Category: Mormon Myths

Mormons have commonly been accused of all sorts of strangeness, some bordering on the hilarious, with others more grounded in reality. We’ll examine some of these urban legends or “myths” here.

  1. Boyd K. Packer’s Home Ward Talk

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on October 22nd, 2008 Categories: Mormon Myths Comments: 0

    Recently a transcript of a talk purported to have been given by Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve in his home ward of Forest Bend has been circulating the Internet via email as well as being posted on various forums. The email starts out like this:

    I am not one to forward emails, but my Mom sent me this today and It really hit home.  Elder Packer is in her ward and yesterday asked the bishop if he could speak in place of testimony meeting.  Someone in her ward took notes and emailed his talk to her.  … Read the rest of this entry »

  2. Do Mormons believe that God had sex with Mary?

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on September 23rd, 2008 Categories: Anti-Mormonism, Mormon Myths Comments: 77

    No. Mormons do not believe any such thing. This is a myth perpetuated by anti-Mormons in order to make the Mormon church look like a bunch of crazy lunatics. We believe that Mary was a virgin before and after she gave birth to Jesus as stated in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 11:18-20:

    And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she … Read the rest of this entry »

  3. Do Mormons have horns?

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on September 18th, 2008 Categories: Mormon Myths Comments: 4

    “No, but we do have pianos and guitars.” is one way Mormons might respond to this question. Or Mormons might say “Yes, just feel my head right here” and invite the questioner to touch some part of their scalp. They would then ask “Do you feel anything?”

    “No”

    “Nothing?”

    “No”

    “Not even a little stupid?”

    But in all seriousness, I searched for a whole five minutes online and I couldn’t find out where the idea that Mormons have horns originated. I’m not even sure anyone outside of Mormons have ever heard of this. It could be an urban legend … Read the rest of this entry »

  4. The Book of Mormon condemns polygamy

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on September 18th, 2008 Categories: Mormon Myths, Polygamy Comments: 41

    Just for the record, Mormons don’t practice polygamy. About 25-30%% of Mormons back around 1880 practiced polygamy. It hasn’t been practiced by Mormons for over 100 years. If you heard something on the news about Mormons practicing polygamy, either the news is mistaken and is accidentally calling someone who isn’t a Mormon a Mormon, or somebody is calling themselves a Mormon when they really aren’t. If a Mormon were caught practicing polygamy today they’d be excommunicated right away.

    Ok, that said, some critics of the Mormon church try and say that parts of the Book of Mormon condemn polygamy, that … Read the rest of this entry »