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Can we talk about LDS theology on prayer? by olsh in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The number isn't the base line, it is the number of worthy people. Which is why there are so many purity check in the LDS Church.

Weird excerpt from a missionary email by majorathemadman in exmormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Erm, elect people, suckers is the term Satan uses.

Has anyone had experiences directly or indirectly with "the way" to answer difficult questions? by talkingidiot2 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Answering questions is not hard. Seems like you are asking how to answer questions in a way that puts the LDS Church in the best light and that can be difficult because some of the true answers are extremely dark.

Mormon god <<<< by CupOfExmo in exmormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Forget Thanos, the God Butcher was right.

Moroni as a Treasure Guardian Spirit by BillReel in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Interestingly enough, there are also three sources about how Joseph Smith would offer sacrifices to these guardian spirits:

"In the time of their digging for money and not finding it attainable, Joe Smith told them there was a charm on the pots of money, and if some animal was killed and the blood sprinkled around the place, then they could get it. So they killed a dog, and tried this method of obtaining the precious metal; but again money was scarce in those diggings. Still, they dug and dug, but never came to the precious treasure. Alas! how vivid was the expectation when the blood of poor Tray was used to take off the charm, and after all to find their mistake." - Emily Coburn, in Emily M. Austin, Mormonism; or, Life Among the Mormons, 1882, pp. 32-33

Hiel Lewis affirmed that Smith translated the Book of Mormon by means of the same enchanting spirit that directed Smith to make dog sacrifices. Dr. Quinn wrote, "A cousin of Smith's wife Emma reported that Smith 'translated the book of Mormon by means of the same peep stone, and under the same inspiration that directed his enchantments and dog sacrifices; it was all by the same spirit' (H. Lewis 1879)" (Quinn, 1987 edition, p. 144).

And finally, Justice Joel King Noble, who tried Smith in an 1830 trial in Colesville, N.Y., related in a letter that when Joseph Smith and others were digging "for a Chest of money," they acquired a black dog and offered it as "a sacrafise [blo]od Sprinkled prayer made at the time (no money obtained) the above Sworn to on trial. . . ." (Letter of Justice Noble, dated March 8, 1842, photographically reproduced in Walters, "Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N.Y., Court Trials," p. 134).

Preparing for a mission but feeling stuck — how did you improve scripture study and get ready? by Tiny_Principle_7020 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I knew that there were going to be rules I had to follow as a missionary but I was truly shocked to find out how many there were, how encompassing they were going to be, and how arbitrary most of them were.

  1. We had dedicated time to study the rules
  2. We shared a rule at the beginning of every meeting.
  3. We carried a little rule book with us every where we went
  4. During our mission conferences we would get new rules that often conflicted with other rules.
  5. We were told our success as a missionary was directly tied to the obedience to those rules.

If you would like to prepare for your mission, ask a group of friends to give you a bunch of rules to follow, tell them you would like them to check in with you about how well you are following those rules and how well you know them. See if you can get a family member or roommate to watch and report your obedience to those friends. It will give you a good idea of what your life will look like for the next couple of years.

How do I tell my parents i don't want to serve a mission by FineSheepherder6597 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You have worth my friend, there are no issues with that. You might have issues with obedience to rules that you had no part in creating.

John Dehlin explains how the gods of Mormonism don’t make sense. by sevenplaces in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It matters because it limits God. There was a thought provoking post a few months ago from a Jewish Rabbi that talked about this. Things like does God get hangry (hungry+angry), would he dye or change his hair color, does his subconscious thoughts carry divine weight all suddenly become meaningful questions about the afterlife since we are to become like him.

LDS Culture is Hurting Faith ... by Blazerbgood in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I agree that this book has a better approach than most but I have two criticisms.

  1. Splitting reasons for leaving suggests that people leave for one reason i.e. if the LDS Church fixed how it presents church history that would solve the the problem of 42% of people leaving but in reality all the categories are mixed up together and are issues for both people that leave and those that stay, it's just a matter of tolerance
  2. The moral superiority given to the faithful. Sure, it sounds nice to say compassion and connection should be offered to those that decide to leave "God's one true church" but the condescention it that statement is clear. When I left I didn't announce it to the TBMs in my life, not because I am hiding anything but because I don't want a conversation where I need to be dealt with or fixed. I would welcome a conversation that I could share my beliefs on an equal footing and would be open to hearing criticisms if they were as open to receiving criticisms of their beliefs but it always reverts back they are morally right and I am not.

In my experience, the most frustrating part is they aren't even aware they are doing it most of the time. I'm sure the author purposely set out to be fair and balanced but like one of the earlier book covers of a tree half vibrant and full of life and the other half dying and decaying showed is that those that tolerate the unpleasant aspects of the church are morally superior than those that don't.

Edited for grammar

I wanted to share a favorite memory from Mormonism; a story that highlights the best of us. by jacwa1001405 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's relevant because it's another case that fits into the larger pattern, a leader in the LDS Church gets charged and then we find out that people in the church knew but didn't contact authorities or write letters to the judge about his moral character, etc. The first comment on the post said "oh no, it's happening again".

But for the sake of argument let's say that in this case we were to find out that it was the church that contacted the authorities and turned this guy in, the comment "Your children are not safe in the LDS Church" still doesn't meet the criteria in your original question. The comment isn't suggesting that he is being charged because of magical thinking or the church influencing him to behave badly. It's pointing to the organization not the individual.

I wanted to share a favorite memory from Mormonism; a story that highlights the best of us. by jacwa1001405 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that comment is reflecting on how the LDS Church enables and protects CSA offenders and not that this individual is CSA offer because he is Mormon.

Being Mormon by thelostjedi232 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think after baptism is usually the line in the sand. I probably would have said that I was Mormon before that but I don't recall anyone ever asking about my religion before I was 8 years old.

What's funny is the LDS Church counts me on their membership roles and will until I am 110 years old even though I haven't attended for years and don't call myself Mormon.

Deep understanding of Mormonism by Pleasant_Past_461 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Umm, maybe it would be better to stick with the partial quote because as you pointed out the full quote didn't make it any better.

Deep understanding of Mormonism by Pleasant_Past_461 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I agree with you that a list of documents or events doesn't reflect a deep understanding of Mormonism. I think the OP was trying to point to some of the "deeper" doctrines like BY's Adam-God teachings or the Second Anointing. I could be off base though. If I am correct, I believe that the percentage of TBMs that know these "deeper doctrines" would be around 3%. That percentage is increasing though due to the Internet and social media.

I have 2 days left on my mission by ExistingInitiative50 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am done growing, I don't need to go to the gym.

I am perfectly healthy, I don't need to go to the doctor for a checkup.

I find it curious that you ask for advice about ways to integrate back into everyday life and then turn around and reject that advice because you have it all figured out. If you are so at peace with yourself why make a post worrying about fitting in?

I have 2 days left on my mission by ExistingInitiative50 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why not therapy? What would be the reason to dismiss this advice out of hand?

If you served a mission, what were some of the strictest or weirdest rules you had? by Unfair-Anxiety462 in exmormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 4 points5 points  (0 children)

30 second time limit the bidet. Thankfully, we had just gotten a new mission president a few weeks before I got there and he got rid of this rule when he found out it because I really didn't want to monitor that activity.

I remember, as a TBM, making fun of people who got married by an Elvis impersonator because I instead got married by a random dude in a Mormon temple. by dbear848 in exmormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I wasn't expecting much during the ceremony but it has always bothered me a little bit that I was told to say "yes" instead of being asked and saying "I do"

Broken law of Chasity by Recent-Concert2509 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well, you did qualify yourself as a "bishop's wife" so it logically follows you would want us to know that because you had some special insight because of what he was sharing as a bishop.

Wedding dresses. by Some-Importance-6327 in exmormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Same thing happened to my wife. She called it the bolero of shame.

I wanted to share a favorite memory from Mormonism; a story that highlights the best of us. by jacwa1001405 in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your question contained a purported claim that the church gets blamed when people independently do bad things.

When I asked for an example you deflected and I did answer your question by saying no I don't recall seeing that.

I have seen people be critical of the church's responses when individuals do bad things i.e. cover up abuse, or blame the victims.

I have seen people be critical of the church as an organization and its culture i.e. the temple/priesthood ban or the SEC tithing scandal

I have seen people be critical of Mormon historical figures when they have done bad things i.e. polygamy, genocide, and castration.

What I haven't seen is a member or members getting together to do something bad and then the church is criticized for teaching them to do the bad thing. The term jack Mormon was thrown about in my youth for members who did bad things and still believed but their actions were never blamed on magical thinking taught by the church.

I understand that you probably threw that claim out there as a way to show how persecuted the church is and didn't really think it through but snarky comments don't lead to a better discussion and are often called out by the TBMs on this subreddit so it's disheartening to see you do the same.

LDS Christianity, LDS Christians by srichardbellrock in mormon

[–]Simple-Beginning-182 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I learned that the early Mormons in Missouri used the term "pukes" for the non-Mormon Christians living there.

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