According to Mormon doctrine there is a hierarchy of
of heaven which includes three levels. It is true,
that those in a higher level can visit the lower levels but
not vice versa. Also, a requirement of reaching the highest
level is temple marriage (which begs the question 'was
Jesus married?')
However, to Mormons Temple Marriage means much more
than just the ability to obtain the highest degree of glory. To
most it means Eternal togetherness...that a marriage is not
'til death do us part' but everlasting through eternity.
JOSEPH Smith organized a church that has continued to
flourish 140+ years after his death. But it was not he himself
who kept it going...it was the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
and the Book of Mormon that has enlightened 10 million
members + worldwide.
I don't really know of the social pressure to conform of
which you speak. There is no more social pressure that
I've seen than in any other religion I've been part of.
Have you ever been to Salt Lake City? It is virtually
indistinguishable from any other major US city as far as
crime, and other unsavory practices....and I have yet heard
of anyone being coerced into leaving.
Thanks for your time!
John Rea
-----Original Message-----
From: B. Lane Robertson <metaphy@hotmail.com>
To: virus@lucifer.com <virus@lucifer.com>
Date: Monday, June 15, 1998 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: virus: Virus: Opinions?
Mormons have some "spiritual insights" (defined
"group ideal", as in "how things add up minus
accident"). I have read parts of the book. There
is an ideal of the internal "compass" which measures
truth; the group's design to rid the individual of
truth so that the group can create its own "truth";
a comparison of this group "truth" to a "wilderness"
(without order); and a fear like that of a
rudderless ship (without the compass) wherein the
group who has tied the individual's "compass" (with
the individual) to the mast of the ship-- because of
fear-- lets him loose again to lead them to safety.
This "story" seems to be backed up in studies of
groups, nations, civilizations, (and religions).
I also like the suggestion that there is a hierarchy
of ideals within which the individual who is most
worthy might succeed at the effort to be married in
the temple... and that to the degree that others do
not aspire to this ideal, they are unable to match
the temple-married couple in spirituality (so that
the one married in the temple might visit other
"heavenly" levels of spirituality-- which are less
evolved-- though the less evolved couples cannot
visit the ones who have attained the higher ideal).
I think the ideal of an individual being inspired to
write "holy" (or idealized) texts and thus to
inspire others to follow his "path" to
self-actualization is also sound. The hero "John
Smith" seems to have succeeded in forming a world
religion where others have not. I respect this. I
do not respect the social pressures of the Mormon's
to conform nor the exclusionary tactics that run
non-Mormons out of Utah (though this might be partly
necessary to maintain the ideal).
B. Lane Robertson
Indiana, USA
http://www.window.to/mindrec
Bio: http://members.theglobe.com/bretthay
See who's chatting about this topic:
http://www.talkcity.com/chat.cgi?room=MindRec
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