I'm interested in Mormonism.

I hope nobody takes that the wrong way. I am committed to the Catholic faith, the One True Church. But I am pretty darn ignorant about Mormonism, and come to think of it, I'm beginning to think that's going to be a big problem for American bishops. My sister's husband's brother married into Mormon belief. The thing is, it seems to me like Mormonism has something in common with the Freemasons--all Christian-like and cuddly on the outside, and increasingly strange the deeper you get into the onion.

But I'm not deep into the onion, and I don't think enough Catholic apologists are. And I think that's a problem.

Supposing a Catholic wanted to end up with a pretty good knowledge of the ol' LDS, so that he could talk about it intelligently and help "gather the flock" without simply misunderstand or misrepresenting them? Where to start?

And what are our churches doing about Mormonism?

-- anon (ymous@god.bless), October 10, 2004

Answers

"And what are our churches doing about Mormonism? "

Use our God given common sense. Our Church will never fail friend! We don't need Jimmy because we have Jesus.

Praise God and keep your eyes on the crucifix.

-- - (David@excite.com), October 10, 2004.

Mormon Beleifs are eccentric, to say the least. They do not reveal all of their teahcigns at firts in the door to door sales pitches, however, they arent secretive about them either. You can find Mormons who will chat away about them, r else find all pertenent teacigns on the official website, LDS.Org.

Mormosn fall into two categories, RLDS and LDS. LDS beleifs are the largest and covered below.

Basically, they diverge form Christaun tenets in the following.

1: Denial of the Deity of christ. Jesus is sen as a god, not the incarnation of God.

2: Polytheism rather than Monothesm. Mormosn reject the notion of only one God, rather they see the Universe populated with gods.

3: A three Teired Heaven, with "Degrees of Glroy", in which the nonvaleint and cowardly get tothe firts level, the second level is occupied by the just nonmormosn and weak nonvalpurous Morns, and the highest degree,w hre yo are made a god yourself, is populated by the vlaient faithful Mormons.

4: Beleif that God lierlaly fathered every Human Soul, secually , with one of his wives. Jesus was the firts born. all spuls existed as spirit Children in preexistance before conceptiona dn Birth on earth in " Tabernacles of Flesh", or bodies.

5: Beleif int he need for Modern Prophets and apostles to run the Chruch, a similar heirarchy tot he Cahtolic Church, which may have insied Smiths orginisation. The presedent, Prophet, seer and revelator occupyign a post similar to that of the Pope.

6: They beleive in the Sacrament of Baptism and Communion. Communion soemtiems uses water rather than wine, datign to when the Mormons were crossing the desert and had no wine, and feared poisonign if they purshased wine.

Many Mormon Congregatiosn have resumed use of grape juice or wine though.

7: They beelive in Huamn divinity. Faithful Mormons who remain obediant tot he Gospel and have proper baptism by those holdign proesthood authirity willbe deified, or becoem gods, after death and ressurection.

8: Satan is Jesus's spirit Brother.

9: Joseph msith was a Prphet

10: The Book of Mormon is an ancient record translated form Golden Plated y smith. The Plates where taken bakc to Heaven.

11: Othwr scripttue such as the Book of Abraham and the rest of the Pearl of Great Price, i sseen as vlaid scripture.

12: Additional, new cripture may be added, esp. to the current syandardwirk, Doctorine and Covenants.

13: They beleive also that God has a corporeal Body of Flesh and Bone, and fresides with his spirit wives in heaven.

Tis covers soem of the strnager parts f their tehcings...

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), October 10, 2004.

"Supposing a Catholic wanted to end up with a pretty good knowledge of the ol' LDS, so that he could talk about it intelligently and help "gather the flock" without simply misunderstand or misrepresenting them? Where to start?"

A: First, go to www.Catholic.com - select "Non-Catholic Groups" in the lefthand column, and you will find several informative articles on Mormonism, as well as other groups.

For a more in-depth coverage of Mormonism, go to the same site - select "Library" from the headings - then "Online catalog" - then "other religions and sects. There you will find offered for sale two excellent books by Isaiah Bennet - "Inside Mormonism; What Mormons Really Believe", a very comprehensive coverage from a catholic perspective; and a smaller, easier to read volume, "When Mormons Call". The latter book offers specific insights into speaking with Mormons when they come to your door, avoiding the linguistic traps they are trained to set for you, and setting a few traps of your own based on plain Catholic truth, including Scripture.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), October 10, 2004.

i have two friends who are mormons-- they are devout, are very active in their church, and just the most wonderful friends someone can have.

so it pains me to say that i think some beliefs of mormonism seem riduculous. (but then again, wouldnt OUR cathlic beliefs and customs seem weird to a non-catholic who isnt familiar with our church?)

i looked into mormonism with an open mind, thinking "what IF this is God's "new" church on earth, the Truth, if you will". oh please, only if God has a sense of humor would it be. this and scientology.

(no offense to any mormons out there who would read this. you are generally very nice people! scientologists, though, im not concerned if i offend you).

-- jas (jas_r_22@hotmail.com), October 11, 2004.

Just for the socetoloy crak we knwo you relaly work for Xenu and want ot keep us imprisoned with all ou body thetans...

As for respurces, why not look on the LDS Site, unliek Jehova's witnesses, the LDS Mormosn release all their beleifs,and een scriotures, for free online.

-- zarove (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), October 11, 2004.

Zarove, If you would please, be more clear with your writing, perhaps revise what you have written afterwards so that others can understand what you are trying to convey. Your last message was a mess of misspellings that left me with ambiguous ideas of what you were trying to say. In any case, please continue this discussion, I am also a Catholic who is very interested in learning the depths of Mormonism. Thanks, -Michael Z

-- Michael Z (QuasiM@aol.com), October 17, 2004.

Michael,

It would be nice if Zarove could revise his work, but as he is dyslexic, he is unable to spot the errors. If you stick around for awhile you will get used to it and find that Zarove has a lot of good things to say, which make it worth trying to read. God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), October 17, 2004.