Before us...

[Misshalfway]

Originally Posted by Koizito

Even I don't know that... I just remember it was quite diferent from the christian doctrine...

Also, I see many of you have diferent views about the creation of the universe, the world, mankind, etc. That is one aspect of religion in general that doesn't fit in my head: shouldn't you be in diferent religious groups since your views about god and its relation to the universe are diferent?

I am sorry about so many questions, and thank you for your patience once again...

Don't apologize for asking questions. In fact, that is one principle that is crucial to LDS teachings. I mean the entire mormon movement started off with a boy who asked a question.

If your desire is to understand mormon doctrine alone, it might be good to visit LDS.org and do some searches on the subject of creation. If your desire is rather to compare and contrast the different Christian groups, then perhaps that might help me answer your questions better.

I think that it would be fair to say that if beliefs are different, then there would be natural divisions amongst all the groups. That is certainly the way history has played out. But we (LDS) aren't so concerned with being different or not being "accepted" into the Christianity club. It is truth we seek and holy prophets we follow. It matters not that we are different. In fact, I think the differences are absolutely crucial when searching for truth.

We (LDS) believe in Adam and Eve. We believe in the Fall of Adam, but we do understand those events differently than mainstream Christianity. We do believe that God the Father (thru His son Jesus Christ) created this earth and everything in it and around it and that it took 6 days to accomplish it. We don't however believe that a "day" to God is the same thing as a day to us. We see it more like 6 creative periods....meaning that one day could be a very long time.

The rest.....and I mean all the questions about how, what, if, etc etc is left for us to think about. We believe God has revealed a portion of the truth about these subjects but not all. And we humans are left to chew on it until more truth on the subject of creation is revealed. So, what you see on this thread is some of that chewing. Some guesses may even be very educated ones but may not be exactly what we teach in Sunday School because what we teach is only the sure stuff that has been revealed thru scripture and by prophets words.

Does that help a bit? Btw, what exactly about creation are you concerned with? Creation of humans or the earth? It might help us to help you if you explained your thinking a little more.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by Koizito

So, I am an atheist, but I am curious about this religion... Therefore, I am trying to know a little more about it...
What I want to know is this: I heard that mormons believe in a diferent origin for mankind than the one that appears in the bible, even though the bible makes part of your scriptures... If this is true, then I want to know how can this be... If it isn't, do you mind telling me which one do you believe in and, if it is diferent from the one in the bible, then how do you explain the origin of mankind?

Thanks for your patience...

Peace...

Remember, as long there is a man and woman on any earth in the universe, there was someone before them in the same likeness....and no. There was no pre-admanites or caveman prior to this event.

[the Ogre]

Originally Posted by Koizito

@ 3 previous posters: But religion is about trying to explain how the universe works, how it came to existence, etc. If various people have diferent points of views, and therefore diferent explanations, they should belong to diferent lobbies, like people who are pro-gay marriage belong to one group of people and the others to another group... I think that at least they should belong to diferent sub-groups...

And also this would make most beliefs incorrect...

I'm sorry, but this is overly reductionistic. Who is to say what a religion should or should not believe in? Each religion has its own set of beliefs. Latter-day Saints have their own different from others.

For example, the prop 8 issue. There are Latter-day Saints on both sides of the issue (though most are pro-prop 8). Being pro/con prop 8 has nothing to do with salvation. For a Latter-day Saint, we define the family (here), but there is no where in our doctrine that says we insist every person must live this way. Many individuals in the church do think everyone should live this way, but that is not founded on doctrine. Please note, regarding salvation as Latter-day Saints understand it marriage is between a man and a woman.

Do we insist every person believe the same way? No, of course not.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by Koizito

Even I don't know that... I just remember it was quite diferent from the christian doctrine...

Also, I see many of you have diferent views about the creation of the universe, the world, mankind, etc. That is one aspect of religion in general that doesn't fit in my head: shouldn't you be in diferent religious groups since your views about god and its relation to the universe are diferent?

I am sorry about so many questions, and thank you for your patience once again...

It may be related in seeing it for yourself and write about your observation from what was shown to those who would make a case of speculation. Any dispensational prophet will have that opportunity for themselves to witness the creation what Moses and Abraham [but will not have the opportunity to write about prior to them] were shown.

[Misshalfway]

Originally Posted by Koizito

@ 3 previous posters: But religion is about trying to explain how the universe works, how it came to existence, etc.

I am not sure that religion is "about" trying to explain the universe and how it works. I definitely think that is part of it......I mean we as children of God need some reference points. I do think that God has given us what we need to know to get started. I don't think that He wants us to stop asking questions and in my view, I don't see that science and religion are that different. I think God understands all the laws of nature and the universe and I think he is the master scientist of all. But He is also a father and he is trying to raise his children by teaching them and even commanding them to live by certain laws. Sometimes he tells us why. Sometimes he allows us to grow by not giving us all the detailed answers. It's more about faith, and the truth that is revealed after ones faith is tested, more than it is about complete explanations. If you can understand for a minute the mind of a mormon, you would see also that God is waiting to reveal more about the universe and how it works. He has given a little more to our modern prophets, but that knowledge is linked to our obedience. Obedience unlocks the doors to such knowledge.

And also this would make most beliefs incorrect...

Yes. Exactly.

[bytebear]

I think "correct doctrine" is a byproduct of the gospel, or rather of the living church. Prophets and apostles do deceminate truth, and that is a key role, but it is not the primary role of the Lord's church. The primary role is to grant authority to men so that they can fulfill the will of God on Earth. The primary purpose of that is to administer the ordinances of salvation required to return to God.

If I were to start my own church, and teach the exact same things as the LDS Church, follow all the same practices, and even perform the same rituals, my church would still be false, because I have not been given authorty by God to perform these acts. Even if I speculate on the nature of the universe and my answers are more correct or complete than what we currently know, I am still a false prophet.

An example is in the baptism of Jesus Christ. He surely knew more about God's will than John the Baptist, and John even balked at the request for baptism, feeling himself unworthy, but Jesus knew that even though he had a more sure knowledge, and even was more holy than John, John still held the correct authorty from God.

So, Mormons are the true church, not because they know more, but because they have authority from God. This is His church. It was so when Peter led it. It was so when Moses led it. It was so when Joseph Smith led it. Did they all run their church's the same way? no, but they had authority from God to run it according to His will.

[Aesa]

I don't see that science and religion are that different.

I think they're very different in that one is generally baseless in terms of proving it's claims, whilst the other is all about proving it's claims.

However, they do come from the same craving of humans: wanting to know.

[Koizito]

Originally Posted by bytebear

If I were to start my own church, and teach the exact same things as the LDS Church, follow all the same practices, and even perform the same rituals, my church would still be false, because I have not been given authorty by God to perform these acts. Even if I speculate on the nature of the universe and my answers are more correct or complete than what we currently know, I am still a false prophet.

But then how do you distinguish true prophets from false prophets?

[Misshalfway]

Originally Posted by Koizito

But then how do you distinguish true prophets from false prophets?

That is the million dollar question.

First and foremost, we determine true ones from the false by and through the Holy Spirit of God and communications he sends to our hearts and minds. His job is primarily to teach us the truth of things....even all things. We must do our work first though. We must study and then pray with faith. For all faithful Latter-day Saints, the only reason we are in this church is because of the spiritual answers we have received. Once you feel the Spirit testify of truth, it is easy to know what course to follow.

[Koizito]

But what happens if I don't get that "testify of truth" before I die? Do I go to hell, even though it isn't my fault?