What is or is not a Mormon???

[_Uncle Dale]

I do differentiate between antiMormons (as per my definition) and honest critics who legitimately debate or discuss the issues and differences they have regarding the LDS Church without resorting to yellow journalism.

A nice intellectual distinction, perhaps. But had the LDS Church not ended polygamy, and engineered statehood
for Utah, and got their impounded financial resources returned by the U.S. Government, during the 1890s, that
subtle distinction would have been totally lost upon the LDS leaders-in-hiding...... that is, when Joseph Smith III
received his hoped-for appointment as Governor of Utah Territory, and the RLDS elders began moving in, to
dismantle the LDS structure.

Today only the FLDS have such grand dreams, of destroying and displacing the CofJCoLDS.

But I know from personal experience, that it was a destruction sincerely prayed for in RLDS circles down at
least until the 1970s --- and is still the expectation of many "fundamentalist" Reorganites, who await the day
that God will destroy the LDS Church, and totally cleanse the "apostate leaders" from Community of Christ.

Thus, I see my style of anti-Mormonism as being far more dangerous than that of Ed Decker or Sandra Tanner.

Uncle Dale

[_Sam Harris]

A non Mormon is someone who has never been LDS.

Would that make Warren Jeffs (FLDS) and Emma Hale Smith (RLDS) non-Mormons?

Or the Three Nephites? Or Moroni the son of Mormon? Or David Whitmer?

?????

Uncle Dale

Oh good grief. Non-Mormon is someone who has never been Mormon. Are you happy?

Before the population here gets their garments any more in a wad (for those who wear them), labels exist outside the Mormon churches, too. Fundie Christian, Militant Muslim, the list goes on. It labels behavior. If you don't like the label, change the behavior. I'm a liberal, progressive, evangelical Christian. Something few can understand, because they don't know the definition of one third of the label. So what.

[_moksha]

A few other terms that ought to be in the mix are liberal and conservative Mormons. Since the conservatives are in the majority, they get to claim the label of being Orthodox, but it is a misnomer to refer to them exclusively as True Believing Mormons, since liberal Mormons also hold that they are true to their beliefs as well.

[_harmony]

Oh good grief. Non-Mormon is someone who has never been Mormon. Are you happy?

That would be Christ.

Before the population here gets their garments any more in a wad (for those who wear them), labels exist outside the Mormon churches, too. Fundie Christian, Militant Muslim, the list goes on. It labels behavior. If you don't like the label, change the behavior. I'm a liberal, progressive, evangelical Christian. Something few can understand, because they don't know the definition of one third of the label. So what.

I was reading the other day that the Religious Right is dead. That Evangelicals have distanced themselves from those on the Religious Right and have moved back towards the center. What is your experience with that, GIMR?

[_Jersey Girl]

GIMR,

A person who has never been Mormon is called a never-Mo on these boards. A person who is Non-LDS would be someone who simply isn't LDS.

An ex-Mo could be a non-LDS
A never-Mo could be a non-LDS
A Catholic, etc could be a non-LDS
An athiest or agnostic could be a non-LDs

Am I making sense? There's always a first time...

Jersey Girl

[_twinkie]

Someone who intentionally lies and sensationalizes about the LDS Church.

Perhaps some might see it that way -- but I have been an anti-Mormon for most of my adult life. I remember
preaching against Mormonism at the Utah State Fair and elsewhere, as far back as 1979.

I do differentiate between antiMormons (as per my definition) and honest critics who legitimately debate or discuss the issues and differences they have regarding the LDS Church without resorting to yellow journalism.

Don't forget JACK

One who is a member but does not believe in or accept one or more significant doctrines and/or a host of minor ones. In my experience, they often go out of their way to remain ignorant in hopes (false hope) of later being able to excuse their beliefs and behavior.

And speaking of JACK, what about SQUAT? lol

Well, I guess I'm a Jack Mormon then. I disagree that I am trying to remain ignorant, in fact I am trying to investigate things fully. I have only been a Mormon for a little over a year, and you know, there are A LOT of things they don't tell you during the discussions and I think that is so they don't scare you off.

[_harmony]

Well, I guess I'm a Jack Mormon then. I disagree that I am trying to remain ignorant, in fact I am trying to investigate things fully. I have only been a Mormon for a little over a year, and you know, there are A LOT of things they don't tell you during the discussions and I think that is so they don't scare you off.

Interesting perspective, Twinkie. I also am a convert. What do you think was kept from you, in order to not scare you off?

[_twinkie]

Thanks for asking, Harmony. Well, I just found out about a planet named KOLOB here! Someone in Gospel principles had taught the "becoming a god" thing - they did a big diagram on the chalkboard and talked about the different kingdoms and celestial being the highest and having to be married if you wanted the highest glory. I sat there thinking, "HUH???"

I think that is my biggest problem with the church doctrine. I feel it is wrong to desire that which is God's. I don't think I would have become a member if I had known that.

There were other little things, like they never, ever mentioned the other books like the Book of Abraham. I suppose that was to avoid any further probing into that. I had no idea that there were Doctrines and Covenants, etc. I wonder what I would have thought if I had been able to read that?

[_Sam Harris]

Oh good grief. Non-Mormon is someone who has never been Mormon. Are you happy?

That would be Christ.

Before the population here gets their garments any more in a wad (for those who wear them), labels exist outside the Mormon churches, too. Fundie Christian, Militant Muslim, the list goes on. It labels behavior. If you don't like the label, change the behavior. I'm a liberal, progressive, evangelical Christian. Something few can understand, because they don't know the definition of one third of the label. So what.

I was reading the other day that the Religious Right is dead. That Evangelicals have distanced themselves from those on the Religious Right and have moved back towards the center. What is your experience with that, GIMR?

Hey Harmony,

I think that a lot of EVs are trying to get back to the "Good News" part of the Gospel, and realize that marginalizing people is not going to get them there. My experience with EVs (at least within the influence of my church and the few that I do visit when I feel like leaving the house on sunday) is that of a group of people passionately committed to really being a family within the body of Christ. The idea that you need to belong to a certain affiliation/denomination is now being downplayed, and an emphasis on finding the ministry that "feeds" you the best. I like this. I feel that this is right, that not everybody speaks the same spiritual language. Some people are better fed as Mormons, some are better fed as Muslims, some are better fed as Catholics, some better fed as Buddhists, the list goes on.

Me, I'm better fed through a more "scientific" (horrid description, but the best I can do) approach to theology, and my faith to begin with. We're all trying to view God through our own lenses, and everyone comes at it a different way. I have no problem with that. It's when the lenses that we look through cause us to want to take down that which is different that I have a problem with. In other words, religious extremes.

And you are right...did Christ actually start a movement or a denomination?

[_Sam Harris]

GIMR,

A person who has never been Mormon is called a never-Mo on these boards. A person who is Non-LDS would be someone who simply isn't LDS.

An ex-Mo could be a non-LDS
A never-Mo could be a non-LDS
A Catholic, etc could be a non-LDS
An athiest or agnostic could be a non-LDs

Am I making sense? There's always a first time...

Jersey Girl

I've been schooled! :D

I'll learn the language someday...

When in Rome...