11 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Mormons

Business Insider ^ | 2011

[Colofornian]

...The church's assets are thought to be worth more than $30 billion.

...The church reportedly receives more than $5 billion in tithes every year.

The church also has substantial real estate and for-profit business investments, managed by Deseret Management Corp. The company is one of the largest owners of farm and ranch land in the U.S. It owns the country's largest nut producer, AgReserves, Inc., the 14th largest radio chain, Bonneville International Corp...

Economic entrepreneurialism is...part of Mormon doctrine — 88 of...112 revelations received by... founder Joseph Smith deal with fiscal matters.

SNIP

The Twilight saga is actually about the Mormon belief in eternal marriage.

The Twilight series, by Mormon author Stephanie Meyers, is an allegory for the Mormon concept of "celestial marriage" - the belief that a couple that is "sealed" in a Mormon temple will stay bound together forever...

Edward and Bella's bond is sealed when Edward bites Bella. As with a Mormon marriage, there's no turning back for Bella, who is transformed into a vampire for eternity.

SNIP

The Mormon church thinks polygamy might be okay in the afterlife.

...(the official Mormon church)...still believes...the divine principle of plural marriage may apply in heaven. In the case of death or divorce, Mormon men can be sealed to another wife and all of their celestial marriages will be honored in eternity.

The LDS...tried to distance itself from...40,000 fundamentalist Mormons who still practice polygamy...

SNIP

Mormons wear special undergarments called a "temple garment"...designed to give "protection against temptation and evil."

Many Mormons believe the underwear provides spiritual protection.

SNIP

Mormons believe that when Jesus returns, he's coming to the U.S.

Mormons believe...all the...Christian churches fell into apostasy...

...Jesus will personally return to reign over a paradisaical Kingdom on earth. His headquarters will be at the...temple in Jackson County, Missouri...

[Elsie]

Do you realize that John 1:1 counters LDS theology?

But WHICH John 1:1???

---

Let's compare KJV to JST:

King James Version John 1 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Joseph Smith Translation John 1 1 In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made which was made. 4 In him was the gospel, and the gospel was the life, and the life was the light of men; 5 And the light shineth in the world, and the world perceiveth it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came into the world for a witness, to bear witness of the light, to bear record of the gospel through the Son, unto all, that through him men might believe. 8 He was not that light, but came to bear witness of that light, 9 Which was the true light, which lighteth every man who cometh into the world; 10 Even the Son of God. He who was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; only to them who believe on his name. 13 He was born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bear witness of him, and cried, saying, This is he of whom I spake; He who cometh after me, is preferred before me; for he was before me. 16 For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh, and sent unto us by the will of the Father, And as many as believe on his name shall receive of his fulness. And of his fullness have all we received, even immortality and eternal life, through his grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but life and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 For the law was after a carnal commandment, to the administration of death; but the gospel was after the power of an endless life, through Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father. 19 And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son; for except it is through him no man can be saved. 20 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him; Who art thou? 21 And he confessed, and denied not that he was Elias; but confessed, saying; I am not the Christ. 22 And they asked him, saying; How then art thou Elias? And he said, I am not that Elias who was to restore all things. And they asked him, saying, Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 23 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 24 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as saith the prophet Esaias. 25 And they who were sent were of the Pharisees. 26 And they asked him, and said unto him; Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not the Christ, nor Elias who was to restore all things, neither that prophet? 27 John answered them, saying; I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 28 He it is of whom I bear record. He is that prophet, even Elias, who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose, or whose place I am not able to fill; for he shall baptize, not only with water, but with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and said; Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! 30 And John bare record of him unto the people, saying, This is he of whom I said; After me cometh a man who is preferred before me; for he was before me, and I knew him, and that he should be made manifest to Israel; therefore am I come baptizing with water. 31 And John bare record, saying; When he was baptized of me, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 32 And I knew him; for he who sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me; Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 33 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 34 These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

[Elsie]

I start at the beginning of Matthew and read all the way to the of Acts and start over.

I think I see the problem...

[Elsie]

I’m done talking to you. You are full of rage. It was funny at first. Now I think you are mentally ill.

You are an authentic TBM.

Such a grasp of the Rod of Iron has not been seen on FR in quite a while.

[Elsie]

You are the coward, can’t even defend your faith. That is sad.

Oh, he(?) can defend it; just doesn't use any FACTS to do so.

[Elsie]

That makes NO sense.

Pete; it's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.

[Tennessee Nana]

I was ministering to the poor and wretched...

[Tennessee Nana]

Dunn’s connections to Afco Enterprises, a real estate venture which collapsed in 1982. Dunn resigned from the board of directors in 1978, but he apparently maintained ties to the company until 1982. The reporter cites court records in a civil suit involving Afco, so that may be his source for the salary figure. (Dunn gave a deposition in the case.)
_____________________________________________________

Oh dear

Mormons are not always the great successful businessmen they are tauted to be

There was recently that huge mormon insurance company that failed

something like “Beneficial Life” ???

and then theres the mormon construction company in the hole

a mall being built started out as about $2 BILLION and is now costing $6 BILLION

How do you could triple the cost of something...

when you are “following the mormon profit” ???

BTW whose $6 BILLION are they using

Not their own ...

they “dont get a salary”

[Colofornian]

On my mission to Tokyo Japan in the 80’s there was a Buddhist sect that would engage in vein repetitious prayer and hand out flyers saying there was millions of members of this buddhist sect in the U.S. There were photos of a Super Bowl game that they claimed was a Soka Gakkai (google it) rally in here in the U.S. I would spend so much time worrying that they were lying, etc. It made me so mad! I finally learned to let it go. They wouldn’t change me and I wasn’t going to change them.

Subject line: 'Testimony Memo' to 52,000 Lds missionaries and the next 50,000 preparing to follow
From: Benhoganfanland, ex-lds proselytizer to Tokyo who didn't actually succeed in proselytizing anyone
Memo: Dear Lds missionaries & would-be Lds missionaries: 'Let it go.' You won't 'change' the people you'll be talking to. Come on home and for those behind MTC bars, don't go.

[Tennessee Nana]

Oh noez

a fallen angel

:)

[Tennessee Nana]

Half da beast

:)

[greyfoxx39]

My mother is a liberal Democrat that worked on Obama’s campaign and lives in L.A.

My dad is a Doctor.

And...we are supposed to be impressed by this?

I have come to know my Savior Jesus Christ and the power of the atonement in my life.

How mormony...ignore the Cross and the fact that Jesus died for our sins.

I have been forgiven of my sins and continually try to live the best life I can. Trying to abide by the “greatest commandment” and love my neighbors and fellow man. I try to do good deeds and raise a good law abiding family. So far, so good.

"Try to...try to...try to...I...I...I...again, how mormony...believing that God is keeping score of your works...I bet you believe that mumbo-jumbo in the temple actually binds God to man-made "covenants" also.

How exhausting to be a mormon...and how wonderful to be a Christian saved by Grace.

We feel sorry for you, Delph...er....ben....perhaps one of your "trys" should be actually reading and understanding the Bible.

BTW, if Jesus were to try to join the mormon church, how many of His actions would pass the temple recommend interview?...and would HE be required to clean the toilets in your buildings??

[greyfoxx39]

Excellent!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"You seem like such a Christ-like individual. I am very impressed. I would definitely enjoy going to church with you and others like you. You seem so kind. Really, I can’t get over it."

Lies Mormons Tell #7 Attack the Person [since you have no facts, evidence of logical argument]

[Godzilla]

How IS John 1:1 full of rage?

More projecting.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"Ha! You guys are hilarious. I can’t tell you haw funny this is to me."

Lies Mormons Tell #5 Pretend it is all funny [avoid dealing with the main issue since you cannot answer it]

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"Try NOT being an idiot."

Lies Mormons Tell #7 ATTACK the Person! Specialize in ad hominem arguments, since you don't have FACTS, EVIDENCE or LOGICAL ARGUMENTS

[Godzilla]

BTW, if Jesus were to try to join the mormon church, how many of His actions would pass the temple recommend interview?...and would HE be required to clean the toilets in your buildings??

He would probably have a high priest condemn him for his grooming and deny him the opportunity to pass out communion.

[greyfoxx39]

I think that chart should be posted as a thread, Elsie.

[MHGinTN]

HAH! We have a new handle for ben, 'The Slightest'. Kind of the opposite of the John Wayne character. The Slightest responds by quiping but not addressing the issues or answering any f the questions posed to him. [BTW, that name tag hints of a sort of Johnny Miller character, but I don't recall Johnny having any little ones still. Maybe one of Johnny's sons?]

It is always an interesting scene when one of these slightests shows up to start a kerfuffle then resort to only ridicule and insult and deceit when the real facts about what Mormonism teaches surface quickly. Every one of them quickly resorts to 'you hate Mormons' or 'Mormon bashing is your only thrill in life'. We consistently opposing and expose the heresies in the ISM, and the dead-soul Mormonism apologist continues to dissemble that into attacking the poor lost souls caught up in the cult of Joe Smith, peepstone false prophet sexual predator of married women. [BTW, your drag and pastes are still akin to a Bible study, with the contrasts of the LDS heresies tossed in for contrast. Without the levity, this would be such a dreary task exposing the blasphemies and heresies in Moronism.]

[reaganaut]

Anytime, Els. XD