Mormons?

[Disney Doll]

I'd tell the converters to back off. Nice example they are giving of their religion...tolerance and all. We had a fellow who worked with us a few years back who was a member of a Christian denomination, and his big thing was starting the day out with a prayer during our change of shift report. That lasted 2 days,and someone reported him. If he wanted to say a prayer for himself that he would have a good day, then so be it, but he wanted everyone to pray together the way he did. Not my religion, not my way of prayer, I wasn't going to do it. I would just leave the room when he started,but apparently someone did decide to report it. When it comes to religion, I am of the opinion that I don't care who or what you worship(if anything or anybody) just don't jam it down my throat!

Nice of you to befriend this woman so far from home.

 

[Beauty]

The only religions that bother me are the ones who think they and their religion are the only ones going to Heaven.

 

[MelessaG]

Originally posted by delikado
And to think all this time, I thought we all believed in the same "guy up there"!

We do, delikado, we do.

 

[stm61]

Antonia,

Your post sure brought back memories! We are Catholic and lived for 6 ys in Cowpens, which is VERY small. The first day of work the first thing I was asked was which church do you go to. The askers, no disrespect to anyone, were all Baptists. They were bound and determined to convert all non-Baptists, they believed that their church was the one and only true church and all others were non-Christians. Some of the more religious would even try to make things difficult at work or in the neighborhood for those of us who refused to be converted!

 

[msdznyduck]

I was brought up Catholic, and married DH who is Baptist. I have not converted, but do not practice Catholicism since we got married. I attend church at DH's Baptist church, (when I can get there) and find the services very similar. But, I have overheard some "good church-goin' folks" make some not so nice remarks about Catholics, and other religions. I just let it go in one ear and out the other. As someone else said, I don't care what kind of religion (if any) anyone has, as long as they don't try to force their beliefs on me. We had tried a new Baptist church closer to home, and some of the people from the new church visited us, unannounced, and wanted to know all about us, (if we were saved, and accepted Jesus Christ as our personal savior, etc.). I didn't say anything about being Catholic, just excused myself, and got busy in the kitchen. I felt like they were attacking me, and was very uncomfortable.---in my own home!
I have respect for others' religion, and expect others to respect my religion (or lack of). I feel that it is a personal matter, and really no one's business what religion, unless it infringes upon others.
Elaine

 

[CarolA]

Puts on flameproof suit

The Southern Baptists had a convention in Salt Lake City a few years ago where they made it thier GOAL to convert Mormons. (They have also targeted other religions in the past. I have a former friend who I no longer speak to, but she calls me periodically and leaves me a message to see if I have been saved! WHAT? Since the gay bishop thing this has actually picked up.)

While the majority of Baptists (or any other religion) are great there are always a few.....

There is an awful lot to admire in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons). For the most part they have strong family values and take care of thier own.

I am an Episcopalian. As my minister said a few weeks ago..."A year ago they could not even spell Epsicopalian, now they are sure we are going to hell!" LOL!

I figure that we should not judge and we will find out who was right and wrong when it's all over.

 

[onecoolmama]

Originally posted by Beauty
The only religions that bother me are the ones who think they and their religion are the only ones going to Heaven.

Amen to that!

I have found mormons to be the nicest people too. They have tried to convert me...but they have also helped me in the time of need.

I was pregnant and it was pouring down rain. And two really hot Missionairys that were about my age (early-mid 20's) stopped their car got out and changed my tire. Let me tell you...Dh wouldnt even have done that and I am his wife! Those missionarys are great and I like that they are out and about. So they tried to convert me...at least they are nice about it.

I went on a retreat with a bunch of "Bible belt" christians. You know the ones that take the bible litterally. By the end of the retreat me (catholic at the time) and this Buddist girl had the whole retreat in an uproar and we were both told we were going to Hell.

I really liked the Buddist girl a lot. I like people that are tolerant of other ideas.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Yes, the missionaries are great. They are 19-21 year old men (and some women, but the women are a little older) that take 2 years out of their lives to go out and live a life that is very humble to teach about the scriptures. I have known missionaries to help people change their tires, I have known them to cut someone's grass, or to help them move, or anything else that anyone needs help with. They don't just help members of our church. They help anyone that needs it. It is a great lesson in selflessness for them and us. How many young adults do you know that would put their college or their girlfriends or their jobs or their families aside for 2 years to do this? They live a very disciplined life during that time, no tv, no music, lights out by a certain time. They only have 1 day off a week. What is truly amazing is most of the time they have no direct supervision. They have people to answer to, but they live usually just 2, in an apt by themselves. I have spent alot of time with some of our missionaries and I am just amazed by their discipline.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Also, yes our families are the most important thing to us. We are taught to love and cherish your family. That is because we believe that if you live right your family will be eternal. We think families can stay together beyond this life.


I just want to add also that I really appreciate all the nice comments here on this thread. It isn't often that I hear so many nice things. It's nice to see people have open minds around here. We are all brothers and sisters, no matter what religion we choose.

 

[Tigger1]

My son was brained washed into the Mormon religion. I say "brainwashed" as that is what two doctors told me.

He started the cult as a lonely college student away from home.
Pizza parties and social life likely pulled him in at first.

He did not tell us about going to a Mormon church for some time. He said that he was going to an all campus church group.

His grades really went down as the church kept him really busy. They convinced him that it was his duty to go on a two year mission to Italy.

This trip was paid for by my son, not the church. He sold everything he had of value, to include his computers and he is a computer science major.

He was only allowed 2 phone calls home a year on christmas and mothers day. I could not visit him either. When I called the Utah church , they lied to me about how to get in touch with him. Basically they would not give me any #'s to reach him in Italy in the case of an emergency. All I could do is write him.

Some of my coworkers were able to get the phone numbers when they called and acted as if they had talked to my son about joining the church and only felt comfortable talking to him.

Many of the people in the church are very nice, good people. I believe that the leaders use very nice people for money and power by number.

I do now understand why religion should not be taught in school. I sure would not want a Mormon in a public school brainwashing children.

My son is home now. He did not go to the Mormon church on Sundays yet. I pray he gets away from this cult.


Tigger

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Tigger1, I am so sorry this happened to you. I have never heard of anything like this. When a young man decides to go on a mission, yes it is paid for by the missionary's family, not the church, but going on a mission is something that that missionary's family decides together, it is a family decision and the missionary usually waits sometimes for 2 years to be "called" to leave for his mission. I am wondering when you say that your son didn't tell you about going to a mormon church was it because he was afraid of getting a negative response from you about what he wanted to do. I am also wondering what was said between him and church leaders that caused them not to consult with you at all before the decision was made for him to be worthy of a mission. It just doesn't add up to me. You can't just go on a mission. It takes several years to prepare and go through the training and esp if he was going overseas he would have stayed in training longer to take language classes.
Oh, and I totally respect your opinion, and I agree this shouldn't have happened to your family like this, but you calling a religion a cult is just not fair because you obviously don't know alot about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
How is your son doing now? Did he come home from his mission early? If he did, how was it handled?

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

Mormonism confuses me. I have a relative who became a Mormon when she was in her 40's. Her parents, sisters, husband and children were devestated by this decision. I mean, I guess it's one thing if you are born into the religion, but I can't imagine what would take place to get someone to convert. I don't mean any disrespect, I just don't understand it.

I also don't understand some of the rules. Stuff like no caffeine, no doing work on Sunday (or causing others to do work, i.e., going shopping at the mall or going out to eat), and having to give 10% of what you earn. I think giving that much money is asking a lot from any church. And if you don't give it, they excommunicate you.

There's also something called baptism by proxy this relative did. Basically from what I understand, she was baptized many times but used each one of our names each time she was baptized. Because they told her none of her family members would go to heaven unless she did this. And she did this without our knowledge. Everyone in the family was kinda ticked off after they found out about this.

I went to private high school, not Catholic. In religion class we were taught Mormonism is a cult along with Jehovah's Witnesses. All I know is that it is very confusing. And seems very complicated. JMHO.

 

[MelessaG]

I too served a mission to Italy at my own expense. I did not hide my religion or my deicsion to serve a mission from my parents, but I did not expect them to pay for it because it is not their chosen religion. I knew they wren't initially happy with my decision to go, but I also knew they would be supportive of whatever was important to me. Perhaps your son didn't feel as secure as I did. However, I did choose to write home each time I changed cities with my new phone number because I knew if an emergency came up, they would never contact SLC or the mission president. Another missionary I knew there did the same, not because his parents weren't members, but because his mother was in poor health and they weren't sure she would make it until his return home. (Let me reiterate, that it was HIS choice to remain in Italy and his mother did live to see him home safely) Although it wasn't widely discussed, he did call home about twice a month-just in case. So, there are rules, but-in the case of my mission-they fluctuate depending on the needs of the missionary and his or her family. It's called the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. I also called home the day of the Oklahoma City bombing since my father works just a few blocks from where the Murrah bldg. stood, and the Italian news wasn't initially specific about which building was destroyed. I did this with the blessing of the church leaders.
I am guessing your son may have been a bit more worried about being obedient to mission rules than I was, but that speaks well of him and not-so-well of me.
I am sorry his mission was such a negative experience for you. One of the hardest things to learn as a parent is that not everything our children will do as they grow older will either be for us or about us, but instead part of their own life experience. I have now been a member of the church 11 years, and I don't consider myself to be brainwashed. If anything, I'm a lot stronger as a person than I was before I joined. My husband laughs and laughs when he hears how 'submissive' LDS wives are, that's never been his experience. Notwithstanding my very liberal political views and different life experiences from most of the people I attend church with, I have always felt that I was among friends who share my belief in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. And I am.

 

[CarolA]

I have a lot of friends who have done missions. I have one friend who could fit Tigger's description except that I knew the other side of the story. The young woman in question told the Church NOT to give her contact information to her family.

She actually has not spoken to her family in years and it is very sad, but I cannot fully blame the church. I know all the family members and I know that sometimes there are two sides to every story. In this case the parents could not accept the choices made by the young woman. The woman felt she had to make a choice and did. In her defense, her parents made no effort to understand.

I am not saying Tigger's situation is at ALL the same, but there are always two sides.

As for the 10% that is VERY common in ALL churches. Most of my Baptist and Church of Christ friends give that much, the big debate is that gross on net income. They can actually show you biblical references (I can't!) I am pretty sure the Mormons do NOT excommunicate for failing to tithe, but they do put social pressure on you! LOL!

Not working on Sunday actually dates back to before Christ. Strictly observant Jews still don't work on thier Sabbath (Saturday). At one hospital I used to do work at they had the elevators rigged so that they just stopped on every floor on Saturday since the local Jewish community would ride the elevator, but not touch the buttons. They figued it was better then having 90 year olds try to hike up 10 flights to visit thier friends.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

The rules you state are followed only by hardcore Mormons, as they are also followed by many other Christian fundamentalists.

I know tons of Mormons and none of them follow the rules you list, however I know baptists and catholics that always donate 10% of their money to the church, and that refuse to do work on Sundays. Definetly none of the Mormons I know donate 10% and they are definetly not excommunicated, in many ways they're less gungho about their religions than most of my baptists/catholic friends.

Mormonism is not a cult, there are extreme Mormons just as there are extremists in all forms of religion. Most of them however are no more radical than you Average Joe Baptist.

 

[MelessaG]

Originally posted by KatelynnsAuntie
I also don't understand some of the rules. Stuff like no caffeine, no doing work on Sunday (or causing others to do work, i.e., going shopping at the mall or going out to eat), and having to give 10% of what you earn. I think giving that much money is asking a lot from any church. And if you don't give it, they excommunicate you.

Susan-
I can tell you meant no disrespect in your post and I thank you for that. I m so grateful at the overall kindness and acceptance I've read throughout this whole conversation.
As far as excommunication goes, you have to do a lot more than the things listed above for that to happen-or they would have kicked me out a long time ago.
In all seriousness though, excommunication is for members who commit murder or other violent crimes (sexual assault, child or spousal abuse, those type of atrocities) adultery CAN lead to excommunication-but is decided case by case. Doing things that are illegal in the name of the church (i.e. all those polygamists who still call themselves 'Mormon') or creating your own 'offshoot' of the church also are punishable by excommunication.
Also, we are only couseled to avoid tea, coffee, cigarettes, and addictive substances. People generalize this to mean no caffeine whatsoever, but that is simply not true.
As far as baptism by proxy goes, we are always counseled to get permission of other family members before doing them. When my husband lost his mother, we had to wait one year before we could do the baptism because that is a church rule During that time, we sought permission from his father, his aunts (her sisters), AND his sister-none of whom are members. I do this with any family names as a courtesy and in keeping with church guidelines. I'm not sure why your aunt didn't. I do know your name could not have been used, nor any other living family member because that isn't done. Names cannot be submitted until at least one year after the date of death. (I'm not sure if that's what you meant in your post by "each of our names," which is why I'm clarifying). Still, I'm sure it would be disconcerting to find out something like that had happened without your knowledge and I'm sorry that was your experience. She should have told someone in the family.
As far as why someone would convert as an adult, I'm not sure I count. I did come into the church without my family, but when I was young. For me, the church and its teachings helped my understand and feel closer to God and His Son than any other church had. I felt like I was wandering through life with no 'path' and suddenly I had one. I am guessing this is why most adult converts come into the church-but you would have to ask each one personally as everyone's life experiences are different.
I hope I cleared up some of your confusion with my over-long reply. If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. It's not that I mind answering in a public forum-I just tend to ramble in my replies and the other DISers reading may be sick of hearing from me.

 

[chager]

First I will say my Aunt and her family belong to the LDS church. I know the reaction I get from them is NOT the common. They do think they are better then most everyone else and have serious attitude issues. Prior to joining the church they would come to the Easter cantada at our church. Now they tell us they can't come to our church for any reason. We invited them again a couple years ago because Nick was in the cantada, but they again said absolutely not. Needless to say Nick was hurt. He still asks if they hate him This causes me alarm with their particular church not all LDS churches though. I have known several really great people that are LDS.
Ok enough of that little rant.
I do have a problem with the whole Baptism by proxy thing though. I guess I just don't get that because everything I have ever found in the Bible states it is up to the individual to ask the Lord into their heart and no one else can do it for them. Baptism is the public acknowledgment of this. This is what I found when we were explaining Baptism to Nick a couple years ago. Is there somewhere that does support that theory that is found in the Bible? This is an issue that truely interests me. My Aunt can't give any scripture to back it up she just says that it is the truth and that is that!
Ok I better stop here before this gets too long. I'm honestly not trying to slam anyone. I am interested in this subject though.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I just had to say this so PLEASE don't flame me! First off, I don't have a problem with any other religion. But , have any of you seen that "Mormon" woman on the Dr. Phil family?! I'm sure she DOES NOT represent the Mormon faith, but she does claim to and that is scary!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

A women in our Catholic church (now Catholic) who grew up Mormon, did tell me that her father was not allowed to attend the marriage of his own daughter (a sister) because he was not a member "in good standing". She had said he was behind on his tithing.
Is that a common practice?

 

[ead79]

oops, sorry, not sure what's messed up with my computer