Load Earlier Messages
turn_down_for_now · 6 years ago
Wow, that is extreme @padaman1
deleted · 6 years ago
@turn_down_for_now I think that's really cool, you think for yourself and don't blindly follow what a prescher says, I like that
deleted · 6 years ago
Preacher*
pandaman1 · 6 years ago
@turn_down_for_now it sounds extream, but its true. Its falls under what @yimmye said. There are people who follow what their church or whoever is speaking says. It may not be said to the non believers of their religion.
deleted · 6 years ago
I'm a Mormon. Let me know if you have any questions.
turn_down_for_now · 6 years ago
@unklethan what is your core belief system? And is it different levels to Mormonism?
deleted · 6 years ago
@turn_down_for_now
Core beliefs are that Jesus built His church, the people killed Him and ruined His church, so He took His authority away (we call that priesthood authority). When the time was right, Jesus restored His church and left it in the hands of prophets who hold the authority and direct the Church.
We're different from other (most, not all) denominations of Christianity in our claim that our authority to baptize (and do other Sacraments) comes directly from Jesus.
-
What do you mean by different levels?
i_ · 6 years ago
I don't attend church because all we talk about is not having sex before marriage.
pandaman1 · 6 years ago
@unklethan what are the rules of the church that every one that attends must follow in their day to day lives.
deleted · 6 years ago
@pandaman1
Rule-wise, it's not /too/ different from mainstream Christianity.
10 commandments, go to church, don't break the law, love your neighbor, tithing
-On top of that, we have a health code: no tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea, harmful drugs (especially if they are mind-altering).
-And sex, don't do it till you're married, then just with your spouse. The church currently teaches that same-sex attraction is no sin, merely a temptation. Acting on same-sex attraction is not allowed (this one's a gray area, because local clergy interprets "acting on it" differently).
-There are some other policies that change with the times and the needs of the church, but it's pretty much the above stuff.
Global leaders, church employees (this includes professors, historians, missionary trainers, IT specialists, etc.), and missionaries have different rules, usually more strict because of their public representation of the church.
pandaman1 · 6 years ago
@unklethan
So about the policies that are set in place, what did you mean by "they change with the times and needs of the church"?
pandaman1 · 6 years ago
What do the policies consist of?
deleted · 6 years ago
@pandaman1
The priesthood authority thing I mentioned above, blacks couldn't have it till 1978. Not our shining moment as a church, but that's what happened. The policy got put in place like 10 prophets ago (before the Civil War) and was probably the product of an openly racist society that didn't know or act better. *shrug* Now blacks can have the priesthood.
For a while tithing was paid in goods. Like, if you raised 10 chickens this year, you'd give one to the church. The bishop (not like a Catholic Bishop, more like a pastor) would keep everything in a storehouse and distribute the goods among the community. The current policy is that you just pay 10% of your pay (or dividends, or however you make money). And that could change back to chickens if the economy collapsed and we went back to bartering.
...
deleted · 6 years ago
@pandaman1
...
The church sends out missionaries to preach and do service projects around the world. Used to be that men could go starting age 19, and women could go at age 21. Just a few years back, they lowered the ages to 18 and 19, respectively. This likely had to do with the growing numbers of missionaries leaving from countries outside of the US (Chile is the one I know about specifically) where there aren't college deferment options. They moved the ages so more people can be missionaries.
Other policies are more low-key things:
No paintings in the chapel (regular meeting hall), but they can go in the foyer or classrooms. Church is currently 3, hour-long Sunday meetings. Used to be 2, I think. As the church started getting more legal savvy, they put in policies that prohibit the nursery directors from taking kids to the bathroom. They have to take them to their parents instead.
So some of the policies are to keep the membership from accidentally doing something stupid or unsafe.
deleted · 6 years ago
Sorry, long replies.
Most of the policies are just order of operations kind of stuff that keep the church running smoothly, keep the copy machines stocked, keep track of activity budgets, help schedule service projects and Sunday School lessons, and make sure when somebody moves they can find their new congregation.
pandaman1 · 6 years ago
So basically the way i understood it is that some policies are through the word of man and not god.
turn_down_for_now · 6 years ago
@unklethan you answered my question by accident.
deleted · 6 years ago
@pandaman1
Yeah. There was a discourse on the differences between doctrines, policies, and practices a few years back.
Practices= what we do. Almost entirely decided by man. Changes often. (Pay tithing as soon as you get paid vs end of the year lump sum)
Policies= how we do it. Some are practical, some are revealed. Can change. (Pay 10% of your income, not produce)
Doctrines= why we do it. Comes from God, scriptures, or prophets. Does not change. (All things come from God, and we should take care of the poor and needy)
pandaman1 · 6 years ago
@unklethan in the time that yiur denomination has been aroun has there been a change in doctrines ?
deleted · 6 years ago
@pandaman1
My gut response is no, but I have a friend who works as a historian for the church. I'll see him tomorrow and pick his brain.