Opinions on the Pearl of Great Price and other Mormon texts

[Lost Philosopher]

I would like to gauge the opinions of the members here, specifically on thier opinions of the mormon religious texts, like the Pearl of Great Price. What do you think of them? Have you read them, or part of them? I would like to see what others feel about the Latter Day Saint movement, preferablly if its beyond the average American opinion of 'crazy polygamy cultists' that seems popular around the southwest US.

LP

[SaifulAli]

The 13 fundamental articles or beliefs of Mormons:
1 - God was once a man who lived on another planet
2 - We are co-eternal with God
3 - Since God has a body of flesh and bones, he really had literal sex with Mary.
4 - Truth is determined by feelings
5 - What a Prophet said can be revised depending on the circumstances
6 - They have temples where they get the handshakes and passwords that allow them to become gods
7 - Ex-Mormons or apostates had sin in their life or never had a testimony
8 - They can only read church approved materials
9 - They need to convert the whole world to Mormonism
10 - By being Mormons, they are assured of salvation - even if they are wrong
11 - Since they have the name of Christ in their church - their church is the only true one.
12 - Since there are people who oppose their beliefs - their beliefs must be true
13 - They believe in a book which has no archeological support whatsoever and claim it is a religious record of various peoples who populated the Americas for over 2600 years from around 2200 BC to 420 AD.

That's what Mormons is... So if you believe it to be true.. Then it's fine, if you believe it otherwise, again, it's fine.

[Abdul-Hadi]

Greetings and Peace, all 

I would like to gauge the opinions of the members here, specifically on thier opinions of the mormon religious texts, like the Pearl of Great Price. What do you think of them? Have you read them, or part of them? I would like to see what others feel about the Latter Day Saint movement, preferablly if its beyond the average American opinion of 'crazy polygamy cultists' that seems popular around the southwest US.

LP

I don't feel that LDS are "crazy polygamy cultists" because one of the tenants of their belief is compliance with the law.  Since polygamy is against the law (at least in the US), only those who break from the mainstream practice polygamy.

However, when it comes to analyzing their texts, there are major concerns.

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/bom/

Some of the concerns are anachronisms in the texts, such as steel being around before it was invented, horses (and other animals) in NA before they were actually present, et cetera... Also problematic is dogma that is against the texts...and changes in the texts over the years.

There was a time in the distant past when I considered LDS.  After prayer and careful consideration of the texts, it didn't happen.

LDS is (to me) on about the same level as mainstream Christianity.  I don't believe what they believe, but I don't bash on people who believe or claim to believe in it.  Just like any organized religion (or doctrine, philosophy, Deen, etc), there are good people and bad people therein--and only ALLAH knows which is which.

May ALLAH see fit to Guide all seekers.

 

~Abdul-Hadi 

[youssef4342]

i did open the book of Mormon and started reading some parts.... i really didn't get much understanding.... and their scripture being based on something which was revealed but based down as orally to the Americas or some sort would be an eyebrow raiser

I also just heard that Mormons aren't allowed to read other books like the Quran.... not sure how accurate is that.