Oooooops~~~~pardon my typo~~~I noticed it as soon as I hit post reply.

Is the LDS the more modern version of Mormonism or is it just a branch
of the religion?

LDS stands for Latter day Saints, Since the full Title of the Mormon
religion is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" It is
simply a shortened version
Thank you Ghost for helping out, I should have clarified "ritual" what
I did mean was there are no "Secret Rituals" Most mormons know about the
rituals of what occurs in this faith, As Ghost spoke of Temple marriage
and other things only occur in the temple and only those who are found
worthy to carry out the so-called secret rituals are allowed into the
temple to perform them. Just as AB stated this is not unlike any other
rituals performed by other religions. For instance I was granted special
permission years ago to attend my best friends Jewish Wedding. There is
not much difference in certain rituals practiced by most religions I
have studied over the years, they all have a very spiritual ceremony
that only those found worthy are allowed to attend.

Any more questions?



G

Gryphyn-why did you need special permission to attend a Jewish wedding
ceremony? I have not heard of this even from the most Orthodox.

I was married in the temple and had many people of other faiths
attending the wedding and in the wedding party. The only thing that
everyone was not included in was the Ketubah signing, but that was
because it was before the wedding (anyone that was already there was
welcome to come watch).

I am not really sure, but I was told it was necessary to get permission
for me to attend. There were only a few who attended it.

G

"They also believe that your
body is a "temple" and you cannot do anything to harm it, which includes
no drinking alcohol, no smoking & no intake of caffeine"

What about Pot? So I guess they don't drink sodas either. There are
plenty of stuff we ingest that are harmful to our bodies. So they
decided that only coffee and Alcohol are evil. Well, let me tell you.
Plenty of studies have been done that prove alcohol ( in moderation) can
have plenty of benefits to the body such as lowering the bad cholesterol
in the blood thus not allowing it to stick to your arteries.

So they demonize stuff just because some ppl abuse it. That makes no
sense.

Ghost

So they demonize stuff just because some ppl abuse it. That makes no
sense.

Give me a break Ghost. Demonized? Nope, alcohol and caffiene are both
considered drugs that can and do alter the body chemistry. Lots of
things can and do alter the bodies chemistry in excess, however both
alcohol and caffiene alter moods AND Chemistry in small amounts. In many
states if you consume more than one 16 oz can of beer an hour you could
be considered Legally Drunk. Have you ever seen a coffee holic in the
morning before their coffee? I have and they are real crabby so please
don't tell me caffiene is safe to use.

My 2c



G

So they forbid the use of caffene but it is ok to sell cafene drinks to
non believers. I would think that if it is something they feel is bad
they would not put it out for anyone else (being that it is bad).

Now for Ghost, do you still consider yourself to be Mormon? Or since
you haven't actively participated in a while do you associate yourself
as another faith? Or a wanderer??? I hope that comes across as genuine
curiosity and not as being mean...

Okay, didn't realize we had 2 ghosts in our midst... so my last comment
was for ghost whisperer...

this one is for the other ghost
You mentioned 'demonizing' things that their religion felt harmful...
But don't most religions sanction off some things as taboo? My parents
were raised Pentecostal and they couldn't even listen to R&B music!
We've all got something!!!

AB,
In this faith you are not Forbidden to do anything, recomendations are
made and it is your choice to abide by it or not. If you own a store it
is your choice to make Your own decision on what to carry or what to
buy. Does that mean I have to go broke because of my religious beliefs?
People will buy what they want wherever they can get it.

If I was to use your Idea about this AB that would mean I wouldn't be
able to buy stocks in almost any large companies because they are sure
to have some investment in either alcohol or tobacco.



G

Gryphon

"Give me a break Ghost. Demonized? Nope, alcohol and caffiene are both
considered drugs that can and do alter the body chemistry."

What's your point?

I and surely anyone else reading this have no idea of your point that
all foods are mood altering.
So what's your point??????

"You mentioned 'demonizing' things that their religion felt harmful...
But don't most religions sanction off some things as taboo? "

yes Redangel.

But too often religion taboos things that are natural like sex.
OOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! please and don't deny that for the love of god.

Christianity has demonize sex since time began.

If you want I will show how?

Ghost

Ghost lets start with this "So they demonize stuff just because some ppl
abuse it. That makes no
sense" your words.

It seems to me that you are saying that certain things are "demonized"
by the mormon faith because they are injurious to the body. I beg to
differ with you in that regard, it is my understanding that these things
are not only injurious to the body but also they are able to change the
mind/body funtions, hence considered mood/mind altering items. It is not
just because these things can injure the body if used in excess, it is
because when they are used they change a persons attitude and
personality.

These things can turn people into demons, however you imply the chuch
demonizes things and you don't understand why. Next time instead of
using sarcasm in your post you might try another technique to show
ignorance of a particular faiths beliefs.



G

"Christianity has demonize sex since time began"

LOL, you say christianity started this? That truly is funny, Most if not
all of the old religions demonize sex. Some of the old ways even in
Pagan history demonize sex. This has been an attempt by most religions
to control a persons desires, it is not limited to any one particular
religion. I am sure there are many people who feel certain types of sex
are immoral and for them it is, however if we use one of the oldest
written books we have it speaks of unconscionable sex with numerous
partners at one time being wrong. This I tend to agree with, not because
of my Christian beliefs but because I hold that is how I show my
feelings to my Companion in life.



G

Christians demonize sex? Maybe Christian religions do, but the Bible
teaches the opposite.

Proverbs 5:15-19
------------------------------------------------------------
Drink water from your own cistern
And fresh water from your own well.
Should your springs be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets?
Let them be yours alone
And not for strangers with you.
Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.
------------------------------------------------------------

Or pretty much all of the Song of Solomon. There have always been
prudes, so the fact that prudes use the Bible support their position
isn't surprising. I think "Let her breasts satisfy you at all times"
gives us a hint (as if we needed it) as to what God was doing when he
designed women the way they are.

"LOL, you say christianity started this? That truly is funny, Most if
not
all of the old religions demonize sex. Some of the old ways even in
Pagan history demonize sex"

Show me please. All knowing Grphyn

You seem to be an othurity on Pagans and the like so show me that pagans
are peverts?

So now the Pagans are perverts? That is truly Laughable, to think I
believe sex is perverted is also laughable. Why would I even try to
research the archives to show someone when sex was used as a way to
control people? If you wish my opinion on the matter then ask, from the
dawn of time the strong in society have used sex for their own desires.

Do you think we are any different than the rest of the animal kingdom?
If you look at any pack or pride of aggresive/dominate animals on this
planet you will see it is the Alpha male and female that mate to protect
the lines of creation. The alphas in most cases will even kill offspring
produced that are not their own in some instances.

Look back into time, the bible and its teachings did not come into
existance until approx 312 ad I believe, yet prior to that sex was
deterred from by the working class and controlled by the rich.
Permission was granted to peasants on a merchants farm to have a child.
It was the merchants responsibility to feed the entire family as payment
for their services, to have a child was a type of raise. This being the
case SEX was how the peasants were controlled even in ancient times.

To say that the religions started this practice could be correct,
however to state that Christianity was the first to use it as a club is
far from the truth.

As for your Comment of being an authority on paganism, or any other
religion, I am far from being an authority on any one of them.

BTW your use of sarcasm is getting better, at least this time you used
it properly, and you even learned how to spell my name. That in itself
shows progress and an ability to learn something. lol



G

Redangel:

Sorry it took me so long to reply, but I work a lot & have very little
time. I did not take your question as being mean in any way at all, just
a question. I have never considered myself a Mormon. I was baptized into
the church against my wishes as a child & asked to be excommunicated as
an adult. I walk a completely different path now.

Peace, love & wisdom