Ask a Mormon! (Part Two)

[Comprehend]

I hope I don't offend by asking this question, as it may be a 'stereotype' or something that gets on peoples nerves. If it is, I will immeadiatly delete it with apologies. My question is:

Is there a particular reason why all the LDSers I know (just a few in person and then
members here) are so overwhelmingly kind? Is it just that nice people are attracted to the church or is it that the church tends to create nice people?

Again, I hope this isn't offensive.

it attracts jerks like me too... but the rest of the LDSers are incredibly kind. I personally think that the kindness is a product of the gospel being taught by our church rather than our church attracting nice people...

I'm with DS though, I can't imagine how that post could be considered offensive.

 

[Katzpur]

I hope I don't offend by asking this question, as it may be a 'stereotype' or something that gets on peoples nerves. If it is, I will immeadiatly delete it with apologies. My question is:

Is there a particular reason why all the LDSers I know (just a few in person and then
members here) are so overwhelmingly kind? Is it just that nice people are attracted to the church or is it that the church tends to create nice people?

Again, I hope this isn't offensive.

Meggie, you are the only person I've ever known who is worried about offending by giving a compliment. I seriously don't think Latter-day Saints are any nicer than anybody else. I know for sure that I'm not! But if it seems like that's the case here on RF, I'd say that it's probably because we know how it feels to be treated badly. It doesn't feel good. Since most of the people on RF have been so nice to us, it really gives us a lot of incentive to try to behave the way we know deep down that our Savior would want us to behave.

 

[Katzpur]

I have always been given the catch-all question at the end, something to the effect of - "is there anything else that you think would affect your worthiness to enter the temple?"

does anyone else get that one too?

Yes, actually I think that's one of the standard questions. I just forgot it since I was just trying to remember them off the topic of my head. I may have missed some other ones too.

 

[Runlikethewind]

I posted a question a few pages back and I think it just kind of got lost in the mix. But if you all don't want to answer thats cool too, but I think it might have just gotten skipped over or something. Anyway I'm reposting it, thanks again.

From my short time here on RF talking with you LDS I think that although we Catholics are probably closer to protestants in what we believe, our doctrine and dogma, we seem to be much closer to the LDS in the way we believe and in the way we approach revelation and God's truth. It seems you all are more church centered than scripture centered. Is this an accurate depiction you think? Are you more Church centered? Do you place more emphasis on the book of Mormons and the Bible or on the living church itself and the elders and such in union with a sort of teaching authority that derives God's word from the interpretation of such books? That make sense?

And while I am here.....

I find it fascination how people from the same faith can have such a different view on things. I can understand different religions, but the same faith?!

Out of curiosity, what is your views on the points...

I know how you guys feel on this one about the ex-Mormons. The Catholic Church is full of people who still want to call themselves Catholic and put themselves out there as Catholics while denying/misunderstanding/misrepresenting Church teachings. Catholics for choice, a pro-abortion group and womenpriest.org just to name a few. Which brings up another question which ties into my first question that I just reposted. Does the LDS church have many denomination or is that sort of thing frowned upon? I mean those ex-Mormons, do you think they keep talking like Mormons cause they don't want to be out of the Church? Would it be unusual for them to run of and form the reformed Mormon church of the new way or something? I mean the Catholic disenters still want to be Catholic they just want to change the Church whereas protestants if they disagree they seem to have little trouble just starting a new church. You see what I am getting at, I feel I'm not being entirely clear on my questions...I guess my question is really about whether you place more emphasis on the Church or on scripture?

We live the law of tithing which is that we give 10% of our increase to the Church. It's not a "requirement." A person is not excommunicated for failure to pay his tithing. The only people who would even know that he hadn't paid were his Bishop and probably the Bishop's Clerk (who handles the congregation's finances).

Hey another similarity between Catholics and LDS! We too try to keep the 10% tithing rule but the only people who would know if you weren't would be the local priest or his staff and no excommunication if you don't. Hey that's another similarity! We both use excommunication as a punishment, but hopefully in only the most extreme circumstances!

 

[Aqualung]

Yes, actually I think that's one of the standard questions. I just forgot it since I was just trying to remember them off the topic of my head. I may have missed some other ones too.

Huh. Maybe I have heard it and I just haven't interviewd for a temple recommend in so long...

 

[Aqualung]

I posted a question a few pages back and I think it just kind of got lost in the mix. But if you all don't want to answer thats cool too, but I think it might have just gotten skipped over or something. Anyway I'm reposting it, thanks again.

I think we're fairly similar in our beliefs because of the rigidity of our respective systems. Neither of us belong to churches where everybody can change doctrine. Those churches that do believe that have a lot more fluidity and therefore a lot more change and therefore stray further from the starting point. Catholics and LDS both are more rigid and therefore stray further from the starting point. From my perspective, at least, we both started from the same place (Christ). Your church strayed over time, but not far (because of the rigidity). Then ours came along and restarted, so to speak, so many of the similarities of our common ancestry can be seen.

I know how you guys feel on this one about the ex-Mormons. The Catholic Church is full of people who still want to call themselves Catholic and put themselves out there as Catholics while denying/misunderstanding/misrepresenting Church teachings. Catholics for choice, a pro-abortion group and womenpriest.org just to name a few. Which brings up another question which ties into my first question that I just reposted. Does the LDS church have many denomination or is that sort of thing frowned upon?

I don't know what you mean by this question, because I don't know anything about womenpriest.org et al. I will say that most people who stray from church teachings prefer not to be referred to as mormon anymore, which might answer your question anyway.

I mean those ex-Mormons, do you think they keep talking like Mormons cause they don't want to be out of the Church? Would it be unusual for them to run of and form the reformed Mormon church of the new way or something?

No, I don't think so. I think they identify themselves in opposition to the mormon church, but still retain the idea that the mormon church can't just be "reformed" like protestant sects.

I mean the Catholic disenters still want to be Catholic they just want to change the Church whereas protestants if they disagree they seem to have little trouble just starting a new church. You see what I am getting at, I feel I'm not being entirely clear on my questions...I guess my question is really about whether you place more emphasis on the Church or on scripture?

The scriptures go hand in hand with modern-day revelation, so it's pretty equal, I suppose.

Hey another similarity between Catholics and LDS! We too try to keep the 10% tithing rule but the only people who would know if you weren't would be the local priest or his staff and no excommunication if you don't. Hey that's another similarity! We both use excommunication as a punishment, but hopefully in only the most extreme circumstances!

Booyah!

 

[Bishka]

I hope I don't offend by asking this question, as it may be a 'stereotype' or something that gets on peoples nerves. If it is, I will immeadiatly delete it with apologies. My question is:

Is there a particular reason why all the LDSers I know (just a few in person and then
members here) are so overwhelmingly kind? Is it just that nice people are attracted to the church or is it that the church tends to create nice people?

Again, I hope this isn't offensive.

Meggie! You aren't at all offensive!

I'm glad that you think we are kind/nice people. We do all have bad apples though; sometimes I wish I could have the patience that the others have, but I'm an emotionable person and to fly off the handle at times.

You have treated us with so much respect, I do very much appreciate that.

 

[porkchop]

8 We believe the aBible to be the bword of God as far as it is translated ccorrectly; we also believe the dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.

I got this from the Articles of Faith. I was just wondering, it says you believe the word of God as far as its translated correctly, but it doesnt say the same about the Book of Mormon, does that mean you believe all of that to be correct?
I dont know if this counts as scripture or not, or if you still go by these articles of faith.

 

[SoyLeche]

8 We believe the aBible to be the bword of God as far as it is translated ccorrectly; we also believe the dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.

I got this from the Articles of Faith. I was just wondering, it says you believe the word of God as far as its translated correctly, but it doesnt say the same about the Book of Mormon, does that mean you believe all of that to be correct?
I dont know if this counts as scripture or not, or if you still go by these articles of faith.

Compare the number of translations (into the same language) of the Bible verses the Book of Mormon. You might come to an answer.

 

[porkchop]

Compare the number of translations (into the same language) of the Bible verses the Book of Mormon. You might come to an answer.

Thanks for the quick response.
Does that mean that if, after the first Bible was written,and no-one translated different versions, you would believe it was correct?

 

[SoyLeche]

Thanks for the quick response.
Does that mean that if, after the first Bible was written,and no-one translated different versions, you would believe it was correct?

I believe that when the books of the Bible were originally penned they were correct.

 

[porkchop]

I believe that when the books of the Bible were originally penned they were correct.

Ok, thanks for answering my question, soyleche.

 

[GoldenDragon]

I'm hoping this question hasn't be asked, and I don't mean to offend just to learn( i dont want any debates either,please).
You believe every word of the Bible to be true but in Revelation Jesus clearly forbids on adding or taking away from the original Bible.

Rev 22:18-19:"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book."

Yet the Book of Mormon would be adding on to the Bible would it not? So wouldn't have Joseph Smith been breaking the religious law by adding to the Bible? or is the Book of Mormon an exception?

 

[Aqualung]

I'm hoping this question hasn't be asked, and I don't mean to offend just to learn( i dont want any debates either,please).
You believe every word of the Bible to be true but in Revelation Jesus clearly forbids on adding or taking away from the original Bible.

Rev 22:18-19:"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book."

Yet the Book of Mormon would be adding on to the Bible would it not? So wouldn't have Joseph Smith been breaking the religious law by adding to the Bible? or is the Book of Mormon an exception?

At the time the book of revelation was written there was no "bible", to assume that that phrase refers to the Bible is anachronistic. Furthermore, most biblical scholars place Revelation before much of the New Testament in terms of date. The Gospel of John, many of Pual's epistles, and the general epistles are all thought to have been penned after Revelation by the latest scholarly dates.

Add to that that the book of Deuteronomy says the exact same thing, yet no christian says that all the books outside of the pentatuech should be disregarded.

 

[Truth_Faith13]

At the time the book of revelation was written there was no "bible", to assume that that phrase refers to the Bible is anachronistic. Furthermore, most biblical scholars place Revelation before much of the New Testament in terms of date. The Gospel of John, many of Pual's epistles, and the general epistles are all thought to have been penned after Revelation by the latest scholarly dates.

Add to that that the book of Deuteronomy says the exact same thing, yet no christian says that all the books outside of the pentatuech should be disregarded.

Have you ever thought he could have been referring to the book of mormon being as it was actually written before his birth? This isnt a mormon question but youll know as much of the bible as any - when was the bible actually written, I know it was quite a while after Jesus?

Many Thanks

 

[Aqualung]

Have you ever thought he could have been referring to the book of mormon being as it was actually written before his birth?

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

This isnt a mormon question but youll know as much of the bible as any - when was the bible actually written, I know it was quite a while after Jesus?

Many Thanks

Depends who you ask. If you do a wikipedia search for a book of the bible, it will give the most accepted scholarly date as well as a range of dates that other scholars think it may have been written in. That's where I would suggest looking for this information, at least for a more cursory understanding of this subject.

 

[SoyLeche]

Have you ever thought he could have been referring to the book of mormon being as it was actually written before his birth? This isnt a mormon question but youll know as much of the bible as any - when was the bible actually written, I know it was quite a while after Jesus?

Many Thanks

Most of the BoM wasn't written yet either. The records it came from may have been, but the man that put it together (abriged the records) didn't live until about 400AD.

 

[FFH]

Is there a particular reason why all the LDSers I know (just a few in person and then members here) are so overwhelmingly kind? Is it just that nice people are attracted to the church or is it that the church tends to create nice people?

I think it has more to do with the fact that you send out so much positive kind energy Meggie, and it's naturally refelected back to you 100 fold...

The other reason you may have experienced kindness from Mormons is that we look at this life as a process in which we are judged every minute by our actions.

Kindness will be recorded in heaven, as will our mistreatment of others.

We constantly need to keep tabs on ourselves and not let our anger and/or our pride get the best of us..

You have seriously been an example to us all Meggie...

Father's watching, which gives us all an incentive to be kind to each other/his children.

We are all literal spirit brothers and sisters, being the literal spirit offspring of God our Heavenly Father..

 

[Runlikethewind]

I think we're fairly similar in our beliefs because of the rigidity of our respective systems. Neither of us belong to churches where everybody can change doctrine. Those churches that do believe that have a lot more fluidity and therefore a lot more change and therefore stray further from the starting point. Catholics and LDS both are more rigid and therefore stray further from the starting point. From my perspective, at least, we both started from the same place (Christ). Your church strayed over time, but not far (because of the rigidity). Then ours came along and restarted, so to speak, so many of the similarities of our common ancestry can be seen.

Thanks for the info, I kind of got that feeling from ya'll. I think we Catholics might be closer to you then I had thought thanks for enlightening me

 

[cardero]

Has anyone attended that pageant in Upstate New York in July that depicts the history of the Book Of Mormon and the story of Joseph Smith Jr?