Do Mormons Believe in a Loving God?

They do. I, however, do not believe him to be loving at all. I have several reasons for that starting with.
- sexual assault victims that the church continues to try and cover up.
- racism and how they continue to try and change things.
- sexist. How people still try to tell me the church isn't. Also, how can a loving God be such a cruel Father to his LGBTQ+ kids?!
- so many more

Ask me about these, and I can give you clear answers.

scubasteven1013

Yes and no. Mormons teach and testify that Mormon god is a loving heavenly father who wants nothing more than for his children (everyone, everywhere, in every era) to return to his presence. Mormon god has provided a plan to accomplish this objective, which is often referred to as either the "plan of happiness" or "plan of salvation." The core pillar of this plan is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ; which consists of exercising faith in Jesus Christ and in his teachings, repenting and seeking restitution for all wrongdoings that one has committed, being baptized by one holding proper authority and priesthood to perform the ordinance, receiving the gift of the "holy ghost" and listening to its promptings, and enduring to the end which involves consistent faith, repentance, worshiping at church, worshiping in the temple, keeping the commandments, etc.

On paper this doesn't sound all that unreasonable or complex. Watered down, it is a promise that if you follow this divinely appointed program you will return to Mormon god with your family.

However, what is to many a divine path can quickly turn into a nightmare for others. For example, what happens to someone who doesn't do everything outlined in the plan of salvation? In short, they are cast out and unable to live with their family and loved ones in the afterlife.

The Mormon church preaches that families CAN be together forever, not that they WILL be together forever. This is often the justification that believing members adopt when attempting to reactivate those who have left the church. From their perspective they are acting out of love and care for your well-being; but in reality they are acting out of fear due to a divinely given threat that Mormon god will separate families in the afterlife if every box isn't checked.

As a father myself, I would never cast out my own children for one second, let alone all of eternity. I'm a better father than that.

Mormon god is less like a loving heavenly father and more like a mob boss who threatens, "that's sure a nice family you got there.... it would be a shame if anything were to happen to them."

curtishartley

They think they do. Even growing up I always believed Satan was a better character than God. God's love always felt conditional to some degree when I was growing up and now that I'm out I realize how conditional it actually is. The Mormon Jesus definitely isn't a loving God, but Mormons will for sure try to claim he is.

bakiraka01

No. Not at all.
The mormon god is one who will cut you off from your family for all eternity if you ever leave him.
The mormon god is one that will ask everything from you, and in return give you nothing but less of the things you already had.
The mormon god is one who asks you to accept living in perpetual misery for the promise of a happy future you will never see.

layhandsondeez

It took more than a few years and a series of epiphanies for me to finally find the courage to leave Mormonism. A key moment happened during an institute class about the kingdoms of heaven.
The lesson was about how our short time on earth had eternal consequences. Eternity is a long, endless string and our time on earth is a tiny speck on that string. I heard this many times before, but this teacher had formerly been a Southern Baptist. He emphasized the hellfire and brimstone angle. No matter how much we grew and progressed in eternity, we would always be limited in what level of heaven we could advance to due to the mistakes we made during our very short mortal life.
It's an anxiety-inducing idea that puts maximum pressure on people to obey the church and conform to god's supposed laws. This time, I realized how horribly cruel that idea is. Why would any god punish me for endless eternity, no matter how much I change, progress and grow spiritually in the future? What would be the point of limiting me eternally for some stupid mistake made in mortal life, no matter how hard I try to find forgiveness?
I realized I couldn't believe in a god so unjustly cruel and vindictive. The mormon version of god is an asshole. If that god is real, I'd rather join satan and his angels in rebellion.

Anonymous

Mormons believe in a God who rules through absolute conformity and control. Their God cares more about a woman's sleeve length and wearing dresses to church than the member's well-being. They believe families can be separated from each other for eternity for a multitude of reasons, much outside of anyone's control. They believe in rules, regulations, and secret handshakes to get into heaven more than simply being a good person. I found nothing loving or forgiving about the Mormon God.

maisy220

They try to, but all in all, the god they believe in is toxic.

kingofweird

One of the first things I did when I began organizing my thoughts on deconstruction was write an essay called “The Benevolent Extortionist”. 

Mormons believe in a loving god. They also have a very skewed interpretation of what love is. 

ashmonster2000

No, because the mormon god is the LDS Church. Think about it--for most mormons, and certainly for the leadership, the institution of the church is their idol. They testify that "the church is true." The church is what they cling to, what they obey.

frank

They claim to. As with most religions though, they don't.

serene

No. Mormons believe in an abusive parent. A parent who will love his children unconditionally. . . but will also lovingly separate them from everyone they love if they don't do what they're supposed to.

Anonymous

Not if they believe every word and story in the Book of Mormon. Would a loving God kill thousands of men, women and children like it's written in Third Nephi, 8?

Brent Hale

I think Mormons believe in God in two different ways. The first one is the brainwashed one, the explanation they give if asked about a loving God, and that is yes, they believe God is all forgiving and loving. But in a doctrine way and or a control way, they believe God is wrathful and pretty elitist.

emae423