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So I've noticed that it seems to be okay for members of other churches to point out doctrines within the LDS Church and say that they are not Biblically backed and they are false and etc. Then those members of the other churches expect the LDS member to just be okay with the criticism and not retort and defend our beliefs. We are basically expected to just roll over and take it. But then when a member of the LDS Church points out that a doctrine within a protestant church isn't biblically back, we are seen as being hypocritical and rude. All this anti-LDS literature is thrown in our faces and the discussion isn't constructive.


Any ways that's my rant. Has any one else noticed this? I've noticed it increasingly more so the longer I have been a member of the LDS Church. Would you consider it a double standard? Should we refrain from having religious discussions with people of other faiths? Opinions? Discussion?

I was raised protestant and had a very anti-LDS backround growing up. My parents are very against the Church and they still are. I grew up reading nothing but anti-LDS literature, and to be honest it was sickening. I couldn't believe people would spread so much hate about one religion. When I started investigating the Church, I began to realize that all the anti-LDS stuff was either flat out lies or distorted information. Plus, once I started praying and asking Heavenly Father what His opinion was, my whole perspective changed and I knew that all the things that the anti-LDS stuff wasn't true. It couldn't be, especially if Heavenly Father said the Church was true.

In all of the debates that I have gotten in about the Church, I have provided scripture, websites, book references, etc. that back up my stance in saying that the doctrine that the LDS Church teaches is true, but I basically feel like those on the receiving end are just sticking their fingers in their ears and saying "nah nah nah I can't hear you!"

It's sort of commonly rare (for lack of a better term) to find an LDS Church in the area I live. I attend the meetings in town here because we have a chapel here, but the population of the town I live is not a very prominant LDS town. Most of the people here are Catholic and protestant. Most people though don't have anti-LDS opinions, until you start discussing the Church with them, then they start pulling out books and researching the internet and throwing stuff out at you that isn't the truth.

It's hard for me to share any of my religious beliefs with my parents because they are so against the Church, but I try to make them understand that the Church is part of who I am and it's important to me, so when it comes up in conversation they just have to deal with it, because I am expected to deal with what ever they believe in.

I also find it difficult to understand the stereotype that people have put on the Church and the missionaries, which is that all we want to do is covert people in order to gain more money. Partially true, we do want to convert people, but only because we want to them to experience the truth of the gospel. As for gaining more money, none of the money that is paid in tithes goes to the Bishopric. It goes for charity, missionary efforts, etc. I'm amazed at all the tithing money is used for. It's awesome how much aid the Church provides for people.

That's awesome that you have been reading the Book of Mormon and other books that have been published by LDS authors. I hope you are getting a lot of questions answered. I was first introduced to the Book of Mormon in high school and it took me four years to fully convert to the Church and accept that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God, a lot of it had to do with my stubbornness, the fact that my parents were so against the Church, and my all out refusal to pray about what the Book of Mormon contained.

When I was given the Book of Mormon in high school, I kept it hidden from my parents for a few months, but then once I started reading it and finding out that it didn't contradict the Bible, I slowly started making it known that I had a copy in my possession and that I found it to be true. My parents were not happy. My mom started making fun of me and calling me a mormon like it was some derogatory thing. My dad just didn't think it was a good idea for me to get invovled with the "occult". rolleyes

Oh yeah, I totally understand. When I joined the Church my parents almost disowned me and they still don't look at me the same way now. So I totally understand your position.

This wall of text above me has basically brought up about everything I was thinking of saying, so I'll just agree to it all. Anyone's religion is correct according to their interpretation of the Bible. In fact, many people believe that we don't read the Holy Bible.

I've came across this stereotype... But these two people thought that the Book of Mormon was "the Mormon Bible" and one asked if the LDS church "recommended" reading the Bible... I was sort of shocked when I heard that one...

I heard "Mormon Bible" all the time on my mission. Some say the term "as far as it is translated correctly" means we pick and choose, and many believe that the Bible is without any flaw. Obviously they've never really read the whole thing, as it's full of contradictions as well as grammatical errors.