I'm starting this topic to "continue" a conversation started in the Christians vs. Catholics thread. I will include some of the details from there, but the rest are up to anyone new to read up on. I will specifically post the contents of one post, more or less.
We did not baptize Adolf Hitler. That is a lie. After people baptized for Obama's mother, an official release was sent out saying that unless you specifically know the person who's name you are bringing in to do temple work for (not the names that they already have) or they are in your family, you cannot do temple work for them.
We are not barred from being around ex Mormons. We do not necessarily believe they are with Satan. We excommunicate people for their good. In our views, it gives them a second chance. They can rejoin the church later, and their sins will be gone, just as they were when they were first baptized. I know many ex Mormons, and I do not get in trouble for being with them.
South Park is in no way an authority on anything. The fact that you're trying to cite that is pathetic.
Yes, there was polygamy. But it was revoked in the 1890's (even if only for legal reasons). Joseph Smith did not try to burn down a newspaper place. He was taken to jail for no real reason. If he shot back, it was only because they were shooting at him.
The reason non members are not allowed in the temple is because of the sacred things that go on in there. If just anyone was allowed in, the spirit would be disrupted. I will expound on this if needs be.
I am personally ashamed of the acts of other Latter-Day Saints who have done temple work for people without permission from relatives of that person. It is wrong, and we know it.
Tithing... It was actually in Christ's day when it started. The only reason it affects our worthiness to enter the temple (not our standing in general). The Lord gave us everything we have, and all he asks is 10% of what we earn. I'd say that's a pretty small price for life, liberty, and happiness.
Also, we believe in Agency and Accountability. You can choose to do what you want, but you will have to accept the consequences.
I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. He is my savior and my redeemer. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet today. I believe the Bible to be true as far as it is correctly translated. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven for our sins and return to live with our Heavenly Father. I have seen the Atonement in action in my life. I know that God listens to all prayers to him. He answers them in his own way. I know that I can make it to the Celestial Kingdom if I but do my best to keep the commandments of God.
I must say I'm disappointed in where this thread has gone. It has gone away from asking questions or making points to ridiculing. I would like to get this on the right track.
Umm.. it's gone to ridiculing because it's a ridiculous set of ideas. But anyway, yeah. I do agree that this one needs to get back on track.
I'm back from the dead. Yes, this may seem necro'd by now, but there needs to be some clarification. Most sets of beliefs can seem ridiculous to others, MRWalker82, and thank you for saying that this does need to get back on track.
@DDX heh, in your dreams, buddy. But seriously, your posts are getting spammy. Most people do /think/ caffeine is against our religion, when in reality there is nowhere anything is said about it.
@Sonatavarius I must admit your last post was pretty difficult for me to read. It kind of drifted from one thing to the next with no real stopping point or transition.
I think E1337 might like this next part: I just came out to my mother as bisexual. She accepts me for it, and I am happy. I have a long road ahead of me. I'm still LDS. I am currently not worthy to enter the temple because I looked at pornography, which I actually now look back on and detest. I can confidently say, though, that as long as I keep my morals clean, I will be worthy to enter the temple, regardless of my sexuality. This does not mean I can do just anything and get into the temple. I have to keep myself morally clean, and my morals include avoiding sexual relationships with other men. I may be bi, but that only describes my attractions. It will not describe my sexual relationships, because I choose for it not to.
It feels good to be back. You don't know just how much I mean that. I've gone through a living nightmare for the last month, and I think it's finally coming to an end.
so your religion teaches that its ok to want to sin, to desire sin, but its just not ok to sin? so you think that just because you dont want to, but you do want to? sorry this perplexes me, how can you accept you are attracted to men if you know its wrong, surely you should be trying to supress and get rid of those feelings
DICLAIMER_i am not saying you should do this but isnt thsi what you are taught
@sprooschicken We don't teach exactly what you are saying. We're saying that everyone is going to be tempted. Perhaps this can clarify some on temptation and resisting it, from 1 Corinthians 10:13.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In other words, there is no temptation that you just can't refuse, and there is always a way out and to bear it. Just because I am attracted to men does not mean I simply must have an intimate relationship with one. I avoid the sin by not desiring the temptation, if that makes sense.
In other words, there is no temptation that you just can't refuse, and there is always a way out and to bear it. Just because I am attracted to men does not mean I simply must have an intimate relationship with one. I avoid the sin by not desiring the temptation, if that makes sense.
Wait, you are saying that you lie to yourself because your religion says to? Why, exactly?
so if you believ its wrong to feel it, why are you accepting you feel it, if your not allowed to be bisexual, then why accept your bisexual, why not say oh well im tempted but its wrong i know thats what your doing, but doesnt it frustrate you more saying that you are bisexual will simply frustrate you futher
It's not self-loathing. It's detesting the pornography, not the person.
And probably piqued his interest a whole lot more
Obviously not, or he would have stayed in that lifestyle. It's not easy to come forward about things of this nature, certainly not to parents or church leadership. He had to want the change to do it.
Let's focus on sinning for a moment. Most christian church teach that if you sin, you show up, say some hail mary's, and you are forgiven and free to go do it all over again.
Thats not the point. Of course we all have the desire to sin, but we need to overcome that. The point of repentance isn't to clean the slate so we can dirty it all over again, its to say 'I won't do that again' and to actually feel remorse for the act.
Let's focus on sinning for a moment. Most christian church teach that if you sin, you show up, say some hail mary's, and you are forgiven and free to go do it all over again.
Thats not the point. Of course we all have the desire to sin, but we need to overcome that. The point of repentance isn't to clean the slate so we can dirty it all over again, its to say 'I won't do that again' and to actually feel remorse for the act.
Which, of course, is a bad thing when it is something that you are born with. Like saying "You have red hair. You should feel sorry for having red hair and hate yourself. Go in a corner", except with homosexuality.
Okay, let's get this back on track. I am going to establish it right now that I do not feel evil or dirty for having looked at pornography. Yes, I did something wrong, but I stopped it from going further than that, and I spoke to my bishop about it. I am worthy to enter the temple. I have chosen not to look at pornography again, and instead do other things with my time, such as working on a video game a friend and I are developing.
Also, everyone is missing the point that I've made over and over in this thread: Just because I am bi does not mean I simply must choose to have a sexual relationship with other men. That is where it becomes sinful -- not the state of being bisexual or homosexual, but the actions. I can be bisexual and choose not to have sex with another guy. In fact, that's what I choose to do. I choose to ignore the desire. It's much easier for me to ignore now that I know it's there.
@Snakebite you are correct. In fact, I really don't want to see pornography again. It was just wrong.
@sprooschicken You're way off the mark. See my paragraph above.
@Wyrzen Thank you for posting that. I'd like to add that after one has repented, one is not supposed to feel evil or dirty.
What's inherently and objectively wrong with pornography? As long as it involves two (or more) adults who consent to the acts then I see no problems with it. I don't want Bible quotes for this either.
@Avorne Let me answer your question with another. What is the purpose of pornography? It certainly isn't there to be admired. When you get down to it, it's there to sexually stimulate those who view it. Now, given that we believe that the power of procreation is sacred and is only to be used between a man and a woman who are married to each other, you can see what is wrong. Add to that the fact that masturbation is also wrong and you shouldn't have questions.
Pornography is also quite simply irrelevant to life. What will viewing pornography do for me in the long run save for give me a few moments of pleasure? Think of how much time is wasted viewing pornography - time that could have been used to do something productive. Think of how much money is shelled out for pornographic magazines - money that could be used for other purposes.
If you're still not clear on why I think pornography is wrong, let me tell you about the addictive nature of pornography. There is academic research that can verify this. I can't post sources right now, but I will by the end of the week. Why would I want to look at something addictive when I'm already more susceptible to addiction to /anything/ than most other people?
In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with pornography as long as you're willing to waste your time and/or money to view it. It's okay as long as you have no life. Honestly, if you have nothing better to do than look at porn in your spare time, you've got issues with your social life. When I have nothing better to do, I read a book. I work on sharpening my programming skills. I write, I listen to music, I do so many things in my spare time. Why would I choose to replace that with pornography?
