The Official "Ask A Mormon" Thread

[green]

Most LDS pet owners probably believe this. Not sure if there's any official doctrine on it.

I think Joseph Smith talked about animals testifying against us at the judgement bar for better or worse. That would lend you to believe that they are there in the afterlife.

 

[green]

I'm not as torn by the Kate Kelly issue. She knew the rules, and when she wanted to play, but play by her own rules, they removed her.

There are so many religions out there, if she really, truly felt that she should hold leadership positions, or the priesthood, I bet she can find a religion that allows her to do that.

I have my issues with the church, but at the end of the day, they have made it very clear where they stand.

All of that being said, I've hesitated responding in this thread because they have disciplined members for what they have written on message boards/facebook/etc recently. I'm not anonymous on this site at all. I've had my name on here multiple times, and I'm okay with that. BUT, I've definitely said somethings that a more "strict" member could take offense to and try to remove my standing in the church over.

Also, that's why I've been so thankful for Colton answering my questions. It's very easy to attack.

 

[Stoked]

I'm not as torn by the Kate Kelly issue. She knew the rules, and when she wanted to play, but play by her own rules, they removed her.

There are so many religions out there, if she really, truly felt that she should hold leadership positions, or the priesthood, I bet she can find a religion that allows her to do that.

I have my issues with the church, but at the end of the day, they have made it very clear where they stand.

All of that being said, I've hesitated responding in this thread because they have disciplined members for what they have written on message boards/facebook/etc recently. I'm not anonymous on this site at all. I've had my name on here multiple times, and I'm okay with that. BUT, I've definitely said somethings that a more "strict" member could take offense to and try to remove my standing in the church over.

Also, that's why I've been so thankful for Colton answering my questions. It's very easy to attack.

This does the Church an immense diservice imo. It isolates those that do have deep fundamental questions. It makes them less likely to come forward in good faith to have questions answered. It, in many cases, leads to them falling away from the church.

The people of the Church often try to have the members act perfectly and that is never going to happen. All that does is damage the very thing they proclaim to love so much.

 

[cowhide]

I'm not as torn by the Kate Kelly issue. She knew the rules, and when she wanted to play, but play by her own rules, they removed her.

There are so many religions out there, if she really, truly felt that she should hold leadership positions, or the priesthood, I bet she can find a religion that allows her to do that.

I have my issues with the church, but at the end of the day, they have made it very clear where they stand.

All of that being said, I've hesitated responding in this thread because they have disciplined members for what they have written on message boards/facebook/etc recently. I'm not anonymous on this site at all. I've had my name on here multiple times, and I'm okay with that. BUT, I've definitely said somethings that a more "strict" member could take offense to and try to remove my standing in the church over. It was a major contributor in me leaving the LDS church.

Also, that's why I've been so thankful for Colton answering my questions. It's very easy to attack.

Why would you want to be a member of an organization where you can be punished for speaking out? As I got older and I believe wiser, I realized that I didn't need a church to tell me how to live my life nor have a spiritual experience. I understand people have many reasons why they attend church beside religious beliefs i.e. family ties, social reasons, business reasons etc., but censusing what I believe or not being able to ask questions about certain doctrines just made church a less than positive experience.

 

[LogGrad98]

I'm not as torn by the Kate Kelly issue. She knew the rules, and when she wanted to play, but play by her own rules, they removed her.

There are so many religions out there, if she really, truly felt that she should hold leadership positions, or the priesthood, I bet she can find a religion that allows her to do that.

I have my issues with the church, but at the end of the day, they have made it very clear where they stand.

All of that being said, I've hesitated responding in this thread because they have disciplined members for what they have written on message boards/facebook/etc recently. I'm not anonymous on this site at all. I've had my name on here multiple times, and I'm okay with that. BUT, I've definitely said somethings that a more "strict" member could take offense to and try to remove my standing in the church over.

Also, that's why I've been so thankful for Colton answering my questions. It's very easy to attack.

To me the Kate Kelly issue is pretty standard church discipline. You are asked in the temple interview if you support the church leaders and your local leaders. She pretty openly defied the church leadership at every level, and fought against their authority. Whether the rules are right or wrong they are the rules and she openly defied them, so what did she expect? And the way she went about this shows she really does not at all understand how the church functions, and that she blatantly has no respect for the process of revelation that leads the church. It makes me wonder why she wants to be a member if she doesn't believe the church is lead by revelation.

 

[♪alt13]

To me the Kate Kelly issue is pretty standard church discipline. You are asked in the temple interview if you support the church leaders and your local leaders. She pretty openly defied the church leadership at every level, and fought against their authority. Whether the rules are right or wrong they are the rules and she openly defied them, so what did she expect? And the way she went about this shows she really does not at all understand how the church functions, and that she blatantly has no respect for the process of revelation that leads the church. It makes me wonder why she wants to be a member if she doesn't believe the church is lead by revelation.

So why not also excommunicate her husband? Has he not supported her in this and openly defied the church in a similar way? Does he get a pass because he is a man?

 

[Stoked]

So why not also excommunicate her husband? Has he not supported her in this and openly defied the church in a similar way? Does he get a pass because he is a man?

Good questions. Ones you and I do not have the answer to.

But no, he doesn't get a pass as a man. Men can get ex communicated as well.

 

[green]

This does the Church an immense diservice imo. It isolates those that do have deep fundamental questions. It makes them less likely to come forward in good faith to have questions answered. It, in many cases, leads to them falling away from the church.

The people of the Church often try to have the members act perfectly and that is never going to happen. All that does is damage the very thing they proclaim to love so much.

This is why I've appreciated Colton. He has been open and honest with me and it helps.

 

[green]

Why would you want to be a member of an organization where you can be punished for speaking out? As I got older and I believe wiser, I realized that I didn't need a church to tell me how to live my life nor have a spiritual experience. I understand people have many reasons why they attend church beside religious beliefs i.e. family ties, social reasons, business reasons etc., but censusing what I believe or not being able to ask questions about certain doctrines just made church a less than positive experience.

Because, I really feel the Book of Mormon is scripture. Because I like the idea of being with my family forever. Because I like the values it teaches. If me keeping my mouth shut in church allows me to feel like I can have my family forever, I'll do it. If keeping my mouth shut helps my kids to not be little ****s, I'll do it.

 

[green]

To me the Kate Kelly issue is pretty standard church discipline. You are asked in the temple interview if you support the church leaders and your local leaders. She pretty openly defied the church leadership at every level, and fought against their authority. Whether the rules are right or wrong they are the rules and she openly defied them, so what did she expect? And the way she went about this shows she really does not at all understand how the church functions, and that she blatantly has no respect for the process of revelation that leads the church. It makes me wonder why she wants to be a member if she doesn't believe the church is lead by revelation.

I agree. That is why I posted what I posted.

 

[cowhide]

IMO Brigham Young was just racist and taking the Priesthood away from blacks was actually wrong/not spiritually justified.

Well most of the anti-black people inside and outside of the LDS church used the bible to justify their own racists views. However, the bible does tell people they can own slaves and do other despicable things too. The BofM backed up what BY and many members of the church believed at the times. I agree about Brigham Young and there were people who left the church because of the change, similar to polygamy. For many the allure of the LDS was polygamy and their anti-black stance.

 

[Archie Moses]

No one was punished for "speaking out."