I must know. Why do so many people speak so ill of Latter-Day Saints?

Question

I will never understand why you feel like you have to tell us to repent becaue we dont' believe in Christ. NEWS FLASH The actual name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We believe the Bible and the Book of Mormon work hand in hand to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of love, peace, tolerance, kindness, forgivness, etc... Isn't it ok for us to preach these things. Or do you people who have no real set of beliefs think its ok to live your life as cruel, heartless, mean individuals?? Even if you don't agree with it we arn't trying to make you and if you don't want to hear it, don't listen and don't ask and don't leave rude comments under questions about the Mormon religion. Ask yourself this, if it really wasn't true. Why would so many people be working so hard to keep people from learning it???? Makes you think huh??

Answer 1

Picture it from the other perspective:

Say you're in the seminary as a (insert belief here). You've studied the literature of your faith your entire life, maybe about to get your own church or a high calling of some kind.
Suddenly, you meet an overenthusiastic Latter-Day Saint.
He tells you of new prophets of God, new scripture, new revelations, and new covenants...but they're all for someone else's church.
Oh... and that Christ himself said that all other churches taught at least a little incorrect doctrine.

Picture the feelings of that future minister.
Indignance and anger would be my first reactions, whether the claims were truthful or not. Of course, the minister then sets it in his heart to defend his doctrine. Many various ministers then come together and singularly focus on the LDS to create an 'us vs. them' mentality. This unifies the faiths on at least one common ground, temporarily forgetting their own divisions.

Answer 2

I think Georgia Peach has it right, people tend to fear the unknown, and there is a lot of that in this day and age.
Remember that it has been said that in the last days times would be hard and the believers would find their Faith tested at every turn. As far as anyone truly believes, we are all entitled to believe and worship how where and what we may. God is the Ultimate and Last Judge, and He is the one that will ultimately decide our fates, so I feel that respect is what should be given to all beliefs even when they seem so foreign that they scare us.
And everyone is entitled to their opinions, so be careful in quoting someone and saying you can dish it out but not take it.

Answer 3

Then I will explain as to my detestment of the Mormons and their faith.

I had a Mormon tell me that because of my faith (Catholic), I would be going to hell.

My brother got married Mormon and, at the wedding, I bumped into a small child and I apologized.

Mom snatched the child away, muttering to him, "Don't let him touch you; he is the devil in disguise!"

You may preach "love, peace, tolerance, kindness", but I never get that feeling from the Missionaries that ring my doorbell or accost me on the streets.

I make no comments about Mormonism, accepting your faith and belief. Why can't I get the same respect in return?

Answer 4

I was raised Mormon. I realized the teachings had problems when I was 12 because they weren't consistent and they taught bigotry.

I now believe that all religions are man-made. I criticize all religions, but primarily Christianity, but only because Christianity is so dominant in the U.S. If it makes you feel any better, I consider Mormons to be Christians.

How much do you really know about the true history of the L.D.S. church? Have you read independent accounts of Joseph Smith? Have you looked to see if there is any evidence for or against the claims about native american indians? Have you spent any time comparing the text of the Book of Mormon to other religious texts available to Joseph Smith to see if there was any plagiarism?

Answer 5

Just from reading responses from anti-Mormons to questions like this, I have a few ideas as to why they do this.

1. They are childish and immature.

2. They are insecure with their own faith, and must put down any and all who don't believe exactly as they do, so they can feel more "secure" in their own faith.

3. if they are ex-Mormon, they feel scared that they have burnt their bridges and might have made a mistake, so they must (see #2) to feel justified in leaving the church.

4. They're childish and immature.

5. They hear from others who are supposedly reliable sources (why would my pastor lie to me?) about what Mormons believe, and that makes them feel justified in attacking what they really don't know.

6. They are childish and immature.

Answer 6

it's very simple: The annoying missionaries who in their immature and unsophisticated theological 'arguments' are by far the most irritating and unnecessary part of your religion. It's like being constantly and unrelentingly forced to listen how great your gospel is, when in truth the entire religion is based on a lie (gold plates) and hoax (Book of Mormon).

You push our buttons with your incessant insistence that only YOU have the true gospel, then berate those who strongly believe in their own faith.

It the mormons who:
Are childish and immature.
Are insecure with their own faith, and must put down any and all who don't believe exactly as they do, so they can feel more "secure" in their own faith.
Criticize and ostracize ex-mormons, claiming 'they feel scared that they have burnt their bridges and might have made a mistake, so they feel justified in leaving the church.'
Are childish and immature.
Refuse to hear from others who are supposedly reliable sources about what other faiths believe, and that makes them feel justified in attacking what they really don't know.
Are childish and immature.

Apparently you can dish it out but you can't take it.

Answer 7

Don't take it personally, I speak ill of all faiths with a Middle Eastern origin. Praying for the world to end is evil. You're all extremists. Extremists splinter off into groups that fight each other over who has the Right Message. You see this with Sunni and Shea Muslims too, Catholics/Protestents. I worship the gods/goddesses of my anscestors and wonder why none of you people can question yourself, your faith, your upbringing enought to find real truth instead of just doing what you're used to, always assuming what you've always done is the Right Thing without even testing it and seeing where that takes you.

Answer 8

I'm LDS, too, and I don't understand the persecution. I understand opposition and the adversary working against us, but I don't understand why we're persecuted more than most other religions are. However, I know we'll be blessed for it. Read 3 Ne. again. In one chapter, when Jesus is listing the beatitudes, he says that the religiously persecuted will be blessed.

Answer 9

Most Mormons are nice people. But Bible-believing, born again Christians regard the Book of Mormon as false doctrine.

Answer 10

Many people don't understand our beliefs so they just bash us and try their best to put us down, that's not good because it makes them arrogant and somewhat ignorant since they don't understand our religion so they don't know what they're talking about.

I don't think that Jesus would put down the people who worship him and his father and tries its best to be like him and be a blessing for others <----- to these who say they "speak in the name of Jesus"

Always remember about the tonge of angels. Read the discoiurse given by Elder Holland in the last general confference and 2Nephi: 32 (my fav scripture, BTW) :P