Yes there really is magic underwear (bottoms and tops). If it doesn't work, if it doesn't save your ass from fire, or bullets or whatever, well you just didn't have enough faith. You weren't worthy enough. Maybe you masterbated too much as a teen(or later). Maybe it wasn't god's will.
The throat slitting, intestine spilling oaths inside the temple are true too. They eliminated these violent oaths in 1990. I was endowed in 1985. It freaked me out, but I was told by everyone else what a profoundly spiritual experience it was. I wondered- maybe I didn't have enough faith. Maybe that's why all the violent oaths were so disturbing to me.
The temple is too "sacred" to talk about. So in a generation, mormons will deny that such a thing was ever done in their holy temples. It is inconceivable. My wife was endowed after the changes in 1996. She didn't want to believe it. She's freaked out by it now.
If they come around AND you feel comfortable doing so, invite them in. There is all kinds of fun to be had:
#1 The internet has been harsh for JW's and Mormons. Ask them if they have ever heard what Joseph Smith said about the copper Kinderhook plates from Illinois. Ask them about the rediscovered Abraham papyrus controversy. Ask them about Zina Jacobs and her HUSBANDS. Ask if they are able to use the internet for research (they can briefly for email). People/investigators are a click away from shocking Mormon history. If they cant use the internet and haven't been told about these issues, how are they supposed to help investigators if they don't even know the issues?
#2 The BOM(Book of Mormon) is supposed to be a 1000 year history of god's dealings with ancient american hebrews. Christ came to these people. They had more truths, more gospel than we do. Jeebus gave the Nephites higher knowledge that was written up and sealed within Josephs mystical magic gold plates. (mention the 2/3rds of the golden plates that were sealed and are to be translated and revealed when we as a people are more worthy.)
Anyway, if the Nephites and Lamanites (competing hebrew factions) had so much gospel knowledge, please show me where the bom talks about the word of wisdom (coffee, tobacco, alcohol). Where does it mention our existence as spirits in the pre earth life? Where does it mention eternal marriage or baptisms for the dead or temple work.
The bom doesn't mention any of that because these MAJOR LDS themes hadn't been created in Joseph's Myths head yet. At best, they can point out a "scripture" that references god's plan existing before the foundations of this world.
So much for the bom having the "fullness of the gospel" if it doesn't even mention these MAJOR LDS themes. If they say that it DOES have the fullness of the gospel, then just say "then we really don't need the word of wisdom, or baptism for the dead, or temple marriage or pre earth life knowledge, or knowledge of the three degrees of heaven in order to be good with god, Right???
Here's some other fun:
#3 Pretend you are just so very interested in geneology like the mormons. Have a great great grandparents name and birthdate in mind (and hopefully region or state of birth) Have them take you to the church geneology website to "look up my family". (familysearch.org) Ooh and aah at it if they find some of your geneology on line. Then key in another name:
Joseph Smith
Born 1805 in Vermont
Look for a son of a bitch born dec 23
Click on the son of a bitch and scroll through all the names of his wives.
"Oh my, was he married to all these ladies?", you ask.
Click on Helen Mar Kimball
"Oh my, she was only 14???"
Click on Zina Huntington
"Oh my, she was already married to Henry. Can women concurrently marry two men in your church?"
Click on
Mary Rollins or
Sylvia Sessions or
Prescendia Huntington
(they were ALL already and concurrently married).
The vast majority of his wives died as faithful members of the church. Many spoke openly of the sexual nature of their concurrent marriage to their first husband and Joseph. Some wondered who the father of their child was. Others like Sylvia Sessions knew from the start that her daughter JOSEPHINA was joes kid and not from her husband Windsor.
Zina's is a really freaky story. Henry marries her first, then Joe. Joe gets his ass shot. Brigham Marries zina when the Nauvoo temple was completed with HENRY watching the whole ceremony. Many speculate Henry thought the marriage would be as things were before. Joe was willing to share other mens wives. Brigham Young wasn't willing to share. Brigham preplanned, pre meditated and pre married Zina. He then sent Henry on a foreign mission and took Zina while he was gone. Henry didn't find out till he came back from England. He yearned for Zina all his days. And Zina, she got a rare rotation amongst Brighams 50+ wives.
Zina and her Sister Prescendia were the only "already marrieds" who were required to leave their first husbands and marry "apostles" after joe died.
I could go on...
Feel free to discuss here or PM me. You can also email me at [email protected].
Best
