Ask A Mormon

[PaulDupre1]

he was the “prophet” when I was a missionary

Me too.

 

[Stephen168]

Hello. Let me first off say that I respect the boldness that Mormons have in attempting to share their faith. More Catholics should have this attitude. However, I recognize the serious differences that we have. I heard on Catholic answers live and I looked it up myself and I confirmed that the Mormon doctrine of exaltation contradicts both the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants.In Moroni 8: 18 we read, “For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” Mormon 9:9-10 states, "For do we not read that God is the asame byesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no cvariableness neither shadow of changing?

10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles"

Finally, Doctrine and Covenants 20:12, “Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever.”

I think these make it pretty clear that the original “revelations” to Joseph Smith stated that God has been the same from the beginning and never changed from some other state of being and never will change.

However, many Mormons are familiar with the King Follett Discourse, and especially Joseph Smith’s statements about Mormon exaltation. We read, "God himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heaven, is a man like one of you. That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today and you were to see the great God who holds this world in its orbit and upholds all things by his power, you would see him in the image and very form of a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion and image of God. He received instruction from and walked, talked, and conversed with him as one man talks and communes with another. " A few paragraphs later he goes on to state, “And you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves–to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done–by going from a small degree to another, from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you are able to sit in glory as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.”

How do Mormons reconcile these major differences? If my understanding is correct, revelation given to whoever the current Mormon president is trumps revelation given to a previous president, (that doesn’t make sense either, does God change his mind?) but if the same prophet receives new revelation that is contradictory to previous revelation, what are the followers supposed to believe? It would seem that Joseph Smith is going against God’s original revelations.

The question isn’t does God change his mind. The question for Mormons is does God change who he is or not?

 

[invisible_man]

(careful invisibleman, prostelytizing is not allowed here on CF. Since you are new to the site, by your “joined” date, it would be wise you take the time and read forum rules)

I did not realize that listening to Edward Kimball was prostelytizing. I thought that it would be a great way to see just how Spencer’s children viewed him. I thought if it as human interest. I also thought that it was okay to reference our ideas or where our ideas come from. Listening to that youtube message I came to a different conclusion about how Mormon prophets should be looked upon.

 

[invisible_man]

he was the “prophet” when I was a missionary

That may be true but I can now see them as loving fathers, loving husbands who just happen to have a job to do. I like the idea of seeing the human being in people.

 

[TexanKnight]

That may be true but I can now see them as loving fathers, loving husbands who just happen to have a job to do. I like the idea of seeing the human being in people.

no one said that man claiming to be a prophet could not be a good father. I was just commenting that he was the “prophet” when I served my mission

 

[Pepband_Mom]

That may be true but I can now see them as loving fathers, loving husbands who just happen to have a job to do. I like the idea of seeing the human being in people.

You’re totally right. Kimball is just that - a human being, a child of God redeemed & atoned for alone by Jesus Christ, (positively cannot and never will be a “god” in his own right). God plainly says Himself in scripture that He knows of no other Gods & “I changeth not”. (These 2 statements are rather direct and in your face are they not?)

Kimball is hopefully a loving husband due to his Sacramental oath between he & wife. As per scripture Christ is the Bridegroom and WE, the UNIVERSAL CHURCH, is HIS Bride. The New Testament is iron clad on this point & doesn’t reflect the man-made notion of multiple wives as a distinct Christian tenant in any stretch of the imagination, nor will it EVER allow it.

Kimball is a father & provider for his family, a reflection of the Trinity

Prophet jobs ceased 2+ millennia ago.

 

[invisible_man]

Kimball is a father & provider for his family, a reflection of the Trinity

Prophet jobs ceased 2+ millennia ago.

He died many years ago. I am sure that he was a great human being if I take his son’s word for it in the interview. However, it does seem that some posters on this thread claim that all Mormon leaders are liars. I would have disagree with that but they like us are not perfect.

 

[TexanKnight]

He died many years ago. I am sure that he was a great human being if I take his son’s word for it in the interview. However, it does seem that some posters on this thread claim that all Mormon leaders are liars. I would have disagree with that but they like us are not perfect.

There is really only two options…they are incredibly misled, or they are not truthful. I am willing to believe SWK was simply misled and had no clue.

 

[kimg901]

However, it does seem that some posters on this thread claim that all Mormon leaders are liars.

So what would you call men (and women) who follow a man instead of God? Men that would deceive their own by following a man that couldn’t keep his stories straight. Would deceivers be a better word for you? Mormons remind me of muslims. You put great faith in a man and what they say before God.

 

[invisible_man]

So what would you call men (and women) who follow a man instead of God? Men that would deceive their own by following a man that couldn’t keep his stories straight. Would deceivers be a better word for you? Mormons remind me of muslims. You put great faith in a man and what they say before God.

I think that people need to see the big picture before making a judgement. Mormon leaders led their church in the direction that it is now in. By following Mormon teachings, Mormons became decent people who are attempting to obey God. I think that the end result is not so bad. Who should get credit for this? Their teenagers are taught to be modest in dress, clean in speech, keep their bodies holy as temples, etc. If only more young people were like this. Also, no tattoos or nose piercings etc. Not bad really.

 

[SpeSalvi]

I think that people need to see the big picture before making a judgement. Mormon leaders led their church in the direction that it is now in. By following Mormon teachings, Mormons became decent people who are attempting to obey God. I think that the end result is not so bad. Who should get credit for this? Their teenagers are taught to be modest in dress, clean in speech, keep their bodies holy as temples, etc. If only more young people were like this. Also, no tattoos or nose piercings etc. Not bad really.

I have had friends that dress immodestly, curse like sailors, get tattoos and piercings, and they are some of the most moral, loving people I know.

Using outward appearance as a way to measure how “decent” people are is a horrible mistake.

 

[kimg901]

I think that people need to see the big picture before making a judgement. Mormon leaders led their church in the direction that it is now in. By following Mormon teachings, Mormons became decent people who are attempting to obey God. I think that the end result is not so bad. Who should get credit for this? Their teenagers are taught to be modest in dress, clean in speech, keep their bodies holy as temples, etc. If only more young people were like this. Also, no tattoos or nose piercings etc. Not bad really.

I’ve seen the big picture IM. You still didn’t answer my question(s). And what’s wrong with tattoos and such? I have 35 tattoos, am I a bad person? Maybe its you that needs to see the big picture friend.

 

[TexanKnight]

I think that people need to see the big picture before making a judgement. Mormon leaders led their church in the direction that it is now in. By following Mormon teachings, Mormons became decent people who are attempting to obey God. I think that the end result is not so bad. Who should get credit for this? Their teenagers are taught to be modest in dress, clean in speech, keep their bodies holy as temples, etc. If only more young people were like this. Also, no tattoos or nose piercings etc. Not bad really.

hmmm…having lots of wives and cheating on your wife as js did is obeying God? As far as their teenagers, if you have ever been to BYU, you know just how immodest the people there are.

I know the LDS Church promotes clean lifestyle, more that most, actually, but do not equate that with following God.

 

[invisible_man]

I have had friends that dress immodestly, curse like sailors, get tattoos and piercings, and they are some of the most moral, loving people I know.

Using outward appearance as a way to measure how “decent” people are is a horrible mistake.

I think that the level of tattoos and piercings are quite high. I also think that young people need to be careful with getting tattoos. Many young girls or young women don’t realize just how this tattoo will look when they are 40 or 50. The Mormons believe that their bodies are a temple and should be treated as such. Nothing wrong In that message.

 

[invisible_man]

hmmm…having lots of wives and cheating on your wife as js did is obeying God? As far as their teenagers, if you have ever been to BYU, you know just how immodest the people there are.

I know the LDS Church promotes clean lifestyle, more that most, actually, but do not equate that with following God.

I don’t see their former practice of polygamy this way. I think that teenagers will be teenagers. Certainly Mormon teenagers are raised to be modest and to keep the law of chasity. However, everyone has free agency.

 

[invisible_man]

I’ve seen the big picture IM. You still didn’t answer my question(s). And what’s wrong with tattoos and such? I have 35 tattoos, am I a bad person? Maybe its you that needs to see the big picture friend.

No, I don’t think that you are a bad person. I think that the Mormons consider the body to be a temple, and as such, one should not get a tattoo. Most likely because it defaces the temple which is the body. I think that that would be the explanation.

 

[TexanKnight]

I don’t see their former practice of polygamy this way. I think that teenagers will be teenagers. Certainly Mormon teenagers are raised to be modest and to keep the law of chasity. However, everyone has free agency.

make up your mind. You have gone from praising the teens to saying teens will be teens. As to polygamy, it matters not how you wish to see it. It is what it is. js stole wives. Pratt was killed for it. Polygamy started as a way for js to cover up his unfaithfulness. It is what it is

 

[twopekinguys]

hmmm…having lots of wives and cheating on your wife as js did is obeying God? As far as their teenagers, if you have ever been to BYU, you know just how immodest the people there are.

I know the LDS Church promotes clean lifestyle, more that most, actually, but do not equate that with following God.

Let’s not forget the whole racism thing with the priesthood ban being sanctioned by the mormon church.

How convenient it got changed when it did.

I guess the mormon god was feeling the pressure.

 

[twopekinguys]

I don’t see their former practice of polygamy this way. I think that teenagers will be teenagers. Certainly Mormon teenagers are raised to be modest and to keep the law of chasity. However, everyone has free agency.

So, what do you have to say about the mormon missionaries (teenagers) that knowingly vandalized and desecrated a Catholic Shrine, and then posted pics on the internet?

Is that teenagers being teenagers?

 

[twopekinguys]

I think that the level of tattoos and piercings are quite high. I also think that young people need to be careful with getting tattoos. Many young girls or young women don’t realize just how this tattoo will look when they are 40 or 50. The Mormons believe that their bodies are a temple and should be treated as such. Nothing wrong In that message.

If that isn’t pigeon holing people, I don’t know what is.

What do you have to say about religious tattoos? Cross? Crucifix? Blessed Mother?

Catholics know full well about the body being a temple. We receive Jesus Christ completely in the Eucharist, so our bodies in fact do become temples.

Temples are adorned with lovely works of art are they not?

Mormon temples have all the artwork, furnishings,etc., making most of their temples quite beautiful. The difference being, Jesus doesn’t reside in the mormon temples, He does however reside in Catholics, and Catholic Churches around the world.

Also, the Ark of the Covenant was beautifully adorned, Mary was beautifully adorned, and she is the Mother of God.

Seeing a trend here? I am.