Comments on: The Central Religious Experience of Mormonism

By: Paradox

Paradox — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:08:28 +0000

You can sum up the answer in one word: Progression

That’s the entire purpose of the Plan of Salvation.

By: matt b

matt b — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:27:51 +0000

You’re welcome, Adam.

By: Floyd the Wonderdog

Floyd the Wonderdog — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:30:54 +0000

“Central religious experience”?

Seems that it would be the revelation of God to us individually. The revelation that He is and cares for us. That is to me the first message of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. We can also receive that message for ourselves. It serves as a foundation upon which all other religious experiences and lessons are based.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:20:15 +0000

You’re welcome, Adam. We aim to please.

By: Geoff J

Geoff J — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:39:27 +0000

You’re very welcome Adam. (I also enjoy my comments immensely)

By: Brad Kramer

Brad Kramer — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:32:56 +0000

Let me also just say, you’re welcome Adam.

By: gst

gst — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:14:08 +0000

The central religious experience of Mormonism is pon farr.

Hope this helps.

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:06:02 +0000

I expected that the comments would be the good part of the thread. Expectations met. Thanks.

By: Wilfried

Wilfried — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:20:19 +0000

It probably also depends on the definition of “experience”. The experience of doctrine? Of ordinance? Of commandment? Of interpersonal relations? Is there not a good chance that we define the “central” experience as our own beloved topic in the Gospel? E.g., emphasizing the “achievement of Godhood in family” as the central one may be valid for many of us, but less or even painful for those who are single. These people may focus on other priorities to experience Gospel centrality. And shouldn’t we respect that choice?

If the focus is on commandment, Christ said the “greatest commandment” is: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

By: Paul S

Paul S — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:43:19 +0000

I guess I should say the central experience should be the weekly sacrament meeting and our interaction with the Atonement. From the above comments, it seems clear this is not the case. However, I think we do ourselves a disservice when we put other events/aspects of our religion above the Atonement. Or when we think the Atonement is implied, no need to mention it–instead let’s focus on what separates us from mainline or traditional Christianity. In fact, I think this is one main contributing factor to other religions viewing us as non-Christian. We too often take the Atonement for granted in our discourse, choosing instead to focus on what makes us distinct (though I would argue that our restored knowledge of the Atonement and authority to perform ordinances that enable us to enjoy the power of the Atonement in our lives is what makes us distinct–truly a spark to a moribund Christianity).