Ask a Mormon

[thews]

Originally Posted by beefche

What is the Book of Mormon?
It's a record of a people who lived on the American continent before, during, and after Christ lived. It's like the Bible in that it is a record of people and their dealings with God. It also tells the account of when Jesus visited these people on the American continent.

I've asked this question before and received mostly angry replies, and I'm seriously just seeking an answer. If the Book of Mormon is truly a historical record, why are there no artifacts where the great battles are said to have taken place?

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by thews

I thought the "official" version of the KJV of the bible Mormons use is the one revised by Joseph Smith (JST). Is this correct?

Close, but no cigar. Two different versions, really, and the "official" Bible of the LDS church is the KJV, just as the scholars kicked it out in 1611.

Q. Can Mormons dance?

A. So much so that they used to have gold and green balls.

[beefche]

As a reminder, this thread is not to have any derails. If you wish to discuss something from this thread, please begin your own thread with your discussion points.

[thews]

Originally Posted by beefche

As a reminder, this thread is not to have any derails. If you wish to discuss something from this thread, please begin your own thread with your discussion points.

I wish to be honest with you, and must admit my intent. I was born a Mormon and baptized in the Mormon church. I have since left Mormonism, and am contemplating getting my name removed from its records. I do have a few questions though and I just want to make sure I'm making the right decision. If I have questions to your answers posted, I should start a new thread about it, or ask them in this thread?

Thanks,

thews

[Generally_Me]

Do 'worthy' Mormon women only wear dresses?
No. We are allowed to wear pants.

[john doe]

Originally Posted by thews

I wish to be honest with you, and must admit my intent. I was born a Mormon and baptized in the Mormon church. I have since left Mormonism, and am contemplating getting my name removed from its records. I do have a few questions though and I just want to make sure I'm making the right decision. If I have questions to your answers posted, I should start a new thread about it, or ask them in this thread?

Thanks,

thews

Start a new thread.

[thews]

Originally Posted by john doe

Start a new thread.

Thanks. Which forum would be best if the questions were specific to LDS?

[PainterLily]

why was Polygamy practiced in the first place?
not to try to "derail" the conversation but l am curious. l've heard some of these answers already and l'd like a little more detail.
As for caffeine, if you can drink it if you want, why are you told not to? normally when someone is told not to do something, it means there is something bad about it, which is why l ask, what is so bad about caffeine?

[Dravin]

Polygamy: Latter-day Saints and the Practice of Plural Marriage - LDS Newsroom

Originally Posted by From Above

In 1831, Church founder Joseph Smith made a prayerful inquiry about the ancient Old Testament practice of plural marriage. This resulted in the divine instruction to reinstitute the practice as a religious principle.

You might also find Doctrine and Covenants 132 and interesting read. There are of course dissenting opinions as to why exactly it was started out there, but the official position of the Church is the above.

As for caffeine, if you can drink it if you want, why are you told not to? normally when someone is told not to do something, it means there is something bad about it, which is why l ask, what is so bad about caffeine?

As far as I know it is not a requirement to abstain from caffeine, though various leaders of the church have expressed opinion that it is to be avoided. I have never been taught that by not avoiding caffeine I am sinning, not as a doctrine of the Church, as a missionary I had it pointed out to me that abstaining from caffeine was not a requirement to become baptized. Members can drink caffeine and be in good standing with the Church/the Lord.

In cases such as coffee and tea where it does effect our standing the only official reason is, "The Lord said so." Though of course hypotheses abound on the subject. Its like asking a Jew what's so bad about pork? Ultimately it comes back to, "The Lord said so." If you mean why did X person object to it (as opposed to the Lord objecting to it), you're best off asking them, or trying to deduce why from their writings. There is also some controversy amongst members on the subject of caffeine.

[Kenny]

Originally Posted by PainterLily

why was Polygamy practiced in the first place?
not to try to "derail" the conversation but l am curious. l've heard some of these answers already and l'd like a little more detail.

Not to go over what has already been expressed might I add an additional reason for Polygamy.
It was necessary to fulfil all righteous that is the premises for all that God commands. But an interesting side effect of Polygamy was to first test the saints and second to flush out the chaff prior to the exodus to Salt Lake Valley. The Lord first commanded the introduction of Polygamy and almost at the same time revealed the Articles of Faith which included the statement that we uphold the laws of the land. Polygamy wasn't illegal when it was introduced but was when the practice was stopped by the church. It took almost bankrupting the church before the leaders realised and obeyed.

As for caffeine, if you can drink it if you want, why are you told not to? Normally when someone is told not to do something, it means there is something bad about it, which is why l ask, what is so bad about caffeine?

There is a difference between being commanded and being advised. Often the confusion comes when our leaders advices us over something.
There are many theories as to why the Lord chose His Saints to abstain from these things, in the end it’s simply down to obedience.
If you want a common element in the list of things we should not take into our bodies and you will find that they are all potentially fatal. Hot Drinks was the original command later clarified as tea and coffee. At the time of the revelation the only way to get the most flavour out of the tea and coffee was to drink it scolding hot. This practice resulted in some cases of cancer of the gullet.
Caffeine seems to be the one most people and members adopt as the reason because the potential it has to lead to fatal side effects, like high blood pressure.

If we want to obey the Lord continually then its easy to first follow His anointed. The Word of Wisdom was first given to the Saints as a directive and because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak the Lord upgraded it to a commandment.

Until He says to abstain from caffeine then I'll take it under advisement.