What Do Mormons Believe?

[Jack]

I know what JW's believe but Mormon doctrines seem vague to me. Please elaborate.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Actual "Mormon" here. LDS Christian (nicknamed "Mormons") are JW are extremely different.


LDS Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, Savior of the world. Salvation comes only via faith in Him. The Gospel is His joyous Good News. I follow His commandments because He asked me to and I love Him. Love in the family is a big deal, which again is true regardless of whatever faith those family members practice. All people of other faiths are to be respected, and other Christian faiths are obviously Christian. It's generally a good/better/best style outlook of things.

Edit to add: a person comes closer to Christ due to love of Him and witness of His Spirit. We all, as Christ's disciples, should strive to always show His love and treat people with respect.

 

[PS95]

Actual "Mormon" here. LDS Christian (nicknamed "Mormons") are JW are extremely different.


LDS Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, Savior of the world. Salvation comes only via faith in Him. The Gospel is His joyous Good News. I follow His commandments because He asked me to and I love Him. Love in the family is a big deal, which again is true regardless of whatever faith those family members practice. All people of other faiths are to be respected, and other Christian faiths are obviously Christian. It's generally a good/better/best style outlook of things.

Edit to add: a person comes closer to Christ due to love of Him and witness of His Spirit. We all, as Christ's disciples, should strive to always show His love and treat people with respect.

Hi jane,
President Boyd K. Packer said: “One doctrine presents a particular challenge. It is our firm conviction that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, as the revelations state, ‘the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth’ (D&C 1:30).”

President Spencer W. Kimball explained: “This church of Jesus Christ (nicknamed Mormon) is the ‘only true and living church’ (D&C 1:30) that is fully recognized by God, the only one properly organized with the authority to perform for him, and the only one with a total and comprehensive and true program which will carry men to powers unbelievable and to realms incredible. This is absolute truth. . . . This is not another church. This is the Church. This is not another gospel or philosophy. This is the church and gospel of Jesus Christ


President Packer further explains: “The position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth is fundamental. Perhaps it would be more convenient and palatable and popular if we were to avoid it; nevertheless, we are under a sacred obligation and a sacred trust to hold to it. It is not merely an admission; it is a positive declaration. It is so fundamental that we cannot yield on this point.” There is but “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5; emphasis added).

Mormons believe that God's plan of salvation includes nonbelievers and believers, as well as those who have never heard of Jesus Christ.
They believe that members of other faiths will have the opportunity to learn the true gospel of Jesus Christ after their earthly deaths. They
will be able to accept or reject that gospel.
Members of other faiths will also have the chance to accept or reject the covenants and ordinances of salvation performed for them by proxy on earth.

I guess that sums it up? One Q? Is a Christian who is not a Mormon considered a non-believer int above statement?

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Mormons believe that God's plan of salvation includes nonbelievers and believers, as well as those who have never heard of Jesus Christ.
They believe that members of other faiths will have the opportunity to learn the true gospel of Jesus Christ after their earthly deaths. They
will be able to accept or reject that gospel.
Members of other faiths will also have the chance to accept or reject the covenants and ordinances of salvation performed for them by proxy on earth.

I guess that sums it up? One Q? Is a Christian who is not a Mormon considered a non-believer int above statement?

TLDR style answer: LDS Christins look at things in a good/better/best style.

"Good" being folk whom generically believe in being honest, good, etc.
"Better" being that + believing in Christ (aka being a Christian). Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, non-denominational, etc are obviously all Christians. There's obvious major difference between denominations, but all still teaching Christ is the Son of God & salvations comes through Him.
"Best" being specifically an LDS Christian. Denominational differences do matter.


Yes, I do believe that my denomination is the most correct. To be perfectly clear: I also don't take offense if a Catholic (or Baptist or whatever) Christian believes their beliefs are the best Christian ones- I think it's cool if they've studied things out and are passionate that way. Great for you! I do get annoyed when other folks try to gatekeep Christianity with the "you're not really a Christian" attacks, no matter who is leveraging them at who.

 

[PS95]

TLDR style answer: LDS Christins look at things in a good/better/best style.

"Good" being folk whom generically believe in being honest, good, etc.
"Better" being that + believing in Christ (aka being a Christian). Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, non-denominational, etc are obviously all Christians. There's obvious major difference between denominations, but all still teaching Christ is the Son of God & salvations comes through Him.
"Best" being specifically an LDS Christian. Denominational differences do matter.


Yes, I do believe that my denomination is the most correct. To be perfectly clear: I also don't take offense if a Catholic (or Baptist or whatever) Christian believes their beliefs are the best Christian ones- I think it's cool if they've studied things out and are passionate that way. Great for you! I do get annoyed when other folks try to gatekeep Christianity with the "you're not really a Christian" attacks, no matter who is leveraging them at who.

I dont know what TLDR is.
I merely posted to clarify what your church teaches. I do not see where you answered my question.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I dont know what TLDR is.
I merely posted to clarify what your church teaches. I do not see where you answered my question.

Good = General good beliefs
Better = generic Christian beliefs
Best = LDS Christian beliefs

 

[PS95]

Good = General good beliefs
Better = generic Christian beliefs
Best = LDS Christian beliefs

Ok. still didnt answer my Q

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Ok. still didnt answer my Q

Can you help me understand what you are asking then, since I thought I addressed it.

 

[PS95]

Can you help me understand what you are asking then, since I thought I addressed it.

Sure. it's the last sentence of my post. here is a copy n paste of the last part.


Mormons believe that God's plan of salvation includes nonbelievers and believers, as well as those who have never heard of Jesus Christ.
They believe that members of other faiths will have the opportunity to learn the true gospel of Jesus Christ after their earthly deaths. They
will be able to accept or reject that gospel.
Members of other faiths will also have the chance to accept or reject the covenants and ordinances of salvation performed for them by proxy on earth.

I guess that sums it up? One Q? Is a Christian who is not a Mormon considered a non-believer in the above statement?

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I guess that sums it up? One Q? Is a Christian who is not a Mormon considered a non-believer in the above statement?

A binary answer doesn't apply here because LDS Christians instead think in good / better / best:

Good = General good beliefs
Better = generic Christian beliefs
Best = LDS Christian beliefs

 

[PS95]

A binary answer doesn't apply here because LDS Christians instead think in good / better / best:

Good = General good beliefs
Better = generic Christian beliefs
Best = LDS Christian beliefs

Let me help.
Believer is a Mormon.
Unbeliever is not a Mormon.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Let me help.
Believer is a Mormon.
Unbeliever is not a Mormon.

Again: LDS Christians don’t think in this binary.

 

[PS95]

Again: LDS Christians don’t think in this binary.

how it is possible then to make a distinction between believer and unbelievers if you dont have one?

 

[Jane_Doe22]

how it is possible then to make a distinction between believer and unbelievers if you dont have one?

Why must I look at things in binary?

Take Catholic beliefs for example: It would be a great disservice for me to deny a Catholic's standing as a Christian-- obviously they love Christ. But I also can't say I agree with every Catholic doctrine or find the Catholic Church to be Christ's perfect church on the Earth. There is good in there, but all flaws.

It isn't a binary all-good or all-bad thing, and I'm not going to try to force it into binary-- I find that's very harmful gatekeeping. Rather, I'm going to simply celebrate every good thing my Catholic friend believe, smiling, singing Christmas hymns together, etc. If they want to talk about points of disagreement, I'm totally game for that too. More good things (aka more of God's truth) is always welcome at the table.

 

[PS95]

Why must I look at things in binary?

Take Catholic beliefs for example: It would be a great disservice for me to deny a Catholic's standing as a Christian-- obviously they love Christ. But I also can't say I agree with every Catholic doctrine or find the Catholic Church to be Christ's perfect church on the Earth. There is good in there, but all flaws.

It isn't a binary all-good or all-bad thing, and I'm not going to try to force it into binary-- I find that's very harmful gatekeeping. Rather, I'm going to simply celebrate every good thing my Catholic friend believe, smiling, singing Christmas hymns together, etc. If they want to talk about points of disagreement, I'm totally game for that too. More good things (aka more of God's truth) is always welcome at the table.

Because Believers VS Unbeliever IS binary.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Because Believers VS Unbeliever IS binary.

Binary is not how LDS Christians look at things.

I celebrate your love of Christ, that core which makes a Christian a Christian. I also acknowledge other differences in beliefs between us. Both of those are important and I don't understand why would want me to downplay either fact.

 

[PS95]

Binary is not how LDS Christians look at things.

I celebrate your love of Christ, that core which makes a Christian a Christian. I also acknowledge other differences in beliefs between us. Both of those are important and I don't understand why would want me to downplay either fact.

I dont want you too downplay anything. It was not a personal question. If you arent comfortable answering it's ok. All that you had to do was say so. I am not after you. I was merely trying to understand what that meant. Thanks anyway. Nice to meetya.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I dont want you too downplay anything. It was not a personal question. If you arent comfortable answering it's ok. All that you had to do was say so. I am not after you. I was merely trying to understand what that meant. Thanks anyway. Nice to meetya.

Asking about beliefs is & always should be a personal question :)

Have a great evening!

 

[Wrangler]

Because Believers VS Unbeliever IS binary.

She already answered this question several times. Everyone believes in something. (Christians often use this term in an esoteric way, expecting others to embrace their gnostic language usage).

Funny thing; I tend to be a binary thinker but rely on Romans 2 in supporting the "good" that @Jane_Doe22 referred to. Does it make sense to you that an all-loving God would burn people in the Lake of Fire, condemning them to permanent destruction who never even heard of Jesus?

Going to the next level of detail, most people embrace the religion they were raised in. Most people are not theological experts. There are currently 45,000 Christian denominations by some accounts. No one even knows the doctrinal differences of all these denominations, let alone make a knowledge based decision that denomination X is correct and the rest are evil, by default.

Here @ CyB there are 4 denominations that routinely get excoriated for being a cult or worse. (Those accusers deny Christianity, itself, is the world's largest cult.) I often happily state that there is no doctrinal purity test in Scripture. Thank God for that! The doctrines explicitly taught in Scripture are divinely simple. So, simple that people have to complicate it. They do so by imbuing words - such as being "a believer" - with doctrinal significance. Jesus said, "Follow me" not subscribe to this long list of doctrines and condemn anyone whose doctrines differ one iota.

From a psychological and anthropological perspective, there is a great tendency to artificially proceed from a world view of "us" v the "other." Throughout history, the "other" is always feared and condemned. From a Biblical perspective, we are all sons and daughters of Adam, meaning there is no "other." This explains why the Bible does not say God so loved believers that he sent his only son. Why then believe the Gospels? As @Jane_Doe22 simply said, it is better.

 

[PS95]

She already answered this question several times. Everyone believes in something. (Christians often use this term in an esoteric way, expecting others to embrace their gnostic language usage).

Funny thing; I tend to be a binary thinker but rely on Romans 2 in supporting the "good" that @Jane_Doe22 referred to. Does it make sense to you that an all-loving God would burn people in the Lake of Fire, condemning them to permanent destruction who never even heard of Jesus?

Going to the next level of detail, most people embrace the religion they were raised in. Most people are not theological experts. There are currently 45,000 Christian denominations by some accounts. No one even knows the doctrinal differences of all these denominations, let alone make a knowledge based decision that denomination X is correct and the rest are evil, by default.

Here @ CyB there are 4 denominations that routinely get excoriated for being a cult or worse. (Those accusers deny Christianity, itself, is the world's largest cult.) I often happily state that there is no doctrinal purity test in Scripture. Thank God for that! The doctrines explicitly taught in Scripture are divinely simple. So, simple that people have to complicate it. They do so by imbuing words - such as being "a believer" - with doctrinal significance. Jesus said, "Follow me" not subscribe to this long list of doctrines and condemn anyone whose doctrines differ one iota.

From a psychological and anthropological perspective, there is a great tendency to artificially proceed from a world view of "us" v the "other." Throughout history, the "other" is always feared and condemned. From a Biblical perspective, we are all sons and daughters of Adam, meaning there is no "other." This explains why the Bible does not say God so loved believers that he sent his only son. Why then believe the Gospels? As @Jane_Doe22 simply said, it is better.

blah blah blah- says the universalist who calls Jesus a liar.-
I want zero to do with you. what shall I do? get a restraining order or ask you nice like? Take a hint. Go away.