# Video: What Mormon theology is really all about **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 17, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812 "2006-10-17T18:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/21 "2006-10-18T16:50:49Z")
Jesus and satan were brothers? The fallen people grow horns and tails (before your eyes)? If half of this is true, we are in for major trouble! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/22 "2006-10-18T16:53:12Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Jesus and satan were brothers? The fallen people grow horns and tails (before your eyes)? If half of this is true, we are in for major trouble! 😕 [/QUOTE] Half of it **is** true. 🙂 Mormons do believe that Jesus and Satan were brothers (as were all of us) in the premortal existence. Satan (according to Mormon belief) was cast out of God’s presence for rebelling against him when Jesus was chosen to be the savior. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/23 "2006-10-18T16:53:12Z")
Oh sure, we just hide the tails. And the horns are a little tricky; we just have poofy hair to cover up. Bald guys have to file theirs down. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/24 "2006-10-18T17:08:42Z")
Holy Cow! I actually remember seeing this when I was in grade school at my church. This wasn’t shown just to kids, but to the entire congregation (which, at the time, would’ve probably been considered a megachurch: 3 services, several thousand each service). Highlights: “endless celestial sex”, “the Negro race”, the spooky music, the bad character animation. All in all, I must have been seven or so when I saw it, and even back then I could tell that it was bald-faced propoganda (though I wasn’t about to voice this to my true-believing parents). Creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/25 "2006-10-18T17:30:22Z")
[QUOTE=Subway Prophet] (I assume you’re describing the prophet, and not Jesus Christ - we sort of put Jesus at the top of the great big organizational chart, but most people accept that the daily logistical management of the church is handled by the presidency, which the prophet leads.) Could it be that you’re exaggerating a bit? I, too, have been through most of those buildings, and have yet to see one “10x life-size picture” of the prophet anywhere, let alone said pictures papering the walls. You make us sound like Jonestown. It’s unwarranted hyperbole like yours, that encourages people who are less familiar with the religion to freak out. [/QUOTE] I’m talking about a smaller building inside the temple complex but off the beaten path, inside a park with a fountain. I looked aorund online for an aerial map to better describe the building I mean, but didn’t find one. And I was not talking about Jesus. The entire building is devoted to the still-living guy who heads the Church now. As for hyperbole, I haven’t said anything untrue, just given my opinion, which I’m entitled to. Re-read my last post: I think ALL religions are kooky, not just Mormonism. Most religions seem like cults when they are getting started. What seperates say, Catholicism and Mormonism? Catholics have been around longer. That’s it. Both are based on beliefs that can’t be empirically proven, and are therefore both equally improbable. Did Joeseph Smith really get a revelation from God? Did Jesus really designate Peter the head of the Church? Who the hell knows? But I’ll go on the record and say I don’t think Mormons should actually be persecuted, even though they seem as culturally heavy-handed in their own bailiwick as anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/26 "2006-10-18T17:33:35Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] I doubt it. While various churches are concerned about the teachings of Mormonism and its growth, I see no evidence that any particular sect is losing massive numbers of people to the LDS faction. [/QUOTE] I meant more of a metaphysical conflict between idealogies, which some churches take more seriously than others. But I didn’t make that very clear. Think of how Cahtolics and Protestants used to view each other in Europe. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/27 "2006-10-18T19:16:51Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] I think when I first started regularly posting I took a sideswipe at LDS doctrine, when I was really complaining about Episcopal Bishop Spong (the linking point was how I regarded both as redefining serious theological concepts in a way contrary to historic C’tianity), to which you rightfully took exception. I think we’ve had much more minor disagreements since. [/quote] Still don’t recall it. Guess it wasn’t all that much of a dustup. > [@](#): > > Unless “Temple of the GodMakers” used the same or similar animation, I still say that clip came from the original “The God Makers”. I think that The God Makers film has as part of it that animated short, itself called Temple of the God Makers. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/28 "2006-10-18T19:23:47Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] I’m talking about a smaller building inside the temple complex but off the beaten path, inside a park with a fountain. I looked aorund online for an aerial map to better describe the building I mean, but didn’t find one. [/quote] Some temples have a visitor’s center and others have a distribution center or boookstore on the grounds. That may be what you were recalling. > [@](#): > > And I was not talking about Jesus. The entire building is devoted to the still-living guy who heads the Church now. There is nothing at all like that for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/29 "2006-10-18T20:36:54Z")
**Lizard** , are you possibly referring to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building? This is just across the street from the temple. It used to be a hotel, but has now been converted to offices/restaurants/meeting areas. There is a large statue of Joseph Smith in the lobby, but I don’t know of anyplace on or near Temple Square devoted to Gordon B. Hinckley (the current leader). ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/30 "2006-10-18T21:12:08Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] There is nothing at all like that for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [/QUOTE] Sooooooo. . . the photos I took of it are figments of my imagination? I’d e-mail you one, but I don’t have them in electronic format. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/31 "2006-10-18T21:22:15Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] In my own experience, first as a Mormon, then a Mormon missionary, and now an ex-Mormon, I’ve observed that many if not most of the “ex-Mormons trying to get their erstwhile brethren to see the light” ministries seem to have a personal axe to grind with the LDS Church. There’s something about Mormonism’s doctrine and culture that makes it difficult to make a clean, non-embittered break with the church. [/QUOTE] I’m sure that’s true… and having lived in Utah for four years, I can see why. That still doesn’t mean that they’re motivated by greed – especially since their anti-LDs activities are likely to get them blacklisted by many businesses. It _certainly_ doesn’t mean that the just want to gain converts, especially since these organizations ain’t churches. > [@](#): > > Now, I’m sure that most of these guys honestly believe the Mormon church is false, and are motivated at least partly by genuine concern for their fellows. It’s just that, for many of the ones I’ve met, there seems to be an unspoken motivation to damage the church somehow. Just like certain atheists and former Christians try to mar the reputation of Christianity, right? It seems to me that if you believe a church is leading people astray, then you _would_ want to damage their effectiveness. It’s kinda foolish to expect that they’d view the LDS teachings nonchalantly, without any concern for their fellow man. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/32 "2006-10-18T21:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] It seems to me that if you believe a church is leading people astray, then you _would_ want to damage their effectiveness. It’s kinda foolish to expect that they’d **view the LDS teachings nonchalantly** , without any concern for their fellow man. [/QUOTE] Bolding mine. I dunno…I do just that (view them nonchalantly), and it doesn’t mean I have no concern for my fellow man. I’m not shy about giving my opinion of the LDS Church when it’s asked of me, but if I were to go out and actively, vocally try to “de-convert” Mormons, I’m just the same as the people who are actively, vocally trying to convert them. In both cases, I think it’s wrongheaded. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/33 "2006-10-18T21:29:39Z")
**Lizard** – it’s been many years since I was back in SLC, but when I was there, they had two Vistors’ Centers at Temple Squasre (which is the 0,0 block of the SLC coordinate system, contains the Temple and the Tabernacle, and is surrounded by a wall). One’s in the southeast and has the replica of the baptismal font borne on the backs of 12 bovines. The other’s in the northeast and has what I call the “Planetarium Jesus” – a monumental statue of Christ in white, surrounded by a deep blue-black painted sky filled with stars and planets. This building also has a copy of the 1st edition of the Book of Mormon. In my time, neither building “was devoted to the current President” (semiquote), although one of them had a history of the Church leadership. are you talking about one of those buildings? The building **fatBaldGuy** refers to is across the street from the Temple, not in Temple Square, and used to be the Hotel Utah, now sadly turned into Church Offices (Calvin Grondhal had an editorial cartoon of the staff moving in – “Hey! I think I spent my honeymoon in this office!”). ---
**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:** [October 18, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/34 "2006-10-18T22:30:01Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] Sooooooo. . . the photos I took of it are figments of my imagination? I’d e-mail you one, but I don’t have them in electronic format. [/QUOTE] No. Your recollection of it seems to be your imagination. Go ahead and scan the photos and send them to me via e-mail. My e-mail address is in my profile. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/35 "2006-10-18T22:42:35Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] No. Your recollection of it seems to be your imagination. Go ahead and scan the photos and send them to me via e-mail. My e-mail address is in my profile. [/QUOTE] Count me in with those who’d like to see this. I’ve visited Temple Square literally dozens of times and have yet to see the Chairman Mao-like oversized icons you describe. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/36 "2006-10-19T01:06:04Z")
Yeah, me too! ---
**Author:** ![utah\_boy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@utah\_boy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/utah_boy2)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/37 "2006-10-19T01:47:05Z")
This is what moron theology is really all about [http://www.mormon.com](http://www.mormon.com) ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/38 "2006-10-19T02:04:39Z")
Hmmm. :::: Moderator ponders :::: Discussion of videos is probably OK for Cafe Society, but this has now meandered into discussion of religion… hence, moved to GD. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_in_second_hand_clothing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/39 "2006-10-19T02:28:38Z")
I was wondering why I couldn’t get into this thread; apparently it was in transit. I was only going to pop in to make it clear that my response upon seeing the video was _not_ “Right on! That’ll show those Mormons!” I was just wondering if there were other cartoons like it floating around the net. I compared it earlier to a Chick Tract, and I think that they definitely have their similarities; sad and weird, but intruiging nonetheless. It was the same morbid curiosity that made made me read the Chick archives and post this thread. I haven’t been able to find any additional clips, so the answer to my OP is probably “no”. You all may now feel free to discuss all things Mormon and not video related at your leisure. FWIW, I went to a LDS church for my first 5 years, or about a quarter of my life. I have 4 cousins at BYU. I did not start this thread for the purpose of Mormon-bashing. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812/40 "2006-10-19T03:26:51Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Bolding mine. I dunno…I do just that (view them nonchalantly), and it doesn’t mean I have no concern for my fellow man. [/QUOTE] With all due respect, if you feel that the LDS church is leading people astray _and you think it’s wrong to warn them_, then I think that does indicate a serious lack of concern for your fellow man. Remember, these anti-LDS activists don’t merely think that the Mormon church is giving people bad clothing advice or somesuch rot. Rather, they believe that the LDS church is teaching the wrong path to eternal salvation. That’s a mighty serious problem there, son. If they did not try to actively warn people, then this would indeed mean that they have no concern about their fellow man’s eternal destiny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-what-mormon-theology-is-really-all-about/376812.md?page=3)