AboutMichael Kelley Expertise For a different viewpoint on Mormonism for your questions, try me. I am a staunch believer in the Book of Mormon and belong to another church (the Church of Christ)that is set up identically to the Biblical church. If there are things about traditional Mormonism that trouble you or you have questions about, just ask and you might find the answers from the Book of Mormon to be quite surprising. I have been studying the scriptures diligently for 16 years under the school of hard knocks... I may not have all of the answers but will sure go find them if I don`t. I`m strongest on Biblical and Book of Mormon doctrines, and am also somewhat familiar with Mormon history and archaeology.
Question Can Mormon teenagers date or marry non-Mormons? I am not a Mormon, but I have many friends who are members of the LDS church. If I were to date one of my guy friends who is Mormon, would I be shunned or would his parents disapprove?
Answer Hi Molly,
I will be happy to answer your questions. Please note I am ex-LDS and belong to the original Church of Christ that believes in the Book of Mormon.
It is very possible that you and your "guy friend" would be shunned in the LDS church unless you were to join them and be baptized and participate in their Temple works. This is primarily due to their belief in Celestial Marriage wherein faithful members are "Sealed for life and eternity" in their temples and according to their beliefs shall inherit the highest degree of glory and be exalted unto Godlike status. This belief is the acme of their religion, their most important tenet.
Those in mixed faith marriages cannot be sealed in the LDS church and are considered 2nd class citizens. The men cannot hold higher priesthood offices and sometimes the family is shunned. I have even heard of cases were some are encouraged to divorce their non-member spouses so they can marry a member and then become sealed. There is a lot of LDS cultural pressure to marry the faithful and become sealed and blend into their culture. Those who do not "must have something wrong with them" and "are not following the Prophet's teachings" and are thus shunned. This shunning varies depending on location.
What is ironic is this teaching of Celestial Marriage is utterly absent in the Book of Mormon, and in many ways is even taught against. My personal opinion is the doctrine of Celestial Marriage was manufactured by men in order to seduce their women into accepting polygamy (which the Book of Mormon bitterly condemns as an abomination to God). In the Bible Jesus plainly states that the worthy in the next life will neither be married nor given in marriage... in effect we will be all as brothers and sisters in the afterlife. The doctrine of Celestial Marriage is an utterly false doctrine supported by neither the Bible nor the Book of Mormon.
If you were ever to date and marry a LDS man, you will have to either accept being a 2nd class citizen in their eyes, or caving in and accepting doctrines and practices that are not Christian. I don't know how much of a Christian background you have but I can state emphatically that many LDS beliefs and practices are not once ever taught or practiced by Jesus Christ. If you start dating a LDS man please make sure you have these issues fully resolved first before getting serious with him. Mixed faith marriages are difficult enough, but with LDS it is especially so because of the importance they place on Celestial Marriage.
I hope this helps answer your questions. Feel free to ask other questions if you wish.
