The Remnant
Now that Willard is running for asshat-in-chief, Mormonism is being scrutinized more than ever. Put together by a former Mormon, I thought this (somewhat glib) list of Mormon beliefs was somewhat confusing.
Mormons have a member “stand in” for a dead person and they’re baptized as a member of the church.
Mormons have a couple “stand in” for a dead man and woman and marry them into the church, and those count as a “twofer” in church membership rolls. Supposedly they’re “sealed for time and eternity” as husband and wife. Mormons are also supposedly the only ones who will be allowed to have sexual intercourse in Heaven.
Mormons believe that God was once a man here on earth and that he attained God-hood due to his “good works” here on earth. He was then elevated to live on the planet Kolob. This is why the Mormons stress “good works” as part of their membership. But here’s the rub! How could God create the earth according to the book of Genesis (which their other teachings do NOT dispute) unless he was ALREADY a God, and then attained God-hood through “good works?”
. . .
Back when I was a youth in the church, we were taught that black people were descendants of Cain, and that the dark skin was the curse God put on him for killing Abel. Black people were to be shunned at all cost. We weren’t to be rude about it, but we weren’t to associate with them. This racist “teaching” is no longer part of Sunday School, because a few black people threatened to sue the church for racism and discrimination because they were not allowed to join. Suddenly the church elders had another supposed “vision” that blacks had paid their penance (still indicating they’d done something wrong) and they’re now allowed to join. But they were not allowed to hold church offices, so the threat to sue was renewed and lo and behold another “vision” comes down the pike and blacks are now allowed full membership . . .
Christians don’t believe that God changes his mind to fit the times, yet this is what the Mormon Church is saying he does. A further example of this is that Joseph Smith said polygamy was an “everlasting covenant” from God, but the government said that if Mormons continued to practice polygamy, Utah would not become a state. If you look up the words everlasting, and covenant, you can see once again that God SUPPOSEDLY changed his mind just to fit the times.
Mormons wear “special” undergarments. For reasons too long to go into, suffice it to say that they believe this underwear protects them from evil and gives them mystical powers, as well as making their bodies more visible to the spirits when the rapture occurs. There are symbolic cuts in the underwear that are the same as symbols of being a member of the Masons. Also many of the secret ceremonies, hand signals and handshakes are derived from Masonic rituals.
Makes me curious…
Anyone want to verify/explain?
Sour grapes. This is typical Mormon hate. When you post garbage like this it makes me question everything else you have posted that I have loved. I’m disappointed that this is what you would share under the title Mormon Beliefs.
Brooks,
Take some time to offer an alternative perspective or rebuttal. I will gladly post it. Tell me where this is wrong, because I don’t know, in all honesty…
Sorry I’m finally getting back to you.
My main beef with the article is the tone. It’s obviously written in an inflammatory and biased way to get non-Mormons to say, “wow, they really aren’t Christian at all!” Of course the author doesn’t mention our firm belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.
Although Mormons may believe that God may have been a mortal at one point, I’ve never heard that he lived on this earth. Mormons stress good works for many reasons (God commanded it, its the right thing to do, it makes us happy to serve others, etc.) and I don’t think you can point to one single reason.
One of my favorite quotes is, “The study of doctrine and the teaching of doctrine will change behavior more than the study of behavior will change behavior.”
The fact is that Mormons were anti-slavery from the beginning and this was one of the reasons they were driven out of Missouri. I realize that this doesn’t make up for bad policies in the past. The Church has kind of punted on a good explanation. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/racial-remarks-in-washington-post-article.
Here is an interesting website that highlights many of Joseph Smiths teachings and dealings with people of African descent. http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/blackmormon/000H1.html
The authors experience of being taught to shun blacks is contrary to everything I’ve experienced and been taught. Obviously there are people who take some teachings or even doctrine to extremes.
Mormons believe in honoring and sustaining the law. Whether polygamy was dropped in order for Utah to become a state or it was only instituted to test the faith of His people, we don’t know (see Abraham being told to kill his only son, Isaac). Obviously God has changed His laws from time to time. The Law of Moses was fulfilled in Christ, as an example. I don’t see any blood sacrifices anymore. Also, the idea that no other Christian church has changed since the time of Christ is a pretty ridiculous notion.
The idea of baptisms for the dead can’t be that strange, at least that one is mentioned in the New Testament. 🙂 1 Corinthians 15:29 “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”
I’ve never heard that a reason for the garments is to be readily visible during the Second Coming. Interesting…
I would recommend you read the Wentworth Letter, authored by Joseph Smith, Jr. himself. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/07/the-wentworth-letter. It tells his story and also gives our main beliefs.
I know my response is long and somewhat scatter shot. Suffice it to say, I think all religions have “interesting” beliefs that are readily criticized and ridiculed by others. I’m sure Catholics have a few. 🙂 Anyway, I’m always willing to chat. I think I gave you my number in an email on Facebook.