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In 1823, an 18-year-old boy from Palmyra, New York, was visited by an angel, who told him of some magical gold plates. Armed with special glasses, he was able to translate them into a book that told about how the lost tribe of Israel was visited by Jesus in the Americas hundreds of years ago. In 1831, he started a church in Kirtland, Ohio.
He later said that church members could act as proxies for deceased persons, baptize them, and “seal” them into family clans that would be reunited in Heaven. His successor wrote about “the perfect mania” that possessed some of his followers as they started “to get up printed records of their ancestors.”
Over the next 168 years, 113 million people were introduced, after death, to the church.
Members of his church, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, commonly known as the Mormons), are worried that their ancestors who lived before the beginning of the church won’t be able to join them in heaven. But in order to get them into the church, they have to figure out who they are first.
That makes them some pretty damn good genealogists.
They’ve got a vault carved into the solid granite of a mountain 20 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah, where they store information about the births, marriages and deaths of over 2 billion people, the largest single database on the details of the human race in the world. Buried 600 feet into the mountain, protected by two nine-ton and one 14-ton doors built to withstand a nuclear blast, the Granite Mountain Vault isn’t going anywhere soon. Five billion documents are stored on 1 ½ million rolls of microfilm and 1 ½ million microfiche. Twenty-five thousand volunteers are currently working to scan and index all of these documents as well as put them on the Internet so that one day soon you can access all of this data while sitting in your kitchen in your slippers with a notebook computer on your lap.
Ancestry.com, a subscription-based service started by members of the LDS church, has 900,000 subscribers, and is growing. Ancestry put millions of documents online, including five billion names. They have census records for all of the US from the past 200 years, birth, marriage and death records, and more. In May of 2007, they dumped the military records of all of the soldiers who fought in all of the US wars, 90 million of them, online.
Genealogy is now America’s #1 hobby. Millions of documents are being put on line so that subscribers can sit in their kitchens rather than traipsing across the country in search of obscure church and governmental archives.
As the fastest-growing church in the world, you have to wonder if the Mormons are onto something. That connecting with the nodes of your family, those linked to you by sperm and eggs and DNA, looping simultaneously backward and forward through space and time, like the drooping lines connecting the electricity towers that move through mowed swaths of forest in the rural parts of America, will lead you to paradise?
Who am I to say no?
Chapter 25 of The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg.
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Geneology is pretty damn interesting, but you have to admit, the whole base of that religion is ridiculous. Bet they have more than microfiche in that granite vault.
Unfortunatley much of the information in this article about the “mormon” church is false. The gold plates were not “magical”, neither did Joseph Smith ever claim them to be. The gold plates are an ancient record of people who lived on the American Continent from about 600B.C. to 400A.D. when this record was burried. He did not use “special glasses,” but translated by the gift and power of God. Also, the church was first organized in April of 1830 in New York, not in Ohio. I suggest that if you people out there want to know facts about the church and its beliefs, you should ask an actual member of the church, or go to the official church website. (www.mormon.org)
I would like to add though that your recognition of their geneological efforts is appreciated.
Who are you to say no?
You’re a thinking person who shouldn’t take fantastic stories at face value, regardless of their devotion to something interesting, like genealogy–they’re not interested in it for the same reasons you might be.
I have to mention the brilliantly funny South Park episode on this subject called All about the Mormons.
That’s it.
Dear D.,
Your insider’s view and attempted correction is not totally based on fact.
The founder of your religion informed people that he used the “Urim and the Thumin” (I believe is how he spelled them).which he defined as “religious spectacles” (i.e., a kind of holy eye-glasses) to interpret/translate the supposed plates of gold with esoteric information on them. (Where are they? Why haven’t they been published?) Scholars later informed us that the Urim and Thumin” of the Bible were, in fact, a kind of holy dice used by priests to give answers to believers’ questions in ancient, Old Testament times.
This was one small clue that Smith’s visions were not necessarily based on or in line with biblical facts or views. If “us people out here” want to know the facts about the church and its beliefs, we will check external and internal sources (and realize that some of them have been changed for PR and proselytizing reasons and others have been hidden or suppressed for other reasons).
Questionable beginnings and practices do not keep me from appreciating the high level of ethics and caring for others of the average Mormon, the great genealogical (spelled with an “a”) gifts they have given the world, and the consistently wonderful and outstanding music of the Morman Tabernacle Choir.
I lived in Mormon community, I have Mormon relatives, I love Mormons. But their own written history has some serious problems to it and it’s there for the reading and research if anyone wants to know where it all came from straight from the horse’s mouth.
There is an incredible amount of disinformation out there on the LDS church. Go to the fairlds.org site for apologetic rebuttles to all of the non sense, don’t go to Mormon.org because it will not go into these topics indepth.
The LDS are misunderstood so are there beliefs and history. Im LDS and if you want to debate in a fair civil way, go to debatingchristianity.com and look for mormon boy51.
One day Jesus himself will tell you which church is His, and how He got it started in our time. Hope and pray you chose the right one.
ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION ON EARTH……………ITS FACT GUYS
The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints is not the fastest growing religion on earth, however, seeing how far it has come (given the continued efforts to shut down and discredit it since it was first established), I have no doubt that it will continue to grow rapidly and spread around the globe.
The Bible (both old and new testaments) contain prophesies that there would be a “falling away”, or time of darkness before the kingdom of God would roll forth and fill the earth. Think about the logistics of how that could happen from the time of the crucifixion of Christ and martyrdom of the original Saints and Apostles (ie, the loss of the church established by Christ himself), through the reestablishment of a form of Christianity as a sanctioned religion (centuries later), the work of the early reformers such as Luther and Tinsdale and the persecution they endured, and the setting of the scene for God to restore the fullness of His own church through a new prophet (see Acts 3:19-22). If this wasn’t referring to Joseph Smith and his vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ telling him to restore their church, I don’t know of any better explanation.
But none of this even matters really. What matters is that if you are searching for truth, pray to God himself for help to find it. Humble yourself and get rid of prejudices or preconceptions, and He will lead you to the truth. When you feel truth from God, you can’t deny it. Every true Christian knows this. The Book of Mormon is, like the Bible, truth from God. and none of the statistics or hearsay will matter because you will know and it will change your life.
BTW, thanks for the article, great to see people stimulating conversations about things that matter
.
“ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION ON EARTH……………ITS FACT GUYS”
No it is not. Mormanisim is growing at a rate that vastly exceeds the growth rate of Islam, and ony other religion for that matter with the exception of Wicca (if it can be considered that Wicca is a religion).
For example, there are only approximately 14 million mormons in the world as of 2010. As of 2010, a little more than 400,000 people are joined the LDS faith over people who are either (a) leaving the faith or (b) dying.
Mormonisim is essentially growing at a rate of almost a million members every two years. This is taking into consideration those who (a) leave the faith or (b) members who pass away.
In 2006 alone, statistics show that the LDS church built 250 new chapels that house multiple congregations in the U.S. alone. LDS growth rates outside the U.S. far exceed growth rates inside the U.S.
Given these numbers, Morman Christiantiy is growing at a rate of anywhere between 2.8% – 3.3% a year as a whole. By contrast, all reputable sources show that Islam is only growing at a rate of approciamtely 2.6%-2.8% a year and the fastest growing christian denominations, such as evangelical christians are growing at a rate of, at best, 0.6%-2.2%, depending on the denomination and the sources.
These numbers place the LDS church as experiencing the fastest rate of growth over any other religion. This is especially true if you look at statistical growths over the past 20 years, where Mormonisim, at times, experienced almost exponential growth rates in certain years. At the very least, Mormonism is BY FAR the fastest growing christian religion and most likely is also the fastest growing organized religion in general.
Note also tht the Mormon church keeps very accurate records, both of those who enter the church and those who leave the church. The same cannot be said for Islam and other Christian religions that, generally, do not keep accurate, up to date records of many of their numbers who either pass away or leave the faith.
islam is not the fastes growing religion as their are more christians on earth then islamics christianity has grown more and is still growing you actually have islamics comeing over to christianity through dreams and visions so get it correct jesus is lord and saviour and king of kings i trust in him all of life from here until his return to king of this world and lord and saviour and every knee shall bow and confess jesus is lord and saviour amen
The comments in this thread continue to be a great source of amusement.
Yes something is afoot with the geneology program has been for years. The sold out blood samples from babies from the hospitals here in the US are probably part of this whole thing.I have always asid they are looking for blood lines, im not sure who they is though;-( Im a Mayflower decendant and decend from a long line of originals I sometime s wonder why im always saved at the last moment?!!!! hmmmm
Mormonism is a scam of a religion founded by 33 degree freemasons, with masoic symbology throughout its buildings,and texts. The higher you go up on Mormonism you find they are luciferian at the core of their beliefs. They believe Jesus is lusifer.
Islam is the fastest Growing religion on Earth.
Why?
Because the West is realizing that Christianity is nothing more than a Paulian Blood Cult that Jesus and none of the prophets supported on any level.
Just High-Jacked by Orthodox Christians: Peter, Paul John…
“islam is not the fastes growing religion as their are more christians on earth then islamics christianity has grown more and is still growing you actually have islamics comeing over to christianity through dreams and visions so get it correct jesus is lord and saviour and king of kings i trust in him all of life from here until his return to king of this world and lord and saviour and every knee shall bow and confess jesus is lord and saviour amen”
What a clown, How is that when Jesus and none of the Prophets (where we actually get revelation from God) never said any of the Crap the Orthodox Christian injected!?
Seriously,
Jesus NEVER said:
I save.
I am son of God.
Original Sin
God wanted Blood.
God is unjust.
God does not forgive and wants blood for sin.
Wake up and quit being a sheep and believing Paul over Jesus and the true Prophets!
Most importantly quit blasphemy God!
Alan, what are you smoking????? I find it interesting, as a member of the LDS Church, that we are the ones no one ask about our own Faith!!! But you who, think they know, know it ALL!!! But the most important part of all this reading, etc is PRAYER!!! Ask and ye shall recieve…. g
Actually Alan isn’t smoking anything. Based on what he commented on, he studies. I’ve been LDS most of my life. It was not until I started thinking for myself and studied “facts” that I discovered just how ridiculous the teachings of the church were. The temple ceremony is verbatim to the free masons. Did u know that JS was a freemason a few months before the temple ceremony started? Study the facts.
Mr D you forgot to mention the seer stones Joseph Smith put in a hat to translate the book of mormon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seer_stone_(Latter_Day_Saints)
Gazelem, I hope you arent serious…
LOL… Gazelem is serious. But most members of the LDS church do not know that “fact”. Church leaders seem to manage to keep it hidden, or they are not even aware of it. Facts don’t lie.
Tami, I would like to see a source on that. And no, south park does not count.
http://www.lds-mormon.com/transltn.shtml
There are many other sites. Google seer stones
Also the site that Gazelem suggested above is a good one to look at.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seer_stone_(Latter_Day_Saints)
I took a look at the links but they werent that convincing. They are lacking sources…sorry. Anything better?
Take a look at:
http://mormonstories.org/top10toughissues/peepstones.html
The church used to deny/downplay peepstones but now Elder Russell M. Nelson approvingly quotes Whitmer’s description of Joseph’s us of the peepstone in the hat:
http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1993.htm/ensign%20july%201993.htm/a%20treasured%20testament.htm
See more on Joseph Smith and the practice of magic and the occult, including peepstones and much more:
http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no95.htm
http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no65.htm
For a highly detailed view see Quinn’s “Mormonism and the Magic World View” wherein it becomes very obvious that the occult was part and parcel of the Smith’s activities and played a significant role in the “restoration”.
http://mormonstories.org/top10toughissues/peepstones.html
Elder Russell M. Nelson approvingly quotes Whitmer’s description of the peepstone in the hat:
http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1993.htm/ensign%20july%201993.htm/a%20treasured%20testament.htm
Joseph Smith and the practice of magic and the occult:
http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no95.htm
LOL- I have other links to share but they are taken off as I publish them. If you are really interested to what those links are, u may have to email me directly. twsmorg@yahoo.com
LOL- Was that uncomfortable? Please let me know. I love the facts but am open for something different if it feels right.
Heres the bottom line, I like the conversation here! But what most fail to see is that the “Mormons” arent out to hurt anybody! Do we believe that Jesus is Lucifers brother? Yes we do but we dont believe that Jesus acts the same way as Lucifer! They are two diff. people just like me and you are two diff. people but yet we are still brothers! Heres the thing, even if this Church, the mormon Church that is, Even if this church is not the One true Church even if by some misguided man we are not he Latter day saints, following what we believe and participating in the churchs programs are going to improve your life and impact those around you in a positive way. Even if this church is all for not it still the most honest and true church on the face of the earth, look and you will see. Go to a sacrament meeting talk with others about the church get off the internet and go look for yourself! If you are not impressed with the true spirit of god then you will know for sure! Its still a great thing a true blessing to have this gospel on the earth. theres no other church were you have the Top men of the church speak directly to you plainly and give you the best advice you could seek, real honest adivce and counsel for your famil and for your life! they speak on loving one another and seeking good wholesome things in your life! I cant say it more plainly go and see for yourself theres a reason so many people join this church! Its TRUE! God bless and goodnight!
Hey guys I guess this can help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kTqFKWqjPg
What many persons fail to see is that our temple ceremony is not a copy but a restoration of all things, as they were taught to Adam. Adam being the first prophet was taught all these things by our heavenly father, and because of the breaking away, alot of those teachings went among different people an were cultarised to fit different cultures.
Joseph Smith himself was too short a time, being a mason to copy their entire ceremony, for he was only a mason for the last two years of his life, and I do beleive the Kirtland temple was built before he became a mason in Nauvoo.
Criticising the Mormon church and posing all sort of heresay won’t help, as the church will grow under the direction of Jesus Christ.
As people yes, WE NEED FACTS, and in any case ask of god and you will receive. The urim and thummin are not magic eye glass as many ppl tend tonick named them, but originally a stone ( or something looking like that) which was the source of translating as was used in the days of old.
What the church preaches is love and if all of us have that love in our hearts, surely light and truth will bear many fruits, for our heavenly father is just and want everything he has for his children
This was chapter 25 of my latest book ‘The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg’ now available on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1463648812/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=beyotathpi-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1463648812&adid=1R6HWGC5DYKT91NQH4NN&
I like truth’s post, and just to back that up here is a direct quote from the Articles of Faith from the book of mormon: We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek afterthese things.
Joseph Smith
My Mormon in-laws who live out of state rarely visit but feel so compelled to do genealogy that they bring a laptop to work on it instead of paying attention to the grandchildren for a couple of days. I guess my children will have to get to know the grandparents by researching their family history when the grandparents are dead.