Comments on: Mormons Believe _________________.

By: D. Allen

D. Allen — Sun, 06 May 2007 03:26:33 +0000

I’ve faced a few bizarre questions when I mentioned being Mormon, such as:

“Does this mean you don’t celebrate Christmas or Easter?”
“Don’t you go to church on Saturday?”
“Does it mean you don’t stand for the pledge/national anthem?”
And of course, the usual question “Does it mean you have more than one wife?” to which I respond “Nah. The Church relieved us of the burden of having multiple mother-in-laws.”

This reminds me of the episode of “All in the Family” when Gloria and Meathead got married.

Meathead: I’m an atheist.
Archie: What does that mean?
Edith: I think that means he wants a Rabbi.

By: B. Bowen

B. Bowen — Sat, 05 May 2007 13:36:54 +0000

FIrst, I’m not sure the Church’s procedures for establishing official doctrine are nearly as clear as you assert. Is doctrine established (only) by official statements from the First Presidency? Are statements made in General Conference talks doctrinal? Is the Correlation Committee the final arbiter of doctrine?

In any event, I’m less interested in what the doctrine is (by that I presume you mean “what the institutional LDS Church proclaims its doctrine is,” rather than the far more elusive “what Mormonism teaches”) than in which doctrines, if any, are quietly rejected, or at least unreceived or ignored by significant numbers of the members. I suspect there are a handful.

By: R. Bishop

R. Bishop — Sat, 05 May 2007 08:04:41 +0000

I don’t understand your puzzlement concerning what Mormons believe. I presume you are after what our doctrine is because Mormons believe much that is not doctrinal. We have been told from the best source that continues to be a problem. My grandmother believes frogs cause warts. Is that what Mormons believe?

Virtually every religion has procedures in establishing official doctrine. Did you forget ours?

By: Ivan Wolfe

Ivan Wolfe — Sat, 05 May 2007 01:38:09 +0000

Bowen -

Don’t be a jerk about it. It’s an honest answer, is what I’m guessing. The book is fine. Hardly high art, but it’s a fun read. To say it’s indefensible makes you sound like a rather snooty elitsit snob, or something.

Demanding Romney cater to your literary tastes is pointless. He likes what he likes, and I doubt he cares what the rest of us think.

Heck, I’m just impressed a busy guy like him had time to plow through the 1000+ pages.

By: B. Bowen

B. Bowen — Sat, 05 May 2007 01:28:26 +0000

sorry, from a PR perspective it’s an indefensible answer. actually, it’s indefensible at any level.

By: Ivan Wolfe

Ivan Wolfe — Sat, 05 May 2007 00:33:43 +0000

speaking of which, Battlefield Earth? What have you been smoking, Mitt? He hasn't been smoking anything. See my comments here: http://millennialstar.org/index.php/2007/05/01/mitt_romney_s_favorite_book_likes_battle

By: molly bennion

molly bennion — Fri, 04 May 2007 22:04:38 +0000

I cringe at the apparently settled doctrine that Mormons should not publicly discuss or write about at least some doctrinal differences or draw attention to seemingly incorrect or improper teachings or actions of church leaders.

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 04 May 2007 21:38:18 +0000

One more – I remember this from Cheers years ago.
Rebecca: I wish more men sent flowers.
Sam: Mormons can’t send flowers?
Rebecca: I said “more men”!
Sam: Oh, that’s right, Mormons can’t dance.

But I guess after the PBS film, everyone knows that Mormons are dancin’ fools!

By: B Bowen

B Bowen — Fri, 04 May 2007 21:02:08 +0000

These are all interesting responses. Thanks, everyone.

Any further response to some of the other questions? Are there settled doctrines (as opposed to external misconceptions) that Mormons ignore? Teachings you view as doctrinal but just don’t accept in your personal worldview?

By: Melanie

Melanie — Fri, 04 May 2007 18:54:00 +0000

Mormons don’t believe in the same Jesus that we do.

Ouch.