Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Original poster

Any LDS here? A few questions

31 replies

cake778 · 26/05/2019 19:45

We currently attend a CoE church but lately I'm finding it very uninspiring and am not getting much out of it. I love the Bible and what it has given my family but don't feel our current church is right for us. We've been on holiday and have met a few of LDS families. (Being English) I didn't want to be overly nosy about their faith but I did really admire their focus on family.

Has anyone joined the LDS church? What is the church like in London? Is it very Bible focused?

OP posts:
speakout · 28/05/2019 17:13

I am not LDS, but have a close family member who is, and weekly visits from LDS members to my home.

Yes they are very bible focused, but use the Book of Mormon to a great extent. They are very family focussed, but also very conservative- women wearing trousers to church would be frowned upon for instance, and work within the church is very gendered. Sex outside marriage and homosexuality and not accepted.
They seem to have a strong sense of community and members seem well supported- as long as you are happy with the rules. Many other christian sects don't consider LDS to be christian as they deviate from some central doctrine, but most members of the LDS consider themselves christian.

gabsdot45 · 04/06/2019 21:38

I'm LDS. We do use the Bible in our scripture study along with the Book of Mormon.

There are several congregations in London. There is a meetinghouse locator on www.churchofjesuschrist.org. so you can find the nearest one to you and contact the local Bishop or missionaries.
I'd recommend you attend a Sunday meeting. That way you'll be able to decide if you like it and want to hear more.

The church is very family oriented and there are organisations for all age groups. children, teens and adults. It' a good way of life IMO.

Someonesayroadtrip · 11/08/2019 18:20

I'm an ex Mormon, feel free to ask anything. I agree with what has been said so far.

PrayingandHoping · 11/08/2019 18:29

All members of the LDS church consider themselves Christian. The title of the church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jesus Christ is the centre of the church

Only other thing I'd say that has been posted is about trousers.... females generally do where skirts and dresses to church but no one would frown or say anything to someone who wore trousers. Members are
only encouraged to wear their "Sunday best" whatever that may be....

It is very family oriented. Family centred, church supported. Not that there aren't many many single members of the church who are happy regular members.

There are many chapels in London. The link given is great. The biggest chapel is Hyde Park which is directly opposite one of tube station exits and is always open with people there to speak to anyone who may be interested .

Any more questions feel free to ask.

speakout · 12/08/2019 06:50

Only other thing I'd say that has been posted is about trousers.... females generally do where skirts and dresses to church but no one would frown or say anything to someone who wore trousers.

Not sure if that is the case.
My mother attended church yesterday and the topic at the "Relief Society" ( women's group) afterwards was aboout dress in church.

It was made quite clear to some younger women that trousers and other clothing choices- short skits, bare shoulders etc are "disrespectful" in church. There is judgement. Even if nothing is spoken there will be judgemental glances if a women turned up in church wearing trousers or jeans.

PrayingandHoping · 12/08/2019 09:19

@speakout bare shoulders, tight tight clothing, short skirts etc people will be guided not to wear. It's not about being disrespectful to others it's about how you treat your own body.

If someone does not have a skirt or does not own one, does not feel comfortable wearing one then and only wears trousers that is fine. I know a member that only wears trousers every Sunday. No one says a word. People aren't there to judge others, that is a key thing within the church.

PrayingandHoping · 12/08/2019 09:22

There absolutely would not be judgemental glances!!!! That is not what the church is about. It is a very friendly, inclusive church. People coming to church is the most important thing and they will be welcomed warmly.

speakout · 12/08/2019 09:56

PrayingandHoping

You are being very naiive.

PrayingandHoping · 12/08/2019 10:07

I'm really not.... I've been a member 17 years and have taught lessons to all ages on dress standards etc. I know what the manuals say.

Themyscira · 12/08/2019 10:12

Ex-mormon here. The focus on family is admirable, but the crippling guilt when you don't live up to every single requirement - not so much. I would say there are very cultish tendencies to the organisation but I recognise that members would find that description offensive.

After my husband (a leader in our congregation) hit me across the face and I left him, I was treated abominably by the members. Sadly this is not an isolated experience and many women have been abandoned by their community after domestic violence and abuse.

speakout · 12/08/2019 10:20

PrayingandHoping

You may know what the manuals say but I can assure you there are members who judge.

I overhear conversations between church members- I have heard judgementral comments about other women's dress choices, skirts being too short etc,

I refuse to believe that these members indulging is such talk and criticism is confined to this one congregation.

You are blinkered.

PrayingandHoping · 12/08/2019 10:36

I'm sure there are people that judge because none of us are perfect human beings.... I'm not blinkered. I'm not perfect!

However that doesn't mean we are taught to think or be that way. That was all I was trying to say.

speakout · 12/08/2019 10:45

But the problem of judgement lies with the church. In even "guiding people what to wear" a system is set up where people will make judgements.

And in fact I am a a fully perfect human being - with all that entails.

HavelockVetinari · 12/08/2019 10:46

Are you aware of the things LDS members believe apart from the Bible? That the Book of Mormon was originally written on "golden plates" but only a handful of people saw them? And that there are multiple worlds with multiple Gods? And that you MUST give 10% of your income to the church? And that you may not consume caffeine (so no chocolate or coffee), alcohol or any other stimulants?

There is also the issue of polygamy...

Rather at odds with what the actual Bible says!

PrayingandHoping · 12/08/2019 10:58

I'm not going to go in depth about things on a forum.... if you want to know about what we believe please look on the church website or speak to a member as things are often misunderstood.

But I will quickly say we are definitely allowed to eat chocolate!! Ha ha! We just don't drink tea or coffee that is caffeine related. 😁

HavelockVetinari · 12/08/2019 11:07

@PrayingandHoping how come you can eat chocolate (which contains caffeine) but not have tea or coffee? Genuine question btw, I'm not trying to pick a fight.

speakout · 12/08/2019 11:22

It's nothing to do with the caffeine. The "Word of Wisdom" from Joseph Smith forbids the consumption of "hot drinks" which is widely interpreted as tea and coffee.
Decaffinated coffee is forbidden too- but Coca Cola- even Pepsi Max pumped full of caffeine is OK,.
In fact the largest church run Mormon University in Utah - with 30,000 students sells Pepsi and Coke on Campus where young Mormons drink gallons of the stuff.

speakout · 12/08/2019 11:37

And just to further confuse, the "no hot drinks" rule does not seem to apply to hot chocolate or herbal tea.

So a cup of hot chocolate which contains 2mg of hot chocolate is allowed, but a cup of decaffinated coffee ( with 1mg of caffeine) is not allowed.

I don't think most Mormons even understand the rules themselves.

Themyscira · 12/08/2019 11:57

Because they are nonsense.

And please do have a look at LDS.org and see how Joseph actually translated the gold plates by looking at a "seer stone" in his hat. The Church has quietly released quite a few documents of late that admit to this. You'll have to dig around, though, because funnily enough this information isn't on the front page.

Lifecraft · 12/08/2019 13:21

We just don't drink tea

The polygamy, dress code, Jesus visiting the USA and the golden plates, I can deal with.

No tea is a deal breaker.

OpheliaTodd · 12/08/2019 13:24

Why would you want to actively JOIN a religion so bigoted against homosexuality? I mean I could understand if you’ve been indoctrinated since childhood but to actually seek out such nastiness..... baffling.

Lifecraft · 12/08/2019 14:06

Why would you want to actively JOIN a religion so bigoted against homosexuality?

Can you point me in the direction of a religion not bigoted against homosexuality?

OpheliaTodd · 12/08/2019 14:20

Good point 😁

Lifecraft · 12/08/2019 15:42

Let's be reasonable about this, hating homosexuals...it's not great...but being straight, I could cope. I'd lose a couple of friends, but life goes on.

But NO TEA!!!!!

No fucking way is that happening. I have my red lines.

Chalkmarkintherain · 12/08/2019 19:00

They believe Satan is Jesus's brother, that there is more than one God, that adherents become God's of their own worlds, they don't believe in the Trinity.

And no tea.

It's Christianity, but not as we know it, Jim.