https://www.quora.com/What-do-Protestants-and-Catholics-think-of-Mormons/answer/James-Hough-1

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All of the bible supports Christianity. The New Testament speaks to the teaching of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. The Old Testament has the books of the prophets speaking to the coming of Jesus Christ.

So rather than cherry picking verses taken out of context to attempt to prove something that is not true, trying reading the bible contextually, using the time, culture, and audience the writer is speaking to. I can cherry pick verses and make them say anything I’d like.

This is exactly why the Catholic Church stands while others fail. It continues to teach the Truth left to the world left by Jesus Christ Himself. And once those teachings of Truth were written and put into canon, the Catholic Church remains true to the teachings.
 
Did you seriously just…? Wow. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s not even 16.
 
I’ve already spoken to a priest about it. I spoke to one the day I started this thread, I think.
 
I’m gonna guess that you no longer have to take CCD classes and that your parents are more supportive of your decision to join the Mormon church. That must make you feel much better and resolved the issues you came here with.

Are you going to be able to attend Mormon services? I know you don’t drive, but your friend does I believe?
 
No, my parents want me to wait until I’m 16 to convert to make sure this is really what I want. I’m okay with that, since I’d like to take some time to get comfortable with it before I make it official.

And the boy I was talking about is the same age as I am, so no, he can’t drive, but I’m sure he’d love to take me if I asked. I won’t ask though. I’m much too shy.
 
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Are you still having to take CCD classes? Will you choose to be confirmed or has your priest suggested otherwise?

IIRC correctly you are 14? Is your friend a classmate? A neighbor? Do you know his family?

I am assuming you know you can go to LDS.org and read past general conference talks by the Mormon leaders?

I am guessing your parents won’t let you meet with the missionaries until you are 16, then. Do I have the right understanding?
 
I don’t think my parents are still making me go to CCD classes. I didn’t get that clarified when I told them. My next class is the Sunday after next, so I guess I’ll find out then. Whatever the person said earlier in this thread where the priest interviews you before you get confirmed and asks you if you’re doing it out of your own free will (and if you say no you won’t get confirmed because they can’t force you to receive a sacrament) was right, and I told my parents about that and they didn’t really give a definitive answer, they just sort of got mad then calmed down and we didn’t talk about it after that. The priest said that I definitely shouldn’t get confirmed if I had no intention of being Catholic and to talk to my catechist about it.

Yes, I’m 14. My friend is from school, so yes he’s a classmate. I met his mom once briefly (emphasis on BRIEFLY, I don’t even remember what she looks like) and I made a joke about how he goes off and always does his own thing, and she laughed, but I haven’t talked to her other than that. His older brother is a junior so he goes to the same school as us, and I see him all the time. He likes to talk about his brothers (he has 3) so I’ve heard a lot about them but only met the one.

Yes, I’ve been to LDS.org. I’m visiting family for Christmas so I haven’t gotten the chance to read the conference talks yet.

My parents aren’t really holding me back, they just know how shy I am and that I’ll need time to adjust to this on my own. I don’t think they would let missionaries come over to our house, especially since they tend to be young men and I’m sure they don’t like the idea of me talking to a couple of guys alone. But they’re ready whenever I’m ready, so I just need to get myself adjusted. My dad won’t take me to the services, since he’s strict Catholic and doesn’t want to be seen at another church, so if I did go I would ask my friend to take me, and that’s not happening any time soon. For now, I might just watch some LDS church services on YouTube or something just to get an idea of how It works so I’m not walking in blind and confused.
 
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So what is it exactly that you find appealing about Mormonism? Is it their beliefs? Their culture? Or perhaps you don’t exactly know, other than you find it appealing?
When did you first hear about Mormonism, and when did you start researching it?

I was just a year older when I started. There wasn’t the internet of course, and I didn’t know any. I live in the east. For me, it started during a class I had in high school, and had to do a term paper on a church. I chose the Mormon church because I wanted my term paper to be different from the others in my class. I wanted it to stand out.
 
I’ve been researching it since…beginning of October, I think. The kid I talk about told me about it sometime around the beginning of the school year, briefly mentioning how they couldn’t cuss, date 'til 16, and getting defensive about some people thinking they aren’t Christians (I didn’t say anything to provoke him, he’s just really passionate about his faith and didn’t want me to think something different while doing my research). I didn’t really take much note of the faith then, not until we had the conversation about how LDS hold it to themselves to follow the rules and aren’t forced to by their parents or others around them. That was what caught my attention, personally. After that I started doing research with an open mind, and I also enjoyed the fact that a lot of things that are left for interpretation in the Catholic faith are sorted out by the BoM, PfGP, and D&C. I’m a rather literal person (I have a social disorder. I’ve taken the time to learn a lot of social cues so it wouldn’t be obvious that I had a social disorder if you met me IRL, but the black and white, stickler for the rules part won’t ever go away because that’s just how my brain is wired) so I feel like the other Scriptures help me to better understand how I’m supposed to live my life with regards to social rules, since that’s one of my weaknesses.
 
It’s okay, I don’t take offense easily. I meant the LDS teachings fill in a lot more holes in comparison to the Catholic teachings. Mostly modern social rules and information on divine nature. But in CCD all we would learn about was how much Jesus loved us, and it would just be the same stories over and over again (Moses, Abraham, Jesus dies on the cross, etc.) We didn’t really learn anything about what we believed or how we should adhere to social regulations based on our faith except the ten commandments and the beatitudes, which aren’t very specific in my opinion. I mean, they give a lot of free space to do what you want, but that’s also the problem with them. There’s too much freedom for people to do what they want. They taught us that the social rules in the Old Testament were wrong and outdated (except for the ten commandments) and that we should only pay attention to the rules stated in the New Testament, but there’s barely anything in the New Testament except for the Beatitudes and the one quote about lust (there’s probably more, but not much. Maybe 7 more at the most.) This is in comparison to the LDS faith, which has the entire D&C that gives regulations on social rules and specifications on beliefs.
 
AngelaMarie said:
Jesus was a Jew. A monotheist.
Not a polytheist.
Not a henotheism
Not a monolatry.

A Jew. A rabbi. A monotheist
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Please define monotheism.

Pennsylvania State University’s Baruch Halpern wrote, “Scholars have traditionally taken a theological and prescriptive approach to the issue of Israelite monotheism: monotheism is the conviction that only one god exists, and no others. This conviction, however, is difficult to document. … Monotheism, Yehezkel Kaufmann observed, postulates multiple deities, subordinated to the one. … Two elements distinguish it from polytheism: a conviction that the one controls the pantheon, and the idea of false gods.” (Baruch Halpern, “Monotheism,” The Oxford Companion to the Bible , edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), 524–525)

This scholarly understanding of ancient Judaism precisely describes the monotheism of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are Divine Beings and are subordinate to God the Father.
AngelaMarie said:
In Mormon theology, it is taught Christ was the first spiritual born of all of the spiritual children
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This statement is correct and this can be found in the Bible. (See Col 1:15 “firstborn of every creature”)
AngelaMarie said:
That Christ had a beginning. That Christ was not eternal, with a beginning.
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This statement is incorrect. The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that Jesus and all of us are eternal beings.

D&C 93:21 And now, verily I [Jesus Christ] say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;

D&C 93:29 Man was also in the beginning with God
AngelaMarie said:
That he was created at some point.
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Now this depends on the definition of “created”. In the Bible whenever the word “created” was used it meant to improve upon something already existing, or in other words “creation ex-materia”. In the second century AD Christian writers started specifically adding “ex-nihilo” to references of God creating because they wanted to specify that God was creating out of nothing. These authors intentionally changes the meaning of “create” from that of the Bible.

So, Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus and each of us was created “ex-materia” and that nothing is created “ex-nihilo” since that idea is not found in the Bible, and also because modern-day prophets have taught that it is a false doctrine.
AngelaMarie said:
That is not the Christ of Christianity.
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Better stated: That is not the Christ of Orthodox Christianity.
 
Barely anything in the New Testament? I cannot agree with this and is a sign you need to spend a lot more time looking into it. The whole life of Jesus and the early church which as a potential LDS member you need to stand by anyway? Please please make this decision carefully. We have pubs older than the Mormon church please be careful what you are committing your life to. Real life in the church is everything you are looking for I promise much love and prayer
 
This tells me that you’ve had very poor education. The catechism is, by far, one of the most comprehensive volumes on “Da rules” that I know of. You should definitely read it.
 
halogirl said:
Barely anything in the New Testament? I cannot agree with this and is a sign you need to spend a lot more time looking into it.
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I’ve spent a lot of time looking into it. Maybe you can point out some things I might have missed.
halogirl said:
This is all you need. Make it Yr reality.
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Because of my social disorder, I personally need specific guidance on how to live my life. I follow the rules by the book, and if there are no rules specifically stated, I feel morally lost and unable to guide myself. I am terrible at making inferences and interpreting texts; thus it must be specifically stated and not inferred or I won’t pick up on it on my own. I’d be happy to specify my social disorder and further explain if that would help you understand.
 
I know you’ve pretty much already made your decision. However, I’d urge you to read the catechism and see that the Church doesn’t leave things up to individuals as much as it may seem at a glance.
 
You need not do that but I have worked with a lot of students with ASD, ADHD, ODD, and many many more so I realise that routine and structure may be super important to you and the importance of knowing what is coming next. In the Catholic Church you will always know what to Expect in terms of how the year is structured, when to show up, what to do when you screw up and how to treat others. You get the Sacraments which set you up for life and the confidence of knowing you are forgiven every time you confess and actually have the joy and privilege partaking of Jesus Himself at every mass. You don’t need to go knocking on doors to show love where you are at and there is a lot going of for specifically, Catholic youth. I don’t envy you having a strict dad and writing essays but Catholicism is so much more than that. Try to remember that your Dad is acting out of love xx I’d also say finish your studying enjoy your friends and activities you have so much Potential
 
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I understand that everyone has their own way to show love. I personally want to go into law enforcement so I can serve my community. I think that’s my calling. Charity work isn’t really my style, I think it’s important to keep things from getting worse before they can get better. LDS don’t do the door-to-door stuff anymore, at least as far as I’m aware. They’re more focused on leading by example than annoyance.
 
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