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Something that has amazed me during my study of the Church is the amount of choice that is differed to the Church by its members.

Think about it:
your told what habits to have (don't drink, smoke, look at porn, etc)
what to read (church material)
what to do with your time (church activities)
what to do with your money (10% to tithing, other donations)
what to think (don't worry about those misgivings or doubts)
where to go (to church, on a mission, to the temple)
when to have children (as often as possible)
what to wear (garments, clothes that hide garments)
where to go for advice (to the bishop)
what to base marriage upon (being in the church, temple marriage)
what to do in doubt (pray!)
and many other things: whether overtly or covertly

All of these things tell you what to do, but also what not to do. If you're to read church materials obviously you shouldn't read materials that criticize the church.

There's also the secondary effects. If your going to church functions all the time, it stands that your social network will have many Mormons, creating social pressure to do all the above.

Now obviously many of these could apply to many religions. But most Christian religions aren't this oppressive. Tithing isn't mandatory in most mainstream churches. Christian churchs don't have special temples or temple garments. Many of these apply to Islam, but Islam is a religion that takes part actively in secular affair (creating a theocracy), whereas Mormonism was founded in a freedom of speech state. LDS doesn't insert itself into government (that much), and can't mandate things to the people. All of the control is based on an eternal prize.

The question I ask is: Are LDS eternal children, always being controlled by their parents (the Church)?

Shouldn't people regain some of their choice in life?

Sort of corresponds to the Eight-Fold Path:

1. Right View - Study the Scriptures
2. Right Intention - Follow the Prophet
3. Right Speech - Speak well of the Lord's Annointed
4. Right Action - Comply, conform, submit and obey
5. Right Livelihood - White collar for GAs, non-union hard workers for the rest.
6. Right Effort - Give it 110%
7. Right Mindfulness - Think wholesome thoughts
8. Right Concentration - Stay awake during Sacrament

moksha wrote:Sort of corresponds to the Eight-Fold Path:

1. Right View - Study the Scriptures
2. Right Intention - Follow the Prophet
3. Right Speech - Speak well of the Lord's Annointed
4. Right Action - Comply, conform, submit and obey
5. Right Livelihood - White collar for GAs, non-union hard workers for the rest.
6. Right Effort - Give it 110%
7. Right Mindfulness - Think wholesome thoughts
8. Right Concentration - Stay awake during Sacrament

It's actually one of my worst suspicions/fears about the majority of humans. That they're comfortably numb in whatever situation their in. That they're willing to be controlled and dictated to.

Bond

Sounds like a cult to me.

Are LDS eternal children, always being controlled by their parents (the Church)?

YES

That is why it is so difficult for exmormons to stop participating in the Mormon culture, because of the social pressure from family, TBM friends, and the church. And if you have the misfortune of living with in the main theocracy of Utah or one of the smaller theocracies in Idaho or Arizona, the general society can have a hand in the control of your kids..

Something that has amazed me during my study of the Church is the amount of choice that is differed to the Church by its members

.


I must not have felt as oppressed as many here have. Is it me or you and your rage that clouds the truth?

Think about it:

Ok

your told what habits to have (don't drink, smoke, look at porn, etc)

Yes, most religous bodies do hae standards and expectations. Other then smoking and drinking and Christian religion has the same commandments the LDS church promotes.

what to read (church material)

I often see people make this claim. I have read pretty much what I wanted to all my life. All sorts of books, novels-Grisham, Tolstoy, Ludlum, Tolkein, Lewis, etc. History, science, politics, etc. Can you provide me quotes from LDS leaders saying we should only read LDS material?

what to do with your time (church activities)

Sure the church asks for time in callings. Most members callings require limited time. But there is lots of other time to do what you want.

what to do with your money (10% to tithing, other donations)

The Church asks for money but you have a whole 90% to do what you want to do with it.

what to think (don't worry about those misgivings or doubts)

I have never been told what to think.

where to go (to church, on a mission, to the temple)

THis is rather stupid. If you are Catholic where do you go to church? At the synagogue?

when to have children (as often as possible)

I will give you this one more like 25 years ago when I started a family. I think there is less of this now.

what to wear (garments, clothes that hide garments)

Yep

where to go for advice (to the bishop)

Nope. One can go wherever they want for advice. The bishopp is there for spiritual advice and issues of repentence.

what to base marriage upon (being in the church, temple marriage)

Most people in most religions that are active in them are encouraged to marry in their faith. Ever read Paul's comments about being equally yoked?

what to do in doubt (pray!)

One solution of many.

and many other things: whether overtly or covertly

All of these things tell you what to do, but also what not to do. If you're to read church materials obviously you shouldn't read materials that criticize the church.

Call for example please.

There's also the secondary effects. If your going to church functions all the time, it stands that your social network will have many Mormons, creating social pressure to do all the above.

If I recall the Church encourages community activity on our parts OUTSIDE THE Church.

Now obviously many of these could apply to many religions. But most Christian religions aren't this oppressive.

Really. Talk to some active Catholics, baptists, other evangelicals.

Tithing isn't mandatory in most mainstream churches.

You might be surprised at how much tithing in stressed in other religions. Dave Ramsey, a money guy on the radio, who is also Christian, sounds like a Mormon about tithing.

Christian churchs don't have special temples or temple garments.

So what?

Many of these apply to Islam, but Islam is a religion that takes part actively in secular affair (creating a theocracy),

And for you this makes Islam ok? by the way, I think this comment is not correct about Islam.

whereas Mormonism was founded in a freedom of speech state. LDS doesn't insert itself into government (that much), and can't mandate things to the people. All of the control is based on an eternal prize.

Kind of like the Bible.

The question I ask is: Are LDS eternal children, always being controlled by their parents (the Church)?

No.

Bond...James Bond wrote:Something that has amazed me during my study of the Church is the amount of choice that is differed to the Church by its members.

Think about it:
your told what habits to have (don't drink, smoke, look at porn, etc)
what to read (church material)
what to do with your time (church activities)
what to do with your money (10% to tithing, other donations)
what to think (don't worry about those misgivings or doubts)
where to go (to church, on a mission, to the temple)
when to have children (as often as possible)
what to wear (garments, clothes that hide garments)
where to go for advice (to the bishop)
what to base marriage upon (being in the church, temple marriage)
what to do in doubt (pray!)
and many other things: whether overtly or covertly

All of these things tell you what to do, but also what not to do. If you're to read church materials obviously you shouldn't read materials that criticize the church.

There's also the secondary effects. If your going to church functions all the time, it stands that your social network will have many Mormons, creating social pressure to do all the above.

Now obviously many of these could apply to many religions. But most Christian religions aren't this oppressive. Tithing isn't mandatory in most mainstream churches. Christian churchs don't have special temples or temple garments. Many of these apply to Islam, but Islam is a religion that takes part actively in secular affair (creating a theocracy), whereas Mormonism was founded in a freedom of speech state. LDS doesn't insert itself into government (that much), and can't mandate things to the people. All of the control is based on an eternal prize.

The question I ask is: Are LDS eternal children, always being controlled by their parents (the Church)?

Shouldn't people regain some of their choice in life?

I could not agree with you more...no people should not have any choices in their lifes especially children heaven forbid..they deciide and make the wrong choice....

I have found that my children are pretty damn smart and seem able to make their own choices...and usually the right choices...hell...every now and then I let my seventeen year ld drink a beer when we have pizza...they can read want they want...they watch what they want on television...my oldest watch the stock reports and finicial stuff and know he is a millionaire...so...actually my youngest the seventeen loves c-span...he watches that more than MTV he thinks MTV is so stupid and beneath him...so...I go from their