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A FAIR Analysis of: 'Common Questions - p. 1'

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Copyright © 2005–2010 Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. The content of this page may be not copied, published, or redistributed without the prior written consent of FAIR.

Common Chat Questions

1. What’s different about the Mormon faith?

The two things that probably most distinguish us is that we believe God continues to talk to prophets, and that he provides us with scripture in addition to the Holy Bible.

A third point is the concept of priesthood authority.

Distinctive beliefs:

• Book of Mormon basics
• Apostasy

2. Polygamy questions…Do Mormons really have more than one wife?

Some Mormons practiced polygamy in the nineteenth century because they believed God had commanded them to. This practice was stopped more than a century ago by the Church prophets, and is forbidden to modern Mormons.

3. I’m depressed . . . how can I find happiness?

Depression can come from many causes. Some causes of depression include:

1. medical illness - if we have a medical illness, we may wish to consult a physician for help;
2. sins - if we do things we know are wrong, this will make us feel guilty and unhappy. Freedom from sins comes by repenting, receiving forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and living righteously afterwards.
3. trials or the difficulties of life - sometimes we feel depressed because we feel our life has no purpose, or because the burdens and challenges of life are overwhelming. A deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ can help us have peace in this life, and joy in the life to come.

Virtually everyone's life can be improved by repenting, and following the teachings of Jesus Christ. As Jesus taught, service to others also has a wonderful way of lightening our own burdens. For some, professional treatment may also be needed.

4. Can you prove the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to me through archeological evidences?

There is physical evidence that supports the Book of Mormon. We believe, however, that conversion to Jesus Christ (conviction about the Book of Mormon) will come only when people receive a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon's truthfulness. Archaeology cannot "prove" that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are correct when they teach that Jesus was the Son of God. Only God can provide this proof, though other evidences can help us decide to exercise our faith.

5. How do I know the difference between my own feelings and the Spirit?

The Holy Ghost does not speak to us just through feelings. The Lord tells us that "you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong"

This tells us that the Holy Ghost speaks to our mind and our feelings--they both must be in agreement. This is often something that occurs after much study and consideration of the question involved. An answer from God,through the Holy Ghost, will only come to those that sincerly want to know the truth and are truly willing to accept the testimony they receive.

6. Why is Lucifer Christ’s brother?

Lucifer was a spirit child of God, as was Jesus. Lucifer rebelled against God; Jesus was perfectly obedient and united to his father. Saying that Lucifer and Jesus are "the same" because they are both spirit child of God is like saying that Gandhi and Hitler were "the same" because they were both humans. They became very different beings because of the choices they made.

Or as one person suggested, Lucifer left the family a long time ago and to suggest that he is a brother to Jesus Christ implies a personal relationship that just no longer the case.

7. Why did Joseph Smith marry a fourteen year old?

We know very little detail about Joseph Smith's marriage to Helen Mar Kimball. We do know that marriage at a young age was not as uncommon, or as frowned upon, in the mid-1800s as it is today. We do know that consent was given by both Helen and her parents. We also know that both Joseph and Helen described the marriage in spiritual rather than romantic terms. Some historians have suggested that the marriage was "dynastic" rather than romantic in nature - a way to spiritually bind together faithful members of the Church in family-ties. There is no evidence that the marriage with Helen was consummated.

The sealing of people together in covenant bonds before God was always a primary focus of Joseph Smith's ministry. It can be seen in his efforts to build the community of "Zion" - a people of one heart and one mind, in the practice of polygamy, and in his concern for what happens to our departed dead. Joseph Smith was always seeking for ways to offer to human beings the same sort of unity that our Heavenly Father and his son - Jesus Christ share.

Would you like to hear more about how we can make covenants to draw closer to God and to other people?

8. Why isn’t eternal marriage mentioned in the Bible?

There are some scriptures that discuss the importance of marriage in God's plan. The apostle Paul taught, "neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." (1 Cor 11:11). However, we believe that some important doctrines were hidden or removed from the writings that later became the Bible by those without authority from God. This is why having modern prophets is so important--God can teach us what it is important for us to know today.

See also:

Marriage and related issues FAIR wiki articles

• Marriage beyond this life / Eternal marriage
• Apostles married in early Church?
• Jews and early Christians on marriage after death
• "Neither marry nor are given in marriage"
• Paul: it is good "not to marry"?
• Unmarried Latter-day Saints and others

9. Why do you believe Christ is separate from God the Father?

Christ is a separate personage from the Father, but he is united to him in will, in attributes, and in character. (Jesus prayed for the disciples to be "one" as Jesus and the Father were one--and yet, the disciples are clearly not one in "essence" (see John 17:11,21-22). We know them to be seperate as a result of the First Vision to Joseph Smith, where he testifies of seeing two seperate and distinct personages, one God the Father and the other Jesus Christ. We also have the testimonhy from scripture because the Bible teaches this--Jesus prays to his Father, he pleads for his will to match the Father's will, he ascends to his Father, and so forth. Finally, we believe the testimony of modern prophets, who have seen the Father and the Son, and bear witness of them (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).

10. Why do you believe that you can become a god?

We accept the Bible's, as well as modern scripture, teachings that those who are saved are given our Heavenly Father's kind of life: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelations 3:21).

This does not mean we will be separate or independent of God, but will be part of His eternal family and will be part of God's great plan for His children.

11. Do Mormons believe that they get their own planet?

We know very little about what the life of the redeemed will involve. We know that they will be in God's presence, and we know that they will remain together in families. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him," taught Paul (1  Cor. 2:9).

12. I’m already saved. Why do I need the Mormon baptism?

We believe that anyone who already has faith in Christ would be anxious to learn more about him and more about what he has told us today. We would not expect you to be rebaptized unless you were convinced that God wanted you to do so. Baptism is not the first step; first you must learn what we believe God has revealed about Jesus in our day, and decide if it is true.

We beleive that baptism must be performed by one who has the proper priesthood authority. That authority was restored through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is available to bless the lives of all who are willing to accept this truth.

13. What happens after we die?

When we die, we go to a place called the "spirit world." For those who have been righteous, the spirit world is a place of peace and rest. For the wicked, this is called "spirit prison" or "hell," where they suffer for their sins. People who did not have a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in this life can learn about it in the spirit world. Eventually, every person will be resurrected--they will receive their body again. All will have an opportunity to accept the Savior and repent of their sins. The righteous will be resurrected to live with God and Jesus Christ; the wicked will also be resurrected, but must leave God the Father's presence forever. With few exceptions all will go and live in a place of glory that far exceeds this earth life in joy and happiness.

14. What’s with the special underwear?

Members of the Church who have made promises in the temple wear a modest form of underwear which reminds them of the promises they have made. Just as some Christians wear crosses or religious clothing of various types to remind them of their faith, Latter-day Saints do something similar.

15. What does it take to get to heaven?

To return to live with Our Heavenly Father, we must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized by someone who has authority, and receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost purifies us as if by fire, and we must then endure to the end in our new life by keeping the promises we made at baptism, and continuing to have faith in Jesus.

16. Why does God allow suffering in the world?

God wants us to learn to make good choices without being forced to do so. He wants us to use our free will to do right.

This life is a time to learn how to make these kinds of choices. But, for us to be free to make these choices, God needs to be "out of sight." God allows bad things to happen because of natural laws and because of the bad choices of ourselves and other people.

But, he promises us that if we turn to him, he will give us comfort and strength to endure any bad things that happen, and he will help us to help others.

17. I’m losing my faith in God, what should I do?

Having faith in God is like having a relationship with a friend. Our relationship with our friends would not be very close if we never spoke to them, never thought of them, or never wrote to them. To build faith in God, we should start by reading what God has written to us--this includes the scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We should try to put into practice what we read. And, we should pray to God--we should talk to him, explain our problems, and ask for his help. We can be helped in this process by talking with others who have faith in God, such as the missionaries from the Church.

18. Do Mormons believe in multiple gods?

Like other Christians, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in one God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Latter-day Saints understand this unity differently than some other Christians. Other Christians believe God is one in "essence," while Latter-day Saints believe they are separate personages that are one in love, in will, and in character. Because of this, some describe Latter-day Saints as believing in "many gods," but we consider that inaccurate. We simply understand how God is one in a different way.

19. How can you say your church is true if you don’t know very much about other churches?

It is not necessary to know all things in order to know what is true. The apostles who followed Christ during His ministry didn't know everything about all the religions of their day, but they were able to recognize the truth in Christ. That Jesus was the Christ, the true Messiah, was revealed to them by the Spirit of revelation. (See Matthew 16:15-17.)

We say our Church is true because God has similarly revealed it to us by His Holy Spirit. We do not expect others to take our word for it. We ask them not to believe us, but to take the steps necessary so that they can know for themselves.

20. How can you be so presumptuous to say that you are the only true church when God loves all his children?

It is true that God loves all his children, and so we do not believe that God would cause confusion or arguing about his Church. We believe that he will tell everyone who sincerely seeks whether what we teach comes from him or not.

We also believe that all churches and religions have many good, true things in them which also come from God. We invite all those who have truth to bring the truth they have, and see if we cannot add to it.

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A FAIR Analysis of: 'Common Questions - p. 2'

Copyright © 2005–2010 Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. The content of this page may be not copied, published, or redistributed without the prior written consent of FAIR.