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

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=e... 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.

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.

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 :)

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.

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!

To add to Publius' excellant answer and to respond to those who imply we are two-faced, Mormons are not exactly the same. We don't have cookie cutter personalities, we all have our own personal weaknesses and character flaws, we don't all have the same point of view about non-members, and yes, some of us are more knowlegeable about LDS doctrine than others. We are just imperfect people trying to become better. We are not always civil and in control of our behavior, and we exhibit our share of hypocrisy. This is the human condition that we are trying to overcome. Of course we will fall short, as do you at times.

I don't know why the Mormons that you have met have rubbed you the wrong way. Maybe you've just met a bad batch, or it's possible that you rubbed them the wrong way. I've had a few experiences with non-Mormons that haven't been pleasant where they have appeared to be more interested in "catching me out" than in having an open-minded discussion. If people get aggressive with me, I close down and I don't know if I appear condescending or unfriendly, but that is how I cope with ill-mannered people.

And no, we don't view non-Mormons as morally suspect, whatever that means; and as Publius stated, our dotrine about Outer Darkness teaches that those who had a perfect knowlegde of God and rejected it will go to Outer Darkness. Very few people will have that level of knowledge to worry about Outer Darkness. Our belief is that all of us, Mormon or non-Mormon, will go to one of God's Heavens.

And the bit about not being worthy to enter the temple, your interpretation on what worthiness means may be different than the Mormons who said that you are not worthy. Worthy to us means that we've met the preparatory requirements, such has having been baptized for a year, having an understanding of the gospel, and a willingness to make and keep the covenants of the temple. You may be as morally and spiritually clean and wholesome as any practicing Mormon, but not commited and willing to meet the requirements for entering the temple, nor to make and keep the covenants of the temple, making you "unworthy". Replace the unworthy with unprepared and the context changes.

re: "I'm not allowed in the temple for my BFFs wedding" There are things done during the wedding ceremony that are extremely sacred to us, things that are not for those who havent taken out their own endowments. Its just not an average wedding ceremony. What you do in there equates to an eternal sealing, not just a lifelong one. So it involves very specific, sacred rites. There reception is for everyone, the wedding is for people who have also made those covenants and understand whats happening.

As far as people not getting along with you... I couldnt tell you anything about that. We all have non-member friends, we all associate with the world outside of the church. Maybe there is something you're doing thats putting them off?? I dont know why you jump to assume its a religion thing.

I dont know anyone in the church who would have a reason to care you are orthodox. Seriously, thats a non-issue.

yep, i had a best freind and desired to go to his wedding, i drove 18 hours and 3 states away to go to it. i didnt know, even though iwas a recent convert, that i could not attend the wedding, i attended the celebrations afterwards.

it probably took me another 8 years before i actually attended the temple.

the policies are plain, no one goes into the temple unless they have been a member for at least a year, and then have a bishops and stake presidents Interview to see if one is "worthy" or not. in other words, every question must be answered yeah or nay.

as for outer darkness, some people dont know their scriptures. those that go to terrrestial and telestial glory that are forgiven, i think will bow their knee and profess christ as worthy. i think only the unrepentant and sons of perdition go to outer darkness, with some exceptions of the chidlren of the kingdom itself. if teh children of teh covenant are the same as the children of the kingdom, then it might be some mormons will go to outer darkness first. the final decision is up to Jesus. yeah or nay.

one thing is true in LDS scriptures, there are 3 resurrections, and a 4th, which is for the children of damnation. depending on ones faith and obedience and righteousness, one will come forth in the first 3 resurrections.

as for geography, ive noticed even here on R&S there are different traditions everywhere in the church. some still hold on to old beleifs, and should correct their ways. others have strange beliefs that ive never even heard of. and which i think are not even official or historical scriptures.

as for the subject of condescending proud and arragont people, this existes in all churches and all religions.

teh worst proud person ive ever seen was in the baptistm temple church in anchorage alaska.

and there was witchcraft and sorcery and poison(s) in the air, even in that church. ive seen JW's as being proud as well, but scientologists, the only way to be in that church is to be rich and to believe in socialism. which i dont think is a true church of jesus christ.

i know with my recent trip to Utah for job training, i saw horendous things, and discussed gangs and rich mormons setting themselves up above teh poor. when in fact its hard to imagine any kind of zion without skekinah glory.

that said, we all know we will be judged, every single individual. and if we are not better than a saint ! we will not all get into heaven with

remember class status and hate mongering is a tool used by the devil to divide us from our exaltation

Having been raised a mormon, I can tell you how things work in mormonism:

Put a public face on about being "accepting" of other religions (but not of homosexuality, atheists, etc.). In private, talk endlessly about how the Catholic church is the "whore of Babylon" mentioned in Revelation, and about how all other churches are tools of Satan.

When I was 12 and had just been ordained a "deacon" in the mormon church, one of my friends who went to another church was performing in a choir, and asked me to come and watch -- I did. My bishop found out that I went to another church (because I skipped sacrament meeting, with my parents' approval) -- he called me in and told me that going to another church was not something a "priesthood holder" should do, and that by doing so I was encouraging Satan to lead me away from the "true church."

Yeah, I thought it was BS then, and even more so now.

"Could someone help me understand why?"

Because you're "researching" a religion, which can shard off in different directions of belief depending on whatever church (or temple) you're looking at ............. ON THE INTERNET.

Why don't you just go and talk to the particular members of the temple in question rather than opening yourself up to blathering propaganda on the interwebs?