Chapter 20

Quick Answers to Ten Common Questions About Mormonism

In This Chapter

Tithing, temple-going, and keeping the Word of Wisdom

Reviewing Mormon beliefs about families, the Book of Mormon, and the priesthood

Looking at ongoing controversies about women, godhood, and polygamy

Mormonism may not be the world’s most unusual religion, but it’s far enough off the beaten path to generate lots of questions from outside observers and people who are new to the faith. In this chapter, we address some of the most common questions that Mormons typically encounter at one time or another. We cover nearly all these topics more deeply elsewhere in this book, so the answers in this chapter are the boiled-down versions.

Are Mormons Christian?

Perhaps no other question is raised as frequently as this $64,000 one: Are Mormons Christian? Mormons, of course, absolutely believe that they’re Christians, because they love and worship the Savior, Jesus Christ, and endeavor to follow his example in all things. To paraphrase the Book of Mormon, they talk about Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach about Christ, prophesy about Christ, and look to him alone for the forgiveness of their sins (see 2 Nephi 25:26). In what way could they not be Christian?

Well, it seems that the deciding factor depends on how you define the word Christian. If the word means its primary dictionary definition — “one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ” — then the answer is an absolute yes. But the people who ask this question sometimes don’t think that this belief is enough. For example, they may call Mormons non-Christians because Mormons reject the concept of the Trinity as other Christian churches have traditionally defined it: that God is one ultimate being with three persons. (For more on Mormon views of God, see Chapter 3.) So if that’s the litmus test, Mormons don’t make the grade.

Other issues are at stake as well. For example, some people believe that Mormons can’t be Christians because they’ve added other books to the canon of what God has revealed as scripture (the Bible). What’s more, Mormons believe that revelation is still open ended and claim that God reveals new doctrine today through his prophet. So if the definition of Christian rules out any additional scriptures or revelation, once again, Mormons don’t qualify.

Another point of contention centers on priesthood authority. Many different Christian churches, even when they disagree with each other over matters of doctrine, still accept each other’s ordinances, such as baptism, as being essentially valid. However, Mormons believe that the priesthood was lost from the earth until God restored it through Joseph Smith. As a result, Mormons believe that other churches, no matter how much good they do, don’t possess full authority from God, and converts to Mormonism have to be baptized again even if they were already baptized into another Christian church. (For more on Mormon views about the priesthood and its restoration, see Chapter 4.) As you can imagine, members of some Christian churches find this view insulting.

In recent years, the LDS Church has been using the tagline “Christian but different.” In other words, Mormons consider themselves Christians, but their beliefs and practices are sometimes quite different from traditional creedal Christianity. It’s helpful to think about adding “Mormon Christian” to the other kinds of Christians already out there: evangelical Protestant Christians, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholic Christians, and on and on. Mormon Christians believe that although their doctrines may sound unusual to other Christians, their good works and spiritual sincerity reflect well on the Savior that all Christians seek to emulate. And as Christ himself said, his followers will be known by their fruits.

How Can Mormons Give Up 10 Percent of Their Income?

Faithful Mormons give the Church a full 10 percent of their income (some pay 10 percent of their gross income, and others pay on their take-home amount). For many Mormon households, tithing is one of the largest monthly budget items. When Mormons face the choice between paying tithing and buying groceries, the Church expects them to exercise faith, put the Lord first, and trust in his providence, which the Church itself sometimes provides through its welfare program. (To find out more about the Mormon practice of tithing, see Chapter 16.)

Certainly, tithing sometimes causes Mormon families to miss out on luxuries that they may have otherwise enjoyed, and in some situations the sacrifice may be even greater. On the other hand, Latter-day Saints aren’t generally known for being materially needy or economically underprivileged (in the United States, at least). Mormons believe that tithing helps them grow spiritually, but the real key to gladly obeying this commandment is the Mormon belief that the Lord increases one’s blessings in return for supporting his kingdom. Paying tithing doesn’t guarantee riches or protection from temporary setbacks, but most Mormon tithe-payers believe that, at the end of the day, they come out ahead materially as well as spiritually.

For new LDS converts, disciplining their budgetary habits to accommodate the tithe can be one of the hardest parts of coming up to speed as a Mormon. However, Church classes and magazines frequently give advice about managing finances wisely, and developing a consistent tithing habit is quite possible. For faithful Mormons, the question isn’t how they can afford to pay tithing, but how they could afford not to pay it.

What Happens inside an LDS Temple?

After the prophet or an apostle dedicates a Mormon temple for sacred use, only Church members who’ve proven their moral and spiritual worthiness can enter. Inside, they reverently participate in a number of different ordinances, or physical rituals necessary for returning to live with God and becoming like him. Mormons perform these ordinances not only for their own spiritual benefit, but also on behalf of those who died without receiving them. (For detailed info on temples, including how they differ from regular LDS meetinghouses, see Chapter 7.)

Although Mormons don’t receive their own baptism, confirmation, and — for all worthy males — priesthood ordination inside a temple, they can perform these ordinances on behalf of the deceased only inside a temple. Living and dead people alike may receive Mormonism’s three higher ordinances only inside a temple: being symbolically washed and anointed with water and olive oil, participating in a two-hour endowment session that rehearses God’s entire plan of salvation, and getting sealed as a family for eternity.

Mormons perform their own temple ordinances only once; after that, they visit the temple to perform ordinances for the dead. In the spirit world, each deceased person’s spirit must choose whether to accept or reject the ordinances that people on earth perform for him or her.

Why Don’t Mormons Drink Alcohol or Coffee?

Like Jews, Muslims, and Hindus, Mormons have a list of substances that they’re forbidden to consume if they want to remain orthodox. Sort of like Mormon kosher, the list is a cradle-to-grave program for maintaining spiritual and physical health. In a nutshell, Mormons stay away from alcohol (wine, beer, and liquor), coffee, tea, tobacco, and any drug that they can’t buy over the counter or that wasn’t prescribed to them by a doctor.

This guideline, called the Word of Wisdom, comes from revelation that God gave to the prophet Joseph Smith in the 1830s. Interpreted slightly differently over time, this advice has held the status of commandment since the early 20th century. The Word of Wisdom is important enough now that the LDS Church requires members to obey it in order to be admitted into the temple. (For more on the temple, see Chapter 7.)

Mormons believe that bodily purity and spiritual holiness are connected, and they consider the requirements of the Word of Wisdom to be easy to keep when compared with their spiritual benefit. Mormons aren’t free to drink a Sea Breeze, for example, but they’re free from addiction or the potential for it. In addition, they’re protected from the impaired judgment and bodily harm that often result from intoxicants. These freedoms are a tremendous blessing in an age of excess and dependence.

The basic guidelines of the Word of Wisdom are crystal clear, but some of the small stuff falls into gray areas. Is caffeinated soda okay? What about decaf coffee or herbal tea? You’ll find Mormons on both sides of such issues. For more-specific information on the Word of Wisdom, see Chapter 16.

Why Do Mormons Have Such Large, Strong Families?

To Mormons, the nuclear family is an eternal principle, with husband and wives sealed together eternally and their children sealed to them. Therefore, when Mormon families put effort into strengthening their harmony and togetherness, they’re mindful that the investment extends beyond this life. In other words, if they’re going to be stuck together forever, they may as well learn to enjoy it. (For more on Mormon families, see Chapter 5.)

Although the Mormon birthrate has declined in recent years, Mormons still have larger families on average than the typical citizen. One of the main reasons is rooted in the Mormon belief that before birth all human spirits exist in a state that Mormons call premortality (refer to Chapter 2). Those spirits who are currently embodied on earth are responsible for bringing still-waiting spirits into righteous Mormon homes and shouldn’t put off having children for selfish or worldly reasons. In addition, some Mormons believe they formed spiritual family relationships in the premortal state, and they don’t want to leave behind any spirits who belong in their earthly family.

On the practical level, Mormons use several techniques for strengthening their families. Throughout Mormondom, families reserve Monday evenings for family home evening, which they devote to learning the gospel, discussing plans and problems, and enjoying activities together (refer to Chapter 17 for more). In addition, Mormon families ideally read scriptures and kneel in prayer together daily, and the Church constantly teaches good parenting skills and other family-enhancing principles. Mormons can divorce and even apply to cancel an eternal sealing, but the rate of divorce among temple-sealed couples is less than half the national average.

Do Mormons Believe in the Bible or Just the Book of Mormon?

In the Mormon view, the Bible and the Book of Mormon go together like rama-lama . . . um, we mean that Mormons love both of them and regard them both as scripture. The Book of Mormon isn’t a replacement for the Bible, but a companion to it. As its subtitle says, this book is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” pointing readers to the Savior and further describing his role and ministry.

Mormonism’s eighth Article of Faith states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” Mormons look to the Bible for guidance, knowledge, teachings, and spiritual consolation. They don’t, however, think that God stopped there. Although the Bible is primarily an account of God’s dealings with the house of Israel in the ancient Near East, God also gave the world the Book of Mormon, a record of Israelites who fled to the Western Hemisphere. In the Mormon mind, both books flow together to tell the story of how God redeems humanity through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and both reveal his ultimate plan for creation.

As we explore in Chapter 9, the main event of the Book of Mormon is the appearance of Christ in the New World. The Book of Mormon clarifies some points of doctrine that the Bible doesn’t resolve, such as the proper method and reasons for baptism (2 Nephi 31; 3 Nephi 11:23–26) and the nuts and bolts of the eventual resurrection of our bodies (Alma 40). The Book of Mormon complements the Bible but doesn’t compete with it. In addition, Mormons believe in other works of scripture from both ancient and modern prophets, including the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price (see Chapter 10).

Do Mormons Really Believe that Humans Can Become Gods?

Nowadays, Mormons prefer to say that humans can eventually become like God, which sounds less presumptuous. But Mormons don’t expect it to happen any time soon. It’s not like LDS Sunday schools teach members how to create planets and parent billions of offspring. And it’s not like Mormons will ever stop honoring and obeying their Heavenly Father, even if they become eternal parents like him.

To Mormons, the idea that God’s children can grow up to become like him makes perfect sense, even if humans are still only in the embryonic phase. Other kinds of Christians see this belief as blasphemous, but Mormons find justification right in the New Testament, where the Lord commands, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The word perfect means not only pure and unblemished, but also complete and whole. (For more on the nature of God, see Chapter 3.)

The best summary of this Mormon belief is a phrase that LDS Prophet Lorenzo Snow coined: “As man now is, God once was; as God is now, man may become.” For Mormons, this belief is basic to understanding the purpose of life and the answers to the great questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? In a nutshell, this life is a test to see who’s worthy of godhood, which is attainable only by living the full gospel of Jesus Christ as offered by the LDS Church. (For more about the plan of salvation, see Chapter 2.)

Why Can’t Women Hold the Priesthood?

Women have never held the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although until the 1940s they did perform healing ordinances for sick women and children. (For a quick explanation of the meaning of priesthood to Latter-day Saints, see Chapter 4.)

The LDS Church has never published an official statement about why LDS women don’t hold the priesthood, although various General Authorities and individual members have floated some ideas. One widely held theory is that women are so innately spiritual and righteous that they don’t need the priesthood in order to grow and become more like God. This kind of reverse sexism says that women are naturally superior to men, so many Mormons who feel the explanation is inadequate have rejected it. Another theory is that God simply ordained it that way, and it’s not our place to ask why what’s good for the gander isn’t also good for the goose.

Most Mormons, however, aren’t very ruffled over the issue. As we discuss in Chapter 15, Mormonism offers some ideas that are uniquely empowering to women, such as the belief in a Heavenly Mother (see Chapter 3) and a positive view of Eve and her role in elevating humankind (see Chapter 2). To outsiders, the fact that women don’t hold the priesthood may appear limiting, but Mormons don’t usually feel that way. Women can receive all the blessings of the priesthood even if they don’t hold the priesthood themselves. As President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Mormon prophet at this writing, put it, “In this Church the man neither walks ahead of his wife nor behind his wife but at her side. They are coequals in this life in a great enterprise.”

Do Mormons Still Practice Polygamy?

No. No, no, no, no, and no. Any questions?

Seriously, Mormons are often surprised and frustrated at just how often this question comes up. The LDS Church hasn’t approved of earthly polygamy since 1890, and the Church even excommunicates people who practice it nowadays. So the fact that the question never dies is kind of irritating.

In part, this persistence is due to the fact that dozens of fringe groups with ties to old-timey Mormonism still practice polygamy and have taken their case to the court of public opinion in the form of TV talk shows and books. Some claim that they’re the real Mormons and that the LDS Church has betrayed God by forbidding polygamy (see Chapter 15). The official LDS Church has distanced itself from these small but high-profile groups, urging members of the media to appreciate the distinction between polygamists and mainstream Mormons. Church PR spokespeople clarify until they’re blue that the term Mormon polygamist is an oxymoron, because no polygamist can remain a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Some Mormons complain that in its zeal to be distinguished from contemporary polygamists, the LDS Church has gone too far in the other direction, downplaying the vital role that polygamy played in its own history prior to 1890 (see Chapter 13). Church leaders have de-emphasized or ignored polygamy in recent Church curricula and instruction manuals. But who can wonder why the Church wants to avoid any confusion, when people continue to mistakenly believe that Mormons still practice polygamy?

How Can Mormons Revere Joseph Smith?

An angel told Mormonism’s founding prophet that his name would “be both good and evil spoken of among all people,” and that claim has certainly come to pass. Although Mormons revere Joseph Smith as a prophet, they realize that he was an imperfect mortal who made some mistakes and needed to repent of some sins. In fact, Joseph himself admitted that he was subject to the faults of human nature, although not a committer of any glaring sins.

If the young Joseph was involved in some of the loopy trends of his time, such as digging for treasure and dabbling in folk magic, perhaps that idea simply demonstrates his keen imagination and openness to new things, useful attributes for an emerging prophet of God. In fact, Mormons love Joseph all the more for his vibrant, down-to-earth personality. The product of a hardscrabble rural upbringing, he was known for roughhousing with children, playing sports, and enjoying a good laugh. Regarding his practice of polygamy, Mormons don’t see it as a character flaw but as his reluctant obedience to one of God’s most difficult commandments.

Many anti-Mormons unjustly criticize Joseph Smith, and some observers make the mistake of thinking that Mormons worship Joseph or put him on an equal footing with the Savior. Although Mormons believe that Joseph Smith is the world’s greatest prophet who ever lived, in terms of his revelatory output and contribution to humankind’s potential salvation, he nevertheless remains in the same class as Moses, Abraham, Peter, and other biblical prophets. (For more on Joseph Smith, see Chapters 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12.)