Answers to Mormon-related Questions

I can't actually call this a "FAQ", since these questions have not exactly been "Frequently asked". However, these are my answers to some questions which people have asked me, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In some cases, my opinions are not official church doctrine, in some cases they are; I have tried to make clear which is which. Some questions are more applicable to members of the church, some to non-members investigating the church, and some to anti-Mormon critics.

There's essentially four groups of questions:

1. General questions about LDS beliefs

2. Questions about LDS church practices

3. Some of my own personal opinions

4. Specific issues brought up by critics of the LDS church


General questions about LDS beliefs

What does it mean to be a Mormon?

Do Mormons worship the Son, the Father, or both?

What do LDS scriptures teach about Christ's role in our salvation?

Who will be saved?

Why are temple ordinances performed?

What is the purpose of scripture?

Are the LDS conference addresses treated as scripture?

Is God omniscient?

Is God omnipotent?

Does the LDS church teach that Elohim is the actual name of God?

Do Mormons believe men will become Gods?

What is the definition of a "god" as used by Mormons?

What is a glorified body?

Do you believe that God existed as a man on some other planet in this universe?

Do Mormons believe baptizing infants is a heinous practice?

What is your attitude towards homosexuals?

What do I have to do to go to heaven?

Are members who have smaller families "less valiant"?

Was the Fall planned by God?

Do Mormons believe that Jesus has always existed as God from all eternity past?

Do Mormons believe people's spirits were created, or that they were co-eternal with God?

Do Mormons believe good deeds done by other religions will "not count" at the judgement?

Do Mormons believe other Christians are damned?

What do Mormons think about the various Christian creeds?

Why do Mormons strive to be called "Christians", while setting themselves apart from traditional Christian groups?

What is the Mormon position on abortion?


Questions about LDS church practices

What is required to join the LDS church?

What do the missionary discussions teach?

How would I become a Mormon?

How does one get a temple recommend?

Should tithing be on gross or on net earnings?

Must one be sinless to partake of the sacrament?

Do Mormons watch R-rated movies?

Do LDS teens really avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, and pre-marital sex?

Are LDS teens who don't go on mission looked at differently than others?

Are LDS teens actively discouraged from dating non-members?

What's the deal with Mormons and earrings?

How many members hold temple recommends?

What happens to donations?

What is the meaning of "CTR"?

What oil may be used in giving blessings?


Some of my own personal opinions

How should one speak with Mormons about their faith?

Is the Book of Mormon really helpful as an additional witness of Christ?

Did Joseph Smith really see God the Father and the Son with his eyes?

Do Mormons take religion seriously?

Do born-again Christians believe Mormons are saved?

Why do you believe in the LDS church rather than any of the other Mormon groups?

How do you keep your kids quiet during the worship service?

How should one deal with nosy people who want to know when you will have kids?

How should we support the needy?

Did C. S. Lewis teach the Mormon doctrine that men can become gods?

Should one obey an evil government?

Do you believe in a literal Adam and Eve, or in evolution?

What does the Book of Mormon teach about democracies?

What's the deal with chiasmus?

Does it really matter what we believe?

If parents do not teach their children the gospel, are the children's sins assigned to the parents?

What would happen if all the apostles were simultaneously killed?

Was Jesus born on April 6th?


Specific issues brought up by critics of the LDS church

Did Joseph Smith say in 1835 that Christ would come in 56 years?

How do Mormons justify their faith when others justify conflicting beliefs through the same process?

Did Joseph Smith say, "Everyone will be damned, but Mormons!"?

Did Brigham Young say, "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture."

Does the LDS temple ceremony derive from a Masonic ritual, or do Mormons think the ceremony was present in the early Christian church?

Doesn't the Mormon teaching of marriages continuing in the hereafter contradict the Bible?

Doesn't non-recognition of homosexual marriages violate the Constitution, assuming any states make homosexual marriages legal?

Does the Bible talk about a creation out of nothing?

Has the Bible been historically verified?

Do Mormons believe that Adam is God?

Do Mormons believe God planned the apostasy? And does the Mormon teaching of an apostasy mean God abandoned the Earth during that time?

Aren't we just anthropomorphizing when we call God our "Father"?

What's the deal with Ann Eliza Young?


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