best friend is mormon?

Question

my best friend is a mormon, and he's been one his entire life. he's the nicest, most genuine person i know. he doesn't drink, smoke, get in fights or anything like that. his family is always willing to help people out. and i realize that his family's beliefs are different compared to others, but why do people feel it is necessary to look down on him and his family??

the other day, he and i got into a discussion with someone we both know from school, and this guy started telling him how he wasn't going to heaven and how he was a brainwashed moron for what he believes.

do you know what my friend's response was?

"you have your beliefs and i have mine"

and to tell you the truth, that's exactly the way i expected him to react. because that's how he was brought up. i see all the time mormons getting ridiculed on TV and the internet, etc, but is it christian-like behavior to bash followers of another faith like this?

i think not. it's ridiculous.

mormons are nice people.

Answer 1

I don't think that anyone should be ridiculed. Mormons, at least the ones I know, are just as you described, genuinely good people. But good works and an upright attitude do not constitute salvation. There are alot of things wrong with mormonism, but you'll never convince them otherwise.

Answer 2

The above answerer states: "I believe the Jesus of the Bible to be essential for eternal salvation", which is exactly what Mormons believe. There are some good answers here, but I must also state that you will find bad people in all religions, including the Mormon religion. On a grand scale they are good people and are taught to respect all people regardless of their faith, but they aren't perfect, even though many people expect them to be perfect. We are all human and all make mistakes, which is just another reason we shouldn't judge other people, but should be respectful of everyone. It is okay to disagree with someone (I'm Mormon married to an agnostic...and we really disagree), but we shouldn't tear someone down and we should tell them they are idiots or wierd or anything of the such. Religion is based on faith and is individualistic. You could attack any religion, but we shouldn't. I think we all know this, deep down.

Answer 3

Thank you. I am LDS myself, and I recognize that I hold very different beliefs form most people in this section, yet I can deal with that. I have felt what I have felt, and I have seen what I have seen. I cannot deny the experiences of others. God loves us all, and I think we all need to recognize that. I appreciate the respect that you show your friend even when people criticize him. I think most criticism comes from ignorance about LDS beliefs. No one is really to blame though, because it is done with all religions. Mormons just seem to be singled out more, because some of our beliefs are so different from other current interpretations of the bible. You are right to look at your friend's works. I respect anyone who stands by their beliefs whether I agree with them or not.

Answer 4

I once had a friend who was into drugs, and eventually had her children taken from her. She was also involved in gangs. We were close for a while, until she worried that her lifestyle would cause me problems, then she broke it off.

But, when we were talking and she said something about lifestyles and how her gang friends thought about certain people, and I said, wonder what they'd call me? She promptly answered

Lucky.

Yes, and my children are lucky, they've looked at life from both sides now, and they are making GOOD decisions. Like what they are taught in Primary, CTR; Choose The Right. And I think that this is due to the gospel message AS TAUGHT BY THE LDS CHURCH. Because I was brought up Protestant, and I learned my morals more from my parents, than from the church.

To Esther: Don't you think that it's up to GOD to judge who is and isn't going to hell? I mean, Jesus said Judge not, that ye be not judged, for with what judgment YOU judge, so shall you also be judged. IMHO, that applies to those who attempt to usurp God's position as our final judge.

YOU don't know that ANYONE in particular is going to hell. You don't KNOW that Mormons are going to hell. And it's that sort of sanctimonious, self-righteous, judgmental attitude that just really turns people off. And besides, I find it very distasteful to try to turn people to Christ by "scaring the hell out of them". Fear is not the best way to find faith.

Answer 5

Steven Covey, the guy who wrote "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" is Mormon. One of my Mormon friends suggested an early book of his called "the Spiritual Roots of Human Relations". It is an interesting read both in seeing where some of his later work came from, and in gaining insight into Mormonism. Mormons (can be) nice people.

Answer 6

If people have been attacking your friend for his beliefs, that's too bad. No one should be attacked for what they believe. However, I also think it's perfectly okay for someone else to state that they consider a belief to be wrong and why. I also have several LDS friends, and while they are wonderful people, I worry about their eternal salvation because they don't believe in the Jesus of the Bible but rather a Jesus which has been created by Joseph Smith and other false prophets. The only use their religion has for the Bible is to take certain scriptures and use them out of context to show what they believe to be true. As a Christian, I believe the Jesus of the Bible to be essential for eternal salvation. If someone could come to Heaven any way, I would be perfectly fine with people being members of the LDS Church, but the Bible clearly teaches otherwise.

Answer 7

My daughter converted to LDS (Mormonism) when she was 17. I felt it was her choice to serve God in what ever way she needed to. Her and her husband are both members of the LDS and are wonderful people. As you said, the bad publicity that surrounds the Mormon community is just a sad way for people to bash something they don't understand. If we don't understand something we try to eliminate it because we are afraid of it. Good heaven's it might bite back and effect 'my children' in a bad way. With that mentality, are they really being good Christians? No. God makes the choices of who we are and what faith we follow. If we truly believed and had faith in that notion...we would all be better people. This is a good question. As you grow with your friend by your side, you will grow to a better person too. You already have great insight!

Answer 8

I have to agree that Mormons are nice people, at least the ones I have met. I would also have to say that we have no right to judge anothers belief, there is One who will do that without our help, and He reads the hearts of men and women.

Answer 9

It's never okay to look down on someone just because they believe something different than you. I'm of the same faith (LDS) and I must say it's encouraging to see statements like this from non-members.

And you're right. It's not Christian-like behavior at all. I wouldn't bash anyone else's beliefs, and I wouldn't want anyone else to bash mine. We all have the right to have our opinions respected.

Answer 10

The nicest people on the planet are also the most vilified in the West. I am talking about Muslims of course.
I don't have a problem being critical of people's beliefs. I ardently disagree with Hitler, for example. What I do have a problem with is the idea that "my" beliefs are right and therefore yours are of the devil. More of an unloving attitude to me.

JoMo

Answer 11

How funny, my best friend is a Mormon too (and I'm a Pagan Atheist). She is the sweetest dearest friend I have ever had. I love Mormons.....they walk their talk. I do not agree with her beliefs, but she actually practices her faith and you can see it in her life....more than I can say for 99% of other christians.