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From: grunwald@uiucdcsb.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Re: MHCS results
Message-ID: <9900049@uiucdcsb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Jan-85 23:21:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.9900049
Posted: Tue Jan 22 23:21:00 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jan-85 08:06:40 EST
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Nf-From: uiucdcsb!grunwald    Jan 22 22:21:00 1985

bizzaro -- All this stuff about the LDS is rather novel to me. I used to live
with a woman of LDS background if not belief. While I read a lot about the
beliefs and practices, I never came across anything about ascending
to 'god' except perhaps similar to the buddist concept of unifying with a
godhead, which is a far sight different than becoming a god. Couples become
'bonded' (there's another word, which I've forgotten) to each other when
married in a temple so that they can find each other when they die (little
more complex, really). I think that accepting mormonism means you also get
bonded to god, and hence the possible misconception.

	The reason geneology interests them so much is that they
have 'baptisms for the dead', in which a living soul accepts the baptism for
a dead person. At the time of resurrection, that dead person can accept or
reject that baptism. This is basically a cover for the old catholic question
of 'what about little babies in peri', which, while solved by pergatory, is
still a stickler.

	Their religion is essentially an extension of christanity, if I have
the story correct (christ died & then visted S. America. Later prophet
Moroni came, hence name mormons. The Book of Mormon were the alleged words of
Moroni). 

	LDS is as interesting to study as any other religion, and it's kind of
fun to hit some of the superficial doctrinial soft spots ("Why were the indians
told to look for a WHITE god, when christ was dark skinned?" -- obvious
influence). Only problem, as with most religions when you start looking for
information, is that they try and convert you and they're very persistent
people.

	There's also the RLDS (reformed LDS). Ask one about the other and
be prepared for fun.