10 of the Most Bizarre Mormon Beliefs - Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints

While most religious traditions have beliefs that6. In cases of the sin of murder, the murder of
are considered bizarre by those outside that faith,the sinner and the mixing of his blood with the
Mormons seem to have the most beliefs that areearth bring forgiveness. In 1977 after the U.S.
routinely rejected by non-Mormons because ofSupreme Court reinstated the death penalty,
their oddness or their ability to be disproved. HereGary Gilmore chose to be executed by firing
is a countdown of 10 of the most unusualsquad in Utah due to his belief in blood atonement.
Mormon beliefs.5. In 1960, The Prophet Spencer W. Kimball taught
10. The earth is 7,000 years old. There is nothat when Native Americans become Mormons
official statement by the Church of Jesus Christtheir skin turns white. He said "The [Indian] children
of Latter Day Saints about the age of the earth,in the home placement program in Utah are often
but many Mormons (and many Christians oflighter than their brothers and sisters in the
some sects) believe that the age of the earth ishogans on the reservation."
on the order of thousands of years rather than4. Also on the subject of Native Americans, the
billions calculated by widely accepted scientificpreface to the Book of Mormon from 1981
methods.indicates that descendents of Lehi are a "remnant
9. Mars and Venus have dry rivers. The dry riversof the House of Israel" and were ancestors to
on Mars and Venus were the source of theAmerican Indians. However, the DNA of Native
flowing rivers on earth. The theory is that the dryAmericans indicates an Asian origin.
rivers on Mars and Venus "match" the rivers on3. When a marriage is sealed in the Temple, a
Earth and that proves that all three planets werehusband can know his wife's celestial name, but
organized from the same source.she cannot know his. This is so that if he so
8. Dinosaur bones come from other planets. LDSchooses, he can resurrect her after her death by
Church Institute instructors teach that fossilizedcalling her celestial name.
dinosaur bones are from creatures that lived on2. Mormons believe that after the resurrection,
other worlds that were destroyed in the creationJesus visited America and there he performed
of the earth.miracles and taught.
7. Mormon scripture teaches that Cain, who killed1. Kolub is a star mentioned in the Book of
his brother Abel, was so evil that God "cursed"Abraham as being closest to the throne of God.
him with black skin, thus creating the African race.The Book of Abraham is canonized by the LDS
In a related belief, though the LDS church haschurch, Mormon fundamentalist organizations, and
deemed any worthy male to be part of theother LDS sects. Kolub inspired "Kobol" in Mormon
priesthood, black males were not recognized inGlen A. Larson's Battlestar Galactica universe.
this capacity until 1978.