# Ask the nomadic Mormon teenager **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834 "2002-12-19T17:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/21 "2002-12-19T19:08:44Z")
Fancher party. Mountain Meadows Massacre. ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/22 "2002-12-19T19:24:36Z")
**seal\_clubber** , would you consider [this](http://academic.evergreen.edu/k/kitcha11/mountain_meadows_massacre.html) to be an accurate account? After learning about that, and other instances of persecution, not only of Mormons, but of other groups such as Native Americans, I ask one question: Why were they treated so poorly, and why was the treatment backed by a government that proclaimed freedom of religion? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/23 "2002-12-19T19:39:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stccrd \* > \*\* Sadly, as written [here](http://scriptures.lds.org/od/1), the LDS church no longer practices polygamy. \*\* Why is the LDS Church forbidding the practice of polygamy a “sad” thing? ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/24 "2002-12-19T19:42:03Z")
It’s not sad. I have a long time running joke with a friend that it would be cool to have more than one SO, but to be honest, the idea of monogamy is much more appealing. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/25 "2002-12-19T19:51:09Z")
How does the government fit in? It was slaughter of civilian non-combatants. Are you actually claiming that the LDS church had no deliberate role in the crime? That contradicts most unbiased research. ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/26 "2002-12-19T20:03:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stccrd \* > \*\*the idea of monogamy is much more appealing. \*\* more appealing??? I don’t know about that one… I mean for a wife, yes I only want one… but as far as girlfriends go… more than one sounds pretty good to me… more morally appealing… maybe… more appealing… no… have you sen the movie Dogma? if so. what did you think of it? ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/27 "2002-12-19T20:23:44Z")
**seal\_clubber** , I don’t know much about all of the history behind everything. All I know is that Mormons were persecuted in the 1800’s, and it was that persecution that killed Joseph and Hyrum Smith. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/28 "2002-12-19T20:27:31Z")
Other than caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, etc… what other dietary restrictions are there? Are there rules about who prepares the food? Reason I ask is, I once went into a Subway and there were three guys there in white shirts and ties. One (a little older) was behind the counter, making the sandwiches for himself and the other two (younger, ~18 years old). The Subway employee had stepped aside, then came over to wait on me. I thought they might have been Mormons but I wasn’t familiar with any such restrictions on food preparation. ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/29 "2002-12-19T20:43:14Z")
No, there aren’t any restrictions like that, as far as I know. With the word of wisdom, it can be interpreted several ways. One can say, “Well, it says don’t do this, so I won’t.” Or you could look at it and say “It says don’t do this, because it is to help keep you in good condition, so I will do other things that will keep me in good condition, such as exercising, not eating stuff that can make you fat, etc.” ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/30 "2002-12-19T22:42:49Z")
My question may seem trivial, but … what about chocolate? Is that a no-no, because it has caffeine in it? I’ve always wanted to get a copy of the Book of Mormon, but have backed off from making the call to get it, lest I then get bombarded by missionaries trying to convert me. I was (and still am, to a certain extent) interested in reading/studying it. I’m not at all interested in joining the LDS church, though. Any suggestions on how I might be able to get a copy of the Book, without attracting the attention of missionaries? LOL I do realize that may not be possible! thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/31 "2002-12-19T23:44:53Z")
Well, it is all about the degree of which someone sees fit to follow the counsel of the Word of Wisdom. You will not find it say anything about chocolate. But some people will choose to omit it from their diet because of caffeine content. It’s a phrase called “the spirit of the law”. This is doing something according to the purpose of the law, and not necessarily just what is written. You can associate this with “going above and beyond.” As for obtaining a copy of the Book of Mormon, you can go to [this website](http://www.mormon.org/freeBookofMormon/1,10120,1405-1-959-794,00.html) and get a copy. There is a disclaimer at the bottom that allows you to choose delivery method. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/32 "2002-12-19T23:49:30Z")
How does holy undergarments play into “spiritual progression”? And where did that come from exactly? Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/33 "2002-12-19T23:51:29Z")
I’ll be the first one to tell you that I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/34 "2002-12-20T00:19:02Z")
So maybe it is not that I do not know, its just that it is really hard for me to explain. Any other LDS out there that would like to tackle this one? ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/35 "2002-12-20T02:17:43Z")
What evidences convinces you that the ancient Hebrews travelled to the Americas in the BC era? ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/36 "2002-12-20T02:49:47Z")
General question, probably applicable to all LDS persons: Why does it seem like many LDS mention the Book of Mormon much more often than the Doctrine and Covenants or the Pearl of Great Price? It’s easy enough to find someone who will give you a Book of Mormon, but why aren’t there just as many free copies of the D&C and the Pearl of Great Price? If you had the opportunity, would you move to Utah? Would you like to go to BYU? (I’ve met many LDS persons who desperately want to move to Utah, go to BYU, etc., but I’ve also met a sizable number who don’t.) ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/37 "2002-12-20T02:59:52Z")
**lel** When I was a Mormon, I couldn’t wait to get out of Utah! But my sister couldn’t wait to get back. THe reason that **Stccrd** doesn’t know the exact reasons Mormons wear garments is because he hasn’t been through the Temple yet. Once you go through and receive your blessing and ordinances, you also start wearing the garments, and that’s all explained to you. I haven’t been through either, so I can’t tell you. And for me, it’s kinda a moot point now. > [@](#): > > My question may seem trivial, but … what about chocolate? Is that a no-no, because it has caffeine in it? It’s not the caffeine that’s the no-no. That’s why it’s OK to drink Coke. (Yes, it’s ok to drink caffeinated beverages.) The ban is on **hot drinks**. Some interpret that to mean caffeine, but when I actually cared, I did research and found there are actually several reasons why coffee is determental to your health. (Tea is included in the **hot drinks** category, even non-caffeinated tea and ice tea–well that’s according to my Seminary teacher, and they are notorious for making stuff up…) ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/38 "2002-12-20T03:05:53Z")
Well, I just got accepted to BYU, and my sister is getting married out in Orem and all that, so I will be out there. **pepperlandgirl** , I don’t know what caused you to lose your faith, but my guess that it probably wasn’t somebody else’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/39 "2002-12-20T03:07:56Z")
Your guess is that it’s not somebody else’s fault I lost my faith? No, nobody else’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834/40 "2002-12-20T04:23:33Z")
Stccrd, thanks for the reference to get the free BOM, but I think I will decline at least for now. My main interest is in learning more about all religions. thanks again for the info [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-nomadic-mormon-teenager/143834.md?page=3)