The Mormon Church is Offensive, and That’s OK

Unfortunately, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offends a lot of people. But, as David A. Bednar so eloquently stated,

To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

The Mormon Church is offensive to those that choose to be offended. It’s an unfortunate, but common result of conflicting ideas, desires and opinions. In this sense the Mormon Church is sort of like the parent who encourages their child to eat healthier and get outside more. The child may hate them for it, but it doesn’t mean the parents are misguided.

Disclaimer: This article speaks boldly but is not meant to bash or mock those that are deeply offended by the Mormon Church. They deserve love, understanding and compassion.

Here’s why the Mormon Church is offensive to some people, why it always will be and why that’s OK:

The Mormon Church encourages real change

Whether you’re a new convert or life-long member, the Mormon Church wants you to change. The doctrines are always urging, exhorting, convincing you to be better than you were yesterday.

That’s the pattern. In the Old Testament the Israelites were given the law of Moses. That law was replaced with a higher law during Christ’s ministry. Within the last 200ish years we’ve received even more specific standards: tithing, the Word of Wisdom, callings, home/visiting teaching assignments, Family Home Evenings—the Mormon Church is not a church of complacency, and that can rub a lot of people the wrong way.

Change can be hard. It takes humility to accept that we can live better, and the first step to taking offense is a lack of humility. Asking anyone to change can be offensive, but that’s what the Mormon Church does, and that is one thing that’s not going to change any time soon.

The Mormon Church will not budge for you

The Church encourages us to change, but the Church will not change doctrines for us. The dos and don’ts of The Law of Chastity are not up for discussion. I cannot go to my bishop and say, “I’ll be sexually pure, except for six weekends per year. Deal?”

We’ve seen society try to change the Church’s doctrines many times just over the last few years. It happened when LGBTQ issues became a hot-button issue in the United States. It happened when the Ordain Women group pushed for Priesthood ordination. Attitudes, perceptions and even policies change, doctrines do not.

Thousands upon thousands of members and nonmembers alike are offended that the Church will not budge for them. That’s their choice and frankly it’s understandable in many scenarios. Members (and nonmembers) that struggle with Church doctrines should not be looked down upon. We should not marginalize their concerns. They deserve the same amount of love and respect as anyone else, if not more. That said, Church doctrines will not change. It may seem cold, it may seem ruthless—that’s a matter of perspective—but it’s the truth.

The Mormon Church will impose upon your life

It’s not convenient to be a Mormon. If you like to be alone and to be left alone, you might get irritated really quickly at this church. You’ll have home/visiting teachers. The missionaries will come visit you. Your calling will require you to work with other people. At the very least, the Mormon Church carves a solid three-hour block out of your Sunday every week for worship services.

You might have to change how you eat, how you dress and even how you think.

Members will ask you to substitute teach in their classroom. They’ll ask for help moving a family into their new house on Saturday morning. Someone will pass around a sign-up sheet asking for volunteers to mow an elderly member’s lawn every week. If you’re already short on free time, the Mormon Church might get really annoying really fast, but they’re not going to change.

The Mormon Church contradicts modern Christian theology

If you’re unfamiliar with Mormon theology, get ready for a surprise (hopefully a welcome one)! The Church teaches a lot of doctrines that contradict traditional Christian beliefs so starkly that, unfortunately, many people are offended by them. To name a few …

• God has a perfected, exalted body of flesh and bones.
• “Heaven” is three distinct kingdoms of glory.
• Marriages and families can be sealed together for eternity.

Some people get angry when their beliefs are contradicted. The Mormon Church, while 100% Christian, turns Christianity on its head. If you’re not open-minded it might make your blood boil.

Was Jesus Christ Any Different?

Many people are offended by the Mormon Church in the same ways that people were offended by Jesus Christ in ancient times.

Christ encouraged real change, progress, all the time.

Here’s a quick example:

Christ was the perfect example of love, but he never compromised his teachings to accommodate the religious or political beliefs of others.

It was this firmness (what some may call stubbornness) that eventually led to his execution. His teachings were not up for discussion. No amount of pressure from the masses changed that (unlike Pilate in the video below).

Christ, while meek and humble, was imposing to some. Remember the rich young ruler?

The young ruler was a good guy. He kept the commandments and was trying his best, but when Christ gave him a challenge that would change his entire lifestyle, he faltered.

Christ challenged the traditional beliefs of the day.

Remember when Christ healed a blind man on the Sabbath Day and the Pharisees threw a fit? Just because most everyone else believed it was inappropriate to heal on the Sabbath did not fundamentally make it so.

Are you offended?

The official name of the Mormon Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We believe Jesus Christ is its leader. He calls the shots. It is His Church.

In ancient times Christ himself asked his disciples concerning his teachings, “Doth this offend you?” The answer from some was yes, and “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” The story continues…

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Some will find The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offensive, but, as with Christ, the teachings are true. At the end of the day, that should matter much more.

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