Eran's All-New Mormonism Thread

[Eran of Arcadia]

As there have been some questions raised in recent threads about certain aspects of Mormonism, and as MattBrown may be leaving us soon for greener pastures, I have decided to start a new thread on Mormonism. Please direct any questions you may have here. I will be adding longer posts from time to time on certain frequently asked questions.

This thread is to provide the perspective of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If there are any other types of Mormons around here, start your own thread. (I mention this only because certain other religious threads had this problem.)

And remember to keep this respectful. I don't mind you telling me how silly Mormonism is if that's what you really think, but remember that we are human beings just like you, so don't insult us personally.

[Eran of Arcadia]

To start with, most non-Mormons don't know exactly what is and isn't prohibited by our dietary law, the Word of Wisdom. I will explain the doctrine behind it in more depth below, but these are what are specifically off limits:

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco (including smokeless forms), coffee (even decaffeinated), tea from tea leaves.

Caffeine itself is not prohibited. That means that Coke and other colas are okay (but somewhat discouraged as they can be unhealthy). Also, herbal teas are allowed.

[nonconformist]

1)I get the whole alcohol thing, but why no tea or coffee?
2)What's the difference between a Mormon Temple, and a Church?
3)What type of format does a Mormonservice hold
4)Where does the word "Mormon" come from?

Thanks.

[VRWCAgent]

In that other thread, something was mentioned about non-Mormons not being allowed in temples, which confused me. I realize that RLDS and Restoration Branch LDS are not actually affiliated with LDS, but I've been a guest at services for both of those denominations with nobody even batting an eye at it. Was the poster in the other thread just wrong?

[CivGeneral]

What about Japanese Green Tea?

I still dont get the difference between a Mormon Temple and a Church. Or am I just confusing myself in thinking that a Mormon Temple is simmilar to a Cathedral in the Catholic, Orthodoxy, and Anglican/Episcopal? .

[Xanikk999]

When was mormonism founded?

When did the church ban polygamy?

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by nonconformist

1)I get the whole alcohol thing, but why no tea or coffee?
2)What's the difference between a Mormon Temple, and a Church?
3)What type of format does a Mormon service hold?
4)Where does the word "Mormon" come from?

Thanks.

1). The wording of the Word of Wisdom specifies that "strong drinks" and "hot drinks" are not good. This was originally just a guideline, but later presidents of the church made it a commandment and defined "hot drinks" as coffee and teas. As a Mormon, I believe that they did so under divine inspiration.

2). Churches are our meetinghouses, where services and other activities are held. They are open to the public, and function just like any other denominations' church buildings. Temples are special buildings,, with no real parallel in other religions, where members make specific promises, and perform specific ordinances (like eternal marriage) for themselves and on behalf of those who are dead. There are about 130 of them in the world, and they are considered far more sacred. As such they are not open to non-members, and are only used for the specific ordinances.

3). There are three parts to a Sunday service. The most important is Sacrament meeting, in which we take the sacrament (our version of communion) and listen to talks given by members of the congregation. The second is Sunday School, which usually consists of a main class for adults, another class for new members and those investigating the church, and classes for teenagers based on age group. The third part is for meetings of the priesthood (all men over 12), the Relief Society (all women over 18), or Young Women (girls 12-18). During the second 2 parts the children 3-12 are in Primary, the children's version of Sunday School. Each part is about 1 hour.

4). Mormon is a proper name from the Book of Mormon, referring particularly to the prophet who abridged and compiled most of it. It was originally used as an insult by the Church's enemies, but later adopted as a nickname by the Church itself. However, we still don't use the term "Mormon Church".

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by Xanikk999

When was mormonism founded?

When did the church ban polygamy?

The Church was officially founded on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York. However, it is church doctrine that it is the same organization that Jesus founded among his apostles (that later fell away) and that has existed among his prophets as long as there have been prophets.

Polygamy was banned by a declaration from the church president in 1890. However, it persisted among some members until made an excommunicable offense in 1904.

[warpus]

I don't know much about Mormonism so indulge my ignorance.

You guys believe that Jesus lived in North America?

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by CivGeneral

What about Japanese Green Tea?

I still dont get the difference between a Mormon Temple and a Church. Or am I just confusing myself in thinking that a Mormon Temple is simmilar to a Cathedral in the Catholic, Orthodoxy, and Anglican/Episcopal? .

Green tea is not allowed.

Again, the temple is not the same thing as a cathedral. Although some religions call their meetinghouses "temples", we use it to refer to special buildings that are only used for a few purposes. We do not ban anyone from our meetinghouses (usually referred to as "chapels").

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by warpus

I don't know much about Mormonism so indulge my ignorance.

You guys believe that Jesus lived in North America?

That's what the thread is for.

We don't believe that Jesus actually lived in North America. But we do believe that after his ascencion in Palestine, he came to a group of his followers somewhere in the Western Hemisphere (we do not claim any particular exact location) and taught and ministered to them for a time. We also believe that he visited other such groups throughout the world that have not been identified.

[Sidhe]

It seems that Church Dogma in the case of polygamy changes like quicksilver compared to the Big orthodox 3, Judaism,Catholicism and Islam, is there a reason for this or is it just because the Church is relatively new and still - in religous age at least- trying to find it's feet or is this inherent in it's organisation or due to political pragmatism even?

[nonconformist]

To what extent is the power of the President absolute, and is there a similar clause to Catholocism regarding infallibility?

How is the President appointed, etc.?

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by Sidhe

It seems that Church Dogma in the case of polygamy changes like quicksilver compared to the Big orthodox 3, Judaism,Catholicism and Islam, is there a reason for this or is it just because the Church is relatively new and still - in religous age at least- trying to find it's feet or is this inherent in it's organisation or due to political pragmatism even?

What happened is that since we believe in ongoing revelation, we can change practices without completely redoing our doctrine. Both the Book of Mormon and the section of Doctrine and Covenants that began polygamy say that it is forbidden except if the Lord specifically authorizes it.

So the idea is that in about 1831, God commanded some members of the Church (for reasons no one was ever really clear on) to practice plural marriage, and then in 1890 commanded them to stop. Wilford Woodruff, who announced the ban on plural marriage at a time when it was causing major problems with the government, said specifically that if God hadn't told him to stop it, he would have let the church be destroyed rather than disobey.

In other words, we believe that both the beginning of polygamy in 1831 and its end in 1890 were given as revelations from God to His prophets. And again, I have no idea why God wanted it, and there is no official church doctrine as to why.

[.Shane.]

If I paid you for it, could you send me one of those "elder" nametags you guys wear? Or are they not customized in that sense?

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by nonconformist

To what extent is the power of the President absolute, and is there a similar clause to Catholocism regarding infallibility?

How is the President appointed, etc.?

The president of the Church is considered the chief prophet on the earth. Thus, when he is speaking for God what he says is true. However, prophets may also offer their opinions and be wrong on occasion. The president works with 2 counselors as the First Presidency, and they work together with the Quorum of 12 Apostles to make decisions. Most major decisions in the church were unanimous among them.

The current president chooses members of the Quorum of the 12 (as we believe, based on what God tells him) and from this quorum the members of the First Presidency are chosen. When a president dies, his successor is the apostle who has been serving the longest. According to LDS belief, in this way it is really God who is making the choice.

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by .Shane.

If I paid you for it, could you send me one of those "elder" nametags you guys wear? Or are they not customized in that sense?

I think they are only sold to current missionaries (I am not even supposed to wear the nametags from my mission). There are a few places that custom make them for missionaries (including in a variety of languages) but I don't know where. As there have been non-LDS made movies in which some characters wore such nametags, I am sure that it is possible.

[.Shane.]

Also, will you really get to be the god of your own planet? And, tell us about the magic underwear.

[El_Machinae]

How does one get assigned a 14 year old wife?

Alternatively, how does your denomination differ from the stereotype I just mentioned?

[Eran of Arcadia]

Originally Posted by El_Machinae

How does one get assigned a 14 year old wife?

Alternatively, how does your denomination differ from the stereotype I just mentioned?

One gets a 14-year-old wife by joining one of the polygamous offshoot sects of Mormonism that began when some didn't want to give up plural marriage in 1890. Make sure it's one of the really fundamentalist ones that has child brides.

Such groups are not considered to be affiliated in any way with the mainstream church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and membership in one means excommunication from it.