Mormons, I've heard conflicting things about how your church views the people of other Christ-centered?

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I agree with the way Publius put it, that you unfortunately met our "pharisees". Those who are preaching that 'All non-LDS are morally suspect" or that "all non-members are bound for Outer Darkness" have our beliefs wrong and I'm not sure where they would have gotten those ideas from.

First, many mormons ourselves are morally suspect as well. I've met many members of the church who don't follow our standards very well and I've met non-members who have higher standards than they do and follow them. It really is judgmental for them to say off the bat that you are morally suspect for not being Mormon.

Second, outer darkness is specifically reserved for the sons of perdition and those who deny the holy ghost. Everyone else, even terrible, terrible, mass-murderers would be able to go to the telestial kingdom. I would suspect most non-LDS Christians would go to the terrestrial kingdom, since they accept Christ's gospel but did not receive it's fullness. However, if they didn't get the chance to accept the fullness of the Gospel, they can do so in the after-life and so a non-LDS christian, who was non-LDS while on earth, could still inherit the Celestial Kingdom. You can see the official church doctrine here from our Church's official website: http://www.lds.org/topics/kingdoms-of-glory?lang=eng If you are told these lies again, feel free to correct them by saying what I just told you. Tell them their own official website basically says that only sons of perdition and those who commit the unforgivable sin go to OD, and non-members could actually go to the second highest glory, or even the Celestial glory if they accept Christ's restored gospel in the after-life. Remind them of the reasons why we even do baptisms for the dead, it is so that non-members will be able to go to the celestial kingdom.

As for the temple marriages, we don't only not allow any non-LDS in, but even LDS who are not worthy of a temple recommend, or who have not received their endowments. This has to do with whether the person has been endowed and made the first temple covenant with God, not that you are non-mormon. To be endowed, you do need to be a faithful member. I know it is hard to deal with the fact that you won't be able to see the ceremony, but they do exchange rings outside of the temple. The ceremony that you are used to seeing, could actually be done outside of the temple and you can see it. It's just the specific ceremony that has to do with being bound for eternity and has certain religious rites that only those with a temple recommend can witness occur. I am in the same boat as you, actually. I wouldn't be able to witness a sealing either, since I don't have my endowments either. But again, the usual ceremony performed at any church, would be able to be seen by you if the two people being sealed choose to have the ring exchange outside of the temple.

I do hope that I didn't come off as condescending to you, as this was not my intention. You and I have been talking for a while on here, and I apologize if I am one of the people you refer to when you said "the ones who are willing to be the least bit friendly tend to be condescending". I am not trying to be, and it could be that my meaning is just being lost because this is on the internet.


PS: I wouldn't necessarily trust any of the members of the church right off the bat. In my years in the church I have seen many people who do not know what they are talking about when it comes to my church, not only from non-Mormons but also Mormons. If you want to find the truth, visit our church's official websites, such as LDS.org, Mormon.org, and others you'll be able to recognize as our official church websites since they will have "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" in the upper-left corner. You could also turn to our canonized scriptures, such as the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants(see section 76 of the D&C for more information about who goes where in the after-life). Once you know the member of the Church well and you notice that they basically tell you the same things the leaders of our church say as well as our scriptures, then you can trust them to tell you what our church believes. Other than that, it would be good to not automatically think all of us know our doctrines. Sadly, some still don't.

While this is not an official church website, this is owned by faithful members of the church who I find rarely have errors in regards to my church's doctrine. You can read more about the kingdoms of glory here: http://www.mormonwiki.com/Celestial_Kingdom and feel free to use that website about other topics as well. I tend to prefer to use that website since LDS.org's format can be tricky at times and Mormon.org doesn't go into enough detail about things. This website is good for more detail and an easy format....Show more

Outer darkness is for very few. Most non-LDS Christians will go to the Terrestrial kingdom. If you want to know more, read the 76th section of the Doctrine & Covenants.

Non-members can't enter the temple, just as some of members can't. They like to keep the number of attendees down to a minimum. Temple weddings are not pomp and circumstance and all that, so you aren't missing all that much. You probably would not understand what was going on. But don't let them tell you you are morally suspect, don't let the condescending ones bother you. Some people just like to be that way, they are insecure and immature....Show more

First off, please understand that we are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, trying to live a perfect gospel.

The temple is a sacred place. We believe it is literally the house of the Savior, and we believe HE has set the rules or guidelines pertaining to those who can attend. It doesn't mean you aren't a great person. It means you have not made the necessary covenants and comittments to go to His house. THere are many members of the church who haven't even done this. It is a personal choice and one not to be taken lightly. The wonderful thing is, you can investigate the gospel, become baptized and get ready spiritually to go to the temple. No one is left out of the opportunity, if they make the choice to accept it.

We don't think all non-LDS are morally suspect. There are wonderful people of all religions, and there are not-so-wonderful - even Mormons.

Any person who accepts the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness can enter into the highest Kingdom/heaven. I have no doubt Moses, Adam, Abraham, Joseph, John, Peter, all the ancient prophets, and many who were not "mormon" during this lifetime, will be in the Father's highest Kingdom. Mormon is an earthly term... We actually believe the number of people going to outer darkness can most likely be counted on one hand. A person would have to have a 100% knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, and then deny Him.... pretty rare. Our Heavenly Father loves us enough that He has prepared a place for everyone of us, according to our own desires, faith, and knowledge. We are the only religion who believes there is more than just 'heaven and hell'. We believe almost all of the Father's children will go to one of 3 Kingdoms - Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial. He knows us best and wouldn't make us "Go" somewhere we were not comfortable or didn't want to be. I mean, would you be comfortable going in dirty, tattered clothes to the most fancy, grandest event there ever was? That's kind of how it will be in the next life... people who aren't comfortable at church, wont be comfortable around people who DO like to go to church. Or people who love the Savior, will want to be with Him. Those who do not, won't.

Sometimes people think if we don't associate with you, it's because you aren't Mormon. Maybe it's because you drink alcohol and we don't. Maybe you go places we don't want to. Maybe we feel like YOU are judging US?? Maybe we are nervous that you will bring up our beliefs and want to argue - or that we won't have all the answers to your questions...OR maybe we don't even know you have been offended.

Just remember, none of us are perfect, and we genuinley love other people and we are doing our best. Just give us the benefit of the doubt :)...Show more

First because your friends are jerks and they need to repent. Saying that "all non-LDS are morally suspect" or that "all non-members are bound for outer darkness" is totally inappropriate

Second, there is sort of a double standard and it is biblical. Christ taught us not to judge others. Christ also taught a clear standard and expected his followers to follow Him. "Straight is the gate and narrow is way that leads to eternal life." As a non-member you do need to join Christ's church, and a few of your Mormon friends need to repent or they are going to be responsible for driving people away from the church (which is a worse sin than non-membership).

As for the temple. You are welcome to enter the temple when you meet the same standards required of everyone else. That includes joining the church and making covenants with Christ. In the temple we exercise the priesthood. To enter the temple without first being baptized into the church would be like a Mormon walking into your Orthodox Christian church and putting on the priest's clothes and preforming rites that only an Orthodox priest can preform. I'm sure you would be offended by a Mormon waltzing in and wearing your priest's clothes and giving people communion and nobody would find the Orthodox Christian church was intolerant or exclusive if they told that guy he wasn't welcome to do what he isn't ordained to do....Show more

First off, Mormons that are telling you that you are suspect to outer darkness are WAY wrong. What they should say, is without being a worthy member of the church, and without having gone through thet temple, and being sealed and making covenants in the temple you cannot reach the highest degree of glory. Although good people can till make it to one of the heavens. Just so you understand,

Celestial kingdom= highest degree of glory. People who have been sealed in the temple and what not.
Terrestial Kingdom = Non-members who were still really good people during their lifetimes.
Telestial = People who weren't so nice, those who were happy in sin and never repented etc.
Outer darkness = Hell. Sons of perdition. Those who KNEW God exists, but rejected it and lived in sin. I've been told it's actually pretty hard to get to outer darkness due to the fact that not everyone has seen angels, or like Joseph Smith, God the Father and His Son.

Members who are not accepting and sort of look down on non-members are in the wrong. The church itself is open. Visitors are always welcome to attend Sunday services. True, unless you are a worthy member with a recommend you cannot go into the temple. It's not because we want to exclude people, its more because what happens inside the temple is sacred.

I'm sorry that people treat others that way. It's not very nice, obviously. Just don't judge the entire church on a few members. There are many many members who are welcoming and open!...Show more