I am a Mormon so I know what Mormons believe I just want to know what everyone else thinks they believe?
Just for the last one entered, women are the most cherished, we have been given the great opportunity to bear and raise children. I am only 19 but can't wait to get married and have kids, Yet I go to school going to get a degree in less then a year and have a great job working full time making plenty a year. Yet I still have the chance to raise my kids in a good place. what more would I want.
magic undies polygamy and gold tablets. oh and that they are a sect of Christianity. OK if they want to believe that go ahead. they will be judged as any christian is. very harshly.
I believe the Mormons believe in a phony religion created by a guy named Joseph Smith to meet women. Tell me what you think you believe and I'll tell you what you don't know you don't know.
Mormons believe in a third testament, the Book of Mormon, supposedly discovered by their prophet, Joseph Smith, as a series of tablets written by ancient Americans. It records, purportedly, the trials and tribulations of a lost tribe of Israel that travel led to America, prospered, predicted the coming of Jesus 600 years in advance, encountered Jesus after his resurrection, and then perished when it broke its covenant with God. It is a somewhat simplified version of Christianity, and largely rejected by most other Christian sects. In the nineteenth century, Mormons were savagely persecuted, largely for their practice of polygamy. Joseph Smith was himself lynched by a mob in Missouri.
The Racist God of Mormonism
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church taught that the mark of Cain mentioned in Genesis 4:15 is black skin.
"In the evening debated with John C. Bennett and others to show that the Indians have greater cause to complain of the treatment of the whites, than the Negros, or sons of Cain" (History of the Church, 4:501).
The Mormon church teaches that "God is only one of many gods", because human beings can progress to become gods and goddesses in the celestial kingdom (see: Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball , pp.28, 51-53).
Mormon founder Joseph Smith describes the creation of the earth: "And they (the Gods) said, 'Let there be light'...And the Gods pronounced the dry land...And the Gods organized the earth...And the Gods planted a garden in Eden" (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 4:3,10,25; 5:8). A reference to a plurality of 'Gods' occurs at least 43 times in the book of Abraham.
According to Joseph Smith: "The doctrine of a plurality of Gods is prominent in the Bible. The heads of the Gods appointed our God for us...you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves...the same as all Gods have done before you" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.370-372, 346).
Mormon Apostle and leading apologist Bruce McConkie states: "Three separate personages---Father, Son, and Holy Ghost---comprise the Godhead...As each of these persons is a God, it is evident from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exists. To us...these three are the only Gods we worship" (Mormon Doctrine, p.576-577).
Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt wrote "there are more gods than there are particles of matter" (Journal of Discourses, vol.2, p.345).
Mormon Prophet Brigham Young wrote: "How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods" (Journal of Discourses v.7, p.333).
Second LDS President Brigham Young also taught that:
"Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin" (Journal of Discourses, 7:290-291).
This 'curse' of black skin comes as a result of choices made as a spirit in the Prue-existence.
"There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantages. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient; more or less, to the laws that were given us there" (Joseph F. Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:61).
As a result, "Negros are not equal with other races where the result of certain spiritual blessings are concerned" (Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1958 ed., p. 477).
Prior to 1978, when "the Lord" changed His mind and decided to allow blacks to hold the priesthood, "One drop of negro blood" in a persons veins was enough to "receive the curse" (Race Problems- As They Affect the Church, Address by Mark E. Peterson at the convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, August 27, 1954).
While the god of Mormonism "curses" people with black skin, and those "born white [live] with great advantages," the God of the Bible is not partial to skin color. The true God of the universe "is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34) and does not show favoritism.
"For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regarded not persons, nor taker reward." (Deuteronomy 10:17)
"For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:11)
Unlike the god of Mormonism, the God of the Bible is not racist. He has no pets. All are alike in his eyes, regardless of skin color, social stature or wealth. Those who believe in Him know that they are treated as equals with all members of the human race.
The Mormon church teaches that "God was once a man who achieved godhood". This doctrine, "eternal progression" is central to Mormonism, as stated in one of their frequently-used quotes:
"As man is, God once was: as God is, man may be" (Lorenzo Snow, Millenial Star, vol.54).
In Mormon theology, those who achieve godhood will have spirit children who will worship and pray to them just as we worship and pray to God the Father (Gospel Principles, p.290). A pictorial diagram of the Mormon view of eternal progression can be found here. This is not an isolated teaching: it has been taught by a large number of prominent LDS leaders, including its founders:
Joseph Smith taught: "I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret...I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.345);
Joseph Smith continues: "God himself...is a man like unto one of yourselves...God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth...You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves" (Times and Seasons, vol.5, pp.613-614); "Here then is eternal life---to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves...the same as all Gods have done before you...To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of a God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.346-347).
Brigham Young taught: "He [God] ...was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted being...It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God was once been a finite being" (Journal of Discourses, vol.7, p.333); "The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like himself" (Journal of Discourses, vol.3, p.93).
Here is Joseph Smith's revelation about Mormons attaining to the celestial kingdom: "These are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized...who have received of his fullness, and of his glory...they are gods" (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 51-58).
James Talmage explains: "We believe in a God who is Himself progressive...whose perfection consists in eternal advancement...a Being who has attained His exalted state"(A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.430, 1952).
Heber C. Kimbal wrote: "We shall go back to our Father and God, who is connected with one who is still farther back; and this Father is connected with one still farther back, and so on" (Journal of Discourses, vol.5, p.19); "our God is a natural man...where did he get his knowledge from? From his father, just as we get our knowledge from our earthly parents" (Journal of Discourses, vol.8, p.211).
Orson Pratt wrote: "The Gods who dwell in heaven...were once in a fallen state...they were exalted also, from fallen men to celestial Gods" (The Seer, p.23); "our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly world by His Father; "He was begotten by a still more ancient Father; and so on from generation to generation, from one heavenly world to another" (The Seer, p.132).
Milton R. Hunter wrote: "God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man who passed through a school of earth life similar to that through which we are now passing. He became a God" (The Gospel Through the Ages, p.104);"there was a time when the Deity was much less powerful than He is today...He grew in experience and continued to grow until He attained the status of Godhood. In other words, He became a God by absolute obedience..." (The Gospel Through the Ages, p.114-115).
Bruce McConkie states: "God himself, the Father of us all, is a glorious, exalted, immortal, resurrected man" (Mormon Doctrine, p.642-643); "God...is a personal Being, a holy and exalted man...an anthropomorphic entity" (Mormon Doctrine, p.250); "as the Prophet [Joseph Smith] also taught, 'there is a God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ'" (Mormon Doctrine, p.322, 1966).
Joseph Fielding Smith stated: "God is an exalted man...our Father in Heaven at one time passed through a life and death and is an exalted man...The Prophet [Joseph Smith] taught that our Father had a Father and so on...promises are made to us that we may become like him" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol.1, p.10-12).
Mormon leaders have continued to teach this doctrine, as is evident by a few quotes from recent President and Prophet Spencer W. Kimball in official LDS periodicals:
I see that Williams did a great job in showing you what you believe.
I will add one thing to his post.
As a woman, why in the world would you want to be in a religion that only teaches that your only job in life is to bear children, and then if your husband wants to bring you to his new planet with him, and only if he wants to bring you, your job is still to bear new spirit children to populate this planet.
Honestly, look into your choice of worship, read and learn, then read the bible and see the differences and the freedom it brings.
"Isn't it odd that over 40 years after Joseph's alleged "first vision", Church leaders like Brigham Young and John Taylor were still unaware of Joseph Smith's claim of seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ?
That's because Joseph's "first vision" was a consistently changing story that was virtually unknown to early Latter-day Saints. Over the years Joseph's story changed from an event in the year 1823 to 1821 to 1820.
His motive for seeking God in prayer also changed significantly over the years. From no motive (a spirit appears with news of gold plates), to a desire to know if God exists, to a desire for forgiveness of sins, and finally, to a local religious revival.
Most importantly, even the heavenly visitor(s) that he saw were constantly changing. Depending on the account Joseph gave, it was either a spirit, an angel, two angels, many angels, Jesus, and finally, the Father and the Son.
LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley stood in General Conference and said "Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. It either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud." (Gordon B. Hinckley, ?The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith,? Ensign, Nov. 2002, pg.78) If this "First Vision" of Joseph Smith did occur, it certainly didn't happen the way the Church wants us to believe it did."
Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 196 (1855)
Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 335 (1854)
Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 335 (1854)
Journal of Discourses, vol. 12, p. 334 (1863)
Journal of Discourses, vol. 13, p. 78 (1869)
Journal of Discourses, vol. 20, p. 167 (1879)
Journal of Discourses, vol. 24, pg. 135 (1889)
William Smith On Mormonism , By William Smith, Joseph Smith's brother. pg. 5 (1883)
Church Historical Record, Vol. 7, January, 1888
Personal writings of Joseph Smith, pg. 84
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, pg. 239
Most Mormons will tell you that the angel that visited Joseph Smith three times on the night of Sept. 21, 1823 was named Moroni. This angel is the one who told Joseph Smith where the gold plates were buried and can be seen on top of most LDS temples. However, a close examination of early church history tells a different story. Early Mormon sources say that the angel's name was actually Nephi
The Times and Seasons Vol. III pp. 749, 753
Millennial Star, vol. 3, p.53, 71
In 1853, Joseph's mother, Lucy Mack Smith, also said the angel's name was Nephi (Biographical Sketches, p. 79).
Pearl of Great Price, 1851 edition, page 41
The original handwritten manuscript of the PofGP dictated by Joseph Smith reveals that the name was originally written as "Nephi," but that someone at a later date has written the word "Moroni" above the line. All evidence indicates that this change was made after Joseph Smiths death.
Why would the church feel the need to change Joseph Smiths story?
Joseph Smith said the angel was named Nephi, NOT Moroni.
What do you think the mormons believe?
