The L.D.S

[Chanileslie]

What is the living prophet? Is it just one guy ? Sounds like the pope. If like the pope does he do like the pope does sort of?

Nope, no Pope hat....well okay, he could have a pope hat, but it isn't a part of his office.

 

[Chanileslie]

Re: Re: Re: LDS as seen from close aboard

Yes, but: We know so much about Joe ("Oh the Carnal Mind!") Smith, and his effusions are such achingly transparent claptrap. (I've heard the BOM called a novel; well that's charitable.) It's not really mystical, or let's say it's p-poor mysticism. Smith's make-believe knowledge has been exposed so thoroughly and the origins of his doctrine are so clearly a con that I find it especially baffling that anybody this side of Lacchus or Ian or LifeGazer could accept even one syllable of it as true.

IOW, I fear that I must disagree: the LDS belief system -is- sillier than many others. My Jack Mormon uncle Bill would probably second that.

Why does anyone believe in any silly thing? Why does John Edwards who has been shown time and time again to be an oportunistic fraud have such a following?

I don't really think the LDS belief system is sillier than any others. They are all extremely absurd with ridiculous beliefs.

 

[Chanileslie]

chanileslie wrote:


Interesting. Any more?

Sure,

Mormon's keep a years supply of food at all times, so they are prepared for Armageddon. One month out of the year, Mormons are not supposed to do any grocery shopping, and exist of their years supplies. The purpose of this is so that they oldest supplies are used and then can be replenished with new supplies.

A good Mormon should also have a vegetable garden, so that they can have fresh foods in the event of a tragedy or cataclysm. If you have a major disaster, and rescuers can't get supplies to you for a while, hope that you live near a good Mormon or two because they will have plenty of food, water, flashlights, blankets and possibly a generator, not to mention fuel.

I have never drank so much Kool-aide or ate so much Jello as when I was in the Mormon church - they are dietary musts, I think.

Many Mormon couples will have two wedding ceremonies - one in the Temple to consecrate their vows and one they can invite their non-Mormon and less devote Mormon friends to. Nyarlathotep and I, although we are both pretty hardcore atheists, could actually qualify to consecreate our marriage in the Temple if we just attended church for a years time.

One Sunday of the month is fasting Sunday - I can't recall if it is the first or last Sunday of the month. During that day, one is supposed to fast from sunrise to sundown. The savings from that fasting (not eating two meals) are supposed to be donated to charity.

President Daniels, my seminary teacher and a member of my Ward, was one of the best people I ever knew, all religion aside. He was kind, considerate and generous to everyone, of the Mormon religion or not. It is people like President Daniels and my friend, Gale's, parents that leave me with such a good feeling about the Mormon church because these were good, genuinely wonderful people who didn't just pay lip service to caring for everyone, but actually did.

The developementally disabled have a free ride into the inner circle of heaven and don't require baptism because the Mormon's believe that these individuals are the chosen of god, and are here to teach us a lesson.

 

[sackett]

More!

Tell about the spiritual garment. I love that one.

 

[Bruce]

Chanileslie,

May I ask what drove you to leave the LDS? What was the reaction of family and friends? Thnx.

 

[Chanileslie]

Chanileslie,

May I ask what drove you to leave the LDS? What was the reaction of family and friends? Thnx.

Not friends or family. My mom and friends although they didn't really like the Mormon church, were actually very supportive. I left the church for several reasons:

One, I didn't really believe in god. I tried. I really tried. I wanted so much to belong, and the church was a pretty safe place to be.

Also, I really couldn't stand the sexism that was part and parcel in the religion, and the whole: Women can't hold office in the church because they have the more important task of being mothers, never washed well with me.

The Anti-homosexual thing drove me batty - it just didn't make sense.

Racism - why were blacks not allowed to obtain the Priesthood until 1977? Does god not know what he wants? What's the deal? Also, some other very racist comments made by people in the church, really bothered me. A lot of Mormons honestly believe that blacks are one of the 13 Tribes that went bad, and are dark in coloration to show that they are inherently evil. This was taught by the church, but that is now and even when I was a member, falling by the way side. It is one of the cool things about having a living prophet, there is a viable reason to make major changes in doctrine!

The church's stance on suicide - that it was evil and anyone who killed themself would be punished for it, unless it was understood they had a problem - hello, nobody just becomes bored one day and say, "Hey, I'm going to kill myself!"

The pre-marital sex thing - although Mormon's do have a pretty lax view on sex within marriage. Unlike the misconception that sex is only for procreation and that is why Mormon's have so many kids, sex is according to Mormon doctrine a gift to married people for them to enjoy each other. I disagree. Sex is an act, a pleasurable act and nobody should be shunned or looked down on because they had sex, unless it was not consensual on their partner's side.

Masturbation - I was floored when President Kimble said in the General Conference that masturbation is wrong and people who practice it would be condemned. What a silly thing!

Reading the bible and the BOM just convinced me how looney this whole religion thing is. It was insane, not to mention a very dull read! Blech!

None of those hot, sexy Mormon boys were interested in me!

And last, and not least: I don't believe in god. (Yes, I know I already mentioned that, but it is really the primary reason). If I believed in god and the religion, I probably could have rationalized away the other crap.

 

[Chanileslie]

Re: More!

Tell about the spiritual garment. I love that one.

Temple garments? They are special garments worn under the clothes, and they supposedly provide some type of protection. I never obtained these and it is my understanding that more information is given on them once one reaches an age when they are to be worn. I do remember that in Hayward, CA on Mission Blvd., across from a huge cemetary is shop that specialize in these garments.

 

[TeaBag420]

Re: Re: Re: LDS as seen from close aboard

Actually in the Mormon religion those who are not a member are referred to as gentiles, even Jews.


1 often capitalized : a person of a non-Jewish nation or of non-Jewish faith; especially : a Christian as distinguished from a Jew
2 : HEATHEN, PAGAN
3 often capitalized : a non-Mormon

I stand corrected. Thank you. But how many people do I have to get to agree to call cats "gentiles" before it makes it into the dictionary? Interesting. One word with two contradictory definitions. Jews are gentiles, yet Jews are not gentiles. Mormons are gentiles, yet Mormons are not gentiles. I propose that we discard the Mormon definition.


Creeping Humpty-Dumptyism.

If Jesus appeared to the Indians, how come the Indians weren't Mormons when the Pilgrims came here? Mormonism makes even less sense than Catholicism.

 

[TeaBag420]

I don't know how to break this to you but MacArthur was one of ours too.

Yeah, I'm aware of that, DA. Look at the context.

He loved his mamooo.

 

[Scot C. Trypal]

Chanileslie,

They are special garments worn under the clothes, and they supposedly provide some type of protection.

Their efficacy is questionable at best. From my teen years, I know they don’t even slow down evil seducers who’re after those “sexy Mormon boys”.

Your split with the LDS church sounds similar to mine. But, as I was raised plain protestant, I kind of see my LDS phase as the last death throws of my Christianity.

TeaBag420,

If Jesus appeared to the Indians, how come the Indians weren't Mormons when the Pilgrims came here? Mormonism makes even less sense than Catholicism.

I understand they are supposed to be of the tribe that went evil (thus the dark skin you see ).

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Re: Re: Re: Re: LDS as seen from close aboard

If Jesus appeared to the Indians, how come the Indians weren't Mormons when the Pilgrims came here? Mormonism makes even less sense than Catholicism. [/B]

According to the stories (and it ahs been a long, long time since I read them so I can't remember a lot of detail), the Indians we know today were the descendants of a group called the 'Lamanites' who worshipped false gods and broke away from the folowers of the God of the bible (This group is called 'Nephites'). Warfare between these groups wiped out the Nephites until only the Lamanites were left on this side of the Atlantic.

Sadly, this story has led to a lot of prejudice towards Indians from Mormons through the ages. Even today, Mormons tend to be either prejudiced or patronizing towards them, in my opinion.

 

[sackett]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: LDS as seen from close aboard

....Sadly, this story has led to a lot of prejudice towards Indians from Mormons through the ages. Even today, Mormons tend to be either prejudiced or patronizing towards them, in my opinion.

Not just Mormons, but Western whites in general. But then Westerners tend to look down on Mormons, Mexicans, blacks, Jews, Catholics, and easterners. Believe me, it's tough to find a friend when you come from way out West.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: LDS as seen from close aboard

Not just Mormons, but Western whites in general. But then Westerners tend to look down on Mormons, Mexicans, blacks, Jews, Catholics, and easterners. Believe me, it's tough to find a friend when you come from way out West.

Well, I was born and raised in Nevada and I don't think it's that bad today (though as far as blacks go, Nevada had a reputation as the 'Mississippi of the West' up until the '70s, as I have heard it)

Of course, I tend to notice and react to prejudice towards Indians since most of my family is Paiute (I am white, but I grew up on a reservation. It's a long story), so even the indian thing could just be my perception.

 

[cbish]

chanileslie wrote:

I have never drank so much Kool-aide or ate so much Jello as when I was in the Mormon church - they are dietary musts, I think.

Mormon dietary musts......potatoes and Cream of Mushroom soup.

This was one of my coping hypothesis that I've developed; 'Mormons won't spend money on food.'

I've found the Mormon diet to be very basic. Meat (usually pot roast) and potatoes. Very bland I might add. Feed a Buffalo Wing to a mormon and you'll kill him. I thought it was just my in-laws but so far, it's been universal.

Ice Cream. I'll eat more ice cream on one weekend than I will for the rest of the year combined. I met my wife while she was still attending BYU. I went to visit her one weekend and we attended a basketball game. After the game, instead of going to a bar (which I would've done), we went to the largest ice cream palor I've ever seen. It was the size of a WalMart. There had to be 3,000 people there. All eating ice cream. That's when I knew I was on another planet.

 

[Chanileslie]

chanileslie wrote:


Mormon dietary musts......potatoes and Cream of Mushroom soup.

This was one of my coping hypothesis that I've developed; 'Mormons won't spend money on food.'

I've found the Mormon diet to be very basic. Meat (usually pot roast) and potatoes. Very bland I might add. Feed a Buffalo Wing to a mormon and you'll kill him. I thought it was just my in-laws but so far, it's been universal.

Ice Cream. I'll eat more ice cream on one weekend than I will for the rest of the year combined. I met my wife while she was still attending BYU. I went to visit her one weekend and we attended a basketball game. After the game, instead of going to a bar (which I would've done), we went to the largest ice cream palor I've ever seen. It was the size of a WalMart. There had to be 3,000 people there. All eating ice cream. That's when I knew I was on another planet.

Oohh, yeah, I forgot about the ice cream. We must have had ice cream socials at least once to twice a month!

I don't remember the food being all that bland, only that Kool-aide and Jello seemed pervasive!

 

[Kitty Chan]

yes he is just one guy, and he is rather like the pope in the sense of being the head of the church and is considered to have sort of a special connection to God from whence he draws his inspiration to lead. He is called a living prophet because he is literally considered to be a prophet . He does have a 'quorum' of twelve 'apostles' to assist him though.

He doesn't get the silly hat though. In every picture I have ever seen of him he was wearing a business suit.

Thanks Nyarlathotep and Chani

Interesting I didnt know that. Im not big on the prophet term but I understand some form of church government.

But do either of you know what his spriitual side is ie is it like when a catholic recognizes the pope as Gods rep here on earth?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

But do either of you know what his spriitual side is ie is it like when a catholic recognizes the pope as Gods rep here on earth?

I would say that is accurate. What the Prophet says is supposed to be coming straight from Upstairs. I.e. when the church banned Polygamy it wasn't just a decision made by the Prophet, it was considered a decision made by God and passed down through the prophet.

 

[cbish]

Chanileslie wrote:

I don't remember the food being all that bland,

Food happens to be one of my passions. I love to cook. My mormon family has been a great strain in this area.

They have very simple tastes. My brother-in-law refused to eat his spaghetti in marinara after one bite at a fine Italian restaurant (I told him he wouldn't like it.) and pronounced to the table, "Just give me some Rague!" Salad = iceberg lettuce & ranch dressing (yum).

They buy the cheapest food possible. They want me to cook for them, but I can't have them go to the grocery store with me. I thought my mother-in-law was going to have an aneurism when I bought steaks that were over $5.00 a pound.

If you "define" a food, it had better be as advertised. I made a white bean chili once. Because I called it a chili, it should have been Dennison's out of the can. They wouldn't eat it. I have to call it 'spicey bean soup'.

Again, I thought it was my querky family, but I've been validated at every other mormon function I've attended.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Chanileslie wrote:


Food happens to be one of my passions. I love to cook. My mormon family has been a great strain in this area.

They have very simple tastes. My brother-in-law refused to eat his spaghetti in marinara after one bite at a fine Italian restaurant (I told him he wouldn't like it.) and pronounced to the table, "Just give me some Rague!" Salad = iceberg lettuce & ranch dressing (yum).

They buy the cheapest food possible. They want me to cook for them, but I can't have them go to the grocery store with me. I thought my mother-in-law was going to have an aneurism when I bought steaks that were over $5.00 a pound.

If you "define" a food, it had better be as advertised. I made a white bean chili once. Because I called it a chili, it should have been Dennison's out of the can. They wouldn't eat it. I have to call it 'spicey bean soup'.

Again, I thought it was my querky family, but I've been validated at every other mormon function I've attended.

Well, you can ask Chani about my cooking and tastes (which both tend toward the insanely hot and spicy) and these have remained unchanged sisnce my Mormon days. So you now know of at least ONE exception.

 

[Scot C. Trypal]

Chanileslie wrote:

...Again, I thought it was my querky family, but I've been validated at every other mormon function I've attended.

Same experience here with one exception to the rule, Mormons who spent their mission in the more exotic (relative to LDS culture) locals. You can only hold out for so long in Korea, for example, before you starve or develop a taste for kim chi.