Comments about ‘New Harmony: The mainstreaming of Mormonism’

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Charlotte, NC

The author probably should have mentioned that the "get your own planet" stuff is something Mormons actually do not believe. There is a lot in the Book of Mormon Musical that Mormons do not believe. Repeating it here without explanation simply perpetuates the error. This is what Mormon 101 from church's website says:


Harwich, MA

Good Morning Max,
I don't know which part of Mormonism you've grown up with but having been in the Church for over 60 years I don't where you get this particular notion.
Slightly quoting "As man is God once was, as God is man will become". Living in Utah my entire life the teachings of the Church have expounded that we "will" become Gods and have our own "planets" and human family to look after based on obedience.
Granted this is a very complex issue but I dare say that a good 80%+ of the current generation of devout LDS men believe this doctrine.
The funny thing about the Church mainstreaming is the likelihood of it's loosing it's identity within the mix of Christianity. This is a dangerous step for the Church and one that must be tread lightly.

Phoenix, AZ

The LDS church is determined to push Mormonism into the mainstream of Christian religion. It will never work, it is like trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. Mormons and traditional Christians are two very different religions. The LDS church would do better being true to its self and stay out of the main stream.

American Fork, UT

Mainstream is where the political power is. Southern baptists know that.

Ernest T. Bass
Bountiful, UT

"We are a peculiar people" is no longer their marching order. That doesn't work in today's world so they have to change to mainstream.
And yes, getting a planet is part of the deal, Max.

Sainte Genevieve, MO

The 'get your planet' stuff may be more folklore than doctrine, however, I joined the church in 1969 and definitely heard that taught at the time, along with the constitution hanging by a thread and that one day we will all have to walk back to Independence, Missouri. Lots of stories are told, some of them more folklore than doctrine. We members need to be able to distinguish between the two.


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no desire to be in "the mainstream of Christian religion." Nor does the Church of Jesus Christ wish to be marginalized by being mischaracterized and misrepresented.

Rather, members of the Church of Jesus Christ consider themselves to be Christians and simply object to being labeled as "not Christian" because taking His name upon themselves is part of the Baptismal Covenant they have made.

Conversely, those that try to label members of the Church as "not Christian" are doing so because they wish to marginalize and demonize the members of the Church. While they are free to do so, it doesn't make it true or accurate.

Standing our ground while turning the other cheek is not the same thing as trying to be "mainstream."

Provo, UT

If Mormonism believes that mainstream Chrisiianty is Apostate, Why then are they trying so hard to be seen as just another mainstream Christian Church?

Provo, UT

"Loose, alert, and resilient" sounds about right. Sadly it is easy to buckle under the pressure. While the world is in some ways more pluralistic, it is no more tolerant. There are so many voices with their opinions. Like mine right here.

Layton, UT

I think the planet thing sounds trite. Why limit it to a planet? Why can't I have my own universal reality?

Johnny Triumph
American Fork, UT

Misconception usually results from lack of knowledge. If anyone has questions or concerns about planets or gods or Christianity or walking to Missouri then one needs to do more indepth study. It's all there but some effort needs to be included. If we choose to rely on short statements from others then we'll never have the complete picture.

Pleasant Grove, UT

Dennis, as a lifelong member I know just where you're coming from. That said, Max is correct: He didn't make that quote up - it is directly published by the Church, itself, after doctrinal review - and the Church has no *official* doctrine stating that even the most righteous among us will definitely have responsibility for our own worlds/planets.

sandy, ut

The church has a long, hard history of stating things as doctrine and then retracting them when things get a little tough, or questions get asked. Members will take one statement from a previous prophet as fact, or doctrine. In the next breath they will say another statement was only opinion and it doesn't matter because only what the the current prophet says matters. So there is a history there of not knowing what is actually doctrine, opinion, both, neither, etc. It gets perpetuated because members pick and choose what statements are doctrine and which are not.

Phoenix, AZ

Both JS and BY are ordained and set aside to be Kings here on earth, that is pretty good entry position. You pay your dues, you get your ticket punched.

Salt Lake City, UT

The LDS church does believe in eternal progression so that the spirit children a righteous person now would have would continue some sort of cycle, that's roughly as far as any doctrine on the matter goes. The planet thing is a really simplistic (and arguably insultingly simplified) take on it.

There are a lot of unanswered questions involved. For instance, if it were to end up being like a new cycle, would those spirit children then need to get bodies on some world and need Jesus (or some replacement for Jesus in which case who would that be?) for salvation of their own? It's kinda fun to think about but the church doesn't make any claims about answering any of those rambling questions I just threw out there.

Mesa, AZ

For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
(D&C 84:36-38)

That might include our own planet but paraphrasing Bill Clinton it depends on how you define the word "all"

Charlotte, NC

Good afternoon Dennis,

You obviously didn't read my post carefully. I am speaking ONLY about the notion that we will have our own planets. You also did not notice that the entire second paragraph was cut and pasted directly from a document called MORMONISM 101 FAQ from the Church's website. Those are not my words or my opinions, they are from the leadership of the church! So don't quibble with me, quibble with them. Google MORMONISM 101: FAQ NEWSROOM and it will pop up. At the very bottom there is a list of common questions, most of which are designed to deal myths about the church. I suggest you read all of them.




No the member's do not need to distinguish between the two. They need to listen to what the current mainstream LDS Inc. says is doctrine and is folklore. When the brethren have spoken the thinking is done.

Provo, UT

Mormons are Christians

sandy, ut

Max - the doctrine of the church is ever changing. What the current leaders consider doctrine and truth vary vastly from whay Joseph Smith revealed. That cannot be disputed.

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