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It depends on the definition you choose to follow. In this guild, we perfer not to refer to any religion as a cult because it carries negative conotations.

That being said, Mormonism CAN be considered a cult by the majority of definitions of the word. However, almost every religion can be considered to have cult-like origins. Think of this... Back when Christianity was brand new, the Romans declared it a cult and persecuted it furiously, killing hundreds of thousands.

I think it's a fascinating religion.

I've read like, the first page of the Book of Mormon. XDD But I've been to Mormon services, so I kind of know how they function and what they believe in.

As is your prerogative.

I believe it is truth. hee hee. But that is just what *I* think. blaugh

However, might I ask, did you read it and determine the principles it taught were lies? Or do you simply believe the history of where it came from to be a lie? Or do you believe the principles and stories in it are lies based on what yopu have been told about them, not having read it?

I am not criticizing... I really an curious what you mean (and promise not to try to cram it down your throat or insist you believe one word of it.)

Allow me to answer this from my own point of view as a non-believing Mormon sympathizer. Kipluck may have different answers for you...

On the Book of Mormon being more right than the bible, they believed that was because our translation of it came directly from the prophet, whom had the power to provide a clear, precise work directly as God intended. It was not "watered down" or corrupted like the bible had become over many years of re-translation. In fact, Joseph Smith, the prophet, created his own translation of the bible to attempt to reverse some of these bad translations and make it "more correct"again.

On there being 80 edits to the Book of Mormon, according to wikipedia there were, in fact, over 4000 changes made to it since it's publication. About 3000 of these were just spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, but sometimes wording WAS indeed changed. The LDS church does not shy away from this fact however, had has released recent publications that contain the original manuscript.

In reguards to the leader being a prophet, that is correct. With the creation of Mormonism, god brought back apostolic succession, which is similar to what Catholics use to elect their pope. However, Catholics (and all Christians) strayed from the true path, so God needed to give that authority to a new line of believers. If you don't know what it is, apostolic succession is passing leadership down amongst the priesthood.

As for archeology, I don't know anything about this, but wikipedia has a great article about it written from a neutral perspective. biggrin

The only true fact I can say about Joseph Smith being a magic user is that Joseph Smith was a known "treasure hunter" before writing the Book of Mormon. There's accounts of him "divining" where to find treasure. Beyond that, there's no reliable sources that speak on him using any kind of magic.

But I do request that you please be careful when calling anyone a liar in this guild, especially the leader of a religion, since insulting them may offend many members. Also, when making broad accusations, it would be helpful to back them up with sources. Mormonism has way too many rumours surrounding it, resulting from non-practitioners spreading hearsay.

We do believe that both the Bible AND the Book of Mormon are scripture and holy books, but yes, you are right in that as the Book of Mormon has been translated most RECENTLY it is more correct as is. The Bible has gone through a lot of changes since written as well. HOWEVER, if translated CORRECTLY the Bible and Book of Mormon are equal. And with so many different versions of the Bible available, generally, the King James Version is the one we accept as "cannon."

However, ummm, this is the Religious TOLERANCE guild. Why would I call you a retard just for disagreeing with me? First of all, you have every right to disagree with me. 2nd of all, we just don't attack each other like that here. This isn't the chatterbox. We act like adults... and we generally rather like each other, even if we differ in views! biggrin

MoA answered that stuff as well as I could. Yes, there have been changes. We believe they were inspired and made to make things more clear to the original intent. I don't have a problem with that. And, yes, we definitely believe in the gift of Prophesy and that our current leader is a prophet, as have been the past leaders. We believe that is how God leads his church. It was how he lead his church in times past, then that was lost in time we call the apostasy, then it was returned to the earth with Joseph Smith. After that Brigham Young was called, and so forth.

See, now here I am just going to have to disagree with ya. Actually, I wish I knew more about this stuff because there is a TON of archaeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon, though, definitive proof is tricky since we don't know precise locations. One of the sites that compiles these (though I won't claim they are unbiased, but nonetheless, interesting) is Jeff Lindsey's http://www.jefflindsay.com/BMEvidences.shtml and one that does research themselves is through BYU-FARMS which is interesting IF you want to wade through the intellectualism and professor speak. http://farms.byu.edu/publications/bookofmormonview.php?subcat=100&cat=1

2 problems with this statement. 1. he was only a liar if you don't believe what he said and believe he didn't either. (so try to avoid inflammatory language, thanks. sweatdrop ) 2. Maybe what you call magic, I call miracles? I dunno. But I think it is possible he did try to use divining rods, or whatever. His family was impoverished for much of his life. The Lord would not even let him take the Gold Plates he was LEAD to for many years until he was ready for the responsibility. He was not a perfect man. But he WAS a prophet of the Lord.

I agree. In fact, I see it in my OWN religion, which really annoys me. We are TAUGHT to question... to find out for ourselves... but some people act like questioning and studying is, like blasphemy or something. SCARY. How do they think God wants us to learn? We were MADE to ask questions... and yet, I hear some people acting as if DOING so is not not having enough faith.

I believe we are asked to find out as much as we can, and then, yes, sometimes we have to take things on faith awhile till we find the next answer... but that doesn't mean we DON'T ASK THE QUESTIONS!

Voluntary Stupidity does not equal RIGHTEOUSNESS.

I glimpsed a bat with butterfly wings...

This goes along with the whole "not investigating both sides of the church thing."

So, I live in the central boiling pit for mormon culture, you might say.
99% of my classmates ARE or HAVE been mormon for MOST of their lives.
I, however, am not.

I listen to music with expletives, I read about things like sex and drugs, and study literature and artwork that isn't always viewed as "appropriate" where I live. My phone number is CONSTANTLY being handed off to the local mormons, since, ya' know, I'm the only person within twenty miles who hasn't been converted.

Anywho, my friends-
I love them to death, and they're great, but when it comes to the things I choose to learn, read, listen to, and generally the person I choose to become, they kind of turn a blind eye. They pretend not to see it.
NOW, my point:
I have a good friend who, in her life, has listened to a broad range of DISNEY songs, and songs by TWO independent artists: Josh Groban, and Michael Buble.
Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. AND the Mormon Tabernacle choir.

She won't read a book if it has expletives, or mentions sex.
Artwork is too "graphic" for her most times, and so, she is QUITE ignorant of ART in general. (unless, of course, they are pictures of jesus emerging from the tomb.)

I'm just saying, I think it's sad that this is what the church has made my friend into. She will live for the church for the REST of her life. (this isn't necessarily a BAD thing, nuns....monks....they all do it.)
I just feel sad that I can't share this creative world with my friends.
Notice, I say FRIENDS, because 90% of them behave LIKE this.

Anyways, sorry. Just something negative I find about the church.

oh, what marvelous things.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Therefore, I am a Mormon.
That doesn't mean that I automatically believe anything preached, or doctrine taught.
I choose what to believe, and what guidelines to live my life by, and for the most part my choices comply with the Church standard.
I do accept a lot of the teachings, and I accept them on Faith. My philosophy is that when something else better (or more reasonable/logical in my opinion) comes along, I may choose that over what I currently believe.
I do separate my religious beliefs from my scientific beliefs, on the basis that they don't always agree with each other.