Angel Worship
Mormons only worship God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Technically, we only worship God the Father, but the others are also members of the Godhood and are deserving of worship.

Some religious radical in the late 1800's got the idea we worshiped seagulls and the Angel Moroni and wrote a book. Every mindless preacher since then has been quoting the book because it is old and looks really good on the shelf. Knock-knock . . . Who's there? God. God, who? The one who gave you the Ten Commandments and told you not to bear false witness. Oh, well, as long as it makes for a good Sunday sermon.

Additional Scripture in the Book of Mormon
Yes, Mormons believe in an additional volume of scripture. No, the Mormons cannot truly say that the authors of the Book of Mormon are directly related to the American Indians, but that was the strong belief of Joseph Smith. The truth is we don't know enough about the people of the Book of Mormon to describe their exact history. We suppose, assume, believe and write a lot of books on the maybe's, if's and perhaps's, but we really just don't know. What we do know, however, is that there is some connection between the Western Hemisphere and the gold plates. We also know that the prophets of the Book of Mormon, along with their people were exterminated around 400 C.E. and that their enemies were keen on wiping them from the face of the earth.

Trying to prove history through the Book of Mormon is futile, but so is trying to prove the existence of history through the Bible. The fact is, when you are dealing with texts that are ancient, you can prove and disprove anything. Much of history is speculation, regardless of whether it is on the American Continent or in the Middle East. Google the Tomb of James for a fun ride into mythology created by historical artifacts and you will see what I mean.

The Book of Mormon is not intended to replace the Bible, but it is a book of scripture. Mormons believe and the book itself states that it was written by the descendants of the tribe of Joseph from the Old Testament who lived apart from the Old World of Jerusalem. These people were guided across the ocean and had their own writings. Their religious texts were summarized by an ancient prophet named Mormon. This abridgment took all of the important works and brought them into one volume which he transcribed on metal plates to preserve them.

Included within the plates was an account of the visitation of the resurrected Christ who came to the American Continent and shared his gospel with this lost tribe of Israel. He commanded this group of people to write his words down so that they too might spread his Gospel. Much like the early Christians in the middle east, the people who followed Christ were persecuted. They eventually were hunted down and exterminated by the larger group to possess the land. The last prophet of the people of Christ took the volume of abridged writings and he hides the records "up unto the Lord" to protect them from falling into the hands of his enemies. He is left to wander in the wilderness for forty or so years.

Most importantly, however, is the reality that the Mormons do hold the Bible in the highest respect and it is part of their study. The use of the Book of Mormon by LDS should be no more troubling than those reading passages from the latest Billy Graham or Robert Schuller book. It contains the words of God given through holy men. If outsiders don't consider it a book of scripture, then they should at least respect it as a book of Christian Theology written by a nineteen year old genius.

By all accounts, it is too hard to explain away the Book of Mormon as it contains information regarding ancient texts and the way of life of persons living anciently that were not known at the time of Joseph Smith. As a work in theology, the Book of Mormon is a masterpiece. Whether it is a true ancient work is a matter of personal prayer and contemplation. Mormons believe that the truthfulness of the Gospel, Joseph Smith and the like is a matter between an individual and his God. Apparently, that line of thinking seems to be working as the church membership is now pushing 14 million and no one is being taken hostage or being forced to go to church -- except maybe a few teenage boys who would rather be dirt biking on Sunday.

Polygamy
Since the airing of "Big Love" by HBO, a lot of folks have a better appreciation for actually living in polygamy. It is hardly a 1960's sexual revolution lifestyle. Instead, it is actually a very difficult concept to put into practice. Mitt Romney continues to fight off a label of belonging to a church that endorses or practices polygamy.

In truth, polygamy is considered an abhorent practice by Mormons. Most people are so ignorant of the fact that the Book of Mormon itself condemns the the practice. Why then did the Mormons practice polygamy? Certainly, no other Christian splinter group of the time (Shakers, Quakers, etc.) tried to live this ancient marital law. Why go to all the trouble?

They say hindsight is 20/20. As I see it, Mormonism would have never survived if it wasn't for polygamy. Again, Joseph Smith was a visionary. Facing substantial persecution and the killing of many men at the time, he instituted polygamy among about 3% of the church -- mostly trusted church leaders like Brigham Young. Putting aside the religious doctrine and belief for a moment, let's look at how Polygamy saved the Mormons.

Historians have glossed over one of the darkest histories of the American Western Expansion. They gleefully talk about the migration of the Mormons out to the west and their opening up the flood gates that would eventually make up some of the most important land in the United States, but fail to focus on the severe hardships and persecutions heaped upon a group of people.

If the Mormons had been exterminated, as was the intent of Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs, researchers and historians would be waiving the banner of unjustified brutality, but the Mormons survived and thus the history has been politely swept under the rug.

For those not knowing the history, the Mormons were anti-slave in a state that was filled with turmoil on the issue. The Mormon voting block was substantial enough to change the outcome of the slavery question. In my view, this was the main justification for driving the Mormons out of Missouri. After much conflict in Missouri, Governor Boggs issued an executive order that the Mormons would have to be exterminated or driven from the state. Nearly 1,500 militia members made swiss cheese out the Mormons, killing, plundering, lynching, looting and raping them as they made their escape to Illinois.

Later, the Missourians would continue to harrass the Mormons, eventually forcing them out of Illinois, but only after killing Jospeh Smith in a lame attempt at destroying the movement he created. At the time, the community formed by Jospeh Smith in Illinois was the tenth largest city in the United States.

Prior to his death, Joseph Smith made a prophecy that the slavery question would nearly destroy the United States through an uprising by the south that would commence in South Carolina. His prophecy was later fulfilled.

The persecutions brought by the militias and pro-slaverly movement against the Mormons consisted of severe violence and unspeakable acts. The subsequent governments of both Missouri and Illinois have both made public apologies for their part in the "Mormon War." The most immediate impact upon the Mormons, however, was a dire need of population and protection for families who had lost fathers and husbands to death squads.

At the time the persecutions were at their peak, polygamy was being queitly introduced by Joseph Smith among the church leaders. Perhaps Jospeh Smith knew that his movement would not survive unless it could grow in number, or perhaps he was simply trying to assure that the next generation descended in the most part from church leaders, but as most historian's agree, it was hardly a plan to satisfy physical passions. The limited number of men entering into this unusual covenant were charged with providing for and caring for their extended families, which charge they took most seriously and at a great personal price.

Later, after their exodus to the west, the Mormons found relative safety and security and the need for polygamy dissipated. Desiring to become a part of the United States, the Mormons abandonned polygamy voluntarily.

Often times, historians overlook the fact that the Mormons could have fought a strategic war against the Union during the Civil War and could have assured their right to practice polygamy and probably could have partitioned a portion of what is now Utah for their own theocracy. More particularly, the Union was funding its war with the South through gold and silver mining in the west. Disruptions of these resources could have changed the outcome of the war. The Mormons, however, much to the chagrin of the south, chose the anti-slavery position of the Union and aligned themselves with the federal government in hopes of one day reconciling and finding statehood.

As part of the United States, the Mormons agreed to follow the laws established by the federal government. Congress passed legislation outlawing polygamy and after some negotiations, the Mormons abandonned the practice entirely. Obviously, the larger question for the Mormons at the time was how to handle those marriages and families that had already been established under the prior practicies before the laws were passed. Many men were jailed, not for their desire to continue marrying more wives, but for their refusal to abandon their current wives and children. The great untold story was that in exchange for their commitment to abandon future polygamy, those who had already entered into these relationships were allowed to live the remainder of their lives in peace without inteference from the government.

A small offshoot of Mormons, however, refused to bend to the laws of the land and started a splinter group of polygamists who settled far away from any other civilization at the time. These folks were excommunicated from the Mormon faith in the late 1800's. Some call these groups Mormon fundamentalists, but that is not a correct label as they have nothing to do with the Mormon faith. We don't call Lutherans, Catholic Fundamentalists, nor should the world call a splinter group of Mormons by their prior designation.

Without any doubt, polygamy was a law that was practiced in the Old Testament during difficult times and during times where Israel needed to increase in size and strength. Joseph Smith's drawing upon polygamy as a means of protecting his movement, though novel, was hardly anti-Christian or corrupt as dozens of Old Testament prophets were knee deep in the practice, e.g., Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, etc. From a religious perspective, polygamy has always been limited in scope and practice by the
God of Abraham, but the fact that it had been allowed is not in dispute.

In Puritan America, it was certainly odd and peculiar, but Mormons were not the only Christian group that had instituted the practice at the time, though it was the most prominent and the most persecuted because of it.

For Mitt Romney, the question of polygamy is hardly a question at all. Just because a few forefathers practiced polygamy does not mean that he believes in it or approves of it. He does not. His faith does not practice or approve of it. It had its purpose and saved a religious movement from persecution. It has a Judeo-Christian basis, but is used infrequently by the God of Abraham and then only under commandment. So the issue of polygamy is not an issue, only a novelty about Romney's faith, which if placed in historiacal context is reasonably understood. In fact, as Romney descends from polygamy, so do Christians as the God of Abraham did allow the practice anciently, so modern Christians must accept that this practice is also part of their religious history.  Hmmmmmm. Does someone smell hypocracy?

Law of Chastity and Homosexuality
This is one concept that Bill Clinton didn't understand or practice. The Mormon Law of Chastity is simple: You will not have sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage, nor do you engage in pre-marital sex.

In the context of homosexuality, this means that it is not a "sin" to be homosexual or to have same gender attraction, it is only a "sin" if you engage in a sexual act outside the bonds of marriage.

In truth, if one were to weigh or compare sin, homosexuality could be seen as less "sinful" than an out of marriage act of a man and a woman as homosexuality does not have the ability to create life. All sexual acts outside of marriage are condemned under the Law of Chastity as believed by Mormons.

This has particular insight into Mitt's objection to redefining marriage. By attacking the institution of marriage, the gay community is attempting to bring their behavior within the context of this holy ordinance. As the acts of homosexuality are condemned independently in scripture and by the current leader of the Mormon faith, this would be seen by Mitt as highly improper. Marriage is one of the most important ordinances of the Mormon faith, so it is no surprise that Mitt would strongly object to changing the definition of marriage to include gay couples.

But is should be made clear that Mormons do not condemn persons struggling with same-sex attraction. Mormons understand the profound complexity surrounding  homosexuality. A person with a same-sex attraction must live by the same law as a single heterosexual person. They are to abstain from sexual behavior. A person with same-sex attraction may fully participate in the church as long as they are abiding by the Law of Chastity.

Word of Wisdom
Some have questioned why Mitt Romney does not drink or smoke. Let's clarify what is and what is not in the Word of Wisdom.  It is improper to drink alcohol, tea coffee or to smoke or use tobacco. If you see a wine glass in Mitt's hand, it is because he may be toasting, but you will see that he is not drinking the wine. It is considered a little silly to fill a wine glass with cider, so many Mormons in formal settings will toast with the glass but not imbibe.

It is NOT improper or against any commandment for a Mormon to drink other caffinated drinks, such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi. Any sugar or caffinated drink other than those expressly stated fall under a law of moderation, which essentially counsels Mormons to have all drink and food in moderation, e.g., you shouldn't eat too much red meat or drink too many Cokes in a day.

The Mormon Temple
People really get too upset about what Mormons do in their temples. If you have seen the Mason's Ceremony on the Discovery Channel, you have seen much worse. In truth, it is simply a place to enter into a higher covenant of commitment within the gospel of Christ and to perform holy ordinances such as the ordinance of Eternal Marriage and Baptisms for the Dead.

Mormons believe in marriage for time and all eternity through the priesthood of God.  The sealing that goes on is simply an ordinance similar to the one a person might see in any church on any given Saturday. In fact, it is a lot less flowerly and has almost no pomp. Pretty basic as far as weddings are concerned.

The Baptism for the Dead is fairly simple as well. A person submits the name of an ancestor to the temple who they believe has not been baptized. As all are in need of baptism in order to enter into heaven, the person is baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. If that person was married, they will also be allowed to marry for time and all eternity. These ordinances are done by proxy, which means, a living person stands in for the deceased person and does the ordinance for them in their name (as they are now dead and without physical bodies cannot do the ordinances themselves).

Mormons believe all men and women who have ever lived upon the earth will be given the opportunity to accept or reject these ordinances. Mormons do not believe that the ordinances in proxy take away a person's right or ability to accept or reject the orindinances performed. In other words, if a baptism is performed for a Puritan Preacher, he has the right in the afterworld to say "that is just silly, get lost," and the ordinance will have no effect.

Conclusion
Why people feel they must embellish Mormon Theology and Doctrine is beyond me. The most interesting thing about visitors to a Mormon Church is that they observe sensible and rational people doing sensible and rational things. They also have a lot of anger for those who have lied to them about what Morminism is all about. But that is where a lot of converts come from, so why bother or disturb what is working so well?

A study by a non-Mormon UCLA professor a few years back measured the growth of the LDS Church at about six percent (6%). This doesn't seem like a lot, until you realize that historians measured the growth of the early Christian Church at about six percent (6%). The same study predicted that Mormonism will most likely be the world's next major religion.

So whether Mitt Romney is the first Mormon President or another fills that role, the probable truth is that we will one day have a Mormon President -- of course, that assumes that the lies about Mormon beliefs are ultimately exposed.