Hi, my name is Frances. I feel lost. I don’t know what to believe in. Today as I argued with my significant other I heard a knock at the door. Now, for some time now I have questioned my beliefs. The knock at the door, was two men from the church of Latter Day Saints. What are the odds. A sign from GOD. What do I do?
Dear Frances,
These men were sent from God to you, they have the answers you have been searching for, listen to them, accept the challenges they give you, read the Book of Mormon that they will give you and it will offer light and healing in your life. God loves you, he knows you by name and is acutely aware of you. He has not forgotten you Frances, and your challenges in life, your struggles, fears, desires, hopes, and questions mean so much to him. “[He] has engraven you on his hands and your walls (or in other words challenges) are ever before Him” Isaiah 49:16. If you heed His word and accept His hand in your life, all the challenges that currently seem insurmountable will fade away. “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28) If you come unto God He will help make your burdens light enough to carry. I know because He has in my life. If there is anything I can do for you let me know, we would love to help you, be here for you and support you in all your challenges and difficulties. Invite them back in Frances, their coming to your home was not an accident or a coincident. God loves you and cares for you.
Sincerely,
Rachel
Absolutely, through Him and by Him all the worlds were created, including this earth. He is our Savior and Redeemer, and our intercessor with the Father. Through His atonement, we will all be resurrected and may be saved from our sins if we believe on His name and repent.
I’m so sorry… we have hundreds of websites, and find it difficult to respond to every comment on every page. Could you repeat the questions, and I will try my best to get back to you. God bless you, have a wonderful day.
In preparation for mortal life, every living thing was created spiritually before it was created physically, including all of us. God is the Father of our spirits, and we lived with Him before being born with mortal bodies on this earth. In preparation for His mortal ministry, Christ’s spirit was also organized by God the Father, so in a way, Jesus is our Brother, spiritually speaking. Lucifer was also a spirit child of God. He rebelled, and was cast out of heaven with 1/3 of heaven’s hosts to become the devil and his angels. After the millennium, when Christ finishes His work, he will cast Satan and his followers into hell.
The Savior will come in glory and descend upon the Mount of Olives, Casey. Would you like to read The Book of Mormon? What faith are you? Thanks for visiting our site!
Yes. Divorce has always been allowed in Mormonism, according to the laws of the states and countries where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abide. It is also possible to end a temple marriage, which is meant to last through eternity, but only with the involvement of higher authorities in the Church. The divorce rate for Mormon couples who have been married in the temple (in the U.S.) is about 7%.
Nope. The Book of Mormon is a second witness for Jesus Christ and supports the Bible in every way possible. Those who say the Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible either haven’t read it, or are out to cause trouble for the Latter-day Saints.
Mormons are free to date anyone they want, member or not. You might want to learn a little about your guy’s faith. It might be very important to him. Remember that if your guy is active in the Mormon faith, he won’t smoke, drink alcohol or coffee or tea, and he will try to be sexually pure.
Absolutely. Mormons love Christmas. There are Christmas parties scheduled in every congregation, and worship with music that celebrates the birth of the Savior. Many of our temples (See http://www.mormonwiki.com/Temple_Square) have thousands of lights in their gardens for the Christmas season and concerts galore. Mormons are Bible-believing Christians who love and serve Jesus Christ.
Where did you get this information? It is false. First, there is no Mormon doctrine saying that when we die, we get our own planet.
Salvation means to inherit a kingdom of glory in heaven, and Mormons believe that nearly all people, even those who reject the gospel of Christ, will be saved into a kingdom of heaven. However, the highest kingdom of heaven, where God dwells, is for those who were particularly valiant in their testimony of Christ while they lived on earth, and who have partaken of eternal covenants. The highest kingdom of glory is equally for men and women — they are co-equals. Christ has promised that those who are so exalted become co-heirs with Him. Thus, they share in His power and glory.
The Plan of Salvation teaches that the Lord created all things spiritually before He created them physically on this earth. Exalted beings may participate in spiritual creation, so they have “eternal increase.” They also progress in gaining knowledge for eternity.
So let me get this straight? If I’m a guy and I live a righteous Mormon life, then I will get my own planet to rule like a god? And if I’m a woman I get zip…???
Thanks for your question, Annie. Yes, it is still a sin if you have pre-marital sex. If you do marry and choose not to become a member of the Church, your drinking coffee will not reflect upon your husband or cause him troubles with the Church. However, premarital sex will cause troubles with his worthiness and compromise his priesthood power and other things.
In the United States, we used the King James Version, and we have read the verse you cite. At the time of Moses, the Mosaic Law was also civil law, and biblical punishments were acted out to protect the spirituality of their society. But now religious and civil law are two different things, and we have the law of Christ that extends mercy through His atonement for us. Thus, we have repentance in His name.
My question is- if I’m dating a Morman man and we are both divorced and we are over 40. Is it still considered a sin if we choose to have pre-marital sex?
And if our relationship does lead to Marriage,would i be causing him to get in trouble with his Church,if I did not convert to become a Morman,and I drink 1 cup of coffee a day?
Mormons are devoted Christians. We center our lives on becoming more and more faithful followers of Christ. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches evolved from very early Christianity, and the Protestant churches all have tried to reform the problems with the orthodox churches. Protestants believe reformation was necessary, because both doctrines and practices of early Christianity became corrupt. You can see this, because miracles ceased. Soon, Christ will return. He has declared that a reformation was not enough, that the power and authority of Christ were lost upon the death of the apostles. There had to be a total restoration of Christ’s ancient church. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the restoration has occurred, and that Christ leads His church in the last days through prophets and revelation.
The Book of Mormon is the record of a group of Jews who left Jerusalem around 600 B.C. and were led by God to safety in the Americas. They kept the law of Moses, but their prophets taught them that Jesus Christ would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and would be the Savior of the World. They received miraculous signs of His birth and death, and after He was resurrected, He visited these people and converted them all. They enjoyed 200 years of perfect peace and then descended into such great wickedness, that they were destroyed. So the Book of Mormon is not only the record of a fallen people full of warnings for our day, but a second witness that Jesus lived, and that He died for our sins.
In Sunday School, Mormons study the scriptures in a four-year cycle. We spend two of those 4 years studying the Bible, and one of those 4 years studying the Book of Mormon. The other year is spent studying church history and the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of modern revelations.
We call Jesus by many names…Savior, Redeemer, Creator, Lord…and one of these names is “the Word.” John says the Word was in the beginning with God, and that through the Word all things were created. All things were created through Christ.
Hey,
I was wondering about the book of morman, I don’t quite get the concept of why you study it. What was it’s origination and how often is it studied in church. Is there anyway I could find a church near me?
Keeping the Sabbath holy is one of God’s most important commandments. The details of keeping the Sabbath day holy are left up to the conscience of individual Latter-day Saints. When we were raising our children, we already refrained from shopping and recreation on the Sabbath, and we already always attended church, but we prayerfully discussed with our children, the other details. Together we decided to not watch television, and to only listen to religious or classical music on the Sabbath, no video games, just reading scriptures or other good books.
In most instances, no. What we are talking about is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the organization, revelation, authority, and miracles that existed in His ancient church. We believe that all things had to be restored in preparation for His Second Coming.
You are correct that the next resurrection will occur at the time that Jesus comes, and that only those who lived before Christ and were righteous have already been resurrected, judged, and now abide in heaven. The resurrection of the wicked of all time periods will not occur until the end of the Millennium.
The Bible says that Jesus went to preach to the spirits in prison. When we die we go to a world of spirits to await resurrection and judgment. There is a division there between the righteous and the wicked. The location of the righteous is called “paradise,” and that’s where Jesus said He would join one of the “thieves” who was crucified with Him. The other location is called “spirit prison.” In the spirit world, those who have never received the gospel will have a chance to hear it, and this is part of the mission of Christ — He stated that Himself. In the spirit world, those who have rejected Christ will suffer for their own sins. You can read a vision of the spirit world at the following link: http://www.lds.org/?lang=engscriptures/dc-testament/dc/138?lang=eng
If I were you, I would discuss this with your bishop. You wouldn’t want to be sealed to someone who had abandoned you, and you usually don’t seal a couple that was divorced during mortality.
At the least, you can do endowment work without sealings. I don’t know whether you can be sealed to a single parent, but someone will know that. The very best of luck to you.
My mother passed away a month ago. She never went to the temple. She never found a good man to take her. I know that we can do her temple work for her. However my brother can only seal her to his dad. My question is can I be sealed to her and a man that isn’t my father? Mind you neither of our father’s were there in our lives and were not good to her by anymeans. So how does that work?
If we were spirit children before creation, then why does Jesus say ” I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6) Why not say…no one returns to the Father…
Lazarus was in the grave for 4 days, did his spirit fly up to this heaven paradise and then return down and if so why didn’t he give an account of this? Or did Lazarus die (his spirit i.e. the breath or life left him and return to God). Then Jesus gave him back the breath of life and he was resurrected (John 11).
The wicked that die, thier “spirit leaves thier body and ascends to heaven and are held in a prison. I cannot imagine that any part of God’s Heavenly Kingdom would hold “spirits of the wicked”…why do you think Luicifer and his angels were cast out of heaven!! (Rev 12:7-9)
And the wicked that didn’t have the chance of hearing the Gospel in life, will have a chance in this heaven prison. Also the baptism of the dead. Wow, your faith has an answer for everything! In the bible…no such accounts are given and neither should we be creating any conditions for the state of the dead. The God I know is fair and just and will judge them accordingly.
And the “spirits of the Good” that died, their Spirits ascend to this heaven paradise…why then would Jesus need to leave earth and go to minister to them again in heaven??
So when we die our “spirit” flys up to heaven and is partially judged by God and then your spirit enters a paradise or a prison. Yet the bible tells us of the Judgement after Jesus returns…
In death – the bible tells us that the “spirit” meaning the life or breath returns to God and our bodies return to dust (Ps 104:29; Job 34:14-15. It is described as a sleep. Then at the end of times when Jesus returns he will awake all those that died rigtheous in the first resurrection…Rev: 20, John 5:28-29.
In all due respect, I can understand why you have several books of faith.
The bible tells us that the only saints (righteous people) in heaven right now along with God, Jesus and the Angles are Moses (Matt 17.3), Elijah (2 Kgs 2:11), Enoch (Heb 11.5) and those that were resurrected at the crucification (Matt 27:50-53). For the rest of us alive or dead, we will not enter heaven until Jesus returns…
The bible states clearly that we should not add or take away from the word of God…Deut 4.2; Rev 22:18-19
Mormons revere and worship the living Christ. We don’t use statuary, icons, or the cross in our everyday worship. Although artwork depicting the life of Christ is found in the hallways and classrooms of our meetinghouses and in our temples, there are no icons in our chapels or the ordinance rooms of our temples. This is similar to Jewish worship — no idols or anything like them.
Late Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said, “On Calvary he was the dying Jesus. From the tomb he emerged the living Christ. … Because our Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of his death as the symbol of our faith. But what shall we use? No sign, no work of art, no representation of form is adequate to express the glory and the wonder of the Living Christ. He told us what that symbol should be when he said, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments’ (John 14:15)….the lives of our people must become the only meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship” (“The Symbol of Christ,” New Era, Apr. 1990, p. 4).
Jesus was both God and man, but He was created by His Father and is His Son both before the earth and during His ministry. He said He did on earth what He saw His Father do, He prayed to His Father many times, the Father sent the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove, Jesus pleaded with His Father while He was dying on the cross and finished by commending His Spirit to Him. Matt. 16:17, Matt. 17:5, Matt. 26:39, Luke 2:49, John 3:16, John 8:18, John 14:12, John 20:17, Acts 7:56, Acts 2:23-24, 33; Acts 3:26; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30-31;
I don’t know where you are getting your information. The Church owns no soft drink plants, and soft drinks are not mentioned in the Mormon health law, the Word of Wisdom. Mormons follow the promptings of their own conscience regarding soft drinks that contain caffeine, especially since caffeine was never mentioned in the Word of Wisdom and may not be the reason the Lord forbade the use of coffee and tea.
Yes, there is a distinction. In the Mormon Church, same-sex attraction is not considered a sin, but any sexual behavior outside of traditional marriage is considered a sin, whether heterosexual or homosexual. Congratulations or your own self-awareness regarding alcohol. By disciplining yourself, you have blessed your own life and the lives of those around you.
You left your religion at 10, and you must realize that you do not have an understanding of Mormon beliefs. There is nothing in the Mormon health law (the Word of Wisdom) that forbids caffeine.
God cannot tolerate the least amount of sin, and He forgives those who repent and keep His commandments. It’s very easy to believe in a God who gives no commandments, but God always has, and those commandments are for the ultimate happiness of His children. Our happiness or depression on earth may seem to be the ultimate, but it is not. The Lord is interested in giving us a fulness of joy, and sexual relationships at whim and destruction of the God-ordained family is not heading us in that direction. Yes, we should be compassionate and loving to all of God’s children. God is the judge, and He has declared the Law of Chastity to be a commandment.
Gale you stated on Feb 19 that softdrinks was equal to tea and other hot drinks. Then you gave a link as to why not to partake in softdrinks. Also in some other reading on Mormonism it does talk about about mind altering drinks such as caffiene products. That was until the ’70s when the church bought the coke plant in SLC.
Why can Mormons not have caffeine ? Is that a sin ? And why can they not wear anything that is shorter than short sleeves or knee length ? Do you get mad at people who do ? Is it a sign of disrespect . i was raised and baptized Mormon but by the age of 10 I had realized that I knew nothing about the religion and I disagreed with the things I did know . I personally do not believe that caffeine is wrong . And I do not believe that God is happy with gay marriage , but I also know for a fact that he would rather have his children be gay and happy than straight and depressed because they cannot be with the one they love simply because they are of the same sex . I believe that God forgives all sins including homosexuality if they are believers . And who are we to judge ? That is GOD’S decision . It is NOT up to humans to decide what is right or wrong for other people to do . That is God’s responsibility and we have no right to overstep our bounds and judge other people . God is forgiving and compassionate and loving , so should we not be ?
Breaking a commandment of God is sin, yes. God forgives those who repent of their sins and do their best to keep His commandments. Without repentance, the atonement of Christ becomes of no use to us. We must suffer for our own sins, then, after we die. The atonement had three purposes — to enable all to be resurrected and therefor immortal after death; to cause Christ to descend below all things by suffering all our sorrows, so His compassion would be perfect; and to allow Christ to suffer the punishment for our sins, on the condition that we would repent.
There are several basic differences:
1. Mormons believe in a godhead in which God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings who are physical as well as spiritual, with the Holy Ghost being a personage of spirit.
2. The Mormon Church is led by prophets who are led by Christ.
3. The Mormon Church has no paid clergy. Members are called to positions in the Church through inspiration to leaders.
4. Mormons believe in an eternal plan of progression, wherein we dwelled as spirits with our heavenly father before we were born on earth, and that we can progress eternally to become like Him after we die. Other Christian sects are angered by this doctrine, but since we are going to be in heaven for billions and billions of years, why shouldn’t we progress and progress like we’ve done on earth?
Gale: “1. Mormons believe in a godhead in which God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings who are physical as well as spiritual, with the Holy Ghost being a personage of spirit.”
Jay: So you DON’T believe in the Trinity (one God in three Persons)? You said it yourself-Jesus and the Father are sparate beings. My Bible says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead BODILY”. (Colossians 2:9 emphasis added). Now, normally I wouldn’t do this, but I think this calls for a little test. Show me where your Bible says that Jesus could not be fully God AND fully man at the same time. In other words, prove your beliefs. If God the Father and Jesus are not one-in-the-same God, and the Holy Spirit is another being, then there SHOULD be a place in the Bible where it says so. Not too difficult right? To sum this up, I have just two words for you: prove it.
One section of the Bible you might want to consider is the baptism of Jesus in Mathew 3:16-17, Mark 1:10-11, Lukw 3:21-22, and John 1:32. Jesus is in the water being baptized, the Holy Ghost descends upon him like a dove, and a voice speaking down from Heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased.” There are many passages where Jesus refers to God as separate from Himself. He also prays earnestly to God on multiple occasions. Most notable is his pleading in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Gale
on June 28, 2011 at 2:42 pm
There are no health or emotional advantages to premarital sex. New studies show that premarital sex has very negative effects on emotional well-being and the ability to truly love a companion, and the dangers of STDs are well-known, with varieties multiplying. Also, it is the addictive qualities of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, that are the main reason the Lord has commanded us not to use them. Nowadays, the general authorities of the Church add recreational drug use and abuse of legal drugs to the list when cautioning the members of the Church.
When newlyweds are completely incompatible, they usually seek counseling, and then they can choose whether to divorce or try to work things out. The divorce rate of Mormons who marry in the temple is under 7%.
There are some prophecies in the Old Testament that allude to a modern-day Moses. Also some allusions exist in the Jewish oral law, so that a well-known Jewish tradition looked forward to a “Messiah ben Joseph” (Joseph Smith’s father was named Joseph, also) who would come to prepare the way for the Messiah. There are others, but they are mostly in the oral law.
Sorry, it’s hard for me to understand a doctrine that all sins are equal. It’s obvious that stealing is a sin, but stealing a dime from a store is not equivalent to breaking into a home with guns and killing all the occupants to steal their jewelry. Some sins are more serious than others. You can read about it in the following verse of scripture, which is Alma chastening his son for committing fornication:
“Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most aabominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent bblood or denying the Holy Ghost?
For behold, if ye adeny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is bunpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain cforgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.
It is same-sex attraction that is not a sin. Any sexual behavior outside of traditional marriage (which is defined by God as between a man and a woman) is sinful.
To keep the spirit of the law of the Sabbath, one must rest and worship every seven days. The assignation of the days of the week are made according to the calendars of men and are not so important. Sunday was the traditional day of worship for the early Mormon converts, so it was continued. Mormons worship on Saturday in Israel and Friday in Egypt.
2. No, Mormons don’t pray to anyone but God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Nor is there any statuary in Mormon Church chapels.
3. There is really no paid clergy in Mormonism, so the members do all the work. 70% of Mormons are converts. You don’t have to be a life-long member to serve. You will have many opportunities to teach, preach, and lead. You can read the following articles: http://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_Women and http://www.mormonwiki.com/Calling
Have you been meeting with Mormon Missionaries? Would you like to?
2)I know Catholics believe and pray to many different saints. Saint Anthony, Peter, Assisi, etc. Do Mormons believe in these?
3)I have been thinking of converting to Mormonism and have always wanted to become a preacher. Would I be able to do this? Not just because i am a women, but because i would be a convert?
Thank you so much for the information. I’m doing my best to learn more, I’m even taking an online religion class through BYU! I’ve set up a meeting with a missionary and I’m hoping for the best! Thanks!
There are many Black leaders in the Mormon Church, and the Church is growing like crazy in Africa (see http://mormonwiki.com/African_Mormons). Even in the early days of the Church (1830’s) no congregations were ever segregated, and there were Black men who held the Mormon priesthood. The Church was also vehemently anti-slavery, which is a major reason Mormons were persecuted in Missouri, where most of the population desired a slave-state. It was God’s decision to withhold the priesthood for a time from Blacks, and my personal opinion was that it had nothing to do with the righteousness, talent, intelligence or dedication of Blacks, but the prejudices of white converts. In other words, for Blacks to fully function as priesthood leaders, they must have the unwavering support of whites in their congregations. It took society way too long to come as far as it has in dismissing racism, but until society arrived at that point, Blacks would not have been able to serve as they wished. You can read more at http://blacklds.org.
Is it true the Mormons believe that Africans are cursed and that any black person can never be a leader in the Mormon church just because they happen to be black. What would happen if a black person was chosen by GOD to lead the Mormon church. Or would you just use some scriptures to explain away this revelation should it become true. I cannot be apart of a any religion that teaches Africans or any person that is considered to be black to be cursed by GOD almighty. The most segregated day in this country is the day of worship of a GOD that only sees his children and not their colour. To bad followers of the Mormon church still believed this until recently, but only to recently changed its policy on Africans. It’s a shame.
Thank you, David. We also respect the stand taken by the Catholic Church to elevate morality and the family and are grateful to join them in the public square. Mormons do not believe that we go to our own planet when we die. As Paul said, there are 3 degrees of glory in heaven, and many mansions within those 3 degrees. Mormons believe that we can progress and learn eternally in heaven.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION-AS THE MEDIA ATTACK MITT ROMNEY TODAY,I HAVE READ THAT MORMONS BELIEVE WHEN THEY DIE THEY GO TO THEIR OWN PLANET.
PLEASE EXPLAIN AND LET ME KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU
P.S. AS A CATHOLIC-(CHRISTIAN) I BELIEVE WE ALL MUST STAND TOGETHER,ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES.
There are so many places in the Bible, especially in the account of the crucifixion, where Christ prays to His Father. It is very difficult to force these elements into a belief that the Father and Son are the same being. In fact, the belief in a trinity where God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three manifestations of the same being post-dates the Bible. God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are one, but only in the sense of being one in purpose. Christ has said: “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was acrucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will bbelieve on my name, that they may become the csons of God, even done in eme as I am fone in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:2), and the following:
“He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day; And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father; That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved—
Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly testified of him in all things, should have eternal life, As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and of the Son; Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen” (D&C 20:23-28)
You can see in the above that even our other scriptures speak of “One God,” and yet also speak of the three members of the Godhead as separate beings. Jesus cannot sit at the right hand of the Father otherwise.
I’m sorry your Mormon associates spoke down to you, as if you belong to a lesser religion. We’re all at different levels of progress and understanding, and some of us have had more experience with other faiths and cultures than others.
We do love, read and honor the Bible, and are completely aware of the references to homosexual behavior as a sin. However, just as heterosexuals have an attraction to people of the opposite sex, and do not commit sin until they begin to lust, covet, and act upon that attraction, same-sex attraction is not a sin until lust, coveting, and sexual activity are committed.
These are very interesting questions. The Mormon Church is the restoration of Christ’s original Church, and as such, receives revelation through it’s prophets. However, the Lord doesn’t tell us everything, and especially during the 1800s and early 1900s there was some discussion about the age of the earth. The rock record tells us that it is millions of years old. The biblical story is that the earth was created in 6 time periods, called “days.” It is now commonly accepted that these time periods lasted for eons of time, but that there have only been thousands of years since Adam fell.
The scriptures tell us that no man, prophet, or angel knows the exact time of the coming of Christ. But we also know that this is the final dispensation of time (a dispensation being a religious period of time) before the coming of Christ. We go by the signs of the times and prophecies from the Book of Revelation and other scriptures. So it looks as if the Second Coming is very near. The Jews have physically gathered to the land of their inheritance, and it appears that the forces of nature are in commotion.
To choose one event would be a personal choice on my part. You can read the signs of the times, including prophecies from Mormon scriptures, at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Signs_of_the_Times. The gathering of the Jews to Israel is a big event, but the return of the Lost Tribes might be even bigger, and will surely get everyone’s attention. The war of Armageddon will be another one, and there are signs that it is coming.
How long do the mormons believe the earth has exsisted?
And how close do they think is the second coming of christ?
Also, if the mormons had to choose one event, what would that event be in determining that the end was near?
The following quote is from a presentation on a pamphlet distributed to the youth of the Mormon Church, called For the Strength of Youth. ““The physical relationship between a husband and a wife … is ordained of God for the procreation of children and for the expression of love within a marriage. … Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage as well as full fidelity after marriage. …
The Lord specifically forbids certain behaviors, including all sexual relations before marriage, petting, sex perversion (such as homosexuality, rape, and incest), masturbation, or preoccupation with sex in thought, speech, or action” (FSOY, 14–15).”
Masturbation generally increases when there are a lot of sexual stimuli in the environment, and especially with exposure to pornography. It heightens, rather than relieves sexual preoccupation (thoughts) and desires, so it is discouraged.
Hi, Joshua. I don’t know whether this second comment relates to your first question regarding masturbation, or not. So I’m just going to answer it as if you are just asking what the Church’s stance towards gays is.
Homosexuality is a difficult trial. Same-sex attraction is not considered a sin by the Mormon Church. But same-sex sexual activity is considered just as serious a sin as heterosexual activity. Members of the Church are to exercise compassion, and the Church has actually forwarded gay rights in the State of Utah, but stops short of marriage and adoption. The family is meant to be an eternal unit, and it must follow the guidelines established by God Himself. Since we receive our knowledge through revelation from God, we are bound to uphold His doctrines and commandments. He has warned us that the destruction of the institution of the traditional family will bring all the calamities foretold in the biblical Book of Revelation. You can read more at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Proclamation_to_the_World.
You are correct. And some people feed those thoughts rather than trying to replace them with good thoughts. However, this needs to be distinguished from gender attraction, which comes way before lustful thoughts. Lustful thoughts are a sin, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
This is an interesting question. Sometimes when an investor puts money into a fund, he doesn’t know whether there might be a tobacco or liquor company in the portfolio. Also, some large companies have subsidiaries that produce products against the Mormon health laws. Mormons do their best to invest in moral companies, to the extent that they can.
You might want to get in touch with Brigham Young University’s Nursing program directors for in-depth information. (byu.edu)
Mormonism doesn’t forbid any medical procedures, but does leave medical decisions up to personal choice, which Mormons make with the help of the Holy Spirit and information received through Priesthood Blessings (http://www.mormonwiki.com/Priesthood_Blessings)
Birth control decisions are made by husband and wife (prayerfully). Mormons use birth control, but are counseled not to postpone or prohibit bringing forth children for material reasons (to have more money to buy more stuff).
Mormons consider abortion a serious sin, and that can influence decisions regarding infertility treatments. Mormons would also think twice about taking drugs known to be addictive.
Hello Dana — Here’s a short answer with links to longer explanations. Mormons live the Law of Chastity (http://www.mormonwiki.com/Law of Chastity) which says that there should be no sexual behavior outside of marriage, with marriage defined as the legal vows between a man and a woman. So no pre- or extra-marital sex.
Mormons believe that abortion is next to murder, a very serious sin which should only be considered if there is danger to the mother, or in cases of rape or incest where the mother is in great distress, and then only after prayer and counseling with church authorities.
As far as what Mormons expect of others sexually, I assume you mean others outside the Church? We believe that God has certain standards and that He will destroy the wicked when their cup of iniquity is full. Therefore, Mormons and the Church enter the public square in defense of sound social morality, to clean up entertainment, to provide wholesome entertainment, and to lift social mores.
Homosexual feelings are not sinful until acted upon, but any sexual feelings, if nurtured, can lead to sin. Mormons urge respect of homosexuals as people, but the sin of homosexual behavior will bring sorrow to all. Mormons uphold the traditional family and religious rights.
Masturbation is regarded as a minor sin that encourages sexual feelings. Youth are counseled to overcome those urges.
I am going to school to be a nurse and am currently working on a project about Mormons and the effect on healthcare decisions. Could you give me any information on healthcare limitations (example birth control usage) that would affect healthcare provider’s decisions and/or a Mormon patient’s refusal of curtain treatments?
If mormons don’t drink or smoke , what about investing money like in a pension or investment , do i take it that mormons would always invest within an ethical organisation?
Yes, she would need to be baptized into the Mormon Church and live worthily to enter the temple and be sealed to her husband in an eternal marriage covenant. The temple is the House of God, and no impure person should enter, only the dedicated and purified.
Marriages are performed in Mormon meetinghouses, but they are like the marriages performed in other churches — until death do they part. The covenant is only in force during this mortal life, and not into eternity. A Mormon can marry a non-Mormon, and this kind of ceremony could be conducted in a Mormon meetinghouse.
Mormons who have made temple covenants wear symbolic clothing to remind them of the covenants they have made. Many religious orders have special symbolic clothing. Why make fun of the Mormons? The garments are not magical, but they do represent the faith of the wearer, just as the Jewish garment represents commitment to the laws of Moses and symbolize the dedication of the wearer. Mormons remove the garment for athletics, dance, swimming, etc.
i have a friend of mine .. she had a Mormons boyfriend, his boyfriend wanted to marry her .. but my friend is not a member of the Mormons .. his boyfriend convincing her that she need to be baptized so that they can be married . the problem is the parents of my friend don’t want there daughter to be baptized .. so my question is.. is really need my friend to be baptized so that they can married at the temple? what is the different of being married at the temple and at the church? its a same place that theirs a GOD , right?
There is indeed much marriage imagery used to explain the Lord’s relationship to Israel, with the Lord as the faithful husband and Israel as the sometimes unfaithful wife. The Bible actually says that marriages are not performed in heaven. But Paul said the husband is not without the wife, and the wife not without the husband in the Lord. Marriages performed on earth by the proper authority and in a dedicated temple of God can be eternal.
Because the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that we should not use alcohol, tobacco, or hot drinks, Mormons do not use these products. There is no commandment regarding soft drinks, but some Mormons choose to avoid them, because they contain ingredients similar to coffee and tea. You can learn about the health law at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Word_of_Wisdom
There are subtle references to the feasts in the Book of Mormon, but you have to know where to look for them. Mormons are very interested in the Jewish feasts, and BYU has staged multiple Passovers for many years. I myself have written a book on the Jewish Feasts — it is entitled Days of Awe: Jewish Holy Days, Symbols, and Prophecies for Latter-day Saints.
The missionary would certainly be sent home, and since he had made covenants in the temple of God, would face Church discipline, probably in the form of disfellowshipment for a period of time, while he works through the process of repentance.
A Christian is a person who believes in and follows Christ and relies on Christ’s atonement for salvation. Trinitarianism is not a requirement for a person to be a Christian. If it was, then all the Christians before the Roman councils, and all those who voted against the trinitarian philosophy in those councils would be non-Christian, including the very apostles of Christ.
so if you “believe in” Christ, wouldn’t you have to recognize who he is first to truly “believe in” him? verses like Heb 1:8, john 10:30, Phil 2:5,6 but in john it flat out says ” The Father and I are one.” therefore if Jesus said he’s God wouldn’t you have to believe he is God in order to fully grasp the “believing in” him part? Jesus wouldn’t lie or equivocate to us, correct? i mean if he says it why would you not believe him? i’ve always been curious on this topic. also, at Prom my friend introduced me to her date (both mormons) and he said me being Christian “well that’s not TOO bad”, do yall think less of us or something, like we are specifically more flawed than you? just wondering, and sry if this posts multiple times, having some diffculties with the computer
The beginning is to learn the doctrines of the Mormon Church, usually by meeting with Mormon missionaries. One must read the Book of Mormon and pray for a witness from God that it is true. When a person receives a personal witness by the Holy Ghost that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the real Church of Christ on the earth, and the person is willing to repent and live according to the commandments of Christ, then he can be baptized by immersion and become a member of the Church. You can chat online with a Mormon missionary from the website, http://www.mormon.org.
In reading the Book of Mormon, it does not give any indication regarding the feast days, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, etc.. What is the Mormon church position on the keeping of the feasts.
Christians believe in one God, God the Father, God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit—–Jesus Christ is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Mormons do not believe Jesus Christ is God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit–they do not believe in the Trinity . Why do you avoid this truth about the Mormon Church? Yes ,you do believe in God the Father, and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit but not in the Trinity as Christians all believe. That is what makes us Christians, wny we are called Christian !!
what if a missionary have a girlfriend in a place where did he destined, and there’s happen with them like sex .. if that happen what would be happen to the missionary? is he went home? or there will be a hard punishment ?
All Mormons are expected to gain a personal testimony or witness of the fact that the Church is led by a prophet of God by praying and receiving an answer directly from the Lord. Often the Lord answers in such a profound and miraculous way, that the revelation is undeniable. Also, one may know by the fruits of the prophet. We have hundreds of recorded revelations and decisions made by revelation and inspiration, often contrary to the logic of men, that have yielded miracles. The Church in its current state is one of those miracles. For more, read the following: http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/priesthood/prophets/prophets.html
These couples can marry anywhere but in the temple. Some choose reception centers, but the cultural halls of Mormon meetinghouses are often used, and there is no fee involved. With Mormon temple marriages, only worthy Mormons with temple-recommends from their bishops may attend, so there are always Mormon guests who wait outside with friends of other faiths. Many couples who marry in the temple and have guests who cannot attend, will have a ring ceremony at another venue to be inclusive. Anyone can attend the wedding of a Mormon in any venue but the temple. For more, go to http://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_Weddings
If a man and a woman marry,one is mormon and the other is not, what options do they have for their wedding venue? Are there mormon churches to accommadate these situations and is the family and friends of the non-mormon able to attend?
Isaiah 61:1: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
1 Peter 3:19: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Moses 7:57: And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth, and stood on the right hand of God; and the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:99: And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth, and stood on the right hand of God; and the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day.
Doctrine and Covenants 128:22: Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
Doctrine and Covenants 138: And I wondered at the words of Peter—wherein he said that the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah—and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time.
“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)
the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;
19And there he apreached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of erepentance.
20But unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised;
21Neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence, nor look upon his face.
22Where these were, darkness reigned, but among the righteous there was peace;
In other words, Christ went to the dead who died without law, not the ones who rebelled against His word when He was on earth.
There is nothing in the Mormon code of health (the Word of Wisdom) that forbids the drinking of sodas. If you desire to join the Church and want to be a member in good standing, you’ll have to give up smoking. Most people who are willing to make this commitment in order to follow the commandments of God, find that they receive a great deal of help from Him.
Thank you for these sincere questions. I’m afraid I don’t quite understand the first one. I think you are referring to the book “A Course in Miracles,” which has nothing to do with the Mormon Church. It claims to be a self-study curriculum for spiritual transformation. The Lord’s house is a house of order. I doubt the inspiration for the book (or course) comes from Him.
Yes, it would be insincere to join any church just to facilitate a marriage, and to do so without really believing or desiring to make a firm commitment. I personally have seen such situations end miserably, usually in divorce.
Latter-day Saints see miracles occur on a consistent basis regarding both physical and mental health, because of faith and the power of God to heal. However, Mormons participate in medicine, too, on a regular basis. Medication is often advised and helpful in the case of mental illness, and is not forbidden by the Mormon religion. Hope this answers your questions.
Elisha, these are great questions, and Mormons don’t know the answers to all of them. I will tell you what we do know. God created all worlds through the Word, who was and is Jesus Christ. You and I and all people have always existed and will always exist. First, we were “intelligences.” God is the most intelligent being, and Christ is more intelligent than all of the rest of us put together. God organized our spirits before the world was created, and thus, He is our literal father, and He knows us completely. He created Christ’s spirit first. Christ was so good, and so intelligent, that He was a god from the beginning. Lucifer was also pretty smart, a leader, and his spirit was one of the first created. He fell because of his pride, and tricked one third of us into choosing him over Christ. Lucifer and his followers were cast out of heaven, and they will never progress to the next level of existence, that of being born into earth life with a mortal body.
Yes, Christ is the greatest of all, higher than us all, more powerful than Lucifer and all his angels. Christ’s most distinctive characteristic is love, secondly, humility. It is a wonderful thing to read about Christ’s visit to the Book of Mormon peoples. Before He taught or spoke, He prayed. He gave thanks to the Father and prayed for the people. And this, after He had completed the atonement and been exalted, He was still so humble… http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/17?lang=eng
Actually I have three unrelated questions. The first being,why is the course in miracles different when they say it was inspired? Second, Wouldn’t be wrong to convert so you are able to be married of the same faith if one did not totally believe? My third unrelated question is how does the LDS feel about taking medication for mental illness, is it a lack of faith, for instance? Thank you, and I would appreciate it if these issues of mine could be addressed.
The temple garment is actually “the garment of the holy priesthood.” It is a symbol of higher covenants and a reminder to honor those covenants. Anyone who intends to keep temple covenants is willing to wear the garment.
When the health law was given to the Church, there was no mention of caffeine, and there still isn’t. The law refers to “hot drinks,” which the prophets defined as coffee and tea. There is no indication in the revelation as to why these drinks are dangerous, and the science didn’t exist in the 1800’s. All of the substances forbidden in the revelation are addictive, however, and modern science has found that caffeine is addictive, so most people think it’s because of the caffeine in these drinks. Mormons make their own decisions regarding caffeinated sodas and the like. Some feel guilty drinking them, and others don’t.
No, a lady did not stop polygamy. Polygamy is only a righteous practice when ordained by God by revelation. Revelation started polygamy in the Church, and revelation ended it.
As with many revelations received by the prophet Joseph Smith, the revelation that is now Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89 was an answer to a question Joseph Smith took to the Lord. Joseph had been teaching the gospel to church leaders in a group he called “the school of the prophets.” They met in a room about 14 feet square, which was always filled with smoke as the men discussed eternity. Joseph’s wife had to clean up the mess from the chewing tobacco, too. It just didn’t seem holy, so Joseph asked the Lord if he should do something about it. The health law given in section 89 was first counsel, and later made a commandment. Here’s how the Lord began –“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of aevils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of bconspiring men in the last days, I have cwarned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—” In other words, conspiring men in the last days will try to get us to use substances that are bad for our health and compromise our freedom of choice. That’s why you won’t find such a commandment in the Bible. What is in the Bible, however is the Mosaic health laws and the commandment to the Israelites only to drink new wine of their own make and never to purchase grape products from their enemies.
The everlasting covenant is that of eternal marriage, not plural marriage. Plural marriage is allowed by God from time to time among the very righteous, but only at those times when He commands it. When He revealed the doctrine to Joseph Smith, He warned Joseph that once he had knowledge of eternal marriage, and once the Lord explained that plural marriage is sometimes ordained to raise up seed unto the Lord, Joseph would have to live the law. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the word “damned” does not mean to go to hell. It means to be “not in the Lord’s presence.” In heaven, the Lord dwells in the highest level of the highest kingdom of heaven. Unless Joseph (and then the other Latter-day Saint leaders) lived the law as the Lord delivered it, they would only achieve some lower kingdom of heaven. Even the lowest kingdom of heaven is glorious beyond description, but eternal marriage is necessary for the highest. Out of the 50 years that the church leaders practiced plural marriage, came a large generation of stalwart, upstanding people, the backbone of the Church.
Absolutely. All of the charismatic gifts are present in the Church, including the gifts of healing and tongues, revelation (even personal revelation), etc.
This is not a “reply” but rather a question about Mormon beliefs. I am curious as to where the belief of no coffee or tea (or caffinated drinks) comes from. I seriously doubt that they were brewing up coffee in biblical times, and don’t ever recall it mentioned in the Bible. I can understand not getting drunk as opposed to having a drink (as in communion) or even smoking as it is bad for the body, even though I don’t read about it in the Bible either, but drinking tea? or coffee? I don’t get it! I would love for that to be explained to me.
Thank you.
That is the beauty of having a living prophet on the Earth. God gives instructions to the people based on what they need to know. In ancient Isreal, where coffee, tobacco, drugs, etc. were not a threat, there was no need to command the people to abstain from them. He did say: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 cor 3: 16-17) With the introduction of these substances into our culture, and especially with the abuses of these substances becoming popular, God clarified through His prophet that these substances can damage and defile your precious temple. Because He loves us, He lets us know when we are messing up, especially when we might not have scriptures that directly address the issue. God’s word never changes, but it is more vast than the world can contain, so we receive it from Him as it is needed.
When people call Mormonism a cult, they are relying on one definition of a cult, which is a group that is held in thrall to a powerful personality. People who call Mormonism a cult have been lied to. They have been taught that Mormons worship founder Joseph Smith, but this is absolutely false. Mormons worship Christ. They have also been taught that, like most cults, the Mormon Church “brainwashes” its members. This is absolutely the opposite of what it is like to be a member of the Church, which values freedom of choice above all. Even offerrings are kept personal and private — no one knows how much you pay. Mormons are expected to use the gift of the Holy Ghost to obtain revelation for their own personal choices and even to obtain validation of what the prophet of the Church tells us. There is no more free people on the face of the earth.
The Church differentiates between same-sex orientation and sexual behavior. Same-sex orientation is not a sin until the person becomes lustful and then engages in sexual behavior. Sex between gays is a sin. Sex between un-married straights is a sin. God defines marriage as the legal union of a man and woman.
No. It costs nothing to join the Mormon Church, and paying tithing is a matter of free choice. However, one must be a full tithe-payer to enter the temples of the Lord. Attending church in a meetinghouse is different — everyone is welcome. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek in Old Testament times. It has ever been an aspect of true devotion to God, from whom all our blessings flow.
Why do Mormons beleive the body must stay whole after death? my mother in law is mormon and said that she cannot be a donor after shes gone from this earth because she will not be whole in heaven if she is a donor.
This is incorrect. Mormons know that God has the power to resurrect any body, no matter what it’s condition at death or after death. Some people die in fires and their bodies are nearly completely destroyed. God is still able to resurrect them. Many Mormons are organ donors.
DO the Mormons believe that Jesus is our Saviour and He is the only way toheaven-our only path to beleive aHe is our saviour accept Him in our lives and choose to follow His ways. Tht Jesus died on the cross for us and we need to believe inthat.
My neighbor (mormon) decorates her house for every occasion (especially Halloween) However, there are no decorations for Easter….which, seeing how that is the basis of Christianity, should be recognized. Also, what’s with the underwear?
Easter is a very important holiday in Mormonism. I don’t know why your neighbor decorates for other holidays and not Easter. You can read about Mormon temple garments at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_garments.
At the time and place Jesus lived, wine was safer to drink than water. We have received a health law by revelation, called the Word of Wisdom, which forbids us to drink alcoholic beverages. The law is made for the “weakest of the weak.”
No — we don’t know the mechanics of the virgin birth, but we do believe in it. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet was shown the virgin Mary in vision about 600 years before Christ’s birth. His account says she was “overshadowed and carried away in the spirit,” just like the biblical account. Our belief about the virgin birth is the same as virtual every Protestant church.
No one marries in heaven. Worthy Mormons marry in temples on earth and make an eternal covenant. The marriage, if husband and wife continue in righteousness, then lasts for eternity, rather than ending in death.
The health law given by God to the Church says that Mormons should not drink “hot drinks.” It says nothing about caffeine. The prophets have defined hot drinks as coffee and tea, and later science has implicated caffeine as one ingredient that is harmful. Some Mormons therefore avoid cola and chocolate, but others don’t.
Worthy Mormons go to the temple to be married in order to make an eternal covenant with God and each other. If they continue in righteousness, that marriage covenant will be eternal and not end with death.
Stillborn children are not baptized. Infants are innocent and saved by the atonement of Christ. They are exalted. Mormons don’t baptize until the age of 8, when children can discern right from wrong and understand how to repent. This is called the “age of accountability.”
Satan actually wanted God’s power and glory. We do (in humility) work to keep God’s commandments, repent, and serve Him. All of us fall short of perfection, however. God’s grace is what saves us. If we are exalted in heaven, Christ has promised us that we will inherit all that He has. What is that? This is no worldly inheritance. Christ will share His knowledge, wisdom, charity…. in short, His attributes. With those attributes, He calls us Gods. This doctrine, called “theosis” was preached in the original Christian Church. Otherwise, it’s just semantics. We will be like gods, so we are called gods.
I have been so interested in the mormon religion my entire life but I have always been afraid to join. For one I don’t know how and for two I don’t feel good enough. Everyone dresses up and I am poor. We don’t have alot let alone nice church clothes. I do my best to raise my son as a single mother. I have a family member who joined the Mormon faih but I feel like she judges me so I’m fearful to ask her. So if you have any suggestions on how I could learn more or even join PLEASE email me.
Just as having heterosexual tendencies is not a sin until a person uses that leaning to commit a sin, such as lusting after another person’s wife, or having sex outside of wedlock, the tendency to be attracted to someone of the same sex is not a sin unless it’s acted upon.
What about the fact that in the bible itself it is stated, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 NIV. It is a sin to look at a woman and have sexual thoughts, let alone acting upon it?
This is both his preference and a tenet of Mormonism. We have an ordinance of eternal marriage, and only a worthy LDS girl and worthy LDS guy can be bound by this ordinance performed in a temple of God. Should this young man marry a girl who is not Mormon (unless she converts), his marriage would be only until death, and his children would not be born into the eternal covenant. No one is forced to live by this idea, but the divorce rate among couples married in the temple is 7%, and the divorce rate for Mormons marrying non-Mormons is 40%.
Mormons do believe in Satan who was cast out of heaven with the 1/3 of the hosts of heaven who followed him. Satan and his followers will never have physical bodies, and they do whatever they can to corrupt people and cause discord, sin, and violence. Yes, they can possess the bodies of those who dwell on earth, but only if people allow or invite them to. Having a strong belief in Christ and staying away from undesirable people and places helps. Yes, priesthood holders and even lay members have the power to banish Satan and his followers should they invade a room, home, building, or a person’s body.
This is a little complex, but I’ll try to simplify. We have always existed, in some form, in the universe — first as intelligence, then as spirits, then as mortal beings. When we finish our mortal existence, we will be spirits separated from our physical bodies, then eternally resurrected with perfect immortal bodies bound permanently with our spirits. God, as our Eternal Father, created our spiritual bodies before we were born with physical bodies on the earth. Christ, whose intelligence and righteousness excelled beyond all of us, was the creator of the earth, and of all worlds. He is “The Word,” or “The Word of My Power,” through whom God created all things. To create means to organize, since matter has always existed in the universe, and from it, the worlds are created. Christ was the firstborn in the spirit, the first spirit child of Heavenly Father. Satan was Lucifer, meaning “Light Bearer” or “Son of the Morning,” inferring that he was either born early among God’s spirit-children, or was illustrious. He fell, and became Satan. Most Christian churches have lost knowledge about the pre-mortal existence spoken of by Isaiah, though they believe, as we do, that Christ has always existed.
Please tell us the major differences between Mormon beliefs and Christian beliefs. Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh, and therefore not created as was Satan?
Yes. There have been cases where demons have possesed people, and Elders in the church (men who bear the Holy Priesthood) have given that person a blessing, or prayer over their head, that released that unholy spirit from the body.
My friend is currently dating a mormon guy and she is not. He has made it clear that he will marry a mormon girl, is this his preferance or a rule/belief of mormans?
Love and charity should be the watchwords for followers of Jesus Christ. We have plenty of disabled children and adults in our congregations, and hopefully, they are constantly watched over and nurtured by all the members. Go to http://www.mormon.org for an introduction to Mormon doctrine and to chat with a Mormon. Good luck.
Yes. Note that both works and perfection are mentioned in these scriptural verses. Mormons believe in good works. We also believe that eventually, through God’s grace, we can become “perfect.” It’s important to understand the definition of perfect. In Hebrew, “shalem” or “tam,” it means to be complete, or whole. Resurrection provides wholeness of the perfectly joined body with spirit, and God’s grace provides wholeness of soul, purity. We believe also that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. You might want to visit http://www.mormonbible.org.
Does the Morman religion teach the following as a true statement, as quoted from the Bible?
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
Ammended to include verse 17
i am a non denomination christian. my husband has given up on the church we were going to because of they way we got treated when our pastor was transferd out to another church. how do you feel about children with disablities
Hi Kelly! I’m 18 years old and have been raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I read your question and my heart broke. My nephew (who passed away last Christmas at the age of 14) was severely handicapped. He was born with a terrible disease that caused him to be completely brain dead since birth. The only things he could do were hear and breathe. He had many surgeries and spent a lot of his life in pain or sick. I used to spend a lot of time sad and angry about this, and I still think it is a terrible terrible thing for someone to be put through. I thought how unfair it was that he wasn’t able to walk and talk and live a normal child’s life. As I grew older, I gained an understanding that completely healed my heart. We believe that we lived in Heaven before we came to Earth (Pre-Existence) and we will return to live with Heavenly Father if we are rightous here. We knew that coming to Earth would mean getting a body and getting to prove ourselves to Father that we deserved to be in His presence. We wanted to come so badly that we still couldn’t wait to get here even though Father told us we would be put through many trials. I believe, and so do my church leaders, that Chase wanted to come here and get a body so badly that he was willing to come to the broken body he was given. Thanks to Jesus’s atonement and resurection, we know that when Chase is resurected his body will be perfected. He will be able to do all the things he couldn’t. Also, disabled children and adults are perfect in the Lord’s eyes. These special spirits are so innocent and kind they can’t possibly be responsible for any wrongdoings. God is fair. He wouldn’t ever hold someone accountable if they didn’t have the mental ability to be able to know right from wrong. Disabled children are the sweetest, purist, and most precious spirits here. Please contact the LDS Church members in your area. I know they would love to answer any of your questions. Also, people who aren’t as patient or loving towards special children probably just don’t have a clear understanding of how special they are. The Lord loves us all the same, perfectly healthy, or completely oposite. Please please contact the missionaries! I have so much to learn still about the Gospel, but I hope that my answer helped.
Gale, I just read your statement here from October:
Being gay is not a sin
Here is what the Bible states:
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (NKJ, Leviticus 18:22)
If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. (NKJ, Leviticus 20:13)
Note that the verses you have quoted refer to actions, not tendencies. Usually, men are attracted to women and women are attracted to men, but this is not a sin until it turns into lust, covetousness, fornication, or adultery. Likewise, same-sex attraction is influenced by inherent tendency, environment, and experience. It is not a sin until it becomes lust, covetousness, or sexual activity. Thanks for your comment.
You stated earlier that it isn’t a sin to be gay that no reference can be found in the Bible. But if sex out of marrige is a sin and only marrige is between a man and woman. Then wouldn’t sex between gays be a sin. Or are you saying if your gay and don’t ever have sex your not a sinner? If thats the case would you even be considered gay?
Aaron
on April 26, 2011 at 1:33 am
Its true the word “gay” is a bit ambiguous here. Same-sex attractions are often considered gay, but other times only the actual sexual act is considered “gay”. Just as lusting after the opposite sex or having sexual relations with them outside of matrimony is a sin, lusting after your same sex or having sexual relations with someone of your same sex is a sin. But we are hard-wired to be attracted to some things. Some people may be attracted to their own gender, but as long as you do not indulge in lusting or sexual conduct it is not a sin. It is a trial, and a temptation. Jesus himself went through many trials and at least three temptations, so there is no imperfection in only the experiences. Gale was merely saying that the tendency or attraction is not sinful. As for what is considered “gay,” there are many meanings, and the answer to your question depends on which you are using.
Graham C Lindsay
on June 15, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Just a wee question about the Bible. I would have thought that since the LDS consider other Christian Churches to be apart of the apostate movement that would have included the Bible as that was compiled by a so-called apostate Church in the 4th century. Do you not think it time that the LDS reevaluated the Bible at the canonical inclusions both in the Old and New Testaments and maybe need a modern rethink due to current theological thinking. Since the LDS deem itself to have the authority of the reconstructed Church sanctioned by the divine an LDS authorized Bible would seem appropriate.
Thanks for your comment, Graham. Joseph Smith did work on a translation of the Bible, making corrections through revelation directly from God. Part of the result is the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/contents
Although the Church has not published his translation as a whole, Joseph Smith’s translation of various verses is found in the footnotes of the standard King James Version used by the Church, which you can order free of charge:
Why would a unchanging, unfallible, uncontradicting, always the same Mighty God say do not add to or take away from His Word, all of a sudden decide to add to His already perfect Book?
karenrose
on January 4, 2012 at 12:45 pm
God chooses when to speak, and when “He” can say more. To clarify, God doesn’t want a human to add to His words (as you said) but He can certainly speak to us whenever He likes, and He does continue to speak to us today. Let me reverse the question: “Why wouldn’t a loving parent continue to speak to their children.” The Bible reflects God’s dealings with those in the Old World, and the Book of Mormon reflects His love and teachings in the New World. Both of these complement one another. He has provided two witnesses of the reality and mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. I’d be happy to send you a copy of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, if you’d like that.
Geni
on May 29, 2010 at 7:41 pm
What to Mormons believe about end time events and the return of Christ?
Most Mormon beliefs about end time events are the same as are held by most Christians. Modern revelations about end-time events are found in the Doctrine and Covenants, and validate the predictions made in the Bible, especially in the Book of Revelation. However, Mormons do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, which is a recent philosophy not found in the scriptures. Mormons believe that when Christ comes, everyone will see the event together, that the resurrection of the righteous, who died between Christ’s resurrection and second coming, will occur. At that time, all the righteous will be caught up to join him in the air. Mormons do NOT believe that you have to be Mormon to be considered righteous. We are judged by the knowledge we have and the degree of our trials on earth. Most of those who will be preserved to live during Christ’s millennial reign will not be Mormons, just good people willing to follow Christ. Mormons do believe that this is the last dispensation of time before the Second Coming, but that no one knows the exact date or time of His arrival. For more information, go to http://www.mormonwiki.com/Signs_of_the_Times. That article has a long list of prophesied events. Thanks for visiting our website!
I have been visited by missionaries from the mormon church and after reading a few things as to what can be worn in the church i believe that if i was serious in seeking more knowledge in the mormon faith i would be rejected. You see i am over weight and can only ware sweat pants and i feel that because of this i will not be allowed to enter the church. I want to learn more about the mormon faith. Can someone please direct me in the right paith
You will never be rejected because of something like this. Would God reject you for this reason? No, he would not, and neither will his servants. Don’t let this stand in the way of your receiving the greatest gift on earth, the true gospel, the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and God’s power and miracles in your life. Good luck, Michael!
What is the mormon view on suicide? I went through a suicide of a parent a couple of years ago and was told by separate religious sectors that the person was stuck in pergatory…. Please answer thanks
People who commit suicide are usually driven to it by mental illness or severe depression, for which they are not held accountable in the judgment. We believe that we are judged according to what we know and how difficult our challenges are. Each person is individual, and only God can look upon the heart and judge wisely. He is loving and merciful, always. I’m so sorry about your parent. Here is the Mormon Doctrine regarding where we go when we die….The spirit is separated from the physical body and goes to a place called the Spirit World. There are two main parts to the Spirit World — Spirit Prison (for the wicked) and Paradise (for the righteous). During the three days that Christ was in the tomb, He taught the spirits in paradise and sent missionaries (among them, the greatest of the prophets) to Spirit Prison. In the Spirit World, we can learn of Christ and repent. This is a second chance for those who rejected Him on earth, and a first chance for those who had no knowledge of Him. A person in Spirit Prison can repent and go to Paradise until resurrection. Then, we are resurrected and judged (the most righteous upon the second coming of Christ, and the least righteous after the millennium). Because of God’s grace, mercy is available to us to the very last moment. There are three main divisions in heaven and even the lowest is glorious beyond description. I hope this helps.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ and the Bible to me is the inherent Word of God. My questions are these: Where in the bible does it say Christ taught spirits in paradise and sent missionaries to hell during his 3 days in the tomb? Also… where does it say we get a second chance after death? We know how merciful and loving God is on earth and how many chances He gives us to repent… but I dont recall where it says that we get a second chance after death. I’m not trying to attack you in any way… its just that there are a lot of people out there adding and taking away from the Word of God and its sooo dangerous. Thank you
Aaron
on April 26, 2011 at 1:22 am
We don’t believe he taught the spirits in Hell, but that, as it says in 1 Pet 18-19, when Christ was physically dead he went and taught the spirits in “prison”. Once final judgement is declared, there are no second chances. Likewise, those who had the truth and rejected it won’t be able to improve themselves in that they have already rejected the knowledge. However, for those souls that were kept from the truth in this life, they will be administered to so they can have an equal chance to partake of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ. It is the only logical thing God would do as a compassionate, fair being who had to compensate for the wickedness of others keeping some of His children from hearing the truth.
shelby
on June 16, 2011 at 12:19 am
which version of bible do mormons read?
Aaron
on June 20, 2011 at 1:26 pm
The official English version for the church is the King James version.
james carter
on April 7, 2010 at 9:24 pm
The question I have is regarding what bible do the Mormons read besides the book of Mormon?
You can go to our website now under construction: http://www.mormonbible.org for a complete answer to your question, but here’s the short one — Mormons are Bible-believing Christians. We read and study the Bible and spend two out of every four years of Sunday School classes on it. In the English-speaking U.S., we use the King James Version of the Bible. We also read the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price (books of Abraham and Moses), and the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of modern revelation). We expect that the Lord will reveal more scripture in the future (when the Ten Lost Tribes return, for example, they are expected to bring their scripture with them).
I know God wants us to refrain from sex before marriage and after that, only have it with your spouse. From what I could understand, mormons tolerate abortion when a woman becomes pregnant before marriage. I’m just wondering if I got that right.
Thanks for your question, Joe. The stand of the LDS Church on abortion is that it is a sin next to murder in its severity. It should only be considered in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger, and then only after counseling with one’s spiritual advisors. You can read more at the Mormon Church’s own website at the following URL: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/abortion
Abraham paid tithes. This is a commandment that has always existed. Tithes support all the Church’s endeavors, including building and maintaining the meeting houses and temples where we worship. The Lord gave us everything we have; it all belongs to Him, not Caesar. All He asks is 10 percent.
Women preach all the time in the Mormon Church, both in regular Sunday meetings and classes and in General Conference, which is the semi-annual all-Church meeting.
We all existed in a heavenly realm before we came to this earth. Mormons call this “Pre-Mortal Life.” In the pre-mortal life, Heavenly Father was the father of our spirits. We gained mortal bodies when we were born onto the earth. In the pre-mortal life, Christ, the creator of the earth, was also chosen to be its Savior. Lucifer rebelled and was cast out of heaven with his followers. Christ was Heavenly Father’s firstborn in the spirit. Lucifer was a “son of the morning.” His name means “light-bearer.” We can assume he was an intelligent and illustrious spirit before he turned against God. Because Heavenly Father is our Father, is Christ’s Father, and is Lucifer’s Father, then spiritually speaking, we are all brothers and sisters, and Christ and Lucifer are spiritually brothers.
Genesis 1:1. God created the heavens and the earth. I keep seeing statments that Jesus created the earth. Do Mormons believe Jesus created the earth?
Gale
on October 25, 2010 at 12:50 pm
God created the heavens and the earth through The Word. The Word is Jesus Christ.
Ashley
on October 13, 2011 at 8:40 pm
What do you mean when u say Jesus is word?
Steven
on June 19, 2011 at 8:03 am
Think of it this way, God is the architect and Jesus was the contractor that implemented his design.
elisha
on January 18, 2011 at 5:58 pm
what’s the difference between Christ as: ‘He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh.’ and ‘Christ was Heavenly Father’s firstborn in the spirit.’
And as Heaven and earth are created through the Word, would mean Christ existed before the heavens did. Did lucifer existed before the heavens was made? did we existed before the heavenly realms was made? if so, would that mean that there’s a time when were actually equal to Christ? If the bible says lucifer was the ‘son of the morning’-of light..who created the morning? The Word being the Only begotten Son and the firstborn in the spirit, would that not make Christ higher than all of us? even lucifer?.
Thanx. And thanks for this page. This truly helps us seek God more. to investigate as you would put it.
Of course. I usually set aside my rock music and listen to classical or religious music on Sunday, however. Mormons have a wonderful music scene. Go to http://www.mormonmusic.org to listen to some great music. Then check out the choir at http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org.
Christ’s atonement for our sins took place when He bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. All of our sins are covered, if we repent. It is our choice to lay hold upon Christ’s atonement for us, or to ignore it, or to reject it and suffer for our own sins. Christ invites all of us to repent and come unto Him.
so is it true that jesus lives on another planet?
is it your beleaf that to be gay is a sin?
do you guys have multiple wives?
is it true that to go to your temple i have to have reached a point in my life were i do not sin?
Nope. Jesus lives in heaven. Our prophets have had visions of heaven (see Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants at http://www.lds.org/?lang=engscriptures/dc-testament/dc/76?lang=eng), but the Lord has not revealed its location. Being gay is not a sin, but sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin, and the Lord has defined marriage as the legal union of a man and a woman. Mormons do not have multiple wives. The Lord ended the practice of polygamy through direct revelation in 1890. Everyone who attends the Mormon Temple is a sinner. All of us are sinners. However, people who attend the temple do live certain commandments: They believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. They serve in the Church. They pay tithes on their income. They don’t smoke, drink, or use coffee or tea. They are honest in their dealings and kind to their families. They have no sexual relations outside the marriage covenant. In other words, they live very clean lives.
Can you elaborate in your statement “being gay is not a sin” I don’t understand why is not a sin? is there somewhere in the scriptures??
Thank you
Judy Weindorf
on October 26, 2010 at 7:13 am
As a former supervisor of mental health with a sincere testimony of truthfulness of L.D.S. Church teachings, I know of no reference in the Bible or Book of Mormon that teaches “being gay is a sin.” Having counseled those who have those leanings, I find them to be normal people with a basic sense of what is right and wrong, but with challenges to face as to where they “fit in” to the rest of society,as do we all. And like everyone else, striving to live a high moral life will only add to one’s ability to find true happiness.
Deziree
on April 23, 2011 at 3:57 pm
In the Bible it does say that homosexuality is a sin. God loves and forgives all who ask but detests sin. You never read the Bible fully then because there’s multiple references to homosexuality.
zane
on June 18, 2011 at 8:22 pm
yes there are multiple references to homosexuality and everytime it is mentioned God speaks against it so does that make it not a sin? doesn’t that make it something wrong?
Sam Leon
on June 22, 2011 at 9:08 am
ok so if God speaks against it, isn’t it wrong? or is he going to forgive me because i am wrong? do i have to be right with God in order to be forgiven? what happens to me then, if i don’t change?
JD
on July 20, 2011 at 12:23 pm
I wonder if there is a distinction between state of being and “being” (colloquial for acting). It is not a sin to be (state of being) gay anymore than it is a sin to be left handed or a redhead. Is is a sin to be (act) gay when we have been commanded to not be (act) gay.
I am an alcoholic. I have never-ever tasted any alcohol of any kind. My mother warned me that her side of the family had a propensity towards alcoholism. While in graduate school “alcoholic genes” was discovered. Later, I was able to have myself tested for the gene and sure enough, I am (or could become) an alcoholic if I acted. But I am not a sinner with respect to alcoholism. It would be a sin if I started drinking, since I am well aware of the outcome.
Sam Leon
on July 27, 2011 at 9:44 am
Hi JD I can’t understand fully what you are saying, what i gather from your comment is that I need to change so God can forgive me and help me? thank you for the insight
Sanet
on November 5, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Which Bible do you read? Go read this:
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.[3](Leviticus 20:13 KJV)
Paula Moore
on January 4, 2012 at 11:15 am
Being a homosexual is not the sin its the acting upon that temptation that is the sin. We are tempted all the time but it is not the temptation that is the sin but the act of that temptation that is the sin.
If you mean, having the tendency or temptation to violate the natural order is not the sin, but acting upon it, is, then that concurs with Mormon beliefs. Thanks for coming.
Hi, my name is Frances. I feel lost. I don’t know what to believe in. Today as I argued with my significant other I heard a knock at the door. Now, for some time now I have questioned my beliefs. The knock at the door, was two men from the church of Latter Day Saints. What are the odds. A sign from GOD. What do I do?
Dear Frances,
These men were sent from God to you, they have the answers you have been searching for, listen to them, accept the challenges they give you, read the Book of Mormon that they will give you and it will offer light and healing in your life. God loves you, he knows you by name and is acutely aware of you. He has not forgotten you Frances, and your challenges in life, your struggles, fears, desires, hopes, and questions mean so much to him. “[He] has engraven you on his hands and your walls (or in other words challenges) are ever before Him” Isaiah 49:16. If you heed His word and accept His hand in your life, all the challenges that currently seem insurmountable will fade away. “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28) If you come unto God He will help make your burdens light enough to carry. I know because He has in my life. If there is anything I can do for you let me know, we would love to help you, be here for you and support you in all your challenges and difficulties. Invite them back in Frances, their coming to your home was not an accident or a coincident. God loves you and cares for you.
Sincerely,
Rachel
Is Jesus deity?
Absolutely, through Him and by Him all the worlds were created, including this earth. He is our Savior and Redeemer, and our intercessor with the Father. Through His atonement, we will all be resurrected and may be saved from our sins if we believe on His name and repent.
I’m so sorry… we have hundreds of websites, and find it difficult to respond to every comment on every page. Could you repeat the questions, and I will try my best to get back to you. God bless you, have a wonderful day.
Do Mormans believe in the resurection? Do they believe that Jesus rose from the grave and will come back to receive His own?
Yes, this is our belief.
Is it true Mormons believe Jesus was the brother of Lucifer? Lucifer was an angel and Jesus was the Son of God.
In preparation for mortal life, every living thing was created spiritually before it was created physically, including all of us. God is the Father of our spirits, and we lived with Him before being born with mortal bodies on this earth. In preparation for His mortal ministry, Christ’s spirit was also organized by God the Father, so in a way, Jesus is our Brother, spiritually speaking. Lucifer was also a spirit child of God. He rebelled, and was cast out of heaven with 1/3 of heaven’s hosts to become the devil and his angels. After the millennium, when Christ finishes His work, he will cast Satan and his followers into hell.
I have a question upond jesus return where will he plant his feet first
The Savior will come in glory and descend upon the Mount of Olives, Casey. Would you like to read The Book of Mormon? What faith are you? Thanks for visiting our site!
Yes. Divorce has always been allowed in Mormonism, according to the laws of the states and countries where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abide. It is also possible to end a temple marriage, which is meant to last through eternity, but only with the involvement of higher authorities in the Church. The divorce rate for Mormon couples who have been married in the temple (in the U.S.) is about 7%.
Can Mormons divorce?
Nope. The Book of Mormon is a second witness for Jesus Christ and supports the Bible in every way possible. Those who say the Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible either haven’t read it, or are out to cause trouble for the Latter-day Saints.
Mormons are free to date anyone they want, member or not. You might want to learn a little about your guy’s faith. It might be very important to him. Remember that if your guy is active in the Mormon faith, he won’t smoke, drink alcohol or coffee or tea, and he will try to be sexually pure.
Absolutely. Mormons love Christmas. There are Christmas parties scheduled in every congregation, and worship with music that celebrates the birth of the Savior. Many of our temples (See http://www.mormonwiki.com/Temple_Square) have thousands of lights in their gardens for the Christmas season and concerts galore. Mormons are Bible-believing Christians who love and serve Jesus Christ.
Where did you get this information? It is false. First, there is no Mormon doctrine saying that when we die, we get our own planet.
Salvation means to inherit a kingdom of glory in heaven, and Mormons believe that nearly all people, even those who reject the gospel of Christ, will be saved into a kingdom of heaven. However, the highest kingdom of heaven, where God dwells, is for those who were particularly valiant in their testimony of Christ while they lived on earth, and who have partaken of eternal covenants. The highest kingdom of glory is equally for men and women — they are co-equals. Christ has promised that those who are so exalted become co-heirs with Him. Thus, they share in His power and glory.
The Plan of Salvation teaches that the Lord created all things spiritually before He created them physically on this earth. Exalted beings may participate in spiritual creation, so they have “eternal increase.” They also progress in gaining knowledge for eternity.
So let me get this straight? If I’m a guy and I live a righteous Mormon life, then I will get my own planet to rule like a god? And if I’m a woman I get zip…???
Are the mormons celebrating Christmas?
Ok so i like this guy thats mormon but i am not mormon is it ok for us to date? or do i have to be mormon to?
Doesn’t the bible and the book of Mormon contradict one another??
Thanks for your question, Annie. Yes, it is still a sin if you have pre-marital sex. If you do marry and choose not to become a member of the Church, your drinking coffee will not reflect upon your husband or cause him troubles with the Church. However, premarital sex will cause troubles with his worthiness and compromise his priesthood power and other things.
In the United States, we used the King James Version, and we have read the verse you cite. At the time of Moses, the Mosaic Law was also civil law, and biblical punishments were acted out to protect the spirituality of their society. But now religious and civil law are two different things, and we have the law of Christ that extends mercy through His atonement for us. Thus, we have repentance in His name.
My question is- if I’m dating a Morman man and we are both divorced and we are over 40. Is it still considered a sin if we choose to have pre-marital sex?
And if our relationship does lead to Marriage,would i be causing him to get in trouble with his Church,if I did not convert to become a Morman,and I drink 1 cup of coffee a day?
Mormons are devoted Christians. We center our lives on becoming more and more faithful followers of Christ. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches evolved from very early Christianity, and the Protestant churches all have tried to reform the problems with the orthodox churches. Protestants believe reformation was necessary, because both doctrines and practices of early Christianity became corrupt. You can see this, because miracles ceased. Soon, Christ will return. He has declared that a reformation was not enough, that the power and authority of Christ were lost upon the death of the apostles. There had to be a total restoration of Christ’s ancient church. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that the restoration has occurred, and that Christ leads His church in the last days through prophets and revelation.
The Book of Mormon is the record of a group of Jews who left Jerusalem around 600 B.C. and were led by God to safety in the Americas. They kept the law of Moses, but their prophets taught them that Jesus Christ would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem and would be the Savior of the World. They received miraculous signs of His birth and death, and after He was resurrected, He visited these people and converted them all. They enjoyed 200 years of perfect peace and then descended into such great wickedness, that they were destroyed. So the Book of Mormon is not only the record of a fallen people full of warnings for our day, but a second witness that Jesus lived, and that He died for our sins.
In Sunday School, Mormons study the scriptures in a four-year cycle. We spend two of those 4 years studying the Bible, and one of those 4 years studying the Book of Mormon. The other year is spent studying church history and the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of modern revelations.
We call Jesus by many names…Savior, Redeemer, Creator, Lord…and one of these names is “the Word.” John says the Word was in the beginning with God, and that through the Word all things were created. All things were created through Christ.
Hey,
I was wondering about the book of morman, I don’t quite get the concept of why you study it. What was it’s origination and how often is it studied in church. Is there anyway I could find a church near me?
Keeping the Sabbath holy is one of God’s most important commandments. The details of keeping the Sabbath day holy are left up to the conscience of individual Latter-day Saints. When we were raising our children, we already refrained from shopping and recreation on the Sabbath, and we already always attended church, but we prayerfully discussed with our children, the other details. Together we decided to not watch television, and to only listen to religious or classical music on the Sabbath, no video games, just reading scriptures or other good books.
In most instances, no. What we are talking about is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the organization, revelation, authority, and miracles that existed in His ancient church. We believe that all things had to be restored in preparation for His Second Coming.
What makes mormans differ from Christians?
Do Mormon believers think that what Christians believe is wrong?
Hi, what do you think about the Sabbath? I have noted that you worship on a Sunday… God blessed the Sabbath (seventh) day and made it holy…
You are correct that the next resurrection will occur at the time that Jesus comes, and that only those who lived before Christ and were righteous have already been resurrected, judged, and now abide in heaven. The resurrection of the wicked of all time periods will not occur until the end of the Millennium.
The Bible says that Jesus went to preach to the spirits in prison. When we die we go to a world of spirits to await resurrection and judgment. There is a division there between the righteous and the wicked. The location of the righteous is called “paradise,” and that’s where Jesus said He would join one of the “thieves” who was crucified with Him. The other location is called “spirit prison.” In the spirit world, those who have never received the gospel will have a chance to hear it, and this is part of the mission of Christ — He stated that Himself. In the spirit world, those who have rejected Christ will suffer for their own sins. You can read a vision of the spirit world at the following link: http://www.lds.org/?lang=engscriptures/dc-testament/dc/138?lang=eng
If I were you, I would discuss this with your bishop. You wouldn’t want to be sealed to someone who had abandoned you, and you usually don’t seal a couple that was divorced during mortality.
At the least, you can do endowment work without sealings. I don’t know whether you can be sealed to a single parent, but someone will know that. The very best of luck to you.
My mother passed away a month ago. She never went to the temple. She never found a good man to take her. I know that we can do her temple work for her. However my brother can only seal her to his dad. My question is can I be sealed to her and a man that isn’t my father? Mind you neither of our father’s were there in our lives and were not good to her by anymeans. So how does that work?
If we were spirit children before creation, then why does Jesus say ” I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6) Why not say…no one returns to the Father…
Lazarus was in the grave for 4 days, did his spirit fly up to this heaven paradise and then return down and if so why didn’t he give an account of this? Or did Lazarus die (his spirit i.e. the breath or life left him and return to God). Then Jesus gave him back the breath of life and he was resurrected (John 11).
The wicked that die, thier “spirit leaves thier body and ascends to heaven and are held in a prison. I cannot imagine that any part of God’s Heavenly Kingdom would hold “spirits of the wicked”…why do you think Luicifer and his angels were cast out of heaven!! (Rev 12:7-9)
And the wicked that didn’t have the chance of hearing the Gospel in life, will have a chance in this heaven prison. Also the baptism of the dead. Wow, your faith has an answer for everything! In the bible…no such accounts are given and neither should we be creating any conditions for the state of the dead. The God I know is fair and just and will judge them accordingly.
And the “spirits of the Good” that died, their Spirits ascend to this heaven paradise…why then would Jesus need to leave earth and go to minister to them again in heaven??
So when we die our “spirit” flys up to heaven and is partially judged by God and then your spirit enters a paradise or a prison. Yet the bible tells us of the Judgement after Jesus returns…
In death – the bible tells us that the “spirit” meaning the life or breath returns to God and our bodies return to dust (Ps 104:29; Job 34:14-15. It is described as a sleep. Then at the end of times when Jesus returns he will awake all those that died rigtheous in the first resurrection…Rev: 20, John 5:28-29.
In all due respect, I can understand why you have several books of faith.
The bible tells us that the only saints (righteous people) in heaven right now along with God, Jesus and the Angles are Moses (Matt 17.3), Elijah (2 Kgs 2:11), Enoch (Heb 11.5) and those that were resurrected at the crucification (Matt 27:50-53). For the rest of us alive or dead, we will not enter heaven until Jesus returns…
The bible states clearly that we should not add or take away from the word of God…Deut 4.2; Rev 22:18-19
Mormons revere and worship the living Christ. We don’t use statuary, icons, or the cross in our everyday worship. Although artwork depicting the life of Christ is found in the hallways and classrooms of our meetinghouses and in our temples, there are no icons in our chapels or the ordinance rooms of our temples. This is similar to Jewish worship — no idols or anything like them.
Late Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said, “On Calvary he was the dying Jesus. From the tomb he emerged the living Christ. … Because our Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of his death as the symbol of our faith. But what shall we use? No sign, no work of art, no representation of form is adequate to express the glory and the wonder of the Living Christ. He told us what that symbol should be when he said, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments’ (John 14:15)….the lives of our people must become the only meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship” (“The Symbol of Christ,” New Era, Apr. 1990, p. 4).
Why haven’t you answered my question about the absence of a cross on the steeples of Mormon churches?
Jesus was both God and man, but He was created by His Father and is His Son both before the earth and during His ministry. He said He did on earth what He saw His Father do, He prayed to His Father many times, the Father sent the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove, Jesus pleaded with His Father while He was dying on the cross and finished by commending His Spirit to Him. Matt. 16:17, Matt. 17:5, Matt. 26:39, Luke 2:49, John 3:16, John 8:18, John 14:12, John 20:17, Acts 7:56, Acts 2:23-24, 33; Acts 3:26; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30-31;
I don’t know where you are getting your information. The Church owns no soft drink plants, and soft drinks are not mentioned in the Mormon health law, the Word of Wisdom. Mormons follow the promptings of their own conscience regarding soft drinks that contain caffeine, especially since caffeine was never mentioned in the Word of Wisdom and may not be the reason the Lord forbade the use of coffee and tea.
Yes, there is a distinction. In the Mormon Church, same-sex attraction is not considered a sin, but any sexual behavior outside of traditional marriage is considered a sin, whether heterosexual or homosexual. Congratulations or your own self-awareness regarding alcohol. By disciplining yourself, you have blessed your own life and the lives of those around you.
Wonderful! Keep us posted on your progress.
You left your religion at 10, and you must realize that you do not have an understanding of Mormon beliefs. There is nothing in the Mormon health law (the Word of Wisdom) that forbids caffeine.
God cannot tolerate the least amount of sin, and He forgives those who repent and keep His commandments. It’s very easy to believe in a God who gives no commandments, but God always has, and those commandments are for the ultimate happiness of His children. Our happiness or depression on earth may seem to be the ultimate, but it is not. The Lord is interested in giving us a fulness of joy, and sexual relationships at whim and destruction of the God-ordained family is not heading us in that direction. Yes, we should be compassionate and loving to all of God’s children. God is the judge, and He has declared the Law of Chastity to be a commandment.
Gale you stated on Feb 19 that softdrinks was equal to tea and other hot drinks. Then you gave a link as to why not to partake in softdrinks. Also in some other reading on Mormonism it does talk about about mind altering drinks such as caffiene products. That was until the ’70s when the church bought the coke plant in SLC.
Why can Mormons not have caffeine ? Is that a sin ? And why can they not wear anything that is shorter than short sleeves or knee length ? Do you get mad at people who do ? Is it a sign of disrespect . i was raised and baptized Mormon but by the age of 10 I had realized that I knew nothing about the religion and I disagreed with the things I did know . I personally do not believe that caffeine is wrong . And I do not believe that God is happy with gay marriage , but I also know for a fact that he would rather have his children be gay and happy than straight and depressed because they cannot be with the one they love simply because they are of the same sex . I believe that God forgives all sins including homosexuality if they are believers . And who are we to judge ? That is GOD’S decision . It is NOT up to humans to decide what is right or wrong for other people to do . That is God’s responsibility and we have no right to overstep our bounds and judge other people . God is forgiving and compassionate and loving , so should we not be ?
Breaking a commandment of God is sin, yes. God forgives those who repent of their sins and do their best to keep His commandments. Without repentance, the atonement of Christ becomes of no use to us. We must suffer for our own sins, then, after we die. The atonement had three purposes — to enable all to be resurrected and therefor immortal after death; to cause Christ to descend below all things by suffering all our sorrows, so His compassion would be perfect; and to allow Christ to suffer the punishment for our sins, on the condition that we would repent.
There are several basic differences:
1. Mormons believe in a godhead in which God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings who are physical as well as spiritual, with the Holy Ghost being a personage of spirit.
2. The Mormon Church is led by prophets who are led by Christ.
3. The Mormon Church has no paid clergy. Members are called to positions in the Church through inspiration to leaders.
4. Mormons believe in an eternal plan of progression, wherein we dwelled as spirits with our heavenly father before we were born on earth, and that we can progress eternally to become like Him after we die. Other Christian sects are angered by this doctrine, but since we are going to be in heaven for billions and billions of years, why shouldn’t we progress and progress like we’ve done on earth?
Gale: “1. Mormons believe in a godhead in which God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings who are physical as well as spiritual, with the Holy Ghost being a personage of spirit.”
Jay: So you DON’T believe in the Trinity (one God in three Persons)? You said it yourself-Jesus and the Father are sparate beings. My Bible says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead BODILY”. (Colossians 2:9 emphasis added). Now, normally I wouldn’t do this, but I think this calls for a little test. Show me where your Bible says that Jesus could not be fully God AND fully man at the same time. In other words, prove your beliefs. If God the Father and Jesus are not one-in-the-same God, and the Holy Spirit is another being, then there SHOULD be a place in the Bible where it says so. Not too difficult right? To sum this up, I have just two words for you: prove it.
One section of the Bible you might want to consider is the baptism of Jesus in Mathew 3:16-17, Mark 1:10-11, Lukw 3:21-22, and John 1:32. Jesus is in the water being baptized, the Holy Ghost descends upon him like a dove, and a voice speaking down from Heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased.” There are many passages where Jesus refers to God as separate from Himself. He also prays earnestly to God on multiple occasions. Most notable is his pleading in the Garden of Gethsemane.
There are no health or emotional advantages to premarital sex. New studies show that premarital sex has very negative effects on emotional well-being and the ability to truly love a companion, and the dangers of STDs are well-known, with varieties multiplying. Also, it is the addictive qualities of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, that are the main reason the Lord has commanded us not to use them. Nowadays, the general authorities of the Church add recreational drug use and abuse of legal drugs to the list when cautioning the members of the Church.
When newlyweds are completely incompatible, they usually seek counseling, and then they can choose whether to divorce or try to work things out. The divorce rate of Mormons who marry in the temple is under 7%.
There are some prophecies in the Old Testament that allude to a modern-day Moses. Also some allusions exist in the Jewish oral law, so that a well-known Jewish tradition looked forward to a “Messiah ben Joseph” (Joseph Smith’s father was named Joseph, also) who would come to prepare the way for the Messiah. There are others, but they are mostly in the oral law.
Where in the bible that is mentioned Josph simth as a Prophet???
What are differences between Mormonism and other denominations?
Sorry, it’s hard for me to understand a doctrine that all sins are equal. It’s obvious that stealing is a sin, but stealing a dime from a store is not equivalent to breaking into a home with guns and killing all the occupants to steal their jewelry. Some sins are more serious than others. You can read about it in the following verse of scripture, which is Alma chastening his son for committing fornication:
“Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most aabominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent bblood or denying the Holy Ghost?
For behold, if ye adeny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is bunpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain cforgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.
In English-speaking countries, we use the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
It is same-sex attraction that is not a sin. Any sexual behavior outside of traditional marriage (which is defined by God as between a man and a woman) is sinful.
To keep the spirit of the law of the Sabbath, one must rest and worship every seven days. The assignation of the days of the week are made according to the calendars of men and are not so important. Sunday was the traditional day of worship for the early Mormon converts, so it was continued. Mormons worship on Saturday in Israel and Friday in Egypt.
I love these questions, Monica. Here are a few short answers:
1. You can watch a video about what a Mormon church service is like at the following link: http://www.mormonsmadesimple.com/watch/attendingchurch.php You can also read the following article: http://www.mormonwiki.com/Sacrament_Meeting
2. No, Mormons don’t pray to anyone but God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Nor is there any statuary in Mormon Church chapels.
3. There is really no paid clergy in Mormonism, so the members do all the work. 70% of Mormons are converts. You don’t have to be a life-long member to serve. You will have many opportunities to teach, preach, and lead. You can read the following articles: http://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_Women and http://www.mormonwiki.com/Calling
Have you been meeting with Mormon Missionaries? Would you like to?
Hi,
I just have a couple questions:
1)What is a Mormon church service like?
2)I know Catholics believe and pray to many different saints. Saint Anthony, Peter, Assisi, etc. Do Mormons believe in these?
3)I have been thinking of converting to Mormonism and have always wanted to become a preacher. Would I be able to do this? Not just because i am a women, but because i would be a convert?
Thank You,
Monica
Thank you so much for the information. I’m doing my best to learn more, I’m even taking an online religion class through BYU! I’ve set up a meeting with a missionary and I’m hoping for the best! Thanks!
why do Mormons worship on sunday
There are many Black leaders in the Mormon Church, and the Church is growing like crazy in Africa (see http://mormonwiki.com/African_Mormons). Even in the early days of the Church (1830’s) no congregations were ever segregated, and there were Black men who held the Mormon priesthood. The Church was also vehemently anti-slavery, which is a major reason Mormons were persecuted in Missouri, where most of the population desired a slave-state. It was God’s decision to withhold the priesthood for a time from Blacks, and my personal opinion was that it had nothing to do with the righteousness, talent, intelligence or dedication of Blacks, but the prejudices of white converts. In other words, for Blacks to fully function as priesthood leaders, they must have the unwavering support of whites in their congregations. It took society way too long to come as far as it has in dismissing racism, but until society arrived at that point, Blacks would not have been able to serve as they wished. You can read more at http://blacklds.org.
Is it true the Mormons believe that Africans are cursed and that any black person can never be a leader in the Mormon church just because they happen to be black. What would happen if a black person was chosen by GOD to lead the Mormon church. Or would you just use some scriptures to explain away this revelation should it become true. I cannot be apart of a any religion that teaches Africans or any person that is considered to be black to be cursed by GOD almighty. The most segregated day in this country is the day of worship of a GOD that only sees his children and not their colour. To bad followers of the Mormon church still believed this until recently, but only to recently changed its policy on Africans. It’s a shame.
Thank you, David. We also respect the stand taken by the Catholic Church to elevate morality and the family and are grateful to join them in the public square. Mormons do not believe that we go to our own planet when we die. As Paul said, there are 3 degrees of glory in heaven, and many mansions within those 3 degrees. Mormons believe that we can progress and learn eternally in heaven.
Where does it say 3 degrees of of glory in the heaven can you give me the scripture from the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 15:40-42.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION-AS THE MEDIA ATTACK MITT ROMNEY TODAY,I HAVE READ THAT MORMONS BELIEVE WHEN THEY DIE THEY GO TO THEIR OWN PLANET.
PLEASE EXPLAIN AND LET ME KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU
P.S. AS A CATHOLIC-(CHRISTIAN) I BELIEVE WE ALL MUST STAND TOGETHER,ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES.
There are so many places in the Bible, especially in the account of the crucifixion, where Christ prays to His Father. It is very difficult to force these elements into a belief that the Father and Son are the same being. In fact, the belief in a trinity where God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three manifestations of the same being post-dates the Bible. God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are one, but only in the sense of being one in purpose. Christ has said: “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was acrucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will bbelieve on my name, that they may become the csons of God, even done in eme as I am fone in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:2), and the following:
“He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day; And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father; That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved—
Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly testified of him in all things, should have eternal life, As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and of the Son; Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen” (D&C 20:23-28)
You can see in the above that even our other scriptures speak of “One God,” and yet also speak of the three members of the Godhead as separate beings. Jesus cannot sit at the right hand of the Father otherwise.
I’m sorry your Mormon associates spoke down to you, as if you belong to a lesser religion. We’re all at different levels of progress and understanding, and some of us have had more experience with other faiths and cultures than others.
We do love, read and honor the Bible, and are completely aware of the references to homosexual behavior as a sin. However, just as heterosexuals have an attraction to people of the opposite sex, and do not commit sin until they begin to lust, covet, and act upon that attraction, same-sex attraction is not a sin until lust, coveting, and sexual activity are committed.
These are very interesting questions. The Mormon Church is the restoration of Christ’s original Church, and as such, receives revelation through it’s prophets. However, the Lord doesn’t tell us everything, and especially during the 1800s and early 1900s there was some discussion about the age of the earth. The rock record tells us that it is millions of years old. The biblical story is that the earth was created in 6 time periods, called “days.” It is now commonly accepted that these time periods lasted for eons of time, but that there have only been thousands of years since Adam fell.
The scriptures tell us that no man, prophet, or angel knows the exact time of the coming of Christ. But we also know that this is the final dispensation of time (a dispensation being a religious period of time) before the coming of Christ. We go by the signs of the times and prophecies from the Book of Revelation and other scriptures. So it looks as if the Second Coming is very near. The Jews have physically gathered to the land of their inheritance, and it appears that the forces of nature are in commotion.
To choose one event would be a personal choice on my part. You can read the signs of the times, including prophecies from Mormon scriptures, at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Signs_of_the_Times. The gathering of the Jews to Israel is a big event, but the return of the Lost Tribes might be even bigger, and will surely get everyone’s attention. The war of Armageddon will be another one, and there are signs that it is coming.
How long do the mormons believe the earth has exsisted?
And how close do they think is the second coming of christ?
Also, if the mormons had to choose one event, what would that event be in determining that the end was near?
Does masturbation regarded as inappropriate and filthy behavior?
The following quote is from a presentation on a pamphlet distributed to the youth of the Mormon Church, called For the Strength of Youth. ““The physical relationship between a husband and a wife … is ordained of God for the procreation of children and for the expression of love within a marriage. … Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage as well as full fidelity after marriage. …
The Lord specifically forbids certain behaviors, including all sexual relations before marriage, petting, sex perversion (such as homosexuality, rape, and incest), masturbation, or preoccupation with sex in thought, speech, or action” (FSOY, 14–15).”
Masturbation generally increases when there are a lot of sexual stimuli in the environment, and especially with exposure to pornography. It heightens, rather than relieves sexual preoccupation (thoughts) and desires, so it is discouraged.
what if he was gay what would happen?
Hi, Joshua. I don’t know whether this second comment relates to your first question regarding masturbation, or not. So I’m just going to answer it as if you are just asking what the Church’s stance towards gays is.
Homosexuality is a difficult trial. Same-sex attraction is not considered a sin by the Mormon Church. But same-sex sexual activity is considered just as serious a sin as heterosexual activity. Members of the Church are to exercise compassion, and the Church has actually forwarded gay rights in the State of Utah, but stops short of marriage and adoption. The family is meant to be an eternal unit, and it must follow the guidelines established by God Himself. Since we receive our knowledge through revelation from God, we are bound to uphold His doctrines and commandments. He has warned us that the destruction of the institution of the traditional family will bring all the calamities foretold in the biblical Book of Revelation. You can read more at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Proclamation_to_the_World.
You are correct. And some people feed those thoughts rather than trying to replace them with good thoughts. However, this needs to be distinguished from gender attraction, which comes way before lustful thoughts. Lustful thoughts are a sin, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
This is an interesting question. Sometimes when an investor puts money into a fund, he doesn’t know whether there might be a tobacco or liquor company in the portfolio. Also, some large companies have subsidiaries that produce products against the Mormon health laws. Mormons do their best to invest in moral companies, to the extent that they can.
You might want to get in touch with Brigham Young University’s Nursing program directors for in-depth information. (byu.edu)
Mormonism doesn’t forbid any medical procedures, but does leave medical decisions up to personal choice, which Mormons make with the help of the Holy Spirit and information received through Priesthood Blessings (http://www.mormonwiki.com/Priesthood_Blessings)
Birth control decisions are made by husband and wife (prayerfully). Mormons use birth control, but are counseled not to postpone or prohibit bringing forth children for material reasons (to have more money to buy more stuff).
Mormons consider abortion a serious sin, and that can influence decisions regarding infertility treatments. Mormons would also think twice about taking drugs known to be addictive.
Hello Dana — Here’s a short answer with links to longer explanations. Mormons live the Law of Chastity (http://www.mormonwiki.com/Law of Chastity) which says that there should be no sexual behavior outside of marriage, with marriage defined as the legal vows between a man and a woman. So no pre- or extra-marital sex.
Mormons believe that abortion is next to murder, a very serious sin which should only be considered if there is danger to the mother, or in cases of rape or incest where the mother is in great distress, and then only after prayer and counseling with church authorities.
As far as what Mormons expect of others sexually, I assume you mean others outside the Church? We believe that God has certain standards and that He will destroy the wicked when their cup of iniquity is full. Therefore, Mormons and the Church enter the public square in defense of sound social morality, to clean up entertainment, to provide wholesome entertainment, and to lift social mores.
Homosexual feelings are not sinful until acted upon, but any sexual feelings, if nurtured, can lead to sin. Mormons urge respect of homosexuals as people, but the sin of homosexual behavior will bring sorrow to all. Mormons uphold the traditional family and religious rights.
Masturbation is regarded as a minor sin that encourages sexual feelings. Youth are counseled to overcome those urges.
I have several questions realated to the sexuality. How do you feel about pre-marital sex ? and what about abortion?
What restrictions do you have or expect of others sexually?
According to law, how should a person react to homosexual feelings? Do homosexuals fit into the community?
Does masturbation regarded as inappropriate and filthy behavior?
I am going to school to be a nurse and am currently working on a project about Mormons and the effect on healthcare decisions. Could you give me any information on healthcare limitations (example birth control usage) that would affect healthcare provider’s decisions and/or a Mormon patient’s refusal of curtain treatments?
If mormons don’t drink or smoke , what about investing money like in a pension or investment , do i take it that mormons would always invest within an ethical organisation?
Yes, she would need to be baptized into the Mormon Church and live worthily to enter the temple and be sealed to her husband in an eternal marriage covenant. The temple is the House of God, and no impure person should enter, only the dedicated and purified.
Marriages are performed in Mormon meetinghouses, but they are like the marriages performed in other churches — until death do they part. The covenant is only in force during this mortal life, and not into eternity. A Mormon can marry a non-Mormon, and this kind of ceremony could be conducted in a Mormon meetinghouse.
Mormons who have made temple covenants wear symbolic clothing to remind them of the covenants they have made. Many religious orders have special symbolic clothing. Why make fun of the Mormons? The garments are not magical, but they do represent the faith of the wearer, just as the Jewish garment represents commitment to the laws of Moses and symbolize the dedication of the wearer. Mormons remove the garment for athletics, dance, swimming, etc.
I am just curious as to why you wear magical undergarments. Do you really bathe in them? Just out of pure curiousity.
i have a friend of mine .. she had a Mormons boyfriend, his boyfriend wanted to marry her .. but my friend is not a member of the Mormons .. his boyfriend convincing her that she need to be baptized so that they can be married . the problem is the parents of my friend don’t want there daughter to be baptized .. so my question is.. is really need my friend to be baptized so that they can married at the temple? what is the different of being married at the temple and at the church? its a same place that theirs a GOD , right?
im waiting for your reply .. thanks:)
There is indeed much marriage imagery used to explain the Lord’s relationship to Israel, with the Lord as the faithful husband and Israel as the sometimes unfaithful wife. The Bible actually says that marriages are not performed in heaven. But Paul said the husband is not without the wife, and the wife not without the husband in the Lord. Marriages performed on earth by the proper authority and in a dedicated temple of God can be eternal.
Because the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that we should not use alcohol, tobacco, or hot drinks, Mormons do not use these products. There is no commandment regarding soft drinks, but some Mormons choose to avoid them, because they contain ingredients similar to coffee and tea. You can learn about the health law at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Word_of_Wisdom
want to know why mormens dont believe not tsking coke or coffee.
There are subtle references to the feasts in the Book of Mormon, but you have to know where to look for them. Mormons are very interested in the Jewish feasts, and BYU has staged multiple Passovers for many years. I myself have written a book on the Jewish Feasts — it is entitled Days of Awe: Jewish Holy Days, Symbols, and Prophecies for Latter-day Saints.
The missionary would certainly be sent home, and since he had made covenants in the temple of God, would face Church discipline, probably in the form of disfellowshipment for a period of time, while he works through the process of repentance.
A Christian is a person who believes in and follows Christ and relies on Christ’s atonement for salvation. Trinitarianism is not a requirement for a person to be a Christian. If it was, then all the Christians before the Roman councils, and all those who voted against the trinitarian philosophy in those councils would be non-Christian, including the very apostles of Christ.
so if you “believe in” Christ, wouldn’t you have to recognize who he is first to truly “believe in” him? verses like Heb 1:8, john 10:30, Phil 2:5,6 but in john it flat out says ” The Father and I are one.” therefore if Jesus said he’s God wouldn’t you have to believe he is God in order to fully grasp the “believing in” him part? Jesus wouldn’t lie or equivocate to us, correct? i mean if he says it why would you not believe him? i’ve always been curious on this topic. also, at Prom my friend introduced me to her date (both mormons) and he said me being Christian “well that’s not TOO bad”, do yall think less of us or something, like we are specifically more flawed than you? just wondering, and sry if this posts multiple times, having some diffculties with the computer
The beginning is to learn the doctrines of the Mormon Church, usually by meeting with Mormon missionaries. One must read the Book of Mormon and pray for a witness from God that it is true. When a person receives a personal witness by the Holy Ghost that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the real Church of Christ on the earth, and the person is willing to repent and live according to the commandments of Christ, then he can be baptized by immersion and become a member of the Church. You can chat online with a Mormon missionary from the website, http://www.mormon.org.
In reading the Book of Mormon, it does not give any indication regarding the feast days, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, etc.. What is the Mormon church position on the keeping of the feasts.
How does one change faiths to become a Mormon
Christians believe in one God, God the Father, God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit—–Jesus Christ is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Mormons do not believe Jesus Christ is God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit–they do not believe in the Trinity . Why do you avoid this truth about the Mormon Church? Yes ,you do believe in God the Father, and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit but not in the Trinity as Christians all believe. That is what makes us Christians, wny we are called Christian !!
what if a missionary have a girlfriend in a place where did he destined, and there’s happen with them like sex .. if that happen what would be happen to the missionary? is he went home? or there will be a hard punishment ?
Of course.
The decision rests with the mission president, but often the missionary is sent home.
All Mormons are expected to gain a personal testimony or witness of the fact that the Church is led by a prophet of God by praying and receiving an answer directly from the Lord. Often the Lord answers in such a profound and miraculous way, that the revelation is undeniable. Also, one may know by the fruits of the prophet. We have hundreds of recorded revelations and decisions made by revelation and inspiration, often contrary to the logic of men, that have yielded miracles. The Church in its current state is one of those miracles. For more, read the following: http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/priesthood/prophets/prophets.html
These couples can marry anywhere but in the temple. Some choose reception centers, but the cultural halls of Mormon meetinghouses are often used, and there is no fee involved. With Mormon temple marriages, only worthy Mormons with temple-recommends from their bishops may attend, so there are always Mormon guests who wait outside with friends of other faiths. Many couples who marry in the temple and have guests who cannot attend, will have a ring ceremony at another venue to be inclusive. Anyone can attend the wedding of a Mormon in any venue but the temple. For more, go to http://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_Weddings
If a man and a woman marry,one is mormon and the other is not, what options do they have for their wedding venue? Are there mormon churches to accommadate these situations and is the family and friends of the non-mormon able to attend?
how you can say that there’s a living prophet?
what if a mormon missionary have been a relationship while he/she in the mission, what would be there punishment?
Mormons member can married a non member?
Isaiah 61:1: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
1 Peter 3:19: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Moses 7:57: And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth, and stood on the right hand of God; and the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:99: And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth, and stood on the right hand of God; and the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day.
Doctrine and Covenants 128:22: Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
Doctrine and Covenants 138: And I wondered at the words of Peter—wherein he said that the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah—and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time.
“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)
the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;
19And there he apreached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of erepentance.
20But unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised;
21Neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence, nor look upon his face.
22Where these were, darkness reigned, but among the righteous there was peace;
In other words, Christ went to the dead who died without law, not the ones who rebelled against His word when He was on earth.
There is nothing in the Mormon code of health (the Word of Wisdom) that forbids the drinking of sodas. If you desire to join the Church and want to be a member in good standing, you’ll have to give up smoking. Most people who are willing to make this commitment in order to follow the commandments of God, find that they receive a great deal of help from Him.
Hi
i have a question, I smoke and drink soda can i join the mormon religion?
Thank you for these sincere questions. I’m afraid I don’t quite understand the first one. I think you are referring to the book “A Course in Miracles,” which has nothing to do with the Mormon Church. It claims to be a self-study curriculum for spiritual transformation. The Lord’s house is a house of order. I doubt the inspiration for the book (or course) comes from Him.
Yes, it would be insincere to join any church just to facilitate a marriage, and to do so without really believing or desiring to make a firm commitment. I personally have seen such situations end miserably, usually in divorce.
Latter-day Saints see miracles occur on a consistent basis regarding both physical and mental health, because of faith and the power of God to heal. However, Mormons participate in medicine, too, on a regular basis. Medication is often advised and helpful in the case of mental illness, and is not forbidden by the Mormon religion. Hope this answers your questions.
Elisha, these are great questions, and Mormons don’t know the answers to all of them. I will tell you what we do know. God created all worlds through the Word, who was and is Jesus Christ. You and I and all people have always existed and will always exist. First, we were “intelligences.” God is the most intelligent being, and Christ is more intelligent than all of the rest of us put together. God organized our spirits before the world was created, and thus, He is our literal father, and He knows us completely. He created Christ’s spirit first. Christ was so good, and so intelligent, that He was a god from the beginning. Lucifer was also pretty smart, a leader, and his spirit was one of the first created. He fell because of his pride, and tricked one third of us into choosing him over Christ. Lucifer and his followers were cast out of heaven, and they will never progress to the next level of existence, that of being born into earth life with a mortal body.
Yes, Christ is the greatest of all, higher than us all, more powerful than Lucifer and all his angels. Christ’s most distinctive characteristic is love, secondly, humility. It is a wonderful thing to read about Christ’s visit to the Book of Mormon peoples. Before He taught or spoke, He prayed. He gave thanks to the Father and prayed for the people. And this, after He had completed the atonement and been exalted, He was still so humble… http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/17?lang=eng
Actually I have three unrelated questions. The first being,why is the course in miracles different when they say it was inspired? Second, Wouldn’t be wrong to convert so you are able to be married of the same faith if one did not totally believe? My third unrelated question is how does the LDS feel about taking medication for mental illness, is it a lack of faith, for instance? Thank you, and I would appreciate it if these issues of mine could be addressed.
To Cesar — You can find your answers in detail at the following website: http://www.mormon-polygamy.org
The temple garment is actually “the garment of the holy priesthood.” It is a symbol of higher covenants and a reminder to honor those covenants. Anyone who intends to keep temple covenants is willing to wear the garment.
When the health law was given to the Church, there was no mention of caffeine, and there still isn’t. The law refers to “hot drinks,” which the prophets defined as coffee and tea. There is no indication in the revelation as to why these drinks are dangerous, and the science didn’t exist in the 1800’s. All of the substances forbidden in the revelation are addictive, however, and modern science has found that caffeine is addictive, so most people think it’s because of the caffeine in these drinks. Mormons make their own decisions regarding caffeinated sodas and the like. Some feel guilty drinking them, and others don’t.
No, a lady did not stop polygamy. Polygamy is only a righteous practice when ordained by God by revelation. Revelation started polygamy in the Church, and revelation ended it.
Why is it so important to wear garments?
Why can’t you consume caffeine?
Didn’t a lady stop polygamy?
As with many revelations received by the prophet Joseph Smith, the revelation that is now Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89 was an answer to a question Joseph Smith took to the Lord. Joseph had been teaching the gospel to church leaders in a group he called “the school of the prophets.” They met in a room about 14 feet square, which was always filled with smoke as the men discussed eternity. Joseph’s wife had to clean up the mess from the chewing tobacco, too. It just didn’t seem holy, so Joseph asked the Lord if he should do something about it. The health law given in section 89 was first counsel, and later made a commandment. Here’s how the Lord began –“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of aevils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of bconspiring men in the last days, I have cwarned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—” In other words, conspiring men in the last days will try to get us to use substances that are bad for our health and compromise our freedom of choice. That’s why you won’t find such a commandment in the Bible. What is in the Bible, however is the Mosaic health laws and the commandment to the Israelites only to drink new wine of their own make and never to purchase grape products from their enemies.
The everlasting covenant is that of eternal marriage, not plural marriage. Plural marriage is allowed by God from time to time among the very righteous, but only at those times when He commands it. When He revealed the doctrine to Joseph Smith, He warned Joseph that once he had knowledge of eternal marriage, and once the Lord explained that plural marriage is sometimes ordained to raise up seed unto the Lord, Joseph would have to live the law. In the Doctrine and Covenants, the word “damned” does not mean to go to hell. It means to be “not in the Lord’s presence.” In heaven, the Lord dwells in the highest level of the highest kingdom of heaven. Unless Joseph (and then the other Latter-day Saint leaders) lived the law as the Lord delivered it, they would only achieve some lower kingdom of heaven. Even the lowest kingdom of heaven is glorious beyond description, but eternal marriage is necessary for the highest. Out of the 50 years that the church leaders practiced plural marriage, came a large generation of stalwart, upstanding people, the backbone of the Church.
Absolutely. All of the charismatic gifts are present in the Church, including the gifts of healing and tongues, revelation (even personal revelation), etc.
Do Mormons believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
If plural marriage is an everlasting covenant, and those who don’t abide by it will be dammed, why isn’t it practiced today? doc. n cov.132
This is not a “reply” but rather a question about Mormon beliefs. I am curious as to where the belief of no coffee or tea (or caffinated drinks) comes from. I seriously doubt that they were brewing up coffee in biblical times, and don’t ever recall it mentioned in the Bible. I can understand not getting drunk as opposed to having a drink (as in communion) or even smoking as it is bad for the body, even though I don’t read about it in the Bible either, but drinking tea? or coffee? I don’t get it! I would love for that to be explained to me.
Thank you.
That is the beauty of having a living prophet on the Earth. God gives instructions to the people based on what they need to know. In ancient Isreal, where coffee, tobacco, drugs, etc. were not a threat, there was no need to command the people to abstain from them. He did say: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 cor 3: 16-17) With the introduction of these substances into our culture, and especially with the abuses of these substances becoming popular, God clarified through His prophet that these substances can damage and defile your precious temple. Because He loves us, He lets us know when we are messing up, especially when we might not have scriptures that directly address the issue. God’s word never changes, but it is more vast than the world can contain, so we receive it from Him as it is needed.
When people call Mormonism a cult, they are relying on one definition of a cult, which is a group that is held in thrall to a powerful personality. People who call Mormonism a cult have been lied to. They have been taught that Mormons worship founder Joseph Smith, but this is absolutely false. Mormons worship Christ. They have also been taught that, like most cults, the Mormon Church “brainwashes” its members. This is absolutely the opposite of what it is like to be a member of the Church, which values freedom of choice above all. Even offerrings are kept personal and private — no one knows how much you pay. Mormons are expected to use the gift of the Holy Ghost to obtain revelation for their own personal choices and even to obtain validation of what the prophet of the Church tells us. There is no more free people on the face of the earth.
The ten commandments are still the law of God.
The Church differentiates between same-sex orientation and sexual behavior. Same-sex orientation is not a sin until the person becomes lustful and then engages in sexual behavior. Sex between gays is a sin. Sex between un-married straights is a sin. God defines marriage as the legal union of a man and woman.
No. It costs nothing to join the Mormon Church, and paying tithing is a matter of free choice. However, one must be a full tithe-payer to enter the temples of the Lord. Attending church in a meetinghouse is different — everyone is welcome. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek in Old Testament times. It has ever been an aspect of true devotion to God, from whom all our blessings flow.
Do you have to pay to join the Mormon church and pay a yearly tithe of your annual salary?
James– I’m not able to print your comment. Forgiveness is part of God’s plan and is available to all. Please go to your bishop and begin that process.
Why do Mormons beleive the body must stay whole after death? my mother in law is mormon and said that she cannot be a donor after shes gone from this earth because she will not be whole in heaven if she is a donor.
This is incorrect. Mormons know that God has the power to resurrect any body, no matter what it’s condition at death or after death. Some people die in fires and their bodies are nearly completely destroyed. God is still able to resurrect them. Many Mormons are organ donors.
DO the Mormons believe that Jesus is our Saviour and He is the only way toheaven-our only path to beleive aHe is our saviour accept Him in our lives and choose to follow His ways. Tht Jesus died on the cross for us and we need to believe inthat.
Yes.
My neighbor (mormon) decorates her house for every occasion (especially Halloween) However, there are no decorations for Easter….which, seeing how that is the basis of Christianity, should be recognized. Also, what’s with the underwear?
Easter is a very important holiday in Mormonism. I don’t know why your neighbor decorates for other holidays and not Easter. You can read about Mormon temple garments at http://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_garments.
At the time and place Jesus lived, wine was safer to drink than water. We have received a health law by revelation, called the Word of Wisdom, which forbids us to drink alcoholic beverages. The law is made for the “weakest of the weak.”
No — we don’t know the mechanics of the virgin birth, but we do believe in it. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet was shown the virgin Mary in vision about 600 years before Christ’s birth. His account says she was “overshadowed and carried away in the spirit,” just like the biblical account. Our belief about the virgin birth is the same as virtual every Protestant church.
No one marries in heaven. Worthy Mormons marry in temples on earth and make an eternal covenant. The marriage, if husband and wife continue in righteousness, then lasts for eternity, rather than ending in death.
Where is that in the Bible. Christ said there will not be husband and wife in Heaven. Christ and the church are married.
The health law given by God to the Church says that Mormons should not drink “hot drinks.” It says nothing about caffeine. The prophets have defined hot drinks as coffee and tea, and later science has implicated caffeine as one ingredient that is harmful. Some Mormons therefore avoid cola and chocolate, but others don’t.
Worthy Mormons go to the temple to be married in order to make an eternal covenant with God and each other. If they continue in righteousness, that marriage covenant will be eternal and not end with death.
Stillborn children are not baptized. Infants are innocent and saved by the atonement of Christ. They are exalted. Mormons don’t baptize until the age of 8, when children can discern right from wrong and understand how to repent. This is called the “age of accountability.”
Yes. Go to http://www.jesuschrist.lds.org.
Satan actually wanted God’s power and glory. We do (in humility) work to keep God’s commandments, repent, and serve Him. All of us fall short of perfection, however. God’s grace is what saves us. If we are exalted in heaven, Christ has promised us that we will inherit all that He has. What is that? This is no worldly inheritance. Christ will share His knowledge, wisdom, charity…. in short, His attributes. With those attributes, He calls us Gods. This doctrine, called “theosis” was preached in the original Christian Church. Otherwise, it’s just semantics. We will be like gods, so we are called gods.
I have been so interested in the mormon religion my entire life but I have always been afraid to join. For one I don’t know how and for two I don’t feel good enough. Everyone dresses up and I am poor. We don’t have alot let alone nice church clothes. I do my best to raise my son as a single mother. I have a family member who joined the Mormon faih but I feel like she judges me so I’m fearful to ask her. So if you have any suggestions on how I could learn more or even join PLEASE email me.
You can go to http://www.mormon.org. You can learn a lot there and even converse or instant message with members of the Church.
Just as having heterosexual tendencies is not a sin until a person uses that leaning to commit a sin, such as lusting after another person’s wife, or having sex outside of wedlock, the tendency to be attracted to someone of the same sex is not a sin unless it’s acted upon.
What about the fact that in the bible itself it is stated, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 NIV. It is a sin to look at a woman and have sexual thoughts, let alone acting upon it?
This is both his preference and a tenet of Mormonism. We have an ordinance of eternal marriage, and only a worthy LDS girl and worthy LDS guy can be bound by this ordinance performed in a temple of God. Should this young man marry a girl who is not Mormon (unless she converts), his marriage would be only until death, and his children would not be born into the eternal covenant. No one is forced to live by this idea, but the divorce rate among couples married in the temple is 7%, and the divorce rate for Mormons marrying non-Mormons is 40%.
Mormons do believe in Satan who was cast out of heaven with the 1/3 of the hosts of heaven who followed him. Satan and his followers will never have physical bodies, and they do whatever they can to corrupt people and cause discord, sin, and violence. Yes, they can possess the bodies of those who dwell on earth, but only if people allow or invite them to. Having a strong belief in Christ and staying away from undesirable people and places helps. Yes, priesthood holders and even lay members have the power to banish Satan and his followers should they invade a room, home, building, or a person’s body.
This is a little complex, but I’ll try to simplify. We have always existed, in some form, in the universe — first as intelligence, then as spirits, then as mortal beings. When we finish our mortal existence, we will be spirits separated from our physical bodies, then eternally resurrected with perfect immortal bodies bound permanently with our spirits. God, as our Eternal Father, created our spiritual bodies before we were born with physical bodies on the earth. Christ, whose intelligence and righteousness excelled beyond all of us, was the creator of the earth, and of all worlds. He is “The Word,” or “The Word of My Power,” through whom God created all things. To create means to organize, since matter has always existed in the universe, and from it, the worlds are created. Christ was the firstborn in the spirit, the first spirit child of Heavenly Father. Satan was Lucifer, meaning “Light Bearer” or “Son of the Morning,” inferring that he was either born early among God’s spirit-children, or was illustrious. He fell, and became Satan. Most Christian churches have lost knowledge about the pre-mortal existence spoken of by Isaiah, though they believe, as we do, that Christ has always existed.
Please tell us the major differences between Mormon beliefs and Christian beliefs. Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh, and therefore not created as was Satan?
Do Morman’s believe in physical posession of demons? And if so do they perform exorcist?
Thank You
Yes. There have been cases where demons have possesed people, and Elders in the church (men who bear the Holy Priesthood) have given that person a blessing, or prayer over their head, that released that unholy spirit from the body.
My friend is currently dating a mormon guy and she is not. He has made it clear that he will marry a mormon girl, is this his preferance or a rule/belief of mormans?
Love and charity should be the watchwords for followers of Jesus Christ. We have plenty of disabled children and adults in our congregations, and hopefully, they are constantly watched over and nurtured by all the members. Go to http://www.mormon.org for an introduction to Mormon doctrine and to chat with a Mormon. Good luck.
Yes. Note that both works and perfection are mentioned in these scriptural verses. Mormons believe in good works. We also believe that eventually, through God’s grace, we can become “perfect.” It’s important to understand the definition of perfect. In Hebrew, “shalem” or “tam,” it means to be complete, or whole. Resurrection provides wholeness of the perfectly joined body with spirit, and God’s grace provides wholeness of soul, purity. We believe also that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. You might want to visit http://www.mormonbible.org.
Does the Morman religion teach the following as a true statement, as quoted from the Bible?
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
Ammended to include verse 17
i am a non denomination christian. my husband has given up on the church we were going to because of they way we got treated when our pastor was transferd out to another church. how do you feel about children with disablities
Hi Kelly! I’m 18 years old and have been raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I read your question and my heart broke. My nephew (who passed away last Christmas at the age of 14) was severely handicapped. He was born with a terrible disease that caused him to be completely brain dead since birth. The only things he could do were hear and breathe. He had many surgeries and spent a lot of his life in pain or sick. I used to spend a lot of time sad and angry about this, and I still think it is a terrible terrible thing for someone to be put through. I thought how unfair it was that he wasn’t able to walk and talk and live a normal child’s life. As I grew older, I gained an understanding that completely healed my heart. We believe that we lived in Heaven before we came to Earth (Pre-Existence) and we will return to live with Heavenly Father if we are rightous here. We knew that coming to Earth would mean getting a body and getting to prove ourselves to Father that we deserved to be in His presence. We wanted to come so badly that we still couldn’t wait to get here even though Father told us we would be put through many trials. I believe, and so do my church leaders, that Chase wanted to come here and get a body so badly that he was willing to come to the broken body he was given. Thanks to Jesus’s atonement and resurection, we know that when Chase is resurected his body will be perfected. He will be able to do all the things he couldn’t. Also, disabled children and adults are perfect in the Lord’s eyes. These special spirits are so innocent and kind they can’t possibly be responsible for any wrongdoings. God is fair. He wouldn’t ever hold someone accountable if they didn’t have the mental ability to be able to know right from wrong. Disabled children are the sweetest, purist, and most precious spirits here. Please contact the LDS Church members in your area. I know they would love to answer any of your questions. Also, people who aren’t as patient or loving towards special children probably just don’t have a clear understanding of how special they are. The Lord loves us all the same, perfectly healthy, or completely oposite. Please please contact the missionaries! I have so much to learn still about the Gospel, but I hope that my answer helped.
-Pasley
Gale, I just read your statement here from October:
Being gay is not a sin
Here is what the Bible states:
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (NKJ, Leviticus 18:22)
If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. (NKJ, Leviticus 20:13)
Note that the verses you have quoted refer to actions, not tendencies. Usually, men are attracted to women and women are attracted to men, but this is not a sin until it turns into lust, covetousness, fornication, or adultery. Likewise, same-sex attraction is influenced by inherent tendency, environment, and experience. It is not a sin until it becomes lust, covetousness, or sexual activity. Thanks for your comment.
You stated earlier that it isn’t a sin to be gay that no reference can be found in the Bible. But if sex out of marrige is a sin and only marrige is between a man and woman. Then wouldn’t sex between gays be a sin. Or are you saying if your gay and don’t ever have sex your not a sinner? If thats the case would you even be considered gay?
Its true the word “gay” is a bit ambiguous here. Same-sex attractions are often considered gay, but other times only the actual sexual act is considered “gay”. Just as lusting after the opposite sex or having sexual relations with them outside of matrimony is a sin, lusting after your same sex or having sexual relations with someone of your same sex is a sin. But we are hard-wired to be attracted to some things. Some people may be attracted to their own gender, but as long as you do not indulge in lusting or sexual conduct it is not a sin. It is a trial, and a temptation. Jesus himself went through many trials and at least three temptations, so there is no imperfection in only the experiences. Gale was merely saying that the tendency or attraction is not sinful. As for what is considered “gay,” there are many meanings, and the answer to your question depends on which you are using.
Just a wee question about the Bible. I would have thought that since the LDS consider other Christian Churches to be apart of the apostate movement that would have included the Bible as that was compiled by a so-called apostate Church in the 4th century. Do you not think it time that the LDS reevaluated the Bible at the canonical inclusions both in the Old and New Testaments and maybe need a modern rethink due to current theological thinking. Since the LDS deem itself to have the authority of the reconstructed Church sanctioned by the divine an LDS authorized Bible would seem appropriate.
Thanks for your comment, Graham. Joseph Smith did work on a translation of the Bible, making corrections through revelation directly from God. Part of the result is the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/contents
Also found in the Pearl of Great Price is Joseph Smith’s translation of Matthew: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_m/contents
Although the Church has not published his translation as a whole, Joseph Smith’s translation of various verses is found in the footnotes of the standard King James Version used by the Church, which you can order free of charge:
http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/free-media/free-media
Why would a unchanging, unfallible, uncontradicting, always the same Mighty God say do not add to or take away from His Word, all of a sudden decide to add to His already perfect Book?
God chooses when to speak, and when “He” can say more. To clarify, God doesn’t want a human to add to His words (as you said) but He can certainly speak to us whenever He likes, and He does continue to speak to us today. Let me reverse the question: “Why wouldn’t a loving parent continue to speak to their children.” The Bible reflects God’s dealings with those in the Old World, and the Book of Mormon reflects His love and teachings in the New World. Both of these complement one another. He has provided two witnesses of the reality and mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. I’d be happy to send you a copy of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, if you’d like that.
What to Mormons believe about end time events and the return of Christ?
Most Mormon beliefs about end time events are the same as are held by most Christians. Modern revelations about end-time events are found in the Doctrine and Covenants, and validate the predictions made in the Bible, especially in the Book of Revelation. However, Mormons do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, which is a recent philosophy not found in the scriptures. Mormons believe that when Christ comes, everyone will see the event together, that the resurrection of the righteous, who died between Christ’s resurrection and second coming, will occur. At that time, all the righteous will be caught up to join him in the air. Mormons do NOT believe that you have to be Mormon to be considered righteous. We are judged by the knowledge we have and the degree of our trials on earth. Most of those who will be preserved to live during Christ’s millennial reign will not be Mormons, just good people willing to follow Christ. Mormons do believe that this is the last dispensation of time before the Second Coming, but that no one knows the exact date or time of His arrival. For more information, go to http://www.mormonwiki.com/Signs_of_the_Times. That article has a long list of prophesied events. Thanks for visiting our website!
I have been visited by missionaries from the mormon church and after reading a few things as to what can be worn in the church i believe that if i was serious in seeking more knowledge in the mormon faith i would be rejected. You see i am over weight and can only ware sweat pants and i feel that because of this i will not be allowed to enter the church. I want to learn more about the mormon faith. Can someone please direct me in the right paith
You will never be rejected because of something like this. Would God reject you for this reason? No, he would not, and neither will his servants. Don’t let this stand in the way of your receiving the greatest gift on earth, the true gospel, the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and God’s power and miracles in your life. Good luck, Michael!
What is the mormon view on suicide? I went through a suicide of a parent a couple of years ago and was told by separate religious sectors that the person was stuck in pergatory…. Please answer thanks
People who commit suicide are usually driven to it by mental illness or severe depression, for which they are not held accountable in the judgment. We believe that we are judged according to what we know and how difficult our challenges are. Each person is individual, and only God can look upon the heart and judge wisely. He is loving and merciful, always. I’m so sorry about your parent. Here is the Mormon Doctrine regarding where we go when we die….The spirit is separated from the physical body and goes to a place called the Spirit World. There are two main parts to the Spirit World — Spirit Prison (for the wicked) and Paradise (for the righteous). During the three days that Christ was in the tomb, He taught the spirits in paradise and sent missionaries (among them, the greatest of the prophets) to Spirit Prison. In the Spirit World, we can learn of Christ and repent. This is a second chance for those who rejected Him on earth, and a first chance for those who had no knowledge of Him. A person in Spirit Prison can repent and go to Paradise until resurrection. Then, we are resurrected and judged (the most righteous upon the second coming of Christ, and the least righteous after the millennium). Because of God’s grace, mercy is available to us to the very last moment. There are three main divisions in heaven and even the lowest is glorious beyond description. I hope this helps.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ and the Bible to me is the inherent Word of God. My questions are these: Where in the bible does it say Christ taught spirits in paradise and sent missionaries to hell during his 3 days in the tomb? Also… where does it say we get a second chance after death? We know how merciful and loving God is on earth and how many chances He gives us to repent… but I dont recall where it says that we get a second chance after death. I’m not trying to attack you in any way… its just that there are a lot of people out there adding and taking away from the Word of God and its sooo dangerous. Thank you
We don’t believe he taught the spirits in Hell, but that, as it says in 1 Pet 18-19, when Christ was physically dead he went and taught the spirits in “prison”. Once final judgement is declared, there are no second chances. Likewise, those who had the truth and rejected it won’t be able to improve themselves in that they have already rejected the knowledge. However, for those souls that were kept from the truth in this life, they will be administered to so they can have an equal chance to partake of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ. It is the only logical thing God would do as a compassionate, fair being who had to compensate for the wickedness of others keeping some of His children from hearing the truth.
which version of bible do mormons read?
The official English version for the church is the King James version.
The question I have is regarding what bible do the Mormons read besides the book of Mormon?
Thank You
You can go to our website now under construction: http://www.mormonbible.org for a complete answer to your question, but here’s the short one — Mormons are Bible-believing Christians. We read and study the Bible and spend two out of every four years of Sunday School classes on it. In the English-speaking U.S., we use the King James Version of the Bible. We also read the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price (books of Abraham and Moses), and the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of modern revelation). We expect that the Lord will reveal more scripture in the future (when the Ten Lost Tribes return, for example, they are expected to bring their scripture with them).
Do Mormons believe that Christ is the Son of God and that he was crucified and resurrected?
Absolutely. This is the foundation of our religion.
I know God wants us to refrain from sex before marriage and after that, only have it with your spouse. From what I could understand, mormons tolerate abortion when a woman becomes pregnant before marriage. I’m just wondering if I got that right.
Thanks for your question, Joe. The stand of the LDS Church on abortion is that it is a sin next to murder in its severity. It should only be considered in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger, and then only after counseling with one’s spiritual advisors. You can read more at the Mormon Church’s own website at the following URL: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/abortion
arent all sins equal, except blasphemy of the holy spirit?
what do mormons believe about homosexuality?
There are several good articles on this at http://www.mormonwiki.com, accessible from the home page, and at http://www.gaymormon.net.
Why pay tithes. Didn’t jesus say ‘give unto ceasar that which is ceasars?
Abraham paid tithes. This is a commandment that has always existed. Tithes support all the Church’s endeavors, including building and maintaining the meeting houses and temples where we worship. The Lord gave us everything we have; it all belongs to Him, not Caesar. All He asks is 10 percent.
do mormons believe a woman can be called to preach
Women preach all the time in the Mormon Church, both in regular Sunday meetings and classes and in General Conference, which is the semi-annual all-Church meeting.
Do Mormons believe that Jesus & Lucifer (satan) are brothers?
We all existed in a heavenly realm before we came to this earth. Mormons call this “Pre-Mortal Life.” In the pre-mortal life, Heavenly Father was the father of our spirits. We gained mortal bodies when we were born onto the earth. In the pre-mortal life, Christ, the creator of the earth, was also chosen to be its Savior. Lucifer rebelled and was cast out of heaven with his followers. Christ was Heavenly Father’s firstborn in the spirit. Lucifer was a “son of the morning.” His name means “light-bearer.” We can assume he was an intelligent and illustrious spirit before he turned against God. Because Heavenly Father is our Father, is Christ’s Father, and is Lucifer’s Father, then spiritually speaking, we are all brothers and sisters, and Christ and Lucifer are spiritually brothers.
Genesis 1:1. God created the heavens and the earth. I keep seeing statments that Jesus created the earth. Do Mormons believe Jesus created the earth?
God created the heavens and the earth through The Word. The Word is Jesus Christ.
What do you mean when u say Jesus is word?
Think of it this way, God is the architect and Jesus was the contractor that implemented his design.
what’s the difference between Christ as: ‘He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh.’ and ‘Christ was Heavenly Father’s firstborn in the spirit.’
And as Heaven and earth are created through the Word, would mean Christ existed before the heavens did. Did lucifer existed before the heavens was made? did we existed before the heavenly realms was made? if so, would that mean that there’s a time when were actually equal to Christ? If the bible says lucifer was the ‘son of the morning’-of light..who created the morning? The Word being the Only begotten Son and the firstborn in the spirit, would that not make Christ higher than all of us? even lucifer?.
Thanx. And thanks for this page. This truly helps us seek God more. to investigate as you would put it.
Are Mormons alowed to listen to music on sunday.
Of course. I usually set aside my rock music and listen to classical or religious music on Sunday, however. Mormons have a wonderful music scene. Go to http://www.mormonmusic.org to listen to some great music. Then check out the choir at http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF WHEN CHRIST SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US DID THAT COVER ALL OUR SINS?
Christ’s atonement for our sins took place when He bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. All of our sins are covered, if we repent. It is our choice to lay hold upon Christ’s atonement for us, or to ignore it, or to reject it and suffer for our own sins. Christ invites all of us to repent and come unto Him.
so is it true that jesus lives on another planet?
is it your beleaf that to be gay is a sin?
do you guys have multiple wives?
is it true that to go to your temple i have to have reached a point in my life were i do not sin?
Nope. Jesus lives in heaven. Our prophets have had visions of heaven (see Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants at http://www.lds.org/?lang=engscriptures/dc-testament/dc/76?lang=eng), but the Lord has not revealed its location. Being gay is not a sin, but sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin, and the Lord has defined marriage as the legal union of a man and a woman. Mormons do not have multiple wives. The Lord ended the practice of polygamy through direct revelation in 1890. Everyone who attends the Mormon Temple is a sinner. All of us are sinners. However, people who attend the temple do live certain commandments: They believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. They serve in the Church. They pay tithes on their income. They don’t smoke, drink, or use coffee or tea. They are honest in their dealings and kind to their families. They have no sexual relations outside the marriage covenant. In other words, they live very clean lives.
Can you elaborate in your statement “being gay is not a sin” I don’t understand why is not a sin? is there somewhere in the scriptures??
Thank you
As a former supervisor of mental health with a sincere testimony of truthfulness of L.D.S. Church teachings, I know of no reference in the Bible or Book of Mormon that teaches “being gay is a sin.” Having counseled those who have those leanings, I find them to be normal people with a basic sense of what is right and wrong, but with challenges to face as to where they “fit in” to the rest of society,as do we all. And like everyone else, striving to live a high moral life will only add to one’s ability to find true happiness.
In the Bible it does say that homosexuality is a sin. God loves and forgives all who ask but detests sin. You never read the Bible fully then because there’s multiple references to homosexuality.
yes there are multiple references to homosexuality and everytime it is mentioned God speaks against it so does that make it not a sin? doesn’t that make it something wrong?
ok so if God speaks against it, isn’t it wrong? or is he going to forgive me because i am wrong? do i have to be right with God in order to be forgiven? what happens to me then, if i don’t change?
I wonder if there is a distinction between state of being and “being” (colloquial for acting). It is not a sin to be (state of being) gay anymore than it is a sin to be left handed or a redhead. Is is a sin to be (act) gay when we have been commanded to not be (act) gay.
I am an alcoholic. I have never-ever tasted any alcohol of any kind. My mother warned me that her side of the family had a propensity towards alcoholism. While in graduate school “alcoholic genes” was discovered. Later, I was able to have myself tested for the gene and sure enough, I am (or could become) an alcoholic if I acted. But I am not a sinner with respect to alcoholism. It would be a sin if I started drinking, since I am well aware of the outcome.
Hi JD I can’t understand fully what you are saying, what i gather from your comment is that I need to change so God can forgive me and help me? thank you for the insight
Which Bible do you read? Go read this:
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.[3](Leviticus 20:13 KJV)
Being a homosexual is not the sin its the acting upon that temptation that is the sin. We are tempted all the time but it is not the temptation that is the sin but the act of that temptation that is the sin.
If you mean, having the tendency or temptation to violate the natural order is not the sin, but acting upon it, is, then that concurs with Mormon beliefs. Thanks for coming.