Ask a Mormon, Part 3

[Eran of Arcadia]

As I said, some do. I realize that Catholicism is pretty diverse, and so what is true of some may not be true of all, but some Catholics have pretty much told me that they pray to the saints, and furthermore that Mary provides salvation.

Again, not intended to be a knock on Catholicism.

EDIT: Also, this is not a discussion of Catholicism.

 

[Pessimus Dux]

@ Pessimus Dex- The God of the Christians, Jews, and Muslims was never intended to be a single God, so you are correct. Theirs a book about it called A History of God by Karen Armstrong. Read it, it's good.

I'm not sure what are you referring to. I highly suspect that I'll manage to found the book in a next few days (although, thnx for the tip!) , can you explain it in a few sentences, just to figure out what do you mean.

[Eran of Arcadia] Praying to the Mary: like I said before, the whole point is in what intention you have while you are praying to her. Which reminds me, do the Mormons treat Mary roughly equal as Christians do, or do they have some (other) opinion/treatment of her?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Our view of Mary is similar to that of Protestants. In other words, she was an extremely righteous woman, chosen by God to do a very important task. That said, we do not pray to her or think she has any powers that any other human being could not be given by God.

 

[Pessimus Dux]

Our view of Mary is similar to that of Protestants. In other words, she was an extremely righteous woman, chosen by God to do a very important task. That said, we do not pray to her or think she has any powers that any other human being could not be given by God.

Well, IMHO this should be a view of all Christians in general.

Oh yes, sorry if that question was already asked but, what sources from the Bible Mormons use? All of it, just NT or something else... ?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

We use the same 66 books of the Old and New testaments as Protestants; we believe the Apocrypha to be divinely inspired but also to have enough errors that it is not canonized.

 

[Pessimus Dux]

We use the same 66 books of the Old and New testaments as Protestants; we believe the Apocrypha to be divinely inspired but also to have enough errors that it is not canonized.

I suppose you're referring to:



But what text did make Mormons to think that a man might become a god? From the Apocrypha or... ?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

No, from the Doctrine and Covenants, primarily. (The idea is implied in the New Testament - at least, some other Christians saw it as a possibility) but it is largely from modern revelation that we get it.

 

[Pessimus Dux]

Can you specify some of the scripts/texts that could imply it? I mean, it is hard to find it if I don't know what to search.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

In which? The New Testament or the Doctrine and Covenants?

 

[Pessimus Dux]

Well, in all of them if you have a time.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I actually don't remember a lot of them and don't have them handy, but as far as the new testament, Revelation 3:21 and Romans 8:6 (6:8?) come to mind, I will see what I can find later.

 

[Pessimus Dux]

I actually don't remember a lot of them and don't have them handy, but as far as the new testament, Revelation 3:21 and Romans 8:6 (6:8?) come to mind, I will see what I can find later.

"He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Revelation 3:21)

I suppose you meant something like this one. Well, it can be interpreted like you sad, but it also can refer to the "all righteous people will be close to the God" classical view. Whatever the original meaning is, if the Bible is speaking the truth, we WILL become something er... different (in a good sense of the word).

 

[El_Machinae]

These threads have been invaluable. I met someone recently, and within 5 minutes I had deduced that the fellow was a Mormon, despite religion not being the least bit talked about.

Then (a few weeks later) when he mentioned religion, I was able to say "you're Mormon, aren't you?". Booyah. I got to look culturally sensitive.

As well, finding out that the missionaries were actually from other places has made greeting them at the door much more pleasant. Scotland, Texas, Utah, Edmonton ... I get to meet a diversity of people!

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

It's true. Of course, a lot are from Utah, relatively speaking - maybe 8-10% of the total Church membership. But then, a lot grow up there and move. In my congregation in DC, maybe a quarter are from Utah, and a lot of the rest are from out West. (My girlfriend is from Colorado, for example.)

 

[MrPopov]

What do you think of Baptisms for the Dead? I find that it is a very poor way for people who may not have had a chance on Earth to hear of the LDS church (or even Christianity in general for some in remote parts of the world) to acheive salvation in Heaven.

The way I understand it (from my older sister who has been married in the LDS temple in SLC) that any family members who weren't baptized Mormons on Earth will not be recieved into the Celestial Kingdom in Heaven and thus won't be joined together as a family when she and her husband die on Earth.

Another question about Christianity and Heaven in general. Death is always a sad thing and many take solace knowing that their loved one will be joined with our Heavenly Father and that when we die, we will be together again. But what if that person committed terrible deeds early in their life and never revealed them to you. What if they were living a lie and were instead damned to Hell? How could existance in Heaven for you be truley bliss without that loved one?

Thanks for your replies

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

As far as baptisms for the dead, if they can get into heaven, they can be with their family. We do sealings as well as baptisms for the dead.

As far as your other question, I will get to it when I have more time.

 

[Beaver Cleaver]

What kingdom of heaven do the dead go to when baptised? Is it the Celestial, Terrestrial or the Telestial Kingdom?

 

[Komori]

Ok, please, take no offense on what I am asking, i'm asking only because I was told such was truth and I must confirm.... Is it truth that the Mormons believe black (or pretty much anyone not white) were born black because they did not chose Jesus side on the battle/war/election(?) the spiritual entities (don't recall the name) had?

I ask that 'cause I saw a video, telling a story about Lucifer and Jesus having a sort od contest on how should the people on earth be or something and that the souls that chose jesus side were born white, the one who chose Lucifer side weren't born and came to earth as demons and those who chose no side came as, well, everyone not white. The video did had the "anti-mormon" feeling which makes me wonder maybe it is a lie, or somewhat distortion to make mormonism look bad. If it is truth I find it funny to see so many mormons around in my country (we are mostly black or of native heritage), so I guess if they are around here then the religion can't be 'white-only'... However, in case this is truth, would that mean a black guy who became mormon would be born white next life? Or black people don't even get that chance?

Please understand I have nothing against your religion, but this is the information I had about it. If this was asked before, sorry, there is so many pages in the thread.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Racial relations in the Church have always been a bit interesting, sure. Until 1978 black men (ie of African descent) could not receive the priesthood; there has never been an official canonical reason for this, although some in the Church have indeed speculated that one's race was a result of not being as valiant in the premortal conflict between God and Lucifer (if they hadn't taken God's side at some point, they wouldn't have been born) and although I don't know how widespread this view was, it really disappeared after that practice was changed (largely, in fact, because of the Church's growth in Brazil. In fact, there had been pressure in the US for us to change, but it had died down by 1978.)

 

[El_Machinae]

This is the first I've seen of the premortal conflict involving human souls. Is there more information available on that?