How can teenage mormons have a testimony when they haven't even seen the most bizarre part of the religion?

Question

The temple is nothing like the rest of the religion and probably comes as a shock or confusion to most people going for the first time. How can someone possibly have a testimony with this vital piece of information missing?

teenagers may even deny that mormons have secret handshakes and oathes.

love yahoo, you haven't been to the temple, and have no idea about what goes on in there, right?

I hated seminary. It was a complete waste of my time. And, it also took away from my time to get real knowledge in school. (Mine was during school hours) I graduated, even though I skipped about half the semester and screwed around the whole time.

My seminary teacher also thought I was a devil worshiper because I listen to Van Halen.

skinny minny, you only experienced a very small part of the temple. Just wait, you'll see the baker's hat and green apron, the handshakes, the secondary names, oaths, etc when you're all growed up.

fuzzylipbalm, there are plenty of cases of molestation within the mormon church. They're just much better at surpressing it. You obviously haven't read stories from exmormon.org. There are thousands and thousands of cases of it.

Answer 1

A very good point...isnt it strange that, as a teenager, i'm apparently old enough to have a "burning testimony" of the "one true gospel" but not old enough not to. At least that's according to my dad. When i told him i didnt believe the crap anymore (i put it a bit more eloquently than that obviously lol) he told me i'm not old enough and havent studied the church enough to make that decision. Oh, but i guess you dont have to study the church to believe it, seeing as i dont know enough not to believe it. That makes perfect sense! See the logic?


Interesting...

Answer 2

I'm a teenager, and I'm Mormon let me explain to you. None of this is bizarre but the Lords work. It all starts with prayer man. The Lord has showed me my own personal witness that he lives in Heaven and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is his Church. Mormons have a program spread across the country called Seminary. It can be taken during high school hours (mostly in Utah) or in the early morning before school. Teachers there are RM's (returned missionaries) and they teach with the spirit and you can feel Heavenly Father, the Lord's, and the Holy Ghost's presence wwhile they teach.
Another program spread across the country is EFY. (Especially for Youth) That teaches you more of the gospel and allows you to feel the Spirit and gain your personal Testimony of Christ.

And your right, the Temple isn't like the rest of the religion. Because the Temple is the Lord's House where people can be sealed for eternity, not just "till death do you part". Where people in Heaven can be baptized. It is truly...the best place on earth.
*EDIT* If you didn't like Seminary, why take it? And you need to learn that a lot of the time... your teachers joke with you. If I told you a Catholic thought I was satan for liking NSYNC as a child, woudl that change your opinion about them?....Seminary in a members eyes is the best opportunity for you. And doing Baptisms for the dead in the Temple is witness enough.
*EDIT* The molestations don't take place from worthy LDS members. Worthy LDS Members would never do that. Secondly, in any religion, sins like that take place, they just seem to be pointed out more with the Mormon church (not that it happens more) go read a book

Answer 3

I am a teenage Mormon and I have a huge testimony and I know all the rumors about the church. I made a 11 page research about the church and the letters in these pages were written in like #11 or #12 so it had small letters.... Sadly, I had the wrong sources by then and I read about polygamy, massacre, Kolob and all the other nasty stuff said about the church. Then I discovered the truth and what's right and what's not and I prayed and I got a testimony.

[EDIT]: I've been in the temple only to do the baptism for the death and about the other things they do there, I have an idea, I kind of know what to expect. I know that there is nothing weird or secret, it's sacred.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as a full testimony. A child's testimony of Christ is a testimony none the less. A Teenager's testimony about the restoration, about the church and about Jesus is a testimony. The temple ceremony's and worship only strengthen your testimony. You have to have a testimony to get into the temple, because it is part of the temple recommend interview. I have done tons of research on the temple ceremony and don't see how it is weird. There is actually a lot of proof that these are primitive and original Christian practices. There is a lot of proof from the clothing (especially in exodus, the priest's garments) and the prayer circles, There are signs of signs and tokens being present back then. There is defiantly washings and anointing (see exodus again). Covenants of righteousness to the Lord have always been present. If you truly do your research, there is nothing that goes against Christianity in the temple ceremonys.

Answer 5

I don't believe that they can have a full testimony until they visit the temple.

I do believe that even a child can see the effect of Christ's teachings in their lives. I know my daughter can testify to the incredible blessings that have been showered on us over the last year after I became an active follower of Christ, and a teen has the same sight that a child has. That will only grow with an understanding of holy ordinances that justify our reasons for existing in the first place.

Answer 6

I can assure you that nothing weird or bizarre goes on in the Temple! Why would you say that there is?
My parents were married in the Temple and my sister ,and I were sealed to them, to be a family unit for time and all eternity! What could be so bad about that?
It was one of the most wonderful things I have ever experienced, and I will never forget it! And after that my testimony was stronger than ever!

Answer 7

I am so glad that you asked this question, and I am curious to see a Mormon's answer. My best friend growing up was mormon and sometimes I would go along to church with her just for something to do. The last couple times I went with her, I found myself wanting to laugh and say "You people actually believe this?" and I never went back after that. Through the years, I have spoken to people that used to belong to the church and/or observed certain things. There are strange things that happen in temples. What I would like to know is- how many people have reconsidered their affiliation with the church after finding out what goes on in there. Maybe some people just need to believe in something so bad that they will believe whatever is told to them, and brainwashed that it is the truth.

Answer 8

Every religion has bizarre things that happen. Like, in the Catholic church, you have all those priests molesting the altar boys. At least that doesn't happen in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Yes maybe there are some weird stuff, and maybe teenagers don't get to see all of it until they are older, but God works in mysterious ways. He is perfect and would not lead us astray.

Answer 9

The temple is a very sacred and beautiful part of the LDS religion. I was happy to go and I'm happy to live my life as a Mormon. No brainwashing needed.

Answer 10

I've been thru the temple, and I don't find it bizarre at all.

And I've read many "stories" on exmormon.org and ask myself on each and every one;

WHAT church ARE they talking about??