flipchick1127

I still hold, xorwat, that the Church must consider its own survival. I believe that God wanted polygamy to be in practice for a while in order to ensure the survival of the church. When polygamy became a danger for the church, of course they would stop doing it. That's because polygamy itself wasn't a requirement for salvation. It was simply something to ensure the early church's survival. I don't see how this proves our church wrong in any way.

On a little bit different of a topic, I would also like to add that not everything every church leader says is necessarily church doctrine. Sure, if the prophet says something, it's supposed to be true, but not everything every general authority says is considered doctrine. These people may be in a leadership position, but they are still human. They can make mistakes. For this reason, the church has gotten a lot stricter on what is considered doctrine. Finally, I would like to add that we believe that prophets are called for a specific time. What they say is MOST relevant to the people who are alive when they actually say the words. Some things ONLY apply to those people. The needs of the church, just like the needs of all humankind, change. So, sometimes quoting things from the very early church can get a bit tricky because not all of it applies anymore. Not only that, but when the church was first being formed, people were VERY quick to spout off their opinions. Even Joseph Smith was known to state his opinion rather than pure doctrine sometimes. So, please remember, just because someone in the church once said something, it doesn't mean that it is considered, or even ever was considered, church doctrine. People are people.

I really really suggest you visit mormon.org. It has answers to a nice list of topics posed by nonmembers. I also suggest you take a look at the Book of Mormon and all of the church studies surrounding it (I'm sure you'll also look at anti-mormon stuff about it, but please remember that you should always take a look at both sides of an argument). It really is a fascinating book and when you really start studying it in a more intellectual way you begin to realize that there is no way that Joseph Smith could have written that book. There are too many lucky guesses, too many subleties, too many facts that wouldn't have been accessible to him in there. You don't have to believe it was divinely inspired, but if you truly study the book in an unbiased way, I don't see how you can come to the conclusion that it was written by Joseph Smith.

Jason1117

What if I gain LDS membership now and apply BYU next year? Will I be charged member tuition rate?
Thanks!

bobdylan

If you are a member than you will pay the cheaper tuition prices. Remember though, joining the LDS church isn't some whimsical decision, rather, you will have to take discussions from the missionaries, be baptized, and be an active member of the LDS church. BYU admissions does require an ecclesiastical endorsement from the Bishop, so, unless you sincerely join the LDS church, don't waste your time, because you won't be able to recieve a decent recomendation from the Bishop, unless you are an active participant.

bobdylan

xorwat...aside from having the desire to be highly insulting, what is your purpose in attacking the LDS church?

Jason1117

thanks for your reply,bobdylan.
Will it take a lot of time and effort to become an active LDS church member? Just attend church regularly?

I won't spend years going mission anyway.....it might be a problem.

bobdylan

If you're sincerely interested in the LDS church, and you have the right motivations, you can contact the LDS missionaries. From there, you will be taught 6 lessons and then baptized. Good Luck.

trishalynn_08

Just to go back to the original purpose of this thread (not that that tangent wasn't interesting) I love BYU. I am applying next year, if anyone knows when applications for 2008 are coming out please let me know. If anyone is having any doubts about going to the school then go visit it for yourself. Listening to people debate theological issues isn't going to help you make an informed decision. I wasn't even going to apply until I visited the campus and fell in love. I just sort of felt like I fit. Its a feeling I can't describe and I haven't found it at any of the other colleges I've visited. Don't make any decisions until you have that ahah! moment. The best college for you (not that you can't succeed at many) will give you that o so magical tingle. Good luck in the search process and I hope you find your tingle.

Jason1117

well,I don't know if there's any missionaries around.I'll try to reach the nearest LDS church probably

larryflint

It is not that the people at BYU are scary it is that mormons in general are.

Utah-represent

Do any of you people live in Utah? BYU isn't as religious as you think it might be. People have tattoos and drink and all that. BYU just has a little different 'honor code' compared to other schools. It is a very well-respected school. I live in Utah(obviously) and would never go to BYU just because it isn't my steez. I have friends that go there and love it though.

flipchick1127

Well, to be perfectly honest, most people do not have tattoos or drink at all. There are a few people who might go out and do that stuff secretly (like my old roomie), but it's a very, very, very small minority. Plus, if you have a tattoo that is visible, you can't get into the testing center. That makes things pretty tough. Personally, I find BYU rather religious, but the people are also very laid back and fun. I love it here!!! I wasn't very confident of my decision to go here when I first came, but now I am just positive that I couldn't be happier anywhere else! It's great!!!

bobdylan

here is my opinion of byu (i've been here three weeks so it is limited).
Some things freak me out. For example the school monitors the wireless internet network; professors make allusions to obscure doctorine, and the theological leaders are nazis about morality. The weather for me is terrible, (i am from san diego) 100+ degrees in summer and super super cold in winter. (i like san diego's steady 75). The campus is beautiful though. so many trees. One thing interesting to note, is that students for the most part look clean cut, but alot do not act like that. From experience, if you want soemthing...you can get it. But, overall i really like it. In the dorms, it is like one big party...without alcohol. For all of you who think that Byu is full of mormon freaks, just remember, there is 30,000 students...there are gonna be alot of people, and alot of those people are gonna be unique, different, etc. You're gonna find people up here just like you ...trust me...whether you like to party, drink, study, play chess, read your bible, whatever. don't limit the student body.

zbenjii

i wouldn't believe everything the church feeds you. I go to byu and, flipchick, i imagine about 75% of ppl here would say that. Its a great thing to say when you have no clue other than what your sunday school teacher said.
Im not trying to attack you. its just i think everyone, not only non members, need to look at both sides of the argument. In fact, it is even more important for an lds member to get serious facts because of our stake in it.
Furthermore, i would suggest not getting all your facts from church approved texts. Its just simple logic, get the information from a source which DOES NOT have a stake in outcome of that information. Not go to mormon.org where all the facts are inherently going to be favoring one side.
I feel really bad when i hear/see someone just blindly believe in something. This goes for both sides, if there really are sides. my friends girlfriend asked me questions like why i was going to byu and aren't mormons polygamous. On the other hand there was this girl in one of my religion classes i took that got baptized even though she knew virtually nothing about the mormon church. i guess what i'm saying is faith is good but logic and reason is necessary.

flipchick1127

I would have to disagree with you somewhat. If you are studying a religion, any religion, isn't it best to find out what the religion teaches from someone who actually practices that religion? If I suddenly had burning questions about hinduism, I wouldn't read a book by someone who wasn't a hindu. That person couldn't possibly understand that religion as well as a hindu would. Mormon.org is a very simple website made by church leaders explaining what we believe. If some scholar wants to say we believe something else because he found a quote from years ago that some person in the church once said, is that really giving people an accurate description of what mormons believe? No. If you want to know what we believe, ask US! We'll tell you exactly what we believe. That is what religion is all about.

Now, if you are trying to research some historical event in the church, perhaps a controversial one, then maybe it would be a good idea to consult other sources. The problem I see most often, though, is that people will check these other sources (often with heavy anti-mormon biases in themselves) and will not even bother to see what the church has to say about the topic.

I have seen, heard, and read many other opinions on topics relating to the mormon church. I have not just gone to Sunday school and spouted out what I heard there. I am not just blindly believing. I do agree with you that there are a lot of people who do blindly believe, though. I just don't see how listening to what the church has to say on a topic is blindly believing. I go to BYU too, so I know how people are here. I have met very, very few people who have not studied out our religion very much before really believing in it. If you bring up a controversial topic, most people here know all about it.

heeje_90

haha that was a pretty extensive debate.

im looking to apply to BYU Provo for the Fall 2008 semester. I'm interested in the Marriott business program cuz i've been doing some research and this place is an incredible school. really. i've visited the campus this summer and it's amazing with amazing athletic facilities and very, very friendly people.
im just amazed and im continually digging up new insights, new facts, new information on BYU. Really, this is my first choice school.

Okay, here's my situation: I was born in the States but i haven't lived there since third grade. Currently residing in Seoul, South Korea (and no, we don't have nuclear bombs or anything. you might want to look a bit north for those). i attend an international school with an American curriculum and i've visited the States almost every summer. I am of Korean ethnicity but I am a US citizen. I am also born and bred LDS, and also an active member in my ward and stake.

Just a few questions to those BYU veterans out there:
im thinking of staying one year at BYU and then going off on my mission (as soon as i turn 18): do you think getting a car is worth the money? i know it's just one year but i don't exactly want to be stranded for a whole year.

and also, this is a question pertaining to the Marriott school:
Is it possible to get summer internships at places on the East Coast? What are the chances?

Is it true that at BYU, it's easy to get married?

How is the environment for studying? Does dating and partying, and other social events distract from the academia of BYU?

Is there Internet access all over the campus? Are Internet connections fast? I come from Seoul, probably one of the most wired and wireless cities in the world; and not having proper Internet services would be akin to life without root beer floats in the States.

hahaha sorry for the "few" questions. but i'm really concerned. I'd really appreciate any help or insight.