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Ask a Mormon

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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
What's up guys, I know ns is pretty anti-religion but I thought it'd be cool to have you guys ask whatever you want and I'll do my best to give you guys accurate responses. I'm LDS but I have a bit of a nuanced approach to religion so we may have more in common than you think. It'll be cool if we get some legit questions in here but it is nsg so I'm prepared for the worst!
Jan 12 2014 12:27AM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Question begging if I've ever seen it but God doesn't hate native americans, God doesn't hate anyone. In the Book of Mormon there are primarily two groups of people,the Nephites and the Lamanites. The nephites are most often righteous and the lamanites are most often wicked. Toward the end of the narrative the two groups switch and the prophet Samuel the lamanite calls the nephites unto repentance.
Jan 14 2014 11:10AM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
'Kolob' is a term found in ancient records translated by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith did not provide a full description or explanation of Kolob nor did he assign the idea particular significance in relation to the Church’s core doctrines.

"Kolob" is the name given to the star closest to the throne of God in Abraham 3:3. It is introduced in an effort to teach Abraham that there is a hierarchy in all things. There are many stars, and one star is "closest" to God. In a similar way, there are many intelligences, or moral agents, some greater than others. The greatest of these is God.

Thus, "Kolob" is introduced in a rather peripheral way in an effort to teach about the supremacy of God:

Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other...And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all. (Abraham 3:18-19, italics added)

In an effort to make the Church look bizarre, many critics mock the idea of "God living on the planet Kolob." This is false as God does not live on Kolob. Kolob plays no real role in LDS doctrine or discourse.

Jan 14 2014 11:15AM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
I find it ironic how you attempt to make a blanket statement labeling all Christians as stupid, when you (for whatever personal reasons), can't acknowledge that you come from a wealthy family, even when presented with statistics that prove that is so.

"I don't give a fuck what a "normal" income is anyways."

so...

"I don't want to be perceived as a rich kid, so I will ignore the evidence that points to that."

You might as well just refrain from making more blanket statements about religion in this thread until you sort out the holes in your own logic.



Jan 14 2014 11:21AM
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ASkierNamedJaymz
Posts: 1209 - Karma: 339
Absolutely not true:

Book of Mormon, Alma 26:37

Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

God does not differentiate between races based on color, He respects righteousness.

  • 2 Nephi 26:33

    33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

Jan 14 2014 11:47AM
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Bombogenesis
Posts: 1984 - Karma: 4,006
Can someone make an ask a Muslim thread?






























please?
Jan 14 2014 11:52AM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
That would actually be really awesome. I know far less about Islam than I do about Mormonism
Jan 14 2014 12:07PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
It shows a strong negative correlation between intelligence (measured by IQ, which can be problematic but it's a standard) and religious belief.

My argument isn't that atheists have high IQs and therefore god can't exist though, I only posted this to provide evidence against the idea that atheists are just some crazy minority. We may be a minority, but studies show that as intelligence/education/scientific literacy go up, religiosity goes down, which I think is a fact worth noting.
Jan 14 2014 12:07PM
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KJacks
Posts: 440 - Karma: 2,329
how do magnets work
Jan 14 2014 12:08PM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549
honestly aside from marrying/having sex with girls, public freedom laws, and stubborn ideologies, i find the Islamic religion much more sensible in its explanation than christianity 
Jan 14 2014 12:10PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
"the condo they bought me for university is less than 1000 square feet. "

Just stop, you're only digging yourself into a deeper hole. You clearly have no idea about the world outside of your privileged little bubble. People who are ACTUALLY in the lower middle class often don't own even one house, much less many, and often can't even afford to go to college, much less have their parents buy them a condo for when they go there.

This is math. There is no argument here. If a household in the US (I know you're in Canada, but median income is similar) makes more than $75/k annually that puts them in the top ~30% of income earners. This isn't my opinion and the fact that you have a similarly rich circle of friends doesn't disprove the numbers, it just proves that you are sheltered.

Congratulations, you won the genetic lottery.
Jan 14 2014 12:15PM
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Way*Mo
Posts: 624 - Karma: 1,920
How about the celestial room? Are you personally temple sealed? Have you spoken to space?
Jan 14 2014 4:03PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
well why don't people get better jobs then? I mean I have worked summer jobs that would work out to be in the top 30% apparently.
Jan 14 2014 4:51PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Start your own thread about median income.
Jan 14 2014 5:07PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
Jesus fuck, you're either trolling or as dumb as the creationists.
Jan 14 2014 5:07PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
I am not as I haven't been through the temple so I couldn't really speak to that.
Jan 14 2014 5:08PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
other people keep bringing it up. I want to get back to making fun of mormons. trust me.
Jan 14 2014 5:13PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Then do it. Ask something about mormonism.
Jan 14 2014 5:25PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
You don't want to have to admit that you're economically privileged. That's fine, we can go back to making fun of religion, but if you deny data to protect the image you have of yourself (as not wealthy) then you're doing the same thing religious people do when they deny evolution so they don't have to admit they're related to chimps. Things are the way they are regardless of your preconceived biases. Your family has a lot of money and you probably have access to a lot of opportunities that most people don't because of that fact. Do something useful with that knowledge.


So anyway, a mormon question.

What would you consider to be the most important idea in all of mormonism?
Jan 14 2014 5:59PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Good question. Many people would say that it is the line of authority that mormonism claims to have through the angels that appeared to Joseph Smith and I would perhaps agree with them. Others would say it is Joseph Smith's first vision. I would say that the most important idea is not that God spoke to Joseph Smith, but that we all can communicate with Heavenly Father and develop a relationship with him. My opinion is that dialogic revelation as I talked about previously is the most "important" idea in mormonism. That said the atonement of Jesus Christ is more important than anything that Joseph Smith did because no one can get to heaven without Jesus Christ.
Jan 14 2014 6:35PM
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ASkierNamedJaymz
Posts: 1209 - Karma: 339
Jumping in here, I have been to the temple. I am sealed to my parents as a family, but am not yet married for myself. We don't speak to space in the temple... that would be quite boring, by definition 'space' isn't going to respond. The temple is a medium between Heaven and Earth in terms of spirituality, that's as close as I can get to understanding your question.
Jan 14 2014 7:16PM
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Way*Mo
Posts: 624 - Karma: 1,920
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you die in good graces in the mormon church, you are given your own planet to preside over in a god-like manner. This is a belief of your 'Heaven'.

The celestial room allows you to communicate with ancestors who now rule their own planets. Hence you can communicate through space. No?
Jan 14 2014 7:33PM
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ASkierNamedJaymz
Posts: 1209 - Karma: 339
The doctrine is that of 'eternal progression' which by the way is much more appealing to me than sitting in 'heaven' and singing with a harp for eternity. By eternal progression I mean that eventually it is possible to attain such high intelligence and glory that you would be like a God. That is really cool.

That is not what happens in the celestial room, vicarious ordinances (meaning doing certain needed ceremonies - like baptism) are done for your ancestors. There is not communication with them. Although that also would be sweet.
Jan 14 2014 7:49PM
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byubound
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 9,870

I can answer this one to the best of my knowledge, but I am by no means a doctrinal expert.

The LDS church believes that all people have the potential to become God-like beings. We also believe God created the whole universe, the earth, and us. The short answer to your question is that people who lived a good life and died do not rule a planet in this universe, but one of their own. Therefore the communication with ancestors is not through space, but a much more complex thing like communication with heaven.


Jan 14 2014 7:56PM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,746
I'm 30 and I'd dump your body in a dumpster for the opportunity to make 50k. Like, literally....I'd murder you brutally with my bare hands, cum when the life left your eyes, and then throw you away without even looking over my shoulder.


Jan 14 2014 8:22PM
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Way*Mo
Posts: 624 - Karma: 1,920
Fair enough. A better answer than I've gotten in the past. Cheers
Jan 14 2014 11:03PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
I have a serious question...mormon...Why do you believe in such an outlandish religion? Religion itself is slowly becoming more and more irrelevant, why follow a practice that defies logic? And I'm being 100% serious in case people think Im trolling.
Jan 14 2014 11:07PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
I can understand it may seem outlandish from an outsider's perspective. However, I certainly don't believe religion is becoming irrelevant. It may be irrelevant for others but it's not for me and that's really all that matters, my beliefs won't change because they're unpopular. I think the theological framework that mormonism has created is quite logical philosophically. If you take some specific cracks at how it defies logic I'll try my best to give you an honest response.
Jan 14 2014 11:16PM
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Ye_ol_wild_Koala
Posts: 270 - Karma: 121
a/s/l/job? How many kids do u have?
Jan 14 2014 11:35PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,296
As silly as it sounds, and with how much I truly despise religion in general, I respect your right to believe in what you want and will never think less of you for that. But that being said Joseph Smith being directed to golden plates that contained scripture written on it? Illogical. "The First Vision" Sounds like a man just wanted people to follow his own religion.

Honestly, from a person with limited religious background, and from someone who doesn't believe in god, it sounds like the workings of a slightly sociological/crazy person that was somehow able to convince a mass of people to follow him and thus used that following as a base to build his own religion the way he saw fit.
Jan 14 2014 11:35PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 36697 - Karma: 110,718
also does your family stockpile food? I heard some families do because the prophecy foretold them about the apocalypse or something
Jan 14 2014 11:46PM
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byubound
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 9,870
The Mormon church recommends that members be prepared for emergencies/disasters. I think it was 6 months of food/water that you are supposed to keep. That's about how much we have. There are people who go crazy overboard though.
Jan 15 2014 12:13AM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Yeah my family has a decent amount saved up, but it's certainly not in fear of some great apocalypse. It's just wise to be prepared ya know? The church also counseled its members to avoid going into debt and to live within their means. It's just practical stuff really, no fear mongering attached to it. I've heard of simple stuff like families having lots of household items saved up that they didn't need to buy when their parents lost their job in the recession, things of that nature.
Jan 15 2014 1:04AM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
I appreciate it man. I know religion creates a lot of trouble in the world but I also see so many good things come out of all religion. Lots of good things happen without religion but lots of bad things come about without religion as well. I really respect all religions and find a lot of beauty and truth in all of them.
I respect your differing views as well and it's certainly a conclusion that many people outside the faith come to. One thing to think about, you alluded to the fact that he was able to convince a mass amount of people to follow him and believe in him and I have to say I find it incredible. It's crazy to think that in less than 200 years a church of 15 million members has resulted from a farm boy in new york. If he was a fraud I would have to rank him as one of the greatest writers to ever live with the works he brought forth. With regards to him being a crazy person, it's interesting to note that the dominant theory that the most ardent anti-mormon scholars have come up with, is that he was a pious fraud. Not expecting to blow your mind with any of this but it's something to think about at least.
Jan 15 2014 1:18AM
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ASkierNamedJaymz
Posts: 1209 - Karma: 339
There are a lot of issues inherent in this concern, I would shed a little more light on the matter by saying that the LDS church is quite unique, within that framework, we agree with you that many people have done exactly what you have just assumed. Many are motivated by the wrong things or at least disillusioned. Then the natural question becomes, "what made Joseph Smith different than all the other people who started churches?" In short, God gave him evidence of the divinity of his call - no one else claims this - that evidence is the Book of Mormon. Many others claim being called from God, but God never gave anyone else something to prove it, He did when He brought back His true gospel. Additional word of God, as was given to others anciently.

Also claiming it as 'illogical' doesn't really add up, unusual, yes, but it could be true, the way to know is by examining the evidence which is left (for yourself, don't just google it)
Jan 15 2014 3:01AM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
Do you talk to god? What has she told you?
Jan 15 2014 3:53AM
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-benedetto
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 1,359
I don't have my religious flow chart out but I think that is the jahova's. (Spelling?)
Jan 15 2014 9:08AM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
You have to say what the framework is before we can poke logical holes in it.

Is god all knowing? All powerful? All loving/good? If so, why do bad things happen to good people? Don't say "free will," because that doesn't explain natural disasters. Also, it makes god an accessory to every criminal act because she could have stopped it but didn't.

Of course, there is no logical conflict if you say god is evil, but then why worship her? There is also no conflict if you claim that god is either not all knowing or all powerful, in which case how is she god?

Do you think it is logical to believe things without evidence? Do you think that the fact that something cannot be logically "disproven" is a good reason to believe it is true? Can you prove that I am not a serial rapist and murderer? Do you believe that I am a serial rapist and murderer?

Is there any fact about the universe that, if true, would make you disbelieve in god? If yes, what is it? If no, then shouldn't it be clear that no fact about the universe made you believe in god, and therefore your belief is baseless?

You say you won't change your beliefs because they're "unpopular," but in the community where you actually live, how "unpopular" is mormonism? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that your beliefs conform perfectly to the culture where you live, and that this is probably why you believe them?


Jan 15 2014 1:18PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
What supporting evidence or reason does the LDS church have for believing this? Did you know that the church of the flying spaghetti monster believes that a giant pasta being created the entire universe, including pirates, beer, and little people? Do you have more evidence for your belief than the Church of the FSM does for theirs?
Jan 15 2014 1:21PM
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Bill.Nye
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 2,109
Um, that's what EVERY person who claims to have spoken to god does. Muhammad wrote the Quran and claimed it was god's word.
Jan 15 2014 1:24PM
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safetyhound
Posts: 58 - Karma: 61
@OP did you do the 2 year door to door thing?
Jan 15 2014 1:27PM
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theVan
Posts: 204 - Karma: 225
Do Mormons believe that if someone is not Mormon they are to be denied entrance into Heaven/Unconditional Love and acceptance by God or somehow not allowed to enjoy any form or certain level of celestial reward?

Do Mormons believe God is a man?

Did the Hubble space telescope find Kolob?

What's with the secret codenames, handshakes, and funny clothing you guys wear inside the temple? Do you truly believe if you are not sealed in the Temple for all eternity you will not be able to reunite in gods holy kingdom?

What happens if you don't give the LDS church your tithing?
Jan 15 2014 2:42PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
I pray to God and he communicates with me through the Holy Ghost. He also answers my prayers through other people i.e. other people who are in tune to the spirit help me in times of need. As I reflect on my day, I see the hand of the Lord in my life. I realize you can discount everything I say but it's a matter of perspective. As a side note, mormons believe in a heavenly mother.
Jan 15 2014 7:42PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Not yet.
Jan 15 2014 7:50PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
It was taught by Joseph Smith. If you accept Joseph Smith as a prophet then the belief follows. Look up the King Follett Discourse. If you believe the FSM has authority from God then I suppose you would believe that church's claims.

Jan 15 2014 7:56PM
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-benedetto
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 1,359
Instead, he's doing the online version..this thread is part of it
Jan 15 2014 9:28PM
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ESAND
Posts: 1607 - Karma: 744
Why do you believe that Joseph Smith had that authority and that the great noodler dose not?

In other words, and be honest, if you weren't born into a mormon family, do you think that you would be mormon right now?
Jan 15 2014 10:13PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Read the thread. It's been answered in several different ways.
Jan 15 2014 10:34PM
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STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
HAHA. NO! I have no fucking questions for you!
Jan 15 2014 10:36PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Ok. That's not very productive though!
Jan 15 2014 10:43PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
When you die you are sorted into either spirit paradise or prison. People who aren't mormon will initially be sorted into spirit prison (I'm assuming, I have no idea where the cut-off is) then they will have the truth preached to them in heaven and if they choose to accept it they will have the opportunity to go to heaven. Basically, anyone that is willing to (in this life or the next) can make it to heaven. God loves you whether you choose to accept his gifts or not.
To the second question, I would refer you to the King Follett discourse, here is a quote from it addressing the nature of God. "First, God himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heaven, is a man like one of you. That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today and you were to see the great God who holds this world in its orbit and upholds all things by his power, you would see him in the image and very form of a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion and image of God. He received instruction from and walked, talked, and conversed with him as one man talks and communes with another.

In order to understand the subject of the dead for the consolation of those who mourn for the loss of their friends, it is necessary they should understand the character and being of God; for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. [That he was not is an idea] incomprehensible to some. But it is the simple and first principle of the gospel-to know for a certainty the character of God, that we may converse with him as one man with another. God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did, and I will show it from the Bible.

I've already addressed kolob at length so you can read that response.

As I said earlier, I haven't been to the temple and couldn't speak to any of that.

Jan 15 2014 10:53PM
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