 This
list is great to share with Believing Mormons because
most of these teachings have solid references or are still
taught from the pulpit. It's a great conversation starter
on the silly side of Mormonism.
I'm sure you've heard most of these at one time or another.
The
list is divided into two sections - Mormon Church teachings
that have documented citations, and those still missing.
Cosmology
- God says the correct name for our Sun is "Shinehah,"
which is the name He gave it. Also, the correct name of
the moon is "Olea." See Abraham 3:13.
- God lives on a giant crystal ball. See D&C 130:6-8.
- God's home planet orbits a star named "Kolob." See Abraham
3:3
- Kolob is "the great governing star of our universe"
and "the residence of God." See Prophet Joseph Fielding
Smith's "Church History and Modern Revelation" Volume
3, Page 60.
- The Sun "borrows it's light from Kolob through the medium
of Kae-e-vanrash.. which governs fifteen other fixed planets
or stars.. and receives light from the revolutions of
Kolob." This quote comes directly from the Book of Abraham,
Facsimile Number 2, Explanation for Figure 5. Also see:
http://nowscape.com/mormon/kolob-defined.htm
- The Sun is a celestialized world, where its inhabitants
are perfected. The Prophet Brigham Young taught in General
Conference: "So it is with regard to the inhabitants of
the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think
it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question
of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light
to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets; and
so will this earth when it is celestialized." See Journal
of Discourses, 13:271. Also see Prophet Joseph Fielding
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1 Page 88: "Earth
to be Celestialized Sun"
- The Earth will undergo a perfection after the millenium
and become a huge seer stone of glass. People living on
the Earth after this transformation will be able to look
into the Earth and see things happening on "inferior"
kingdoms (planets). See D&C 130:9
- God's home planet, Kolob, is at the center of our Galaxy,
which all other stars rotate around. See Clark, J. Reuben
Jr., "Behold the Lamb of God," page 46, "Kolob, the Governor"
- The Earth actually has a spirit, just like we do. It
had to be baptized (the flood) to fulfill all righteousness,
just like us. It will also have to receive the baptism
of fire (at the second coming of Christ) in order to receive
its exaltation and become a celestialized world. See Prophet
Joseph Fielding Smith's "Doctrines of Salvation," Volume
1, pages 73-74, page 87 "Celestial Destiny of the Earth."
See also Moses Chapter 7:48-49, 56 where the Earth's spirit
speaks with Enoch.
- When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, the Earth
was closely orbiting Kolob, like God's home planet. But
when Adam and Eve fell, so did the Earth and it was hurled
across the cosmos and placed in orbit around our sun in
this planetary system. After the Millenium, the Earth
will return to its rightful place near God, orbiting Kolob.
See Church Ensign, March 1997, Page 16 "The Book of Abraham:
A Most Remarkable Book," and Journal of Discourses, 17:143
and Journal of Discourses 7:163
- Black Holes are "outer darkness" where God will cast
those sons of perdition that deny His spirit. This includes
all Ex-Mormons. See "The Creation," page 146 and D&C 101:90-91
- The light of Christ is the light coming from the Sun
and the Moon. See D&C 88:7. (The "light" refered
to may very well be literal, as well as figurative and
symbolic, speaking about Christ's influence.)
-
Kolob
is the North Star, according to Joseph Smith. Taught by
LDS Church Institute Instructor, but still need reference.
 Creation
- Joseph Smith taught that the Earth was created like
a cake, from ingredients of different ages. Just like
a cake was made from wheat that is a year old, eggs from
a few days and milk fresh this morning from the cow, so
too, the Earth is made from parts of different ages. See
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 350-352.
- God created everything twice, just like Plato said.
First there was a spiritual creation, and then there was
a physical creation. See Moses 3:5, 6:51 and Endowment
Ceremony.
- God did not create the physical Earth Himself. Actually,
all of us helped out. Under the direction of Jesus and
Adam, we created the Earth. Some of us created trees,
others created rocks and still others created animals,
based on God's blueprints. See Abraham 3:22-24, Doctrines
of Salvation, Vol. 1, pages 74-75.
- God can't get his story straight about which order he
created the Earth. The order of the days of creation in
Moses contradicts the order given in the Temple Endowment,
which are both inspired truth. The third day (creation
of life, vegetation and seeds) and fourth day (creation
of light, moon and stars) of creation are switched in
the temple ceremony, whereas Moses matches the order of
Genesis. See Moses 2:9-19 and Temple Ceremony (all versions).
- God created the Earth first, then He created the Sun,
Moon and stars and the rest of the universe. On the first
day of creation God creates the earth (see Moses 2:2-5).
On the second day, God creates earth's oceans and the
atmosphere (see Moses 2:6-8). On the third day, God separates
the land from the water and creates vegetation, fruits
and trees (see Moses 2:9-13). Finally, on the fourth day,
God creates the Sun, Moon and stars (see Moses 2:14-19).
-
Mars and Venus have dry rivers that match perfectly with
rivers on Earth, proving that parts of all three were
"organized" from parts of a same old planet. Scientists
say the moon was formed out of the Earth, why not the
other planets too? Still need reference. Taught
by LDS Church apostle during stake fireside, but still
need reference.
Extra-Terrestrials
- There are human beings on many other planets that look
just like us because they too, are in the image of God.
See New Era Article "People on Other Worlds" April 1971.
- UFOs are from the City of Enoch, that was raised to
heaven because the citizens attained perfection. City
of Enoch story is in the Pearl of Great Price, but UFO
connection made by LDS
Church Seminary teacher. Still need reference.
- Joseph Smith taught that the Ten Lost Tribes had gone
to the North Pole, as it used to be warm, but God divided
the Earth in two and they wound up between Texas and Florida.
Then God scooped them up, leaving a big hole called the
Gulf of Mexico. And these millions of Hebrews are today
on this island floating around in the solar system, but
we can't see them because God has them flying at an angle
where the telescopes can't pick them up. But one day the
island will crash back into the Gulf and the earth will
reel to and fro like a drunken man. See http://www.code-co.com/rcf/mhistdoc/enoch.htm
for many scriptural and Joseph Smith prophetic references.
- UFOs are from the lost ten tribes, which live underneath
the north pole. As explained in the Doctrine and Covenants,
these tribes will return by flight from the north in the
Last Days. See D&C 110:11 and 133:26.
- Earth is the most evil of all of God's worlds in the
Universe. See Moses 7:36
- God sent Christ here because it was the only world that
was wicked enough to kill Jesus. Common teaching from
LDS Church Seminary teachers, but still need reference.
- All of the other planets in the universe with God's
children have prophets who preach to them about Christ's
life, death and resurrection on Earth. Just as our prophets
tell us that other worlds have human life on them, so
to, true prophets on other worlds teach the life of Christ
as he lived it on this Earth. See November 1985 Ensign
"Is Jesus Christ the Savior of all the worlds God created
or just ours?"
- Mars is populated by beings who, like us, were created
in the image of God, so they look like us. Except they
are waiting to hear about the Gospel, which we will preach
to them during the millenium. Supposedly came from early
church conference address by church apostle, but still
need reference.
- God created all the planets in our solar system with
the explicit "law" to support human life. The other planets
in our solar system are already populated or are able
to support human life. See "The Essential Orson Pratt,
p.373"
- Lucifer only did to Adam and Eve "the same thing which
has been done in "OTHER WORLDS," according to the temple
endowment. This shows Mormon doctrine embraces the idea
of life on other planets.
- "Thus the Lord has given us the information regarding
his creations, and how he has made many earths, for there
never was a beginning, never was a time when man did not
exist somewhere in the universe, and when the time came
for this earth to be peopled the Lord, our God, transplanted
upon it from some other earth, the life which is found
here." Improvement Era, Vol 23:389-393; Joseph Fielding
Smith; "The Origin and Destiny of Man"; 1919
Mormon Physics
- All spirit is matter, just "more fine or pure" form
of matter which we cannot measure. See D&C 131:7.
- The Mormon God cannot destroy or create matter, he can
only "reorganize" it. So the Solar System was formed from
other previous creations. See Temple Endowment, The Contributor,
Vol. 4, p. 257, and Joseph Smith As Scientist, p. 14.
- God has cursed water and turned it over to Satan to
control. Satan controls bodies of water, especially rivers.
See D&C 61:13-19
- All matter in the universe chooses to obey God's law.
If God had not sacrificed his Only Begotten Son to fulfill
the atonement and satisfy the law, then matter would not
have continued to respect God and matter would not have
continued to obey Him. This is supposedly from ther church's
official publication "Jesus the Christ" but
is often taught by LDS Church Institute instructors. Still
need reference.
- Light is the sole medium which God has for governing
the universe. See Journal of Discourses, Volume 15:232
Other Dimensions
- The Earth is the spirit world, where the billions of
deceased spirits now live. In fact, there are spirits
all around us right now, yet we cannot see them and they
cannot see us, thanks to "the veil." [This is so much
like a few Star Trek episodes!] Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors - still need reference.
- When babies are born, "the veil" is still very thin
and as newborns they can see spirits, remember the "pre-existence"
and still hear God directly. It's only later after months
trapped in a physical body that "the veil" begins to close
over their spiritual awareness. Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors - still need reference.
- Just before people die, "the veil" once again lifts
and they start to see again all the spirits and angels
all around us. Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors - still need reference.
- God lives in the fourth dimension, which explains why
he can see everything, be everywhere and know all time.
In fact, as three-dimensional beings, if we could visit
flatland (a two-dimensional universe) the inhabitants
would think we were Gods. Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors - still need reference.
- The Holy of Holies in the Salt Lake Temple actually
contains a portal to the celestial realm at Kolob. Mormon
folklore, source reference needed.
Time and Time Travel
- God travels much faster than the speed of light. God
travels at the "speed of thought." Very common Mormon
belief, source reference needed.
- A day for God is like a thousand years on Earth. This
is because it takes a thousand Earth years for God's home
planet Kolob to rotate around once on its axis. See Abraham
3:4-5
- God lives by "celestial time, which celestial time signifies
one day to a cubit" See Book
of Abraham, Facsimile Number 2, Explanation for Figure
1.
- Adam and Eve living in the Garden of Eden were "subject
to Kolob Time." See Abraham 5:13
- Seer stones allow us to see past, present and future
events at any location. All of those that make it to the
Celestial Kingdom will have their own seer stone, to review
any moment or location in the universe. See D&C 130:10-11
- If it wasn't for "Cherubum and a Flaming Sword" in front
of the tree of life, Adam and Eve would have lived "forever"
after eating the forbidden fruit. See Alma 12:21, 42:2-3
and Moses 4:31
- A righteous man's "time" on this Earth is not "cut short,"
according to the D&C 122:9.
- Christ's atonement was eternal, reached back in time
and retro-actively saved the faithful who lived and died
before the event occurred, yet they were told to wait
for his coming in order to be saved. (Mormon Doctrine,
2nd ed., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, pp. 64, 65).
- God showed his temporal prophets "everything from the
beginning to the end of time", as accounts record in the
Pearl of Great Price and the Book of Mormon. See stories
of Nephi, Moses and Abraham. Also see D&C 101:32-34.
- The earth's lifetime is divided into "dispensations"
of time. The correct name for our current dispensation
of time is "Adam-ondi-Ahman" which Joseph Smith explained
to mean "The place or land of God where Adam dwelt." (Mormon
Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie, p. 19-20)
Geology
- Right from the scriptures, the Earth's total temporal
existence is 7,000 years. See D&C 77:6
- There's more gold and mineral riches in Utah than the
rest of the world combined. It's hidden from you because
of a lack of faith. There's no need to go to California
to pan for Gold, because God will reveal these riches
to you when you are righteous enough. This was preached
from the pulpit at the Tabernacle by the Prophet of the
Church. See Journal of Discourses 1:264.
- Fossilized dinosaur bones are from dinosaurs that lived
on other worlds that were destroyed to create the Earth.
They were living creatures, but not from this Earth. (See
Creation above) Taught by LDS Church Institute instructors.
Still need reference.
- Carbon dating is phony because God has altered the Earth
so many times with processes we can't understand or measure.
Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors. Still need reference.
- The Garden of Eden was in Missouri. Noah was taken to
the Old World by the Flood. This teaching was given by
Joseph Smith and is still accepted as true doctrine. Given
this teaching, Mormons have to accept the flood as a global
phenomenon. (Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce McConkie, "Adam-Ondi-Ahman"
p. 19-20)
- Prophet preaches from the Tabernacle pulpit in General
Conference that "Gold and silver grow, and so does every
other kind of metal, the same as the hair upon my head,
or the wheat in the field.." See JoD 1:209.
Mormon Biology
- Adam and Eve did not have blood in their bodies in the
Garden of Eden. The Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith taught:
"Adam [and, by extension, all of the animal creation]
had no blood in his veins before the fall. Blood is the
life of the mortal body." After Adam partook of the forbidden
fruit, blood became "the life-giving fluid in Adam's body,
and was inherited by his posterity. Blood was not only
the life of the mortal body, but also contained in it
the seeds of death which bring the mortal body to its
end. Previously the life force in Adam's body, which is
likewise the sustaining power in every immortal body,
was the spirit." - Joseph
Fielding Smith, Man: His Origin and Destiny (Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954), pp. 362, 376-77.
- Adam lived nearly 1,000 years and the prophets used
to live hundreds of years because they lived the Word
of Wisdom perfectly and had more pure blood in their veins.
Over time, the human race has polluted blood more and
more. Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors. Still need reference.
- Adam did not have a navel, Eve did. Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors. Still need reference.
- Mormonism directly explains the creation of at least
one race by God. Mormon scripture taught that Cain was
so evil, God cursed him and his lineage with black skin,
creating the African race. See Moses 7:22. Mormon Doctrine
explains: "Cain was cursed with a dark skin; he became
the father of the Negroes, and those sprits who are not
worthy to receive the priesthood are born though his lineage.
He became the first mortal to be cursed as a son of perdition.
As a result of his mortal birth he is assured of a tangible
body of flesh and bones in eternity, a fact which will
enable him to rule over Satan." Mormon Doctrine, Page
102.
- When Native Americans become Mormons, their skin turns
white. The Prophet Spencer W. Kimball taught the principle
of this process in a General Conference address. He stated
how the "Indians are fast becoming a white and delightsome
people." He said, "The [Indian] children in the home placement
program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers
and sisters in the hogans on the reservation... These
young [Indian] members of the Church are changing to whiteness
and to delightsomeness. One white elder jokingly said
that he and his companion were donating blood regularly
to the hospital in the hope that the process might be
accelerated." LDS General Conference, October 1960, Spencer
W. Kimball, (Improvement Era, December 1960, pp. 922-3).
Also see the original Mormon prophesy of this effect in
2 Nephi 30:6.
- Drinking tea may tan your stomach similarly to what
happens in a teapot. (Missionary teaching technique taken
seriously by some).
- All races, including Blacks, Asians, Indians etc.. will
be resurrected in their perfect state as white Caucasians.
Taught
by LDS Church Institute instructors. Still need reference.
- Our Spirit bodies look exactly the same as our physical
bodies, even before birth. In the book of Mormon, Christ
appeared (and touched the stones) to the Brother of Jared
in the BoM in his spirit form, which appeared the same
as his future body would thousands of years later when
he was born. See Ether 3:15-17
- Resurrection is simply a priesthood ordinance not yet
revealed, but that will be revealed after the millenium.
See LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, January 15, 2000,
"Resurrection is a priesthood ordinance. 'As to how the
dead are raised, we know that it is by the power of Jesus
Christ because He holds the keys of death, hell, and resurrection,'
said Brother Matthews. '. . . President Brigham Young
and Elder Erastus Snow taught that the resurrection will
be conducted much as other things are done in the kingdom,
by those in authority and by delegation.'"
- Resurrected bodies do not have blood but instead rely
on the spirit to stay alive. The Prophet Joseph Fielding
Smith taught: "Our Father in heaven and our Savior and
all those who have passed through the resurrection have
physical bodies of flesh and bones, but their bodies are
quickened by spirit and not by blood, hence they are spiritual
bodies and not blood bodies. The immortal body is quickened
by spirit, but the mortal body is quickened by blood...
. Now when Adam was in the Garden of Eden, he was not
subject to death. There was no blood in his body and he
could have remained there forever. This is true of all
other creations." (Joseph
Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp.
76-77). |
