Why listen to anti-Mormon sources for what Mormons believe?

Question

Why do so many people listen to anti-Mormon sources like Ed Decker, "Dr." Walter Martin, Jerald and Sandra Tanner, etc., for information on what MOrmons believe, and why? And if you say you've never heard of Ed Decker, you have heard all of the lies he peddles, from other anti-Mormon web sites, like CARM, IRR, MRM, and ex-Mormons.org.

For instance, we do not believe that Mary and God had sex to conceive CHrist. Mormon in Chinese does NOT mean "GATES oF HELL". We do not believe that the Celestial Kingdom is going t be endless "celestial sex" or that women will be eternally pregnant. These are among the lies spread by Ed Decker.

If you want to know what Mormons REALLY believe, you should ask the Mormons.

http://www.lds.org
http://www.mormon.org
http://scriptures.lds.org (to read our scriptures online for free)

I mean, you don't go to the Nazis to learn what Jews believe, and why. You don't go to Baptists to learn what wiccans believe, and why.

All of you non-Mormons tell me you don't believe, but you still don't tell me why you believe all the lies told about us. Why do you listen to these people? No, we wouldn't be biased, we are the ones that are the best able to tell you what we believe and why.

Believe it or not, not only do Mormons accept the Bible as the word of God, I joined the LDS church because of the Bible. The Book of Mormon was just a bonus. I have found it to be the most Biblical church. And I wasn't looking to fit it into the Bible. I knew what I was looking for, and realized that the LDS church was it as I listened to the missionary discussions.

Would you accept the Bible if it were translated incorrectly?

We have no idea if it even WAS translated correctly or not. I do know that, like any book, including the Book of Mormon, it can't be perfect, infallible, or complete, because it was written by men, translated by men, put together by men, and NONE f those men were PERFECT! And God does not interfere in man's agency. So, if man chooses to translated it incorrectly, God would do nothing about it, except find someone who could put it back the way it should be.

The Bible is good the way it is, for right now. If it weren't then we wouldn't accept it as the word of God.

>Ok Mormon, can a person become a god and rule of his own Earth? The web sites you gave us don't even mention this when you look into the purpose of life. Search all you want. If that is the real doctrine why is it not written in those sites? Mormons talk about it. Why is it so hard to get straight answers. I challenge you to get the location of doctrine stating this in a web site offered by the lds church.<<

Stop and think. If you can't find it on any of our official web sites, then perhaps it's NOT DOCTRINE.
MORMONS don't talk about it, nearly as much as anti-Mormons.
Straight answer? Read what Paul said to the Romans and the Galatians, about being HEIRS OF God, and JOINT heirs with Jesus Christ. Then, YOU do the math. And you will know as much as we do.
Believe it or not, we do not have nearly as much "DOCTRINE" as the anti's would have you believe. That's why my original question, which no one has as yet answered to my satisfaction.

Answer 1

Not all the time, but a lot of it deals with validation. There are many other reasons, such as insecurity, ignorance, plain lack of respect. Many people don't really desire to know the truths, but to find inconsistencies from their own faith (which they know is true, which isn't bad). Because it's religion each person should be respected for what they believe. Of course, I do agree that if someone wanted the best and purest information they should go to the source (the horses mouth). I have studied hundreds of religions and did so from reading their books, attending their meetings and interacting with their people (putting myself in their shoes). With many of these people, because they lack any true desire to understand Mormons, there is no need to waste your time.

Answer 2

Ok Mormon, can a person become a god and rule of his own Earth? The web sites you gave us don't even mention this when you look into the purpose of life. Search all you want. If that is the real doctrine why is it not written in those sites? Mormons talk about it. Why is it so hard to get straight answers. I challenge you to get the location of doctrine stating this in a web site offered by the lds church.

Answer 3

They should listen to both sides and decide for themselves. You know as well I do the the non-members are not going to get the full story. They are not going to be told how none of the LDS doctrine is found in the Bible or the Book of Mormon. If the doctrines the LDS hold up so high were important Jesus would have told his disciples. Oh, that's right you don't trust the Bible. Well,I trust the Bible more than any false prophet the LDS church has.
If I go to a Ford dealer to buy a car the salesman will tell me what ever he has to get me to buy the car. If I shop around and do my research I will be better equipped to see if he is trying to sell me a lemon or not.

EDIT
Mormon_4
If the LDS church is the most Biblical Church,then why does it believe the in the Bible "as far as it's translated correctly"? You can't have it both ways. Either the Bible is correct or the LDS doctrines are correct. That's just how it is.
Jessica
Thanks .When I was a kid,before I was LDS, in VBS we always sang that song, the B-I-B-L-E yes, that is the book for me now.

Answer 4

Congrats to you MistyAnne for finding the real truth. I've never been lds, but i do live in the very heavily mormon populated state. Mormons around me think they are "better" than everyone who isn't mormon, and im not trying to be biased. Even mormons i know would say in this area they are different. I just wanted to ask all the mormons where do you get the real truths from?? the BIBLE yep..thats it, thats why it's Gods words. Do you see the Baptists with the book of baptisT?? i've never heard of it, lets write one, and start a new religion. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but thats just how i see the whole thing. The BIBLE is the ONLY book that tells of the REAL Gods words. We all know God is perfect, why would he need a 2nd book that has nothing to do with the 1st?? because its made of the flesh!! Meaning..SIN..I'm sorry if i offended anyone, that is just my opinion, since we all have those. The BIBLE is the only truth you could ever find. ALL (literally all) of my mormon friends don't last very long. Slowly they lose faith..you know why?? cuz its faith of the flesh, not In Jesus Christ. If Jesus was born from God and his "goddess" or whatever, then where does Mary and Joseph come in?? its in the Bible, so something's gotta be wrong there, and it's not the Bible.. so yea!

Answer 5

Mormon_4 - While I love your enthusiasm and have posted a very similar question in the past, I must correct you on two doctrinal principles.

"For instance, we do not believe that Mary and God had sex to conceive CHrist."
We believe Christ to be the literal Son of God. How that worked, we do not know. It was not revealed to us as it is not necessary to our salvation. So it is best to simply not discuss it.

"We do not believe that the Celestial Kingdom is going t be endless "celestial sex" or that women will be eternally pregnant."
Correct about endless sex. But the intimacy between husband and wife is a very important part of our eternal marriage and will be present in the eternities. Also, while we won't be pregnant all the time, we will continue to have children if we attain the Celestial Kingdom.

Answer 6

Everyone is biased to some extent. If you ask questions of a faithful member of any organization about that organization, they are likely to emphasize the positive. If you ask someone who is strongly against the organization, they will emphasize the negative. A balanced approach seems wise.

As you listen to different sources of information, you come to realize that some are more credible than others. By weighing information from the most credible sources and ignoring those who too often distort the facts, you're more likely to gain an understanding of the truth.

God is the most credible source of all and through prayer we can get the answers we most need.

Answer 7

To best answer your question. All the information was given by church records look at the information carefully you get the real answers of true living god. Sandara tanner is good person who loves god. All information is on Church records it proven that Joseph Smith was seal to over 200 hunderd people. This is not anti mormon its the truth.

Answer 8

I was always lead to told that Jesus was conceived like we where. I was also told that I would have more child in the Celestial Kingdom. I being to wonder if everything I was told was a lie.

Answer 9

Actually, I see alot of people that go to Christians to ask about Jews... And there is no real "median" source, people seem either for or against Mormonism..

Answer 10

It compares to going to Burger King to learn about McDonald's. You will get information from a biased source if you go to detractors or antagonists. i am not saying that contrary opinions are bad to listen to, it is that you would not want to base your opinions/impressions ENTIRELY from a biased source. That is the definition of prejudice. You should go to the source as well, as you study something.
That way, you can compare all sources and make a decision about it yourself. That is what I did.
I agree with your position.