I’m a Mormon, So…

Chel Owens

I’m a Mormon, so I do not gamble.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

All bets are off in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No lottery, slots, betting, Craps, or Texas Hold ‘Em. We are even discouraged from friendly betting or casual games of poker -or, at least, were as children by our parents- just to be safe.

We’re advised to avoid all forms of gambling in order to avoid its addictive and destructive side effects.

Gambling is motivated by a desire to get something for nothing. This desire is spiritually destructive. It leads participants away from the Savior’s teachings of love and service and toward the selfishness of the adversary. It undermines the virtues of work and thrift and the desire to give honest effort in all we do.

LDS General Handbook, “Gambling”

Utah is the only state in these United States of America to not allow ANY form of gambling.

©2022 Chel Owens

……

Technically, we Mormons are officially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are to drop any name but that. Since many still run with the nickname of ‘Mormon,’ however, I will keep pace.

My other note is that I will keep to official doctrinal practices. I will add my own application of them, especially in response to comments.

My final note is that I LOVE discussing anything I write. Don’t be rude, obviously, but any and all queries or responses are welcome.

My final note beyond the final note is that I do not seek to convert anyone. I ought to, but am motivated by forming connections, answering curiosity, and straightening pictures. So, you’re safe.

61 thoughts on “I’m a Mormon, So…”

  2. We’ve stumbled upon some common ground here! There is a bit of Presbyterian and Methodist influence in my past, though I bluntly refuse to give any credit to those institutions in terms of my anti-gambling stance. I abhor any form of gambling on the grounds that it is based entirely upon greed and, as your team points out, the foolish wish to ‘get something for nothing’.
    To further enrage my senses it is (here in Australia, anyway) actively promoted by governments as a form of tax revenue …. conveniently overlooking statistical evidence that it does more social damage than illicit drugs.

    But just like all the other ethical edicts issued by religious leadership one does not need God’s direction to see the sense in avoiding gambling. Similarly, it seems unlikely that, when Moses came stumbling down Mt Sinai and solemnly announced God’s decision that ‘Thou shall not kill’ the populous responded with, “Gee, really? I never would have thought of that one!”

    Common sense is all that’s required. One might argue that common sense itself is a gift from God (though perhaps not evenly dished out) but then one is left with the question of why He would supply us with something that renders his own existence as preposterous.

    But I suppose that’s a debate for another day.

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    1. I heartily believe we would need no God if each person behaved by set rules and possessed common sense. Then again, even within those parameters, the ‘set rules’ shift according to social climate more than logic or future health of humanity.

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      1. Hmmmm …. so are you suggesting that God exists because we need Him? That He is a function of our need? Perhaps the we created God in our own image (rather than the other way around) to be a perfect version of ourselves? An impossible standard with which to compare ourselves? We may be on more common ground than I thought!

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        1. Not precisely. I’m suggesting that one’s idea of God exists according to how he or she is able to relate to and understand God -including atheists.

          I’m not so cynical as to say such persons must be narcissist or egotistical as to name Him only as they see themselves. At least, not currently although I have approached such ideas in the past.

          I’m sure you and I agree on many things! 🙂

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          1. Fair enough. I can see a case there for arguing that God is an internal experience – a sort of mental/spiritual experience (as apposed as a figment of the imagination) and that the church, therefore, is a little more than an accumulation of experience from over the eons (but a valuable reference nonetheless).
            The question remains of any sort of ‘entity’ which we might choose to call God.
            The Mormons, I understand, are awaiting the second coming – but it could be that the second coming is not an event referenced to time, but rather the constant evolutionary change of understanding

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            1. Interesting idea. I see that “internal experience” as the Holy Ghost and have felt very distinct directions or instincts from it that I cannot wish away as my own imaginings. Thus is my reasonings and one of many reasons I originally phrased that I know God exists. Whatever He is, precisely, and can do, precisely, and knows, precisely, is what everyone debates about.

              And you are correct about that Second Coming. It is the time that Jesus Christ will return to Earth and take the righteous souls with Him. I believe other faiths refer to it as The Rapture. What sort of “change of understanding” do you propose?

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              1. I am not proposing anything, but suggesting rather that those awaiting a second coming may be disappointed if they imagine that being an event on, for example, July 24th 2076. Some might be better to discard their concept of time and see a second coming as having already occurred, currently occurring and yet to occur simultaneously.
                Needless to say (I hope) I view the first coming as mythology rather than fact and therefore freed from the bonds of time. A second coming would, therefore, be similarly free of such limitations.
                Even in mythology, very few people noticed Jesus Christ the first time, and even fewer will the second time.

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  4. I agree with you on gambling. During family gatherings we sometimes play card games (like Hearts), but there is no betting involved. I sometimes wonder if this is a good thing.

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  6. Gambling, other than betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery, is prohibited in Thailand. The prohibition dates back to the Gambling Act 1935…Go figure!

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  8. I have found this series quite enlightening, Chel, mainly because you explain the logic behind the beliefs. I was raised Catholic, but some teachings seemed incongruent with what I thought it meant to be a Christian. When Catholics commit sins, they typically go to confession and ask for God’s forgiveness.

    What is the Mormon practice for those that violate their teachings?

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    1. Thanks, Pete. I’m actually trying to work on writing that one… I got started a few week’s ago, then realized I needed to provide more background.

      If you sin, it’s between you and God -unless it’s a serious sin like murder. In that case, you need to go to your bishop (like a priest) and then make restitution and accept the judgment of a special council regarding your membership and what you’ll need to do.

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      2. That’s interesting. You seem to be suggesting that there is some sort of sliding scale when it comes to sin and that we, as humans, are expected to implicitly understand the relative seriousness. Because, let’s face it, God has not been completely transparent about all this.

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          1. I didn’t think God was big on stoning at all. I might be wrong there, of course, but it certainly seems to have faded in popularity more recently.
            And I really don’t think God has ever been all that transparent about anything. Even for a believer I think much of this remains a beautiful mystery.

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              1. Ha ha! Yes, you may be right! A lucky dip! Perhaps a lot depends on what sort of mood God is in on the day you arrive to atone for your sins.
                I think Kurt Vonnegut suggested that the first thing he planned to say at that meeting was, “I’m sorry God, but you really didn’t give us enough information.”

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    2. Whoops …. I hit the send button too soon. If I was, for example, to notice, with a little hint of lust, while glancing over the back fence, the attractiveness of my neighbour’s wife in her bikini (and to momentarily covet her) then I might chide myself and work upon suppressing such feelings in the future. But if I were to let things get out of hand and an act of adultery were to result would it then be time for a serious fireside chat with the bishop? As I say, God seems a bit unclear on the matter.

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      1. One can only assume such specifics were in books not currently in circulation. 🙂

        We have an official handbook of instructions for dealing with such things, and that handbook was recently made public.

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  9. Never been a gambler and I can see the ideology regarding something for nothing, but what about games like pass the parcel etc. These also fit the explanation.

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  10. Wow…Only one state outlaws gambling. I myself watched my parents waste money on the lottery growing up, they were both obsessed with notebooks filled with number combinations. I will occasionally albeit rarely play the Powerball (a multi state lottery), but only ever buy one ticket. I used to enjoy playing the slots when actual coins came out. Now it’s simulated noise with a paper voucher. The thrill is gone. That’s the extent of my gambling.

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    1. Yeah… Hawaii outlaws all but one, so it’s often lumped with Utah. And only two states allow casinos, apparently.

      The way you do it is the way to go. I can’t believe they’ve just got a simulated noise now; how lame!

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          1. Yuppies I was grateful there was a large empty bucket nearby lol…that’s another thing…I usually played coin slots penny-nickle-dime-quarter now you have to use your debit/credit card with a $10 minimum play

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    1. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, “Utah is now 60.68% Latter-day Saint. This stat relies on state population estimates and could change after the official 2020 Census count.”

      The early Mormons settled this area and founded many towns in what are now surrounding states.

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  12. I’ll buy the occasional Powerball ticket when it gets to be a really big number, which might be once or twice a year.

    I also will bet on March Madness, but all the proceeds go to charity, so I don’t think that’s gambling…

    but as far as casinos are concerned, I’ve spent perhaps $5 my whole life inside a casino…

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