I love misconceptions?

Question

Ok, so seriously where in the world do people get that Mormons believe in reincarnation? And that we just go off in the wild and marry many wives, and that the Book of Mormon was written by Joseph Smith?!! I just wish for once people would educate themselves before they start running their mouths about what they overheard or what someone told them. Lets start thinking for ourselves please.

I would love to tell others what I believe, but on the other hand I don't think that it is right to be pushy and to push my beliefs onto others, so I just feel that if somone wants to know something then they should ask instead of assuming.

Ok super top, but once again He didn't write it, he translated it, and no there were no corrections made to the Book of Mormon.

Answer 1

Not in a negative way, but you are correct, that much of the negativity and hatred arises out of ignorance. Rather then learn from the horses mouth they seek knowledge from those who are against the Mormons (e.g. those who have left the church or have biasis). People of all religions and faiths should just respect each other and allow for all people to worship how they will, without trying to tear them down. But, this will never end.

Answer 2

The reincarnation thing comes from (I think) the Mormon belief in the pre-existence of your soul before you're born. This isn't really reincarnation (certainly not like what Hinduism believes) and it's a misconception to say Mormons believe in reincarnation. But your belief about pre-existing souls is unusual.

I know that you don't practice polygamy anymore, but you did at one time and the fact that you guys got a "revelation" to end the practice right at the same time that Utah was trying to become a state looks pretty sketchy to everyone else.

Also you do believe polygamy will be practiced in the afterlife, so to say you don't believe in it is disingenuous.

And of course non-Mormons are going to say the BoM was written by Smith (or some other human). If we thought it was written by God we would become Mormons then, wouldn't we? Instead we have seen no evidence whatsoever that the book had divine origins.

Answer 3

Good question. I asked one a couple weeks ago like that, because of some posts I had read about Mormons which were completely inaccurate. The responses I got followed along the lines that most people, including me, are lazy sometimes on certain matters and don't research things before acting like we know them. Other answers showed the same ignorance i was asking about. If you have been following the Mitt Romney campaign at all, I think it will be interesting to see if any of these misconceptions are cleared up.

In response to John C: We do not feel that we are adding to the gospel of Christ. Everything we preach has been prophesied in the Bible. In fact, it was even prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 that their would be a falling away from Christ's church before his second coming. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's gospel restored in its fullness as it was in his day.

Christ organized his church with twelve apostles (eph 4:11-14) just as his latter day church is. Since Adam, he has organized his church in a way that allows him to communicate through prophets. Many scriptures prophesy of the coming forth of Book of Mormon. One of which is Ezekial 37: 15-17. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. We have missionaries who are called to preach the gospel, not to force you to convert, and they will answer any questions you have if you contact them, because there are a lot of misconceptions about Mormons that exist, and will hopefully clear the water for those who wonder why we believe and act the way we do.

Answer 4

Book of Mormon History
According to the official version of the history of the church, Joseph Smith received his first vision the very first time he prayed audibly in 1820 (Pearl of Great Price - J.S. History [JSH] 1:14). In this vision, he was told that all the churches were wrong (JSH 1:19) and that he should restore the church.

In September of 1823 he had his second vision, which consisted of three repeated visions in the night by the Angel Moroni in Joseph's bedroom. Moroni told him three times where the gold plates were buried (JSH 1:47). Joseph went to the Hill Cumorah and uncovered the box where in were the gold plates.

He was forbidden to take them out and was instructed to return each year to talk to this angel until the time was right to take them out (JSH. 1:53). Four years later, he received the plates in September 1827 (JSH 1:59).

At the time in America, no one knew how to read Egyptian hieroglyphics and no one had ever seen or heard of "reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics." The Book of Mormon, Mormon 9:34 states that no one can know this language,

"…that none other people knoweth our language; therefore he hath prepared means for interpretation thereof."

Yet to authenticate his work, Joseph copied some of the characters from the gold plates along with some translations and had Martin Harris take them to professor Anthon and Dr. Mitchell.

Without the ability to know the language, these two men somehow validated that these were "true characters" and the partial translation was accurate (JSH 1:65). According to Joseph Smith, the translation was also verified by the Lord's voice in June of 1829:

"We heard a voice from out of the bright light above us saying, ... These plates have been revealed [and translated] by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, ..." (HoC 1:55).

This translation that the Lord's voice refers to, is the initial translation of the "Reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics" on the gold plates into English, hand written by the scribes on the original manuscript. The printed Book of Mormon did not come off the press until March of 1830.

Answer 5

Joseph Smith supposedly wrote the book of Mormon as someone looked into a hat and told him what to write; funny thing is they later had to make a lot of corrections. This is fact.

Answer 6

I don't wish to attack Mormons, but this is all I need to know concerning the Mormon Bible/another gospel...


Galatians 1:6-9

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Answer 7

That's the problem with misinformed critics.

Answer 8

Instead of ranting, why don't you tell others what you believe.