'Fighting Insanity'
Setting the record on Mormons straight
Kyle Hansen
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Opinion
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Yes, there are some people that believe such things.
Why? Because I am a Mormon.
I have also heard that we sacrifice babies in our temples. Speaking of temples, I have been told that the spires on Mormon temples are antenna to communicate with aliens in outer space. Oh, and there are UFOs hidden in the basement.
Of course, my personal favorite is that we catapult virgins off the top of the Salt Lake Temple into the Great Salt Lake.
Sorry to disappoint you, but none of it's true.
Besides, that would be a waste of a perfectly good virgin and that is an awful long way to catapult somebody.
There are lots of crazy ideas out there about my religion.
Actually, even the name Mormon is not our preferred title. The proper name of the church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you need to shorten it, call us Latter-day Saints, or LDS.
The Mormon nickname is OK when referring to the culture or certain groups, such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or the Mormon Pioneers, but there is no such thing as the "Mormon Church."
Mormon comes from the Book of Mormon, one of the books we consider to be sacred scripture, somewhat like the Bible.
Of course, as Christians we believe the Bible to be the word of God, and we read and study it along with The Book of Mormon regularly.
Oh, wait, but Mormons aren't Christians, right?
Wrong.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the savior and Redeemer.
We believe he lived a perfect life, established his church with prophets and apostles, and suffered and died for our sins.
We believe that he was resurrected, appeared to many, and that he lives today.
Some people do not consider us Christians because we do not worship the same Jesus they do.
In one sense, that is true, we do not believe in the trinity. We believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings that are one in purpose and supremacy.
But the suggestion that we are not real Christians is offensive to those of us who have accepted Christ as our savior and try to follow his teachings.
We believe that the first and foremost requirement for salvation is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 51
Rick Leland
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:18 AM PST
Setting the Record Straight. Part 2
1. God bless Kyle Hanson. He has the right to say and believe as he wishes. God gives all a free will. And a free won't. (Continued…)
frank
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:33 AM PST
Say, can I be a 'Mormon' if I have heard the names Kathy Sheets and Steve Christensen, or have heard of a 'Jupiter Talisman', or have a passing knowledge of the events of Sept. (Continued…)
JLFuller
posted 4/07/08 @ 10:26 AM PST
Great article. If I can, I would like to add a couple of things about us that are misunderstood too. First, LDS missionaries do not convert anyone. In fact, no human being does that job. (Continued…)
Sharon
posted 4/07/08 @ 10:56 AM PST
Kyle, you wrote, "After Joseph Smith established the church in 1830, there was a huge amount of persecution. Members of the church were driven from New York to Ohio and then to Missouri. (Continued…)
Snoop Dog
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:55 AM PST
What are you talking about Frank? Mormons are the shizzle.
Mike
posted 4/07/08 @ 6:19 PM PST
I know that Jesus Christ lives, and strive every day to follow his example through loving and serving others. Through Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ, can I gain salvation. (Continued…)
Bill
posted 4/07/08 @ 7:10 PM PST
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that it's not those who cry "Lord, Lord" who will get into Heaven but those who do God's will. If you read the entire Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says nothing about the trinity - a doctrine invented centuries later. (Continued…)
Kimberly
posted 4/07/08 @ 8:17 PM PST
Mormons have horns! The only people I have ever heard say that are mormons who say that non-mormons believe this. Reconcile yourselves with the Bible and you will understand why Christians view you as strange. (Continued…)
JD
posted 4/08/08 @ 2:27 AM PST
Great article! The idea that Mormons do not believe in the Trinity is technically not accurate, although many Mormons (and even some Mormon leaders) claim that they are not Trinitarian. (Continued…)
Don
posted 4/08/08 @ 7:47 AM PST
Since the days of Joseph Smith, so-called "Christians" have belittled, lied about, distorted and twisted nearly everything LDS believe. The LDS have responded, defended, stood up for and tried to educate their accusers. (Continued…)
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