# I met some Missionaries today... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223 "2003-07-31T21:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/21 "2003-08-01T03:35:14Z")
**RyanD004** , dollface, dahling, I strongly recommend that you take your Qs to GD, where someone can do 'em proper justice. Or, heck! Why not? Try a Google or two and see what you find out. And, re “Farmers in Black”, I very much second **toadspittle** in thinking the OPer might have been confounding Amish or Mennonites with LDS folks a.k.a. Mormons. Mormon≠Mennonite, but it’s not a completely unreasonable mistake, phonetically/mnemonically speaking. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/22 "2003-08-01T03:53:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RyanD004 \* > Ok, here’s a few questions I have, quasi-unrelated, but heck, why start another thread? Does the gold tablet that Joseph Smith found exist? What I mean is, could i go to a museaum and view or? Or was it “lost” or something like the arc of the covenant (could this be a future indiana jones plot?). It was returned to Moroni. The personage that showed Joseph where it was hidden in the hill Cumorah to begin with. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RyanD004 \* > Secondly, they supposedly have living prophets. What are these prophets funcrions? Do they supposedly have visions and stuff? The prophet [Gordon B. Hinckley](http://www.lds.org/lf/images/pef/hinckley.jpg) is the head of the Church. He testifies of Christ, teaches the gospel and leads the church. We believe God is our loving Father in Heaven and that He does reveal His will to His children. The prophet receives revelation and guidance from the Lord for the Church, just as parents can receive inspiration for the Lord for their families and individuals can receive inspiration for themselves. > [@](#): > > Thirdly: why do they have such cool looking temples? We believe temples are the house of the Lord. In temples worthy members participate in ordinances that we believe united families forever and help individuals and families return to God. Temples are quite beautiful inside and out. Our meetinghouses in contrast are attractive but more functional and quite plain, compared to a temple. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/23 "2003-08-01T04:35:57Z")
Oh, my goodness. My head is spinning. Praise be. It is good to have a little dizziness before before bedtime. It is amazing to have typed that, this late in the game, correctly. At least I think it is correct. I don’t usually use dictionaries. It’s not sporting, you know. A man needs to face his own limits, without Annette. She didn’t want to help, and I respect that. * * * “Busy, busy, busy.” --Bokonon ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/24 "2003-08-01T20:01:32Z")
Two points: 1. Be careful what you read on anti-Mormon websites. I used to be anti-Mormon before I joined the Church, and realized afterwards that a lot of stuff on anti-Mormon websites is false. 2. **emilyforce** asked a very good question I would like to try to answer: why Latter-day Saints and the Church dislike the nickname “Mormon.” In the Book of Mormon, the Lord says, > [@](#): > > “And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel” (3 Nephi 27:8). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not the Church of Mormon (who was an old American prophet) or Joseph Smith (the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). In agreement with this, the media guide put out by the Church suggests that the abbreviated reference to the Church be “the Church of Jesus Christ.” Considering the prevalent view that Latter-day Saints are not Christians, this measure is used not only to follow Jesus’ commandment in the Book of Mormon but also to remind others that they are, indeed, Christians (Saints of Christ). If I find anything more, I’ll post it. WRS ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/25 "2003-08-01T20:05:23Z")
I would say 75% of the beauty of a Temple is the presence of the Spirit. This is just my opinion, though. WRS ---
**Author:** ![BooksWoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooksWoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooksWoods)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/26 "2003-08-02T01:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AbbySthrnAccent \* > \*\*When asked I do not say Mormon, because it never fails someone mentions polygamy or some other derogatory myth. > > I cannot speak for the entire population of the church, but I prefer to identify as LDS. \*\* Don’t mean to question your faith, Abby, but which part of Mormon polygamy is a myth? It may not be condoned by the church today, but was very strongly encouraged and practiced by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and most of the early church leaders who promoted it as a revelation directly from God and a central tenet of the LDS church. Re. your earlier link to the Book of Mormon about the Lamanites killing off the good people, I didn’t see the part where the Lamanites became dark-skinned as punishment for their sins. That was in the Book of Mormon at least until the 1970s, as I recall. Don’t mean to start a GD, but feel that it is important to provide the straight dope, or to have it clarified for me, in GQ. BW ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/27 "2003-08-02T01:34:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by j66_ > But aren’t the LDS the nicest missionaries? Yes! There is a house around the corner from me that is owned by a member of the LDS church. He lets missionaries live in it. For that reason, I get lots of visits from the LDS missionaries, and have even served them dinner on occasion. When I share my beliefs with them, they are always entirely respectful, and we have had some great conversations. I simply make it clear, at the beginning of our communications, that as long as they understand they have no chance of converting me, and they can feel comfortable that I won’t try to convert them, we can be friends. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/28 "2003-08-02T04:45:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BooksWoods \* > Don’t mean to question your faith, Abby, but which part of Mormon polygamy is a myth? It may not be condoned by the church today, but was very strongly encouraged and practiced by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and most of the early church leaders who promoted it as a revelation directly from God and a central tenet of the LDS church. You do mean to question my faith. Don’t delude yourself. I am fully aware of the history of the church with regards to plural marriage. The doctrine came to ancient prophets by the command of God and was restored in a like manner as recorded in D & C 132:440, 45. The early righteous members of the church practiced plural marriage because God commanded them to do so. Some of them struggled with the command, but obeyed anyway. The myth I was referring to is that people I have encountered tend to think it was practiced in every family and that it is still practiced in the church over 150 years later. About the 490th time someone’s asked how many mothers you have or how many wives your husband has it gets a little wearisome. > [@](#): > > Re. your earlier link to the Book of Mormon about the Lamanites killing off the good people, I didn’t see the part where the Lamanites became dark-skinned as punishment for their sins. That was in the Book of Mormon at least until the 1970s, as I recall. I linked to three chapters in the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi 17 and 18 and Moroni 10 in answer to a questions posed by **Squirebob**. Are you asking if changes have been made to the Book of Mormon since 1970? If you are the answer is yes. There have been nearly 4000 changes between the 1830 edition and present day editions. The vast majority of them were made to correct typographical errors, spelling, innacurate or missing punctuation and to improve grammar, sentance structure or clarify meaning or eliminate ambiguity. Furthermore. even though we accept the Book of Mormon (and the Bible) as the word of God, we do not believe them to be perfect or infallible. The Book of Mormon title page admits, “if there be any faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God.” Men took part in recording, copying and publishing of the books. To paraphrase Hugh Nibley, (because I cannot remember his words exactly and I am human and prone to error) “We concede the possiblity of human error, so why should the idea of a corrected Book of Mormon be offensive?” > [@](#): > > Don’t mean to start a GD, but feel that it is important to provide the straight dope, or to have it clarified for me, in GQ. > BW Then don’t start a GD by implying that I was less than forthright in answering other peoples questions in a GQ thread. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/29 "2003-08-02T05:05:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by j66 > But aren’t the LDS the nicest missionaries? They really are. I haven’t been a _believer_ in 3 years now, but everytime I see the missionaries around I wave, and everytime they stop by, I always have a nice conversation with them. I love Mormon Missionaries…I really do. I hope my sister marries a nice return missionary… ---
**Author:** ![BooksWoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooksWoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooksWoods)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/30 "2003-08-02T14:12:02Z")
As I said, I asked also for clarification - not just to debate. I do NOT question your faith, Abby. I did question why you called polygamy a “myth” as it is very much a history of the LDS church. It bothers me when religious people deny unpleasantries in their histories, but it sounds like you had good reason to educate people about how the LDS behaves today as opposed to in the past. Steve Young, the football player you pictured earlier, is a descendent of such a family (I believe Brigham had dozens of wives). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/31 "2003-08-02T14:22:21Z")
Then you’re still misunderstanding what she said to you, Books. Read what she said. She specifically said that she does not deny that plural marriage occurred in our church. The myths she referred to–and she’s made that very clear–was the stupidities so many people outside of the church seem to hold to: “How many wives do you have? Why do you believe you have to share your husband to get into Heaven?” &c. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/32 "2003-08-02T15:39:09Z")
**Monty** is right. **BookWoods** At no point in this thread did I deny that plural marriage (or any othe unpleasantries) is a part of our heritage. Quit trying to imply I did. Just to be sure you get it this time, I’ll say it again. The myth I was referring to is the implication that plural marriage is still practiced within the church today. ---
**Author:** ![BooksWoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooksWoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooksWoods)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/33 "2003-08-02T17:30:44Z")
Monty and Abby, I don’t think _either_ of you read what _I_ said. When I first heard you call polygamy a “myth,” it sounded to me like you were denying the past. The word “myth” is often used to describe stories from the past that are untrue, so I think it is understandable that I thought that’s what you were doing. But in your response, you clarified for me that you are often called on to educate people that plural marriage is no longer part of modern LDS practice (which is why you don’t like the name “Mormon,” because it reminds people of that past). That’s all I was reiterating, and I’m not sure what your argument is. I’m also not sure why Monty feels it necessary to call people’s misconceptions about LDS to be “stupidities” but it’s not okay to him that others point out what some people might consider to be “stupidities” of the past; such as men accumulating wives like property and believing that dark skinned people are being punished for their sins and are no better than animals. I’m glad the LDS church doesn’t believe those things anymore. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/34 "2003-08-02T18:06:50Z")
I don’t have an arguement. You are the one that keeps coming back and saying I denied that the early members of the church practiced plural marriage. I did not. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/35 "2003-08-02T18:16:07Z")
[Myths about the church](http://www.lds.org/newsroom/page/0,15606,4038-1---16-168,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Squirebob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Squirebob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squirebob)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/36 "2003-08-03T18:48:24Z")
Thanks for all of the answers I hope other people have had thier questions answered too. Anyway LDS are deffo nicest missionaries I’m not be converted but I will have a chat next time I see some. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/37 "2003-08-03T19:09:35Z")
Books: I’m sorry that Abby and I were operating on a such a mistaken impression of you here. After all, nowhere did you bother to tell us that you’re not able to follow what we wrote in this thread in English. We had to figure that out for ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/38 "2003-08-03T19:16:46Z")
Books: I’m sorry that Abby and I were operating on a such a mistaken impression of you here. After all, nowhere did you bother to tell us that you’re not able to follow what we wrote in this thread in English. We had to figure that out for ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![BooksWoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooksWoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooksWoods)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/39 "2003-08-03T20:53:15Z")
Huh?? I _thought_ I understood what **Abby** said and that communication had taken place. I have NO idea what you’re talking about though, **Monty** , or what you’re apparently angry about. Anyway, carry on - I don’t want to hijack this thread. I think the original question was about how and why LDS followers believe that people sailed from the Middle East to North America in 600BC. My question, to build on this one, was how and if schools in Utah teach this in history and/or science classes? (I have no beef with different belief systems, really. I think it is best to pay attention to how people behave, NOT how they believe.) ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223/40 "2003-08-04T01:29:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BooksWoods \* > I think the original question was about how and why LDS followers believe that people sailed from the Middle East to North America in 600BC. Yes and by the ops thanks, it’s been answered to his satisfaction. > [@](#): > > My question, to build on this one, was how and if schools in Utah teach this in history and/or science classes? No, why would our religious views be taught in public school science or history classes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-met-some-missionaries-today/192223.md?page=3)