Difference between revisions of "Mormon myths"

Latest revision as of 13:54, 30 July 2020

Numerous myths have been circulated about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and some are just out and out bizarre. Here, some of the more common myths about the Church of Jesus Christ will be addressed.

Common Latter-day Saint Myths

• Myth: None of the Church of Jesus Christ’s ministry is paid.

Answer: This is actually not true. The General Authorities are offered a living allowance because they provide full-time service. Mission presidents may receive basic financial support while they serve. However, those who serve at a local level, such as bishops and stake presidents, are not paid.

• Myth: The Mormon Church is a correct title.

Answer: This is untrue. The proper name for the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this has been the official name of the Church since 1838. In 2018 President Russell M. Nelson officially asked members and news sources to discontinue the use of the terms “the Mormon Church” or "the LDS Church" and "Mormons." Members of the Church are called “Latter-day Saints."

• Myth: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a Christian church.

Answer: When given the name of the Church, it is a wonder some people deny that Latter-day Saints are Christians. The entire focus of the Church is centered around Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and the resurrection. In April 2020, the Church introduced a new logo or symbol so that the centrality of the Savior is obvious at a glance. This new emblem emphasizes the name of Jesus Christ and His central role in all the Church does.

• Myth: Latter-day Saints practice polygamy.

Answer: Absolutely not. The practice has been banned from the Church since 1890. Any member found practicing polygamy is excommunicated from the Church. Polygamists who claim to be Latter-day Saints are not telling the truth. Polygamist sects have no affiliation with the Church.

• Myth: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is racist.

Answer: This is absolutely not true. In 1978, President Spencer W. Kimball stated that every “faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood.” Before this time, blacks of African descent were not able to receive the priesthood. This situation was not the desire of the members of the Church nor its leadership. When President Kimball and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles received the revelation to extend the priesthood to all worthy male members of the Church, they had already been praying fervently for some time for that blessing. The Church’s position toward all races has always been to embrace them. Latter-day Saints treated Native Americans with respect at a time when many did not, and founding prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. actually ran for President of the United States on an anti-slavery platform. Members of the Church come from all over the world, and no one is denied access to the blessings of the Church because of race.

On June 1, 2020, President Russell M. Nelson released this statement through his social media accounts:

We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic of freedoms because of the color of his or her skin.

We are also saddened when these assaults on human dignity lead to escalating violence and unrest.

The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent!

During the Savior’s earthly mission, He constantly ministered to those who were excluded, marginalized, judged, overlooked, abused, and discounted. As His followers, can we do anything less? The answer is no! We believe in freedom, kindness, and fairness for all of God’s children!

Let us be clear. We are brothers and sisters, each of us the child of a loving Father in Heaven. His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, invites all to come unto Him—“black and white, bond and free, male and female,” (2 Nephi 26:33). It behooves each of us to do whatever we can in our spheres of influence to preserve the dignity and respect every son and daughter of God deserves.

Any nation can only be as great as its people. That requires citizens to cultivate a moral compass that helps them distinguish between right and wrong.

Illegal acts such as looting, defacing, or destroying public or private property cannot be tolerated. Never has one wrong been corrected by a second wrong. Evil has never been resolved by more evil.

We need to foster our faith in the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.

We need to foster a fundamental respect for the human dignity of every human soul, regardless of their color, creed, or cause.

And we need to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding rather than creating walls of segregation.

I plead with us to work together for peace, for mutual respect, and for an outpouring of love for all of God’s children.[1]

Church Newsroom Video Myth and Reality with Steve Young

• Answers to challenging questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints