Are Mormons really discouraged from asking questions about their faith?

Question

God tells us to question. Would you be excommunicated if you asked questions?

Were those people truthful that were part of the PBS program?

No, those are your words not God's. We are suppose to study and prove the scriptures to see if they are of God.

Answer 1

No, they are not discouraged from asking questions. Questions about faith are encouraged. The common answer is "to get on your knees and pray and God will give you an answer". They are discouraged from asking questions that might cause some "disturbance" though. If you have some fact to add to your questions, you should expect excommunication. Sad, but true.

Answer 2

NO, we are actually encouraged to ask questions about our faith. You're right, God does tell us to question. While there have been people excommunicated while asking questions, it is my opinion (even though I have no basis for this - no one I know has been ex'ed) that it was not the topic of their quesitons or the issues brought up but more of the tone and over all feel of the person and their attitude toward the church. Peoples attitudes become rather hard hearted when they are about to leave the church.

Were the people truthful on the PBS special? It depends on who your believing. Those representing the church (the Prophet Gordon B Hinckley, Elder Holland, President Packer, Elder Oaks, the Church Historian ... is it Marvin K Jenson?) were. The members were, but they mostly just talked about their personal experiences. The only ones I had any problems with were the former members when they spoke of things that used to happen as if they still happened.
Generally speaking, while there were errors in it, but nothing that seemed to be dwelt upon or given a second look. Almost the first sentence on the first night said something like we believe/treat Joseph Smith as the Alpha and Omega of the faith. That was a blatent lie. We have never treated him as the Alpha and Omega of the faith - that phrase "Alpha and Omega" is a Biblical phrase used to represent the Savior Jesus Christ. Saying that makes it sound like we worship Joseph Smith, which we SO don't. It got my dander up more than a little to hear that. That's just an example of some of the things said that weren't true. I would say over 80% was true, which was more than I expected.

Answer 3

We are free to ask questions about our faith, but are not free to write books, journals, and editorials that criticize the Church and its doctrines, reshape and rewrite the tenets of our religion that runs counter to our faith.

I, too, watched Part II of "The Mormons" last night. I agree that insufficient time was spent explaining our beliefs in Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and, AS IMPORTANT, the God of this earth because it was He that created this world and countless others. That is why the Lord is often called the Father, but not meaning the Eternal Father--His father.

Overall, the PBS special was well presented and attractive. I felt there weren't enough positive people--current and faithful members--that offered their views as opposed to the learned scholars and writers that had been excommunicated because of their indiscretions.

The topic of Joseph Smith and his influence in the Church was expounded because no other church claims to have a living prophet of God leading them as we do. Although I enjoyed the PBS presentation, the program did not drive home the important aspect of what the Church believes--that we believe in the Eternal God the Father, the Son of God, which is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

The presentation did expound on our view of polygamy then and now, and for the uninformed, that was important.

One last item: Brigham Young seldom wrote his comments; he had scribes write them and the myth that Adam was once God is ludicrous, incorrect. Adam has never been a god to us, but simply the patriarch of the race.

Note: Tonya's post about the comment of the Alpha and the Omega reminded me that the beginning statement was a startling debasing of the truth of the Gospel. She is absolutely correct. That identification holds only to the Savior, Jesus Christ, and none other.

Answer 4

The director's purpose on the program was to show that mormons are fake, etc... just being mean so they just interviewed ex mormons and anti-mormons. Why didn't they interview Gordon B. Hinkley? Ahhh becasue his answers on the interview would be contradicting the director's purpose. You can ask all questions you want in order to keep learning, if you have any doubt you just can't be wondering for the rest of your life just because you're scared to ask. You will always get an answer. It is the same with your classes at school, if you ask your teacher a question about the class, he/she can't give you an F grade in that class just because you had a question.

Answer 5

Nobody has ever been told to follow on blind faith alone. We have always been taught to think it out in our minds, come to a conclusion and then present it in prayer to God. Listen and feel for the answer of comfort or confusion confirming either yea or nay to your petition. Furthermore, Jesus taught that if any man will do his will, he will know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether he speaks for himself. That principle can be applied to whatever teaching is given from the pulpit or not. We are expected to use the agency God gave us to make intelligent choices.
On the other hand, if we don't know whether something is right or wrong, and we haven't had time to think it through and ask about it, then we should be obedient to the priesthood authorities until such time as we gain a testimony of the truth. Then we can rely upon our own revelations and not just on the revelations of others.

Answer 6

No we are not discouraged from asking questions. No we are not excommunicated for asking questions. The problem comes when people don't really want answers and just attack.

Have a great day! :)

Answer 7

You would not be excommunicated for asking questions, questions are encouraged. We are also encouraged to pray abou things that we feel we need answers too. What people were excommunicated for that spoke in the PBS special was not for asking questions, but for printing and circulating things contrary to what we believe. This is consider an apostate. Think about it- if a member of a congregation was actively presuing people of that congregation to agree with with things not in accordance of your sects beliefs, would you allow them to continue to influence themand stay a member? For christians, it would be as if someone were telling people that prayer is useless. It's core to the religion and when someone clearly doen't believe in that, you're not going to allow them to persuade the congragation. For catholics it would be like someone saying that Mary wasn't a virgin. It completley undermines teachings and doctrine. I think most people in religions are excommunicated for apostatism. And the man who was an artist was excommunicated for commiting adultry, i'm assuming with another man since he said he was gay. We actually have open forums for college students called institute that encourage open discussion and questions. And it is open to non-members and members alike.

Answer 8

Asking questions is not a problem. Anyone can ask anything of anyone.

The problems come when someone gets a little crazy, starts asking questions for which they don't want answers, they want changes made the way THEY want, and not the way the prophet and apostles believe GOD wants it. It's called apostasy.

Answer 9

I know a woman who went to the Mormon Church from another Religious Sect and she had a lot of questions regarding what they believe, taught and perceived.

She was not ex-communicated, but was not allowed to have a calling in the Church because of her beliefs of her own human-rights over that of "God".

Answer 10

Excommunicated for asking questions. That is sad. I am not Mormon but My church encourages us to ask. If they don't have the answer they will find out.