Questions About Mormon Religion

[HoosierGuy]

Hello all. First post here. Please do not take any of my comments as an insult or anything. I do mean to insult
anyway here.

I'm curious about the Mormon religion. I'm in my 30's, unmarried. I come from a big loving family. Both
my mother and father are dead. My father died when I was young. My mom and brothers and sisters raised me.
My mom went to church (Protestant) most of her life. She was not a religious nut, but she did go to church
every Sunday and read the bible thru every year.

I am not that religious. I cross over, sometimes I believe in no afterlife. Sometimes I believe in an afterlife. Many times I
laugh at those who believe in an afterlife. If I was forced to identify with a religion I would say Protestant but I’m not that
committed. I could just as easily say Catholic or Hindu or anything else. I guess I have not religion.

One thing is for sure - I am full of hate. Hate for the world, hate for my country, hate for the past
and future, and hate for myself. And I'm really tired of all this hate coming from me.

I remember seeing commercials on TV from the Mormon church back in the 1980's. I believe it was a beautiful blond
haired woman with her kids explaining the real path to happening was with the book of LDS.

I have questions:


Are all Mormons wealthy? Do they even want dirt poor non-Mormons
to convert to Mormonism?

Are all Mormons bankers and doctors and such? Is that the kind of job/career one must have
to be a Mormon?

Again, I remember seeing the commercials in the 1980's with a
pretty blond haired Mom and her kids talking about Mormonism being the right
path to god and heaven. I actually found that kind of nice. I see Mormons every so often in their
suits walking down streets. But, I get the feeling from looking at them that they are stuck up. Do
they really want and will they except non-Mormons into their religion?

I just get the feeling that Mormon is the "preppie" religion. Am I wrong?

A friend has a brother who is a Mormon. My friend is not a Mormon. My friend says her brother and his family are totally stuck up jerks and think it's because they are Mormons. Are they arrogant?

They say Jesus walked on American soil? I like that. Why shouldn’t he
have walked on American soil? Why should the Jews and Arabs be allowed
to keep his history all to themselves? America is in many ways, for all it's problems,
a blessed country. Maybe it is blessed because Jesus was here and blessed the U.S.A.?

I have to admit, one of the reasons I'm posting this is because of the coverage of
Mitt Romney. I've listened to some liberal talk shows. The are making fun of his religion and I don’t
like that. They are condemning a whole group of Christian people just because they don’t like Romney.

The Mormons present themselves to be true Christians. And yet they have a
look about them that makes me ask - do they want people to convert to their
religion? Would they want me to convert to their religion? Yes, they have a look
of family and love, but also upper society. Do they care about outsiders?

I like their message from what I know of it (very little). I like their devotion, but doesn't a true Christian
want to bring as many over to his side and get the to heaven? Do the Mormons want that?

Am I way off base? If so I apologize. I mean no offense. I'm lost on religion and guess I'm looking
for religion.

[Shoofly]

Welcome to the board and I hope you find what you are looking for.
First off, your comments about being full of hate, do you have any idea where that is coming from? I know the world can be a cold cruel place at times and allowing God into your life can certainly be a direction you want to go.

As far as being rich and wealthy, not all members of the Church fall into that catagorey, not by a long shot. Your position in life in terms of wealth has no bearing on membership. Likewise, one of the bigger complaints about the Church is our strong missionary program. I'm not sure that there is another denomination out there who has more full time missionaries than do the LDS. Their main focus is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to any and all who will hear with a sincere heart and to bring them unto Christ.

I'm sorry if you have an impression of church members being arrogant or snooty. I imagine some are, as in all churches, but by and large the members are very friendly and kind. I hope you will take the time to get to know some and talk to them. You may be surprised. The folks you mention you see walking around in suits, are they wearing any kind of name tags to identify them as being LDS? If so they are full time missionaries and they would be delighted to talk with you. Just go up to them, introduce yourself, and tell them you'd like to know more about the church and see what happens. I hope you do and come back and tell us what does happen.

Good luck in your search, and don't worry about asking questions that may offend. If you are sincere in your questions folks here will be very happy to engage you in discussion.

God bless you as you begin your search for truth, light, peace, and happiness.

[mnn727]

Are all Mormons wealthy?[/b]

I Wish!! No, far from it.

Do they even want dirt poor non-Mormons to convert to Mormonism?[/b]

We have many 'dirt-poor' Mormons

But, I get the feeling from looking at them that they are stuck up. Do they really want and will they except non-Mormons into their religion?[/b]

There are more converts in the Church than 'born members; I am a convert of 15 years no and have always been accepted and felt wanted.

I just get the feeling that Mormon is the "preppie" religion. Am I wrong?[/b]

Yes, you are wrong (commercials are commercials - McDonalds isn't going to show the average slightly overweight Mom in jeans with no makeup and hair a mess with kids screaming in the van for food, right?)

A friend has a brother who is a Mormon. My friend is not a Mormon. My friend says her brother and his family are totally stuck up jerks and think it's because they are Mormons. Are they arrogant?[/b]

SOme are, most are not - we're all humans

They say Jesus walked on American soil?[/b]

Yes we believe that.

I like their devotion, but doesn't a true Christian
want to bring as many over to his side and get the to heaven? Do the Mormons want that?[/b]

We do, thats why we have about 50,000 missionaries around the world today, they would be happy to teach you what we believe, we present the gospel and help you understand it, the Holy Spirit converts.

Did I miss anything?

[LoudmouthMormon]

Welcome Hoosierguy!

Are all Mormons wealthy?[/b]

No. For one thing, our church is a global church, and we have many members in very poor countries in Africa and South America. For another thing, many of us continue to live the single-breadwinner family lifestyle. Now, if you live in an area with a lot of rich people, then yes, there will be a lot of rich people at church.

We are big on education, and tend to seek more post-highschool education than other demographics. And that tends to land us better jobs.

Now, one things we mormons are, is human. You don't stop being imperfect when you decide to get baptized into this church. You can find mormon snobs. Here's the deal - we're not in this church to fix the other guy, we're in it to help ourselves.

Do they even want dirt poor non-Mormons to convert to Mormonism?[/b]

he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. (That's out of the Book of Mormon)

Are all Mormons bankers and doctors and such? Is that the kind of job/career one must have to be a Mormon?[/b]

My first job was emptying garbage cans. I've been a typist, and an administrative assistant. Currently, I'm a person of no consequence that manages the budget needs of engineers building oscilloscopes. In the area where I live, we have a lot of military, and that really doesn't pay very well. I know mormon call-center employees, and wood-choppers, and such.

Do they really want and will they except non-Mormons into their religion?[/b]

We have tens of thousands of missionaries out there, teaching people about our faith. We'd be very happy if the whole world decided to accept Christ as their savior and be baptized into our church.

A friend has a brother who is a Mormon. My friend is not a Mormon. My friend says her brother and his family are totally stuck up jerks and think it's because they are Mormons. Are they arrogant?[/b]

Maybe, I don't know them. Maybe your friend feels threatened by people that hold themselves to a certain standard - I really don't have a clue.

They say Jesus walked on American soil?[/b]

We aren't sure of the exact locations. We figure he walked in the Americas somewhere, but whether North, Central, or South is a matter of speculation. We get this information from a book the people left behind, found in New England somewhere.

Hope this helps!
LM

[HoosierGuy]

Thank you all for your replies. I again want to say I don't want to offend any of you.

I apologize for my whining. I came here wanting to know more about the Mormon religion
and ended up opening up a little which is not want I really planed. But, it's the truth.
I guess I'm looking for some religion. I do feel like my body and soul are falling into
a pit a darkness and soon be 100% corrupted unless I can get some religion in me.
I am more or less religion illiterate.

I am tired of thinking. I'm tired of hating. I'm tired of being negative. I'm tired of
denying the existence of God and Jesus.

I use to look down on very religious people. Slaves I thought they were. Now I see
that many things in life want enslave men and women. I would rather be the slave
of God and Jesus than anybody or anything else.

A search for truth, light, peace, and happiness? Yes, I guess that is what I want. But you all
probably have heard that before. I am a ship with no rudder. Cast my fate into the wind. But
I'm tired of casting my fate into the wind. I'm tired of having no rudder. And again, you all
probably have heard that before.

The church my Mom attended (Protestant) most of her life - I do not see them out spreading the word
of Jesus like I see the Mormons do. They do not look 100% devoted. Maybe they are devoted. The Baptists, they look more
devoted but seem to be on a war march with everyone. There are Amish in my county. Now
I can respect those people.

But I remember that commercial from the 1980's. The commercial with the family saying to call
for a free bible and find out what you have been missing. It seemed like they were offering a door
into a new world of loving and peace and happiness.

Yes, that is want I want to explore. What they were offering in the 1980's, that door into something
new. A path to follow. Yes, I need a path to follow.

Sorry about the whining. A grown man should not cry like this.

Anyway, I've been scanning some of the other posts on this message board. I've seen the
word "seeker" once or twice. What is a seeker? Is the Mormon bible the door to
God and Jesus? Is it the right door? Is it the perfect door for me?

[DrewM]

I am tired of thinking. I'm tired of hating. I'm tired of being negative. I'm tired of
denying the existence of God and Jesus.[/b]

Maybe this passage from the Book of Mormon will help:

17 Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.
18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.
19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?
20 Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work.
21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
22 And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.
23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.
24 And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast out—now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to judge you only according to that which is true—
25 For I do not mean that ye all of you have been compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in whatsoever circumstances they might.
26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/32)

[Shoofly]

It sounds like you are ready for God in your life HoosierGuy. Hopefully we can help you in your search.

Just for the record, The Book of Mormon is not our Bible. We do believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. It is the first book in our 4 standard works of cannonized scripture. The Book Of Mormon is additional scripture that testifies of Christ our Savior.
Have you ever read it? You can go to LDS .org and read it on line if you desire.
I would really encourage you to talk to some missionaries and aloow them to share the Gospel with you. They are the Lords called servants here on earth to assist you.
Please keep us updated on how it's going.

[HiJolly]

But I remember that commercial from the 1980's. The commercial with the family saying to call for a free bible and find out what you have been missing. It seemed like they were offering a door into a new world of loving and peace and happiness.

Yes, that is want I want to explore. What they were offering in the 1980's, that door into something new. A path to follow. Yes, I need a path to follow.

Anyway, I've been scanning some of the other posts on this message board. I've seen the word "seeker" once or twice. What is a seeker? Is the Mormon bible the door to God and Jesus? Is it the right door? Is it the perfect door for me?[/b]

I know you're not trying to impress anyone, but I'm impressed. You sound like a seeker to me - a seeker for God. We call the "Mormon bible" the "Book of Mormon". I suggest you go to www.mormon.org and spend some time. I'm sure there is a link there somewhere to get a Book of Mormon mailed out to you. Go for it. Only you can know if it's right for you --- but I'd be willing to bet it will help you understand Jesus Christ better.

I was born into the church, a 5-generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). It doesn't matter to any humble (ie, good) member of the church whether they are like me, or joined the Church yesterday. It just doesn't matter. I totally agree with Shoofly, Mnn727 and Loudmouth in their comments.


HiJolly

[HoosierGuy]

Is there a book you all suggest to start off with?

[avatar4321]

Is there a book you all suggest to start off with?[/b]

Why yes there is. Its called the Book of Mormon. You can get one as a free gift from the Church at the following website:

http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-...-book-of-mormon

We give them to anyone willing to read with an invitation to study the message it presents and ask God whether its true. And The Holy Ghost will reveal to you that it is true.

As for whether all mormons are wealthy, i wish. Im dirt poor at the moment. Something id like to change someday. But i think the reason why there are a number of mormons who do become wealthy is because of our beliefs. We believe in educating ourselves and developing skills and always trying to be better than we currently are. That doesnt always equal getting more money, but it does help.

My suggestion would be get a copy of the Book of Mormon, read it, and talk to the Missionaries. They would be more than happy to answer any question you have and there are always some nearby.