS church with my ex for about four years. I've had all of the "lessons" presented by the missionaries.

I'll tell you that LDS is the most social and friendly church I've ever been to. Whenever I'm overseas and see missionaries (the two guys on bikes with the tie and white shirts), I ALWAYS talk to them. They're usually not pushy at all and they often seem to want to speak English with someone from "back home".

If you're serious about getting into it with the LDS, call or walk into ANY temple or grab a guy on a bike and tell them you're interested. They'll take your info and the two guys will show up at your place or call you. They'll take you through the "lessons" and then meet with you weekly or whatever until you're ready to convert or until you tell them to stop.

Be warned, though. Once they have your number, they WILL call. Even when you think they've forgotten about you, they'll call again.

Nice people.

Agreed. The one thing that I will never faulted about Mormons is that they are invariably the nicest, kindest, generous, most hard-working and family-oriented people I have ever met. IMO, they are among the happiest, healthiest, and wealthiest people on the planet. Their church services are unbelievably boring, but stop and talk with the people...

 

[bobbybe01]

Originally posted by: DougK62
An old friend of mine was LDS. He had to have surgery and during the surgery he would need to be given blood. He had to go to a fancy hospital in the southwest to get it done because they would give him plasma instead of blood. He said that getting blood was a sin. Can any LDS explain the reasoning for this?

I love how whenever anyone mentions LDS all the other people of different Christian denominations think that they have to blab about why they're right and everyone else is wrong. That's sad.

Actually you might be confusing that with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Many Mormons (and many prominent leaders in the LDS Church) are doctors. Giving/receiving blood in no way contradicts Mormon theology or practice. Here's a link to give you more info on that: here