Mormon
Mormon questions and answers
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Q: How does tithing in the Mormon church work?
At the moment, my mother and I are considering joining the Mormon church. However, how does tithing work? Do you have to pay a year's worth up front? Or do you tithe after each paycheck? We are struggling financially, and cannot afford $5000 up front, so we are wondering. Thanks to anyone who answers!
A: You do not have to pay up front or even back tithing. It is completely up to you how you pay your tithing. Some people pay it each time they get a paycheck. I have a business and I don't know how much I make until the end of the year so I write one check at that time.
We are also not told how much to pay. We are told 10% of your increase, but the definition of that is up to the member. I have been blessed by paying my tithing. Money always seemed to come just at the right time and sometimes in miraculous ways.
The tithing money goes to build temples and meeting houses (we don't have to have additional building funds like most churches because it is paid out of our tithing), utilities, activities, youth conferences, the educational programs, missionary work, manuals, building maintenance, stake as well as ward expenses, etc. There are thousands of church owned buildings that are built and maintained from tithing. Many are in countries that are poor and where very little tithing is paid. When the help to the poor exceeds fast offering donations the difference comes out of tithing.
We are never asked how much money we make and are never told that we are not donating enough. The church teaches that this is between the member and the Lord.
Anyone who tells you differently is completely uninformed, they are either ignorant of the facts or a complete liar.
Talk to the missionaries or the bishop about it.
I joined the church in 1966 and it has been a blessing in my life and I have never regretted my decision.
Q: How could I get a Mormon book of scriptures?
I have the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible (the King James edition), but I need the book of Scriptures. Do you have to buy it through a website or does local Mormon ward give them away? Thanks to anybody who can help!
A: I'm assuming that you're talking about getting the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price (the other LDS canonized scriptures)
One place where you can get them (I don't see them offered on www.mormon.org) is the site below. Just click on the scriptures button on the left.
They have them in all sorts of types and qualities. Ebay might have something too.
Q: What is the behavior of a typical Mormon teenager?
What I mean is, what are Mormon teenagers allowed/not allowed to do and what do they do/not do?
Like, I know caffeine is banned but diet coke is acceptable.
And obviously drinking and smoking and all-- but are Mormon teens just like an average teen who do it anyway or do they like-get excommunicated?
Or, how bad does the "offense" have to be to be excommunicated if that still exists. I don't know, because I'm agnostic.
A: Excommunication is more often a result of unwillingness to repent - or commission of felonies which demand time in prison.
I don't know that I can answer for a 'typical Mormon teen' - I can speak to my own experiences, and those of my sons. I did not smoke, drink nor date before I turned 16. I kept myself morally clean and was a virgin when I married. My sons do not smoke, nor drink. They avoid porn. The one who is over 16 is very selective about dating - only going out in groups to avoid temptation or even the romantic entanglements of pairing off.
Q: How do I get my Mormon Sister to accept my homosexuality?
Does anyone know a good website that I can show my sister about accepting homosexuality and why Mormon's can love homo's too?
A: The LDS policy is hate the sin don't hate the sinner. As for accepting your homosexuality I doubt that could realistically happen. She might hassle you about being homosexual but if she ever treats you badly just ask her how jesus would treat you.
Q: What's the difference between my Mormon Dad "going to church" and "going to the proctologist"?
My Mormon Dad keeps calling me and telling me stories about his trip to the proctologist. He says that it's lots of fun and he gets to meet lots of nice people. He also mixes in stories about going to church which he says is nice because it's lot of fun and he gets to meet lots of nice people. I can't tell if he is talking about two different experiences or if the proctologist office and his church are the same things.
He is almost 65 now so that might account for some confusion. I just can't seem to figure out his stories anymore.
A: If you had a dad, and if the dad you had was a Mormon, then you would have been able to have asked your dad, if you had one, that was a Mormon, if he was one, the questions that you say you seek answers for.
However, seeing that your Mormon dad is apparently not in your life, then to find the answer to your serious question why not book a visit to a proctologist and also attend a Mormon worship service, and then you will be able to answer your own vexed question.
Having had both experiences I will give you a hint about the two of them: The proctologist visit was necessary, but I wouldn't want to go there every Sunday, in contradistinction to attending a Mormon church service, that I would like to be invited to attend more often.
Your father, you say, is 65 and therefore confused. Perhaps it is not you dad that is confused, eh?
QUILL:
Q: What are the rules of etiquette for a Mormon wedding-related open house?
So I've been invited to my very first open house party by my friend who's getting married next week. She also invited me to her reception next Saturday. This is my first time attending a Mormon wedding-related open house, and I was wondering if I should dress up really nice or if jeans and a nice shirt is okay. And would it be better to bring her her gift to the open house or the reception?
A: It won't really be any different than any other open house, except that there won't be any alcohol served and you should probably not wear anything terribly revealing. Most open houses, however, require at least dressy casual. You probably shouldn't wear ripped or worn jeans, but you don't really need to go all out, either. Just wear a nice dress shirt and slacks or a casual skirt (I'm assuming you're a girl. If not, well, please don't wear a skirt!).
And it doesn't really matter when you take the gift, though I think most will bring theirs to the reception. Still, either way is socially acceptable (and I know, because I've catered way too many of these things).
Q: Will the Mormon church be the salvation of the US Constitution?
The US government is almost bankrupt, corruption, we call evil good and good evil. The constitution is already hanging by a tread with the whole gay marriage and church and state debates. What do you think of the prophecy that the Mormon church will be the US Governments, Constitutions salvation?
A: This 'prophecy' was reported by only two members of the church, Edwin Rushton and Theodore Turley, approximately ten years after Joseph's death.
Unfortunately, the only accounts of this supposed prophecy were provided second-hand years after the Prophet's death, and cannot be corroborated.
However, based upon the available information, two things are clear.....
It is clear that the prediction is that Latter-day Saints would support and uphold the government, not take over the government.
It is absolutely clear that this is not a prophecy that is considered in any way true or binding on the membership of the Church - and, supposedly this prophecy was given as a parable. It's meaning then could be interpreted in different ways.
Q: What is a good gift for a female Mormon Missionary?
A very dear friend of mine is going on a Mormon mission soon, and I would like to get her something as a "good luck" present . I would like it to be thoughtful, meaningful, and practical, as I hear that missionaries have few belongings and sometimes move frequently. What would be an appropriate and useful gift?
A: You're right not to give her something bulky or unnecessary. Luggage space is at a premium for missionaries!
Since your friend is a girl, you could always give her some simple jewelry. I know it sounds like a generic gift, but it really isn't. This could just be me, but when I was on my mission, I...well, I looked pretty bad most of the time. I was always literally dripping sweat or bundled up to the point where I looked like an even fatter version of the Pillsbury Dough Boy. I had perpetual helmet hair. I don't exactly have self-esteem issues and usually don't care too much about my appearance, but a simple necklace or pair of earrings made me feel a little more presentable. Your friend might appreciate something that will do the same for her. Just make sure that it's simple and not flashy.
Or, if that's still too generic, you could always get her a scripture bag. I'm not sure if you're LDS, but Desert Book or Ensign Book makes some that can be monogrammed or that have embroidered pictures of temples on them. Since she'll need a case anyway, she probably would appreciate one of those (you can ask her parents or friends for her favorite temple and buy that one for her). Or you could find out if she's going to be speaking a foreign language and get a pocket hymnal in that language for her (they can also be monogrammed, and they also come in English). It's not something that we're required to buy for our missions, but everyone pretty much ends up needing one. Just check with her parents or someone close to her to find out if she already has one. Trust me, though, it'll be appreciated.
Hope that helps! You could also try going to those sites (Ensign and Deseret Book) and browsing through their missionary section online. Something might strike you as perfect for her.
Q: What exactly does the Mormon faith practice, do they live on those compounds or what?
Excuse me for sounding really ignorant and narrow-minded, but I've never actually understood what the Mormon faith was really about on a realistic standpoint. Like, what do they do and what is okay in their religion that the rest would see as being a "taboo in society"?
A: They are frowned upon by mainstream Christianity because of their belief in "another gospel" called The Book of Mormon. They believe this is the truest book in the World (even over the Bible). They believe the Book of Mormon and the Bible make up the FULLNESS of the Gospel.
Other controversial beliefs to mainstream Christianity include Adam being Michael the archangel in human form; the early-day practice of polygamy (which hasn't been in practice since 1890s); blacks or "dark-skinned people" being unworthy for priesthood (which has no longer been practiced since 1978); marriage is eternal even after death; Jesus is God of the Old Testament and God the Father is God of the New Testament; and they themselves can reach a state of "Godhood".
These are just a few.
Q: How do Mormon's handle health insurance for kids on a 2 year mission?
Does your company's health insurance continue to provide dependent coverage for Mormon kids while they are on a two year mission after high school?
A: No, usually the kids have to get private medical coverage for that two year period. Or go uninsured.
Q: Why do they criticize Huchabee for being a baptist minister and not Romney for being a Mormon Bishop?
My parent's friends have a daughter who married a Mormon and they were not allowed to see the main ceremony in the sacred part of the temple because if you are not Mormon you are impure and will defile the sacred part of the temple. Do we want a president who thinks that we are impure if we are not Mormon?
A: There’s a big difference between the two candidates: Huckabee is doing well because of his religion, Romney is doing well despite his religion.
Q: What is the Democrats plan to smear Mitt Romney? Will they focus on him being a Mormon?
Do you think the Democrats will burn him at the stake for being a Mormon?
I think they will fight as dirty as it takes to knock him down.
A: No, they won't have to. Right wing R's hate Romney's guts. Mega-church pastors preach Mormons as devil worshipers and bound for hell. Conservative Catholics view LDS as a cult.
No, the D's won't have to do anything to destroy Romney. That job has already been done by his fellow R's.