Never heard of Reform Mormonism Before...

[liberalpragmatist]

... guess you learn something new every day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Mormonism

Reform Mormonism is a branch of Mormonism that was founded in 2002 by former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). (Commonly called "The Mormon Church," the Utah-based LDS Church is but one of many churches--albeit the largest--to have emerged from the Latter Day Saint movement begun by Joseph Smith in the late 1820's.)

Like Judaism, Reform Mormonism is not a church, but a home-based religion with unique liturgy, traditions, and holidays.

Reform Mormonism is currently a small movement, with rituals that can be observed within the home. Just as Judaism has survived since the fall of the last Jewish Temple in 70 AD primarily through the observance of the Jewish Sabbath and other holidays within Jewish homes, so Reform Mormons believe such observances can sustain and preserve their religion. At this early stage of its development, Reform Mormonism is solely observed within the homes of Reform Mormons.

Reform Mormonism has received favorable attention from Mormon organizations such as The Mormon Historical Association and Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons (a national organization ministering to gay and lesbian Mormons and their families). Reform Mormons believe that increasing numbers of individuals within the LDS Church are intrigued by Reform Mormonism's objective approach to Mormon history (often a volatile subject with Mormons of all denominations) and its open-armed acceptance of mid-19th century Mormonism's positive view of human nature. Most Reform Mormons come from the LDS Church and other Latter Day Saint movement churches, while a few supporters come from outside that tradition. Some Reform Mormons remain members of other churches.

<snip>

The Reform Mormon Sacrament (the Lord's Supper, Communion, or Mass) is not a public ceremony, but part of the main family meal on the Sabbath. As in Judaism, candles may be lit at the beginning of the Reform Mormon Sabbath. (There are four candles--each standing for the four foundational principles of Reform Mormonism: Faith, Knowledge, Revelation and Restoration.) At the commencement of the Sabbath meal, bread is broken, blessed and eaten by everyone at the table. Then wine is poured, blessed and drunk by everyone at the table. The meal then continues. Thus what has in Christianity been called "The Lord's Supper" with Reform Mormonism actually is a supper. Since family and home have always been central to Mormonism, with Reform Mormonism the family dinner table--not a church meeting house or chapel--is the center of liturgical life.

Other ordinances include such things as the giving of blessings, naming children, liturgy for funerals and other major events in one's life. Reform Mormon Temple ordinances have also been developed including a Reform Mormon Endowment ceremony, Washing and Anointing rituals and a Reform Mormon Sealing Ceremony (marriage ceremony--which would be open to both heterosexual and same-sex Reform Mormon couples).

http://www.reformmormonism.org/

From their website: "You can be a Mormon without being LDS.
Be a Reform Mormon...no racism, no homophobia. Just your own authority
and an obligation to progress, learn, and determine your own way through life.
Mormonism on these terms feels positive and affirmative."

[Erika]

1. Do they still get to rule planets when they die

and must the wives still ask permission from the husband to enter into heaven?

[truedelphi]

2. How can reforming Mormonism undo all the harm n/t

[BikeWriter]

5. I wonder if they still believe Blacks and Indians...

bear the "Mark of Cain"?

http://lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml

[atommom]

6. Looks like the reform mormons chucked that idea out too.

We deeply apologize to the world, and in particular African Americans, for the erroneous teachings of past Presidents, Prophets, Apostles and others in leadership positions of the historical Mormon faith. They were wrong; not just uninspired, not just promulgators of "folklore;" they were wrong. Their teachings do not represent the perspectives or beliefs of Reform Mormons. We acknowledge the pain and suffering racism caused and continues to cause in the world, and we strongly condemn these practices. We make no excuse for their behaviors. We regret any pain and suffering caused by Mormon practices with regards to race, and will continue to state honestly our regret for the past and our hope for an improved future where the subject is honestly accounted for and every attempt is made to treat each other equally with respect, love, admiration, and fellowship.

Reform Mormons believe in accepting responsibility for the consequences of ones actions, not sidestepping delicate issues, not recasting history to make it fit. Whether or not an individual Reform Mormon personally held any racist beliefs in this matter or generally as part of American society's practices in the mid-twentieth century is one of individual concern. However, let it be known that Reform Mormons generally, so far as a statement of their collective beliefs can be presented, reject the idea that God ever held or sustained this belief and practice; that past church leaders who taught this belief and current leaders who held it did so in error; and that modern attempts to reconcile the lack of an LDS apology or repentance on the matter by recasting previous teachings as "folklore" only perpetuate the problem rather than acknowledge it and accept responsibility for it.

Reform Mormons welcome everyone of any persuasion to join our religious movement. We believe that priesthood is (and always was) shared equally among all. The degree to which it manifests in your life is up to you, not up to a church.

http://www.reformmormonism.org/racism-apology.htm

I'm not a big fan of organized religion, but they seem to be on the right track.

[BikeWriter]

7. WHOA! They used to just have a convenient "revelation" God...

told them to change. These reformers won't have much of the original left.

[atommom]

3. Very interesting. Looks like a movement of liberals within the Mormon

church, who were not willing to give up the religion entirely. I don't see much that resembles traditional Mormonism in their website, and as a bleeding-heart liberal, that cheers me up. These changes have to start somewhere.

To women currently or formerly members of the LDS faith:

You have known intense religious pressure to conform your life and your life's objectives to a predetermined pattern, one that does not necessarily take into consideration that which you want to pursue in your life, but one that is predictable and comfortable for others. You have seen your religious organization use your financial contributions to pursue political activities designed to insure that you are not treated equally under the law. You have been denied the recognition of ecclesiastical title and privileges. In years past you were subjected to the humiliation of your religion sanctioning your husband's "right" to marry another person while still married to you.

All this you have endured and yet you have held your faith, or held it as long as you could bear, and sought the understanding of God to help resolve the unfairness and lack of respect that your religion has asked you to shoulder. This has not been easy for you to do. You have suffered through the hurt and fear that this has brought to you rather than speak up against or fight the unfairness, and thereby risk your religion and the things it has promised you. That you have endured so much is remarkable; you deserve great acknowledgement for this.

I have a special message for you, and in the message is a great truth: you do not have to give up your religion in order to receive the respect you deserve and resolve the unfairness placed in your way. You never have to do that.

http://www.reformmormonism.org/message-to-women.htm

[Erika]

4. Very interesting

Maybe someone can ask Mitt about this new branch of Mormonism.

[Realityhack]

17. Please....

stop reminding me he exists! ;-)

[Hamlette]

8. yeah, but they still believe in the Jesus came to America thingie...n/t

[Gwerlain]

9. yeah, but they still believe in the jesus thingie... n/t

[Selatius]

10. Joseph Smith, Jr., is a religious nutjob.

If I came up to you on the street and said that God and Jesus personally told me that Christianity is off on the wrong track and that you should follow me in resurrecting a "real" church, you would call me a nutjob because a) if God is all powerful, he could've easily told all of us at the same time instead of just me and b) for offering nothing but hearsay evidence for you, not concrete evidence of what God wants and c) you would think anybody who thinks God speaks to them directly is hearing voices based on the understanding that a relationship with God is generally a one-way relationship, not a two-way one.

[trotsky]

12. The plates! Don't forget the magic plates!

Direct from God! I, uh, lost them, but trust me, this is what they said.

[Phrogman]

11. I've about fucking had it with Mormons where I live

They've targeted my Wife with their bullshit and she's starting to act weird.

I'm about to tell em' where to stick it.

[Realityhack]

18. Have you seen this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRmC0DaE6rE

Sorry about them bugging you.

[bryant69]

13. There's some pretty big hoops they'd have to jump through

to make that work. Presumably it has about much connection to regular Mormonism as the polygamists do.

Bryant

[Goblinmonger]

14. Here's what I don't get

Can I get a list of religions it is OK to mock. Because if I say something bad about mainline Christianity or other "regular" religions, I get jumped on as an uppity atheist.

But apparently there are religions I can mock here on DU. Mormons appear to be one. The Quiverfull movement is another.

So, can theists on here please give me a list so I know where I stand.

And in case you don't get the sub-text: Mormonism ain't no more stupid than any other religion.

[Silent3]

15. Damn, I hadn't heard of "Quiverfull" until you mentioned it here...

...which, looking it up on Wikipedia, lead me to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_Muffins">"Prairie Muffins" as well. 'Tis a strange and often scary world we live in.

If I'd heard someone say "Prairie Muffin" before this without any context, I'd have guessed it was either offensive slang for a rural female viewed as a sex object, or a euphemism for something like bison droppings.

[bryant69]

16. Thank you for that

I think it's because Momons tend to be Republican in great numbers. Such that there are relatively few Mormons who participate at DU or in Liberal politics. Not many people are going to get upset at mocking Mormons. On the other hand there even though most Southern Baptists (to pick a religion at random) might be Republican, there's probably still quite a few who are of that faith.

Bryant

[Realityhack]

19. Don't forget...

there are a number of ex-mormons here so there is a certain amount of 'used to be one so I can critisize it' going on as well.

I gota go with the view that it isn't really much sillier than other religions.

[Realityhack]

20. If they walk this talk...

We view political activity by religious institutions only valid insofar as their attempts to remain viable and legitimate within society are concerned; we do not condone or support Church-based political activity designed to influence laws outside of this concern.

Then it isn't as bad as most of what is out there.

course thats easy for a small loose association of people to say. Kindof hard for them to flex political muscle the way the LDS church does.