You forgot to ask them about baptizing the dead and their magic underwear! That's usually the fun part where you get a pamphlet and they run off.
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You forgot to ask them about baptizing the dead and their magic underwear! That's usually the fun part where you get a pamphlet and they run off.
You may be thinking of Scientologists. Mormons generally love talking about why we have baptisms for the dead (and why it's mentioned in the New Testament). We also enjoy sharing the reason behind wearing temple clothing under our typical clothing. In fact, I don't know that there's anything that most Mormons wouldn't enjoy talking about.
Yeah did not know about those rituals either. Interesting. I can see how making people wear garments as a constant reminder could be used psychologically as a control mechanism. Anyways I won't knock these rituals. They are what the are. I was just curious and wanted to validate more of the unusual ideas that float around about Mormonism.
Careful what you wish for, you've got a real live one here, so fire away.
Hello @gavvet! Thanks for letting us know! We should do an AMA with you! Anyways I'm open to all ideas so it's just part of learning about different religions. I did have a good time speaking to the young 'Elder' missionaries today. They were very nice. I asked the question about aliens and put it in the post title because it wasn't until probably 3-5 years ago that I first learned of these ideas. It was fascinating partly because it took me so long to know there were such theories/ideas in Mormonism, and partly because these ideas are about .. well aliens. So are these theories/ideas mainstream in Mormonism? Is it only for those initiated at higher levels or is it just something that every Mormon knows about, but is discouraged to talk about because of the possible negative repercussions?
As with everything, you get all types with Mormons. Some who study and delve and others that don't and everything in between.
We have a large corpus of scripture and also a lay ministry, so you can just imagine the variety that can spawn? some things are doctrinal, some are wild speculations (but fun none the less).
In your words "[That crazy Internet you know.]" so there is lots out there... Which of the many perspectives on "aliens" are you intrigued about?
@gavvet I thought there were more detailed stories online, but I could only find something about the planet Kolob. Also there is this article. I thought there was actually a more detailed storyline similar to the one about Xenu in Scientology, but I'm probably mistaken. There aren't as many descriptive stories online so I may have mixed some of the details in my head.
Anyways what are your thoughts on Kolob?
What do you think about alien life-forms as it relates to Mormonism and god?
Also there seems to be hidden knowledge within the higher echelons and maybe that's what made me think of Xenu/Scientology...it may be the hidden 'deep dogma' that @churdtzu replied about that made me think there was a greater connection with Mormonism and alien theories... Is the existence of this exclusive 'deep dogma' generally known among regular membership?
Give me a bit of time to type up a decent response to a great question.
@streemrollin, I was in the process of typing up a tome of a response for you to the Kolob question and just thought I would take a peek at what was on Wikipedia.
Believe it or not the Wikipedia article does great justice to the subject in discussing its many facets and also of the basis and speculations on the subject. I therefore refer you to that for all the background on the matter. It even has the counter arguments and pop culture elements.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob
After you have read that I would be happy to answer any follow up details you would like further clarity on.
Here is a great article that sums up the "alien" question, it's my take on the matter too. This is written by a BYU professor, is on the LDS.org website and was published in one of the churches magazines back in 1970. That seems pretty mainstream to me. If people don't talk about it much it's because most people don't really care.
I do because I love to look up at the stars and ponder the eternities up there, but for most people life is about more down to earth stuff.
https://www.lds.org/new-era/1971/04/people-on-other-worlds?lang=eng
The Kolob stuff is expanded upon in a reply below in case it can't be seen.
Thanks @gavvet! Yeah I did come across the lds.org response written by the BYU professor.
Anyways yeah I think I overemphasized the alien theories..it was speculative on my part and I probably mixed up some theories I read about Scientology. Anyways thx for the answers!
Post an AMA!
If this thread develops significantly an AMA may be justified, but we can keep it to here for now, I don't know how much "religion" the existing steemians are interested in at the moment.