Why are Mormons taught that if they leave the church they will be damned?

Question

Don't worry...I'm almost out of Mormon material. I'll take on another group next.

Answer 1

Hey meatbot - oddly enough, I don't see you as an attacker because sometimes you actually choose member's answers as "best answer," so I still feel comfortable responding to you.

Um, as an LDS person, I have never once heard a threat of damnation if you leave our religion. In fact we believe forms of glory (or types of heaven) are very much available for people outside of our religion.

Another important thing to note here is our idea of what damnation is - we look at it as a literal word meaning "to be stopped" meaning there's no further progress, it doesn't necessarily mean your burning in hell (as many born agains would put it) it just means you can't go any further.

Answer 2

That's not actually taught, although I don't doubt some people have been represented that idea, in err of course. What the Church actually teaches is that you cannot attain the greatest blessings of God without receiving the necessary ordinances of the Priesthood, which they believe exist in their church and are received in progression in one's membership. Once someone is no longer a member they lose the blessings of the ordinances they received. However, that does not mean they will be damned. Damnation is an interesting topic. For the most part Mormons don't believe anyone will be damned (only certain people who deny a clear witness). The Mormon hell is more of a personal thing. The Mormon church always respects and welcomes those who have left the church or who were excommunicated for some reason (I know many). It will always remain the individual and their conduct that will determine their position in the eyes of the Lord. And only He is can judge.

Answer 3

Daisy gave an excellent answer...

I have been Mormon my whole life -26 years- and never taught we would be "damned" if we left the church. Ever heard the scripture 'where much is given, much is required'?
I believe there are some things - such as temple covenants - that making and then not keeping will make a person worse off than if they had never made those covenants..but that's my own opinion really. The rewards are great and the work to obtain those rewards is also great, but worth it.
If a person just coasts through life, what reward should they expect in return?
If we keep the commandments and do all that our Heavenly Father asks, then we are justified in our rewards.

Answer 4

I'll answer this question and your other question of "why aren't Mormons instructed to not look at anti-Mormon information?" Mormonism is a form of a cult. (Sorry to all the Mormons out there, but it's true) The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. If you were to read the Book of Mormons and the actual bible, you would find that they are quite different. Joseph Smith, the man that founded the Mormon Religion, translated the book of Mormon and said it was the "most correct book" on earth. It adds it own information about about the earth's creation.
Mormons believe these things about God: that He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe, but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” Whereas Christians believe this about God: there is only One true God, that He always has and always will exist, and that He was not created, but is the Creator, He is perfect and no one else is equal to Him, God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever, and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone.
Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: The Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom, the Telestial Kingdom and outer darkness. Where mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this mortal life. They believe that the more that they populate this earth (with children), the more populated their world will be in their afterlife.
Any "religion" that tells their believers that if they leave the church they will be damed is a cult. No where in the Christian religion would you find that. Because Christians believe that God loves us no matter what we do, or how much we sin. Mormons are generally nice, and loving people, but they are apart of a religion that is false and that does not follow the truth of God.

Answer 5

So, you will not in my opinion "bash" yet yet somebody else's faith. stable for you. regrettably, you're certainly one portion of a very tiny minority of Mormons who do no longer "bash" diverse religions - and you would be able to opt to settle for this actuality. Being a member of a employer this is straightforward to have engaged surprisingly strikes makes you difficulty to the very comparable suspicions located on those people who certainly did those strikes. stay with it - or artwork to sparkling up your Church from the interior. And your declare that the Mormon Church would not work together in "bashing" diverse religions...I already understand this would properly be a pretend declare, costly. I certainly have been "bashed" using actuality i'm no longer a Mormon - and it become a Mormon that did the "bashing"! Oh, and only so which you already be attentive to - that Mormon did no longer have self assurance in my faith, a actuality which will opt to be particularly obtrusive.

Answer 6

They are taught that because the Mormon church wants to have absolute power over its members and wants them to stay in the church.

Answer 7

For the same reason the Catholic church taught the same thing. It's control.

Perhaps they believe it, but it's still about control.

Answer 8

You aren't damned for leaving, you just don't get the same rewards.
And I would like to know which one of you is God. Last I knew, He was supposed to be the one to judge us, not our fellow man.

Answer 9

I for one can't wait the questions you ask are not leading these wonderful people to anything. All you want is to harden then against listening to the true love of Christ... Jim

Answer 10

I believe they are scare tactics to keep members in line.
Mormanism is actually a "Cult" not a religion.
If you are this interested, I'd HIGHLY recommend an EXCELLENT book I've read called "The Kingdom of the Cults" - It's a GREAT book! You will Love it!