Strengthening Against Apostasy

I know it’s going to sound harsher than I really want it to, but what difference would there be between this list and another list titled: 9 steps for a religious fanatic to be as close-minded as possible and not even consider the possibility that they might be wrong. Again, it sounds harsh, but I think this is a point which deserves some attention.

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I do not seek to destroy Mormonism. I will present one point, and never visit this website again, so think what you like.

Polygamy is an accepted element of Mormonism. I understand it’s roots, but that doesn’t change it’s acceptance today.

Sex is a very special thing between two people, and to think that it’s all right to disrespect and hurt your wife(s) and sleep with multiple women is just plain wrong. There is a reason why we feel pain and betrayed when the one we love is intimate with another. This is natural human emotion, alive within us, as God is. To turn your back on such a simple, black and white truth of life is ludicrous. You know full well who is behind sex for pleasure. You know he loves when you disrespect God’s natural design and hurt a woman who truly loves you. And if you say she is okay with it, it is only because she has been taught to believe it is wrong to trust her feelings of betrayal, as you have been taught to believe it is okay. I believe all Mormons should do some serious thinking about how incredibly human-pleasing their ways are, and how much they bend the rules of God.

Sincerely,

Roger

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I love your definition of Apostate, because it means that even after leaving the church years ago I am closer to my Savior now than I ever was as a mormon. I read in the Bible more today then ever and find myself craving time in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel so free in believing that He died for me. He loves me. I wish I could even share half of what is in my heart about His love. I used to think that I had to earn salvation through doing visiting teaching, cooking meals, subbing in primary, having lots of kids, getting sealed in the temple, geneology. Nope none of that is neccessary for anyones Salvation. Only to believe in him and you will be saved and return to live with him again. I love my Savior more today than any single day in the mormon church.

I believe that because Mormons are so busy earning their salvation they never take the time to really see if all of it is true…research and know the TRUTH will set you FREE!!!!!!

You have a great blog by the way!

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One other thing. #4. Don’t debate points of doctrine? What about when one piece of doctrine contradicts a different piece of doctrine?

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I have to admit that I have been thinking all day about things that people have said in regard to this post. I was quite surprised at how negative some of the comments were. I suppose I just didn’t read the original post that way; there is a huge difference between people who “tear down your faith” and people who disagree with you; there is also a big difference between “debating points of doctrine” and discussing them. Anyway, what I really wanted to say is in regard to ht’s comments.

Most of my thoughts today have been as to why the LDS church wants us to do the things that we are invited to do. The bottom line for me is that we do those things more for other people than for ourselves. We don’t visit teach because it secures us a better seat in heaven, but to strengthen those around us in friendship and support; we don’t take food to families in need because we want to eat more in the next life, but to help those in a position not able to help themselves; we do not substitute in primary because we fear hell-fire, but because teaching and nurturing children is the best way to make lasting change in an individual life and consequently the world.

I am sure we will all agree that there are many people in this world in need of help on so many different levels and because of so many different reasons. I can’t help but think that God is hoping we will do our part to help relieve those burdens. Just like James said, as the 8th point mentions above, PURE religion is to visit people in their affliction–to really put ourselves in a position to help. While Jesus was on the earth, He lived his life for others and as we try to follow in His example, we ought to do the same and not worry so much about ourselves.

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One other thing on polygamy. I hate to harp on this, but it always bugs me when LDS members make statements like yours, Aaron: ‘I will agree with you that I’m very glad there isn’t polygamy like there was in the Bible as well as the early LDS church. I’m not a fan.’

To be 100% honest, polygamy is alive and well in the LDS church. Although it isn’t practiced “physically” it is still practiced “spiritually”. I know plenty of men who have been sealed to multiple women. One is an uncle of mine. He married and was sealed to his first wife, who died. He then married and was sealed to another woman. They divorced, yet did not get a “temple divorce”, so they are still technically sealed together for eternity. He’s now married and sealed to a 3rd woman. Those sealings, therefore, give that guy multiple wives that will supposedly be waiting for him in the ck. How is that not polygamy?

Granted, I don’t believe in an afterlife, so none of this should matter to me, but when I was still a member this bugged the crap out of me, because it IS polygamy, and we’re brought up to believe different things about polygamy. 1-it was a wonderful thing for the pioneers and we wouldn’t be here had our greatx3 grandfathers not practiced this law, etc., etc., etc. 2-it’s a horrible thing NOW, and our church wouldn’t even consider practicing this law again, ‘cuz the never changing god changed his mind and banned it.

Come on!

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My concerns are mostly with #’s 1 and 4 on the list. I find that they discourage a person from questioning, and they exclude other people who are also questioning. And if you can’t question, or talk about it, then you can’t really get to the truth.

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Aaron, in regards to post #15, you define a prophet as “one that speaks with the power of the holy ghost”. Prior to that you said that if we were in tune with the lord and have humility, then we’ll probably be in line with the prophet and what he has to say. One of the points I was getting at in my post #10 was that the prophet can pretty much say whatever he wants, but for some reason, it’s really up to each individual member to decide whether or not what the prophet is saying is really doctrine or not… unless it becomes scripture, then I guess ‘officially’ it’s doctrine (is it still officially doctrine if it’s printed in the Ensign? It was when I was still a member, as far as I recall, which then technically made every talk from the prophet doctrine, since every conference talk was printed in the Ensign). Therein lies the problem, as I see it. Who’s to say who’s actually in tune with the h.g., or lord, or spirit, or whatever? As I see it, the setup of the church having a prophet that speaks on random topics every 6 months and then leaving it to the members to decipher his musings IS an exact setup of mind controlling, non-questioning faith. As Jeff G said in post #1, the list seems to be a list not of faith strengthening, but of close mindedness.
And sorry about my post #23. Since there was never a reply to that, I guess it was offensive or misunderstood and that wasn’t my intent. However the whole “polygamy is no longer in ‘the church'” was one thing that really chapped me while I was still a member, and still to this day.

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I like ht’s post where he gives his take on the above 9 suggestions, so I thought I would elaborate on what type of apostacy these are designed to prevent:

1.) Avoid those who would tear down your faith – I take this to be very subjective and personal, to avoid those who would tear down MY faith (not all religion or all faith, but those who would be a specific detrimental influence on me based on my own tendencies. So, if the root cause of apostacy is peer pressure, this is your prevention.

2.) Keep the commandments – once you slip on this one, it’s a lot easier to keep going, knowing the long road to hoe to get back on track. Root cause = one sin begets another.

3.) Follow the living prophets – I consider it significant that it doesn’t say “blindly” follow. I would say “prayerfully follow” the living prophets. While I sustain the leaders, I also believe they are human beings capable of being misunderstood. Root cause = getting out of touch with current revelation and/or losing a testimony of the restoration & ongoing revelation.

4.) Don’t debate points of doctrine (3Nephi 11:28) – I agree this is a slippery slope. I would say “don’t contend” or “don’t rationalize,” but discussion is important. Root cause = getting tripped up in verbal loopholes or misunderstandings and losing the spirit; focusing too much on the mysteries vs. the applications.

5.) Search the scriptures – Root cause = getting out of touch with a daily link to spiritual matters.

6.) Don’t be swayed from the mission of the church – always best to be actively engaged in a good cause. Root cause = having faith without taking any action leads to church being merely theoretical.

7.) Pray for enemies – Root cause = being offended can lead to apostacy.

8.) Practice pure religion (James 1:27) – Root cause = if you don’t draw near unto God, He fades into the background of your life until He disappears.

9.) Remember not everything has an immediate answer – Root cause = impatience with God (seeking a sign?)

I’ve appreciated the variety of comments in response to this seemingly straightforward post. It’s interesting to see different viewpoints from various people seeking truth in their own ways.

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