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Religious Discipline Research – Interview with a Mormon
There are many myths and misunderstandings regarding the House of worship of Christ of Other Day Saints – also called Mormonism – that are situated in many cases over a lack of understanding. The misconceptions are also the result of the fact the fact that Mormon hope is – to the classic Protestant, or Catholic, or Muslim or perhaps Buddhist or perhaps Jew – somewhat mystical. Perhaps the Mormon faith is definitely mysterious since it is so completely different from other faiths. When you will find misunderstandings of a particular philosophy or spiritual practice myths and even hateful stereotypes may emerge from culture. In this conventional paper some of the most prevalent misconceptions and misunderstandings will probably be presented along with an interview with a Mormon, a person that will certainly respond to inquiries and be authoritative in his responses.
Misconceptions as well as Prior Understandings / Procedure for Minimize Common myths
There is the ongoing belief that Mormons happen to be prejudiced against African-Americans. Obviously it is regarded that since 1978 the LDS Church have been accepting Blacks into the priesthood. There is a belief that Mormons that they are the chosen kinds and only through Mormonism may a person arrive in Bliss after transferring from this the planet. I have learned that the official position of the Mormon Church is that all Christian believers will make it to Paradise providing they will follow the teachings of Christ. It is common to get non-Mormons to wonder why Joseph Jones was the the one that God plus the Angels made a decision to be the discoverer with the “golden plates, ” considering the fact that Smith was supposedly as well as allegedly a counterfeiter, treasure-hunter and bundle of money teller. Mormons have a conviction that everything in the story regarding Joseph Johnson is true; moreover, every religious beliefs has historical origins that must be taken for face value, and Mormons are no several in that respect.
My understanding of the Mormon faith was not modified dramatically by simply my interview, but simply by digging in to the research to arrange me for asking the questions Used to do learn more about Mormonism than I had fashioned known ahead of. For example , in Terryl Givens’ book, The Viper on the Hearth, this individual explains that the practice of polygamy, the belief in the “irksome doctrine of exclusivity, ” and other controversial policies “contributed to the ‘Mormon problem” (Givens, 1997). Beliefs of additional religions are very common; made use of other than those people individuals rely on would normally seem unusual. For example , Christians could not always be criticized pertaining to wondering why Muslims get down on their hands and legs and encounter east several times a day. To the average Christian, having hope, attending house of worship services and following Christian principles (and the Five Commandments) is enough.
Questions to get a Member of the Mormon Chapel
The interview with David took place inside the education middle of a Mormon Church on a Sunday evening following all of that day’s faith based meetings and activities. David was not an officer inside the church, nevertheless he was a person in his late 20s who was born and raised a Mormon and attends solutions regularly. David served warm herbal tea to get our interview (which this individual did not need to be recorded on an electronic recorder; and so note-taking was used) and was gracious when he stated “Ask me personally any queries about my faith and I’ll exert an effort to give you one of the most honest solution I can provide based on each of our beliefs and based on my personal understanding of whatever we believe as a Christian Church. My answers won’t necessarily be the official Church liturgy but My spouse and i am fully conversant with all our House of worship covenants and philosophies. “
Question: Mormonism is based on gold plates that Joseph Johnson was thought to have been generated by Angels. Why are these golden dishes never noticed by the public or associates of the Chapel; and are they really smothered deep in the earth in upstate Nyc? Also, Paul Smith was said to be “a counterfeiter, fortune-teller and treasure hunter” (Gordon, 2001). Why was he chosen to expose the prophecy of the LDS Church?
David: We acknowledge on trust that the story of how Frederick Smith was contacted by simply God. We all also believe the original chapel that began by Jesus Christ was misplaced but when Frederick Smith received the contacting it was ways to reestablish the Church.
Query: In the Mormon Church’s website (“What Mormons Believe”) would it be revealed the Church recieve more than 13 million members in 176 countries, as well as the Church builds a new church “every working day” (whatmormonsbelieve. org). For what reason would Mormons send missionaries to countries that are traditionally Roman Catholic (like South American countries) or in a heavily Buddhist and Hindu nation like India?
David: I just read the various other day that there are about six, 500 Mormons in India. That doesn’t appear to be very many in a country with over a billion people. We have missionaries around the globe.
Question: Nevertheless the question cynics might request, is, perform Mormons send out missionaries to India as the Church feels Buddhism and Hinduism not necessarily sufficient for the moral salvation of people 1 . 25 billion Indians? Is that a fair question David?
David: It is just a fair question and I may mind in any way. No, Mormons don’t assume that any particular faith surpasses any other. All of us just think that we have a story to share regarding Jesus Christ plus the need to have confidence in his theories. There are more than 50, 1000 missionaries in existence now all over the world sharing the storyline of Mormonism. Mormons may go out on the globe to share our story since we feel we are better than any other hope. We are dedicated to teaching and building fresh Mormon communities.
Question: Why does the Mormon Church limit the associates that missionaries can possess with their people back home? Let’s imagine a 19-year-old from The state of alabama is in Australia as a missionary; surely this individual gets a bit homesick nevertheless he won’t be able to contact his family for caught up?
David: That’s not seriously true. You bring up items that are area of the myths about Mormonism. The missionaries are actually allowed to speak to their families and loved ones through emails or snail postal mail letters. They can call on the telephone on occasion, too. In the Mormon website (Mormon. org) that says the Church wants the missionaries to “focus wholeheartedly on serving the Lord as well as the people where they serve” and they are dedicated to studying and learning and teaching people about Christ. Too many distractions could take these people away from their particular important assignments.
Question: There exists rumor that the Mormon Chapel is racist against African-Americans. History demonstrates Bringham Youthful banned Shells from the priesthood in 1849 (White, 1992); and African-Americans were not allowed into the Mormon priesthood until 1978. What is the position with the Church in African-Americans?
David: All I could go by is the fact that that all ethnicities are welcomed into the Church. It was unfortunate that there was a ban on Blacks becoming members of the Mormon priesthood, not to mention it was very unfortunate and blatantly unkind for Blacks to be placed into slavery by the United States a lot of years ago. Times change and people change, corporations change and churches transform as well. I have Black good friends who happen to be Mormons. We all share philosophy as Christian believers, not as one particular ethnicity with another ethnicity. Does that answer the question?
Issue: Thank you, certainly it is a reasonable answer. Think about the regulation on tithing? I know the concept of tithing is addressed in the Bible and in my parents’ church they are encouraged to tithe – donate ten percent of their earnings to the cathedral. But what I’ve read claims that people of the Mormon Church need to tithe produce it to heaven – is that authentic?
Answer: Tithing is a commandment, not a ask for. So just like other denominations and religious faiths, we take a commandment to be a significant doctrine and that we follow it. We come across it being a privilege and an opportunity, not an unreasonable demand.
Question: So an outsider that is perhaps skeptical with regards to your faith views these enormous, multi-million buck, fabulously sophisticated Mormon Temples or wats, like the one in San Diego near the freeway. People of the chapel are loans these temples with their required tithes. Doesn’t that appear unfair intended for middle school families attempting to make ends meet?
Answer: We believe in our Cathedral doctrines and we are pleased with the temples or wats that are created, because they are a type of calling to our faith. The golden sculpture on top of the highest spire on a Mormon Serenidad is the Angel Moroni; dr. murphy is the one who revealed Joseph Smith where the gold tablets had been located. Today he cell phone calls all people to believe in Jesus and to become a member of our Cathedral.
Question: Is it true that Mormons aren’t supposed to drink coffee or tea? I was enjoying this Celestial Seasonings tea you served.
Response: That is a fable. We are asked to avoid caffeine, and alcoholic beverages. This tea as you
