What challenges will the Mormon church face in its 3rd century?

SLTrib.com ^ | April 19, 2015 | Peggy Fletcher Stack

[Colofornian]

As Mormonism enters its third century, it faces a Goldilocks dilemma: Too much tension with the surrounding culture invites scorn; too little threatens its uniqueness.

But finding just the right balance to ensure a thriving — and distinctive — faith won't be easy.

{SNIP}

So, what are the Baby Bear options in Mormonism's future?

Too much conflict with the wider society, say on gay rights or women's roles, premier Mormon sociologist Armand Mauss argues, would bring "not only popular disdain but even repression and persecution."

{SNIP}

Female elders? • Third, the LDS Church runs into much debate and even clashes over the "role and status of women," Mauss says. "Ordination for women [to the all-male priesthood] is not the only issue, of course, but it is clearly the most contentious inside and outside the church."

Pressure from within and without for gender equality, he says, "will eventually require considerably more adjustments in the tension level faced by the church over gender roles as the century progresses."

Ordaining women may happen "before the century has ended," Mauss says, " ... since there is no explicit doctrinal barrier."

{SNIP}

No matter how welcoming top Mormon authorities seem in their remarks, Mauss says, "it is not clear just how far church leaders, and other guardians of orthodoxy, might be willing to go in reaching out to those saints with serious doubts."

The Internet generation is awash in information, some of which is hostile to LDS claims, Mauss notes. "How much room will there be in third-century Mormonism for varied interpretations and understandings of fundamental doctrines and their traditional meanings? Will responsible scholarship and complete transparency in teaching its doctrines and history continue to be valued and implemented in the church during the coming century?"

[Colofornian]

So, per this excerpt above, this Mormon sociologist says there’s “no explicit doctrinal barrier” to Lds female elders.

[2ndDivisionVet]

What happens when polygamy becomes legal?

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

I would hold the Book of Mormon accountable to the same historical tests used to corroborate events which occurred in the Holy Bible.

[SZonian]

I did just that...that’s why I’m an ex-mormon.

Sadly, millions of others don’t or won’t.

[Colofornian]

What happens when polygamy becomes legal?

Good Question...

70 percent of men aged 20 to 34 are single

That means A LOT of not only men but women who are single...

Per Mormon theology, that trend (along with the trend away from Mormon temple recommends) means the overwhelming bulk of Mormons wont qualify to live with Heavenly Father forever.

Simply because of those 2 missing elements: An eternal marriage & no temple rec

Even if single women get the temple rec, no hubby, no living with Heavenly Father eternally...eventually, the Lds gen authorities may have to round up all these single women into Mormon harems...for their own eternal welfare, mind you.

[svcw]

Interesting

[Colofornian]

EHaremny, the matchmaking website for Mormons...

...where you can match with 29 women in a different dimension.

:)

[PROCON]

LOL, and free magic underwear too.

[PROCON]

Did you burn your magic underwear? :-)

[TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed]

It will no longer exist.

[TontoKowalski]

It's not that so many of the claims are open to interpretation, it's that they are just provably false.

The internet is killing Mormonism.

Mormons will tell you it's "anti-Mormon" literature, but really it's just "truth."

[SZonian]

Actually, no.

I did not “follow the protocols” for disposing of them...

http://lds.net/forums/topic/38491-disposing-of-garments/

[sparklite2]

‘What happens when polygamy becomes legal?”

I’ll still be too old and ugly.

[SZonian]

Mormons will also call any who challenge mormonism anti-mormons vs. anti-mormonISM...in addition to a host of other colorful adjectives.

Quite the emotional appeal fallacy...

Me? Well, according to their doctrine, I’m consigned to outer darkness for eternity...I’m the worst of the worst in mormonISM’s eyes...

Not worried in the least though...God is good, God is just, God is merciful.

[dragonblustar]

What happens when polygamy becomes legal?

Run, man, run!!!!!!

Not just polygamy but also gay marriage polygamy.

[2ndDivisionVet]

[elcid1970]

Enjoying this thread while sipping instant coffee made from freeze dried Mormons.

;^)

[Colofornian]

It's not that so many of the claims are open to interpretation, it's that they are just provably false. The internet is killing Mormonism. Mormons will tell you it's "anti-Mormon" literature, but really it's just "truth."

Indeed.

And the Mormon leaders & grassroots have been well aware of the Internet's impact:

* Special report -Mormonism besieged by the modern age
* Mormon scholars: Internet spotlights LDS taboos
* Notes: Mormonism and the Internet

[Elsie]

But finding just the right balance to ensure a thriving — and distinctive — faith won't be easy.

Mr. Millet:

 

I don't think we can ever transcend Joseph Smith or consider him to be a valued personality, but now we'll move on.

I don't think you'll see that among believers in the faith, because there are too many other things that came from him

that are the reasons why we do what we do and we are what we are. That there are unanswered questions, to be sure.

That there are things that I'm as anxious as the next guy to learn more detail on, I really want to know. But in the interim,

 it really doesn't, doesn't trouble me.

We're in the religion-making business, as you intimated earlier, only for a short time, I mean, compared to the

Christian church, which has been at this for a couple of millennia. We're about halfway to Nicaea.

And so, and so in that sense — I remember a very tender moment. I was speaking with — I've been invited

to the Salt Lake Theological Seminary, basically an Evangelical seminary, to discuss a book I had done on Jesus.

And they had read it, and they wanted me to come and just respond to questions.

And it was, it was a very enjoyable couple of hours.

 

The very last question that was asked by one of my friends there was this one.

 

He said, 'Bob, what can we do for you?'

 

And I, I wasn't ready for that question. I said, 'What do you mean?'

 

He said, 'What can we, as Evangelicals, do for our Mormon friends?'

 

And I, I guess my mind could have gone a hundred different ways, but what I came back with was this.

 

I said, 'Boy, I appreciate you asking that. I don't think I've ever been asked that.'

 

But, but I said, 'Try this. Cut us a little slack, will you? Give us a little time.

We're in the religion-making business, and this takes time. It takes centuries.

 

And, and trying to explain the faith and articulate the faith, that doesn't come over night.

We've really only been about that for 20 or 30 years.'

 

 

http://being.publicradio.org/programs/insidemormonfaith/transcript.shtml