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[sam]

WHY do we always say mormons, When on there church it says, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Whats their beliefs, I ran into some of their missionaries and they where really nice but I didnt want to really talk to them since all i hear about them is bad stuff.

[darakhshan]

WHY do we always say mormons, When on there church it says, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Whats their beliefs, I ran into some of their missionaries and they where really nice but I didnt want to really talk to them since all i hear about them is bad stuff.

There are a lot of nice people out there. Not just mormons! 

[Deacon Anthony]

WHY do we always say mormons, When on there church it says, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Whats their beliefs, I ran into some of their missionaries and they where really nice but I didnt want to really talk to them since all i hear about them is bad stuff.

I live in an area where the dominant religion is the LDS. I call them Mormons because that's what they call themselves and part of their revelation is from the Book of Mormon.  .

[Deacon Anthony]

I TALKED TO THEM AND HONESTLY WHAT THEY SAID MADE MORE SINCE THEN ANYTHING IVE EVER HEARD IN OUR CHURCH 

lol I see ur just playing w/ us now because on Dec. 12 u said this, "Whats their beliefs, I ran into some of their missionaries and they where really nice but I didnt want to really talk to them since all i hear about them is bad stuff."  And now 2 days later u say u talked to them and they made sense.

[Deacon Anthony]

They make a lot more since then you Deacon Anthony! 

LOL probably to u SINCE u can't spell SENSE correctly.  I've always wanted my own planet where I could be a god.

[edge350]

From what I have seen, Mormans are really alot like Catholics.  I have a friend I work with who is Morman (and that is how she refers to her denomination).  The only differences my friend and I have found between our beliefs is in that of the Holy Trinity being slightly different, and in the belief that Jesus appeared to other parts of the world after He had risen.  The Book of Morman is to her no differnt than books of the Apocrypha are to a me--something that is not quite confirmed, but, that the Church as deamed still has value in reading.  She also finds valuein the Apocrypha.  I really can't dissagree with her beliefs.  Who is to say that Jesus didn't appear elsewhere?  As far as the Holy Trinity goes, her faith just has a different perspective, not enough to disagree, not enough to agree, she just has a different way of putting God ahead of the other two, but even Jesus put the Father ahead of himself, yet we Catholics believe in one God in Three persons.  It is really just a matter of a points of view as far as me and my friend have found over several discussions we have had--overall we probably share 95% of our beliefs, which makes us good office alies when we have to deal with people in the office who can't be trusted or counted on(who wold have guessed that they are agnostic or atheist?). 

[Deacon Anthony]

From what I have seen, Mormans are really alot like Catholics.  I have a friend I work with who is Morman (and that is how she refers to her denomination).  The only differences my friend and I have found between our beliefs is in that of the Holy Trinity being slightly different, and in the belief that Jesus appeared to other parts of the world after He had risen.  The Book of Morman is to her no differnt than books of the Apocrypha are to a me--something that is not quite confirmed, but, that the Church as deamed still has value in reading.  She also finds valuein the Apocrypha.  I really can't dissagree with her beliefs.  Who is to say that Jesus didn't appear elsewhere?  As far as the Holy Trinity goes, her faith just has a different perspective, not enough to disagree, not enough to agree, she just has a different way of putting God ahead of the other two, but even Jesus put the Father ahead of himself, yet we Catholics believe in one God in Three persons.  It is really just a matter of a points of view as far as me and my friend have found over several discussions we have had--overall we probably share 95% of our beliefs, which makes us good office alies when we have to deal with people in the office who can't be trusted or counted on(who wold have guessed that they are agnostic or atheist?). 

U really need to delve into their beliefs deeper. They are nothing like Catholics.  They are polytheistic and believe that they can become gods. Jesus was a man who became a god.  U can be a god and have ur own planet.  The Trinity as they see it is 3 gods w/ the same purpose, not one God as we see. That is why we don't accept their baptisms as valid.  This is just a highlight of a couple of things they believe. 

[edge350]

That is suprising to me.  Our discussions didn't yeild any information like that.  If what you are saying is in their teachings, then they can not even be classified as Christians.  I know my friend believes in Jesus as her savior, and in the forgiveness of sins through Him, she doesn't believe in re-incarnation and believes in Heaven and hell, etc.  She also believes that she will be with God when the time comes, just as Catholics believe.  She said nothing about being her own god.  Also, I've helped with RCIA and a Morman was accepted as a Candidate having already been baptised with water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit. 

With how my friend has stated her chruch is seperate from some of the extreamists in Utah, and from what your are stating, it appears there is more than one sect of Mormanism.  My aunt is nearing her doctorate in world religions.  I'll have to ask her what references she might be able to point out about this topic.  If I find anything interesting I'll add the info to the post.   

[Deacon Anthony]

That is suprising to me.  Our discussions didn't yeild any information like that.  If what you are saying is in their teachings, then they can not even be classified as Christians.  I know my friend believes in Jesus as her savior, and in the forgiveness of sins through Him, she doesn't believe in re-incarnation and believes in Heaven and hell, etc.  She also believes that she will be with God when the time comes, just as Catholics believe.  She said nothing about being her own god.  Also, I've helped with RCIA and a Morman was accepted as a Candidate having already been baptised with water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit. 

With how my friend has stated her chruch is seperate from some of the extreamists in Utah, and from what your are stating, it appears there is more than one sect of Mormanism.  My aunt is nearing her doctorate in world religions.  I'll have to ask her what references she might be able to point out about this topic.  If I find anything interesting I'll add the info to the post.   

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

RESPONSE TO A 'DUBIUM'
on the validity of baptism conferred by
«The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints»,
called «Mormons»

 Question: Wheter the baptism conferred by the community «The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints», called «Mormons» in the vernacular, is valid.

Response: Negative.

The Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, in the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved the present Response, decided in the Sessione Ordinaria of this Congregation, and ordered it published.

From the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 5 June 2001.

  + Joseph Cardinal RATZINGER

Prefect

The Response presupposes that in all of the effects of the pastoral, administrative and juridical practices of the Church the Mormons are not to be considered as belonging to an "ecclesial community not in full communion with the Catholic Church", but simply as non-baptized. Therefore, if a Mormon wishes to become Catholic, the norms that regulate admission to the Church of non-Catholic Christians cannot be applied. Instead, it is the norms for the non-baptized who seek Baptism in the Church and prepare to receive it, that is, the norms for catechumens (cf. can. 606, 788, 1183 §1), that must be applied.

It is to be emphasized, however, that catechesis in this case must be more intense and accurate, because we are dealing in the first place with correcting and eradicating the very serious errors that underlie the very same words that the Church uses. If the Bishops' Conference, according the norm of canon 788 §3, has published statutes for regulating the catechumenate, it would be necessary to adapt them pastorally for catechumens coming from the Mormons, because they need a very specific catechesis that takes into account the doctrinal ambiguities which the catechumen might be holding. Obviously, a well adapted catechumenate prepares one for the reception of the sacraments, especially the sacraments of initiation (can. 851,1º, 866).

Precisely because according to the Response the Mormons are to be considered non-baptized, they do not enjoy the favour that the law grants to those who belong to a non-Catholic ecclesial community to be able to take part at Baptism, together with a Catholic sponsor as a witness of the Baptism (can. 874 §2). For the same reason, there cannot be applied to the Mormons the canons that regulate communicatio in sacris regarding the sacraments of Penance, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick with non-Catholic Christians (can. 844-45), since Mormons are considered as unbaptized.

[Andy]

Very Interesting but not particularly ...enlightening ?..I will come back with some Ideas

[Terence IRL]

Mormons are like Roman Catholics? well they are born the same way, they eat much the same food and they die like Catholics do and are accountable to God - and that is as far as the realtionship goes. They believe they can become God - interesting, Lucifer had exactly the same thoughts, and look where it got him. Mormons are nothing like Roman catholics - they do not have Sacraments and they certainly do not believe in Transubstantiation - and without that they have Nothing!!! Mormons are like Catholics ...... give me a break

[Andy]

Strong stuff Indeed ... Terence..although you are not wrong.. I must agree with you ..the Eucharist is  the core  of catholic faith and as such is incomparable to any other.

[cajunrick]

WHY do we always say mormons, When on there church it says, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Mormon" is a generic term, like "Christian" or "Muslim."  There are other Mormon sects, such as the polygamous groups that keep appearing in the news, but the LDS is the only large sect.

Catholics United for the Faith have a Faith Fact on Mormonism, and Catholic Answers have several tracts on Non-Catholic Groups including an explanation of Mormon beliefs which you'll find here.

Mormons believe that there are three levels of heaven, but only devout Mormons can achieve the third heaven, which makes them gods.  They are polytheists (believe in many gods) and believe that the creator of our universe was once a man who achieved god status through Mormon Celestial Marriage.  They do not accept basic Christian doctrines such as the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, and even "One God".  They also practice baptism for the dead.

Many of their core beliefs are hidden from lower-level Mormons and revealed only as members ascend to the inner circles.  The Robert Heinlein classic, Stranger in a Strange Land was based on the structure of the LDS.

[DrDave]

I once had some mormon missionaries visit, and after discussing religion in general for a while they presented me with a free copy of the book of Mormon and a copy of a short prayer asking God to confirm to me the validity of the book of mormon, which they asked me to pray with them. Not wanting to rush anything I said that I would have to think about it and asked that they come back another time.

When they came back I explained to them that as I saw it, my praying the prayer they had given me asking for divine indigestion (buring in the bosom) would be an act of apostacy against my current religion, and that I would not do it without some other corroborating evidence, archeological, historical, any thing supporting the validity of the book of Mormon.

They said they'd get back to me, I'm still waiting 3yrs later.

There is one respect where the mormons are like Catholics however, both have an earthly leader who claims infallabilty, and therefore, the right to determine which books should be contained within the canon (list) of scripture (the bible), for most protestants the list of books in the bible is just someone's opinion, and that person could be wrong! (He left out Harry Potter 4 )

Regards Dave

[Dale]

I once had some mormon missionaries visit <snip>
They said they'd get back to me, I'm still waiting 3yrs later.

I think being a Mormon missionary would be hard.  They are young, far from home, and trying to engage with people about a subject which evokes strong emotion.  The ones I have met I have treated kindly and with friendship, but also with a firmness that my religion was not up for grabs.

I wasn't aware that the Church did not accept Mormon baptisms, so I have learned something already in my short time in this forum.    Thanks everyone for the interesting discussion.