Pros and Cons of Mormonism

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Soc,

Thanks for asking for comments you might have missed. I made a few that I thought important to consider in the discussion but I don’t see them on your list. Maybe I missed them 🙂 but just in case, I’ll repost them here.

God bless you in your search for His Truth…
truthsilence said:
There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”, the goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.
Click to expand...
It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need. There are always “blessings for myself” attached to obedience, and even for service to others.
Click to expand...
The biggest conflict of doctrine for me, and one of the main reasons I ultimately left the LDS church:
The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end. You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
Click to expand...
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
Pros and Cons of Mormonism:

Pros

  1. *]The LDS welfare system to help those in need is without peer.

    The Mormon “welfare system” helps their own. This is hardly something to crow about if claiming to be a “christian” sect.

    Robert
Click to expand...
 
BartBurk said:
I discovered the Book of Mormon was a fraud. Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel. One of the main purposes of the Book of Mormon, to convert the Lamanites, is totally bogus since there are no Lamanites anywhere.
Click to expand...
I’ll add that one too, Bart. 👍

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.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
 
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.
    *]Joseph Smith was a fraud. For example, he received revelations and compiled the Book of Commandments, but they were later changed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
    *]Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them.
    *]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.
    *]The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection.
    *]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.”
    *]You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
    *]Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more?
    *]Women are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
    *]Apparently the belief is that God is falable.
    *]Mormon prophets had difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
    *]The Book of Mormon is a fraud, as Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel, and there are no Lamanites.
    http://www.thesweetscience.com/images/2221/michigan_checkmark_240x230_112304.jpg
 
TOmNossor said:
Socrates4Jesus,
Hmmm!
I would be happy to have a 1:1 discussion with you about any subject relative to the truth claims of the CoJCoLDS as opposed to Catholicism (you pick one subject and I pick one). I got tired of this thread because I am a weak person easily overwhelmed.
However, I think few of your cons are well formulated. And none of you cons are disqualifying of the truth of the CoJCoLDS.

I think on important issues like the apostasy / restoration LDS win.

I think Catholic philosophic problems produce internal contradictions that render reasoned based acceptance of Catholicism problematic or impossible.
Here are my two attempts to discussed such “fatal flaws.”
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=217571
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=217932

So, I would suggest if the Con’s list was 10x as long and the Pro’s list half as long, “fatal flaws” within either Catholicism or Mormonism would render reasoned based acceptance of either theology impossible. The LDS theology I embrace does not have fatal flaws as best I can determine.
Charity, TOm
Click to expand...
Thank you for your charity, Tom! 👍

I should point out that this is not my list. I’ve added nothing to it. It is your list and the list of everyone else who was charitable enough to post a reply.

Regarding Catholicism, i appreciate the info, but i am not Roman Catholic (at least not yet). I suppose you might call me an Evangelical, but much of what is seen as Evangelical is not what i believe, and i’m always questioning what i believe to see what is true and what is not. I follow wisdom and Truth, wherever they lead me.

Yes, i realize that it would be easy to become overwhelmed by all of the possible topics that might spin off from this list of pros and cons. That is one reason why i started this discussion thread, so that your or i or others might see how many varied opinions there are on the reasons to accept or reject Mormonism.

It is not my intention to address all the points for or against your religion, but i see nothing wrong with others choosing to use this discussion thread to entertain their own discussions about one or more of these pros or cons. I think what i will do is focus in on one or two or a few that i personally find worth pursuing and see what others have to say to me.

Regarding your offer, Tom, to have a one-on-one conversation with me, i welcome that! With this goal in mind, i’m curious about something: Do you think the best, and strongest, and most compelling reason to become a Mormon is already in the list, or is there another reason that you think i should consider?

🤷
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
That’s my prayer every day, Like, especially when trying to make an important decision such as this.

👍
Click to expand...
If it is your prayer that the HS will guide you, keep in mind that the Mormons do not consider the HS to be a person, or a member of the Trinity, but an “it”.
 
truthsilence said:
Soc,

Thanks for asking for comments you might have missed. I made a few that I thought important to consider in the discussion but I don’t see them on your list. Maybe I missed them 🙂 but just in case, I’ll repost them here.

God bless you in your search for His Truth.
Click to expand...
Thank you, TS, i certainly need His blessing!

🙂
 
truthsilence said:
…

Quote:
There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”, the goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.

Quote:
It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need. There are always “blessings for myself” attached to obedience, and even for service to others.

The biggest conflict of doctrine for me, and one of the main reasons I ultimately left the LDS church:

Quote:
The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end. You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
Click to expand...
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.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
 
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.
    *]Joseph Smith was a fraud. For example, he received revelations and compiled the Book of Commandments, but they were later changed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
    *]Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them.
    *]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.
    *]The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection.
    *]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.”
    *]You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
    *]Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more?
    *]Women are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
    *]Apparently the belief is that God is falable.
    *]Mormon prophets had difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
    *]The Book of Mormon is a fraud, as Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel, and there are no Lamanites.
    *]There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”.
    *]The goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.
    *]It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need.
    *]The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end.
    *]You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
    http://www.thedentistshelper.com/Images/Checkmark.jpg
 
Rbt_Southwell said:
The Mormon “welfare system” helps their own. This is hardly something to crow about if claiming to be a “christian” sect.

Robert
Click to expand...
Thanks, Robert. 👍

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.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
 
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.
    *]Joseph Smith was a fraud. For example, he received revelations and compiled the Book of Commandments, but they were later changed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
    *]Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them.
    *]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.
    *]The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection.
    *]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.”
    *]You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
    *]Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more?
    *]Women are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
    *]Apparently the belief is that God is falable.
    *]Mormon prophets had difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
    *]The Book of Mormon is a fraud, as Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel, and there are no Lamanites.
    *]There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”.
    *]The goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.
    *]It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need.
    *]The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end.
    *]You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
    *]The Mormon “welfare system” helps only their own.
    http://www.pephost.org/images/content/pagebuilder/11253.jpg
 
guanophore said:
If it is your prayer that the HS will guide you, keep in mind that the Mormons do not consider the HS to be a person, or a member of the Trinity, but an “it”.
Click to expand...
Interesting, Guano; thank you for pointing that out. 🙂

**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.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
 
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.
    *]Joseph Smith was a fraud. For example, he received revelations and compiled the Book of Commandments, but they were later changed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
    *]Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them.
    *]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.
    *]The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection.
    *]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.”
    *]You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
    *]Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more?
    *]Women are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
    *]Apparently the belief is that God is falable.
    *]Mormon prophets had difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
    *]The Book of Mormon is a fraud, as Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel, and there are no Lamanites.
    *]There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”.
    *]The goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.
    *]It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need.
    *]The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end.
    *]You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
    *]The Mormon “welfare system” helps only their own.
    *]Mormons do not consider the HS to be a person, or a member of the Trinity, but an “it”.
    http://www.lhaecpta.org/images/checkmark.gif
 
Con: Confession in the Mormon Church does not seem to be confidential.
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
Thank you, Like. I know you do not believe Mormonism is Christian. If you will not tell me why it is not for fear of offending thoughtful Mormons, perhaps someone else will?

I personally do not find it offensive when someone disagrees with me, unless the person falsely slanders my character without good cause. However, you may send me a private message with your honest opinions, if you like.

🙂

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_th...7/2/istockphoto_1845847_check_list_on_pad.jpg

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.
    Cons

    1. *]Mormonism is not really a Christian religion.
Click to expand...

    1. Mormons do not believe in the divinity of Christ, which is basic to Christianiity.
 
Catholic20064 said:
Con: Confession in the Mormon Church does not seem to be confidential.
Click to expand...
Glad you added to the list, Catholic! 👍

**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.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
 
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.
    *]Joseph Smith was a fraud. For example, he received revelations and compiled the Book of Commandments, but they were later changed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
    *]Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them.
    *]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.
    *]The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection.
    *]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.”
    *]You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
    *]Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more?
    *]Women are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
    *]Apparently the belief is that God is falable.
    *]Mormon prophets had difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
    *]The Book of Mormon is a fraud, as Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel, and there are no Lamanites.
    *]There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”.
    *]The goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.
    *]It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need.
    *]The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end.
    *]You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
    *]The Mormon “welfare system” helps only their own.
    *]Mormons do not consider the HS to be a person, or a member of the Trinity, but an “it”.
    *]Confession in the Mormon Church does not seem to be confidential.
    http://www.quickutz.com/images/DieSet/checkmark-02.gif
 
Socrates4Jesus said:
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.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
Click to expand...

  1. Please note: I believe 18 and 19 were ment to be sarcastic, so i’m moving them to the Cons list.

    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.
    *]Joseph Smith was a fraud. For example, he received revelations and compiled the Book of Commandments, but they were later changed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
    *]Mormons are not allowed to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost, nor are they permitted to worship them.
    *]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.
    *]The mormon church sets your grooming standard and fashion selection.
    *]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.”
    *]You can “retranslate” your “scripture” (the BoM and other soporific tomes) into “better” English as your theology changes.
    *]Every man a priest, every man a god. Need I say more?
    *]Women are beholden to menfolk (we mormons rule planets!)
    *]Apparently the belief is that God is falable.
    *]Mormon prophets had difficulties with ancient Egyptian.
    *]The Book of Mormon is a fraud, as Native Americans come from Asia, not Israel, and there are no Lamanites.
    *]There is not enough focus on Jesus Christ, and far too much focus on the Church being true, the BOM and LDS prophets being “true”.
    *]The goal of going to the temple to have your family sealed to you for eternity, and staying worthy enough to be able to do so. These things are emphasized and talked about far more than Jesus Christ is.
    *]It is a “blessings-for-me” theology and mentality. I pay my tithe, and I am given entrance to the temple. I think this puts too much focus on doing things, and even giving charitable donations for purposes of self rather than on simply helping those in need.
    *]The doctrine that God was once a man just like any other man; who lived on an earth and progressed to Godhood. This is in direct conflict with what God has said of himself. He said he is Eternally God. The Great I AM. He Who Is. Without beginning or end.
    *]You can believe Jesus or you can believe Joseph Smith. The contradiction is too great to believe them both.
    *]The Mormon “welfare system” helps only their own.
    *]Mormons do not consider the HS to be a person, or a member of the Trinity, but an “it”.
    *]Confession in the Mormon Church does not seem to be confidential.
    *]You dont have to think for yourself. You simply believe what you are told to, no matter how bizzare it sounds.
    *]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).
    http://www.uth.tmc.edu/ms_erc/images/checkmark.gif
 
http://sky.fit.qut.edu.au/~lefevre/notice.jpg

OK, the list of pros and cons is so long it won’t all fit in one post! I believe it is nearing completion, but i’d like the list to be as complete as possible.

I also realize that i might have missed or misquoted someone. If anyone has anything more to add to the list that you think is important to consider in the discussion, please speak now, or forever hold your peace. I’ll wait until after this time tomorrow (about 24 hours) to make any of your last-minute additions.

I really appreciate each one of your contributions! You have all really given me a lot to think about. Once we finalize the list, i hope you will all help me analyze the list, so that we might begin crossing those pros or cons off that are false, or not applicable, or repetitive, or otherwise should be removed.
 
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