Pros and Cons of Mormonism

  • Thread starter Thread starter Socrates4Jesus
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
2 Nephi 5:21 says,

“And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, and they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.”

3 Nephi 2:15. reads:

*“And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites.”
*

Second LDS President Brigham Young stated in 1859, “You may inquire of the intelligent of the world whether they can tell why the aborigines of this country are dark, loathsome, ignorant, and sunken into the depths of degradation …When the Lord has a people, he makes covenants with them and gives unto them promises: then, if they transgress his law, change his ordinances, and break his covenants he has made with them, he will put a mark upon them, as in the case of the Lamanites and other portions of the house of Israel; but by-and-by they will become a white and delightsome people” (Journal of Discourses 7:336).

At the October 1960 LDS Church Conference, Spencer Kimball stated how the Indians “are fast becoming a white and delightsome people.” He said, *“The [Indian] children in the home placement program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation” *(Improvement Era, December 1960, pp. 922-3).

During the same message Kimball referred to a 16-year-old Indian girl who was both LDS and *“several shades lighter than her parents…” *He went on to say, “These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness. One white elder jokingly said that he and his companion were donating blood regularly to the hospital in the hope that the process might be accelerated.”

so in context the LDS position is that the native americans were a covenant race who had fallen into depravity by rejecting the “true” gospel. they thus became dark skinned (and worse) so as not to be attractive to the white and delightsome peoples. BUT there was a promise that other people would come later and offer them the BoM. those who accept it will become white and delightsome.
 
ibkc said:
Hmmmm, I’m not sure how taking them away from their parents in the hope that their skin would turn white can be considered a wholly helpful or benign program. In fact, to me it seems rather cruel: “come live with us, and be white too!” I guess when viewed in the continuum of history, it’s a heck of a lot better than just killing or enslaving them all, but it is still far from something to be proud of, IMO.
Click to expand...
Did you read this from my previous post above:

Furthermore, the story makes it clear that Native American children were not “spirited away,” but were placed in foster homes at the request of their natural parents, who often preferred the Program to the boarding school alternative.
 
When all is written about the pros and cons of Mormonism, there is only one fact that is important. Joseph Smith was a fraud as easily determined by looking at the evidence with regards to the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham. Even the Doctrine and Covenants witnesses against Joseph Smith. Joseph received revelations and compiled them in the Book of Commandments. A few years later they were republished in the Doctrine and Covenants with extensive and significant changes:

irr.org/mit/boc/

Joseph Smith could never get it right the first time.
 
why_me said:
Did you read this from my previous post above:

Furthermore, the story makes it clear that Native American children were not “spirited away,” but were placed in foster homes at the request of their natural parents, who often preferred the Program to the boarding school alternative.
Click to expand...
Yes, I saw it, but I am not sure I believe it, to be honest. Even if I believe it, to get the parents to agree to it there had to be some dishonesty involved. I’m not sure why you’re so bent on defending the rather horrid racism of the LDS church. The attitudes of dark=cursed and light=blessed occur all over 19th century and early-to-mid 20th century thought and are condemned everywhere. The LDS church does not deserve a pass.
 
Con: If you, Socrates4Jesus, are accustomed to praying to Jesus, you would not be permitted to continue the practice as a Mormon. Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them. They are allowed to pray only to the Heavenly Father.

Paul
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
I’m the kind who, when i make up my mind that something is the right course to pursue, stays on that path until i reach my destination or die trying. I’ve decided to seriously consider whether Mormonism is the right way for me.

Please tell me what you think is the best, strongest, most convincing reason to accept or reject Mormonism. More importantly, please tell me why. I’m hoping for a wide range of opinions pro and con.

http://101151.agchurches.org/SiteFiles/101151/Content/Media/One_way.jpg
Click to expand...
Con: If you are mormon, if/when you marry that perfect mormon mate, in a mormon temple, none of your non-mormon family will be allowed to attend your wedding ceremony.

Those “unworthy” family members get to wait outside the mormon temple during the ceremony. After you have been married, and exit the temple together, your family can congratulate you.

As children cannot attend the ceremony either, your “unworthy” adult family member may wind up the babysitter of these children.
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
The Bible teaches, and the early church acknowledges, that men can actually become gods.
Click to expand...
It absolutely does not. Have you ever read the Bible. If you take it drastically out of context (like a heretic) then, maybe. However no where is this in the Bible or the Early Church.
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
I’m the kind who, when i make up my mind that something is the right course to pursue, stays on that path until i reach my destination or die trying. I’ve decided to seriously consider whether Mormonism is the right way for me.

Please tell me what you think is the best, strongest, most convincing reason to accept or reject Mormonism. More importantly, please tell me why. I’m hoping for a wide range of opinions pro and con.

http://101151.agchurches.org/SiteFiles/101151/Content/Media/One_way.jpg
Click to expand...
The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection. No beards allowed, unless of course you are purposely showing how disobedient you are…a rebel.

All men must wear white shirts and ties to church, every Sunday. A dark business suite, with jacket, is encouraged and required for anyone who is really serious about their mormonism.

Women must wear dresses or skirts to church and must keep the number of earrings in their ear to one per ear (at all times).

No piercings for men, at all, and no tattoos for anyone.

No sleeveless shirts for any adult, ever. No shorts for any adult that doesn’t hit your knee, ever.

Your underwear is the same as every other mormon. Pro: sitting in church, you know everyone is wearing the same underwear as you…fosters a community feeling.

Con:People do the “mormon underwear check”…looking for clues such as panty lines or shorts that are above the knee or sleeveless shirts…anyone not passing the underwear check are sending strong signals that they are on the road to apostasy. (Please pray for them.)
 
PROS of being a mormon:
  1. You can confidently claim anything (great apostasy; mark of cain; plural marriage; eternal progression; baptism of the dead; many gods and goddesses) without worrying about PROVING it, because mormons are the “the true church.”
  2. You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
  3. Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more??
  4. Wimmen are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
  5. Always a job in SLC for tithing priests.
  6. You can call yourself an “American Catholic” as if that term actually meant anything to anyone not from the mormon faith.
  7. You get to call Jews “gentiles.”
  8. You can dabble in demonic and shady rituals in big bronze bowls. Oops, did I say ‘demonic’?, I meant ‘masonic.’
  9. You can have Family Sunday, because you know those gentiles never do anything with their family.
  10. You can play basketball at “services.”
Hope this helps socrates

Robert
 
There is a free support site for disbelieving mormons that still attend their wards with their families. They do this usually to avoid family troubles even though they have trouble with the Mormon Doctrine, and the site is at www newordermormon dot org
and there is a forum there.
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
I’m the kind who, when i make up my mind that something is the right course to pursue, stays on that path until i reach my destination or die trying. I’ve decided to seriously consider whether Mormonism is the right way for me.

Please tell me what you think is the best, strongest, most convincing reason to accept or reject Mormonism. More importantly, please tell me why. I’m hoping for a wide range of opinions pro and con.
Click to expand...
Okay, Socrates. May I ask, just what did you gain from starting this rather silly and ridiculous thread?

zerinus
 
Pro: You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.

Pro: Its much easier to be a prophet. It doesnt matter if it doesnt come true, or we can fit events to suit your prophecy (even if they dont really fit).

Con: Apparently the belief is that God is falable. They are not false prophecies, God simply doesnt know what is going on when he gives the prophecies to his prophets.

Con: You will have difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
 
RebeccaJ said:
Your underwear is the same as every other mormon. Pro: sitting in church, you know everyone is wearing the same underwear as you…fosters a community feeling.

Con:People do the “mormon underwear check”…looking for clues such as panty lines or shorts that are above the knee or sleeveless shirts…anyone not passing the underwear check are sending strong signals that they are on the road to apostasy. (Please pray for them.)
Click to expand...
The temple garments have a distinctive neck-line (especially the men’s). They call it “the eternal smile” and it shows through most white dress shirts. Garment-wearing Mormon men choose white shirts that are thin enough so that the eternal smile will show.

Every now and then, a member would whisper to me fondly “I see your eternal smile”, meaning “I see you are one of us, a temple-worthy saint.” It gave me the creeps.

Paul
 
RAR said:
Thank you Socrates, but please disregard that one about divorce. I have been corrected.

RAR
Click to expand...
Done. 👍

**Pros and Cons of Mormonism:

Pros**

  1. *]There is a strong social support system among active members of the Latter Day Saints Church.
    *]The LDS wards do a better job at creating a sense of belonging than some other religious groups.
    *]Mormons emphasize strong, close, loving family ties.
    *]The LDS welfare system to help those in need is without peer.
    *]There are many well-meaning, good Mormons out there and they make great relatives and neighbors.
    *]In exchange for obeying the leaders of the LDS church, you get the social safety net.
    *]Properly understood LDS theology is Biblical theology.
    *]There are numerous problems with the BOM that have been used to discredit it, but on the whole I believe the answers to the problems and the positive evidences weight strongly in favor of the BOM.
    *]Early Christian history offers much reason to see an “Apostasy of Authority” and to see a restoration of various doctrines found within the CoJCoLDS.
    *]The Bible supports the LDS view of the Trinity.
    *]The Bible teaches, and the early church acknowledges, that men can actually become gods.
    *]The small group with a mission status promotes community.
    Cons

    1. *]Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.
      *]Mormons think they can become gods.
      *]There is absolutely zero linguistic, archaeological or historical support for anything claimed in the Book of Mormon and other LDS documents.
      *]Enjoyment of all that the community has to offer you socially and spiritually is contingent on you receiving a spiritual witness that the Church is true.
      *]They deny almost every line of the Apostle’s Creed.
      *]There is absolutely no archaeological or historical evidence to back up anything that Joseph Smith ever uttered or wrote down.
      *]Joseph Smith was likely a conman who used a self-made papacy to garner power and sexual conquest.
      *]Racism is the prevalent attitude among LDS.
      *]There are cases in which people who depart from the church lose all their friendships.
      *]The Mormons require 10% of your money to enter the LDS Temple. If you don’t pay them the 10% you aren’t allowed to attend your children’s weddings or any other weddings in the temple for that matter.
      *]If you don’t pay them their 10% they claim you will not make it into heaven so essentially you are paying for salvation.
      *]The problem with Mormonism is the simple fact that it is pseudo-christian if that and it is polytheistic in nature.
      *]Mormons are no different from the Jehovah’s Witnesses in how they warp the bible.
      *]The amount of control over your life that you must cede to LDS leaders is great: You are told how and when to serve.
      *]Your compliance with LDS rules will be monitored and your ability to participate in various functions will be affected. (If you don’t show that you meet the criteria you will not be allowed in the temple for example.)
      *]There is absolutely no accounting for tithing money: It goes to Salt Lake City and is spent without letting members know where it goes.
      *]Joseph’s vision seems to be weighted above Jesus’ words.
      *]The continued revelation is at times historically contradictory.
      *]-]Divorce is encouraged if your partner leaves the LDS faith. /-]
      *]Fallibility in moral character is allowable for prophets, for all have sinned. Fallibility in doctrinal utterances is inallowable. True prophets cannot utter false doctrine and remain prophets.
      *]Consider Brigham Young: He pronounced many false doctrines. If prophets can mistake speculation for doctrine, then how can they be trusted?
      *]While they oppose most abortions, Mormons don’t believe in the sanctity of life of the unborn.
      *]The one, single, only and perfect reason to irrefutably, undeniably and totally reject mormonism can be summed up in the two most profound words: Holy Eucharist.
      *]LDS teachings are being disproven by science (for example, DNA evidence shows no Isrealite ancestory in Native Americans).
      *]They ban alcohol and caffine.
      *]At one time, they taught that men can marry more than one woman.
      *]Some Mormons are not nice.
 
NewSeeker said:
Soc. - that’s quite a list you have there. I’d like to add some pros. I’m entering the Catholic Church next month, but I do see much value in the faith of my upbringing.
  1. Church programs for kids are very good. The primary program provides a solid grounding in morals.
  2. Recent survey research was conducted (I forget which university, but I can find a link and post it if you like) and showed that among all denominations, LDS teens engage in less premarital sex, drink less, attend church more, believe in God more, and have a greater degree of positive feelings toward parents.
  3. The church, especially under the administration of the late Gordon B. Hinckley, has worked hard to mainstream its image and has deemphasized to a considerable degree the idea that mormons are a “peculiar people” (this was once a point of pride for mormons). This, to me, is a good thing. Some of the more esoteric and controversial doctrines pronounced by Joseph Smith have also been deemphasized, if not renounced, as part of this process. This has resulted in substantial bridge building with people of other faiths and mormons generally aren’t viewed as odd nearly so frequently as in the past.
NS
Click to expand...
I’ll add those as well, New.

Pros and Cons of Mormonism:

Pros

  1. *]There is a strong social support system among active members of the Latter Day Saints Church.
    *]The LDS wards do a better job at creating a sense of belonging than some other religious groups.
    *]Mormons emphasize strong, close, loving family ties.
    *]The LDS welfare system to help those in need is without peer.
    *]There are many well-meaning, good Mormons out there and they make great relatives and neighbors.
    *]In exchange for obeying the leaders of the LDS church, you get the social safety net.
    *]Properly understood LDS theology is Biblical theology.
    *]There are numerous problems with the BOM that have been used to discredit it, but on the whole I believe the answers to the problems and the positive evidences weight strongly in favor of the BOM.
    *]Early Christian history offers much reason to see an “Apostasy of Authority” and to see a restoration of various doctrines found within the CoJCoLDS.
    *]The Bible supports the LDS view of the Trinity.
    *]The Bible teaches, and the early church acknowledges, that men can actually become gods.
    *]The small group with a mission status promotes community.
    *]Church programs for kids are very good.
    *]LDS teens engage in less premarital sex, drink less, attend church more, believe in God more, and have a greater degree of positive feelings toward parents.
    *]The church, especially under the administration of the late Gordon B. Hinckley, has worked hard to mainstream its image and has deemphasized to a considerable degree the idea that mormons are a “peculiar people”.
    Cons

    1. *]Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.
      *]Mormons think they can become gods.
      *]There is absolutely zero linguistic, archaeological or historical support for anything claimed in the Book of Mormon and other LDS documents.
      *]Enjoyment of all that the community has to offer you socially and spiritually is contingent on you receiving a spiritual witness that the Church is true.
      *]They deny almost every line of the Apostle’s Creed.
      *]There is absolutely no archaeological or historical evidence to back up anything that Joseph Smith ever uttered or wrote down.
      *]Joseph Smith was likely a conman who used a self-made papacy to garner power and sexual conquest.
      *]Racism is the prevalent attitude among LDS.
      *]There are cases in which people who depart from the church lose all their friendships.
      *]The Mormons require 10% of your money to enter the LDS Temple. If you don’t pay them the 10% you aren’t allowed to attend your children’s weddings or any other weddings in the temple for that matter.
      *]If you don’t pay them their 10% they claim you will not make it into heaven so essentially you are paying for salvation.
      *]The problem with Mormonism is the simple fact that it is pseudo-christian if that and it is polytheistic in nature.
      *]Mormons are no different from the Jehovah’s Witnesses in how they warp the bible.
      *]The amount of control over your life that you must cede to LDS leaders is great: You are told how and when to serve.
      *]Your compliance with LDS rules will be monitored and your ability to participate in various functions will be affected. (If you don’t show that you meet the criteria you will not be allowed in the temple for example.)
      *]There is absolutely no accounting for tithing money: It goes to Salt Lake City and is spent without letting members know where it goes.
      *]Joseph’s vision seems to be weighted above Jesus’ words.
      *]The continued revelation is at times historically contradictory.
      *]-]Divorce is encouraged if your partner leaves the LDS faith./-]
      *]Fallibility in moral character is allowable for prophets, for all have sinned. Fallibility in doctrinal utterances is inallowable. True prophets cannot utter false doctrine and remain prophets.
      *]Consider Brigham Young: He pronounced many false doctrines. If prophets can mistake speculation for doctrine, then how can they be trusted?
      *]While they oppose most abortions, Mormons don’t believe in the sanctity of life of the unborn.
      *]The one, single, only and perfect reason to irrefutably, undeniably and totally reject mormonism can be summed up in the two most profound words: Holy Eucharist.
      *]LDS teachings are being disproven by science (for example, DNA evidence shows no Isrealite ancestory in Native Americans).
      *]They ban alcohol and caffine.
      *]At one time, they taught that men can marry more than one woman.
      *]Some Mormons are not nice.
      http://www.topnotchtoastmasters.com/checkmark.gif
 
RAR said:
Pro: LDS don’t seem to take their faith for granted

If the LDS church becomes permanently established, I’d expect people may begin taking it for granted, but this is something I very much admire.
Click to expand...
Done.

Pros and Cons of Mormonism:

Pros

  1. *]There is a strong social support system among active members of the Latter Day Saints Church.
    *]The LDS wards do a better job at creating a sense of belonging than some other religious groups.
    *]Mormons emphasize strong, close, loving family ties.
    *]The LDS welfare system to help those in need is without peer.
    *]There are many well-meaning, good Mormons out there and they make great relatives and neighbors.
    *]In exchange for obeying the leaders of the LDS church, you get the social safety net.
    *]Properly understood LDS theology is Biblical theology.
    *]There are numerous problems with the BOM that have been used to discredit it, but on the whole I believe the answers to the problems and the positive evidences weight strongly in favor of the BOM.
    *]Early Christian history offers much reason to see an “Apostasy of Authority” and to see a restoration of various doctrines found within the CoJCoLDS.
    *]The Bible supports the LDS view of the Trinity.
    *]The Bible teaches, and the early church acknowledges, that men can actually become gods.
    *]The small group with a mission status promotes community.
    *]Church programs for kids are very good.
    *]LDS teens engage in less premarital sex, drink less, attend church more, believe in God more, and have a greater degree of positive feelings toward parents.
    *]The church, especially under the administration of the late Gordon B. Hinckley, has worked hard to mainstream its image and has deemphasized to a considerable degree the idea that mormons are a “peculiar people”.
    *]LDS don’t seem to take their faith for granted.
    Cons

    1. *]Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.
      *]Mormons think they can become gods.
      *]There is absolutely zero linguistic, archaeological or historical support for anything claimed in the Book of Mormon and other LDS documents.
      *]Enjoyment of all that the community has to offer you socially and spiritually is contingent on you receiving a spiritual witness that the Church is true.
      *]They deny almost every line of the Apostle’s Creed.
      *]There is absolutely no archaeological or historical evidence to back up anything that Joseph Smith ever uttered or wrote down.
      *]Joseph Smith was likely a conman who used a self-made papacy to garner power and sexual conquest.
      *]Racism is the prevalent attitude among LDS.
      *]There are cases in which people who depart from the church lose all their friendships.
      *]The Mormons require 10% of your money to enter the LDS Temple. If you don’t pay them the 10% you aren’t allowed to attend your children’s weddings or any other weddings in the temple for that matter.
      *]If you don’t pay them their 10% they claim you will not make it into heaven so essentially you are paying for salvation.
      *]The problem with Mormonism is the simple fact that it is pseudo-christian if that and it is polytheistic in nature.
      *]Mormons are no different from the Jehovah’s Witnesses in how they warp the bible.
      *]The amount of control over your life that you must cede to LDS leaders is great: You are told how and when to serve.
      *]Your compliance with LDS rules will be monitored and your ability to participate in various functions will be affected. (If you don’t show that you meet the criteria you will not be allowed in the temple for example.)
      *]There is absolutely no accounting for tithing money: It goes to Salt Lake City and is spent without letting members know where it goes.
      *]Joseph’s vision seems to be weighted above Jesus’ words.
      *]The continued revelation is at times historically contradictory.
      *]-]Divorce is encouraged if your partner leaves the LDS faith./-]
      *]Fallibility in moral character is allowable for prophets, for all have sinned. Fallibility in doctrinal utterances is inallowable. True prophets cannot utter false doctrine and remain prophets.
      *]Consider Brigham Young: He pronounced many false doctrines. If prophets can mistake speculation for doctrine, then how can they be trusted?
      *]While they oppose most abortions, Mormons don’t believe in the sanctity of life of the unborn.
      *]The one, single, only and perfect reason to irrefutably, undeniably and totally reject mormonism can be summed up in the two most profound words: Holy Eucharist.
      *]LDS teachings are being disproven by science (for example, DNA evidence shows no Isrealite ancestory in Native Americans).
      *]They ban alcohol and caffine.
      *]At one time, they taught that men can marry more than one woman.
      *]Some Mormons are not nice.
 
majick275 said:
I would add that mromonism is extremely ethnocentric. the promised land is america, the return of Christ will be in missouri, the “culture” of the LDS church is Utah. the chosen race is the tribe of joseph and of those Ephraim is “more chosen”. it is predominantly led by white americans of north european/scandinavian descent.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the addition, Majick. I’m assuming you believe this to be a con, as i would.

Pros and Cons of Mormonism:

Pros

  1. *]There is a strong social support system among active members of the Latter Day Saints Church.
    *]The LDS wards do a better job at creating a sense of belonging than some other religious groups.
    *]Mormons emphasize strong, close, loving family ties.
    *]The LDS welfare system to help those in need is without peer.
    *]There are many well-meaning, good Mormons out there and they make great relatives and neighbors.
    *]In exchange for obeying the leaders of the LDS church, you get the social safety net.
    *]Properly understood LDS theology is Biblical theology.
    *]There are numerous problems with the BOM that have been used to discredit it, but on the whole I believe the answers to the problems and the positive evidences weight strongly in favor of the BOM.
    *]Early Christian history offers much reason to see an “Apostasy of Authority” and to see a restoration of various doctrines found within the CoJCoLDS.
    *]The Bible supports the LDS view of the Trinity.
    *]The Bible teaches, and the early church acknowledges, that men can actually become gods.
    *]The small group with a mission status promotes community.
    *]Church programs for kids are very good.
    *]LDS teens engage in less premarital sex, drink less, attend church more, believe in God more, and have a greater degree of positive feelings toward parents.
    *]The church, especially under the administration of the late Gordon B. Hinckley, has worked hard to mainstream its image and has deemphasized to a considerable degree the idea that mormons are a “peculiar people”.
    *]LDS don’t seem to take their faith for granted.
    Cons

    1. *]Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.
      *]Mormons think they can become gods.
      *]There is absolutely zero linguistic, archaeological or historical support for anything claimed in the Book of Mormon and other LDS documents.
      *]Enjoyment of all that the community has to offer you socially and spiritually is contingent on you receiving a spiritual witness that the Church is true.
      *]They deny almost every line of the Apostle’s Creed.
      *]There is absolutely no archaeological or historical evidence to back up anything that Joseph Smith ever uttered or wrote down.
      *]Joseph Smith was likely a conman who used a self-made papacy to garner power and sexual conquest.
      *]Racism is the prevalent attitude among LDS.
      *]There are cases in which people who depart from the church lose all their friendships.
      *]The Mormons require 10% of your money to enter the LDS Temple. If you don’t pay them the 10% you aren’t allowed to attend your children’s weddings or any other weddings in the temple for that matter.
      *]If you don’t pay them their 10% they claim you will not make it into heaven so essentially you are paying for salvation.
      *]The problem with Mormonism is the simple fact that it is pseudo-christian if that and it is polytheistic in nature.
      *]Mormons are no different from the Jehovah’s Witnesses in how they warp the bible.
      *]The amount of control over your life that you must cede to LDS leaders is great: You are told how and when to serve.
      *]Your compliance with LDS rules will be monitored and your ability to participate in various functions will be affected. (If you don’t show that you meet the criteria you will not be allowed in the temple for example.)
      *]There is absolutely no accounting for tithing money: It goes to Salt Lake City and is spent without letting members know where it goes.
      *]Joseph’s vision seems to be weighted above Jesus’ words.
      *]The continued revelation is at times historically contradictory.
      *]-]Divorce is encouraged if your partner leaves the LDS faith./-]
      *]Fallibility in moral character is allowable for prophets, for all have sinned. Fallibility in doctrinal utterances is inallowable. True prophets cannot utter false doctrine and remain prophets.
      *]Consider Brigham Young: He pronounced many false doctrines. If prophets can mistake speculation for doctrine, then how can they be trusted?
      *]While they oppose most abortions, Mormons don’t believe in the sanctity of life of the unborn.
      *]The one, single, only and perfect reason to irrefutably, undeniably and totally reject mormonism can be summed up in the two most profound words: Holy Eucharist.
      *]LDS teachings are being disproven by science (for example, DNA evidence shows no Isrealite ancestory in Native Americans).
      *]They ban alcohol and caffine.
      *]At one time, they taught that men can marry more than one woman.
      *]Some Mormons are not nice.
      *]Mormonism is extremely ethnocentric.
      http://www.marshfield.uwc.edu/Checkmark-3.gif
 
truthsilence said:
Hi Newseeker! God bless you!

(more on racism)

Regarding an ‘Indian Placement Program’, which was in place between 1954 and 1996, matching Native American children (“Lamanites”) with LDS families, Spencer W. Kimball said this:

As a pro however, in 1978 as thirteenth Prophet and President of the LDS church, Spencer W. Kimball received a revelation from God that ALL worthy male members of the LDS church (including Blacks, who were previously denied ordination to the Priesthood due to skin color), should now be allowed to hold the Priesthood.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Silence. 🙂

Pros and Cons of Mormonism:

Pros

  1. *]There is a strong social support system among active members of the Latter Day Saints Church.
    *]The LDS wards do a better job at creating a sense of belonging than some other religious groups.
    *]Mormons emphasize strong, close, loving family ties.
    *]The LDS welfare system to help those in need is without peer.
    *]There are many well-meaning, good Mormons out there and they make great relatives and neighbors.
    *]In exchange for obeying the leaders of the LDS church, you get the social safety net.
    *]Properly understood LDS theology is Biblical theology.
    *]There are numerous problems with the BOM that have been used to discredit it, but on the whole I believe the answers to the problems and the positive evidences weight strongly in favor of the BOM.
    *]Early Christian history offers much reason to see an “Apostasy of Authority” and to see a restoration of various doctrines found within the CoJCoLDS.
    *]The Bible supports the LDS view of the Trinity.
    *]The Bible teaches, and the early church acknowledges, that men can actually become gods.
    *]The small group with a mission status promotes community.
    *]Church programs for kids are very good.
    *]LDS teens engage in less premarital sex, drink less, attend church more, believe in God more, and have a greater degree of positive feelings toward parents.
    *]The church, especially under the administration of the late Gordon B. Hinckley, has worked hard to mainstream its image and has deemphasized to a considerable degree the idea that mormons are a “peculiar people”.
    *]LDS don’t seem to take their faith for granted.
    *]Spencer W. Kimball said he received a revelation from God that ALL worthy male members of the LDS church (including Blacks, who were previously denied ordination to the Priesthood due to skin color), should now be allowed to hold the LDS Priesthood.
    Cons

    1. *]Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.
      *]Mormons think they can become gods.
      *]There is absolutely zero linguistic, archaeological or historical support for anything claimed in the Book of Mormon and other LDS documents.
      *]Enjoyment of all that the community has to offer you socially and spiritually is contingent on you receiving a spiritual witness that the Church is true.
      *]They deny almost every line of the Apostle’s Creed.
      *]There is absolutely no archaeological or historical evidence to back up anything that Joseph Smith ever uttered or wrote down.
      *]Joseph Smith was likely a conman who used a self-made papacy to garner power and sexual conquest.
      *]Racism is the prevalent attitude among LDS.
      *]There are cases in which people who depart from the church lose all their friendships.
      *]The Mormons require 10% of your money to enter the LDS Temple. If you don’t pay them the 10% you aren’t allowed to attend your children’s weddings or any other weddings in the temple for that matter.
      *]If you don’t pay them their 10% they claim you will not make it into heaven so essentially you are paying for salvation.
      *]The problem with Mormonism is the simple fact that it is pseudo-christian if that and it is polytheistic in nature.
      *]Mormons are no different from the Jehovah’s Witnesses in how they warp the bible.
      *]The amount of control over your life that you must cede to LDS leaders is great: You are told how and when to serve.
      *]Your compliance with LDS rules will be monitored and your ability to participate in various functions will be affected. (If you don’t show that you meet the criteria you will not be allowed in the temple for example.)
      *]There is absolutely no accounting for tithing money: It goes to Salt Lake City and is spent without letting members know where it goes.
      *]Joseph’s vision seems to be weighted above Jesus’ words.
      *]The continued revelation is at times historically contradictory.
      *]-]Divorce is encouraged if your partner leaves the LDS faith. /-]
      *]Fallibility in moral character is allowable for prophets, for all have sinned. Fallibility in doctrinal utterances is inallowable. True prophets cannot utter false doctrine and remain prophets.
      *]Consider Brigham Young: He pronounced many false doctrines. If prophets can mistake speculation for doctrine, then how can they be trusted?
      *]While they oppose most abortions, Mormons don’t believe in the sanctity of life of the unborn.
      *]The one, single, only and perfect reason to irrefutably, undeniably and totally reject mormonism can be summed up in the two most profound words: Holy Eucharist.
      *]LDS teachings are being disproven by science (for example, DNA evidence shows no Isrealite ancestory in Native Americans).
      *]They ban alcohol and caffine.
      *]At one time, they taught that men can marry more than one woman.
      *]Some Mormons are not nice.
      *]Mormonism is extremely ethnocentric.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top