They've abandoned a number of things over the years - polygamy, the racial barrier,
No.. they've not abandoned polygamy.. All they done is state that it's not for this planet. But polygamy is an intrinsic belief within Mormonism.. All woman who die single are "married by proxy" to a mormon man.. Of course, they also teach that no woman has to agree (in their post-life) to be eternally "sealed" to a man.. But it's an important part of mormon theology, just as baptism for the dead is.. Their theology is very structured and for Mormons to ascend to the "Celestial Kingdom" (Heaven's "penthouse".. ;0) all the proper earthly ordinances must be completed. And one of these ordinances is temple marriage for eternity, and the other is baptism..
In Mormon theology, everyone must be baptised so that they can be accepted into heaven, including people who are long dead who were never part of the mormon faith. This is the reason that the LDS church has the most extensive geneological archives on the planet. They must research everyone's (LDS or not) family lineage and arrange for current members to conduct baptism by proxy ceremonies in their temples. In fact, it's quite likely that you and I will be baptized by some future Mormon upon our deaths so that we'll have the chance to accept, or reject mormon "salvation".. It's all very complicated and from my personal experience, full of logical flaws.. But hey.. aren't most religions? After all, they are created by men as a means of trying to interpret God's will for mankind..
As for giving black members of the church the opportunity to receive the priesthood, I recall some explanation from the LDS church leaders that upon discovering their missionaries in Latin American were converting a tremendous number of people descending from African slaves, it became a necessity for the Mormon president/prophet to receive a "revelation" permitting them to hold the priesthood (another requisite ordinance). But I'm sure that with the civil rights movement, and the hotseat that put them on, made the change inevitable. Certainly the mormon church has not been the only one with racist teachings..
Anyone.. this is all just explanatory trivia.. I'm more interested in seeing how the Romney campaign becomes beseiged by questions about his faith.. After all, it didn't seem to stop that debate moderator to ask for a "show of hands" regarding global warming... It seems inevitable that Romney's faith will become a potent political weapon against his campaign.
Hawk |
