Twice a year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints holds a conference where there leaders of our church counsel it's members of the gospel principles that we believe to be true. If you live in Utah, this conference is broadcast on television on the local stations. Twice a year these teachings usually cause some sort of controversy that inevitably ends up on the internet and is shared by people through twitter and Facebook which spreads like wild fire. I respect every one's opinions and do not believe that everyone needs to believe as I do. I value the different perspectives people have about life, politics and religion and think we all have something positive to add as long as it is added respectfully and tactfully. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I live it (not perfectly) and LOVE it and am saddened when people post things for others to see that isn't an accurate teaching of a church that teaches nothing but love for others regardless of who they are, what they believe and the choices they make. I'm writing today to post accurate information about some of the top misunderstandings of the Mormon religion. Now, I'm not a scriptorium and for this reason I had to do a lot of research about these topics to make sure I posted the most accurate information I could.
POLYGAMY
Polygamy was practiced in the mid to late 1800's by the Mormon pioneers. However, this was not a free for all thing. Only a small percentage of Mormon men were commanded to have multiple wives and it wasn't for the reason that many may think. These men commonly married widowed women and took care and provided for not only the women but the children that were fathered by their previous husbands. Many Mormon pioneer men died in their trek to Utah leaving women and children to take care of themselves. This is one reason we know of that polygamy was commanded during this time. Throughout the bible God commanded other prophets to have multiple wives such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon. The practice of polygamy in the late 1800's was short lived and in 1890 God commanded plural marriage to cease.
Directly from mormon.org:
"In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage."
With the uprising in the world today about equal marriage rights and the church's firm stance on this issue, the former practice of polygamy is brought up time and time again. Hopefully I shed a little bit light and truth on when and why polygamy was practiced by the Latter Day Saints and let people come to know that polygamy wasn't practiced out of perversion.
BLACKS AND THE PRIESTHOOD
"Commonly we are called racist when people refer to the treatment of the black community from the Mormon church. There are many misunderstandings when this "segregation" was occurring. Blacks could be members of the church since our church was made. Some of the best members who joined were slaves who were freed after the Civil War. Blacks could go through the temple, they could participate fully in church meetings, and there were never "colored only" churches vs. "whites only" in the Mormon community. Blacks were in the leadership positions too as they helped side by side with whites to help our church grow. The only area where there was a difference of equality was the subject of Blacks holding the priesthood. In 1978, Blacks could now hold all ranks of the priesthood and equality was established to every male in the world; an equality that exists today. But why did the blacks not have access to the priesthood until 1978? The simple answer is that God requested it. In the Old Testament, there was segregation of the priesthood even in Ancient Israel. There were the 12 tribes, and only one tribe was allowed to have the priesthood (Levi). Levites were the only ones who could administer the priesthood, even though the House of Israel were all the same race. There was segregation back then, and there was segregation to this day and age. Now there is no more segregation and now every race of any kind can participate in the priesthood." -mormon.org
There are MANY misunderstandings here. Most people are not okay with the simple fact of "God requested it". Anything and everything the church has ever done has always been in careful and prayerful consideration. The biggest question for me is...At that time shortly after the civil war, was the world ready to accept a new church that allowed blacks the priesthood power? God didn't cause the racial divide between his children, we did that all on our own. The members of the church have been counseled since the beginning that we are to love everyone, be kind to everyone, serve others and to NEVER think we are superior to anyone!
SAME SEX MARRIAGE
I'm not going to get into this one much because it is a VERY sensitive subject to MANY people right now. All I'm going to say is what most of you already know, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believes marriage is ordained of God between a man and a woman. Period. End of story. HOWEVER, no where in the teachings of the leaders of the church does it say that we should shun, disown, judge or hate any person who has same sex attraction or is married to the same sex. We are counseled OVER AND OVER AND OVER again to LOVE thy neighbor as thy self and that my friends has NO CONDITIONS. That is also not limited to the person next door, this means EVERYONE. Every single person you come into contact with EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! Be like Christ, love like Christ and in this, Christ's light will shine through us. I'm saddened that so many people, Mormon or otherwise, are treating people so horribly. I'm saddened by the lack of respect I see for others all around this world.
There is so much information out there that is inaccurate about the beliefs of the LDS people and their teachings. Ignorance creates hate. Knowledge creates a tolerance and could possibly turn into a love and respect for people. Learning about some ones beliefs, and perspectives through them or reliable, positive resources could only generate understanding and respect. I love my religion with all my heart. It is who I am and it teaches and encourages me to be a better person always. It teaches me love and compassion, humility and respect. I also know that the LDS church is not the only religion or church out there that teaches these wonderful principals. I'm aware that there are many people out there that belong to no church at all the posses these amazing qualities. I just hope that in times of turmoil and disagreement that love and respect for others prevails!
