# some Mormon questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237 "2003-09-12T17:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/41 "2003-09-14T22:20:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alterego \* > \*\* > > I was forcibly baptised as a Mormon when I was 12. When I was in boy scouts (organized through the church) we used to go out ‘shooting’ quite often. Even when I was a young kid I was accustomed to the kick of a 30 odd 6(sp?) > > I dont know if anyone mentioned it specifically, but the food hoarding or “Emergency Preparedness” intention is that each household keeps a one year stock of food and rotates the perishables out with groceries and the like. > > They are strange folk indeed, but thanks to them forcing my head under the water I have now found freedom of thought by denouncing all religion. \*\* Not only is a person’s willingness to be baptised a requirement, (and determinded in an interview) in the case of people under the age of legal consent a parents permission is required, as far as I know that permission is given in writing. The quote below may help you understand why be practice what we call “Food Storage”, “Emergency Prepardness”, or “Provident Living”. I’m actually surprised to see it couched in such terms as “hording” here. You’d think with the hurricane approaching the coast and so many rushing to get “prepared”, why we do it would make sense to the general public. > [@](#): > > \*\*The First Presidency on Home Food Storage and Financial Reserves \*\* > > To: General Authorities; Area Authority Seventies; Stake, Mission, and District Presidents; Bishops and Branch Presidents > > Dear Brethren: > > ``` > Priesthood and Relief Society leaders should teach the importance of home storage and securing a financial reserve. These principles may be taught in ward councils or on a fifth Sunday in priesthood and Relief Society meetings. > > Church members can begin their home storage by storing the basic foods that would be required to keep them alive if they did not have anything else to eat. Depending on where members live, those basics might include water, wheat or other grains, legumes, salt, honey or sugar, powdered milk, and cooking oil. (See reverse for suggested amounts.) When members have stored enough of these essentials to meet the needs of their family for one year, they may decide to add other items that they are accustomed to using day to day. > > Some members do not have the money or space for such storage, and some are prohibited by law from storing a year's supply of food. These members should store as much as their circumstances allow. Families who do not have the resources to acquire a year's supply can begin their storage by obtaining supplies to last for a few months. Members should be prudent and not panic or go to extremes in this effort. Through careful planning, most Church members can, over time, establish both a financial reserve and a year's supply of essentials. > > ``` > > Sincerely yours, > > The First Presidency Here is a link to a site called [Provident Living](http://www.providentliving.org/) where the principle is explained quite understandably. In brief it covers the churches teachings (not necessarily doctrine, though some are with regard to caring for others, food storage and emergency preparedness, resource management (managing personal finances), employment, education and literacy, social and emotional strength, and physical health. What it boils down to is that it is our plan for caring for the poor and needy within and without the church, becoming more self reliant, and offering christian service to others. “Food Storage” is only one small component of that plan. Finally, those of us who have it, are expected to share it with our neighbors when the need arises. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/42 "2003-09-14T22:21:48Z")
Okay, I guess we can use alteregos “assertions” as a teaching aid here. > [@](#): > > I was forcibly baptised as a Mormon when I was 12. Uh, no. You were not forcibly baptized. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not forcibly baptize anyone. Had you told the ward bishop that you did not believe in this church’s teachings, he would not have approved your baptism. There are two ages at which children get baptized: [list=a][li]At the age of eight years for the children of members of the church. This also requires the permission of the child’s parents.[/li][li]At the age of twelve years for the children of those who are not members of the church. If the prospective baptizee is under the age of 18 years, then this also requires the permission of the child’s parents.[/list][/li] You will notice that both A & B require the permission of parents. > [@](#): > > When I was in boy scouts (organized through the church) we used to go out ‘shooting’ quite often. Even when I was a young kid I was accustomed to the kick of a 30 odd 6(sp?) I really don’t see how this is relevant to this thread. At any rate, many wards sponsor Scout troops. The Scouts still confer a merit badge, IIRC, for marksmanship. AFAIK, it doesn’t matter what one’s religious affiliation is for earning that merit badge. > [@](#): > > I dont know if anyone mentioned it specifically, but the food hoarding This is one of the bigoted comments to which I was referring above. We’re not hoarding food. Those families which are participating in the Emergency Preparedness program are ensuring they can sustain their family in the event of an emergency. > [@](#): > > or “Emergency Preparedness” intention is that each household keeps a one year stock of food and rotates the perishables out with groceries and the like. This would be sensible as one would not want to attempt to subsist on rotted goods. > [@](#): > > They are strange folk indeed, This is another of the bigoted comments to which I referred above. > [@](#): > > but thanks to them forcing my head under the water I have now found freedom of thought by denouncing all religion. Since nobody forced your head under water, perhaps you should exercise that freedom in a more intelligent manner? FWIW: I don’t care one way or the other if you disagree with my church’s teachings. There are far better ways to show such disagreement than falsehoods and bigoted comments. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/43 "2003-09-14T22:31:21Z")
Abby: Thank you for the very good information & citation. One expression in Abby’s quote is > [@](#): > > fifth Sunday in priesthood and Relief Society meetings That’s referring to the fifth Sunday in months with five Sundays. On those Sundays, the Priesthood and the Relief Society in each ward have a combined meeting. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/44 "2003-09-14T22:35:31Z")
With regards to the garment, I want to add that the purpose is largely symbolic. It serves much the same purpose of a priests collar or a wedding ring. It is an outward physical representation of an inward commmitment. Only in the case of our garment the outward physical representation is worn under the clothing because the committment/covenant is between the person and God, unlike in a marriage where the ring is a symbol of committment between two people (and for some also their God), or the priests collar representing his committment to the church. It’s significance is to the wearer, it’s not necessary for anyone else to see, know about or discuss the symbol of the covenant or the covenant itself. Hope that helps you understand. **Fire Fox 40** is wrong. The temple is not reserved for higher ups. It is however reserved for the humble, charitable, obedient and faithful. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/45 "2003-09-14T22:50:37Z")
There are two merit badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America that deal with firearms (rifle shooting and shorgun shooting) in addition to about [120](http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/mb/index.htm) other worthwhile skills and topics such as: American Business American Culture American Heritage American Labor Animal Science Archaeology Archery Architecture Art Astronomy Athletics Atomic Energy Auto Mechanics Aviation Backpacking Basketry Bird Study Bugling Camping Canoeing Chemistry Cinematography Citizenship in the Community Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Climbing Coin Collecting Collections Communications Computers Cooking Crime Prevention Cycling Dentistry Disabilities Awareness Dog Care Drafting Electricity Electronics Emergency Preparedness Energy Engineering Entrepreneurship Environmental Science Family Life Farm Mechanics Fingerprinting Fire Safety First Aid Fish and Wildlife Management Fishing Fly Fishing Forestry Gardening Genealogy Geology Golf Graphic Arts Hiking Home Repairs Horsemanship Indian Lore Insect Study Journalism Landscape Architecture Law Leatherwork Lifesaving Mammal Study Medicine Metalwork Model Design and Building Motorboating Music Nature Oceanography Orienteering Painting Personal Fitness Personal Management Pets Photography Pioneering Plant Science Plumbing Pottery Public Health Public Speaking Pulp and Paper Radio Railroading Reading Reptile and Amphibian Study Rifle Shooting Rowing Safety Salesmanship Scholarship Sculpture Shotgun Shooting Skating Small-Boat Sailing Snow Sports Soil and Water Conservation Space Exploration Sports Stamp Collecting Surveying Swimming Textile Theater Traffic Safety Truck Transportation Veterinary Medicine Water Skiing Weather Whitewater Wilderness Survival Wood Carving Woodworking The Boy Scouts of America is part of the youth program of the church for boys and young men. Most LDS congregations do charter troops. Quite frankly if the boys and young men (and it is a program in which the boys and young men do their own planning for activities) are interested in learning to shoot, I’m glad they are doing it in within a program designed to teach them proper handling, safety and care instead of shooting out lights in someones back woods or shooting from a car driving by a rival neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/46 "2003-09-14T22:59:20Z")
Who wouldn’t want satin panties? Why do always take two Mormons with you to go fishing? \_ 'Cause if you take one he’ll drink all your beer… Don’t jump on me. I know a lot of LDS’ers and they’ve all laughed at this sort of humor. Deep down they’re good people… ---
**Author:** ![frookah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@frookah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frookah)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/47 "2003-09-15T21:03:34Z")
:dubious:Im sorry to be insistant, but this hasn’t been answered, and I have been wondering about this a long time. :dubious > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frookah \* > \*\*Ok, I have a general LDS question. > > If access to the temple is restricted, how are things like yearly fire inspections and, for example, say, pest control or whatever dealt with? Obviously, ideally, you find a Mormon fire chief, but what if there isn’t one nearby? \*\* : ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/48 "2003-09-15T23:02:14Z")
frookah - I answered the question above with an example - they try to find a Mormon who can do the work. For some things like fire inspections they probably have to let the local authorities in regardless. They can’t have a 100% rigid policy of no Mormons allowed. If they really do have a fire I doubt they check the faith of the fireman who show up to put it out. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/49 "2003-09-16T01:39:29Z")
Just a few additional points from personal experience… As has been mentioned, the temple garments are worn as part of the “advanced” covenants faithful Mormons are asked to make within the Temple. There’s nothing sinister about these covenants (well, not since they rewrote them to remove depictions of the grisly ways in which one would be willing to be killed if rather than ever reveal the covenants, but I digress…). They are basically just making a firm, sacred commitment to leading a holy life. The garments are basically just like regular underwear these days, except cut in such a way to necessitate a certain modesty in one’s style of dress. They also are adorned with subtle markings at the knee and heart as a reminder of the covenants made. In years past, the garments were a lot more “modest” – at one point, they went down to the ankles and wrists. The church has actually been very good over the years at making changes to the various rituals and requirements to make them more palatable to the members and society at large. Where once Mormons bragged about being “a strange people,” the current President and prophet of the church talks now about how mainstream they are. With regard to misionary service, that has also evolved over the years. At one point, men were called for 3 years. Back in the 70s and early 80s it was dropped back to 18 months, and then was put back to 2 years. Service is not required, but there can be a lot of cultural pressure to go. If you are a Mormon male who doesn’t go on a mission, you will forever be forced to explain that you didn’t go (the number one question posed to any Mormon male over the age of 21 is “so, where did you serve your mission?”), and will also run the risk of being seen as “not dating material” by all the eligible Mormon misses out there. And yes, the missionaries do not choose where they get to go. With regard to Temple marriages and divorces, it is interesting to note that plural marriage (polygamy), while no longer practiced here on earth by members of the church, is still considered a divine principle. For this reason, if a man and woman who were married in the temple get a civil divorce, the man can later remarry in the temple without needing to first get a temple divorce. The woman, however, MUST have a temple divorce in order to marry another man in the temple. Yes, the Mormon Church has a lot of strange practices and beliefs. But no more so than any other religion that has been around for awhile. The difference is that the Mormon church believes in ongoing divine revelation and that God specifically told the members to do all these seemingly “weird” things. The Church therefore walks a fine line between wanting to deemphasize the “weirdness” and be seen as “regular” folks on the one hand, and not wanting to admit that God has changed his mind on the other hand. As far as their core beliefs, the important thing to realize is that they do preach traditional Christian values such as loving thy neighbor as thyself. The fact that they have some “fringe” beliefs like baptism for the dead or temple garments doesn’t change the fact that the purpose of the church is to help people find comfort in the knowledge of God and Christ, and to exhort people to do good works. Regards, Barry ---
**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:** [September 16, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/50 "2003-09-16T01:53:35Z")
IIRC, the temple’s “decertified” for ordinances, the inspection’s conducted, and then the temple’s “recertified.” Of course the church isn’t going to be concerned about the faith of those who are trying to save the building! [When the fire department arrived at the temple in Samoa](http://www.lds.org/newsroom/showrelease/0,15503,3881-1-17159,00.html), I doubt anyone was concerned with anything other than putting out the fire (especially since the temple was undergoing renovation and wasn’t currently dedicated. As it is, [the church is going to rebuild it and when it’s ready for ordinances to resume there, it will be dedicated for such.](http://www.lds.org/news/article/0,5422,116-17203,00.html) Another note: although a number of the temples are large buildings, the current trend is to build smaller temples. You can check the links on [this page](http://www.lds.org/temples/chronological/0,11206,1900-1,00.html) and see for yourself that the more recently constructed temples are smaller than the grander ones of old. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/51 "2003-09-16T02:31:11Z")
Just wondering if calling a group of people ‘strange’ was bigotry? Anyway - thought you might be interested to know that Canberra (capitol of Australia) has been abandoned by Mormons. When I was living in Aussie, the mormon church decided to stop sending missionaries there but they were not really clear as to why - a poor hit rate I guess. I personally get a little frustrated by a church that sends 18 years olds out into the world to preach and convert. If I’m going to be persuaded by anyone, it ain’t gonna be this age group of life innocents who barely know their bible let alone the culture in which they find themselves. Talk about cultural and religious imperialism! ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/52 "2003-09-16T02:36:14Z")
Routine maintence inside the temple, for example cleaning, pest control, minor maintenece and electrial repairs are awarded to contractors who can provide temple worthy personnel if possible. This does not mean the business must be LDS owned. I am personnally aware of a business owned by someone not a member of record who employs an LDS temple worthy technician who is sent on appointments to the temple here in Houston. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/53 "2003-09-16T02:41:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MelCthefirst \* > \*\*Anyway - thought you might be interested to know that Canberra (capitol of Australia) has been abandoned by Mormons. When I was living in Aussie, the mormon church decided to stop sending missionaries there but they were not really clear as to why - a poor hit rate I guess. > \*\* Canberra has not been “abandoned” [see here for a map showing the Canberra Stake boundaries.](http://www.gatheringofisrael.com/atlas/oceania/aus_nz_png/ACT_canberra.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/54 "2003-09-16T03:41:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alterego \* > **Even when I was a young kid I was accustomed to the kick of a 30 odd 6(sp?)** It’s “thirty-aught-six”, “aught” being a synonym for “zero”. Numerically, it’s represented as [30.06](http://www.shop-links.net/ppf/aid/1/pcat/5002/product/8232731/pageno/10/productdetail.asp), and refers to the caliber (diameter in hundredths of inches) of the firearm. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/55 "2003-09-16T04:54:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > \*\*In general, the requirements to get a “Temple Recommend” are fairly simple. You have to be a member in good standing, current on your tithing, and living what the LDS church believes to be a good Christian life. > > Generally, you meet with your bishop (the head of your local ward), and discuss your life, tithing status, meeting attendance record, etc. You’re supposed to be honest with him about your life, and if he thinks you pass, you pretty much pass.\*\* While I’m sure there’s ordinary variation from bishop to bishop, often a bishop will ask you some **extremely** private and personal questions which must be answered to their full gratifica…, er, satisfaction before being granted a recommend. I’m assured by many current and former Mormons that many of them will ask you if you masturbate, and if you answer “yes”, there’s a good chance you’ll be denied (or at the very least will be seriously warned and will be looked down upon and be held in some kind of probation until you stop). Many will also ask you if you’ve had sex since your last recommend and, if so, who with. If you admit you had a sexual experience with someone of the same gender, you’re asking for a lot of grief and the chances are poor that you will be given a recommend. And you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be treated forever thenceforth as a third-class member at best and will probably never get off probation (unless perhaps you enroll in something like reversion “therapy” and are later declared “straight”). The LDS Church’s hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality is truly contemptible! ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/56 "2003-09-16T07:38:26Z")
Note: On preview, I see this became a very long post. Sorry about that, it’s a difficult subject. Feel free to skip ahead as needed. I also see we may be moving away from factual questions and answers. If we’ve gotten too far afield with this, I apologize to the mods. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ambushed \* > \*\*While I’m sure there’s ordinary variation from bishop to bishop, often a bishop will ask you some **extremely** private and personal questions which must be answered to their full gratifica…, er, satisfaction before being granted a recommend. I’m assured by many current and former Mormons that many of them will ask you if you masturbate, and if you answer “yes”, there’s a good chance you’ll be denied (or at the very least will be seriously warned and will be looked down upon and be held in some kind of probation until you stop). > > Many will also ask you if you’ve had sex since your last recommend and, if so, who with. If you admit you had a sexual experience with someone of the same gender, you’re asking for a lot of grief and the chances are poor that you will be given a recommend. And you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be treated forever thenceforth as a third-class member at best and will probably never get off probation (unless perhaps you enroll in something like reversion “therapy” and are later declared “straight”). > > The LDS Church’s hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality is truly contemptible! \*\* I think it’s practically a given they’ll quiz you about your sex life. Like most Christian religions, they’re definitely sensitive to all that “sins of the flesh” stuff, so it’s going to be a major check point on their list that you’re living a sexually pure life by their reckoning. And while **I** think these are dumb things to judge your goodness quotient on, it’s their game and their rules. If you’re looking for a sex friendly (and especially gay friendly) religion, LDS probably isn’t the best choice. But while I’m not an expert, I don’t think it’s much different in this regard than most of the other major Christian denominations. Many of those aren’t particularly sex or gay friendly either. That probably counts as damning with faint praise, but my point is I don’t think you can single out the LDS in this regard. On a side note, I don’t know of a good answer for people whose basic picture of themselves is at odds with their religious belief. I don’t imagine there are many harder things to deal with. Particularly for young people, the pressure to change themselves to conform must be horrible to live with. Someone very close to me dealt with this kind of problem for almost 15 years. It wasn’t LDS and being gay, it was a different religion and a different problem, but it was just as personal and just as hard to deal with. Near the end of her life she had mostly gotten past it, but it was still a kind of a background source of sadness. I don’t think she was ever completely convinced that she was not in some way a failure because of it. And that is one the great sadnesses of my life. Back to the main theme, I also think it’s important to distinguish between LDS church policy, and the actions of the members. The policy says if you’re sexually impure (and by their rules this includes masturbation, sex outside of marriage, and gay sex) you can’t participate in temple services, and it probably says you can’t be bishop or other ward officer. But the policy doesn’t say you get looked down on, shunned, or treated differently in other situations. The fact that some members do these things just means they’re being jerks, not that they’re following policy. The fact that they are LDS is probably incidental. I think they’d be jerks anyway. Assholes always find a reason to be assholish. That’s why they’re assholes. I didn’t leave the LDS church because of the treatment of gays, I left because I found out I wasn’t a believer in any religion, LDS included. But if I were to suddenly get the faith, as it were, I could not in good conscience be active LDS again without changes. I guess if I thought the LDS had the one true line to god, I’d have to start my own flavor with most of the rules the same but those. But pobably I’d go looking at **Polycarp** ’s church. But having said that, I’ll repeat that it’s their game and their rules. We don’t have to like it, but we don’t have to play either. Religion really is a choice. Where it becomes a problem is when a religion tries to make its beliefs public policy. This has been in problem in Utah over the years because the LDS are such a large group. When that happens, it’s time to speak out and stop it. Absent that, I don’t think we have much standing to interfere. One last note about that knee-slapper in your post about the bishops getting gratification from questioning the members. Boy, I haven’t laughed that hard in seconds. Make sure you keep up those kinds of intelligent comments, they do reflect **so** well on the points you make. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/57 "2003-09-16T09:28:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **I think it’s practically a given they’ll quiz you about your sex life. Like most Christian religions, they’re definitely sensitive to all that “sins of the flesh” stuff, so it’s going to be a major check point on their list that you’re living a sexually pure life by their reckoning.** I’m familiar with many religions and sects and their practices, and Mormons are the **ONLY** ones that I’ve ever heard of who engage in these Inquisition-type interrogation techniques. Can you cite other religions which demand that teenage girls and others reveal the details of their sex life before being considered good enough to be worthy of even _watching_ a religious ceremony? No? Then your back-bending defense of such things by comparing them to other religions has no merit! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **And while I think these are dumb things to judge your goodness quotient on, it’s their game and their rules.** No one’s denying that. I was simply stating the fact that their game and their rules are such that old men may demand that young girls (and everyone else) detail their intimate sex lives to them in private! And please don’t continue to pretend that there’s **nothing** offensive about that! The LDS Church has been sued by members for just that reason. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **If you’re looking for a sex friendly (and especially gay friendly) religion, LDS probably isn’t the best choice.** Oh, how I love being the recipient of such insipid “information”. Please, oh, please tell me more… The blind hatred of the LDS Church towards its truthful and “non-traditional” members is perhaps most offensive in the way it treats people who do NOT have a “choice” of membership, such as children raised by Mormons. **I had a close gay Mormon friend who KILLED HIMSELF after the Church once again told him how wretchedly evil and God-hating he was merely by being gay!** Sure, too many young gay men kill themselves when they learn how much they are hated by others, but when a **religion** that claims in their PR to be so loving and caring compels suicide by their sanctimonious official hatred, there’s something very, very wrong. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **But the policy doesn’t say you get looked down on, shunned, or treated differently in other situations. The fact that some members do these things just means they’re being jerks, not that they’re following policy.** The LDS PR department has learned too much over the years to allow the **written** policy to include such things, but disgust and hatred and shunning towards those the more self-satisfied members feel are insufficiently worthy Mormons isn’t going to be curtailed by the mere absence of a written policy demanding it! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **But having said that, I’ll repeat that it’s their game and their rules. We don’t have to like it, but we don’t have to play either.** Tell that to all the children forcibly raised as Mormons who entirely lack the freedom necessary to be able to make a genuine choice. I had no problem leaving the Roman Catholic Church without losing the love and respect of my family, but few Mormons have that kind of genuinely loving freedom. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **Religion really is a choice.** Not the LDS religion! As a regular participant at a Mormon/ex-Mormon board, I’ve encountered **hundreds** of Mormons who wanted to leave the Church but were effectively prevented by their Mormon families, many of which threatened disinheritance, shunning, divorce and other emotional blackmail against those wishing to leave. You should read the horrific histories of so many of these people! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > **One last note about that knee-slapper in your post about the bishops getting gratification from questioning the members. Boy, I haven’t laughed that hard in seconds.** Too bad for you; you must live a miserable life what with all that incredible stretching and back-bending you’re forced to do defending the indefensible. It must take a real toll on what’s left of your withered sense of “humor”. But as I reported previously, the LDS Church **HAS** been sued for precisely that reason: Old male bishops asking intolerably embarrassing, sexually explicit questions of young girls. You have the freedom to laugh at these abused children’s expense all you want. (For what it’s worth, my response wouldn’t have been so vigorous if you hadn’t insulted me so personally and snarkily there.) ---
**Author:** ![frookah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@frookah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frookah)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/58 "2003-09-16T09:31:48Z")
Thanks for the reply! ---
**Author:** ![frookah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@frookah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frookah)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/59 "2003-09-16T09:37:51Z")
But, just a tiny quiet hint, there are other forums here for less than factual discussions…some of us, namely me, might not be interested in opinion, no matter how well reasoned. I expect I am in the vast majority in this feeling. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![frookah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@frookah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frookah)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237/60 "2003-09-16T09:51:07Z")
Abby, what is a LDS temple worthy technician? Does that just mean technically qualified? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-mormon-questions/201237.md?page=4)