Questions tagged [lds]
Use for questions about the history, teachings, doctrine, or practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called Mormons. The LDS faith recognizes as canonical several books (such as the Book of Mormon) that are not generally accepted among most other Christians and believes in modern-day prophethood and revelation.
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How do non-LDS Christians respond to the LDS argument that Joseph Smith died as a Martyr for God, just like the Apostles?
In Christian apologetics, a common argument for the reliability of the eyewitness accounts of the apostles is the fact that they were willing to withstand persecution and even martyrdom for what they ...
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What precedent is there in the bible for a 'further revelation' of fundamental truths about Deity?
In an answer to a Question regarding Deity the answer relies on the BoM (see LDS) to explain what is seen in Genesis :
And God said, Let us make man in our image [Genesis 1:26 KJV]
And God saith, `...
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LDS Prophet Joseph Smith said, "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of Gods to create the world and people in it
My specific question is "WHO are these so-called council of Gods and "WHERE" did they come from? How does the LDS Church reconcile this with what God stated at Isaiah 44:6 and Isaiah 44:...
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How does the LDS Church reconcile their understanding of the "Godhead" which is three beings/three gods with the Bible stating there is only one God?
The following is an overview of the LDS's understanding of the Godhead taken from the following LDS site. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/godhead?lang=eng
"The ...
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Are there published testimonies from Latter-day Saints about their personal experiences with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?
I'm very intrigued by the concept of constant companionship of the Holy Ghost taught by the LDS church. This is mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 121:46:
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant ...
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How do Latter-day Saints explain testimonies of profound experiences with the Holy Spirit in other denominations?
Note: I'm afraid that this question might make some cessationist readers uncomfortable, but given that Latter-day Saints are continuationists, I'll just go ahead with it.
It's my understanding that ...
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Do LDS believers not accept any others who self-identify as 'Christian'?
I have a question, following on from the previous question in which is quoted :
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living Church upon the face of the whole earth.
...
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How do Latter-day Saints respond to William Lane Craig's philosophical objections to the Mormon view of creation?
The Mormon View of Creation is the title of an episode of the Reasonable Faith Podcast, recorded on February 16, 2010, in which William Lane Craig, a renowned Christian apologist, philosopher and ...
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According to LDS, do all non-LDS Christians lack the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and if so, how does this lack manifest itself in the lives of non-LDS?
I just finished reading Chapter 16: The Gift of the Holy Ghost of the LDS book Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual. One section that caught my attention is the following:
“True it is that honest ...
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How does LDS reconcile progression to Godhood with the Genesis temptation of Adam to be like God?
This Wikipedia entry states:
In Mormonism, the concept of divinity centers around an idea of
"exaltation" and "eternal progression": mortals themselves may become
gods and ...
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Biblical basis of exaltation (LDS)
In regards to this answer on LDS biblical contradictions.
Are there biblical scriptures to support the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints belief in exaltation (progression to godhood) of God, ...
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What evidence does the LDS Church offer regarding claims of degradation of Biblical texts?
Based upon answers and comments to this question it appears that the LDS Church teaches that the Bible translations in use by all other Christian traditions have suffered some unspecified level of ...
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How do LDS reconcile Ephesians 3:17 and D&C 130:3?
In several passages Christ says that he will dwell in his followers. Ephesians 3:17 is one of the clearest:
Ephesians 3:16-17a: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power ...
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Has any Latter-day Saint published a very detailed description of how the Holy Spirit confirmed to them the truth of the BofM, as per Moroni 10:3-7?
Moroni 10:3-7:
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should
read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been
unto the ...
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According to Latter-day Saints, are all Christians who are full of the Holy Spirit unequivocally led by the Spirit to accept the truth of Mormonism?
Many passages in the Bible suggest the crucial importance of being filled with/full of the Holy Spirit and being led by the Spirit for an optimal Christian walk. Below a few examples:
And Jesus, full ...
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According to Latter-day Saints, what are the strongest apologetic arguments for the divine inspiration of the Book of Mormon?
Inspired by my previous question on the divine inspiration of the Bible, I would like to ask a similar question on the Book of Mormon:
According to Latter-day Saints, what are the strongest apologetic ...
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What do Latter Day Saints believe happens to persons who have rejected Christ Jesus?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints says this in their third article of faith:
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ...
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The Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ created under the direction of Heavenly Father and He did not create the world "out of nothing."
The following is what they say. "Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth (see Mosiah 3:8; Moses 2:1). From scripture revealed through the Prophet ...
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Is the Book of Mormon in English as authentic as in the original, or is Joseph Smith's translation imperfect? [closed]
It is commonly held in religion that the authenticity and authority of Scripture is highest in its original text, since human translators can introduce errors and misunderstandings not present ...
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What is the modern LDS view towards multiple Heavenly Mothers/wives of members of the Godhead?
The Wikipedia article on 'Heavenly Mother' notes that:
Brigham Young taught that God the Father was polygamous, although teachings on Heavenly Mothers were never as popular and disappeared from ...
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LDS Church view of Hebrews 6:13 and Isaiah 43:10
This question is about this article at the LDS Church website titled "Is President Lorenzo Snow’s oft-repeated statement—“As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be”—accepted as ...
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How do the Catholic and LDS views of what a prophet is differ?
Answers can address either denomination or both. My most recent understanding on the subject was that a prophet loses awareness (a trance) and then receives the word or message of God. However, I don'...
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Is there a registry of Book of Mormon Geography Theories?
Years ago I attended a presentation at an LDS chapel by a man who had recently retired from his position as the head of the geography department at the University of Calgary - Dr. Lynn Rosenvall.
Dr ...
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Why were the interpreters called "Urim and Thummim"?
Urim and Thummim are lots in the pouch of the priests (High Priest? I don't remember) in the Old Testament. Not sure what "lot" is in this context but I am imagining some kind of dice. In ...
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How does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reconcile 3 Nephi 15:23 with Jesus visiting Joseph Smith?
In 3 Nephi 15:23, Jesus says to the Book of Mormon peoples:
...and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice-that I should not manifest myself unto them save it ...
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The Lds Prophet Joseph Smith wrote, "We believe in God, the eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."
The Bible also teaches God is eternal. Psalm 90:2, "Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou are God." ...
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The Bible says there is one God who is eternal. Does Joseph Smith, LDS founder, prophet, seer and revelator contradict the Bible? [duplicate]
He said, "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods: and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people in it." Joseph Smith Jr., Journal of ...
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What are the sources of LDS theology that an LDS theologian need to consult to write a systematic theology?
I came across an essay published in BYU Studies journal 54.1 (2015) "Toward a Mormon Systematic Theology - Essay on Wrestling the Angel by Terryl L. Givens". I was surprisingly pleased by ...
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On what basis did Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith declare that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit cannot indwell a believer?
The following is what Joseph Smith said from "Doctrines & Covenants, Section 130, Paragraph 3 regarding John 14:23.
John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a ...
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The Mormon Church teaches that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son. How do you reconcile this when the Bible says the Father cannot be seen?
Top leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a document titled: "The Restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ; A Bicentennial Proclamation to the world.
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What is the policy for Latter-Day Saints' leaders (like bishops) being politically engaged?
Recently a bishop in the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said a politically tinted or motivated remark publicly. I don't mind lay members being involved like Harry Reed or Mitt Romney, ...
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What are the Six Prophetic & Apostolic Proclamations to the World?
In the April 2020 Sunday Morning session of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson, before reading what would become the sixth ...
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Does the Mormon Church endorse the children of narcissistic parents breaking off contact with them (not necessarily permanently/forever)?
Same question as here but Mormon instead of Catholic.
Edit: Okay fine I'll try to make this self-contained.
There's this article about narcissists, written from a Christian perspective, ending with ...
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Why is it more difficult for a Mormon woman to control whom she is eternally sealed to?
The USA Today newspaper has an article titled "Mormon doctrine leaves potential for 'eternal polygamy'" (reference) that makes the following statement:
Decades have passed since male members of the ...
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In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what is an Elder's Quorum meeting supposed to be?
Two Sundays of each month, the adult men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meet as an Elder's Quorum. At each meeting they discuss one of the most recent General Conference talks.
I'...
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According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was Jesus Christ ordained to the Priesthood?
This may seem like a stupid question (ie. why would someone need to be ordained to their own priesthood order?). However, I can't seem to find reference to Him being ordained or to Him not needing to ...
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Who Wrote the 1981 Introduction to The Book of Mormon?
I know that the general answer to this question can be found easily. It was added to the Book in 1981, which is when Spencer W Kimball was the president of the Church. So it could probably be said ...
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What is the stance of the LDS Church on gender?
Gender is a hot topic as of late, with a seemingly small but very vocal minority preaching that gender is fluid, non-binary, and that people may choose to identify with whatever gender they wish.
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Did Joseph Smith create any secular writings?
I'm interested in Joseph Smith's non-religious worldviews and I'm curious if he did any substantial writing outside of a strictly religious context (i.e. philosophy, politics, etc).
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Who are "we" in the pre-mortal life according to the LDS?
From this link
In our premortal life, we were taught lessons that prepared us to
assist Heavenly Father in bringing about the salvation of His children
(see D&C 138:56).
For a non Christian like ...
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Where does the LDS section heading for 1 Corinthians 7 come from?
In the chapter heading to 1 Corinthians 7 in the official LDS scriptures, it states:
Paul answers special questions about marriage among those called on missions—Paul praises self-discipline.
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What is the name of the Eternal Father worshipped by Latter Day Saints?
I understand that Latter Day Saints believe all human beings, male and female, are the spirit children of heavenly parents – a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother. Those spirit children progress by ...
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In the Lord's Vineyard what does the grafting teach (Jacob 5)?
Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon is a beautiful parable of Jesus Christ working in his Vineyard to save the children of God. It is prophetic in teaching how he works.
Here are some symbols involved:
...
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Basis for priesthood restricted to men
Is there a scriptural basis (preferably in Doctrine & Covenants) for the priesthood being restricted to men (at least on this earth)?
If not, what is the explanation for this practice?
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According to Latter-day Saints, Jesus is Jehovah in OT. Therefore do they view all the occurrences of the Tetragrammaton as referring to Jesus?
Lesson 5 in the "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel Teacher Manual" (link) has the title Jesus Christ Was Jehovah of the Old Testament.
In the introduction this lesson says that:
In ...
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LDS doctrine on "intelligences" having always existed vs God(s) whose "godship" had a beginning
This was inspired by the accepted answer to this other question, which stated that
Mormons believe that god arranged pre-existing matter in creation. The
matter always existed; creation was an ...
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Joseph Smith Translation of verses in Isaiah 42 vs the Great Isaiah Scroll
This question is about the rendering of some passages in the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). This is a collection of verses that add or replace sections of the King James Version which was deemed to ...
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Is there any evidence that people of Jewish descent came to the Americas before the birth of Christ Jesus
While doing research into a question about the Aztec and Mayan peoples I found an article from the official web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which suggests that Jesus ...
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What is the earliest use of the phrase "the Lord's law of health" in reference to the LDS Word of Wisdom?
Background
The modern Church uses the phrase "the Lord's law of health" to describe the Word of Wisdom. For example, Chapter 29 of Gospel Principles is called "The Lord's Law of Health." However, ...
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What do LDS believe regarding the necessity of suffering?
I apologize for the length of this question, but it requires establishing some premises that refute the most common response, being that the purpose of suffering is for us to learn and grow, and be ...