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 I have a very important question for you. In one of your answers to a question you state:
"Most people have problems with LDS beliefs such as polygamy, baptism for the dead, celestial marriage, 1st Presidency, a changing God etc. etc. These things are utterly absent in the Book of Mormon and even strongly taught AGAINST. I left the Utah LDS church BECAUSE I believe in the Book of Mormon."
While you are correct that we no longer pratice polygomy, we do participate in baptisms for the dead and can be done in any LDS temple. We also believe in celestrial marriage and can be done in any one of our LDS Temples and there is a first presidency in the LDS Church. My question is why you would say that the LDS Church not only does not believe in these things but are "strongly taught AGAINST"
Answer Hi Wesley,
I will be happy to answer your questions. In answer to your question I think you misunderstood my statements. I am not LDS and belong to the Church of Christ that was restored April 6th, 1830. We believe in the Bible and Book of Mormon and do not share many of the LDS beliefs. What I was referring to in my statement was that the BOOK OF MORMON strongly teaches against polygamy, baptism for the dead, Celestial Marriage and many other lesser doctrines. While the LDS may profess and promote the Book of Mormon, they only marginally follow it, and in many ways disobey it's teachings. Nowhere does the Book of Mormon ever mention these LDS teachings I have mentioned yet it does teach AGAINST these teachings directly or at the least the concepts associated with these teachings.
Jacob 2 (as well as in the books of Mosiah and Ether) bitterly attack the practice of polygamy, terming it a whoredom and abomination, no excuses, no exceptions. What is really odd is that today the LDS disavow the practice (and will excommunicate polygamists)yet stongly defend it being practiced by Young and others in their history.
Other places in the BoM (Book of Mormon) strongly oppose the baptism of infants, little children, AND adults who were truly ignorant saying they NEED NO BAPTISM and it is a solemn mockery to God to suppose they do. Therefore if LDS are vicariously baptizing for the dead who died in their ignorance they are committing a solemn mockery to God denying His mercy. The BoM also teaches that the ACCOUNTABLE who rebel and die in their sins CANNOT REPENT and their fate is sealed, so a vicarious baptism done on their behalf will be an unworthy baptism and yet another solemn mockery to God denying His justice. The BoM states that once you die you cannot repent or change your fate, whether for good or evil your fate was determined in this life.
There are many many things we can discuss if you are interested. Mostly I have found the LDS will believe in anything their Latter Day Prophets teach, regardless if these new teachings contradict past prophets, are totally outrageous, and even go directly against the very teachings of Christ Himself. Some will excuse past teachings of Young etc. saying that was "Not official church doctrine but their opinions" yet "Church Official" doctrine IS official church doctrine!
I know what I have written may seem beyond belief for you. If you like, email me directly at technomn@msn.com and I can provide specific quotes from the Bible and BoM to back up every claim I have made. I like to always say, don't trust what I say, find out for yourself and trust the teachings and examples of Christ... He is the one who died for us, it is HIS church, not the church of a man.
Today there are some 100 other churches that believe in the Book of Mormon. Most are small and obscure, a few downright nuts. I joined the Church of Christ (also known as Temple Lot or hedrikites) that as best as I can tell most closely resembles the Bible and BoM Church of Christ (that was the title of the church in both books).
I hope I have cleared up your misunderstanding, I did not mean for it to sound like the LDS opposed those teachings, but rather it is the BoM that does. Feel free to respond back through All Experts or my email if you wish.
