Question about Mormonism.?
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I am a member of the Church, but by no means a historian. I will do my best to answer your question.\n\nFirst, neither the Book of Mormon nor the Church say exactly where the events of the Book of Mormon occurred. While members generally understand that it is a record of a people from the Ancient America, most do not seriously study the geography. We read it, after all, for its spiritual content not its geography. \n\nThat said, many LDS members believe that the Book of Mormon lands are primarily located in Meso-America. This is largely due to the fact that its people had a highly developed system of writing. The whole face of its land was covered with buildings. The first six square miles of Tikal alone revealed hundreds of buildings. It is also known that there were numerous city states with populations reaching into the 10's of thousands. There is also ample evidence of warfare throughout the region, despite early claims by anthropologists that they were a peaceful people. Many other evidences exist supporting this theory. \n\nIn Mormon 6:6, it is recorded that all of the records and sacred items where buried in the Hill Cumorah, except for the Book of Mormon plates, which were given to Mormon's son Moroni. From that time, Mormon had over 30 years with the plates during which time he fled from the Lamanites, as they would put to death any Nephite who would not deny the Christ. Some members believe that Mormon brought the plates to their final burial in New York during that time. Which would explain the current lack of evidence in New York. Unfortunately, this is all speculation as we simply do not yet know all of these answers.\n\nI hope that this has, at least, offered some additional perspective on the subject. While I do not have "proof" of the Book of Mormon's exact Geography, it does not affect my testimony of its truthfulness. Living its doctrines have brought me closer to the Savior. I have studied it, pondered it, prayed about it, and have felt the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost that it is truly God's word.\n\nI am including a link to a very thorough study on the subject that may further clarify your question. Please let me know if you have further questions.\n\nhttp://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=jbms&id=305&previous=L3B1YmxpY2F0aW9ucy9ib29rb2Ztb3Jtb252aWV3LnBocA==
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You have done research on "Mormons", yet you say they don't believe in the resurrected Jesus Christ!? Mormons ARE Christians because they DO believe in Jesus Christ. Why would they name their church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" if they didn't believe in Him? Obviously your research skills are extremely flawed!\nTheir doctrines do not contradict the Bible. They believe in the Bible. They follow biblical teachings. They have another book of scripture that is a companion to the Bible. Again... your research skills need work. \nAs for the original question "are Mormons an occult religion?" The answer is no. the 'Mormon' religion is open to everyone.
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Funny how all those non- mormons or "mormon experts" jump to explain what Mormons believe.\n\nDisregarding what others say we believe or not believe, or how others take our doctrines out of context,\n\nIn short, we believe in the following:\n\n1  WE believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.\n\n2  We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.\n\n3  We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.\n\n4  We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.\n\n5  We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.\n\n6  We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.\n\n7  We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.\n\n8  We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.\n\n9  We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.\n\n10  We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.\n\n11  We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.\n\n12  We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.\n\n13  We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.\n\nJOSEPH SMITH.\n\n(Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:1 - 13)
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I was raised strict mormon..now I'm an athiest. I believe that the people are good and mean well, and have good basic morals and values. I also think that Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, and James Strang are full of it. Why couldnt anyone else see the gold plates? I am technically still a member of the church but have been inactive for many years.
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The Mormon's (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) believe in God, the Eternal Father, believe in his Only Begotten son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.  They are one in purpose.  And yes, they are seperate beings.  We worship the Eternal Father, in the name of his beloved Son.
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OK, I'm a Mormon (convert of ten years) and am amazed at the level of ignorance shown here. Here's how it really is:\n\nWe DO NOT believe that God had sex with Mary. (Pernicious falsehood started by anti-Mormons)\n\nWe DO believe "that Jesus is Lord and that He died on the cross and he rose from the dead on the third day". [c.f. "Jesus_is_awesome"]\n\nWe believe that Jesus and satan are spirit brothers ONLY IN THE SENSE that everyone and everything, even satan, are created by God. People created by the same father are brothers.\n\nWe DO believe in salvation by grace, and we DO NOT believe that our good works save us. However, when we confess faith in Jesus Christ we promise to follow him. "If ye love me, keep my commandments". Our works are what show that He is Lord of our lives. If we deliberately fail to live according to his will we cannot really have meant that prayer. (But we know we can repent when we make a mistake.)\n\nI recently asked "What must I do to be saved?" I had 33 answrs, all of which said something along the lines of "Accept Jesus Christ and repent of your sins." I have done that, therefore I am saved and going to heaven. I also happen to be a Mormon.
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I am a Mormon myself. I have been my whole life.  Mormons are CHRISTIANS. The name of our church is The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints.  We basically have the same beliefs as other Christian religions. We belive in God, Jesus the Savior, and the Holy Spirit. We believe in baptisim. We believe strongly in the Bible.  The main difference is that we have The Book of Mormon also that we have a testimony of, just like we do the Bible. The Book of Mormon is another testiment of Jesus Christ. When Jesus came to the American continent. \n\nWe do not critize any other religion, that is not Christian like to do so. Also because our beliefs are basically the same. We believe in Heaven and Hell. The Plan of Salvation that God has for us.  We believe that Jesus Christ died for us, to allow us to be able to repent humbly and Jesus will remember our sins NO more if we do so. \n\nI hope this is not too confusing. I could go on for hours. Thanks for the question though\n\nKayla\n\nBTW-- We have not changed the Book Of Mormon over and over again. It was written by Latter-Day prophets back when Jesus was on earth.  In order to see for yourself, contact a local active Mormon near you and ask them for a Book of Mormon. First read Moroni chapter 10. Pray to have understanding of The Book of Mormon and to be able to feel the Holy Spirit as you read The Book of Mormon. \n:)
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What Do Mormons Believe: The Primary Differences Between Mormonism & Christianity\n\n\nWhat Do Mormons Believe: Divine Authority\nThe Mormon church uses two sources as its primary authorities: the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price are also viewed as divinely authoritative. The Christian church uses the Holy Bible alone as its authority from God. Joseph Smith is not recognized as a prophet. \n\nWhat Do Mormons Believe: The Nature of God\nThe Mormon church sees God as the Supreme Being of the universe. However, He gradually acquired that position over a long period of time by living a perfect and righteous life. God the Father has a body (flesh and bones). The Christian church proclaims God as eternally and infinitely supreme. He is the same today as always. He is a spirit Being. \n\nWhat Do Mormons Believe: The Nature of Man\nThe Mormon church teaches that humans exist as spirit beings before their birth. At physical birth, bodies are given to these spirits. They are also given an opportunity for free-will choice. The physical world represents a period of probation. The status of a person in the afterlife is determined by the way that person lived their life on Earth. If the person lived by a satisfactory standard, (including the fulfillment of Mormon temple obligations) that person has the potential to become a god in the after-life. They can also produce "spirit children" to populate a world of his own (like God did with the earth). The Christian church holds that humans do not exist as spirits prior to being born into the world. Humans cannot attain godhood or populate other worlds with "spirit children." \n\nWhat Do Mormons Believe: The Nature of Jesus Christ\nThe Mormon church views Jesus and Satan as spirit brothers and sons of God. God put forth His plan of salvation for the world, and Satan proposed his own plan. Jesus accepted the Father's plan and offered to implement it as the Savior. The Father chose Jesus, and the spirit of Jesus was given a body through the virgin Mary. He was crucified on a Roman cross, and rose from the dead three days later to establish His deity. The character and life of Jesus is attainable by anyone who performs at such a righteous level. The Christian church teaches that Jesus Christ has existed eternally as the Son of God, the second "person" of the Trinity. Jesus took on human flesh about 2000 years ago and was born into the world through the virgin Mary. He was crucified on a Roman cross for our sins, and rose from the dead three days later to establish His deity. \n\nWhat Do Mormons Believe: How do we Achieve Salvation\nThe Mormon church holds that Jesus Christ overcame physical death and guaranteed physical resurrection to all mankind. However, spiritual death can only be avoided through personal obedience of God's commandments. Forgiveness of sins requires faith, repentance and baptism by an approved Mormon priest. The practice of baptism for the dead is an extension of this belief, in which Mormons are baptized in proxy for those who have died without proper baptism. The Christian church teaches that we are unable to live a life righteous enough to meet God's perfectly holy standard. Therefore, we establish a relationship with God by faith in the work of Christ on the cross, not by our own works. Baptism and good deeds are acts of obedience to God, but not the means for gaining eternal salvation. \n\nWhat Do Mormons Believe: Life After Death\nThe Mormon church maintains that although there is temporary punishment for those that are most wicked, Jesus Christ will establish a new kingdom that will consist of three levels: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom. The Christian church holds that there are only two possible fates after death, heaven or hell. These locations are final, both physically and spiritually. \n\nLearn More Now! by clicking the Answers bu
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My brother is a Mormon (LDS). I've heard the strangest things about how they sacrifice animals and they have more than one wife (not true of LDS - only of fundamentalist Mormon denominations, which are few and far between), and they are so annoying and this and that on and on. When I hear people talk about them, I usually just listen and say, "Really?" every now and then until they are finished. Then I tell them that my brother is a Mormon. That usually produces a Kodak moment :) \n\nI don't agree with the Book of Mormon (see link for good reasons why) or some of the doctrines, but neither have I ever met a Mormon that I didn't like. Even Trey Parker and Matt Stone were man enough to portray them as really nice and loving people.
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The Seventh Day Adventist church is in 209 of the world's 236 nations (more than any other Christian church) they have the second largest system of Christian schools 85 universities, 953 secondary schools, 148 hospitals, 354 clinics, they make use of 713 languages.  Revelation teaches that the remnant church keeps all of God's commandments including the 4th and they teach the Gospel to all the nations.  There are almost 4000 people joining the Adventist church second only to Catholocism I believe.  The Mormon church teach a lot that the Bible doesn't they say the Book of Mormon is superior to the Bible,  people are in heaven right now, baptism services for the dead, polygamy, no divorce, if you're not Mormon you will be servants of them in heaven, eternal hell, etc... I still haven't found a scripture that supports most of their beliefs.  Not trying to force you to do anything just giving facts, if you have any questions about anything you can contact me anytime. peace out brother
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Mormonism teaches that God used to be a man on another world and that he became a god by following the laws and ordinances of his god on his home world.  He brought his wife to this world, a woman he had married on the other world.  She is, essentially a goddess.\n     In his present god-state, he rules our world. He has a body of flesh and bones.  Since god and his wife are both exalted persons, they each possess physical bodies.  In their exalted states as deities, they produce spirit children that grow and mature in the spiritual realm. The first spirit born was Jesus. Afterwards Lucifer was born along with the rest of us. So, Mormonism teaches that we all pre-existed in the spirit realm having been produced from the union of god and his goddess wife.  Therefore, we all existed in spirit form before coming down down and entering the bodies of human babies that are being born on earth. During this ‘compression' into the infant state, the memories of their pre-existence is 'veiled.' \n      God the father, who is called Elohim, was concerned for the future salvation of the people on earth. In the heavenly realm, the Father had a plan for the salvation of the world. Jesus endorsed the Father's plan. Lucifer did not. Lucifer became jealous and rebelled. In his rebellion he convinced a large portion of the spirits existing in heaven to side with him and oppose god. God being more powerful then they, cursed these rebellious spirits to become demons.  They can never be born in human bodies.  \n      The remaining spirits sided with God.  Since they chose the better way, when it comes time for them to live on earth, they have the privilege of being born in races and locations that are relative to their condition and choice made in the spirit realm.1\n      In the Mormon plan of salvation there needed to be a savior: Jesus. But Jesus was a spirit in heaven. For him to be born on earth, Brigham Young the second prophet of the Mormon church said that instead of letting any other man do it, God the Father did it with Mary. He said that the birth of our savior was as natural as the birth of our parents. Essentially, what this means is that Brigham Young taught that god the father came down and had relations with Mary, his spirit daughter, to produce the body of Jesus.  Though many Mormons will not entertain such incestuous thoughts about God and Mary, this is what Brigham Young taught and as far as we know, this has not been denied by the Mormon church.\n     Nevertheless, Jesus was born, got married, and had children.2  He died on the cross and paid for sins -- but not on the cross only.  According to Mormonism, the atonement of Christ was not only on the cross.  It began in the Garden of Gethsemane before he went to the cross. \n      In Mormonism, men and women have the potential of becoming gods. President Lorenzo Snow said, "As god once was, man is. As God is, man may become." In order to reach this exalted state of godhood, a person must first become a good Mormon, pay a full ten percent tithe to the Mormon church, follow various laws and ordinances of the church, and be found worthy.  At this point, they receive a temple recommend whereupon, the Mormon is allowed to enter their sacred temples in order to go through  set of secret rituals: baptism for the dead, celestial marriage, and various oaths of secrecy and commitment. Additionally, four secret handshakes are taught so the believing Mormon, upon entering the third level of Mormon heaven, can shake hands with god in a certain pattern. This celestial ritual is for the purpose of permitting entrance into the highest level of heaven.3 For those who achieve this highest of heavens, exaltation to godhood awaits them. Then, he or she, will be permitted to have his or her own planet and be the god of his own world and the Mormon system will be expanded to other planets.
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http://www.lightplanet.com/response/answers/contents.htm\nhttp://www.fairlds.org/apol/morm201/m20100a.html\nhttp://www.geocities.com/promormon/index.html\nhttp://www2.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/linksto.htm\nhttp://www.aros.net/~wenglund/Point.htm\nhttp://www.adherents.com/people/pt/Jerald_Sandra_Tanner.html\nhttp://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_BMProb2.shtml\nhttp://www.jefflindsay.com/myturn.shtml\n\n\nhere are some good pro mormon sites to look at answering all Anti Questions
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I'm sorry but a religion who is against homosexuality because it's not a marriage between a man and a woman but their men are allowed to have more than one wife is completely f'ed up.  It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Eve, Stacy & Amanda. \n\nTim : while mormons practiced polygamy much more back in the day, there are still mormons who have more than 1 wife.  Not many, but there are still some.  *******Even though they do not practice polygamy as widespread as they once did, they do feel that since David, Solomon and other patriarchs had many wives, obviously God would not look upon it as a sin. **********  Can I put that more clearly Tim who has to continue defending his answer.   \n\n"I have many more wives than one...and am not ashamed to have it known." this quote is by a very famous Mormon by the name of Brigham Young.
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Mormonism is a cult! Joseph was fasting during the time of this 'angel' appearing to him. When you fast your open to all in the spirit realm and unfortunatly he didnt have the discernment to know that he was being fooled by a false one!  ASK JESUS INTO YOUR HEART AND FORGIVENESS OF YOUR PAST!! LIFE GETS BETTER! AND YOULL FIND YOUR ANSWERS YOUR LOOKING FOR!
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I am a Mormon and will try and answer your question.\nYou said in your question to use the Holy Bible and not the Book of Mormon by john smith. I assume you mean Joseph Smith Right?.\n\nWhen the Church was restored many things that were lost were also restored see the references from the Holy Bible below.\nI hope this answers your question.The term mormon is slowly giving away to latter day saint.
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Ummm, Mormons believe in Jesus.  They just believe in more than Jesus.
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I am a mormon. And have answered your qwestions before. All im saying are facts. Baptisms for the dead is an ordinance in the temple. People are baptized in place of one who has passed away. The Aaronic and Melchezedick (dont know how to spell it) priesthood. We do not do evil things. Families are sealed for time and all eternity in the temple. You can contact the Mormon missionaries and ask questions\nTemples are houses of the Lord, the most sacred structures on the earth. \nAnciently, the Lord directed Solomon to build a temple (1 Chronicles 28:1–6). After Jesus Christ restored His Church through Joseph Smith, He again directed that temples be built. \n\nIn temples, Church members participate in ordinances designed to unite their families together forever and help them return to God. This next part is from www.mormon.org\n\nIn the temple, members: \n\nLearn eternal truths. \nReceive sacred ordinances, including those that bind husband and wife together for eternity, as well as join children and parents (Malachi 4:5–6). \nProvide ordinances such as baptism for those who have died without the opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:29); 1 Peter 4:6) \n\nThis part is more on baptisms for the dead.\nMany people have died without receiving baptism and other ordinances that Jesus Christ taught were necessary to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Because Heavenly Father wants all His children to have the opportunity to return to Him, He has provided a way for those who have died without these ordinances to receive them. \nIn holy temples, members of the Church can perform these ordinances on behalf of their ancestors who have died. \n\nThis makes it possible for those who have not received these ordinances to accept them, if they choose, and return to live one day with our Heavenly Father. \n\nThis part is on marraige and eternal marraige.\nWhen a man and woman are married in a temple, their family can be together forever. This is a common goal of Latter-day Saints. However, this is not always possible. One of the marriage partners may not be a member of the Church or may not be prepared to go to the temple. Some people never have the opportunity to marry. \nChurch members who have been divorced, who have never married, or who have been married outside the temple can participate in the ordinances of the gospel and enjoy opportunities for Church service. \n\nThe knowledge that a family can be together forever helps strengthen families—not only those who have been bound together through temple ordinances, but also those who hope to realize that blessing in the future. \n\nThe Savior promised that certain sacred acts performed in this life would be effective in the world to come. Consider His words to Peter: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). \nWhen a marriage is performed by the proper authority, in the holy temple, it can last through eternity, rather than “till death do you part.” \n\nYour marriage and family do not need to end at death. This promise can give you a sense of eternal belonging and eternal commitment.