ask a guy going on a 2 year mormon mission anything

i depart february 2013.

ask away.

 

what is your objective in taking part in this mission?

 

1.) What influenced you to do this? Was it COMPLETELY your own decision and choice, or was family an influence, or friends etc.

2.) Do you actually believe in the story that mormons teach?

 

why must be the mission be in the name of faith and not humanity?

 

is it dangerous?

 

I'm going to make this tough for you, but it's because I like you.

• Which do you believe in, the Book of Mormon or the Columbian Exchange?
• Why does Native American DNA clearly point to Asian ancestry, rather than Jewish ancestry?
• Did Heavenly Father really bang Mary to produce Jesus?
• Why did the angel take the Urim and Thummim from Jo after he screwed up the Book of Lehi, forcing him to use a "seer stone" -- the same one he used to scam people by way of "money digging" -- to translate the entire Book of Mormon as we see it today?
• Mormons say the Book of Mormon contains a "fullness of the gospel." I read it a couple of times, and it doesn't actually talk about anything you guys believe. Why is this?
• Why was the Book of Abraham actually the Book of Breathings?
• Was slavery really "a divine institution?"
• Why don't Mormons believe that Adam was God, if that's what Brigham Young regularly taught?
• Why is Joseph Smith called a martyr if he killed two of his assailants (ref: John Taylor, Journal of Discourses)?
• Mormons believe in (spiritual) polygamy, why do they lie about it?
• I've been pretty good this year. Why am I not yet white and delightsome?
• Why are you guys using tithing from poor people to build malls?
• Why do you guys claim to have no paid clergy, when church leaders (just GA's, I think) are paid huge sums of money?
• If your church is a restoration of Christ's church, why did John the Baptist wear a coat of camel's fur and eat honey and crickets instead of wearing a suit and attending ribbon-cuttings at malls?
• Will you ignore the fact that Mormon pioneers massacred people and use these innocent questions to fuel your persecution complex?
• Magnets?

PS: Joseph Smith was a goddamn badass.
PPS: If someone makes fun of your "magic underwear" but doesn't mock crucifix necklaces, they are an idiot.

 

plz be sure to posts pics on ur journey, otherwize good luck

 

the Book of Mormon

http://www.fairlds.org/authors/pere...ns-from-a-maternally-inherited-dna-standpoint

"bang"... come on now

the book of lehi was lost. there was no intent to "scam" with the "seer stones" even if they did embark in "money digging". the urim and thummim by definition were "seer stones" too. i dont like the word, comes with bad connotations

the fullness of the gospel pertaining to what is in the book

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Abraham#Criticism_and_response

Horace Greeley: What is the position of your church with respect to slavery?

Brigham Young: We consider it of divine institution and not to be abolished until the curse pronounced on Ham shall have been removed from his descendants.

Horace Greeley: Are any slaves now held in this territory?

Brigham Young: There are.

Horace Greeley: Do your territorial laws uphold slavery?

Brigham Young: These laws are printed; you can read for yourself. If slaves are brought here by those who owned them in the states, we do not favor their escape from the service of those owners.

i think it was brighams personal view. it was never official church doctrine. im not a huge fan of brigham to be honest

reference please. but self-defense strips someone of martyrdom?

where have they lied about it

the intended meaning for white would be synonymous with fair and pure

the malls are not built with tithe payers money

they aren't paid to minister

uh

used what questions

how?

i thought the same thing

 

Moved by request.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob

Found it.

So you guys don't believe this?

Also I have always been curious. Why is Mormonism considered Christian when it is directly contradictory to many of the basic tenants of Traditional Christianity?

 

I know this is John's AMA, but I thought I'd field a couple questions as well. I'm pretty well-versed in all religions and I've read the Book of Mormon a few times. If I say something out of line, John can correct me.

Mormons absolutely believe in Kolob. God's physical nature is a central tenet to their theology. Though “God lives on Kolob” sounds strange, the doctrine is only as odd as the idea that God is physical.

Basis in Mormon scripture: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3
Common Mormon hymn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwYm_mKQ3Gs

Traditional Christianity is Judaism. You're painting with too broad a brush. Do Mormons consider Christ a divine being? Yes. Do they believe he can forgive them of sin? No. (If this confuses you, read up on non-trinitarianism.) Unless you're careful to define terms, it gets pejorative.

---

I'm disappointed that my original post was deleted, but I suppose it was somewhat critical. I'll go with this: How do you reconcile your religion and archeology? Specifically, the Book of Mormon describes many anachronistic technologies, flora, and fauna.

 

I apologize for any inconvenience & I've done my best to restore and posts suitable for General/Off Topic.

 

Do you buy Mormon underwear (temple garments) from your local church?

 

Do you genuinely believe in Mormonism, or is it something you grew up with and accepted as the truth?

My hometown is literally walking distance from the town where Joseph Smith Jr. found the golden plate things, what kind of explanation does the mormon society offer for the fact that they are missing? He found them in recent history (compared to things like the ark of the covenant), and they were in the US, so it seems strange they would disappear.

(Sorry if these questions sounded a bit rude, but I am genuinely curious)