Wow. This is all so interesting! I'm starting to see just how lax we Southern Baptists *can be- don't flame me!!!!* when it comes to who can do what and when. But, I've noticed that many die-hard Southern Baptists are travel agents for guilt trips.

And the whole confirmation/baptism thing... I was baptised into the Baptist church at age 7. I thought you could be "confirmed" into the church at any age, but maybe that's just because I'm not too familiar with how Catholics and Mormons operate (or many other protestant faiths, either).

That's exactly what happens :) Actually, it's usually what happens even if the majority of your guests are LDS. You have the ceremony (called Sealing) in a special room in the temple, witnessed only by a very few people. Then, you leave the temple, and some people have a ring ceremony (what most non-LDS would think of as a normal ceremony) for the guests, because that's not something that is included in the temple ceremony. Then you can go whereever for your reception and party the night away.

Sure... here are a bunch that have been recommended to me. Some are actual websites by the church, some are not.
http://www.lds.org (the official site of the church, has some good FAQs but is currently under construction)
http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/frmain.htm (non-official site, but a pretty good start to answer questions)
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/98/story_9838_1.html (good site about all religions)
http://www.cc.utah.edu/~nahaj/Mormon/ (non-official site)


I don't know anything about confirmation, so I can't go there. Mormon children who are raised in the faith are generally baptized around age 8, but it's not uncommon for it to be later.

As far as some of the other questions, I don't feel qualified to answer, so I pass to my more knowledgealbe friends :)

Yes I am a practicing Catholic. When I was growing up, I didnt have my confirmation until I was 18 (just a few short years ago).
As GeekyPenguin said .

Re: Re: Re: Question for an LDS...
 

Not dumb questions at al! I should have been clearer about the baptisms and the temple thing..you're right about having to be a member to get a recommend. But for children raised in the church, they may be baptized in the temple at age 8 if they decide to do so. They already were members, so they can be baptized there. For converts, baptisms usually take place at a church (a "meetinghouse," not a temple). All of my non-member friends and family who wanted to be at mine could be since it's not the temple, which was great.

As for the comparison to the Catholic practice, I don't know too much about Catholicism but from what you described, this does sound like a parallel.

I just went to a Ring Ceremony last weekend where two of my friends exchanged rings and had a reception at a Country Club in Seattle, the evening after they got sealed in the Seattle temple. I'm pretty sure most of the people there who weren't LDS didn't even realize that another ceremony had already taken place..because the Ring Exchange sounded exactly like any civil ceremony i'd ever heard! But this way, they were able to be sealed in the morning with just a select few people in the sealing room with them, and then include all of their friends and family for the ceremony and reception later in the day. Even though people are LDS and technically "able" to go to a sealing, many couples opt to just have select few other people in the room with them so it's very much just something between the couple. It was only the father and brother of the groom who went in with my friends last weekend, even though all but 2 of the groomsmen and bridesmaids and various cousins, etc. all held recommends. It's every couple's decision for themselves I suppose!

As for sites i'd recommend..those that Ginger listed are a good start..it's amazing the amount of websites with supposed information about the LDS church, sometimes it gets hard to distinguish fact from not. I'd stick to www.mormon.org and www.lds.org if you want the true beliefs of the church (not some random member or non-member's interpretations of the beliefs). There are also some great member sites out there..feel free to PM me if you want help to locate some of those.

So like I said..I don't know a whole lot about the Catholic church..but for anyone on LiveJournal, this is a great community comparing and contrasting LDS and Catholic practices!

http://www.livejournal.com/community/thetruechurch/

and another on mormons..
http://www.livejournal.com/community/mormon/

I have a friend who's catholic that just got confirmed at the age of 21... I think it's kinda a personal decision.
Ok, I have a question there was a fairly large LDS meeting house/temple near my high school that a good number of my classmates attended and I remember them going to some sort of class or something at church super early in the morning, I asked one of my friends what it was... but I don't really recall what he said now, and honestly don't think I completely understood his answer about why he had to go to church early in the morning anyone know ? Also I see a LOT of LDS boys here doing their missions, and I have another friend who was LDS who was kinda torn about doing a mission because he really wanted to just continue his education and be done with his degree in 4 years instead of having to take time off from school to travel and do a mission, and he didn't want to leave his GF at the time either, anyway my question... why is it only men that do a mission ? Also how important is the mission ?, because as I said I know my friend was super torn about it, so I was just kinda wondering what would've happened if he had decided not to do a mission (he did end up doing it...but if he hadn't done it)

Women can do missions, too, but not until they're 21. Men only have to be 19.

I have a somewhat interesting question. My dad is a converted LDS. My parents are separated (mom's definitely not LDS) and neither me nor my sister are LDS. Will my dad be looked down upon because of 1) His divorce and 2) Having non-LDS kids? If you don't want to respond on here, please PM me.

This might be offensive (to some), but every time I see LDS I think of a disease.

-Rudey
--You have LDS? Oh no!!!

I'm Catholic and understand the basis for the seperate ceremonies for a wedding (in terms of Catholic's belief of the Eucharist being the body and blood of Christ)

This will sound STUPID- But are mormons discouraged from kissing before marriage?

Actually, according to the Holy Bible, you really aren't supposed to engage in any lustful activities before marriage, including kissing.

Should we talk about all the other things the Bible says too?

Wait, I shouldn't be able to read and I have to go back to my menstrual hut now! BYE!

I went to HS with two Mormon girls...neither of them went on a mission--cause they both got married before 21! So, when I read that, I chuckled. They both drank a lot--even though the entire school knew, their parents were clueless about it. If someone had hated them, that would have been a funny way to get back at them.

On that note, I read BYU has the highest percentage of married students in an American university. I've also heard that, because of taking time off to do missions, the 4 year graduation rate is pretty low and leads most people to believe that BYU isn't as good a school as it really is.

OH GP! I was answering a question. I don't refrain from kissing at all!!!

I *have heard* they have the highest drop out rate amongst their women students as well... but don't know if this is true or not...