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What is the biggest draw/attraction to mormonism?
I am curious to know what others see as the biggest draw or attraction to mormonism? For my mom, who was a convert at 23 years old, it was the emotional intensity and the draw of being superior and knowing something that others don't know.
My 6 siblings and I were born into the church so we had no choice in the matter, but out of the 5 who have stayed active TBMs the draw is also the feeling of superiority and the default living. They live by default and don't have to think, parent, etc because they just default to all church teaching and outlines. The attitude of superiority is a hug divide between me and my TBM family members. I don't think that gap will ever be bridged because they refuse to respect the way I live, although I make a huge effort to respect their desire to live TBM.
Just curious to know what others see as the major draw or attraction of the LDS church?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marshall on -
Its irrelevant if your friend is a former prostitute. What is relevant is that the LDS church is not truth, but fiction is the most demonstrable sense. The Book of Mormon has no relevant historical counterpart that confirms its claims of being an actual history of a lost peoples. The LDS leadership provide pretty phrases and poems and stern words as "revelation" from a God who routinely demonstrates narcissism in his approach and behavior toward mankind in the fiction called scripture. The Priesthood yields no miracles and no supernatual authority. I know. I once "held the Priesthood". I grew up in this church. I served a mission. I lived in Idaho and Utah amongst the Saints. It simply is not truth because it does not behave as truth does - meaning it will yield the results it claims to.
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Permalink Reply by Marshall on
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IT works. If I make a claim that throwing a basketball into the air and it will return to the ground is true, the basketball will do just that.
That is how truth behaves. It has integrity. It doesn't require blind faith. It can withstand testing and scrutiny. It proves itself by the very use of it.
Nothing in the church has been able to withstand scrutiny by many, many members who became ex-mormons. This is telling. It is also telling that those members that do believe explain the failures of mormon truth to prove itself as God's "test of faith" or some weakness within themselves. The people are not the problem. The system is.
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Permalink Reply by Marshall on
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It isn't to me. I've been on LAM for nearly 2 years. Its been a lively place and has its sleepy moments.
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Permalink Reply by WoahNellie on -
Mary, are you getting the info you were looking for? I quickly skimmed through the replies, but it is unclear to me if you are satisfied with the answers that were given. I am glad that you are being cautious with this decision. I don't want to sound super paranoid, but I think that part of what the others on here were trying to tell you is that in the church, we were often taught "milk before meat". What that means is that we do not teach things that people are not ready to receive. So, basically, it's like this...if you ask your Mormon friends why Joseph Smith practiced polygamy,they will likely hesitate to answer because they will be afraid of giving you a doctrine that is "too tough" for your limited faith at the moment. They will likely answer you with something pretty-something like "Well, there were a lot of widows in Nauvoo that needed to be taken care of." or "He didn't want to, but an angel said he had to!" and leave it at that. However, if you ask to see the actual doctrine (Section 132 of the Doctrine & Covenants), they might get a little itchy over that. The fact is that Mormons still believe in polygamy-some even believe that they will have to practice it someday. But they don't want you to know that. You only find that out once you've been in a while.
My caution to you would be to not think that they are going to be OK with you living some rules and not others. So, your mormon friends that support gays? They are not allowed to go to the temple. They could be ex-communicated, depending on who is in leadership at the time. Supporting gays is a Mormon NO-NO. And Mormons have a saying..."When the brethren speak,the thinking has been done." That means that if you have an opinion that goes against the doctrine, or if you don't feel like paying tithing or obeying the word of wisdom, you'd better keep your mouth shut unless you want to be disciplined by the church. (Formal discipline involves an actual church court, where the "judges" are male church leaders)
It could be true that your specific friends in your specific area may be more liberal than most Mormons. The problem is that all Mormons are ruled by the Church handbook, and the more closely you adhere to the handbook the more "righteous" one is considered. So really, it's just a matter of time. Everyone has to step in line, or risk losing their temple recommends (and, therefore, their "eternal" families.)
I saw you asked about underwear...once Mormons go through the temple to receive their endownments, they are required to where a church issued underwear that looks like an undershirt and a knee length boxer brief. They are required to wear the underwear at all times for the rest of their lives. Mormons believe that their "garments" protect them and that they represent the robes of the priesthood. They also serve as a modesty guideline, since your garments are not supposed to be showing.
I do agree with you that the church has good programming. However, the main purpose of a church is to worship God. I would advise that you find a church that #1)worships your God, and #2)worships in a way you agree with. Everything after that is sort of secondary. There are plenty of churches with good programming. I think emergency preparedness is pretty cool, too...the problem for me is that Mormons think that if you don't get your food storage in that you displease God. I guess I just think since God gives me every breath I take, he kind of thinks emergency preparedness is nowhere near as important as actually loving him.
I hope this helps! Sometimes I just ramble a lot. Especially when it's something I actually care about.
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Permalink Reply by Nathan_The_Calm_One on -
Bloody Mary is the girl I love!
Now ain't that too damn bad!
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Permalink Reply by WoahNellie on
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A lot to get off my chest?? No, actually. I thought those were the questions you were asking...?
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Permalink Reply by Enlightened on -
@WoahNellie - methinks there is more to her postings than meet the eye. I'm even beginning to question the sincerity of wanting answers. Is there a big spoon awarded for stirrers because we have a candidate here.
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Permalink Reply by WoahNellie on
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Ah, goes to show I should go to bed when I'm tired instead of looking around on here! lol Actually, it's been quite a while since I got trolled. It almost makes me nostalgic! lol
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Permalink Reply by Enlightened on
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Permalink Reply by Enlightened on
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@ Mary.....ever heard the saying "fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me?"
I think you are just seeking attention quite frankly and that is soooo boring....
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