Hi all you newbies and welcome naughty Mormons! Sit up straight because you will learn something new for a change.

This is my most-requested post and I get lots of requests from people who want to know if there are any space alien beliefs in Mormonism.

Thinking of joining the LDS Church? I put this together because missionaries many years ago told me there was nothing weird in Mormonism. You be the judge.

If you don't see your favorite GA statement, please send it to me. I lost my last set of edits because I switched to Open Source. Feel free to suggest any quotes you feel belong here. I am also looking for a few good citations on some of the quotes.

MORMON 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

This Mormon site describes correlation between the North Star and Kolob, based on the fact that the big dipper is on the SLC temple, etc: http://www.ldswomenofgod.com/?p=1800

- 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.

mormon-scienceCreation

- 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.

- 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).


Anagrammy

And what about Xenu's rebellion against the Galactic Federation?

I'll have you know, I'm a totally clear, Level X Operating Cretin!

ALL that mental Energy & Focus on things... THAT DON'T MATTER!

Too Bad that Mormons can't / won't focus on Kindness, Honesty, Charity (REAL CHARITY, not musical chairs with self-generated / internal funds & expenditures available ONLY to other LDS.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2013 01:34AM by guynoirprivateeye.

I once gave a talk, and as a way to appeal to the teenagers I mentioned how the scriptures were a great source that competed with science fiction. I then used some of the above mentioned scriptures to make my point. The looks on some peoples faces were priceless. To this day i'm amazed nobody had anything to say about that talk.

I did notice that I was never asked to speak again. That worked for me.

Resurrect your talk and send it in to the Ensign, and see if they'll publish it. It might help get the younger SciFi crowd interested in the scriptures again.

+1

In 32 years as a member I was never asked to teach in SS. In priesthood a few times, and SM twice. I did get to teach ONCE in SS because the regular teacher said he was going to be away the following week and I asked if I could teach. Rather than embarrassing me, he allowed for it. I taught, you could say, a different lesson. I made references to Robert the Bruce and to the Davinci Code. Etc. I had pictures and all. At least some said it was a good lesson. But I was not allowed again.

The first time in SM was soon after joining and I spoke about marriage and how it required the husband to love his wife eternally, without condition; and the wife's respect for her husband was unconditional, and divorce should not happen, period. I was, of course, lacking in understanding of mormon doctrine. I knew the Bible and that was my reference.

Great list, AG. I hadn't known some of those things, like the idea that a black hole was outer darkness. Since those things are the cores of galaxies, perhaps they should be called "inner darkness!"

One thing, though, is the perfected earth--shiny glass, seerstone, fiery ball--those things are from the Old Testament. I think it was Isaiah but it could have been one of the other prophets, said that the earth would become such an orb. The prophets, in turn, probably stole the idea from the earlier Iranian traditions that they encountered in the captivity.

The august 2013 ensign had an article talking about cosmology, touches on Some of this stuff. Mentions how god has children in other planets and such. So you don't need to go back to 1971 hear this...

What article is it? Do you have a link?

It's called "worlds without number". Has a nice photo spread.

Phenomenal compilation. Well done.

Great stuff, Anagrammy! Thanks!

Now that I am no longer a Mormon, I keep getting these ah hah moments. Your post brought on one of those moments. I had read, or heard, most of what you wrote, but as a dutiful Mormon I had thought, "That's weird", shrugged and went on with my list of tasks.

I suspect that I am not alone in that reaction.

As a teen, I questioned everything. I debated both sides of every question. Where did that girl go? I'm just now beginning to see signs of her again and I feel like I lost 50 years.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2013 03:03AM by releve.

Yeah, definitely more a-ha moments reading this post and looking up those references.

My teenage questioning, debating self was taught never to question or debate the church. It's a hard lesson to overcome!

What I love is how Mormons are backing away from this and calling it "folklore," and saying that they don't actually believe that it is actually gospel. When they do this, you can ask whether or not the church, in that case, is no longer using the Pearl of Great Price.

Just when I think it can't get any sillier, it does! I am reeling to and fro, like a drunken man. :)

Isn't it awesome how absolutely preposterous it all seems when you see it back to back? I shake my head and wonder how I didn't just howl when I heard some (not all) of these tidbits one by one.

Ana

"Shinehah"

Shine Hah, seriously? Why the f*** did I not spot that before now!

Right? I know 4 year olds who are more creative naming their pet rocks.

My father retired early to serve a mission and when they came back realized he couldn't live off his retirement so he went back to teaching college math and physics as an adjunct. He taught until his early 80s.

But anyway one time he told me that he copied a couple of chapters out of the Book of Moses for his class to explain how everything was created spiritually first. He said that he could then show them through physics that it was the case. Yup, ok Dad. All I could say was that I couldn't believe no one complained that he was trying to push his religion in a public college (he was teaching for the Cal State system) at a satellite site on an Army base. He just said, "what are they going to do, fire me? Let them. I'm already retired."

A few years later I read some of his reviews on Rate Your Professor and I understood. They said he was kooky but if you show up you would pass the class. I'd imagine if you had to have calculus to graduate and didn't need to really learn anything, you'd keep your mouth shut about a teacher who you knew would pass you.

- Adam did not have a navel, Eve did. Taught by LDS Church Institute instructors. Still need reference.


This is wrong. Neither Adam nor Eve had navels as neither were born of a woman. Actually, Cain was admired by his brothers and sisters because he had the oldest navel.

Adam, though, had one less set of ribs than Eve.

You can reference me if you wish.

Good day.

Makes sense - can you direct me to the institute manual or some other source for documenting the state of belly buttons in the Garden of Eden?

Anagrammy

PS. If you have any stats on the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin... that would be a bonus.

They could snag so many converts if they just added Wookies and let the girls wear "slave-girl Leia" costumes in the temple.

Sure it sounds stupid when you say it like that. Throw in some Elizabethan English and it might sound plausible. (But only to people who think God speaks in Elizabethan English.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2013 07:54PM by crom.

Hehehe..... I can't believe I used to believe that!

Always enjoy your stuff anagrammy.

My brain hurts. I think I may have.......BULLSHIT poisoning!

True Believing Mormons are suppose to accept all this, right?

Do you know how much LSD I'd have to take before I could come up with something like this? The answer is a whole lot!