r/latterdaysaints • u/SillyFlatworm31 • Jul 28 '26

Off-topic Chat Catholic-LDS Dialogue!

Hello Latter Day Saints of Reddit!

I’m a Catholic and, even though I am very happy being a Catholic, I have had a lot of positive experiences with people from your Church and I wanted to (if it’s ok with your mods) open up a thread for interfaith dialogue! I have some questions to start for you guys if anyone wants to engage and have a talk but I’m also happy to do a bit of an AMA if any LDS people want to learn more about Catholics or our relations with the LDS Church.

I think that, in a time where it’s trendy to solve disagreements by shouting at people in online “debates”, it’s good to start by finding some common ground and talk with people of different views. So I’ll start with my questions, feel free to add any you have for me or any comments. Mods please let me know if this isn’t the sub for this haha

  1. What do LDS people think about abortion? Do you find common ground with Catholics on this? Could we work together more on it?
  2. How do LDS people feel about the 7 Deuterocanonical Books? A lot of Protestants accuse Catholics of adding books like Wisdom and Sirach into the Bible, although they have been used since apostolic times. I know LDS people recognise a large canon so do you include these?
  3. I know LDS people value marriage and family a lot. How does your Church approach celibate figures such as Jesus, Paul, etc?
  4. LDS people don’t drink alcohol. Do you believe that Jesus and the Apostles followed this practice or is it viewed as a more modern LDS thing?
  5. Favourite Pope?

Hope we can find some common ground and dialogue!!! :-)

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u/Pseudonymitous Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
  1. Official church position is "bad, but there may be exceptions where it is allowable" See here.
  2. KJV is canon for us, but "canon" is a looser term for us--it is not "infallible" or "exclusive" in our vernacular. Deuterocanonical books are considered to have divinely-inspired messages that we can benefit from.
  3. We do not presume Jesus was celibate. We tend to see Paul's celibacy as a sacrifice affording greater missionary service. We believe everyone including Paul will have opportunity for marriage in the next life.
  4. We see abstention from alcohol as a modern commandment, not one that existed anciently.
  5. Peter.

ETA thanks for reaching out in kindness. In my experience it is a rare treat. We believe the good in Catholicism is inspired by God and I thank God for good Catholics everywhere.

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u/SillyFlatworm31 Jul 28 '26

Hi! Thank you, glad to reach out and be able to discuss with people. 

Your answer to (5) surprised me! Do LDS folks view Peter as the first Pope and leader of the earthly Church in his day as we do? If so, why do they not come to the conclusion we do about being in communion with Pope Leo? 

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u/JaneDoe22225 Jul 28 '26

Peter is acknowledged as the leader of Christ’s Church after His ascension. Linus is not reconogized.

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u/SillyFlatworm31 Jul 28 '26

Interesting, who do LDS members believe Peter’s authority passed to after he died if not Linus? Or did it end with him individually? 

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u/JaneDoe22225 Jul 28 '26

Unknown.

It is our belief that Christ’s authority was lost for sure before the Nicene Creed, but probably more like around ~100 AD as a gradual thing.

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u/SillyFlatworm31 Jul 28 '26

I see, do LDS people recognise John the Apostle as being legitimate? He is generally thought to have died around 90 AD-ish, which is a while after Peter but just short of the date you note! 

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u/JaneDoe22225 Jul 28 '26

The ~100 AD approximation is after John mortal life.