Ask a Mormon Anything...but please be polite :)

I am sure that some in the church would do that, because I have unfortunately met them, however, most people would still count them as friends. We believe people should be able to worship as they please. Just because I don't agree with another religion, doesn't mean I should force them to live the way I do. Anyone is welcome to join or leave at their discretion.

 

Apostles and bishops are men because that is what God said. Primary, Young Women's, and Relief Society leaders are women because that is what God said. However, none of the duties as you describe them are lesser or greater than another, just different. Men and Women are different, its a fact. Men and Women act and think differently, its a fact. I imagine God set things up the way he did because Men and Women are more suited to some roles than others. Is that a bad thing? Why is it bad for men and women to have different roles that are not any more important than the other? It has nothing to do with their genitalia, and everything to do with their nature. Is it bad that there are some roles that Women are much better at then Men, and vise versa? Its not like we are competing here. We all have a part to play, and all of us are glad to do it. Mormons don't believe that Men are better than Women, or that Women are better than Men. We are equals with different roles in the church.

 

Why don't you answer my question? I hope you didn't take it personally. I know I can be very critical of the mormon church. But the man I love still feels a deep pain caused by that churches dogma.

Everybody he loved stopped when he became honest with them. It was all because of that damned church.

Note the anger I'm expressing isn't directed at you personally. We know several Mormons who are great people and close friends.

You did open this dialogue. Apologizing for that bigotry and hatred isn't really an answer

 

1. The church only acts according to the policies of God.
2. You can be excommunicated for any sexual sin. Excommunication only happens on refusal to repent.
3. Excommunication is not exile. If a person is excommunicated they are perfectly welcome to come to church, and no one will turn them away. If another person does push them away, it is on that particular person's head, not the church's. Same goes with family.
4. The church treats gays just like everyone else. People in the church, however, may not and that is their problem. I personally have a few gay friends. Do I agree with what they are doing? No. Do I look down on them or reject them? No. They are absolutely still my friends. I also happen to know people in the church who have gay tendencies, have overcome them, and are living happy lives with their families.

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I can't speak for other peoples' action, I think what they did is wrong. Like I said in my last post, I know gay people. A few of them are actually my friends, and I wouldn't change that.

 

The church didn't invent the rules, God did. Excommunication is not denial of access to the church. All are welcome. If some people in the church are not accepting, that is their own personal problem which they can take up with God. I have gay friends, and I would never stop being friends with them because of their personal choices. Some might, and they can speak for themselves. The church as whole does not condone denying people access to church, or belittling other because of their actions.

 

1)No, God never said to alienate people that do sins you don't like. All have sinned and fell short of the grace of God.

2)That is one of my contentions with the mormon church among others. "Get out of our club because we don't like you."
3)Bull(*)(*)(*)(*). Everybody my husband loved never talked to him again after he was excommunicated. He was utterly broken when i met him.
4)So your church treats everybody like (*)(*)(*)(*)? How Christ like.

Further how do you know these people live happy lives? How do you know they aren't faking it for approval of the only church they've ever known? I belonged to a church that was that way, everybody thought I was happy. I wasn't, I was good at fooling people that wanted to see me as a happy church member.

What is a "gay tendency?"

 

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Do you have any opinion as to an alleged LDS cover-up involving Elizabeth Smart?

 

Leading doesn't imply power as you might see it. Actually you are correct, all Mormons are leaders in a sense everyone has equal power, but different jobs to do. Periodically, those jobs will change. Mormons lead from the bottom up, not the top down. I am botching this royally but, look at it this way, I will use the bishop as and example. He has a responsibility over the ward, but he does not push them to do things. Instead he tries to live his life in harmony with God's teachings, and encourages the ward to do the same. He also has specific duties that he is supposed to carry out to help members of his ward progress in the Gospel. He doesn't order people around, instead he serves them. Everyone is a servant in the church. We all serve each other, regardless of what our other duties might be.

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Not really. I don't have any information to form an opinion about.

 

Actually, the biblical tithe is not an offering, but a duty on the increase of the field and herds. I've read nowhere where it is tied to labor. My question was directed at finding out if the BoM has its own definition of the tithe or follows the biblical tithe.

ET is referring to Eternal Torment. Does the BOM have its own scriptures on this subject or does it just defer to the bible?

 

You are basing your opinion on peoples' actions not the church's. I truly feel horrible for how he was treated, but I don't think everyone is like that. Again, excommunication is not supposed to be exile. Just because some people in the church do bad things, doesn't make us all that way.

Yes we have 'all sinned and come short of the glory of God'. God accepts all who have faith in him, sincerely repent of sin, and continue to follow his commandments. He defines those commandments though.

 

Well I'm glad you are not one of them. But those that do behave that way are simply following the churches lead.

 

Okay, so to answer your question on eternal torment. Sorry for the misconception there. There are scriptures in The Book of Mormon about eternal torment. Basically what we believe is that there is only one unforgivable sin which is denying the Holy Ghost. Those who deny the Holy Ghost will go and dwell with Satan and his angels in a place called outer darkness or perdition. Our definition of perdition is slightly different then that of the traditional sense. Perdition in the traditional sense actually refers to a part of the Spirit world, and that place is not a full of fire and brimstone. Neither is outer darkness actually. Its really just a place totally excluded from the presence of God where one gets to suffer for their sins as Christ suffered for them in the Garden of Gethsemane.

As for the teachings of the tithe in The Book of Mormon, they are exactly the same as the Bible, yes.

 

Now, is this eternal suffer? I have to ask, if Christ suffered a day, why is it humans will suffer eternity? Does this not send up a red flag?

 

Yep, you picked it up. We don't believe that Eternal punishment refers to the length of time. Rather the type of punishment. One of God's names is Eternal. So in our faith we believe Eternal punishment simply means God's punishment. He hasn't really been specific in a time frame.

 

This answer seems a little whimsical apologetics. Any scriptures to back this?

 

No, had they not excommunicated him this actions wouldn't have happened.

Well, maybe it's time for the church to consider opening it's arms.

Than why have it at all?

Of course not.

He never commanded people to excommunicate people.

 

Sure:

From The Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:35 "35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also."

From Doctrine and Covenants 19:6-12 " 6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.

7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.

9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment."

Then later in the same section: 15-19 " 15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."

 

So, it is endless punishment. Does this make sense to you?

 

Perfect sense. See verse 6 where God says "Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment." and verses 11 and 12 where he explains it, "Eternal punishment is God’s punishment. Endless punishment is God’s punishment.". So he says that endless and eternal are not referring to a length of time, but to His names, meaning it is simply God's punishment. Then in verses 15-19 He describes it as the same punishment endured in the Garden of Gethsemane for the persons' sins. Pretty clear to me.

 

Still a deceitful christian. Shame shame.

 

No the church doesn't treat gays as everyone else. They excommunicate them according to what is being discussed.
Do people get married more than 1X without excommunication? Are some allowed and others not in a 2nd or more marriage?

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Excommunication isn't some people. That is church policy.

 

Exodus 12:15
Leviticus 7:21
Leviticus 18:6-30
Leviticus 20:6
Numbers 15:30
Numbers 19:13
Ezra 2:62
Galations 5:12
Mosiah 26:36
Alma 1:24
Alma 6:3
3 Nephi 18:31
Doctrine and Covenants 20:80
Doctrine and Covenants 41:5
Doctrine and Covenants 42:28
Doctrine and Covenants 42:75
Doctrine and Covenants 50:80
Doctrine and Covenants 84:11
Doctrine and Covenants 104:9

 

Yes, excommunication for divorce and remarriage depends on the situations. In fact, excommunication itself depends on the sin and the situation.

As for your second comment, you obviously don't understand excommunication. The thing is, I have gone to church with people excommunicated from the church, and guess what, no one told them to leave. If they did, they don't really believe. The church does not, has not, and will not tell excommunicated people to leave. However, I am sure there are some people who go to church who would. These people don't really believe.

 

Jesus didn't say any of this

Castration?

Never heard of that.

 

Then why excommuincate?
And you do treat those excommunicated differently than those not.
So to say you don't isn't a true statement.