Misunderstood By Mormon Friends

[T_Hope]

In my day to day life, I am surrounded by Mormons and having been one among them for so long, they have naturally become my friends. But just the other day, a well meaning friend (one of less than a handful) of whom I have told about my conversion to Catholicism, said (and she said this in all seriousness) “now that you are going to become Catholic you can do this and this with your boyfriend before you are married because Catholics can do that.”

REALLY?

Is this what she thinks about Catholics? Is this what she thinks of me? Is this what a lot of Mormons think?? As a Mormon I never did!

I knew there would be doctrinal misconceptions and other concerns … but morality issues? I’m feeling pretty bad about this.

What other surprises am I in for? Where did this misconception come from? And what is the best way to handle things like this?

I don’t know what the expression was on my face when she said that, but I did in fact, correct her. Still, it stings.

Hope

 

[CalCatholic]

Welcome to the Catholic Church! There are many misconceptions about the Church out there. My best advise to you is learn the truth about the Catholic Church, get a copy of the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ and show your friend what the Church truly believes. The Catechism is available everywhere and you can get a copy cheap (and is online). There is no excuse for any Christian (or other religious denomination) out there to pass on mis-information about the Catholic Church, when what she truly professes is so available. Good luck!

 

[Loboto-Me]

I think what your friend is seeing is the behaviour of people who call themselves Catholic but behave secularly.

It’s a well known fact that there are many Catholics out there that don’t practice and lost their way. These Catholics still consider themselves Catholic because it’s part of a culture as well.

In my early marriage and for about 15 years I was a non practicing Catholic. I didn’t think of myself as anything else but a Catholic, and although I went to Mass once in a blue moon, I also behaved as a secular/worldly person was. I had no desire to search for another religion, I was comfy in the situation I was. Although I wasn’t practicing, if someone asked me what faith I was, I’d say Catholic.

Obviously, that’s all changed now

I think there are many “Catholics” that are cultural and are sending out the wrong message to others of different faiths by behaving badly. I like the above suggestion for you to buy a Catechism to help show your friend that what the Church teaches and how some cafeteria and cultural Catholics behave are 2 different animals all together.

Welcome Home, may grace continue to light your way and keep you from making the mistakes that I did of taking your new faith for granted.

 

[PJM]

=T_Hope;6575061]In my day to day life, I am surrounded by Mormons and having been one among them for so long, they have naturally become my friends. But just the other day, a well meaning friend (one of less than a handful) of whom I have told about my conversion to Catholicism, said (and she said this in all seriousness) “now that you are going to become Catholic you can do this and this with your boyfriend before you are married because Catholics can do that.”

REALLY?

Is this what she thinks about Catholics? Is this what she thinks of me? Is this what a lot of Mormons think?? As a Mormon I never did!

I knew there would be doctrinal misconceptions and other concerns … but morality issues? I’m feeling pretty bad about this.

What other surprises am I in for? Where did this misconception come from? And what is the best way to handle things like this?

I don’t know what the expression was on my face when she said that, but I did in fact, correct her. Still, it stings.

Hope

Hope, try to understand and accept the fact that Mormons are a CULT; NOT a religion.

Mormons do NOT accept the same God we do [the Trinity], they have there own god’s [plural]

Mormons think Christ was ONLY a prophet and a nice guy

Mormons do accept either heaven or hell

Mormons do accept the Bible except as a tool for “debate”

Except for agreeing on Moral standards, we hold nothing in common.

What they hold to be fact about Catholics is indoctrination information. Not based on fact; but on what supports there cause. One should not expect any of it to be true and verifible.

You would be well advised to seek out Catholic friends.

Love and prayers,

 

[QuisUtDeus72]

T_Hope, I don’t know which state you’re in exactly, but I’m guessing it’s Utah . I grew up Mormon in Utah (obviously, I’m not one anymore!) and this sounds like the sort of sticky-sweet, pseudo-innocent, passive-aggressive reverse psychology tactic that I used to get from “the Mollies” when I chose to convert. Your friend might be trying to test both your moral fiber and your knowledge by playing on the common misperception that we Catholics are thinly disguised hypocrites when it comes to sexuality. Maybe she’s silently praying that you’ll change your mind if she passes along something she’s heard. You should not only use the Catechism to show her she’s wrong, but also gently and charitably let her know how offensive that statement is to you. And try bearing your testimony! That one just might throw her for a loop.

I once had an uber-Mormon boss who flat out told me (at work–no witnesses, unfortunately) that he knew a lot of Catholics and that it couldn’t be true because “…you’ll never hear a Catholic say that theirs is the one true and living church on the face of the earth.” (How’s that for logic?) From that moment on, I haven’t hesitated to state exactly that. So don’t let your friend’s ignorance discourage you. Keep the faith…“because the Catholic Church is TRUE!” (Sorry, couldn’t resist. )

 

[T_Hope]

Welcome to the Catholic Church! There are many misconceptions about the Church out there. My best advise to you is learn the truth about the Catholic Church, get a copy of the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ and show your friend what the Church truly believes.

Thank you, I did tell her what the Church believes and teaches. I have the Catechism. It’s a wonderful resource!

I think what your friend is seeing is the behaviour of people who call themselves Catholic but behave secularly.

It’s a well known fact that there are many Catholics out there that don’t practice and lost their way. These Catholics still consider themselves Catholic because it’s part of a culture as well…I think there are many “Catholics” that are cultural and are sending out the wrong message to others of different faiths by behaving badly. I like the above suggestion for you to buy a Catechism to help show your friend that what the Church teaches and how some cafeteria and cultural Catholics behave are 2 different animals all together.

Welcome Home, may grace continue to light your way and keep you from making the mistakes that I did of taking your new faith for granted.

I hadn’t thought of what you are saying here. Makes sense. Thank you!

You would be well advised to seek out Catholic friends.

Agreed.

At the same time, it’s very hard to leave a lifetime behind …

T_Hope, I don’t know which state you’re in exactly, but I’m guessing it’s Utah . I grew up Mormon in Utah (obviously, I’m not one anymore!) and this sounds like the sort of sticky-sweet, pseudo-innocent, passive-aggressive reverse psychology tactic that I used to get from “the Mollies” when I chose to convert. Your friend might be trying to test both your moral fiber and your knowledge by playing on the common misperception that we Catholics are thinly disguised hypocrites when it comes to sexuality. Maybe she’s silently praying that you’ll change your mind if she passes along something she’s heard. You should not only use the Catechism to show her she’s wrong, but also gently and charitably let her know how offensive that statement is to you. And try bearing your testimony! That one just might throw her for a loop.

I once had an uber-Mormon boss who flat out told me (at work–no witnesses, unfortunately) that he knew a lot of Catholics and that it couldn’t be true because “…you’ll never hear a Catholic say that theirs is the one true and living church on the face of the earth.” (How’s that for logic?) From that moment on, I haven’t hesitated to state exactly that. So don’t let your friend’s ignorance discourage you. Keep the faith…“because the Catholic Church is TRUE!” (Sorry, couldn’t resist. )

:yup: Thank you for the smile, I needed that today. Yes, I am in Utah - that big city about 40 miles north of “Happy Valley.” And yes, I know the “Mollies” well. And you know what else, in this case, I think you may also be right about the reverse psychology thing.

Hope

 

[QuisUtDeus72]

Hope, try to understand and accept the fact that Mormons are a CULT; NOT a religion.

Mormons do NOT accept the same God we do [the Trinity], they have there own god’s [plural]

Mormons think Christ was ONLY a prophet and a nice guy

Mormons do accept either heaven or hell

Mormons do accept the Bible except as a tool for “debate”

Except for agreeing on Moral standards, we hold nothing in common.

What they hold to be fact about Catholics is indoctrination information. Not based on fact; but on what supports there cause. One should not expect any of it to be true and verifible.

You would be well advised to seek out Catholic friends.

Well…some of what you said was true, PJM. But in all fairness, let’s not respond to misguided and misinformed half-truth with a healthy dose of the same. Mormonism, while it is full of heresy and Masonically-inspired speculation, is not a cult. It has some very cult-like aspects, but it isn’t on any reputable cult watchdog list that I know of.

Mormons also believe in the Bible. They just don’t see it as infallible. They think we heathen Catholics, after we no longer had the Apostles to set us straight, went through the entire thing and edited out what we didn’t like (which just so happened to correspond to some of Mormonism’s more “unique” aspects. I’ve yet to meet someone who can explain to me why a group of men with the hubris to re-write the Word of God to their own liking would take exception to the so-called “Doctrine of Exaltation”–the Mormon teaching that righteous men become gods. Seems to me that would be one of the things on the “stuff we keep” list…)

They also believe that Jesus is the Son of God…literally. They just don’t believe He is God. They think He earned His Divinity through His Passion. More than “just a prophet and a nice guy.”

They believe in their own unique version of Heaven and Hell. They even have their own version of Purgatory! (“Spirit Prison.”) However, what I was taught growing up was that only Satan and his angels go to Hell (only they call it “Outer Darkness”.) The only exceptions to that are people who have a sure knowledge of the truth (i.e., they see God or an angel, who tells them directly) and then they deny it outright, thus becoming “Sons of Perdition.” The rest of us get to be ministering angels and low-level heavenly bureaucrats.

 

[QuisUtDeus72]

Thank you for the smile, I needed that today.

Always happy to make somebody smile!

BTW: you don’t have to “walk away from a lifetime”. My kid and I are the only Catholics in my family (at the moment…) but we all still get together for Sunday dinner, and we still get along as well as any family. Just make sure they know where the boundaries are. Who knows? You might just make converts out of them…

And make some good, solidly Catholic friends!

 

[PJM]

=QuisUtDeus72;6575883]Well…some of what you said was true, PJM. But in all fairness, let’s not respond to misguided and misinformed half-truth with a healthy dose of the same. Mormonism, while it is full of heresy and Masonically-inspired speculation, is not a cult. It has some very cult-like aspects, but it isn’t on any reputable cult watchdog list that I know of.

Mormons also believe in the Bible. They just don’t see it as infallible. They think we heathen Catholics, after we no longer had the Apostles to set us straight, went through the entire thing and edited out what we didn’t like (which just so happened to correspond to some of Mormonism’s more “unique” aspects. I’ve yet to meet someone who can explain to me why a group of men with the hubris to re-write the Word of God to their own liking would take exception to the so-called “Doctrine of Exaltation”–the Mormon teaching that righteous men become gods. Seems to me that would be one of the things on the “stuff we keep” list…)

They also believe that Jesus is the Son of God…literally. They just don’t believe He is God. They think He earned His Divinity through His Passion. More than “just a prophet and a nice guy.”

They believe in their own unique version of Heaven and Hell. They even have their own version of Purgatory! (“Spirit Prison.”) However, what I was taught growing up was that only Satan and his angels go to Hell (only they call it “Outer Darkness”.) The only exceptions to that are people who have a sure knowledge of the truth (i.e., they see God or an angel, who tells them directly) and then they deny it outright, thus becoming “Sons of Perdition.” The rest of us get to be ministering angels and low-level heavenly bureaucrats.

Thanks for the info.,

 

[T_Hope]

Well…some of what you said was true, PJM. But in all fairness, let’s not respond to misguided and misinformed half-truth with a healthy dose of the same. Mormonism, while it is full of heresy and Masonically-inspired speculation, is not a cult. It has some very cult-like aspects, but it isn’t on any reputable cult watchdog list that I know of.

Mormons also believe in the Bible. They just don’t see it as infallible. They think we heathen Catholics, after we no longer had the Apostles to set us straight, went through the entire thing and edited out what we didn’t like (which just so happened to correspond to some of Mormonism’s more “unique” aspects. I’ve yet to meet someone who can explain to me why a group of men with the hubris to re-write the Word of God to their own liking would take exception to the so-called “Doctrine of Exaltation”–the Mormon teaching that righteous men become gods. Seems to me that would be one of the things on the “stuff we keep” list…)

They also believe that Jesus is the Son of God…literally. They just don’t believe He is God. They think He earned His Divinity through His Passion. More than “just a prophet and a nice guy.”

They believe in their own unique version of Heaven and Hell. They even have their own version of Purgatory! (“Spirit Prison.”) However, what I was taught growing up was that only Satan and his angels go to Hell (only they call it “Outer Darkness”.) The only exceptions to that are people who have a sure knowledge of the truth (i.e., they see God or an angel, who tells them directly) and then they deny it outright, thus becoming “Sons of Perdition.” The rest of us get to be ministering angels and low-level heavenly bureaucrats.

Thank you for this clarifying post. I especially like the last thing you said which was “The rest of us get to be ministering angels and low-level heavenly bureaucrats.”

Just for fun I will share with you that when I interviewed for a position at the Headquarters of the LDS church years ago (I did actually get a job and worked there for some 5 years) one of my interviewer’s first question was “Can you spell bureaucracy?” I was lucky and got it right.

 

[Big_Dummy]

Hi T Hope you are experiencing something from their own culture, known as “Jack Mormon”.

A person who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but seldom or never practices their religion. Unlike ex-Mormons or anti-Mormons, Jack Mormons usually support the goals and beliefs of the church and maintain friendships with practicing Mormons, but for reasons of their own choose not to attend church services and activities. Jack Mormons **may also indulge in activities discouraged by the church, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and premarital sex. **

urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jack%20mormon

You need only talk about Christian ethics and live them, hopefully to change their opinon of you.

You may want to point out that there are C & E Christians who are practical atheists who only go to church on christmas and easter.

 

[Big_Dummy]

Also, Joseph Smith taught,

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all awrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those bprofessors were all ccorrupt; that: “they ddraw near to me with their lips, but their ehearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the fcommandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the gpower thereof.”

scriptures.lds.org/js_h/1

With their low view of other religions and their cultural concept of “jack mormon” it is not surprising that a LDS here and there would join these prejudes to reach such an off the wall conclusion.