# The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 31, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643 "2002-07-31T04:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/1 "2002-07-31T04:09:05Z")
My question is simple. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I am merely curious as to what people out there think of when they hear about my faith… I am really bored, so i thought i would ask… ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/2 "2002-07-31T05:04:04Z")
This probably belongs in GD (I suspect it will generate more heat than IMHO is intended to handle). You could e-mail a mod and ask to have it moved, or just wait… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/3 "2002-07-31T05:22:11Z")
I think, Thank you! The LDS Church operates the largest genealogy library in the world, and as a genealogist I rely on it all the time. P.S. Shouldn’t that be Latter-day Saints, with a small “d”? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/4 "2002-07-31T05:53:46Z")
This is not a General Question with a factual answer. Discussions of a religious nature seem to turn into Great Debates. Off to Great Debates. **DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/5 "2002-07-31T05:55:40Z")
Just because you asked, I think what a bunch of nuts. Special underwear, magic sun glasses that allow messages written on rocks to be read, the angel Moroni. It all seems pretty silly. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/6 "2002-07-31T06:19:50Z")
DanBlather: I believe the OP was requesting intelligent comments. Thanks for providing an example of the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/7 "2002-07-31T06:25:57Z")
This is the umpteenth time I have heard of people refer to ‘special underwear’ and ‘magic sunglasses’. Is there actually something to these things? Not ‘magic’ per se, but are there ceremonial undergarments and whatnot that lead to DanBlathers comment? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/8 "2002-07-31T06:26:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*DanBlather: I believe the OP was requesting intelligent comments. Thanks for providing an example of the opposite. \*\* Monty: You are very welcome. He did ask what people think, and I was honest, if not particularly tactful. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/9 "2002-07-31T06:30:51Z")
I know very little about organized religion, nor do I care to, so I have a feeling people will call me an idiot for saying this… Your religion’s name is simply way too wordy. Hint: If people are found to be calling an organization by its initials—LDS, AFLCIO, TRAA-CREF—the organization’s name is probably too long, and laypeople don’t know what the initials stand for anyway. Most other religions that come to mind—Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, et cetera, manage to have one-word names that everyone understands—I think this makes the most sense. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/10 "2002-07-31T06:50:43Z")
> [@](#): > > This is the umpteenth time I have heard of people refer to ‘special underwear’ and ‘magic sunglasses’. One custom is for the Elders (note: That doesn’t necessarily refer to those who are old) to wear a plain white undergarment that combines boxers and undershirt. It looks a lot like the bathing suits you’d see at the beginning of the century. Nothing special about it, really. The “magic sunglasses” were the Urim and Thummin, which Joseph Smith supposedly used to translate the Book of Mormon. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/11 "2002-07-31T06:59:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*This is the umpteenth time I have heard of people refer to ‘special underwear’ and ‘magic sunglasses’. > > Is there actually something to these things? Not ‘magic’ per se, but are there ceremonial undergarments and whatnot that lead to DanBlathers comment? \*\* > [@](#): > > Q What are Latter-day Saint garments? > > A The word “garment” has a distinctive meaning to Latter-day Saints. Members who have received the ordinance of the temple endowment wear a white ceremonial undergarment. Members wear the garment under their regular clothing for the rest of their lives, day and night, to remind them of the sacred covenants they have made with God. It is an outward expression of an inward covenant and symbolizes Christlike attributes in one’s mission in life. The white garment symbolizes purity and helps assure modesty and respect for the attributes of God. Scripture and ancient tradition point toward the significance of sacral clothing. The clergy and many of the committed in almost all major faiths wear special clothing. For Latter-day Saints, among whom there is no professional ministry, men and women from all walks of life share in the callings, responsibilities, and blessings of the priesthood. Their sacred clothing, representing covenants with God, is worn under rather than outside their street clothes. [http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=209](http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=209) ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/12 "2002-07-31T07:09:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\* > The “magic sunglasses” were the Urim and Thummin, which Joseph Smith supposedly used to translate the Book of Mormon. \*\* Yes, I was referring to Urim and Thummin. I did a quick search on various LDS sites and saw nothing that characterized Urim and Thummin as sunglasses (or plain glasses for that matter). I may be repeating scuttlebut. There is this reference, however, in a non-LDS site: [http://jmahoney.com/latter.htm](http://jmahoney.com/latter.htm) > [@](#): > > He reportedly then experienced a series of visions, first of God the Father and Jesus, then John the Baptist, and then various angels. In 1827 he claimed to have received plates of gold upon which was engraved the Book of Mormon, written in a form of Egyptian. He also claimed to have received two stones called the “Urim and Thummim” used to translate the tablets. One source **compared them to crystal balls**. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/13 "2002-07-31T07:17:24Z")
I read about the magic decoder glasses in the Book of Mormon seven years ago. I thought it was the wackiest thing I have heard a religion come up with. My memory’s a bit rusty about what I read - could someone refresh my memory? ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/14 "2002-07-31T08:22:29Z")
Is it true that the Church of LDS believes that Jesus Christ traveled up through Siberia over the land bridge that once connected Russia and Alaska and down into North America, where he preached to the Native Americans? That’s one thing I have read about the religion, but never really managed to verify. ---
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/15 "2002-07-31T11:13:08Z")
One thing I think when I hear Mormons mentioned is “wow. They have REALLY GREAT commercials.” ---
**Author:** ![simonlb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@simonlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simonlb)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/16 "2002-07-31T11:41:00Z")
I just get really hacked off when they knock at your front door and ask you, ‘Do you believe in God?’ I mean, I know where the church is? If I wanted god I’d visit the bloody thing!!! ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/17 "2002-07-31T12:45:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > \*\*One thing I think when I hear Mormons mentioned is “wow. They have REALLY GREAT commercials.” \*\* That’s funny, I think the reverse. I have no argument or disagreement with the LDS, but really. Their commercials are horrible, leaving me shuddering even when I agree with their message (which is usually pleasant enough). I don’t know if they have a farm where they breed the “actors” they use on those commercials, or if they’re all self-made actors (thus demonstrating the horrors of unskilled labor) but a scarier group of Stepford People I’ve never seen. And their! Syntax is ter! Rible! Fenris ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/18 "2002-07-31T13:46:46Z")
> [@](#): > > If people are found to be calling an organization by its initials—LDS, AFLCIO, TRAA-CREF—the organization’s name is probably too long So the RC (or RCC), the USA, CNN, and the NFL have names that are too long and cannot be remembered by most folks? I supposed we could call the church Bob, the country Sam, the network Ted, and the league Ralph, but it seems silly to change their names at this late date. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/19 "2002-07-31T14:15:28Z")
Upon first learning of some of the LDS beliefs and customs, I think most “Christians” consider such things at the least very unusual if not down right bizarre. A complete outsider will view many shared Christian beliefs in the same light. Many in the general Christian culture will believe Moses received the Ten Commandents directly from God, or at the least, will not view such a statement as bizarre. Similiar claims made by the LDS happening in the 1800s are not fundamentally different except as to timing, but generally are viewed entirely differently. They should not be. It’s not just what we believe, it’s our inability to reflect objectively upon those beliefs that lead us to view any religion primarily outside our experience as strikingly unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643/20 "2002-07-31T14:53:25Z")
I read once that during the marriage ceremony, the men stand on one side of a sheet and the women stand on the other side. There are large slits in the sheet. As part of the ceremony, the men reach through and pull the women through. The sheet symbolizes the barrier between heaven and earth. Apparently women can’t get into heaven on their own merits (presumably because of the Original Sin). They need their husband to bring them along. The ceremony is a symbol of the men giving their new wives an “in” to heaven. Is this true? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/121643.md?page=2)