Mormonism - the Islam of America

[JohnnyHye]

Mormonism is basically a newer, Americanized version of Islam. Here are some of the many similarities:

1. "Holy" Cities - Muslims venerate Medina where Mohammed was born, and Mormons venerate Palymyra where Joseph Smith grew up. Also, Salt Lake City is to the Mormons what Mecca is to Muslims - the "promised" land.

2. Founded by a "prophet" - mohammed for islam, Joseph Smith for Mormonism. Both of these men were born poor and were uneducated when they invented their religions.

3. Additional "Scripture" that overrides God's Word - Koran for muslims, Book of Mormon, D&C, and other "revelation" handed down through "prophets".

4. Both require the wearing of all-white, special religious clothing for certain religious rituals.

5. Both have believed in the concept of "religious war" and have raised religious armies to fight these wars.

6. Strange Dietary laws for both religions, including forbidding of alcohol for either religion (and this rule is routinely broken by both religion's practitioners, as well).

7. Both of them attempt to establish Theocracy wherever they are by taking over the government, which they do by flooding a town with residents of their religion - this goes for both Muslims and Mormons. Examples - Muslims in Lebanon do this, and Mormons in California and Arizona and Idaho do this. Also, both religions have already established huge theocracies (i.e. Saudi Arabia for muslims, Utah for Mormons).

8. Both are based on paganism.

9. Both consider Jesus as "important", but they both also lower Jesus to be lower than the One True God.

10. Polygamy is accepted in both.

11. The founding prophets of both not only had many wives, but they both married young girls as well.

12. Both religions believe that there will be sex in the afterlife and it will be a reward

13. Both religions have buildings and rituals which they exclude "outsiders" from.

There are more - if anyone wants to add, be my guest.

I think it's interesting how similar these two religions really are, although people don't realize it because people tend to look at "American vs. Arab" rather than "Christian vs. non-Christian" when comparing the two religions, and the fact is that while Mormonism is very "American", it is just as non-Christian as Islam.

[BlessedinHim]

Very good points. At first I have to admit, I was skeptical of what you would say. Then I read it. Good points.

[vsi4Jesus]

Johnny I enjoyed your post. Just one question. Number 10 about polygamy. I don't think it is practiced in the Mormon Church today is it? I do agree that the founding prophets had many wives. But I thought the Mormon church outlawed that.

[BlessedinHim]

I think the mormons branched off into two sects. One of them still do practice polygamy. There are stories in the news about these that still do practice polygamy.

http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon218.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy

Quoted from above reference: Although most Mormons now accept the prohibition on plural marriage, various splinter groups left the mainline LDS Church to continue the open practice of plural marriage. Polygamy among these groups persists today in Utah, neighboring states, and the spin-off colonies, as well as among isolated individuals with no organized church affiliation. Polygamist churches of Mormon origin are often referred to as Mormon fundamentalist who often use a disputed September 27, 1886 revelation to John Taylor as the basis for their authority to continue the practice of plural marriage.[37] The Salt Lake Tribune states there are as many as 37,000 fundamentalists, with less than half of them living in polygamous households.[38] Most of the polygamy is believed to be restricted to about a dozen extended groups of polygamous fundamentalists. The LDS Church asserts that it is improper to call any of these splinter polygamous groups "Mormon."[39][40]

[Butterfly35]

Wow! I had no clue!
Thanks for the info!

[vsi4Jesus]

Thanks blessed did not know this

[JohnnyHye]

Johnny I enjoyed your post. Just one question. Number 10 about polygamy. I don't think it is practiced in the Mormon Church today is it? I do agree that the founding prophets had many wives. But I thought the Mormon church outlawed that.

Thanks for the question! Blessedinhim gave great info that answers that. As blessed indicated, the Mormon church split up.

Basically, after Joseph Smith died, there was a struggle for power to rule the religion between Joseph Smith's son (who JS's wife supported also) and Brigham Young. One of the main points of contention was the issue of polygamy. Brigham wanted to keep it, and JS's son and wife didn't want to keep it. So the followers of Smith's son and wife stayed in Missouri. They are today known as the "Community of Christ", but for a long time called themselves the "Reformed Latter-Day Saints" (RLDS).

Brigham Young and the polygamists moved to Utah and set up their mormon theocracy there. As time went on they wanted statehood from the US. The main reason they wouldn't get statehood was polygamy. So, their prophet had a "revelation" that polygamy was wrong now, and Utah gained statehood. They still don't believe it was wrong for Brigham Young or anyone else before the "revelation", and they mostly believe in polygamy in the afterlife. This is the biggest Mormon church, the one most people are familiar with, and they are called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (LDS).

Many groups broke from this religion because they felt the revelation against prophecy was false, and wanted to keep polygamy. There have been over 200 splits from the main religion, and pretty much all of them have been polygamous.

So while the 'official' mormonism (the "LDS") is currently anti-polygamy, even they have beliefs that accept polygamy for periods of time and for the afterlife. Other than the RLDS, most of the other mormon splinter groups are VERY polygamous.

There are entire towns in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and even California and Canada that are owned and run by polygamous mormons. I would imagine it is very scary to pass through - they probably leave you alone if you just pass through politely and don't linger too long, but from what I've heard they don't want anyone hanging around. If I lingered in a town like that, I couldn't help but stare if I saw a guy with several women or girls in tow.

My friend went to Utah and saw a man in Zion National Park who was with about 5 women that were aged about 17 or 18 to 35, he said the man looked in his late 30's or early 40's. Then they had about 8 children with them ranging from a couple of infants to toddlers about 3 years old. Weird, huh!!! He said the women were all dressed like "pioneers" but the guy was dressed like a "business casual" corporate guy. I would have been staring like crazy! :lol2

[vsi4Jesus]

Thanks Johnny interesting stuff. My mother is part of the LDS. I have heard of the reformed before. I just did not know this information. It's truly sad tho that most of my family members are part of this group. Won't listen to me at all about Christianity.

[BlessedinHim]

Thanks Johnny interesting stuff. My mother is part of the LDS. I have heard of the reformed before. I just did not know this information. It's truly sad tho that most of my family members are part of this group. Won't listen to me at all about Christianity.

I know how ya feel, my dad was into Mormonism, too, and he wouldnt listen to reason either. Nothing I said would lead him away from that religion.

Not even the fact that there is not archaeological evidence to back up what the mormons believe would sway him. I dont know if he made it to heaven or not. I just have to leave that in God's hands.

I am glad I was able to help. Thanks for the more indepth on it JohnnyHye.

[JohnnyHye]

You're both welcome for the added info - if you want to know anything else let me know. I try to get my info from their own teachings and writings so as not to be wrong in what I accuse them of; but there's plenty in their own stuff that a Christian can see is wrong.

I understand what you both say about how family members won't even talk about it. The Mormons I've known in the past, even a couple of ones who professed to being devout mormons, would say things to me like "Well, it's a great lifestyle choice regardless of the discrepancies" or "Well, even if there is something wrong with it I have found it to be a blessing and it works for me" and even "I don't care if it's not really true, I LIKE it and so I'm going to stay with it."

It's sad, but it's another situation where people find something they like and will stick with it for that reason, and real, absolute Truth doesn't matter to them.

I'll pray for all your LDS family members. I'm sure the witness you both provide to them can be instrumental in leading them out of the darkness of Mormonism and to Christ.