So I just finished reading this book "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakauer. It's about Mormonism (mostly Mormon Fundamentalism), focusing on the Ron and Dan Lafferty and allowing us to understand where they were coming from when they decided to kill Brenda Lafferty and her little girl. I've never known much about Mormonism so I thought this book was really interesting. It's fascinating really, reading about these people's revelations from God. There was a part where this one guy gets a revelation from God and the people he's living with hears people talking in his room (he's the only one in there) and sees a light coming out. They said that in the morning, they couldn't look at him because he was like, radiating brightness. And there's countless stories like this. I'm not real sure what to think. I feel like just blowing it off is a cop-out, but I honestly don't know how to explain it. Some people I can tell are just frauds, but there's others who are sincere with their beliefs. I would never subscribe to Mormon beliefs, and I definitely wouldn't ever subscribe to Mormon fundamentalist beliefs, but some stuff, you just have to ask yourself, "what is true? what do I believe?" (by the way, I probably would never subscribe to Christian beliefs either, had I not grown up in the religion.)
How cool would it be to talk to God? How cool would it be to have an angel appear to you and instruct you to go dig up golden plates?? What would you do? What would you do if God appeared to you and told you to go kill someone?
also, perhaps if any Mormons are reading this, they can clarify for me, but it seems like a LOT of Mormonism is about the afterlife. You baptize dead people to get them into heaven (this seems to imply that no matter who you are, if you are baptized, you go to heaven). It seems like the ultimate threat is "if you don't do this, you're going to hell". Everything seems to be about keeping things pure and if a 'Gentile' touches you, you better go wash that dirt off your skin or you're going to hell! That might be an exaggeration but you get my point. Someone told me that the LDS temple place around where I live (I forgot what it was called) that only people at high 'levels' can enter once opened up for the public to come and see, and when it was over, they stripped everything down and redid everything, just cause it was 'contaminated'. I dunno. It seems like spending your whole entire life worrying about whether or not you are good enough to go to heaven is a sad way to live. But I don't know.
Comment & let me know what you think.
and I hope I didn't say anything offending, if I did, please let me know.
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6 comments:
interesting. :)
i had something i was going to add.. but i can't remember now..
if i remember i'll try to come back and post.
aww...well, what are your thoughts on the mormon religion?
Hey Alice. :)
Since I'm probably the only LDS person reading this *looks around* I hope I can answer some of your questions for you.
Thinking about it I suppose you could say a lot of our beliefs and things we do tie back to the afterlife. I suppose this is because we believe that we're here to be tried and tested. That one day we will return to our Father's presence.
We also believe that baptism is a necessary step to get into Heaven, and so is something important. But baptism alone doesn't guarantee salvation.
Funny thing. (this is a little off topic from answering your questions) We talked a little about the concept of hell today in church. And something someone said stuck with me. Our or my goal in this life is to return to live with my Heavenly Father, and that hell isn't simply "you're going to live with the devil for all eternity" and the normal preconceptions about it but more of an absence from God. (that didn't come out quite right but hopefully you understand, and I'd love to hear anyone else's thoughts on it).
There are many LDS temples around the world and once built they are dedicated to God and have a certain purpose(s). We view them as sacred and holy places which is why you can't just walk in off the street. Anyone who is a member of our faith and living by the standards of our faith can enter. Understanding that we know none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes but we're trying and doing our best. We want to keep our temples sacred and holy places.
I don't really find myself worrying about whether I'm a good enough person. I know I'm not. I try to live my life in a way that is deserving of what I've been given- a chance to come to Earth and prove my faithfulness to my Heavenly Father and so much more. I'm very grateful for the life I've been given. I think it's less about worrying and more about doing your best.
There's one thing everyone is searching for in this life. Happiness. We all feel a desire for something more than we have. And I know that the more I live in accordance with the things/ways I've been taught, the happier I'll be. I know it from experience and the fact that I'm pretty darn miserable right now when it comes down to it and I'm not living the life I should. (Great way to show your gratitude, eh?)
Anyways, I don't pretend to know all the answers to life and I'm happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. I'd like to hear others thoughts on my religion..
p.s. I'm sorry I haven't answered those questions you asked on PU yet, Alice. I promise I haven't forgotten I've just been busy. =\
^^
thoughts on mormon religion..
well i don't know much about it honestly. but i imagine that there are different beliefs within the groups as a whole.. but also it'd be different for every individual.
some people might be about tradition.. others God.
so i really don't know.
i'd haev to do more research.. which i would be interested in doing at some point..
^Our beliefs are pretty uniform across the church. It's very well organized. If you went to an LDS church in Utah or one in Australia on the same sunday you'd be learning the same lessons. (Sometimes there are differences because of other circumstances but chances are they're the same). You might focus on one aspect of it more than a different church building because of individual differences in people but it comes from the same place. (does that make sense?)
Individually there are small differences, I'm sure, but as a whole, as a church, our beliefs are the same.
Unless your talking Mormon Fundamentalism vs. LDS beliefs or something like that..
melissa: so this whole thing we call life is a test? I suppose this makes sense...I just feel like there should be more to life, though. Not striving for heaven, but doing the right thing because it is right. This is the real thing, you know? I dunno, I'll make a post about the afterlife and all this later when I have more time.
so if i'm a good Mormon and I die suddenly in a car accident at 14, before i got baptized, i can't go to heaven? or is this where baptizing the dead comes in..
hmm, i get what you're saying about hell, but i don't really see a difference. one is nicer sounding i guess, but they are essentially the same. again, i'll make another post about this later..
about the temples, that makes sense.
about happiness, i don't know, I don't feel like I strive for happiness in my life. it would be a great bonus, but it is not essential. I would like to spend my life making other people happy and serving them, and hopefully that will make me happy as well, but if not, then so be it. happiness for myself is not my goal. reaching heaven is not my goal.
what i just said sounded right to me right now, but i haven't really organized my thoughts yet, so hopefully i can type up a post soon and get it all figured out. but thanks melissa and chrissy for your responses and melissa, i look forward to reading your response to my PU thing, but take your time...i'm in no rush. :)
and again, no offense intended or anything like that. just honest questions/thoughts. :)
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