Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

Dear ex-mormons of whom I have deep concern,

I thought that I would take the time out of my life to address just some of the mis-conceptions and false theories about why we do the things we do. After answering 35 of these “I realized something, you can’t convince anyone even if you give your best argument. If a heart isn't in the right place it will cast truth aside and see it for how the world sees it: impossible, unbelievable, and a waste of time. Take it for what you will but please remember just one thing: the times you felt the Holy Ghost bear testimony to your hearts that Jesus is the Christ and that he will reign as king over the earth once more. Whose side will you be on?

1.         Polygamy is still doctrinal in heaven and included in LDS scripture.  See D&C 132.

You can read this if you want to know our stance on it now: https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng

2.         Sports should not be played on Sunday

Yes that’s correct. The Sabbath day is the Lord’s day where He rested from all his labors from the previous six days. We consecrate that one day to the Lord and study his life and teachings by going to church, meeting with members, and doing things that would glorify Him and not ourselves, like sports.

Genesis 22 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

3.         TV or movies should not be viewed on Sunday (except Church or "happy" media)

This goes back to #2. If the church has media like “Bible Videos” or other media that reflects the gospel and turns thoughts to the Savior then it would be considered acceptable to watch. This isn’t just another day to us, it’s a special Sabbath day and it should be treated that way without casualness or idleness. Thoughts should be di-rected back on the Savior and his Atonement and actions be of service to others.

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

4.         Children should not be allowed to play with friends on Sunday

Again, this is up to the parents of the family to decide. There’s no rulebook that says things like this. Its up to the parents discretion to keep the home in harmony with the Sabbath Day and its sacredness.

5.         Working on Sunday is strictly discouraged and really only not looked down on if you're an emergency response personnel, or other on-call emer-gency type jobs (doctors, police, firemen, nurses etc)

Back to #2. If someone holds an emergency type job, like an ER Nurse, and is called into work because of high numbers of emergency calls…would you say no? Would you withhold your talents from saving the lives of others? NO. If you have a job that doesn’t require that kind of “on call” work and you can finish it during the week then working on Sundays would be discouraged because you are in control of your work schedule.

6.         Rated R movies should be strictly avoided

If you look at the media today in comparison to 50 years ago, their “Rated R” movie is now our “PG” movie. Movie standards have gone down and are allowing more and more F words per frame and more sex scenes. Because of this spiraling down of values and moral we are encouraged to avoid such movies by staying away from Rated R. However it comes down to the viewers discretion just like it says in the be-ginning of PG-13 and R movies… “Viewer Discretion Advised” because it is on the RESTRICTED list.

7.         10% of your gross income (tithing) needs to be paid to the bishop/church before you pay for any other financial obligations, bills, food or other purchases

Why are Mormons asked to donate 10% of their income to their Church?http://www.mormon.org/faq/church-tithing

8.         Coffee and tea are prohibited even though they aren't specifically ref-erenced by doctrine

D&C 89 Explains the Word of Wisdom, which is a law of health revealed by the Lord for the physical and spiritual benefit of His children. The Lord counseled the Saints to not use wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks: D&C 89:1 – 9

Why don’t Mormons drink coffee, tea, or alcohol? What is the Mormon Church’s law of health and proper diet?

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

http://www.mormon.org/faq/law-of-health

9.         For some families, all caffeinated drinks and sodas are prohibited

All things which come of the earth are to be used with judgment, not to excess: D&C 59:20

Caffeine is a choice. I don’t mind drinking it every once in a while but excess of any-thing is not good for the body. This is why it is cautioned to limit how much caffeine one puts into their body. Caffeine is not a sin. But not taking care of one’s body is where the sin can lie.

http://www.mormon.org/searchresults#?query=no%20caffeine&filter=site

•Mike answered...The word of wisdom is our standard of how to take care of our bodies by the things we put into them. It was given by revelation to Joseph Smith in 1833. We do not smoke or chew tobacco or use any illegal drugs. Mormons also do not drink alcoholic beverages, coffee, or tea (such as green or black tea; herbal teas are ok). Caffeine is not the only reason abstain from drinking cof-fee, because the word of wisdom does not mention caffeine. Some mormons, by their interpreta-tion of the word of wisdom, choose not to drink caffeine, while others do. People often ask me what's wrong with coffee and tea and why I'm not supposed to drink them. I do not know all the reasons for God's commandments and I am unable to answer this question. However, in 1833, when this law was given, no one new about the harms of smoking and tobacco, yet it was in the word of wisdom. It was not until more than a hundred years later when we learned that tobacco can cause cancer as well as cause many other ailments. I therefore believe that I should follow the word of wisdom no matter if I know the reason or not. The word of wisdom is not just a list of "dont's" though; there are many "do's" also where we learn to eat certain things in moderation to keep our bodies healthy.

10.       If you have dark skin and convert to Mormonism, your skin will begin to lighten/whiten

Sorry but this one made me laugh... I currently live in HI and there are plenty of Samoans and Tongans who are Mormon that have beautiful golden brown skin. Skin color has nothing to do with converting, but it has everything to do with a contrite spirit and a broken heart.

Moroni 6:2

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.

11.       You become a God/Goddess and are given powers to create your own worlds without number

True. It seems crazy and way out there but just as we can’t quite comprehend the glories of the heavens we can’t grasp our eternal potential and progression as God does. If God wants to give us everything He has then wouldn’t he want us to be where he is and be like Him? I would say yes. You place the limits, God doesn’t.

12.       You should not be alone in a room or car with a member of the oppo-site sex to "avoid even the appearance of evil"

Hahahaha. Alright this is another funny one. Everyone is given self restraint and power over their carnal minds. You CAN sit in a car with the opposite sex, heck you could even be in a room alone with the opposite sex. Everyone has free agency….even Mormons. But again, by doing so one would be putting themselves at risk to give in to temptations that if acted upon will go against their own morals and values. It all comes down to where you personally draw the line.

It’s simple, if you believe in God, then you believe in his laws, if you believe in his laws then you would follow the law of chastity, and therefore you would keep your-self from unchaste possibilities like being alone in a room with a member of the op-posite sex.

13.       Beer is prohibited even though it is scripturally allowed (D&C 89:17) "...and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain"  Beer was openly consumed in Utah by Mormons until Prohibition made it un-popular and the practice ceased.

D&C 89:17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

Barley can be used in drinks without the harmful side effects of alcohol. Barley isn’t the problem it’s the fermentation of Barley that makes it harmful. Pero has barley but is natural and contains no alcohol.

Deseret News: 5 healthy alternatives to coffee: Postum back on the shelveshttp://www.deseretnews.com/top/1236/2/Pero-5-healthy-alternatives-to-coffee-Postum-back-on-the-shelves.html

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

14.       The Garden of Eden was in Missouri when Adam and Eve were kicked out

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1994/01/i-have-a-question?lang=eng

What do we know about the location of the Garden of Eden?Bruce A. Van Orden, associate professor of Church history, Brigham Young Univer-sity. We must remember that the whole earth was paradisiacal before the Fall. The Garden of Eden was a center place. After the Fall, there was no Garden of Eden or paradisiacal status on earth. Yet relative to the locale of the site of the Garden of Eden, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned through revelation (D&C 57) that Jackson County was the location of a Zion to be and the New Jerusalem to come. The Prophet first visited Jackson County, Missouri, in the summer of 1831. The Prophet visited Jackson County again in April and May 1832. On one of the occasions, or perhaps both, the Prophet Joseph apparently instructed his close associates, and perhaps even a general Church gathering, that the ancient Garden of Eden was also located in Jackson County.

15.       All saints are to return to Missouri before the final arrival of Jesus for the Second Coming.  Some believe this exodus back to Missouri would be on foot.

Missouri Mythshttps://www.lds.org/ensign/1979/04/missouri-myths?lang=eng

Read up on it.

16.       Two LDS Elders or Missionaries will stand and protect the city of Jerusalem during Armageddon, as spoken of in Revelations and D&C 77:15

Yes that’s true.

Who Are the Two Witnesses Referred to by John?

https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-69-80/section-77-questions-and-answers-on-the-book-of-revelation?lang=eng

Elder Parley P. Pratt wrote: “John, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, gives us many more particulars concerning [the great war in Israel after the Jews are gath-ered there]. He informs us that after the city and temple are rebuilt by the Jews, the

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

Gentiles will tread it under foot forty and two months, during which time there will be two prophets continually prophesying and working mighty miracles. And it seems that the Gentile army shall be hindered from utterly destroying and over-throwing the city, while these two prophets continue. But, after a struggle of three years and a half, they will at length succeed in destroying these two prophets and then overrunning much of the city; they will send gifts to each other because of the death of the two prophets, and in the meantime will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves, but suffer them to lie in the streets of Jerusalem three days and a half, during which time the armies of the Gentiles, consisting of many kindreds, tongues and nations, passing through the city, plundering the Jews, will see their dead bodies lying in the street. But after three days and a half, on a sudden, the spirit of life from God will enter them; they will arise and stand upon their feet, and great fear will fall upon them that see them. And then they shall hear a voice from heaven saying, ‘Come up hither,’ and they will ascend up to heaven in a cloud, with enemies beholding them.” (Voice of Warning, p. 33.)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie identified the two prophets as “followers of that humble man Joseph Smith, through whom the Lord of Heaven restored the fulness of his ev-erlasting gospel in this final dispensation of grace. No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:509.)

The two witnesses are raised up “to the Jewish nation” and are not necessarily from the Jewish nation (see D&C 77:15–16; italics added.)

17.       Native Americans are the descendants of the Lamanites spoken of in the Book of Mormon

Yes that’s true. http://josephsmithpapers.org/topic/lamanites

18.       The LDS Temple marriage is considered superior to all other religious marriage ceremonies and must be obtained if you want to be with your spouse in the after life.  Not married in the temple?  Too bad, no spouse/partner in the after life.

I wouldn’t say superior to other marriage ceremonies in the sense that the LDS tem-ple marriage is better than the marriage laws of the land. Both bound the couple in matrimony to one another but one lasts “Till death do you part” and the other is for time and all eternity.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/sealing

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

Sealing: “To make valid in heaven the ordinances performed by priesthood author-ity on earth. Ordinances are sealed when they receive the approval of the Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the Holy Ghost.”

Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: Matt. 16:19; ( Matt. 18:18; D&C 124:93; D&C 132:46; )

19.       Love isn't as strong between couples and families who are not LDS

Says who? Speak for yourself not on behalf of the Mormon church. Love is as deep as one wants it to be. Pure love, however, needs Christ. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-08-3260-pure-love-of-christ?lang=eng

20.       Follow the prophet or leaders even if you think they are wrong

Would you follow someone who you knew was ordained of God and spoke to God? If so, then Im assuming one would have complete faith in their guidance and words because they know that they are the words of God. Saying that the prophet is wrong, would be telling God to His face that He was wrong. This applies to the apostles as well. As for the other leaders, their portal of communication with God is most likely not as intimate as the 12 apostles or prophet Thomas S. Monson. One cannot use their words as doctrine per say but you can use spiritual discernment to determine what you hold to be true or not.

21.       Criticism of prophets or leaders will lead you towards apostasy

This would be true for any church or religious group. Why would you stay in a church when you criticize its leaders? Better question would be: what is causing that person to criticize the prophet or leader of their church?

22.       Don't use Ouija boards, face cards or tarot cards.  They are of the devil.

Acts 16:16. What Is the Spirit of Divination?

Divination is defined as the act of determining the future by such means as cards, horoscopes, dreams, charms, Ouija boards, seances, crystal balls, and so forth. Soothsaying, or the practice of divination, is an ancient art among the ancients (Isa-iah 2:6; Daniel 2:27; 5:11); it was and is forbidden to the Lord’s people (Deuteron-omy 18:9–14; Joshua 13:22).

President Joseph F. Smith recorded the following counsel in 1903."While a simple game of cards in itself may be harmless, it is a fact that by immoder-ate repetition it ends in an infatuation for chance schemes, in habits of excess, in waste of precious time, in dulling and stupor of the mind, and in the complete de-

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

struction of religious feeling. These are serious results, evils that should and must be avoided by the Latter-day Saints. Then again, there is the grave danger that lurks in persistent card playing, which begets the spirit of gambling, of speculation and that awakens the dangerous desire to get something for nothing (Improvement Era, Vol. 6, August, 1903, p. 779)."

PS: we can use face cards it just depends on the type of game, there are harmless games now that exist that didn’t exist in Joseph’s day. Gambling, or any play involv-ing money, of course is not acceptable.

23.       The US Constitution will hang by a thread and be saved by LDS Elders before the 2nd coming

Yes the US Constitution does not hold the meaning and concreteness it once had when the Founding Fathers wrote it in 1787. Which is why it makes sense that someone will need to step in and save it from destruction. http://www.latterdayconservative.com/faq/the-constitution-hanging-by-a-thread-and-the-white-horse-prophecy/

24.       Women were discouraged from wearing pants up until the late '60s or '70s

And this is important because? It was a cultural thing back then.

25.       3 Nephites still rome the Earth from Christ's visit to the America's, blessed by Him to not experience death until his second coming

True fact. If you believe the Book of Mormon that is, which I do. The Book of Mor-mon is either of two things: either of the devil or of God…it doesn’t seem like a devil’s book to me so I’m going to say it was inspired of God through His prophets.

26.       The moon will literally turn to blood during second coming crisis

Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon be-came as blood;

Doctrine and Covenants 45:42 And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven.

To believe that the moon would literally turn to blood is hilarious. However the moon turning red in the scriptures could represent a literal physical change of the moon or it could be symbolic of something else.

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

There are some compelling ideas as to what this prophecy could mean:http://latterdaycommentary.blogspot.com/2008/02/and-moon-shall-turn-to-blood.html

27.       Heavenly Mother/Goddess exists, but she/them are too sacred to dis-cuss and cannot be worshiped or prayed to

Heavenly Mother does indeed exist if God wants us to model ourselves after His family then their needs to be a Mother, just as Eve on our planet, is the mother of all living. Think about for just one second how many people turn away from God and rebuke him and use His beloved name in vain of every second of every day. God has to see His own children push Him, their Father, away because they don’t know bet-ter. Heavenly Father even after all this opposition, gave up His only begotten Son for us, that we might partake of Jesus Christ’s atonement and be saved and turn from sin forevermore. But still, men rebuked him, whipped him, and nailed Him to a cross for all to see, even God. I don’t think God could handle seeing His own wife and goddess go through the same kind of treatment and therefore does not reveal infor-mation about her, we are not ready to accept Her in the state we are in now.

28.       Only Mormon's can go to the highest degree of heaven, which is why proxy ordinances are done in LDS temples for as many dead people as LDS Inc can get their hands on29.       Kids or babies who die before reaching 8 years old are perfect and au-tomatically get into heaven

True.

30.       Missionaries can curse people by dusting their feet off as a witness to them rejecting the gospel

True. Here are some examples spoken of in the New Testament about this custom:

Luke 9:5   And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.Matthew 10:14   And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.Mark 6:11   And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

31.       Satan has power over the oceans, lakes and rivers which is why LDS Missionaries are not allowed to swim

True.

“Satan has great power to produce false signs and wonders. He has the ability to im-itate the miracles of God—witness the efforts of the magicians in Pharaoh’s court when they imitated the miracles of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 7, 8). Satan has power over the elements. He is a master of deceit. He can appear as an angel of light (2   Corinthians 11:14 ). He is an orator. He has the gift of tongues. Many are the pow-ers of Satan which he uses to lead men astray. Those spirits who followed Satan have these same capacities in lesser degrees (Revelation 16:14). In all this, “the power of the devil is limited; [and] the power of God is unlimited.” 

https://www.lds.org/manual/the-life-and-teachings-of-jesus-and-his-apos-tles/section-8-pauls-witness-as-a-missionary/chapter-33-the-coming-of-the-lord-jesus-christ?lang=eng

32.       Satan can't read your thoughts so praying silently can help keep some of your secrets from him

Mmmmm not really…but close. Satan cannot read our thoughts, but he does know our weaknesses and tendencies and therefore can have knowledge of what we may think or act like in a particular situation. With this knowledge he can place thoughts of deceit and doubt in our minds but not read our thoughts.

“He will appear to us in the person of a friend or a relative in whom we have confi-dence. He has power to place thoughts in our minds and to whisper to us in unspo-ken impressions to entice us to satisfy our appetites or carnal desires and in various ways he plays upon our weaknesses and desires.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Melchizedek Priesthood Course of Study, 1972–73, p. 298.)

Surely then Satan and his followers have some knowledge of our thoughts and ten-dencies. He has knowledge that is superior to man’s knowledge, but he lacks the wisdom to properly use his knowledge for good purposes.”

https://www.lds.org/new-era/1975/07/qa-questions-and-answers?lang=eng

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

33.       Dating is strictly prohibited until you're 16 and then only group dat-ing is allowed or encouraged until you can marry after your mission or marry a return missionary

In the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet, given to us at the early age of 12, out-lines important guidelines to help the youth keep the basic standards of the church and serves as protection from things that are contrary to the gospel’s teachings. Ul-timately, it helps youth prepare spiritually and physically for the most important de-cision of their life, which will be covenanting to their spouse in a temple marriage. From a very early age we are taught these things so that when the day comes when the love of your life appears, you and they will be ready to be sealed and make those very sacred promises to each other and to God.

Dating is a very important principle outlined in this pamphlet that the First Presi-dency felt needed to be addressed in this day and age. There needs to be a cut off somewhere so why not make it 16? Read the link below for the “Dating” section in the pamphlet: https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/dating?lang=eng

34.       Doctrinal polygamy gives the 1st wife authority to reject any prospects she doesn't like.  This was never really practiced though.

Again, back to polygamy. Polygamy finds its way into every religions history if you look hard enough. And yes, the 1st wife has the authority to say no to other wives but this would be going against God’s wisdom and the transgression would be upon her head not the husbands. Read D&C 132:65.  

65 Therefore, it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord his God, will give unto him, because she did not be-lieve and administer unto him according to my word; and she then becomes the transgressor; and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto Abra-ham according to the law when I commanded Abraham to take Hagar to wife.

Common Misconceptions about Mormons and their Beliefs and Culture

35.       Women who fail to marry in the temple during their life will be as-signed a worthy spouse in the hereafter and likely as a sister wife with a harem of women

Another funny speculation. And you know this to be true because you have been to the afterlife and seen this first hand right? There is no doctrine that I have read that testifies this. If you can find any I would be interested to read it. Monogamy is the true order of God. Latter-day Saints believe that monogamy—the marriage of one man and one woman—is the Lord’s standing law of marriage.https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng#42

And I stopped answering the rest because I realized that its not worth my time any-more to answer silly theories and false information about a church that IS true and IS directed by the only true and living Christ.

Good luck to you all and have a happy life whichever road you choose, just know that God will be waiting at the end at both but only one will lead to eternal happi-ness and exhalation.