"I Heard You Mormons...."

[jonny]

I find it sad that the LDS members are even able to make out a thread like this.
I know there is some hate around especially in Northen Ireland between protestants and Catholics.
But the stuff you have put up with must be realy hateful to you all.
God loves you and your detractors, Its just had to understand sometimes.

I think that 99% of the members of the LDS church are able to laugh at things like this. It's only when people start making claims like "you don't believe in Christ" and "you're going to Hell" and start attacking things that we really believe in that I get annoyed. Going to vacation bible camp with some friends at a local Evangelical Free church and finding out that me and all other Mormons were going to Hell was slightly troubling for a fifth grader.

I don't find most of those statements insulting - just ignorant.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I think it's a sign that your faith is a 'good one' if you're able to joke kindly even about being made fun of. Every time I think I have as high an opinion of a path, you guys just push mine about yours higher!

 

[michel]

I find it sad that the LDS members are even able to make out a thread like this.
I know there is some hate around especially in Northen Ireland between protestants and Catholics.
But the stuff you have put up with must be realy hateful to you all.
God loves you and your detractors, Its just had to understand sometimes.

Terry____________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

And I second that; I really am sorry for what you guys have to put up with.

 

[Pah]

This thread was moved from the Discuss Individual Religions forum. That section of forums is to discuss an individual faith amongst the holders of the faith, to fellowship with others of the faith, and to ask honest questions about the faith.

 

[DeepShadow]

Thanks, Pah, I'm glad some of this was salvageable. In retrospect I agree that it belongs here in the Religious debates thread.

 

[DeepShadow]

About the popcorn popping song, the version I heard is that we use that song to hypnotize our children.

Oh, and here's a few more I couldn't rememer last night:

"The church will kill you if you try to leave. The Home Teachers are the ones assigned to this."

"Mormons believe they can atone for their sins by killing people." (Yes, I'm quite serious that some people claim this!)

"Mormons don't believe in doctors, and they never wash their underwear." (For some reason, I've always heard both of those together, so I'm including them together.)

 

[jonny]

About the popcorn popping song, the version I heard is that we use that song to hypnotize our children.

Maybe that was it. I wish I could figure out the source of that so I could find out for sure.

 

[Katzpur]

Hi, DeepShadow.

I just remembered a funny experience that happened to me a few years back. For about 10 years, I worked one morning a week as a "hostess" on the 26th floor observation deck of the LDS Church Office Building. It was my responsibility to welcome people to the building and offer to point out some of the city's landmarks from the top floor of the building. It was a totally fun experience!

One day, I was talking to a man and woman who were visiting from out-of-state. They were really interested in the city and the church both, and had asked me a lot of questions. When we finally got through talking, I told them that I'd enjoyed visiting with them and was glad to have been able to give them the information they'd asked for. "So, unless you have any more questions," I said, "I guess that's about it."

"I have just one more question, if you don't mind," the man said. "What is the significance of your dress?" His wife turned about twenty shades of red and immediately began to try to cover up for his ignorance. "It's just a dress!" she said, rolling her eyes and acting as if she wished she weren't with him. It's just a dress for crying out loud!"

I was wearing an ankle-length knit, form-fitting dress that was a kind of a dark khaki-green color. It had long, straight sleeves, slits up the sides to the knees and a hood. It was very plain, but I was also wearing some really neat jade beads with a pendant containing Chinese writing on it. The man had obviously thought I was wearing some sort of religious garb. I guess I looked like a monk or something to him. But his wife was positively mortified. She scolded him all the way out the door, while he just apologized over and over again.

 

[jonny]

And I second that; I really am sorry for what you guys have to put up with.

I don't think that what I have experienced is too different than what anyone from a minority religion or belief system experiences. When I read about what my ancestors went through for joining the church I can't really complain.

For example, Hugh was my g-g-g-great-grandfather from Wales.

On one occasion, Hugh, the presiding Elder of the branch and a traveling Elder were holding a meeting in Eglwysbach. A mob gathered and took them to a bridge nearby. The mob took them under the bridge and was preparing the ropes to hang them when the women who followed raised such a strong remonstrance, (particularly Hugh’s daughter Catherine who rushed under the bridge and clinging to Hugh said, “You shall not hang my father”), that the mob desisted with a warning and a threat that the Elders must not preach Mormonism in that neighborhood again or they would suffer death.

We also have a poem about one of my ancestors hiding in a corn field with his family and watching while the mobs burned their home to the ground because they would not dennounce their faith. We've come a long way since those days.

 

[SoyLeche]

Maybe that was it. I wish I could figure out the source of that so I could find out for sure.

It seems like when I heard that story, whoever it was that told it to me said it was from "The Godmakers". I have never seen it, so I can't confirm that.

 

[Merlin]

I might add Mormens make for good doorstep entertainement if your in the mood for a little humour.

Cheers

K

My experience is that they are always polite, and dressed so smartly. That always impresses me.

So far, they have always been men. Do women also do this work?

 

[dan]

Yeah, women do it too, but the majority are men. A lot of women get married before they're eligible to go on a mission.

I got another one. A dude once told me that a "high ranking Mormon" told him we keep our extra wives in the Temple, and we go there all the time for "conjugal visits".

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I do not think this thread needs to resolve these rumours either but I would be interested in knowing their origins. Besides ignorance, what would lead people to conclude such things?

It is a rhetorical tool to discredit opponents. Christians have a long history of making up stuff about teachers and followers of those who diviate from orthodoxy. Paul called the first heretics "dogs," and said that their god was their belly (a reference to Homer's Odessy) - conpare to Romans 1. Justin Martyr said that he didn't know whether or not Marcionites ate humans. Ignatius said that when the apostle John knew that he was in a public bath with a heretic, he ran out naked -- Polycarp was asked by Marcion if he would recognize him -- Polycarp said "I recognize the first-born of Satan." Tertullian calls Marcion a snake, antiChrist, and voice of Satan...

 

[Mujahid Mohammed]

"...worship a version of Jesus who captains a starship Galactica, along with his twin brother Lucifer."

"...can't eat food that's been cooked on Teflon."

"...think non-whites who accept Christ will turn white."

"...can't drive cars. (i.e. If I join your church, do I have to sell my car and ride a bike everywhere?)"

"...have horns (or tails)."

"...think that only Americans will go to heaven."

"...think black people are devils."

"...have to stay away from the ocean."

I've heard all these. How about all of you? Care to add to the list? This thread isn't for resolving these ideas, only collecting them. It's supposed to be funny, if perhaps a little sad. Anyway, anyone care to add to my collection?

Wait, almost forgot one because it didn't fit the format:

"I heard Joseph Smith made a prophecy about tree-men walking around on the sun."

I have also heard that some of the rituals performed in your temple are the same as those performed in freemasonry and on the aprons is the square and compass. And there is an occultic pentagram and other symbols on the temple itself. I have also heard that many of the words used in the ritual are that of Lucifer himself. I do not know this to be true but this is just what I have been told. I will go back and ask this brother again and give you all the references insha Allah. Give me some time because I am busy.

 

[nutshell]

When I was in high-school a friend of mine came up to me and asked if it was true that when women go to the temple for the first time, their Bishop is waiting for them and they must have sex with the Bishop to proceed.

Pretty disgusting stuff and despite my best efforts to assure her this wasn't the case (I hadn't been to the temple yet myself, but commonsense told me it wasn't true) she seemed convinced of it based on what her own youth group leaders were telling her.

 

[nutshell]

In high-school a couple of us were talking about going to a stake dance. Someone overheard and freaked out. They thought we were going to burn someone at the stake and celebrate through dance.

 

[jonny]

I have also heard that some of the rituals performed in your temple are the same as those performed in freemasonry and on the aprons is the square and compass. And there is an occultic pentagram and other symbols on the temple itself. I have also heard that many of the words used in the ritual are that of Lucifer himself. I do not know this to be true but this is just what I have been told. I will go back and ask this brother again and give you all the references insha Allah. Give me some time because I am busy.

There are some similarities to Free Masonry in the endowment ceremony, but not the main message. Most of what is contained in the endowment can be found in the first few chapters of Genesis. I have read some interesting books, and the temple ceremony is similar to ancient ceremonies. You can find information about Mormonism, Masonry, and ancient temple stuff on this webpage: http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai127.html

"On the aprons is the square and compass" - that is false. I don't know where you heard that.

As for the pentagram, the symobol has other meanings. I have also seen it on Protestant churches. This is one church that I noticed had one while I was in Germany - http://www.geocities.com/gudrunpl/winter/ha07.html. Most of the symbols on the temple are symbolic of the Plan of Salvation. For example, the sun, moon, and stars represent the degrees of glory. This article explains all the symbols on the Salt Lake Temple: http://cfac.byu.edu/valbrinkerhoff/symbol/slctemple.html.

As for the words of Lucifer - read the first few chapters of Genesis or the Book of Abraham and Moses in our Pearl of Great Price. Everything in the temple focuses on Christ and our relationship to him and Heavenly Father.

Please, please, please - keep in mind that the things you are discussing are VERY sacred to members of the LDS church. Be careful about what you post regarding temple ceremonies. Asking questions is ok (especially questions that arise from any of the links I posted). Posting information from Anti-Mormon websites will be very insulting. If you have a question about what is or isn't appropriate, PM one of us before posting it - please!

 

[jonny]

When I was in high-school a friend of mine came up to me and asked if it was true that when women go to the temple for the first time, their Bishop is waiting for them and they must have sex with the Bishop to proceed.

Pretty disgusting stuff and despite my best efforts to assure her this wasn't the case (I hadn't been to the temple yet myself, but commonsense told me it wasn't true) she seemed convinced of it based on what her own youth group leaders were telling her.

Yeah right. Do you really think we could keep that a secret?!? It is totally, 100% false.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I've never heard any Mormon misconceptions before. I do know the one about sacrificing babies and animals is thrown at just about every religion that people don't understand that well.

 

[drekmed]

i remember someone in the church i used to go to say something like:

mormons are the reason sin runs rampant in nevada. with all the fornication, gambling, and prostitution.

the church also passed out pamphlets and papers that said a lot of nasty stuff about just about every other sect of christianity. sadly, i actually used to think that kinda stuff was true. sucks being brought up in a situation like that. makes adjusting to the outside world a little difficult, and the prejudices that are pounded into you in your youth are tough to kick, even years after denouncing the religion. im working on it though, still have problems sometimes. gotta love the foot-in-mouth syndrom, its why i try not to say much.