I'm interested in learning early LDS beliefs. Where do I begin?'

[rosenotes]

Hi ❤️ I'm a non denominational Christian and admittedly I lean towards the sola scriptura perspective quite often. Recently though, I've felt a desire to learn more about the LDS faith.

I'm looking for some advice on where to begin. I want to understand and learn the faith as it was originally taught and practiced. Not the water down version as most other religions appear to do these days.

Also, I'm a supporter of plural marriage, which sort of adds to my skepticism of modern church teachings. 

Any advice on where to start for what I'm looking for specifically? 

[teddyaware]

1 hour ago, rosenotes said:

Hi ❤️ I'm a non denominational Christian and admittedly I lean towards the sola scriptura perspective quite often. Recently though, I've felt a desire to learn more about the LDS faith.

I'm looking for some advice on where to begin. I want to understand and learn the faith as it was originally taught and practiced. Not the water down version as most other religions appear to do these days.

Also, I'm a supporter of plural marriage, which sort of adds to my skepticism of modern church teachings. 

Any advice on where to start for what I'm looking for specifically? 

By far, the best place to start is to read and ponder the Book of Mormon with a prayerful heart and an open mind. Also, it must be said that the official website of the Church is the greatest overall resource for those who have a sincere desire to learn about the teachings of the church, including the Book of Mormon. Tap the ‘Libraries’ prompt at the top of the home page and a veritable world of discovery is waiting for you. Here’s the link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng 

Edited 20 hours ago by teddyaware

[3DOP]

2 hours ago, rosenotes said:

Hi ❤️ I'm a non denominational Christian and admittedly I lean towards the sola scriptura perspective quite often. Recently though, I've felt a desire to learn more about the LDS faith.

I'm looking for some advice on where to begin. I want to understand and learn the faith as it was originally taught and practiced. Not the water down version as most other religions appear to do these days.

Also, I'm a supporter of plural marriage, which sort of adds to my skepticism of modern church teachings. 

Any advice on where to start for what I'm looking for specifically? 

Being non denomination sola scriptura, do you arrive at support for polygamy now? Or like virtually every Christian, do you acknowledge its toleration only in ancient times, the "times of ignorance which God winked at."

You will have a hard time sharing a husband with your fellow wives with any Christians anywhere except the tiniest Sola Scriptura community today rosenotes. You might find some sick pud who welcomes you on the side without telling his wife. I hope you wouldn't want that kind of "husband".

[manol]

4 hours ago, rosenotes said:

 I want to understand and learn the faith as it was originally taught and practiced. Not the water down version as most other religions appear to do these days.

Also, I'm a supporter of plural marriage, which sort of adds to my skepticism of modern church teachings. 

Any advice on where to start for what I'm looking for specifically? 

I agree with @teddyaware.  Start with the Book of Mormon.

I say this not as a faithful member (which Teddy is), but rather as someone who is no long affiliated with the LDS Church nor any other religion.  And also as someone whose journey has included living as a serious investigator among two different groups that supported plural marriage.  Whether you end up concluding that the modern LDS Church or some other group is the most authentic, it traces back to the Book of Mormon either way.

And even today many of the teachings I encountered within the LDS Church, and in particular within the Book of Mormon, continue to inform my seeking. 

Edited 18 hours ago by manol

[Nero]

4 hours ago, rosenotes said:

Hi ❤️ I'm a non denominational Christian and admittedly I lean towards the sola scriptura perspective quite often. Recently though, I've felt a desire to learn more about the LDS faith.

I'm looking for some advice on where to begin. I want to understand and learn the faith as it was originally taught and practiced. Not the water down version as most other religions appear to do these days.

Also, I'm a supporter of plural marriage, which sort of adds to my skepticism of modern church teachings. 

Any advice on where to start for what I'm looking for specifically? 

Not the watered down version of the original? Originaly there was polygamy including minors and already married woman and black people where black because they got burned by the fires of hell and were not welcome in the church and for many years and not allowed to ascend. The US goernment hunted them so they fled to Utah where gold made them rich and there were many firefights.

The old original mormons had firearms an would fight for survival and their belief...

Sorry my dear mormon mates but she asked for it.

[rosenotes]

2 hours ago, teddyaware said:

By far, the best place to start is to read and ponder the Book of Mormon with a prayerful heart and an open mind. Also, it must be said that the official website of the Church is the greatest overall resource for those who have a sincere desire to learn about the teachings of the church, including the Book of Mormon. Tap the ‘Libraries’ prompt at the top of the home page and a veritable world of discovery is waiting for you. Here’s the link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng 

Thank you 😊 I have started reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it as well. I downloaded the gospel library app. I just wasn't sure if that was the best resource.

[rosenotes]

1 hour ago, 3DOP said:

Being non denomination sola scriptura, do you arrive at support for polygamy now? Or like virtually every Christian, do you acknowledge its toleration only in ancient times, the "times of ignorance which God winked at."

You will have a hard time sharing a husband with your fellow wives with any Christians anywhere except the tiniest Sola Scriptura community today rosenotes. You might find some sick pud who welcomes you on the side without telling his wife. I hope you wouldn't want that kind of "husband".

I believe that both plural and monogamous marriages are valid in the eyes of God. I came to this conclusion based on studying scripture for what I believe it actually says, and not what is being taught by society or religions.

Most refuse to see it as anything other than sinful. It's an easy way for me to sort through who, at the very least, has a basic understanding of what scripture actually says.

I never said I was personally looking for a husband. I certainly don't have any interest in being someone's mistress or supporting a man who cheats and lies to his wife. And I don't even know what a "pud," is lol  

[manol]

@rosenotes, thirty-something years ago when I was an active member of the LDS Church I suddenly wanted to understand my adopted heritage (I was a convert).  Here are some of the books I found useful:

1. "Saints", by Orson Scott Card (author of "Ender's Game").  Imo superb historical novel set in the time of Joseph Smith.  Plural marriage, or "the Principle", is one of the topics that comes up in the life of the main character, a woman from England who moves to the United States.  This book sent me on a quest to find out if some of the things described therein actually happened, so I turned to several historical sources and found a lot of confirmation. 

2.  “Joseph Smith, the First Mormon” by Donna Hill

3.  “No Man Knows My History” by Fawn Brodie. Often characterized as “anti-Mormon”, but I didn't see it that way. 

I also read two or three books which were collections of journal entries of early Mormon women.  One of them was "Women of Nauvoo", but I can't remember the names of the other(s). 

I would characterize these sources as "plural-marriage-friendly" or "plural-marriage-neutral".   

[webbles]

4 hours ago, Nero said:

Not the watered down version of the original? Originaly there was polygamy including minors and already married woman and black people where black because they got burned by the fires of hell and were not welcome in the church and for many years and not allowed to ascend. The US goernment hunted them so they fled to Utah where gold made them rich and there were many firefights.

The old original mormons had firearms an would fight for survival and their belief...

Sorry my dear mormon mates but she asked for it.

Gold made the mormons rich?  I'd love to see a source for that.  Because Utah never really had a gold rush or boom.  Park City area had a mining boom but that was mostly silver, and those who mined there were usually at odds with the church.

[rosenotes]

4 hours ago, manol said:

@rosenotes, thirty-something years ago when I was an active member of the LDS Church I suddenly wanted to understand my adopted heritage (I was a convert).  Here are some of the books I found useful:

1. "Saints", by Orson Scott Card (author of "Ender's Game").  Imo superb historical novel set in the time of Joseph Smith.  Plural marriage, or "the Principle", is one of the topics that comes up in the life of the main character, a woman from England who moves to the United States.  This book sent me on a quest to find out if some of the things described therein actually happened, so I turned to several historical sources and found a lot of confirmation. 

2.  “Joseph Smith, the First Mormon” by Donna Hill

3.  “No Man Knows My History” by Fawn Brodie. Often characterized as “anti-Mormon”, but I didn't see it that way. 

I also read two or three books which were collections of journal entries of early Mormon women.  One of them was "Women of Nauvoo", but I can't remember the names of the other(s). 

I would characterize these sources as "plural-marriage-friendly" or "plural-marriage-neutral".   

Thank you ❤️ I really appreciate your recommendations. I'm excited to read them. 

[Nero]

4 hours ago, webbles said:

Gold made the mormons rich?  I'd love to see a source for that.  Because Utah never really had a gold rush or boom.  Park City area had a mining boom but that was mostly silver, and those who mined there were usually at odds with the church.

They sent expeditions to another nearby state and got the gold from there. Was it California? Just look it up it is no secret. It is also the richest church on earth and they are so greedy that even the 18 year old missionaries have to pay the church tax so they are poor. Mormons will be quick to tell you about all the charity they do. Which is partially true, its just that, they have billions and give away a couple millions. In % its the same as me giving 5$ to some bum.

 

The church leadeers say that they need the money to survive the apocalypse. haha.

[webbles]

5 hours ago, Nero said:

They sent expeditions to another nearby state and got the gold from there. Was it California? Just look it up it is no secret. It is also the richest church on earth and they are so greedy that even the 18 year old missionaries have to pay the church tax so they are poor. Mormons will be quick to tell you about all the charity they do. Which is partially true, its just that, they have billions and give away a couple millions. In % its the same as me giving 5$ to some bum.

 

The church leadeers say that they need the money to survive the apocalypse. haha.

Ok, I think you might have your history confused.  It seems like you are thinking about the Mormon Battalion which was actually there at Sutter's Fort when gold was first found in California.  But they weren't sent to get gold.  They were sent to help out with the American-Mexican war and the wages for that were to help pay for things (this was right after they were kicked out of Nauvoo).  When they reached California (going through New Mexico and Arizona), they were then disbanded (by the US government because the war was over) and they stayed in California to make some money before they headed back to find the other pioneers.  That was when they were involved in the discover of gold.  They did find some gold and did bring it back to Utah but it didn't really make the Mormons rich.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Battalion for a decent rundown.

Based on what you've written, I think you have a very superficial understanding of the history but have a bunch of things confused or mixed up.  There's nuggets of truth in what you said but a lot of incorrect assumptions.  For example, you just said "It is also the richest church on earth" which is wrong.  The Catholic church wins by a landslide.