A question for Mormons...?

Question

How does a Mormon reconcile the fundamental LDS teaching that temple marriage is necessary for exaltation to godhood with the teaching of the Lord Jesus & the apostle Paul, who both taught that singleness was preferable to those who could accept it (Matthew 19:10 - 12 & 1 Corinthians 7:1,7 & 8 respectively) ? A contradiction ? Who is right, the word of God or Joseph Smith ? Please use scripture to argue your point. Thank you.

Einstein - thanks for your answer. Does that mean the verses I referred to are not in the LDS translation of the Bible ?

crispycrump - thanks for your answer. interesting point.

desperado - I understand that the LDS splinter group "Reorganized (Mormon) Church" use Joseph Smith's so - called "Inspired Version", a revision (corruption ?) of the KJV which Smith apparently only partly completed. Regards.

Answer 1

trust me, this is a miner contridiction compared to the others you can find....But yes their scriptures contridict the Bible...If they would sincerly read a Bible,it's pretty easy to see this. They have no solid answer except that of Smith's teachings being "right"
Sadly, their scriptures are distorted when compared to any Christian document.

OHH shock and Awe...thumbs down because it might make you think a bit....

Answer 2

Who is right? God of course, this has nothing to do with Joseph Smith. This has to do with your interpretation of only 6 isolated verses regarding marriage from the entire bible! While you may think that it is a contradiction for us, I do not. You also fail to see that your own viewpoint can be seen as contradicting other biblical passages as well.

So, how do we reconcile this with LDS teachings?

First, as a previous answer indicated, the scriptures that you have selected need to be read in context and not isolated since they are part of a longer discussion about marriage and divorce. If you actually read from 3-12, it is apparent that Jesus does not teach that singleness is preferable. Rather, he taught the importance of marriage: v. 4 Have ye not read...he which made them...made them male and female. v. 5 for this cause shall a man cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. v. 6...What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Also, remember that Christ gave Peter the sealing power in Matthew 16:19 so that whatsoever he bound on earth by the priesthood, would also be bound in Heaven, eternally.

In 10-12, his disciples were concerned since Christ had removed divorce as an option and asked if one should simply not marry. Christ set a couple of possible scenarios up, but in no way endorses celibacy or singleness. He says, eunuch by birth, eunuch by castration and eunuch for the kingdom. The first two would certainly not be viable options to marriage for anyone. The third could be, but this continence or abstinance from sexual activity during service in the kingdom or before being legally married was not meant to be permanent. Every other reference to sexual abstinance refers to fornication, lust, etc, outside of the bonds of marriage.

1 Corinthians 7:1, 7-8, also does not teach that singleness is preferred. First, verse 1 and 2 should be read together (actually you should read the whole passage). When read together, it becomes clear that it is not good to touch a woman if you are not married to her. Verse 2 explains that this could lead to fornication. In verse 7, you are assuming that he is saying to be like him by being single. Perhaps he is referring to the fact that he doesn’t want them to fall in to incontinency (which is in verse 5 and hence the importance of reading the entire section). He is saying that he wishes that all were like him by being continent (abstaining from sexual relations) while you are not married, either because you are unmarried or widowed. You are further assuming that Paul was never married. While the bible never clearly indicates this, we know that he was a member of the Sanhedrin and was a strict Pharisee and therefore was most likely married at one point, as it was a requirement for the Sanhedrin and a sacred obligation to the Pharisees.

Also, you have taken only one of Paul’s teachings about marriage. Read the rest of his teachings and you will see that he, in no way, suggests anything other than having a good, Christ centered marriage. He even states that "marriage is honourable in all" (Heb. 13:4). In fact, in 1 Tim. 4:1-3, while speaking of the apostasy from the truth that would occur in the latter-days, he says that forbidding marriage (v. 3) would be how some in latter times depart from the faith (v. 1). Even if Paul somehow suggested singleness over marriage, as you believe, God did not.

And the LORD God said, it is NOT good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18) He also said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Gen. 1:28), something which cannot be done outside of the bonds of marriage.

I hope that this provides at least one additional view point on the subject.

Answer 3

oh my, by the way your detailing your question, it seems like a sort of math, haha. i think crispycrump has a point, two lovely mormon sistahs on a mission for god stopped by and helped unload my moving truck when i got to my new apartment, they were so nice, dont ya just love em'? haha




I shall now quote a song that i find highly lovable as well as lovable lil' mormons:

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one


-john lennon


even though im a christian myself, i find this song to be great, maybe you should listen to it too, makes everything a little less complicated if you get my drift, may the force be with you luke skywalker

Answer 4

LDS does not have a translation of the Bible. They mostly use the KJV when they do use one. The use the "Book or Mormon" which was written by Smith with a lot of passages copied in part from the Bible

Answer 5

As a rule, Mormons will not argue any point concerning their doctrine and neither will I. We will present facts as we follow them and let the world accept or reject them.

The "New and Everlasting Covenant" of eternal marriage that we believe in was given us through revelation and that is found in Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It was a revelation given to Joseph Smith on 12 July 1843 and you may read it by logging on to lds.org and then access the scriptures.

Section 131 is a concise and shorter revelation about the topic given in May, 1843.

Furthermore, to counter what a poster claims, Joseph Smith did not write the Book of Mormon. He translated the plates of Reformed Egyptian into English by the power and inspiration of God. You either believe it or you don't.

Additionally, it is the missionaries who are out tracting every day and not the average Mormon unless one accompanies them to households having only single women present.

Unfortunately, there will always exist distortions of fact about the Church. Unless one goes direct to the source for the truth, these mistruths will permeate the airwaves for all to readily accept and believe them.

Answer 6

Why?...Honestly why ask a question as boring as this...if you dislike their views so much why must you bother to take them into consideration by typing out such a large, boring and meaningless question?...if you didn't care then you would simply leave things be...every1 is entitled to their own opinion..oh btw im catholic...any problems there? lol

Answer 7

If you read Matthew 19:3, this section refers to divorce issues and remarriage after divorce--the question of remarriage after divorce is a tricky one unless one partner really has a justified reason for divorce.

Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

1 Corinthians 7:1 with verse 2:
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

If you read further,

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

I would interpret that part as no sex outside of marriage.

Clearly you interpret these section differently. I don't see anything really stating people should be single. So comparing faithfulness in the marriage covenant to the whether a marriage is "until death or eternal" is comparing apples to oranges. Here are the scriptures regarding "until death do you part" and "eternal."

D&C 132: 7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed

5 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.

19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world;

Sorry, I don't see a contradiction so I can't explain one away. God is always right. Joseph Smith was a mere prophet as was Moses or Noah. We don't see Joseph as the Messiah, since that is clearly Christ.

Answer 8

let's get rid of all religions

Answer 9

how many mormons do you expect to find on this site on a saturday afternoon? they must be all out knocking on doors

Answer 10

mormons think ur scripture is corrupted.