Should I join the Mormon Church?

Status
Not open for further replies.

FaithTriumphs

Junior Member
Aug 12, 2007
46
5
✟15,191.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Hi, I am a newly converted atheist who now believes wholeheartedly in God. I have a very intense personal relationship with him, but I don't go to church because I haven't found one yet.

My question is this: I was approached a few weeks ago by the missionaries and they were pretty nice guys. Very open and easy to talk to, not at all pushy like you sometimes hear. They are very knowledgeable about their church and were able to answer all my questions to my satisfaction. Everything they have said meshes well with what I believe.

I am a very rational person, and I won't bevlieve something that doesn't make sense intellectually (at least wihtout any overwhelming emotional feeling, like the day I was saved). From what the missionaries told me, and what I have read about the church's beliefs on mormon.org, the Mormon Church fits very well in that. There is nothing extreme or emotionally excited about their belief system. It is very level-headed and completely rational from what I have read.

The question is, should I join their church? Does anyone know of any skeletons in the church's collective closet that I should be aware of?
 

PreachersWife2004

by his wounds we are healed
Supporter
May 15, 2007
38,590
4,179
50
Land O' 10,000 Lakes
✟84,030.00
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Married
The missionaries gave you a very brief, very censored and very misleading overview of the Mormon church.

Did they mention the celestial kingdom? Did they mention any planets other than earth? If one digs deep enough into the Mormon church, they can find plenty on both of these, yet the missionaries are directed to not speak of them because they are "confusing" to new converts.

Mormons do not confess Christ as their risen savior, despite what they'd like people to believe. They believe Christ was the son of God and Eve (if I remember correctly) and they believe that it is their actions that get them into the celestial kingdom (which isn't heaven). They also believe that we can become gods ourselves.

I suggest you do more research than just what you heard from the missionaries. I have only scratched the surface, and what I know comes from countless bible studies and a few ex-Mormons.

A good place to start would be here, although if you google Mormon truth you'll find many good sites.
 
Upvote 0

E.C.

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2007
13,746
1,267
✟134,199.00
Country
United States
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
If you want to be a neo-Gnostic, than go with Mormonism.

However, Mormon theology is a giant wolf in sheep's clothing. They are not Christian. They worship a different Christ, a false Christ.

Mormons are like door-to-door salesmen: they only tell you what they want you to hear.
 
Upvote 0

FaithTriumphs

Junior Member
Aug 12, 2007
46
5
✟15,191.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Thanks for the link, PreachersWife. I will read that.

They are not Christian. They worship a different Christ, a false Christ.
I thought Christ was Christ. Perhaps you mean they just have a different way of worshipping him? Or they have a different version of his life's story? As far as I know, no one can have a completely factual version of his life, because he lived an extremely long time ago and recorded history from that time period is fuzzy. All I know is that he exists and has great love for all of us.
 
Upvote 0

SCJ

Veteran
Supporter
Apr 25, 2002
963
5
Middle Georgia
✟29,764.00
Country
United States
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
Mormons believe that Christians are apostate and they are the TRUE church (just as all the rest of the cults proclaim). Their beliefs are very 'out there' and they shared none of them with you. They simply shared what they see as the similarities between our faiths. It's how they keep you from closing the door on them (Which you probably would if they told you they thought you could one day be a God and you and your wife could populate a new planet of your own with your spirit babies).

If you have a close personal relationship with Christ I would suggest Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Lutheran. Even Pentecostal or Epsicopal. All of these are good Christian denominations that believe in the diety of Christ but only differ on other, what I call: non-dealbreaker, issues.
 
Upvote 0

E.C.

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2007
13,746
1,267
✟134,199.00
Country
United States
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
Mormons believe that Christians are apostate and they are the TRUE church (just as all the rest of the cults proclaim).
There are, of course, Christian Churches that do claim to be the True Church. The difference between them and Mormons is:
1) These Churches are Christian
2) Mormons have no legitimate claim. They can claim all they want but they can not support it outside of their own sources.
 
Upvote 0

occultstudent

Active Member
Aug 12, 2007
62
4
38
✟7,693.00
Faith
Oriental Orthodox
Mormons belive the following.

* That all people can become Gods, and Godhood is what all should strive for.

* Jesus had 3 wives, one of them named Martha! Wich is a real American name.

* Black people are black cause they are cursed by God.

* The Indians are ancestors of Israelites migrating to America during King Solomon.

* There are Gods in other planets having their own people.

* Mormons belive in polygami, but the church today has abolished it. But its clearly in their doctrine and Joseph Smith himself said it was central to the religion.

* Joseph Smith was known for his tall tailes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JustRachel
Upvote 0
A

ALiberalTeen

Guest
Mormons belive the following.

* That all people can become Gods, and Godhood is what all should strive for.

* Jesus had 3 wives, one of them named Martha! Wich is a real American name.

* Black people are black cause they are cursed by God.

* The Indians are ancestors of Israelites migrating to America during King Solomon.

* There are Gods in other planets having their own people.

* Mormons belive in polygami, but the church today has abolished it. But its clearly in their doctrine and Joseph Smith himself said it was central to the religion.

* Joseph Smith was known for his tall tailes.
Yup, pretty...ummm...out of there.

Don't join the Mormon Church if you want to be in a Christian
 
Upvote 0

ZACTAK

Contributor
Feb 12, 2005
7,521
130
Missouri
✟16,157.00
Faith
Agnostic
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Libertarian
Another thing people forgot to mention is that Joseph Smith claims to have found the Book of Mormon on two golden tablets. He says God lead him to the tablets. He was the only one to have seen these "tablets" and when people asked to see them, he mysteriously lost them.

They also are huge into matchmaking. They have their churches broken up into singles branches and couples branches. People that are single are supposed to go to the singles branch so they can help you seek out a woman within the church. I went to a Mormon church for a project in my religion class last semester and the leaders of the church flocked to me... they asked me questions, attempted to proselytize to me and they introduced me to only women of the congregation.

They also think women are property of men.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

DarkNLovely

Dark am I, yet lovely.....Song of Songs 1:5
Jul 25, 2007
3,012
140
Where da party at!
✟18,913.00
Faith
Seeker
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Hey Faith!

What I can tell you is to examine a bunch of churches and line them up with the Bible! If they don't fit, then they are probably based on man-made traditions! Christian denominationalism can be an icky cess pool of judgment, false theology and traditions that are more highly acclaimed then God. Pray and fast! What you call yourself doesn't matter IF your life is lined up with the Good Book! We can never be sure of everything 100%! God knows that and that is why he gave us a great guide book to check ourselves! As far as Mormonism, they are EXTREMLY nice people, but their theology is very different from Christianity! I had a friend and former Mormon talk to me about his experiences in the LDS once. I told him I had never read the Book of Mormon! Know what he said? "Read The Last of the Mohicans! Same book!" It should also be noted that Smith's story of his encounters changed over the years, becoming far more elaborate each time! He claimed that he asked God which church was right, God said none, so he started a church! *shrugs* They also claim that these Native American tribes built great cities and temples and all other sorts of archeological wonders....but can't seem to find any on religious archeological digs they have. In short, I would not be Mormon if someone asked me. I don't think they are bad or are going to hell, but I think they are misguided! Hope that helps! God Bless you and welcome to the Faith!
 
Upvote 0

Albion

Facilitator
Dec 8, 2004
111,138
33,258
✟583,842.00
Country
United States
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
Are you sure all these beliefs are not outdated doctrines that are just held by a small minority of the members and no longer supported officially? Cause they seem way too weird for a church that claims to be Christian.

Yes, they're still true of the church and much, much more in that vein that didn't get listed. So if you want a church that thinks that God didn't create the universe, is several people with wives and physical bodies, is a group of former humans who ascended like we all will, that the Bible is in error, and which practices as its Temple rituals a warmed over Masonic ritual because Joseph Smith, the founder was briefly a Mason before starting his religion, this is it. If you can swallow that the Book of Mormon is a Third Testament of Jesus Christ no one ever heard of until 200 years ago but was translated by a 15 year old boy into King James English although no one when it was supposedly written nor he himself spoke or wrote in the language of the 17th century, and that Jesus came down in North America after ascending into Heaven from Jerusalem, you've got it here. "Way too weird" says it about right!
 
Upvote 0

occultstudent

Active Member
Aug 12, 2007
62
4
38
✟7,693.00
Faith
Oriental Orthodox
Are you sure all these beliefs are not outdated doctrines that are just held by a small minority of the members and no longer supported officially? Cause they seem way too weird for a church that claims to be Christian.
Of course, and the church of Sweden has recently stated that Satan isnt real, and that there is no hell!

Its the same thing with the LDS church, they have taken away key statements to make it more recruitment friendly. To fool people to join.

I knew a mormon once, best guy I ever known, he was so friendly, and the family seemed so close. He was a wonderfull guy. But that ends there, it dosent justify his religion!

Many mormons today know their family line to the first mormons. The religion is like 150 years old? the 2 golden tablets from God that nobody got to see? They should still exist if it was real.

And one key thing is that when Joseph Smith translated the texts. People wanted to test him so they lied and said they lost the translation.

Joseph Smith said that God would not let the same translation be made, but a similiar and a little diffrent. He said that God got angry and therefore people belived him.

He claimed that the golden plates where written in "reformed egyptian". But there is no language named egyptian, but you could think an American man in the 1800s could think so.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

DarkNLovely

Dark am I, yet lovely.....Song of Songs 1:5
Jul 25, 2007
3,012
140
Where da party at!
✟18,913.00
Faith
Seeker
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
Of course, and the church of Sweden has recently stated that Satan isnt real, and that there is no hell!

Its the same thing with the LDS church, they have taken away key statements to make it more recruitment friendly. To fool people to join.

I knew a mormon once, best guy I ever known, he was so friendly, and the family seemed so close. He was a wonderfull guy. But that ends there, it dosent justify his religion!

Many mormons today know their family line to the first mormons. The religion is like 150 years old? the 2 golden tablets from God that nobody got to see? They should still exist if it was real.

And one key thing is that when Joseph Smith translated the texts. People wanted to test him so they lied and said they lost the translation.

Joseph Smith said that God would not let the same translation be made, but a similiar and a little diffrent. He said that God got angry and therefore people belived him.

He claimed that the golden plates where written in "reformed egyptian". But there is no language named egyptian, but you could think an American man in the 1800s could think so.
Didn't they speak Coptic?
 
Upvote 0

BigNorsk

Contributor
Nov 23, 2004
6,736
815
65
✟18,457.00
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Married
Are you sure all these beliefs are not outdated doctrines that are just held by a small minority of the members and no longer supported officially? Cause they seem way too weird for a church that claims to be Christian.

Did they tell you about celestial weddings?

Did they tell you about the special undergarments?

Did they explain how you can be baptized for those deceased relatives of yours that did not get a chance to reject the Mormon church?

Did they tell you how Joseph Smith claimed to translate a scroll of hieroglyphics he claimed belonged to Abraham himself? And how the church has the scroll to this day and it can now be read. Only it doesn't say anything at all like what Joseph Smith said it did? A writing still accepted by them as scripture?

I don't think you've even partially gotten to the weird things yet. They will hold back with them and wait until you are more committed.

Marv
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Status
Not open for further replies.