Ask a Mormon

[keito-ninja]

Hello fellow M&R frequenters. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--or in other words, Mormon. I enjoy theological discussion, and so I thought I'd open up a thread for anyone who has questions about Mormon theology. I know there used to be a thread like this that was quite active a few years ago, but it seems to be gone now. If that's due to lack of general interest, so be it, but if anyone is still curious, I'm around.

I'd like to make it clear that my intention, in this thread, is not to try to prove that my beliefs are correct. I am not trying to declare my beliefs as superior to anyone else's, and if your intention is to declare your own beliefs as superior to mine, then this thread is not for you. What I wish to do is offer answers and explanations to help people understand what Mormon's actually believe. That is not to say I do not wish anyone to challenge my beliefs or logic--I will simply respond by explaining how my way of thinking makes logical sense to me, rather than trying to convince you that everyone should think like I do.

So, whether you're curious about a piece of doctrine, you're wondering if something you've heard is true, or you'd like to see how I reconcile what might seem to be a contradiction--feel free to ask away.

[Lucky~9~Lives]

keito-ninja

I know there used to be a thread like this that was quite active a few years ago, but it seems to be gone now.

Ask a Mormon

[keito-ninja]

Lucky~9~Lives

keito-ninja

I know there used to be a thread like this that was quite active a few years ago, but it seems to be gone now.

Ask a Mormon

Thanks--I thought the only one was the One that died off in 2012. That one looks pretty inactive too now though, so I'll leave it alone. If no one else is interested this thread will fade away soon enough as well.

[Maltese_Falcon91]

There's something you said in another thread, that I'm curious about. I was planning on asking you there, but, it would have been a bit off topic, and it would be more suited to this thread anyway.

Hope you don't mind.

keito-ninja

I believe that we are eternal beings. I guess being forced to continue on living when you'd rather fade out of existence would be pretty hellish regardless of how comfortable you are.

What do you believe would happen if, hypothetically, you went to heaven, but then asked your god to kill you?

[keito-ninja]

Maltese_Falcon91

There's something you said in another thread, that I'm curious about. I was planning on asking you there, but, it would have been a bit off topic, and it would be more suited to this thread anyway.

Hope you don't mind.

keito-ninja

I believe that we are eternal beings. I guess being forced to continue on living when you'd rather fade out of existence would be pretty hellish regardless of how comfortable you are.

What do you believe would happen if, hypothetically, you went to heaven, but then asked your god to kill you?

Honestly, I've never really thought of that before. My first impression is to say that he wouldn't, but that is just a vague guess.

[Vincentforsure]

We need to wire two units but the two units need to be able to move freely. We're trying to decide beteeen Greenfield and SJ cord. Any thoughts?

[Faustine Liem]

So how about them magic undies?

[Maltese_Falcon91]

keito-ninja

Honestly, I've never really thought of that before. My first impression is to say that he wouldn't, but that is just a vague guess.

That's fine. I didn't think there would be any reference to that in the Book of Mormon, so all I really wanted was your opinion.

[keito-ninja]

Faustine Liem

So how about them magic undies?

I think of it as an outward symbol of inner devotion. In some other religions there are certain pieces of clothing that people wear to express their belief, or to symbolize certain aspects of their belief. For mormons, it happens to be something worn under the clothes, as a private symbol between the individual and God, and is worn at all times as a reminder that our devotion to God should be constant, not just something that comes and goes. It has a lot of personal significance, and as such we don't like to talk about it a lot, but it is not magical or mystical in any way.

[Tnox]

I have a two part question. Why weren't black people allowed to be Mormon at first? I heard it was because of a curse. And what changed that now they are allowed to join? Make it a three part question... are they allowed to join in the same capacity as other races?

[keito-ninja]

Tnox

I have a two part question. Why weren't black people allowed to be Mormon at first? I heard it was because of a curse. And what changed that now they are allowed to join? Make it a three part question... are they allowed to join in the same capacity as other races?

Black people were always allowed to be baptized as members of the church, they just weren't always allowed to hold the priesthood. As far as I know, the church does not have an official statement about why this changed, but I have done a lot of praying and looking into the question myself, and this in the answer I came to:

I'll start by explaining a bit about what we believe the priesthood is, and it's history. We believe the priesthood is the authority to act in God's name, with God's power, and that this authority was given to Adam and passed down to all the patriarchs. At this time, only one person, the prophet, would ever hold the priesthood. When the tribe of Levi was organized, they were also given the priesthood to officiate in the ordinances of sacrifice and so on. It is unclear for how long the priesthood was passed down without corruption, but by the time of Jesus' ministry it had basically disintegrated, and God's authority was no longer in Israel. He reinstated the priesthood with the organization of apostles and 70s...now the priesthood could be given to all Israelites, not just the Levites. In Acts 10, Peter receives a vision which I understand to mean that the priesthood was also extended, at that point, to be given to the Gentiles as well. Eventually, however the priesthood was completely lost from the earth for centuries, which brings us to Joseph Smith and the restoration. At the point that the priesthood was lost it was available to all Israelites and gentile nations, and so that is the state at which it was restored. Later on the most recent of a chain of expansions was made--by God revealing his intentions to a prophet--and the priesthood became available to all worthy men. I do not believe that black people were discriminated by the church because of the social conditions of the time--I believe that it was simply the nature of the priesthood itself that has been slowly expanding to more and more races and people throughout history. And to answer your last question--yes, all races can now join in equal capacity.

[Tnox]

keito-ninja

Tnox

I have a two part question. Why weren't black people allowed to be Mormon at first? I heard it was because of a curse. And what changed that now they are allowed to join? Make it a three part question... are they allowed to join in the same capacity as other races?

Black people were always allowed to be baptized as members of the church, they just weren't always allowed to hold the priesthood. As far as I know, the church does not have an official statement about why this changed, but I have done a lot of praying and looking into the question myself, and this in the answer I came to:

I'll start by explaining a bit about what we believe the priesthood is, and it's history. We believe the priesthood is the authority to act in God's name, with God's power, and that this authority was given to Adam and passed down to all the patriarchs. At this time, only one person, the prophet, would ever hold the priesthood. When the tribe of Levi was organized, they were also given the priesthood to officiate in the ordinances of sacrifice and so on. It is unclear for how long the priesthood was passed down without corruption, but by the time of Jesus' ministry it had basically disintegrated, and God's authority was no longer in Israel. He reinstated the priesthood with the organization of apostles and 70s...now the priesthood could be given to all Israelites, not just the Levites. In Acts 10, Peter receives a vision which I understand to mean that the priesthood was also extended, at that point, to be given to the Gentiles as well. Eventually, however the priesthood was completely lost from the earth for centuries, which brings us to Joseph Smith and the restoration. At the point that the priesthood was lost it was available to all Israelites and gentile nations, and so that is the state at which it was restored. Later on the most recent of a chain of expansions was made--by God revealing his intentions to a prophet--and the priesthood became available to all worthy men. I do not believe that black people were discriminated by the church because of the social conditions of the time--I believe that it was simply the nature of the priesthood itself that has been slowly expanding to more and more races and people throughout history. And to answer your last question--yes, all races can now join in equal capacity.

I don't understand, if at the time it was restored it was available to isrealites and all gentile nations alike, then why did that not include black people?

[keito-ninja]

Tnox

keito-ninja

Tnox

I have a two part question. Why weren't black people allowed to be Mormon at first? I heard it was because of a curse. And what changed that now they are allowed to join? Make it a three part question... are they allowed to join in the same capacity as other races?

Black people were always allowed to be baptized as members of the church, they just weren't always allowed to hold the priesthood. As far as I know, the church does not have an official statement about why this changed, but I have done a lot of praying and looking into the question myself, and this in the answer I came to:

I'll start by explaining a bit about what we believe the priesthood is, and it's history. We believe the priesthood is the authority to act in God's name, with God's power, and that this authority was given to Adam and passed down to all the patriarchs. At this time, only one person, the prophet, would ever hold the priesthood. When the tribe of Levi was organized, they were also given the priesthood to officiate in the ordinances of sacrifice and so on. It is unclear for how long the priesthood was passed down without corruption, but by the time of Jesus' ministry it had basically disintegrated, and God's authority was no longer in Israel. He reinstated the priesthood with the organization of apostles and 70s...now the priesthood could be given to all Israelites, not just the Levites. In Acts 10, Peter receives a vision which I understand to mean that the priesthood was also extended, at that point, to be given to the Gentiles as well. Eventually, however the priesthood was completely lost from the earth for centuries, which brings us to Joseph Smith and the restoration. At the point that the priesthood was lost it was available to all Israelites and gentile nations, and so that is the state at which it was restored. Later on the most recent of a chain of expansions was made--by God revealing his intentions to a prophet--and the priesthood became available to all worthy men. I do not believe that black people were discriminated by the church because of the social conditions of the time--I believe that it was simply the nature of the priesthood itself that has been slowly expanding to more and more races and people throughout history. And to answer your last question--yes, all races can now join in equal capacity.

I don't understand, if at the time it was restored it was available to isrealites and all gentile nations alike, then why did that not include black people?

I haven't looked into it that deeply, but I thought that by "Gentiles" Peter was referring to the imidiately surrounding nations such as the Romans. I'm not familiar with the geography, and how much contact Christianity had with various nations at the time of the apostles. I see your point though--whether or not Peter had black people in his mind, there certainly were many other nations full of white people around the world that he never had any contact with, and they still were able to receive the priesthood upon the restoration.

I cannot give you a definitive answer, though I can attempt to explain why some people might think it is because of a "curse". The Book of Mormon gives an account of two nations living in the ancient America's, and one of these nations has a "curse" or "mark" put upon them so that they can tell each-other apart, and that mark is slightly darker skin (not black, but tan). Some people find this thought offensive, and that is a whole different discussion. My point is, the idea of a "curse" or "mark" being associated with darkened skin may lead some Mormons to conclude that the "mark" set on Cain in Genesis 4 was black skin. This is by no means official church doctrine, but some people might believe that this is the case and that such would explain why black people had longer to wait for the priesthood than the other Gentile nations.

[Arcoon Effox]

keito-ninja

I enjoy theological discussion, and so I thought I'd open up a thread for anyone who has questions about Mormon theology.

How do you feel about questions concerning Mormon history? Cuz I've got a few of those:

1. What are your thoughts on Joseph Smith "partially translating" the Kinderhook Plates?

2. How did Joseph Smith "translate" the Book of Abraham from a common funerary scroll?

3. Why has nobody ever found any other documents written in "Reformed Egyptian"?

4. How is it that Laban had a steel sword in 600 BCE, 200 years before the discovery of steel?

5. Where are the remains of the 2 million dead men described in Ether 15:2?

Well, here's a couple of non-historical questions, too:

6. How do you feel about the Church telling its members that they ought to vote 'yes' on Proposition 8?

7. How can the church say it no longer endorses polygamy when a man can still be Sealed to multiple women throughout his life (such as the case of apostle Dallin Oaks)?

8. The Word of Wisdom claims that a person will be able to run endlessly without tiring if they do not consume alcohol, tobacco, "hot beverages", and limit their meat intake. Is this true?

9. Are coffee, tea, cola, and other caffeinated drinks prohibited by the Word of Wisdom?

10. As a woman*, how do you feel about the teaching that you can't enter the Celestial Kingdom unless your husband invites you there?

11. Do you agree with the Church's teachings about homosexuality (including that gay people aren't actually real, but are just being tricked by Satan into thinking they're gay)?

12. Do you agree with the Church's teachings about having children?

• Having children is a responsibility
  
• If a woman is capable of bearing children, then she ought to be doing so
  
• Even if you can't afford another child, or have other obligations in life, you should have them anyway
  
• The desire to have kids is "Good" and "Righteous"; the lack of such a desire is the work of Satan

*Since your Avatar is female, I assume you're female as well

[Michael Noire]

Tnox

I have a two part question. Why weren't black people allowed to be Mormon at first? I heard it was because of a curse. And what changed that now they are allowed to join? Make it a three part question... are they allowed to join in the same capacity as other races?

i heard during smith's time at least one black family held priesthood ;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Abel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Lewis