To LDS people or "Mormons" Why do you believe what you do?

Question

I just don't understand how you can believe what you do! I don't think that "I have faith" is an answer. I am not trying to be rude I really just want to understand. :)

I guess what I am asking is that to my understanding LDS people believe that you have to be LDS to go to heaven. I think that is the major point that makes LDS people different from other religions. I just want to understand what made you choose LDS over all the other major religions.

Correct me if I am wrong but you do have to be LDS to have the highest level of glory and be able to "make your own worlds" LDS people believe that by reaching the "top" kingdom that you can become a god, to do that you have to be LDS.

Answer 1

Well, the beliefs are just specific enough to where you have to kind of be "all in" or "all out." People who actively participate in the church but who refuse to believe in it are condemned by the doctrine and policies of the Church. This is why my position as an active, disbelieving mormon receives so much heat from other members.

The LDS Church isn't just a church. It's a culture. Your friends are LDS. You spend time together not just on Sunday, but throughout the week with your callings. It is the "in thing" to believe in the Church. You are taught what a special blessing it is to have found the church, and that feeling of "divine selection" permeates into all facets of LDS life. It is thought of as a divine gift to know the Church and to belong to it. Once a young member or potential investigator has surrounded him/herself sufficiently in the LDS Culture, there is a great vested personal interest in the truth of the LDS doctrines. If they are true, the person keeps friends and social status. If they are false, the person must admit to him/herself that he/she has chosen an incorrect path and thus wasted a lot of time and effort. So, naturally, when such a person prays to know whether the church is true will automatically *feel good* about the Church feeling true, prompting a warm fuzzy feeling that the person then interprets as an answer from God.

Basically, you can't believe "most" of what the church teaches, simply due to the principle of living prophets and continuing revelation. If you pick a particular piece of doctrine that you don't like, you suddenly have to call into question the entire faith, since every principle of the LDS gospel was revealed to one of their prophets at one time or another. Admitting that a canonized revelation might be "false" ruins the credibility of every other canonized revelation of that prophet. By default, it also puts subsequent prophets into question because false revelations would throw the entire church and priesthood into apostasy, as the LDS Church claims happened to the primitive Christian church.

Any particularly difficult point of doctrine (or piece of history) that might otherwise call a prophet's authority into question is generally supported by later "continuing revelation" to back it up and make it more reasonable. For instance, after Joseph Smith's polygamy began to become public knowledge in 1841-1842, there were doctrines about eternal sealings, Heavenly Mother, Jesus' marriage(s), and eternal progression that were "revealed" as an answer to "why would God want us to practice this?".

It's kind of like the Constitution. You either accept it, or you don't. You can't pick which parts of it are relevant and which aren't. The LDS Church's dogma/doctrine is much the same way, and that's why Mormons are so pro-Mormon, while anti-Mormons are so anti-Mormon. Anyone like me who wishes to play the middle is labeled by each side as the other, and loses a great chunk of credibility, even in the face of enormous evidence justifying his/her position.

Answer 2

I hope this helps. You do not have to be L.D.S. to make into the Celestial Kingdom. I mean, if a two-year old Catholic child dies, at that age they are innocent and will be some of the ones that will make it. Up to eight years old will be among the ones that will make it. I personally think that people like Mother Teresa has a good chance, but as I am not God, I am not sure.

Making your own worlds is an invention of a guy by the name of Ed Decker. We believe that we "might become gods". That is god, little "g". We will never take God's place. And in such a position, will continue to worship Him.

Answer 3

I would like to answer your question with a question. Why do you believe what you do? Everyone has free choice and everyone has the right to believe whatever. I can guarantee that you have not completely looked into the Mormon Faith, because there are so, so many good things, especially in the Book of Mormon. I am not a Mormon, but I have investigated many religions and I do not question members of a particular Church, because maybe I don't agree with some of the "stuff" that they do.

Concentrate on yourself, be the best that YOU can be. and then you will be living your faith, the best possible way.

Answer 4

I believe what I do, because God told me this is true. For a more detailed description of my testimony, follow this link:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-cYmVP24zNaHG4nKaKeDDGfyd

As far as your other questions are concerned, here are my answers... We believe that everyone will go to heaven, whether they are LDS or not. [Actually, it is possible for one to be denied heaven, by committing the unpardonable sin (blasphemy of the Holy Ghost), but to do so would basically require one to have a perfect knowledge of the truth].

As far as heaven is concerned, we believe there are different glories (celestial, terrestrial, telestial), but to inherit the highest (celestial) kingdom one must be baptized by one having the proper authority and keep the commandments.

There is no doctrine which teaches that we will "make our own worlds". It is true, however, that we have the potential to become like our Father in heaven; that is, we can become gods. We are, after all, children of a God. He has promised us everything that he has. Nevertheless, we will always be subservient to our God.

Answer 5

Why do you like bananas? Maybe it's because you took a bite, and savored it and found it to be delicious and satisfied your hunger.
That's why I believe as I do- and no, I don't think you're rude-- it's a natural question. I learned about the faith, took a bite, savored it and found it met and satisfied my hunger for truth.
The gospel brings me peace and joy and feels familiar to me-- like I was born knowing these things, and just needed to be reminded.
As far as the other questions about heaven and stuff- I just want to keep it simple and say that God loves us and is very fair- and He'll do the sorting out. As far as the rest, it's a little hard to understand calculas when I'm still working on my times tables. As we grow and learn more things begin to make sense- line upon line, precept on precept. Sometimes our beliefs are taken out of context by those who would like to confuse people, and just like trying to solve the most difficult math problems- it helps a lot if we already know our times tables. That's also true about eternal life- it's a pretty big subject, and there is a lot to learn along the way.
God bless you- and by the way, thanks for asking.

Answer 6

You have been misinformed about both Mormon Christian and orthodox Christian beliefs. Mormons do not believe that only LDS can go to heaven. On the other hand, many orthodox Christians (Catholics, Evangelicals, etc.) believe that only Christians can go to heaven. In this sense, Mormons are more theologically liberal that orthodox Christians.

We believe that those who do not take the steps to come to God in this life will have the opportunity to do so after death. Thus a non-Mormon can make it to the Celestial Kingdom if he/she tries to follow God in this life and continues to follow God after death.

If you'd like to further understand the details of what I've said, please visit my web site. Here's some pertinent pages:

http://www.allaboutmormons.com/mormon_beliefs_family_temple.php#TempleWork

http://www.allaboutmormons.com/mormon_beliefs_jesus_christ.php

Answer 7

What specific belief are you referring to? We have many and there are also many many misconceptions out there about our beliefs.

EDIT: Actually, we don't believe that. And I think just about every other religion DOES believe that. Do you know how many times I've been told I'm going to hell?

We believe in outer darkness (which very very very few will go to) and we believe in 3 kingdoms (basically 3 different levels of heaven). Everyone will receive some degree of glory and be happy in the next life (well, except for the few who go to eternal darkness).

try www.mormon.org to answer any other questions you have about our beliefs.

Answer 8

I'm not too sure what you mean, please specify a subject.
There are many false info about what we believe, I want to be sure the question before answering.

Most Chritian religions believe they are the way to heaven, so LDS is not alone on that concept.
LDS or not , this is what I always keep in mind: Jesus taught,

21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(New Testament | Matthew 7:21)

Choosing a religion sometime base on what relationship you desire of God, or to some, no God at all.
Personally, I believe God to be more than just a super being that created us.
The relationship as show clearly in this scripture:

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
(New Testament | John 20:17)

We are children of God, God the Eternal Father is our heavenly parent. From the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we get to know that , we are here to learn, and experience, and if we righteous, we can return to Heaven, and be come like our Heavenly parent.
To me, LDS doctrine show me there is Eternal progression that most other religion mention little of. For example, the concept of marriage, LDS believe marriage can be eternal, like God is eternal.
I can not believe marriage is just for this life. It is illogical to think that ,God the firm teacher of family unity, that marriage will end at death, and heaven is a place full of singles.
I love my wife and kids, heaven would be a lonely place, if we are not related.
We are the children of God, as stated many times in scriptures. "Children of God" imply we are a family, ....a Eternal Family.

Answer 9

I believe that gospel is true because I have asked my Heavenly Father and have received answers. That's it. I know it because I have been told in my heart and in my mind, from the only one who cannot lie, the Lord, through the Holy Ghost.
I cannot give any better answer than that. It's like asking a person how you know when you are in love, you just know through many expereinces...
Although we don't believe "all LDS" get into the Celestial Kingdom, or that you "have to be" LDS to enter, we do believe there are certain ordinances that must be performed and promises made and kept that qualify one for entrance...and the LDS church is the only one which provides ways for those ordinances to be performed - which are in the temple and at the waters of baptism.

Answer 10

I have often wondered why the 1831 "revelations" of Joseph Smith started such a movement. If you look at historical sites, rather than LDS sponsored sites. His first wife, Emma, did not share his belief on multiple wives. Most were teen girls, just a few less were in their early twenties and many of them were married to him in secret. Some accounts have the youngest wife listed as eleven. I am not trying to be rude, either, but chances are good we will both be reported. It's worth it. History is history, no matter how you want to put lipstick on a dirty fact.
Edit: The RCC also claims to have the only way to salvation, along with some other Christians. Any true Christian who gleefully tells anyone that they are going to hell is sadly mistaken about the Lord of the Harvest who will separate the wheat from the tares. God's job, not mine.