The Mormons...

alright. I am taking a survey for seminary and for my sunday school studies. I would like to know what everyone thinks about the Mormons. What do you know about us? What have you heard about us? What is your personal opinion of the Mormons? I'm not going to attack you for saying outlandish things, or stating that you utterly contempt Mormons and want us all to burn in hell. I'm just taking a survey to see what others know so that i can know how to help the church devise a way to better understand us.

*on a very serious note*
if you are just going to attack us about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, or have seen September Dawn...please PM me personally about that, don't post that garbage in the forums. I will explain the event and what actually happend as i have been there and studied it greatly so i can help others understand the event to. i'm not justifying it at all...but i would like to explain the REAL side of what is going on with that. If you have no clue what i am talking about....good, i hope you never find out.

My partner is a Mormon. He is excommunicated from the Church, and cannot be reinstated because he and I are in a committed same-sex relationship. But he loves the Church, attends regularly at his ward, and is trying to live as faithfully as he can as a Latter-day Saint.

Here's his blog: youngstranger.blogspot.com

My wife knows so much more than I, as she was raised a Mormon. Around age 16-17, she picked her own path that did not include the Mormon church. I have a good bit of \"common knowledge\" from my studies of world religions.

The term \"Jack\" Mormon is an outside term but widely known is what you could call my Husband, daughter and myself. We were all converts and not born into the church. But if you ask my daughter, she wants nothing to do with the church due to incidents with girls from our old ward when she was in High School. (Details are not needed)

There are lots of things not known about Mormons, just as I feel theres not much that they know deeply about other religions unless you are a Theology student, etc., that learns about other religions.

The Doctrine & Covenent is stricked and to some the Pearl of Great Price along with the Book of Mormon in some views and the life style
is not understood. Mormons of today are not they Polygamists of approx.150 years ago. But like all religions, the preception of the written word is understood to each person as they interpret in their point of view.

The precept of Polygimy (sp?) is followed only by Mormons of an outcast sect, FLDS (Fundimentalist Latter Day Saints). There is a Third group called, RLDS (Reformed Latter Day Saints). This group was started by Joseph Smith's eldest son after he was killed by the mob of people. His son believed that the power of prophecy is
handed down from father to son, FLDS do as well for their Prophets. But the church members of the Quorum of Twelve under Joseph
Smith called on Brigham Young after prayer and thought. They believed it was God's decision as to who was to be the next prophet, as where Joseph Smith's son disagreed along with some other members and the Reform Church was started.

Todays teachings in the church are centered around the Book of Mormon and the Bible and the D & C, though more of the BOM is talked about. The LDS church is strong on family as well as procreation.

There are stories of things that the Mormons supposidly believe, like the thirteenth tribe was taken away from earth to Kobol and will someday return. Yes, I have heard this. In my own beliefs, I do not under estimate my Heavenily Father in what is to be or will be and leave that to him.

I concur with Perris that responses to this post should be kept on a positive side and no bashing. (See \"Rules for the Forum\")

Hope this helps a little Perris or PM me with questions and I'll answer the best I can...

The term \"Jack\" Mormon is an outside term but widely known is what you could call my Husband, daughter and myself. We were all converts and not born into the church. But if you ask my daughter, she wants nothing to do with the church due to incidents with girls from our old ward when she was in High School. (Details are not needed)

There are lots of things not known about Mormons, just as I feel theres not much that they know deeply about other religions unless you are a Theology student, etc., that learns about other religions.

The Doctrine & Covenent is stricked and to some the Pearl of Great Price along with the Book of Mormon in some views and the life style
is not understood. Mormons of today are not they Polygamists of approx.150 years ago. But like all religions, the preception of the written word is understood to each person as they interpret in their point of view.

The precept of Polygimy (sp?) is followed only by Mormons of an outcast sect, FLDS (Fundimentalist Latter Day Saints). There is a Third group called, RLDS (Reformed Latter Day Saints). This group was started by Joseph Smith's eldest son after he was killed by the mob of people. His son believed that the power of prophecy is
handed down from father to son, FLDS do as well for their Prophets. But the church members of the Quorum of Twelve under Joseph
Smith called on Brigham Young after prayer and thought. They believed it was God's decision as to who was to be the next prophet, as where Joseph Smith's son disagreed along with some other members and the Reform Church was started.

Todays teachings in the church are centered around the Book of Mormon and the Bible and the D & C, though more of the BOM is talked about. The LDS church is strong on family as well as procreation.

There are stories of things that the Mormons supposidly believe, like the thirteenth tribe was taken away from earth to Kobol and will someday return. Yes, I have heard this. In my own beliefs, I do not under estimate my Heavenily Father in what is to be or will be and leave that to him.

I concur with Perris that responses to this post should be kept on a positive side and no bashing. (See \"Rules for the Forum\")

Hope this helps a little Perris or PM me with questions and I'll answer the best I can...

A little disclaimer: Though I have been and am still listed as a Member, I am not an expert....

I believe i am the only Utah guy here- since I'm in the home of the Mormons (or as they prefer LDS) i have not had one day when i have not dealt with that religion.

on a basic level it's a christian group, with an added text known as \"The Book Of Mormon\". A young man was believed to have been told by God that there was an extra bible of sorts in America and he was to translate it and bring it to the people. This is where it gets sticky- there is some debate as to his translation techniques- some who are not LDS say he made it up to help relive some gambling debts, some say he was accurate and was in fact guided by God. He was killed in jail (once again there was debate as to why he was there) and his followers moved to Utah to start off on their own.

the common beliefs I've heard (and been asked when it's known I'm from Utah) is NO Mormons do not have a tail or horns. NO hey only have one wife. polygamy was acceptable at first to get he population up- but now LDS is not a polygamist religion. NO it is not a cult. NO the suicide polygamist were not part of the LDS religion they were their own deal. NO the women can and are encouraged to be productive members of society not just meant to be \"barefoot in the kitchen making food and kids\"

okay now here's my LDS experiences. they have no real bearing on the religion but i think we can all learn a lesson by them.

i was raised LDS my grandparents on my mother's side were LDS as well, my Father was raised the same however my grandparents on his side along with him never were active. At the age of 12 as i recall my brother and i were invited to leave as the youth were drawing \"peace\" signs in a fogged up window. we were told we were drawing satanic symbols on the church and the bishop and the youth leader invited us to leave and never return. my answer was along the lines of \"you were a hippie you know what a peace sign is\" and \"okay I'll just have to sleep in on sunday\". The following week in sacrament (think of it like mass) while my mother was there the bishop and the youth leader announced to avoid my brother and i as we were \"bad kids\". the honest truth was we were the outcasts. i was a sci-fi geek and wanted to be a make-up effects artist (make rubber monsters) so i MUST be gay, and my brother was starting down a long dark path with his bi polar disease.
i tell you all this not to bash or down anyone or any religion but to show you that in a place where everyone should be accepted it's easy to deeply hurt a person with words.
on a side note i've long since forgiven them and years later when i got married the Bishop came to my wedding and in front of my ex wife, my family, and all the people there of his own accord gave me a heartfelt apology. and alot of good came from ther actions- i searched all the major religions and finally settled on a little of this and a little of that. lucky for me the force guided here. where you've all been great examples of jedi, human beings, and \"living by what you teach\".
May The Force Be With You