Seeking a balanced description of Mormoninsm

[rpp]

I can see that your mind is closed which is fine. But this presentation is very educational and I know that it contains information that you do not know. It is very balanced. I am also encouraging the mormons to listen to it on mormonapologetics because of its content. Many of those people do not know the facts on this podcast complete with slides either.

Throwing quotations into the mix is not a way to discuss. I have repeatedly claimed that no one is perfect and that we all make mistakes, even lds prophets were/are human beings as were/are popes.

Also, no one has addressed the websites that I have included on this thread. Why? because minds and hearts are closed, unfortunately.

Referring to the text in bold…

I do not believe it is a matter of a “closed” or “open” mind. That is a pejorative statement and not conducive to communication. It reveals more about the writer than the person you are responding to. It implies that your real purpose is not to inform, but convert. That is against forum rules. (applies to Catholics too.)

I would argue that majick275 has learned the truth about the Catholic Church and no longer feels the need to spend his time chasing down information about a topic in which he is already well versed.

 

[rpp]

I can see that your mind is closed which is fine. But this presentation is very educational and I know that it contains information that you do not know. It is very balanced. I am also encouraging the mormons to listen to it on mormonapologetics because of its content. Many of those people do not know the facts on this podcast complete with slides either.

Throwing quotations into the mix is not a way to discuss. I have repeatedly claimed that no one is perfect and that we all make mistakes, even lds prophets were/are human beings as were/are popes.

Also, no one has addressed the websites that I have included on this thread. Why? because minds and hearts are closed, unfortunately.

that is not true. I DID listen to it. I HAVE gone to your links and they did not contain anything I had not been exposed to while I was LDS. It is YOU with the closed mind who chooses to just blow off everything I have presented. When LDS prophets speak to the LDS church in general conference and then those teachings are put into lesson manuals AND those teachings are in the LDS SCRIPTURES how can you say they were just men who made mistakes? they don’t think they made mistakes. if YOU would listen to Gordon Hinkley HE doesn’t think they made mistakes. NO LDS prophet has denounced or “corrected” ANY of those things that I referred to. If the LDS leaders don’t say it was wrong and the LDS scriptures contain those teachings today then why on earth do you just give them a pass? BTW you still haven’t answered the question which church is the one that GOD established and presides over today?

Referring to the text in bold…

WhyMe, I do not believe it is a matter of a “closed” or “open” mind. That is a pejorative statement and not conducive to communication. It reveals more you than the person you are responding to. It implies that your real purpose is not to inform, but convert. That is against forum rules. (applies to Catholics too.)

Majick275’s use was in response to yours usage.

I would argue that majick275 has learned the truth about the Catholic Church and no longer feels the need to spend his time chasing down information about a topic in which he is already well versed.

The purpose of this thread if not to convert anyone, but for non-Mormons to gain and understanding of Mormonism. Pejorative terms are not helpful.

I would add that Majick275 makes some very good points.

It all comes back to something I said earlier, when a religion changes it’s doctrine, it can be concluded with certainty they they do not have the full (if any) of the Deposit of Faith. We have seen that Mormon teachings in the areas of both faith and morals has changed. Not developed, but changed. What was once forbidden is now allowed, what was once allowed is now forbidden, and earlier writing must be repudiated by commentators.

 

[RC_Matt]

And of course, I could bring up the controversy with the pope and the holocaust.

Well, you HAVE brought it up and it certainly is controversial. It is estimated that Pius and the Catholic Church saved approximately 860,000 Jews from the Holocaust; he was praised by Albert Einstien, Golda Mier, the Hebrew Commission, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, the first Prime Minister of Israel, and numerous others. That would mean that the Catholic Church saved more Jews from the Holocaust than any other entity, save the allied armies. You can believe what you like; but I would tend to rely more upon the then contemporary reports, than on modern rewrites and reinterpretations of history that may serve certain political interests.

On the other hand, I understand that Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun have been posthumously baptized as Mormons and their marriage has been “sealed” in the temple. Please do correct me if I am misinformed.

 

[why_me]

Referring to the text in bold…

WhyMe, I do not believe it is a matter of a “closed” or “open” mind. That is a pejorative statement and not conducive to communication. It reveals more you than the person you are responding to. It implies that your real purpose is not to inform, but convert. That is against forum rules. (applies to Catholics too.)

Majick275’s use was in response to yours usage.

.

I see no reference that Majick listened to the video. As far as I could see, he did not refer to any of its contents. Also, no one has referred to the contents of the other links that I posted. The title of this thread is to seek a **balanced description **of mormonism.
I am sticking to the title of the thread. I am posting information that may give a balanced view of mormonism or to allow people to come to a more balanced view of mormonism. However for many of the catholic posters, a balanced view or description is not possible.

And so, the thead is useless. And that is my point. And that is unfortunate. But for the original poster of this thread, maybe he or she can now attempt to get a more balanced view of the mormon church by viewing some of my links and by listening to the podcast about blacks and the priesthood.

 

[psyche23]

I see no reference that Majick listened to the video. As far as I could see, he did not refer to any of its contents. Also, no one has referred to the contents of the other links that I posted. The title of this thread is to seek a **balanced description **of mormonism.
I am sticking to the title of the thread. I am posting information that may give a balanced view of mormonism or to allow people to come to a more balanced view of mormonism. However for many of the catholic posters, a balanced view or description is not possible.

And so, the thead is useless. And that is my point. And that is unfortunate. But for the original poster of this thread, maybe he or she can now attempt to get a more balanced view of the mormon church by viewing some of my links and by listening to the podcast about blacks and the priesthood.

Just because people haven’t responded doesn’t mean they didn’t look at your links. I’ve refrained from responding as best I could because I wanted to hear what others had to say on the subject and I was tired of explaining myself numerous times. Not that it’s not good, but I can only take so much online arguing over the same subject. So people not responding does in no way mean that those of us who are reading have not looked at the links.

Also, people may have read the threads and feel like I do about not wanting to get in the middle of this heated discussion. They may agree or disagree. We’ll probably never know. But it’s not up to you or me or anyone else to say that they ignored what you wrote.

The other way to see it is that this thread is now quite long, and people may not want to read all the way to the end if they haven’t started out reading from the beginning of the posts. So your assessment of the situation leaves out quite a few variables that you should take into consideration before claiming everyone on the site doesn’t care about seeing your side of stuff.

 

[majick275]

I see no reference that Majick listened to the video. As far as I could see, he did not refer to any of its contents. Also, no one has referred to the contents of the other links that I posted. The title of this thread is to seek a **balanced description **of mormonism.
I am sticking to the title of the thread. I am posting information that may give a balanced view of mormonism or to allow people to come to a more balanced view of mormonism. However for many of the catholic posters, a balanced view or description is not possible.

And so, the thead is useless. And that is my point. And that is unfortunate. But for the original poster of this thread, maybe he or she can now attempt to get a more balanced view of the mormon church by viewing some of my links and by listening to the podcast about blacks and the priesthood.

how can you say this? I specifically talked about Elijah Abel. Your link was ONLY about people of African ancestry in the LDS church. It does nothing to answer the BoM statements about teh Lamanites. In it Gordon Hinkley NEVER denounces any previous teachings nor does he “correct” them. Even in the case of Elijah Abel he conveniently leaves out “the rest of the story” about his children and their children after under Brigham young. how can we have a balanced discussion if you insist that LDS scriptures, teachings of their prophets and Apostles, lesson manuals, etc. are just “suggestions” made by imperfect men? We have to look at what the LDS church taught in the beginning, the present and how any changes occurred. I don’t think it a fair assessment to only discusss what we like about them or what wish they taught or hope they will teach in the future. The fact is that you are ignoring what the LDS church says it teaches in order to be cheerleader for them because you like the way your daughters have turned out and attribute that to the LDS church. I think it’s great that your children are good people. If the LDS church helped with that okay. I think you had more to do with their character than that church but either way great! I just wish you would quit dodging the issue here about your supposed catholicism. your posts indicate that your position is at odds with BOTH churches. SO once again I ask you which church do you believe God founded and presides over today? it’s a simple question and since it’s what you believe there is no wrong answer. I think it important to know the answer in order to put your opinions in the proper context.

 

[why_me]

Just because people haven’t responded doesn’t mean they didn’t look at your links. I’ve refrained from responding as best I could because I wanted to hear what others had to say on the subject and I was tired of explaining myself numerous times. Not that it’s not good, but I can only take so much online arguing over the same subject. So people not responding does in no way mean that those of us who are reading have not looked at the links.

Also, people may have read the threads and feel like I do about not wanting to get in the middle of this heated discussion. They may agree or disagree. We’ll probably never know. But it’s not up to you or me or anyone else to say that they ignored what you wrote.

The other way to see it is that this thread is now quite long, and people may not want to read all the way to the end if they haven’t started out reading from the beginning of the posts. So your assessment of the situation leaves out quite a few variables that you should take into consideration before claiming everyone on the site doesn’t care about seeing your side of stuff.

I can agree with you. However, when there is a thread about mormonism usually exmormons jump in and begin to post many negatives. They are experts in this. They copy and paste from many sites that could be considered antimormon. I can also do this if I wanted to. I can copy and paste from anticatholic sites. But in the end, it would not advance dialogue.

I don’t want lds church leaders to be called liars, frauds, sex fiends etc. It is insulting. And I wouldn’t want people saying negative comments about popes and other catholic leaders. What would be the point to it?

The posters who are exmormons who are hyper-critical of mormonism have ignored the points from my links. As have the never mormon catholics who have posted negative comments about the lds church. They certainly haven’t responded. And that is okay. But to copy and paste the same quotations over and over again does not help much and to engage in name calling certainly doesn’t help. It is also unchristian. I try not to do it. However, in this instance I just showed that it could be done, if desired. The web is filled with anticatholicisms as it is in antimormonisms.

In my humble opinion, the exmormon catholics wish to attack any thead that deals with the lds church. At least that is my observation. But I am just a human being, after all. Thanks for your post.

 

[why_me]

how can you say this? I specifically talked about Elijah Abel. Your link was ONLY about people of African ancestry in the LDS church. It does nothing to answer the BoM statements about teh Lamanites. In it Gordon Hinkley NEVER denounces any previous teachings nor does he “correct” them. Even in the case of Elijah Abel he conveniently leaves out “the rest of the story” about his children and their children after under Brigham young. .

The podcast does deal with Elijah Abel’s off spring. It also deals with Elijah Abel’s death. It is not very flattering toward the GA’s at that time. The podcast was sponsored by John Dehlin. And the interviewees were a man and a woman. The man is an African American who has been a mormon for years. He does a great job in this podcast showing the flaws in the early leaders, especially Brigham Young and Orson Hyde. He also showed just how Joseph F. Smith (not to be confused with Joseph Smith) flipflopped when he became the prophet on blacks and the priesthood using Abel as an example. However both the man and the woman hold temple recommends and so they are active in the lds church.

I thought that it was pretty balanced and that is why I posted it. I didn’t hear Gordon B. Hinckley at all in the podcast. But he was mentioned at the end.

 

[rpp]

I see no reference that Majick listened to the video. As far as I could see, he did not refer to any of its contents. Also, no one has referred to the contents of the other links that I posted. The title of this thread is to seek a **balanced description **of mormonism.
I am sticking to the title of the thread. I am posting information that may give a balanced view of mormonism or to allow people to come to a more balanced view of mormonism. However for many of the catholic posters, a balanced view or description is not possible.

And so, the thead is useless. And that is my point. And that is unfortunate. But for the original poster of this thread, maybe he or she can now attempt to get a more balanced view of the mormon church by viewing some of my links and by listening to the podcast about blacks and the priesthood.

As I am the OP for this thread, I pretty much know what the intention of the original poster is.

Aside from the fact that Majick said he listened to it, I do not know how you can justify the first sentence. Unless you are implying that he lied, which is not a very charitable thing to do.

Just because people do no fall over each other thanking you for the links, which I will add are not terribly helpful, especially audio links, does not mean that they did not look at them.

I will admit that I did not listen to the audio. Nor have I read the very lengthy articles you (and others) provided either. Why not? Well I said it in the original post that I wanted a high-level summary. I do not have the time to read length articles or listen to audio or video presentations. Nor was I inviting someone to come and proselytize for the Mormon religion.

In my opening post, and several others since then, I have repeatedly asked for people to remain charitable.

 

[why_me]

As I am the OP for this thread, I pretty much know what the intention of the original poster is.

Aside from the fact that Majick said he listened to it, I do not know how you can justify the first sentence. Unless you are come and proselytize for the Mormon religion.

If you read a couple of my posts back, I said to majick that the podcast does mention Abel and his off spring.

And so, I just don’t know how he or she could have listened to it since he or she claimed that nothing was said about it. Also, Hinckley said nothing on the podcast, Majick implied that he did. What am I to think? If you are honestly seeking a balanced description of mormonism, you should listen to the podcast. It is very good. But it does only deal with blacks and the priesthood.

See post # 255.

 

[rpp]

Now let’s get back to the topic and stop the attacks and the pity party.

Let me recap what we have discussed so far. These are all in reference to Mormon beliefs.

1. 
   *]The Trinity is not one God in three Persons. It is three Gods who are combined in a common purpose.
   *]God is not the eternal and ever-living God. He was originally a man who some attained Godship, along with the other two Gods of the Trinity.
   *]God did not create the Universe. He came into existence after the Universe was created. (I am unclear on how the Universe came to be.)
   *]Christ’s attempt to establish a Church on Earth at His incarnation failed and for nearly 1800 years, there was no way for anyone to be saved. God had effectively abandoned the human race to the apostasy of the Catholic Church.
   *]It was not until Joseph Smith came along with a series of visions that people had the truth about God.
   *]The LDS had a history of institutionalized and doctrinally based racism which it now repudiates.
   *]Mormons believe in the posthumous baptism of the dead.
   *]Mormons have a vision of heaven that includes marriage, sexual contact and polygamous families. It is unclear whether women can be impregnated and children born in Heaven.
   *]Mormons once believed that polygamy was not merely permitted but was to be encouraged. They reversed themselves apparently after God changed His mind and forbade it.
   *]It is possible in Mormon theology for doctrines and morals to change.
   Have I go these right?

 

[majick275]

I can agree with you. However, when there is a thread about mormonism usually exmormons jump in and begin to post many negatives. They are experts in this. They copy and paste from many sites that could be considered antimormon. I can also do this if I wanted to. I can copy and paste from anticatholic sites. But in the end, it would not advance dialogue

but what is being copied and pasted? mormon statements from mormon leaders found in mormon publications. Are they incorrect? NO. if you want to post from a site go ahead but we have a catechism and can show what the catholic church teaches. when mormons try to claim “no we don’t teach that” when we know that they do then why isn’t it okay to present evidence from MORMON sources to show the truth?

I don’t want lds church leaders to be called liars, frauds, sex fiends etc. It is insulting. And I wouldn’t want people saying negative comments about popes and other catholic leaders. What would be the point to it?

the point is holding people accountable for their actions and making sure that truth is taught. I have no problem denouncing bad actions of Catholics. wrong is wrong. We need to make sure that error is denounced. There is a slight difference though in actions taken as a man and actions taken in the name of God by people claiming direct revelation and who claim to act as Gods mouthpiece. That makes it especially important to look at what popes have taught ex cathedra to make sure that the Catholic doctrine is correct and it makes it equally important to look at what LDS prophets have taught to see if LDs doctrine is correct. If LDs leaders were lying and/or defrauding people especially if they were doing so for immoral purposes then it must be denounced.

The posters who are exmormons who are hyper-critical of mormonism have ignored the points from my links. As have the never mormon catholics who have posted negative comments about the lds church. They certainly haven’t responded. And that is okay. But to copy and paste the same quotations over and over again does not help much and to engage in name calling certainly doesn’t help. It is also unchristian. I try not to do it. However, in this instance I just showed that it could be done, if desired. The web is filled with anticatholicisms as it is in antimormonisms.

how so? you have never answered any of these questions or criticism with anything other than ad hominems or generic praise for mormons. if the quotations are accurate what is wrong with continuing to post them?

In my humble opinion, the exmormon catholics wish to attack any thead that deals with the lds church. At least that is my observation. But I am just a human being, after all. Thanks for your post.

motive is important here. My motive is to see that no one is deceived by false prophets. How is that bad? what is your motive? either you are catholic and must reject mormonism as false doctrine proclaimed by false prophets or you are LDS and must see the catholic church as apostate and the creeds as abominations in the sight of God. Which is it? just be straight with us.

 

[why_me]

Now let’s get back to the topic and stop the attacks and the pity party.

 

[why_me]

Now let’s get back to the topic and stop the attacks and the pity party.

Let me recap what we have discussed so far. These are all in reference to Mormon beliefs.

1. 
   *]The Trinity is not one God in three Persons. It is three Gods who are combined in a common purpose.
   *]God is not the eternal and ever-living God. He was originally a man who some attained Godship, along with the other two Gods of the Trinity.
   *]God did not create the Universe. He came into existence after the Universe was created. (I am unclear on how the Universe came to be.)
   *]Christ’s attempt to establish a Church on Earth at His incarnation failed and for nearly 1800 years, there was no way for anyone to be saved. God had effectively abandoned the human race to the apostasy of the Catholic Church.
   *]It was not until Joseph Smith came along with a series of visions that people had the truth about God.
   *]The LDS had a history of institutionalized and doctrinally based racism which it now repudiates.
   *]Mormons believe in the posthumous baptism of the dead.
   *]Mormons have a vision of heaven that includes marriage, sexual contact and polygamous families. It is unclear whether women can be impregnated and children born in Heaven.
   *]Mormons once believed that polygamy was not merely permitted but was to be encouraged. They reversed themselves apparently after God changed His mind and forbade it.
   *]It is possible in Mormon theology for doctrines and morals to change.
   Have I go these right?

1. 
   With your permission I will place this over on mormonapologetics. I will not post your screen name only your points. Would that be okay with you?

 

[majick275]

Now let’s get back to the topic and stop the attacks and the pity party.

Let me recap what we have discussed so far. These are all in reference to Mormon beliefs.

1. 
   *]The Trinity is not one God in three Persons. It is three Gods who are combined in a common purpose.

1. 
   I would say this is an accurate depiction of LDS doctrine
   

   *]God is not the eternal and ever-living God. He was originally a man who some attained Godship, along with the other two Gods of the Trinity.

   while accurate on God the Father (Elohim) LDS believe that Jesus was first mortal when he was on this earth as depicted in the bible and BoM. Not much is taught on the Holy Ghost. Original LDs scriptures said he was not a separate entitiy but hte “shared mind” of the Father and Son. While that scripture has since been “decanonized” it has never been “corrected” so there is very little in LDs doctrine about the Holy Spirit
   

   *]God did not create the Universe. He came into existence after the Universe was created. (I am unclear on how the Universe came to be.)

   not exactly. Mormon teaching is that ex nihilo creation is incorrect. The MATTER of the universe always existed and they believe that God “organized” the matter into worlds, stars, etc. They teach that Jesus and Adam created our world under the direction of God the Father.
   

   *]Christ’s attempt to establish a Church on Earth at His incarnation failed and for nearly 1800 years, there was no way for anyone to be saved. God had effectively abandoned the human race to the apostasy of the Catholic Church.

   they wouldn’t word it that way but it is an accurate description of LDS doctrine
   

   *]It was not until Joseph Smith came along with a series of visions that people had the truth about God.

   that is an accurate summation of LDS doctrine
   

   *]The LDS had a history of institutionalized and doctrinally based racism which it now repudiates.

   not exactly. they have never repudiated any of those teachings and their scriptural basis remains in the canon. the teaching (now) is that those cursed weren’t cursed forever, they just wait until the Lord said to lift the “effects” of the curse. since 1978 they do not deny anyone priesthood or temple access based on race. they have taught the Lord promised that one day those who were “cursed” would be able to enjoy all the blessings that everyone else could and in 1978 that day came via revelation. they teach that it was right to have the ban in the past and it’s right to not have it now.
   

   *]Mormons believe in the posthumous baptism of the dead.

   yes - they believe it only has effect for those who did not have the chance to have the gospel preached to them in this life but have accepted it when taught by heavenly missionaries in the spirit world.
   

   *]Mormons have a vision of heaven that includes marriage, sexual contact and polygamous families. It is unclear whether women can be impregnated and children born in Heaven.

   it is actually pretty upfront that children will be born in heaven and that we were in fact born in heaven prior to being born on earth.
   

   *]Mormons once believed that polygamy was not merely permitted but was to be encouraged. They reversed themselves apparently after God changed His mind and forbade it.

   sort of. They believe that polygamy is a divine principle that will be the rule in the highest kingdom of heaven but that it may only be practiced at the direction of the Lord. When he “restored” that practice it was required for many. When he directed to stop it wasn’t because it was wrong or he changed his mind it was because the time was no longer right for it to be practiced on earth.
   

   *]It is possible in Mormon theology for doctrines and morals to change.
   Have I go these right?

   yes it is. that is why a prophet is required to lead the LDS church. because he has to receive the instructions from God of what it is to be taught and practiced her eon earth at any given time.

 

[zerinus]

In my humble opinion, the exmormon catholics wish to attack any thead that deals with the lds church. At least that is my observation. But I am just a human being, after all. Thanks for your post.

You call them “ex-Mormon Catholics,” I call them Mormon apostates!

There is a difference between the two terminologies. I know many “ex-Catholic Mormons” who never attack, or speak disparagingly of the Catholic Church. I wouldn’t describe them as “Catholic apostates”. They believe that Catholicism is good; but what they have found is even better. They have no reason for wanting to be disrespectful to their former faith.

zerinus

 

[why_me]

You call them “ex-Mormon Catholics,” I call them Mormon apostates!

There is a difference between the two terminologies. I know many “ex-Catholic Mormons” who never attack, or speak disparagingly of the Catholic Church. I wouldn’t describe them as “Catholic apostates”. They believe that Catholicism is good; but what they have found is even better. They have no reason for wanting to be disrespectful to their former faith.

zerinus

See post # 33 on mormons confessing their sins to the bishop thread. Your name came up on that thread.

 

[majick275]

You call them “ex-Mormon Catholics,” I call them Mormon apostates!

There is a difference between the two terminologies. I know many “ex-Catholic Mormons” who never attack, or speak disparagingly of the Catholic Church. I wouldn’t describe them as “Catholic apostates”. They believe that Catholicism is good; but what they have found is even better. They have no reason for wanting to be disrespectful to their former faith.

zerinus

other than to proclaim that it is apostate and the creeds an abomination in the sight of God…that’s not disrespectful?

 

[rpp]

With your permission I will place this over on mormonapologetics. I will not post your screen name only your points. Would that be okay with you?

You can post my summary with these conditions.

1. 
   *]As you said, you do not use my screen name.
   *]You include a copy of my OP.
   *]You identify the writer as a Catholic.
   *]You identify the writer as a Catholic who is interested in learning about Mormonism out of intellectual curiosity and there is no chance of him ever leaving the Catholic Church or adopting LDS beliefs that conflict with Catholic teachings.
   *]You provide a link to this thread in the post.
   *]You provide a link to the thread on the mormonapologetics site.

 

[zerinus]

Let me recap what we have discussed so far. These are all in reference to Mormon beliefs.

1. The Trinity is not one God in three Persons. It is three Gods who are combined in a common purpose.

Not expressed in theologically accurate terms; but close enough.

1. God is not the eternal and ever-living God. He was originally a man who some attained Godship, along with the other two Gods of the Trinity.

God is eternal and ever living, and has always been God.

1. God did not create the Universe. He came into existence after the Universe was created.

God created the universe, and has always existed.

1. Christ’s attempt to establish a Church on Earth at His incarnation failed and for nearly 1800 years, . . .

Christ did not fail; men apostatized form Him. The fact that His true Church has now been Restored as prophesied in scripture is evidence that He did not fail. Only the apostates failed.

. . . there was no way for anyone to be saved.

Not all apostatized. There were many good and faithful Christians who believed, and their faith has saved them.

God had effectively abandoned the human race to the apostasy of the Catholic Church.

No; all those who genuinely believed and did good would be saved.

1. It was not until Joseph Smith came along with a series of visions that people had the truth about God.

They had some truth about God, mixed with error. Joseph Smith came to rectify the errors, and give us more truth about God.

1. The LDS had a history of institutionalized and doctrinally based racism which it now repudiates.

If you call denying the priesthood to blacks racism, yes; but I would not describe it as such. LDS have no history of abusing or practicing cruelty to blacks, or of attempting to deny their civil liberties.

1. Mormons believe in the posthumous baptism of the dead.

Not accurate. We call it “vicarious baptisms for the dead”. “Posthumous baptisms” suggests that we pull their corpses out of their graves and baptize them!

1. Mormons have a vision of heaven that includes marriage, sexual contact and polygamous families.

We believe that after the resurrection men will be men and women will be women. They will have all the human faculties that they possessed when they died; and their relationships also can continue in heaven.

It is unclear whether women can be impregnated and children born in Heaven.

It is said in our scripture that those who attain to the Celestial glory will have a “continuation of seeds” forever, which suggests that they will continue to have posterity after death. But exactly how that is accomplished is not revealed.

1. Mormons once believed that polygamy was not merely permitted but was to be encouraged. They reversed themselves apparently after God changed His mind and forbade it.

God did not change His mind. It was practiced while it was permissible under the law of the land. The Lord permitted it to be discontinued in compliance with the law of the land. The sin rests with those who changed the law in order to stop the saints from practicing it.

1. It is possible in Mormon theology for doctrines and morals to change.

Neither doctrines nor morals change. But commandments and practices can change as circumstances change or as the Lord wills it.

zerinus