Published by fore I get started I would like to first point out that although I am a member of the church, I still have the ability to keep an open mind. I could even point out that I probably only make it to church once every couple of months and am hardly the perfect little “Molly Mormon”.
It seems though that a lot of times the Mormon religion is brought up it is when people are asking questions like, “Why can’t you guys drink caffeine?”, “Do the guys really get to have 10 wives?”, “Why don’t you believe in the bible?”, “Why do you guys worship Joseph Smith?”, “Why are you guys so secretive about the Temple?”.
So here is the part where I break it down and point out the misconceptions of the Mormon religion. I will try and find links for points of reference. This way you don’t have to just take some random person on their word. Please keep an open mind and heart as you read this.
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Why can’t Mormons drink caffeine?
It is definitely incorrect to say that we can not drink caffeine. Now, a lot of members do not drink caffeine at all, but this is just a preference among the culture. It is not in our Doctrine and Covenants to stay away from all caffeine. Only coffee and tea. Caffeine has been proven harmful if taken in excess, and we are discouraged from taking anything harmful into our bodies. Here’s the bottom line. We don’t drink coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverages, and we do not use tobacco or any any other harmful or addictive drug. It is also said that coffee and tea is for the washing of our body.
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Do the men really get to marry more than one person?
For those who don’t know this, when a man takes more than one wife it is called polygamy. When The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith polygamy was allowed. In “The Great Accommodation” of the 1890’s polygamy was pulled from the Doctrine and Covenants by the former president of the church Wilford Woodruff.
It really pisses me off that when they do the busts on polygamy camps, the media starts bashing the Mormon church. Nobody points out that it is the fundamentalists (that broke away from the Church) who are doing this. So sorry fellas, but don’t go running to join the church in hopes of getting to marry a bunch of chicks without there being consequences. It won’t happen.
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Why don’t Mormons believe in The Bible?
Well, sorry to disappoint, but Mormons do read the bible. We don’t just stick to the Book Of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants or The Pearl Of Great Price. We use all of them as a guide. That is why when you go and buy a scripture book it contains The Book Of Mormon, The D&C, The Bible and The Pearl Of Great Price in one book. The Book of Mormon is just another testament of Jesus Christ. It is an account of God’s dealings with different groups of people who lived on the American continent. The history recounts how the people left Jerusalem, had prophets called of God, and were visited by Jesus Christ. The D&C is revelations given to our prophets from God to be recorded and passed down to the church. We use The Pearl Of Great Price for The Articles of Faith, among other things. These are just other books added to help us better understand what our Heavenly Father wants for us. We take ALL of them seriously. We don’t put one before another.
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Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?
The answer is a definite NO. Here is a brief history of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. When he was a child he started to question religion. He went into the woods and prayed. An angel by the name of Moroni came to him and led him to the Gold Plates. He had to wait 4 years before he was able to obtain them. When he had proved his worth he was then able to take them and start translating them onto scribes. (He used Seer Stones to do this.) We believe that Joseph Smith is a PROPHET of God. Meaning that God used him to speak to his people and get his word out. God had prophets in the bible days so why is it so impractical that Joseph Smith was one?
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Why are the things that happen in the Temple such a secret?
The Temple is the holiest of places you can go. **Temples have a different purpose from LDS meetinghouses. In The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints today, temples serve two main purposes: (1) Temples are locations in which worthy Latter-day Saints can perform sacred ordinances on behalf of themselves, their deceased ancestors, or unrelated deceased persons whose names are compiled from historical records through the church’s Family Record Extraction Program. (2) Temples are considered to be Houses of Holiness where members can go to commune with God.**
It isn’t some evil place where Mormons go to sacrifice animals or perform secret, evil rituals. It is just a sacred, holy ground that is not to be disrespected by those that are not worthy.
In closing I would just like to say this. I am not asking you to join the church. I am only asking that when you ever find yourself in discussion about the Mormon religion you think back on these things and maybe let others know what you have learned.
I’m kind of surprised you don’t talk about temple garments, or “holy underwear” as the people in your target audience sometimes call it….
Thanks for clearing a few things up. My boyfriend is a Mormon and I’m not, and my sister had been pestering me to break up with him because she saw this report on BBC about the fundamentalists, only she assumed that all Mormons are like that. Now at least I can point her here.
UmberGryphon: Im actually surprised I didn’t think to write about the garments either. To be honest. You might have just given me another article idea. haha.
Shewhodislikeskimchi: Thank you for the positive feedback.
It’s getting better. I have a little more respect for you now, seeing that you’re mormon/lds. love.
#4 is still funny to me and joe
#4 is still funny to me and joe
Actually the biggest mystery of the mormon church is what happens to the tithing money they collect. It’s provably not even largely spent on charitable deeds. It’s also provably spent on real-estate investments that shouldn’t even really be covered by a tax exempt church.
I did a rather long comment on reddit. Your post here is good, but it leaves a few issues unaddressed on the 5 you list. I’m not anti no matter how it seems, but someone who feels that a member who is in the church and knowledgeable on the subjects is a better person. I have parted ways with the church and only attend when my dear wife sings. I support her in her callings as I would be a horrible person not too.
What about the whole idea that the more children you have the closer you get to having your own planet when you die?!? I’ve heard this several times and was wondering what exactly this was about…?
The fact of the matter is, you do put one book above another, and the bible is on the bottom.
All through out the Bible it talks about two ways to spend enternity: having life everlasting or having the wrath of God (Jn:3:36); having eternal life or not having enternal life (1Jn. 5:11-12); those whose names are not in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire ( Rev. 20:15) and those whoses names are in the book of life enter into God’s presence in the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-3 & 27). Notice, a name is either IN or NOT in the book of life. NO other alternative exists!
The INSPIRED VERSION of the Bible by Joseph Smith is printed in the appendix of the official LDS edition of the King James Version where it is called the Joseph Smith Translation. While Smith altered the meanings and verse numbers in many texts, no meanings of Bible verses used in this pamphlet are altered except for the ADDITION of “telestial” in 1 Cor. 15:40.
So, if LDS claim any of these verses are mistranslated they imply that the Inspired Version was not inspired!
But if it is inspired, why doesn’t it clearly teach three heavens? The only thing Smith added in his INSPIRED VERSION about three heavens is the word “telestial”, which is not enough to understand that LDS doctrine. Many Mormons think Smith did not complete his translation of the Bible, but in LDS scripture the Lord told him to finish it ( D&C 73:4) and publish it (D&C 124:89; 42:56-58). Was he disobedient?
LDS records show he complete the New Testament on Feb.2, 1833 and the OLD Testament on July 2, 1833 ( History of the Church Vol. 1 pp. 324 & 368). Although the King James Version is the official LDS Bible, they claim it is mistranslated. If it is mistranslated, why haven’t LDS phrophets corrected it since one of their official titles is “translator”?
In 1981, as well as in previous printings, numerous changes were made in all LDS books of scripture except the King James Bible! Yet, before 1981 Apostle McConkie declared that all LDS scripture except the Bible “are accepted without qualification” because they were revealed ” in modern times in English” ( Mormon Doctrine p.764). Since those books were revealed in English, the changes made in them were not made to correct translation problems.
So, why were they changed?
In Contrast to the changing and self-contradictory LDS scriptures, the Bible declares, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven” ( Ps. 119:89).
God’s eternal and unchangeable word declares there are only two ways to spend eternity; with or without God. ” He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” ( 1 Jn. 5:12). Eternal life with God is a gift to believers and therefore cannot be earned by works (Jn. 3:16; Pph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6). Yet, believers can gain or lose rewards in heaven by the way they live on earth ( Matt. 10:42, Lk. 19:17; 1Cor. 3:11-15).
Unbelievers will also be judged ‘according to their works’ and punished (Rev. 20:13; 21:8). Some will be beaten with few stripes and some with many stripes ( Lk. 12:47-48), and it will be “more tolerable” for some than for others ( Matt. 1 1:22).
Thus, the LDS idea of three heavens does not make God more just in the way He rewards or Punishes. But, one must become a ” a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus” before he can earn a reward in heaven ( Gal. 3:26; Jn. 1:12-13). Since we have all sinned ( Rom. 3:23) and all our righteousness are filthy rags’ ( Isa. 64:6); we must receive ” the righteousness which is of God by faith’ (Phil. 3:9) in order to enter a perfect heaven without polluting it. Rom. 4:6 declares, ” God imputeth ( puts to our account) righteousness without works” ( Rom. 3:21-22, 9:30; 10:3-4, 10, 11 Cor. 5:21).
But many, like those in Rom. 10:3, “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. ” Are you trusting in your own righteousness or in God’s righteousness to enter His one, true heavenly Kingdom?
Is There Marriage after the resurrection? LDS married couples seal thier spirits together in the temples to remain married in heaven. here is what the Bible says about that.
Matthew 22:29-30
Jesus replied, ” You are in error because you do know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
Did We pre-exist – the LDS believe we did in heaven. Here’s what the Bible has to say.
1 Corinthians 15:46-47
The spirit did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. ( Jesus)
Sorry I Missed one word in Matthew 22 : 29-30
Jesus repied, ” You are in error because you do NOT know the scriptures or the power of God. At resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
So to the LDS,sorry but sealing your spirits in the temples is not going to keep you married to you wife or husband after death or at resurrection as the Bible so clearly states.
I heard Mormons put carrots in jello. Is that true? That’s what I call weird. LDS must be a cult because I don’t see how any true religion could allow such an unholy union. Not that I have ever tried it, mind you, or ever will, but I am certainly self-righteous enough to condemn it without any real knowledge.
Although I saw on TV (South Park) that Mormonism is the one true faith, so now I am confused.
Jeff, I am a Clerk in the Church; I know what “happens” to the money that is brought in by tithes. Even though I know you not, please trust me when I say that the money is spent for very worthwhile causes, programs, and as aids to those in need. There is a Catholic clergyman in Louisianna that will testify to you the impact that LDS tithes had on his Church and its members (as well as countless other individuals/families) during the recent hurricanes. Thank you for asking.
Samantha, I say this with all due respect, but your assumptions, deductions, and very own “mistranslations” are in dire need of prayer and research, not just argumentative banter. And yes, “The King James Version of the Holy Bible” is the very first Book in my binding of Scripture. Thank you as well for your opinions.
I say all of this with love and respect, please do not bash or argue. Thanks and God Bless.
so you are allowed to drink highly concentrated caffeine drinks like Red Bull, but a weak tea with minimal caffeine is forbidden?
was that rational?
was religious creed remotely rational?
was joseph smith the founding prophet, who translated the gold plates, producing the book of mormon?
was this the word of god?
if it was the word of god, on what authority were the numerous revisions, changes, retractions, moderations, exclusions and denials that mormons have advanced ever since based?
was the clue to the truth of smith’s claims to be found in moron i?
would only morons take this silliness seriously?
The Bible is not on the bottom. If you check out the LDS Scripture Quad,(a publication holding all four books of Scripture that the LDS Members use) you will find that both the Old and New Testament come before the Book of Mormon. The word of wisdom says nothing about caffeine. It mentions hot drinks, tea, coffee and alcohol. Harlan you need to ask that question about the Bible. There have been no doctrinal changes to the Book of Mormon since its first printing.
I recall Mormons also believe that their “God” lives on Kolob, a planet. They also believe that there is an Eternal Mother, who gives birth to spirit babies. These spirit babies, if are valiant and behave well, are given a white skinned body, if not they are given a black skinned body. Mormonism also teaches that their “God” had intercourse with the Virgin Mary, to conceive Jesus. One of the last things I recall Mormonism teaches is:
As I am, God once was. As God is, I shall be.
Isn’t that deifying humans? Deifying humans is exactly what Satan does. He gets you to doubt, then deny God’s Word. Lastly, he has you deify mankind.
Genesis 3:5 says
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
“ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
“As God is, I shall be.”
How can you believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Two polar opposite teachings, side by side. And the problem is, you aren’t told all of Mormonism’s teachings until you have been in the church for several years.
Such beautiful words on the outside of Mormonism, such terrors inside. This reminds me of when Jesus said the Pharisees were “whited sepulchers.” Shining white on the outside, full of bones and death on the inside.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
I read the first comment and noticed the holy underwear thing. Has anyone watched Kent Hovind’s seminar (I think the 5th) where he discusses the holy underwear? A MASONIC LODGE SYMBOL on each nipple and thigh. Masonic Lodge members are Satanic!
Not to mention the Book of Mormon. Many revisions, and very contradictory.
Repent! And turn to the true God!
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Everyone just watch the South Park episode about Joseph Smith..it explains very clearly the whole beginnings of the Mormon Church..and it deals with positive aspects of the Church and how it can be a good thing for a family. Strange as it may sound considering the show, but it does give the final upperhand to the Mormons.
Joseph Smith…Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum
I think you are all crazy…sorry but I have had many friends and family and a Mormon boss…crazy behavior and I want nothing to do with it….if you want to drink the koolaid fine…not me!!!!!