Mormons

Originally Posted by Ducimus

...

Mormonism is BIG in utah. Well, the state was practically founded on it. And there's alot of weird laws and prohibitions (social or legal) because of it. THey're not allowed to drink coffee for instance, its considered a "hot drink" , and you can't go into a supermarket and buy beer either. Have to go to some special state run store. I really got a kick out of going a cafe, and saying out loud, "I'd like a cup of coffee!", and more of then then not, i got at least one person giving me a dirty look. COffee.. hot drink.. bad!

Interesting "insider" stuff. Yea, I could see how just the coffee-issue would put these people in loggerheads with Finns for good. We Finns really dig our cuppa, I think we drink most of the stuff in the world per capita.

http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2007/03/f...ng_230777.html

Well, at least we try to drink it.

[Feuer Frei!]

Hmm, no coffee eh?
Counts me out then, i like it black and strong, no sugar

[kiwi_2005]

Their must be two kinds of Mormons cause the kind i hear about in the news are not the Mormon missionaries i knew, they were easy to get on with never tried to push their religion down your throat and were sports crazy. They loved their American football. This was years ago back then my aunty was a Mormon so i always bumped into a Mormon missionary. Cause the Missionaries were always around my age they would come round to my place to relax, they knew i had no intention of becoming a Mormon so knew not to speak about it. From time to time i would ask about it and got given The book of Mormon, which ive read. Personally i thought it was a great fable. I was pretty much dumbfounded when i first heard about those Mormons that live the way they do, 10 wifes, marrying very young girls etc. Nowhere near to the ones i got to know over the years.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

Their must be two kinds of Mormons cause the kind i hear about in the news are not the Mormon missionaries i knew, they were easy to get on with never tried to push their religion down your throat and were sports crazy. They loved their American football. This was years ago back then my aunty was a Mormon so i always bumped into a Mormon missionary. Cause the Missionaries were always around my age they would come round to my place to relax, they knew i had no intention of becoming a Mormon so knew not to speak about it. From time to time i would ask about it and got given The book of Mormon, which ive read. Personally i thought it was a great fable. I was pretty much dumbfounded when i first heard about those Mormons that live the way they do, 10 wifes, marrying very young girls etc. Nowhere near to the ones i got to know over the years.

AFAIK the mainstream Mormon church no longer officially condones or allows the practice of polygamy. The groups that do still practice it are fundamentalist sects that are not recognized by the "official" Church of Latter Day Saints.

Of course those sects would probably tell you that it's the "official" church that has departed from the true path, but that's the way of things.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

AFAIK the mainstream Mormon church no longer officially condones or allows the practice of polygamy. The groups that do still practice it are fundamentalist sects that are not recognized by the "official" Church of Latter Day Saints.

Of course those sects would probably tell you that it's the "official" church that has departed from the true path, but that's the way of things.

All true. Brigham Young tried again and again to make Utah a state, and was told that wouldn't happen until polygamy was gone. He refused to do that, and it wasn't until he died in 1877 that negotiations really got going.

The Church President and Prophet had a "revelation" telling him that The Faithful should now "obey the laws of the land", and they outlawed the practice. Utah became the 45th state in 1896.

About one percent of the population, or 25,000 people are estimated to still practice polygamy. They outnumber and outgun local law enforcement agencies, so they are left alone until they do something outrageous, like blowing up each other's churches or marrying their fourteen-year-old daughters to their uncles.

Back in the day Mark Twain did a show in Salt Lake City. Since he was famous for his anti-religion stance of course he had some choice words for the Mormons as well. Legend has it that after the show he was approached by a Mormon bishop who asked what he had against polygamy. Twain replied "No one who has read the Bible could ever believe in polygamy. Why, haven't you read where it says 'No man can serve two masters?"