The Official "Ask A Mormon" Thread

[Stifle Tower]

Again just out of curiosity, what is the evidence for this? Are there any first hand eye witness accounts supporting this claim (i.e., similar to the 4 gospels)?

Well, the four gospels are generally regarded as not first-hand...i.e. the gospels are widely believed to have been written by others as accounts that had been passed on by the disciples. So if you are to believe the Bible to be the "gospel truth," so to speak, you are accepting the undocumented accounts of others claiming to have witnessed or been told of certain events. Believe in the Catholic Bible and you'll be forced to acknowledge the existence of dragons. Are the gospels factual? Certainly a great number of people would argue against that; otherwise, there would be a universal acceptance of Jesus as the Christ. If you do believe in the gospels as eyewitness or truthfui accounts, then the same could be said of the Book of Mormon. Koran, or any other religious text - or even historical books. Even "documented" events can be viewed in completely different lights depending on the author's prejudices. For example, The American Revolution...a heroic uprising according to those in the U.S. Pick up a British textbook and you'll read a less glowing review of the American mutineers who murdered British soldiers.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'm sometimes quite pleased with myself.

Do Mormons always avoid questions about masturbation?

 

[The Midnight]

Well, the four gospels are generally regarded as not first-hand...i.e. the gospels are widely believed to have been written by others as accounts that had been passed on by the disciples. So if you are to believe the Bible to be the "gospel truth," so to speak, you are accepting the undocumented accounts of others claiming to have witnessed or been told of certain events. The same could be said of the Book of Mormon. Koran, or any other religious text - or even historical. Even "documented" events can be viewed in completely different lights depending on the author's prejudices. For example, The American Revolution...a heroic uprising according to those in the U.S. Pick up a British textbook and you'll read a less glowing review of the American mutineers who murdered British soldiers.

Yeah but it was a story of Jesus, written by people other than Jesus himself though right?

I guess my question was, were there anyone else other than Joseph Smith who were there at the time accounting for what Smith did or discovered?

 

[Stoked]

Do Mormons always avoid questions about masturbation?

Yes because it is a stupid question.

 

[Archie Moses]

Do Mormons always avoid questions about masturbation?

Everyone has smacked a beat. Everyone.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Yeah but it was a story of Jesus, written by people other than Jesus himself though right?

I guess my question was, were there anyone else other than Joseph Smith who were there at the time accounting for what Smith did or discovered?

Well, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris testified and signed a declaration that they had seen the plates from which the Book Of Mormon was translated. Furthermore, they claimed to have seen an angel.

There were also eight others who attested they had seen the plates (but no mention of hearing the voice of God or seeing an angel).

Oliver Cowdery and/or Sidney Rigdon were the ones present for many of the restorative ordinances along with Joseph Smith.

Not that this proves anything...they very well could have been Joseph's co-conspirators in establishing a new religion. It all depends on an individuals faith, logic, emotions, or whatever other means he/she arrives at a particular system of beliefs (or non-beliefs).

 

[Stifle Tower]

Do Mormons always avoid questions about masturbation?

Only when we have a witty reply.
As far as I know, masturbation is viewed as a transgression.
We all have weaknesses; some may struggle with the sexual mandates of the LDS faith, others with smoking or alcohol use. I think the important part of ANY faith is that we are TRYING to live according to the teachings we believe in. And all Christian religions teach about the Atonement; i.e., whatever our sins, large or small, can be forgiven through our acceptance of Christ. There may be some disagreement on the steps to forgiveness, but the concept is the same.

 

[Bronco70]

Do Mormons always avoid questions about masturbation?

More like, Mormons avoid trolls.

 

[The Midnight]

Well, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris testified and signed a declaration that they had seen the plates from which the Book Of Mormon was translated. Furthermore, they claimed to have seen an angel.

There were also eight others who attested they had seen the plates (but no mention of hearing the voice of God or seeing an angel).

Oliver Cowdery and/or Sidney Rigdon were the ones present for many of the restorative ordinances along with Joseph Smith.

Not that this proves anything...they very well could have been Joseph's co-conspirators in establishing a new religion. It all depends on an individuals faith, logic, emotions, or whatever other means he/she arrives at a particular system of beliefs (or non-beliefs).

Thanks & Rep'd.

 

[babe]

You can request your membership records be moved to a different ward/stake if you so desire. We have a few people in our ward who live outside the boundaries. I think generally families would want to attend meetings with others who live in their neighborhood to form friendships. The last thing I'd want to do on a Sunday is drive 25-30 mins to another ward when there's one 10 mins away. And I'm not sure there's an epidemic of "bad bishops" out there. Bishops only serve for about 3-5 years. And unlike other faiths, bishops do not give sermons every week. So it's not like we're shopping for Oral Roberts and fleeing from Stuttering Sam. For the most part, you can pretty much expect the same type of Sacrament Meeting (Mass/Worship Service) in any LDS ward. I've never had a "bad bishop." I've had some I liked more than others, some I thought did an amazing job, but never one I considered "bad."

Now if I felt uncomfortable going to my bishop for an interview, I could always talk to the stake president. I did have kind of a situation like that, when my uncle was the presiding authority. And if I knew of some specific wrongdoing that made my bishop "bad," I would certainly report it.

Although it's been years since I went much to LDS meetings, somehow I still have a lot of friends who do. I thought it was an open secret that being called to the bishopric is a lot of work. You literally lay aside everything but your job. . . well, maybe that,too. Still there may be some wards where there is an old clique that has to have one of their own in there. This is where the knowing folks drop the m in Mormons in their code speak about one another in the ward. Properly enlightened wards are always waiting for someone "new" to move in so they can be inspired to call him to the job nobody wants.

I just tell home teachers or whoever that I'm at the ranch on weekends. Problem is, my best friend out there is the bishop there. Last time I saw him, I was stuck in drifted snow a few feet deep and couldn't get out to go home for Christmas. I called him, and on Sunday. He came down with a big truck to tow me out, and had me play Santa and take his truckload of christmas presents into Salt Lake for his grandkids. His daughter gave me a plate of hot fresh chocolate treats for doing that.

In the Mormon way, service to others is one way we develop one another into better people. We take turns being the one "called" to do it.

 

[sirkickyass]

Well, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris testified and signed a declaration that they had seen the plates from which the Book Of Mormon was translated. Furthermore, they claimed to have seen an angel.

There were also eight others who attested they had seen the plates (but no mention of hearing the voice of God or seeing an angel).

Oliver Cowdery and/or Sidney Rigdon were the ones present for many of the restorative ordinances along with Joseph Smith.

Not that this proves anything...they very well could have been Joseph's co-conspirators in establishing a new religion. It all depends on an individuals faith, logic, emotions, or whatever other means he/she arrives at a particular system of beliefs (or non-beliefs).

It is hotly hotly contested whether the Three Witnesses actually stated that they saw the physical plates. All were excommunicated from the church at some point in time.

 

[The Midnight]

It is hotly hotly contested whether the Three Witnesses actually stated that they saw the physical plates. All were excommunicated from the church at some point in time.

How come only 4 people ever saw the plates (3 witnesses + Smith)?

If I were to find something as important as that I'd want to show it to the World.