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

Well Perris You know where I stand on this subject seeing as I am a Utah Mormon And have been all of my 18 years, I see the church not only as a religion but as a culture and a way of life.

What an awesome story brother, thank you for sharing it with us, I think that I'm being tested as I come in contact with more and more Mormons here in the church of course they are all the cool ones, the ones that can see beyond the facade of their own faith, I have had some troubble with the reintergration of my partners roots after hearing so long about whhat they did do him and people growing up gay in the church, his relitives are truely very loving to me although it took some time after the first family reunion, I was starting to be accepted as part of the family, not everyone at firstof course could handel the Idea of us being together and i was refered to the other family members as \"his friend, \"special friend\"and room mate.
after the second family reunion all the reletives realized that this was not a phase and that I was not going anywhere. (They do their family reunions every three years)
We have been together for 15 years and I have been to a number of reunions,I have been to Ensign Ranch and Aspen Grove (both very beautiful places), I have a special patch on grandmothers quilt that was presented to her on her 90th birthday, all the grandchildren, her children, her grandchildren and spouses, you an imagine how big this quilt was, when I attended my partners sisters wedding I was included in all the family pictures, I think the photogrpher was lesbian, but it fit because his sister converted to Greek Orthodox, all of his family have spent many hours with me, My partner and I have seen many weddings but sadly many more devorces, It always makes me sad to see that when it comes to splitting up, we have vowed never to do that, i knew from the first day I met him that I wanted to be with him forever we dated for 4 months and then he broke up with me for a year and we went on our seperate ways. (I'm comming to my point soon
So now 15 years and I know everything about the mormon faith my has told me all I neede to know to keep me as far away from it and to behave my self when I am at family functions, actualy hewas more of an trouble maker comming to family reunion wearing bright red finger nail polish on hands and feet, that is how he came out at the family reunion.
This was the year when he broke up with me. anyhoo 15 years forward, he has started to go back to the church, study the Mormon text again at the same time attending teh Sunstone Symposium and Affermation You and read more about him and his journy on his web page www.youngstranger.com
My conflict is I know that the big church in Utah does not approve of us adn I'm not asking for any validation either because in fromnt of 115 people and God as our witness, his parents and sisters , my parents and sisters and his grandmother who flew form Fresno, Ca were all there and participated in it, i keep hoping that someday the LDS church will come around to seeing what my partners see as a long term lasting relationship and God is pleased.
There is a small part of me that still rejects that part of him and i can not go to the church with him as he has told me of some of the out right homophobia being taught there it the ward his parents go to, his father has even written letter complaning to the Bishop, the Ward he goes to now is a little more liberal although that has taken some time (almost like Jane Goodall ), so how to support him noew that I have found my place my new center in this Order of the jedi, part of me wants to go with him so they can see a \"real Live Gay couple\" and the other part has discouraged him from even talking about it with me. not all Mormons are evil or hate us but it is hart to sit in a place of worship that will not even include me in the sacrement, (At our church the one we attend together a UCC church) they let everyone partake in teh feast. the paster alwyays says Christ sets the tabel and all are invited, not just some or the ones who think they are chosen, hmmm what to do, now that the light of Jediism as been shown to me i feel compailed to go.
well this is my longest responce ever but i wanted it out in teh universe, any advice that my Master, brothers and sisters could give me I will check this topic form time to time.
Thank you all for listening as I learn.

Mojiimoto - Padawan

Mojiimoto, your courage and love for your partner is refreshing. But wwe all know it's not just the Mormons, but numerous faiths that can not face the reality that \"here it is\"! I commend you on the positive spirit you show to step away and live your life.

I had a dealing the other day that saddens me a little. I was talking with my home teachers and brought up the question about women and the Clergy or Ordainment. I got the standard lecture that Ordainment is the mens jobs. But all men will say, if it wasn't for their wives, they could do the job asked of them.... but my mind kept kicking me back to female missionaries. If women can not baptize as the male missionaires do, do they have the men perform the Ceremony. And that just doen't sit well with me on that. The female missionaries do all the same work in the teachings as the men, but not when it comes to priesthood duties.

So, I can tell you, I still have not brought up the fact of being Clergy. Not just yet. I'm not ashamed, just waiting for my Heavenly Father to let me know when to bark it out..... Then I'll take the steps he and the force guides me through.

Just my two cents......

After having taken lessons and the necessary preparation my baptism into the Mormon Church was all set. Then on the night before I recieved a phone call that it would be first necessary for me to move out, because of me sharing the appartment and cost with a friend (who was a woman). They explained would give the wrong impression. Since we had no relationship, and we were great friends, I did not want to insult her and called the whole thing off.

I must say though that some of the deepest discusions I have had in the Christian world were with the Mormons. Their sense of conviction is also aweinspiring.

Why so many bad experiences, we are not all bad. there are those of us who believe that everything is black and white and then there are others of us who believe that god wants us to have a little wiggle room from time to time. no one should be told that the choices they are making are wrong when they don't know the full extent of the circumstances. God gave us free agency as a way of being free to make our own decisions and then be held accountible whether for good or for bad. every religion has their good and bad about them it's up to you as individuals to discover just what they are.

Trojan Princess wrote:

Why so many bad experiences, we are not all bad. there are those of us who believe that everything is black and white and then there are others of us who believe that god wants us to have a little wiggle room from time to time. no one should be told that the choices they are making are wrong when they don't know the full extent of the circumstances. God gave us free agency as a way of being free to make our own decisions and then be held accountible whether for good or for bad. every religion has their good and bad about them it's up to you as individuals to discover just what they are.

Experiences are what we ourselves make of them. They certainly don`t make anyone else good or bad. In my case, my experience opened other doors, it was the path I had to take. Trojan Princess you are right, that everything is left upto us to respond in our innate right of freedom.

I agree with you 100% and as I continualy learn what my wiggle room is in life, I find that I do need to be tested on my openess towards other people and take them on a person by person evaluation, not all the time does one bad apple spoil the whole berrel you must look at each apple and pick the best of the bunch.
I've not had any \"Bad\" experence with the Mormons, it is with just some of the Ideals that I have a problem with, my three catagories for how a church body dictates how welcoming it is, Blacks, Women and Homosexuals.
Finaly after the 60's Blacks are invited, women well it still needs work and Homosexuals even more work.
I have no doubt that in time (not today as I keep my mind in the here and now) the LDS church will welcome all, I know this because a lot of the youth that my partner has come in contact with have been asking a lot of qhy questions and that is when you know a church is starting to grow up when it is not afraid to ask why.
Why should we keep X,Y and Z out, what does it serve in worshiping the lord, is the message and good news for everyone who wants to hear it.
Free will, yes Trojan Princess we all have it and that is why we have the ability evolve beyond our phobias and sexism.
On a side note I am enjoying reading all the points of view on this subject as it helps me a lot to being true to the force a Jedi of the light.
MTFBWY

In my travels, I have learned several things about the Mormon faith.

I have found Mormons to be more devout in their beliefs and standards then other christian faiths, which I find commendable.

I have found Mormons to be less then receptive to other ideas, which is very commen in the christian faiths.

I am a christian, and while I do not believe in the book of Mormon, just as I do not believe in the Koran, I respect it as a holy book because Mormons respect it as a holy book.

While I have philosophical and doctrinal differences with the Mormon faith, as I do with most christian faiths, I see the underlying principles of Christianity. The belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the acknowledgement of his crucifiction as a sacrifice for the sins of man.

At the roots of the faith, I can agree that they are part of the christian community, and not a cult as many believe. And for that, I respect them and their faith.

Before I say anything, it is my opinion that anyone who with a true heart put their trust in Jesus Christ is a Christian. It is also my experience that no Chruch (with no exceptions) is free from exclusiveness nor inclusiveness. To compare one Church with another and put them on an evaluation scale is to do great injustice to its members.
One reason I can think of why for example the Christian Church of the Latter Day Saints is not accepted by the other Christian Churches is because the latter have only the Bible as a written source of revelation whereas the prior has the Bible and the Book of Mormon. This does make a difference as far as communality is concerned.

I feel that mormons are one of the most devoted groups to God. I once dated a mormon, and although she was not active in the church, I could honestly say that she at her spiritual lowest was higher than I was at one of my highest. I love the mormon faith and have in the past sharply defended it from anybody who dared to say that mormons aren't christians. I also get upset when \"polygamy\" and \"mormon\" are used together. Polygamy is no more in the church and people need to understand this.

I have known (met and worked with) only one family that are of the Morman faith. If I use them as a method of measuring I would have to say that I found nothing that would convince me that they differ much from anyone else. They were great friends and even though I have moved away, we still keep in touch. This rings true for people of any faith that I have met, some people can be a little overzellous about their views, however it is not limited to any single religion, but rather to the individuals themselves and not to any group.

For me, I do not care what faith anyone follows or how we choose conduct our personal lives ie: sexual preferences and such. We all have the same basic goals in life and as long as we keep the respect of others in mind while we go about the task of obtaining these goals then we all should be able to be happy.

As far as different religions go, I have read a quote somewhere that comes to mind concerning the many different systems offered; \"All faiths have the same destination, we only choose different travel agents\".

MTFBWUA

Bshp. Lenny O.C.P.
Master Jedi

\"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: \"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.\" No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.\"
-Rm 8,31-39

Paul's faith was authentic because he followed Christ daily in death to self. His power as a follower of Christ was based on the Holy Spirit's use of his willingness to die to self over and over again. It was based not on his faith in himself but on his faith in Christ.

I'm glad to see so much positive energy flowing in this topic. I am hoping that it will help the members of this site to better understand mine and perris and a few other members religion and help to answer many questions you have about our faith. I'm glad I am able to give wise council as far as my religion is concerned and help all to better understand my belief system and my standards.

According to Mormons, Jesus Christ is literally their elder brother, since he was the firstborn in the spirit world. It is helds that the Son's pre-existence was only as vague, unformed matter until his heavenly parents begot his spirit. Jesus Christ can be called the \"firstborn\" only because his was the first \"spirit body\" formed by his heavenly parents.

This is where the Mormons fundamentally differentiate themselves from other Christian Churches. These Churches believe: as the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of the Father, Christ exists eternally. There never was a time when he was not.