Can I go visit everything at my local Mormon Temple?

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Do you baptize babies like catholics?
Members that grow up in the church get baptized when they are 8 years old. This was revealed in the Book of Mormon, and further confirmed by Joseph Smith. It is generally tradition however to bless a baby after they are born though. This is not baptism however, and only intended as a protection and guide for the baby. We believe babies are innocent when they are born, as revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
 
mormons consider it very evil to baptize babies.
Based on what reference? We feel it unnecessary, not necessarily evil. I guess the only thing evil about it would be that God has commanded a modern Prophet to do it at age 8, and one would not be following God by doing so. It also would not be accepted in Church records. We believe little children are innocent, and thus unnecessary to baptize until they are 8.
 
We believe babies are innocent when they are born, as revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith
prophet, please. more like pervert joe smith. how could a prophet–the glass looker–get arrested for scamming people? a critical thinking person would see that this guy has a history of tricking people.

aside from all the historical contradictions of mormonism, the sure test of a prophet is his prophesies.
Over the last 200 years a number of people have claimed to be religious prophets with special spiritual authority from God. These include Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses), Ellen G. White (Seventh-day Adventists), Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science), and Joseph Smith (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Each started an organization which claimed to be the one true Christian Church, each had unique teachings, and each appealed to the Bible to some degree as their basis for spiritual authority. Yet, each “prophet’s” teachings contradict those of the others.
7 prophesies never came true. hence, joe smith was a pervert liar fraud.

for the life of me, i can’t understand how anyone can be mormon. there are so many loose ends, so many holes…
 
aside from all the historical contradictions of mormonism, the sure test of a prophet is his prophesies. 7 prophesies never came true. hence, joe smith was a pervert liar fraud.

for the life of me, i can’t understand how anyone can be mormon. there are so many loose ends, so many holes…
I’m sorry but this forum has lost its credibility for me. Nothing but attack after attack against my religion. I came here to answer a simple question, and get bombarded with attacks against it. Yes, I have considered these questions, and yes, there is credible evidence against every single one of them. Yes, you can pray like I have to your Father in Heaven and find out if these things are true yourself - it won’t work however if you don’t open your heart! I know my church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I know we have a prophet of God who leads and guides the Church of Jesus Christ today. I don’t need someone else to vouch for or against that. I am not going to go on defending attack after attack against my religion on here. If you have a sincere question for me, please feel free to PM me (Kitty Chan and the others that had sincere questions, you are welcome to pm me). Otherwise I refuse to continue commenting here.
 
Based on what reference? We feel it unnecessary, not necessarily evil. I guess the only thing evil about it would be that God has commanded a modern Prophet to do it at age 8, and one would not be following God by doing so. It also would not be accepted in Church records. We believe little children are innocent, and thus unnecessary to baptize until they are 8.
BoM Moroni 8:13 *Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.
17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation.
18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.
21 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the cjudgment-seat of Christ. *

that seems pretty plain to me.
 
I’m sorry but this forum has lost its credibility for me. Nothing but attack after attack against my religion. I came here to answer a simple question, and get bombarded with attacks against it. Yes, I have considered these questions, and yes, there is credible evidence against every single one of them. Yes, you can pray like I have to your Father in Heaven and find out if these things are true yourself - it won’t work however if you don’t open your heart! I know my church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I know we have a prophet of God who leads and guides the Church of Jesus Christ today. I don’t need someone else to vouch for or against that. I am not going to go on defending attack after attack against my religion on here. If you have a sincere question for me, please feel free to PM me (Kitty Chan and the others that had sincere questions, you are welcome to pm me). Otherwise I refuse to continue commenting here.
so when mormon claims are proven false you are satisfied that FAIR making a response regardless of how flimsy constitutes irrefutable evidence that any claims contrary to the “official” (current) position of the LDS church are just anti-mormon propaganda? and when others don’t accept that you retreat into the quasi gnostic approach that god revealed the “real” truth to YOU via prophecy and those of us who choose a firmer foundation just didn’t get the same message when we prayed for understanding because we didn’t already have our minds made up that mormonism was true? so now after come to a catholic forum and preaching false doctrine you’re gonna take your football and go home. Comment or not, it’s your choice but I think every “attack” that you perceived against your church was a valid point substantiated by verifiable evidence and was given to you out of a sincere desire to share the truth about God and his Church with you and every other mormon, muslim, jew, atheist, etc. since God loves every human being and doesn’t give up on any of them.

You might want to look at amgid/zerinus lengthy history of unfounded assertions launched with bitter vitriol too before you go into full victim mode. I think that JS-H still placing everyone that isn’t LDS in the category of apostate with all of our creeds an abomination in the sight of God kind of starts out any conversation on mormonism with a certain tone.
 
I’m sorry but this forum has lost its credibility for me. Nothing but attack after attack against my religion. I came here to answer a simple question, and get bombarded with attacks against it.
The answer is simple; don’t reply to them! Sometimes the best answer you can give to someone is not to reply to them. That can actually be a very devastating response, believe it or not. I have been posting here since last September, and I have posted early 1,000 messages so far; but there are some people here to whom I have never given a single reply. When somebody’s posts consist of nothing more than groundless attacks, their strategy is obvious and simple: it is to provoke! Well, the response to that is equally obvious and simple: don’t be provoked! When you reply to them (any reply), that means that their strategy has been successful. They have succeeded in provoking you, which means that they have won and you have lost! It does not matter what answer you give. You become the loser by the mere act of replying. But when you don’t reply to them, the shoe is on the other foot; it means that you have won and they have lost! I know it sounds silly, but that is how it works. It is that simple.

zerinus
 
Majick, while it’s fair to say the Mormon thought it was a terrible thing to do (baptise infants), I don’t think it expresses what most modern day Mormons think. Personally, I’d say he was reacting to something not in the scripture. But as you know, the method of baptism was a big enough schizm to form all the various Baptists and Annabaptist denominations.

Mormons & Protestants believe that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. Catholics believe it is an infusion of grace (correct me if I err here) and this is a fundamental difference in their understanding.
 
Mormons & Protestants believe that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. Catholics believe it is an infusion of grace (correct me if I err here) and this is a fundamental difference in their understanding.
Finally, a Mormon admits to having Protestant roots. Hallelujia!

The Mormons and Protestants are in different handbaskets, but taking the same route, which is the route of schism and heresy, disunion from the Church that Jesus established, rejection of its valid authority to establish true doctrine and interpret Scripture. You should wave to each other as you go.
 
But when you don’t reply to them, the shoe is on the other foot; it means that you have won and they have lost! I know it sounds silly, but that is how it works. It is that simple.

zerinus
It doesn’t just sound silly, Zerinus. It is silly.
 
Rejection of its valid authority to establish true doctrine and interpret Scripture.
You’re right on that, Allweather. But even from your staunchly Catholic point of view, I hope you realize it was a point of conscience to do so. It was a decision that was not taken lightly or done to draw people away from Christ but to draw them closer.

Also, please note that the Mormon teaching is actually a hybird between the Catholic and Protestant positions. The Catholics will point to many scriptures that point to baptism bring the spirit (infusion of grace isn’t in the Bible). But the Protestants also have many scriptures that point to it being for repentance. The Mormons follow baptism with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, a separate ordinance which would be as close to an infusion of grace.
 
Majick, while it’s fair to say the Mormon thought it was a terrible thing to do (baptise infants), I don’t think it expresses what most modern day Mormons think. Personally, I’d say he was reacting to something not in the scripture. But as you know, the method of baptism was a big enough schizm to form all the various Baptists and Annabaptist denominations.

Mormons & Protestants believe that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. Catholics believe it is an infusion of grace (correct me if I err here) and this is a fundamental difference in their understanding.
I appreciate what you are saying and I will go so far as to say that many mormons choose not to promote the more controversial parts of their religion. BUT the BoM is still binding doctrine for LDS. I think it is quite clear on how it paints people that believe in and practice infant baptism.
 
Ha Ha! Majick, if I didn’t know you any better I’d think you’re trying to stir up some trouble. More later…
 
You’re right on that, Allweather. But even from your staunchly Catholic point of view, I hope you realize it was a point of conscience to do so. It was a decision that was not taken lightly or done to draw people away from Christ but to draw them closer.
Are you referring to Joseph Smith’s decision? I doubt that JS, being steeped in Protestant auras that surrounded him in the U.S. of his day, could have had any but Protestant leanings. I can’t say how much he was being led by his conscience, but I’m certainly willing to give him benefit of the doubt on this, and admit that he may not merely have been out to establish a new religion with himself as Pope and Prophet.
Also, please note that the Mormon teaching is actually a hybird between the Catholic and Protestant positions. The Catholics will point to many scriptures that point to baptism bring the spirit (infusion of grace isn’t in the Bible). But the Protestants also have many scriptures that point to it being for repentance. The Mormons follow baptism with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, a separate ordinance which would be as close to an infusion of grace.
Lately, I have more and more realized the hybrid nature of Mormonism, as you say. I’m still coming to grips with this. I have lots more to learn. However, keep in mind that the Scriptures, by which I mean primarily the New Testament, were written and collected together by the Catholic Church around 350 years after the resurrection of Jesus. It is the Catholic Church which decided what goes into the NT, and the Catholic Church which had, and retains, authority, given by Jesus, and established upon the Apostolic succession, to interpret Scripture, and to define and enforce doctrine. Therefore, any ideas about the meaning of baptism, MUST be referenced to Catholic teachings, and not merely apparent Biblical verses. It is obvious what can happen when the Bible is read as a standalone resource: Protestantism, with its offshoots of the various sects, among which is Mormonism, born in April of 1830.
 
I have never heard that in all my years in the church. where do you base that from?
From the Book of Mormon:

“Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.” - Moroni 8:14

Hope this helps,
Paul
 
Dupre & Majick,

If you are taking umbrage at the strictness of Mormon’s words to his son Moroni, I can’t blame you. I have always thought it was unusually strict myself. Maybe there was something else going on there, some specific situation he was commenting on that’s not explained, something outside just the teaching of doctrine. But I am only speculating. I agree it’s unusually strict.

The only other thing I wanted to add is yet another story (I know, everyone’s eyes glaze over.) It was many years ago when I was doing my two years, my companion and I tracted out an older woman who met us at the door. At first she politely declined to engage us but then she stopped and asked us if we baptised little children. We explained our doctrine to her and she gradually softened and invited us in. I’m not sure if she attended church regularly but she had been told that all infants that aren’t baptised are pretty much lost to the realm of darkness and this had bothered her for a long time. A grandchild maybe? SO we sat with her in her front room and read the entire chapter of Moroni 8 and as time went on, she softened to the point of quietly sobbing. It seems odd but Mormon’s harshness was like a healing balm to this woman. She thanked us and then scooted us away. We didn’t see her again. But maybe there’s a reason for what is written.
 
I don’t discount the comfort of believing that young children who die go straight to heaven. I think though that the Catholic DOCTRINE on this has been misunderstood and mis characterized for some time. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus’ tenderness toward children which caused him to say: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,” allows us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church’s call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.”

The fact is that we have no way of knowing which children in fact had a baptism of desire. (or blood) it is quite possible that all of them do. we don’t know. What we DO know is that we have a merciful and loving God who will see to it that in each case the right thing happens whatever that may be.

Where we differ with mormons is in the fact that they see wrong in administering baptism early and we see wrong in withholding it.
 
The part of the temple I have to disagree with is the idea of families being separated after death if they aren’t “sealed.” I see no evidence of that in the Bible or even the Book of Mormon. It’s yet another thing that doesn’t crop up until the Doctrine & Covenants.
 
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