a time to rant
Anyone who is of Wiccan faith, please feel free to correct anything that I said about it.
So, I am a member of a forum board of mostly women and mostly members of the LDS or Mormon religion. One of the women posted this question: "Does the church (LDS) have any information on Wiccan and the church's beliefs of it? I am asking because I just found out someone on our family believes in it."
the first reply and third enraged me.
If you go to http://www.lds.org and do a search for Wicca, you won't find any information. If, however, you do a search for 'witchcraft' you will find some information.
For example, a talk given by Bernard P. Brockbank in 1973 references the following scripture:
All men should know what acts will keep them from entering the kingdom of heaven. According to the apostle Paul, the following works of the flesh will keep a person out of the kingdom of God: “… Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: … they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21.)
Marion G. Romney in 1986 references this scripture:
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Sam. 15:22-23.)
I did not search ALL the links that were brought up, but possibly the most helpful to you would be an article called "The Great Imitator" by James E. Faust, found in the November 1987 Ensign.
Another one that I thought was interesting was titled "Teach Us Tolerance and Love" by Russell M. Nelson in the May 1994 Ensign. This one is more along the lines of what you should perhaps keep in mind while dealing with this problem.
Good luck! There are probably about 20 more links then what I listed if you do the search yourself. :)
that was just the first response. second was the same person and the only thing that I can see even applied to the question at hand.
Ooh, sorry, but I just found one more quote from Gospel Doctrine pages 376 to 377.
The danger and power for evil in witchcraft is not so much in the witchcraft itself as in the foolish credulence that superstitious people give to the claims made in its behalf. It is outrageous to believe that the devil can hurt or injure an innocent man or woman, especially if they are members of the Church of Christ-[unless] that man or woman has faith that he or she can be harmed by such an influence and by such means. If they entertain such an idea, then they are liable to succumb to their own superstitions. There is no power in witchcraft itself, only as it is believed in and accepted.
"There is no power in witchcraft itself, only as it is believed in and accepted." That sounds like faith to me. The LDS religion and a prophet of theirs even states that you must have faith for things to happen. Their "blessing of the sick" can only heal them if they have the faith to be healed. It says that in the formal version of the blessing. Can it be that all religions are the same way? They only have power because we believe in it and give it that power?
Here is the third and it's hellalong: OK, I lied. One more... then I'm going to the store!
Searching the Scriptures:
What the Scriptures Say about Astrology, Divination, Spirit Mediums, Magic, Wizardry, and Necromancy
By Robert J. Matthews
Robert J. Matthews, “What the Scriptures Say about Astrology, Divination, Spirit Mediums, Magic, Wizardry, and Necromancy,” Ensign, Mar. 1974, 26
In recent years there has been increased interest throughout the Western world in the occult and mystical-type religions. This is not a revival of the spirituality characteristic of the ancient patriarchs and prophets of Israel, but is a type of magic and spiritualistic wizardry that the true prophets vigorously opposed. For example, the Lord spake through Moses:
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 19:31.) And also:
“When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
“For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
“Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.
“For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.” (Deut. 18:9-14.)
It is clearly seen from the foregoing passages that belief in astrology, spirit mediums, etc., did not constitute the true religion taught by the prophets and patriarchs, but was characteristic of the false religions practiced by the surrounding nations that had departed from the Lord.
However, the full impact of Moses’ instruction to Israel can only be appreciated by noting the next verse, which reads:
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (Deut. 18:15.)
Thus, the message of the entire passage is that Israel should not look to the fortuneteller and astrologer for spiritual guidance, for the God of heaven will speak to his people through his own appointed servants, the prophets. Moses was one of these prophets.
The passage has also a direct allusion to Christ, of whom all the prophets testified, and who is the ultimate example of a true prophet. Because of the reference to Jesus, we frequently quote verse 15 separately from the other verses, but in doing so we lose the contrast that is made between the false prophets and the true prophets. The pagan superstitions appear to counterfeit the true gifts possessed by the prophets, seers, and revelators whom God had appointed.
Isaiah also discussed this matter:
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to [hear from] the dead?
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:19-20.)
The superiority of the true prophets over the astrologers, the wizards, and the enchanters is illustrated in the experience of Daniel with the Chaldeans:
“Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
“And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream, …
“[But] The thing is gone from me. …
“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
“And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. …
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his. …
“I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and has made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. …
“Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. …” (See Dan. 2:2-28.)
Likewise, Moses and Aaron had greater power than the Egyptian sorcerers. (See Ex. 7:10-12.)
The northern kingdom of Israel did not heed the warnings of the true prophets and so began to practice the false religions of its neighbors, especially as introduced by the wicked queen Jezebel, a Phoenician who was the wife of the Israelite king, Ahab. That these false religions included divination and enchantments is learned from reading 2 Kings 17:16-18:
“And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
“And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and use divination and enchantments and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.” [2 Kgs. 17:16-18]
As a result, Israel soon fell to the strength of the conquering Assyrian army.
Nearly a century later, good King Josiah sponsored a much-needed reform in the southern kingdom of Judah, and we read that he
“… put down the idolatrous priests, … and … them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets. …
“Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.” (2 Kgs. 23:5, 24.)
In New Testament times, while Paul was doing missionary work on the island of Cyprus, Elymas, “a sorcerer, a false prophet” not only withstood Paul’s teaching himself, but sought “to turn away the deputy” [of the island] from the faith. Then Paul, “filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes upon him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:6-10.)
There can be no mistaking how Paul felt about this representative of sorcery.
Later, at Ephesus, Paul’s preaching resulted in a conversion of many people to the gospel of Jesus Christ, insomuch that “… many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” (Acts 19:18-20.)
When these people came into the true fold of the Lord they no longer had any desire or need for the books of the “curious arts” which apparently were the manuals of false religious crafts.
Willful participation in these forms of superstitious worship is sinful, as Samuel the prophet counseled king Saul, “… rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. …” (1 Sam. 15:23.) The Biblical record also shows that when Saul lost the spirit of the Lord, he became involved in spiritualism. (See 1 Sam. 28:1-20.)
And finally, to the Galatians, Paul wrote that “witchcraft” is one of “the works of the flesh,” from which they who have the Spirit of the Lord will turn away. (See Gal. 5:19-21.)
The scriptures show that the enchantments and the spells of the wizard, the medium, and the necromancer are characteristic of the false religions and superstitions of the world, and that those who practice such are actually in competition with the true prophets and apostles. All who are acquainted with the spirit and faith of Jesus Christ will want nothing to do with any form of divination and spiritual wizardry.
another quote to argue from the last line, "All who are acquainted with the spirit and faith of Jesus Christ will want nothing to do with any form of divination..." Oh, really? And that is why the LDS church has prophets that talk to God, that members of that church can get "personal revelations" about their lives and choices they are making or have not even made yet. That is, most assuredly, why they believe in the Bible and in the book of Revelations which specifically states future events which would affect the whole world. /sarcasm
Here is my reply:
oh, ye of closemindedness, look where your lack of understanding has brought you: to judgement of a person and their actions that you don't even know.
Wicca is a religion of peace with onesself, nature and a Mother Goddess, rather than a Father God. The teachings include a line from what is called "The Wiccan Rede" (something similar to the Articles of Faith for those of LDS faith) "...and ye harm none, do what you will." This isn't witchcraft in the form of devil worship or animal sacrifices (although that was certainly a part of the "True Church" at one point; ie Adam and Eve, Cain (not wanting to sacrifice the best of his) and Able, Abraham and Isaac- or rather the lamb: Moses was when that started to change in the bible.) You don't so harshly damn those of Buddhists, Hindu, Jews or other "Christian" religions like Catholics, Lutherans (forgive me if I spelled that wrong, -other forum board member-), Protestant or Baptists. All these religions (including Wicca) teach love, faith in a higher being, respect for onesself and the world at large, and peace as a whole. Wicca is more focused into the cycles of nature, much like the Native Americans and their different religions. They don't have the same "thou shalt nots" that the Mormon religion does such as thou shalt not "shop on Sunday." I know it is "keep the... Sabbath day holy," but what does that mean to you vs. me is going to be different anyway. Some of those in the LDS religion won't even watch TV on Sunday (excepting General Conference) just to begin to issustrate some differences within the LDS religion members practices.
Hollywood, in their great and grand style, has made Wicca out to be something that it really isn't. The movie "the Craft" is a very good example of what Wicca really isn't. Even the TV show "Charmed" is a mockery of that religion and was made only for entertainment value.
So, what is it (since we have covered a lot of what it is not)? Yes, wikipedia is a good place to start. I might suggest that you take the time to read in wiki about Mormons, too. So that you read that and can understand how minimalized the information is. Other than that, perhaps open your heart to listening to someone of the religion explain their beliefs to you is the best way to know why and what they believe. Just don't preach to them. They have a right (called free agency in the LDS religion) to worship however they want. Please let me quote to you from the Articles of Faith so that there is no debate about that, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
The member of your family, -first poster-, who believes it, is the right person to ask about it. Even Mormons have different ways of describing themselves, as do differing sects of other Christian religions. Most Christian religions do not believe that Mormons are Christians, so I reiterate, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew 7:1 King James Version of the bible. Be open to hearing her/his faith in God, not just all the things that you have been taught to be wrong in your faith.
/steps off soap-box
Ruth
I was raised in the LDS religion. It saddens and embarrasses me that so many of that religion are so close-minded to everything. It's not all of them, it never is. Just as, I am sure, is true of all people, religion set aside. We all have our own faith, our own needs for our "higher power" to fulfill in our lives. Why can't we all simply celebrate that we have the choice? Why can't we all just love, without condition, every person in the world and treat them all as people we love and respect?
So, I am a member of a forum board of mostly women and mostly members of the LDS or Mormon religion. One of the women posted this question: "Does the church (LDS) have any information on Wiccan and the church's beliefs of it? I am asking because I just found out someone on our family believes in it."
the first reply and third enraged me.
If you go to http://www.lds.org and do a search for Wicca, you won't find any information. If, however, you do a search for 'witchcraft' you will find some information.
For example, a talk given by Bernard P. Brockbank in 1973 references the following scripture:
All men should know what acts will keep them from entering the kingdom of heaven. According to the apostle Paul, the following works of the flesh will keep a person out of the kingdom of God: “… Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: … they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21.)
Marion G. Romney in 1986 references this scripture:
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Sam. 15:22-23.)
I did not search ALL the links that were brought up, but possibly the most helpful to you would be an article called "The Great Imitator" by James E. Faust, found in the November 1987 Ensign.
Another one that I thought was interesting was titled "Teach Us Tolerance and Love" by Russell M. Nelson in the May 1994 Ensign. This one is more along the lines of what you should perhaps keep in mind while dealing with this problem.
Good luck! There are probably about 20 more links then what I listed if you do the search yourself. :)
that was just the first response. second was the same person and the only thing that I can see even applied to the question at hand.
Ooh, sorry, but I just found one more quote from Gospel Doctrine pages 376 to 377.
The danger and power for evil in witchcraft is not so much in the witchcraft itself as in the foolish credulence that superstitious people give to the claims made in its behalf. It is outrageous to believe that the devil can hurt or injure an innocent man or woman, especially if they are members of the Church of Christ-[unless] that man or woman has faith that he or she can be harmed by such an influence and by such means. If they entertain such an idea, then they are liable to succumb to their own superstitions. There is no power in witchcraft itself, only as it is believed in and accepted.
"There is no power in witchcraft itself, only as it is believed in and accepted." That sounds like faith to me. The LDS religion and a prophet of theirs even states that you must have faith for things to happen. Their "blessing of the sick" can only heal them if they have the faith to be healed. It says that in the formal version of the blessing. Can it be that all religions are the same way? They only have power because we believe in it and give it that power?
Here is the third and it's hellalong: OK, I lied. One more... then I'm going to the store!
Searching the Scriptures:
What the Scriptures Say about Astrology, Divination, Spirit Mediums, Magic, Wizardry, and Necromancy
By Robert J. Matthews
Robert J. Matthews, “What the Scriptures Say about Astrology, Divination, Spirit Mediums, Magic, Wizardry, and Necromancy,” Ensign, Mar. 1974, 26
In recent years there has been increased interest throughout the Western world in the occult and mystical-type religions. This is not a revival of the spirituality characteristic of the ancient patriarchs and prophets of Israel, but is a type of magic and spiritualistic wizardry that the true prophets vigorously opposed. For example, the Lord spake through Moses:
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 19:31.) And also:
“When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
“For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
“Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.
“For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.” (Deut. 18:9-14.)
It is clearly seen from the foregoing passages that belief in astrology, spirit mediums, etc., did not constitute the true religion taught by the prophets and patriarchs, but was characteristic of the false religions practiced by the surrounding nations that had departed from the Lord.
However, the full impact of Moses’ instruction to Israel can only be appreciated by noting the next verse, which reads:
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (Deut. 18:15.)
Thus, the message of the entire passage is that Israel should not look to the fortuneteller and astrologer for spiritual guidance, for the God of heaven will speak to his people through his own appointed servants, the prophets. Moses was one of these prophets.
The passage has also a direct allusion to Christ, of whom all the prophets testified, and who is the ultimate example of a true prophet. Because of the reference to Jesus, we frequently quote verse 15 separately from the other verses, but in doing so we lose the contrast that is made between the false prophets and the true prophets. The pagan superstitions appear to counterfeit the true gifts possessed by the prophets, seers, and revelators whom God had appointed.
Isaiah also discussed this matter:
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to [hear from] the dead?
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:19-20.)
The superiority of the true prophets over the astrologers, the wizards, and the enchanters is illustrated in the experience of Daniel with the Chaldeans:
“Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
“And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream, …
“[But] The thing is gone from me. …
“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
“And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. …
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his. …
“I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and has made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. …
“Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. …” (See Dan. 2:2-28.)
Likewise, Moses and Aaron had greater power than the Egyptian sorcerers. (See Ex. 7:10-12.)
The northern kingdom of Israel did not heed the warnings of the true prophets and so began to practice the false religions of its neighbors, especially as introduced by the wicked queen Jezebel, a Phoenician who was the wife of the Israelite king, Ahab. That these false religions included divination and enchantments is learned from reading 2 Kings 17:16-18:
“And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
“And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and use divination and enchantments and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.” [2 Kgs. 17:16-18]
As a result, Israel soon fell to the strength of the conquering Assyrian army.
Nearly a century later, good King Josiah sponsored a much-needed reform in the southern kingdom of Judah, and we read that he
“… put down the idolatrous priests, … and … them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets. …
“Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.” (2 Kgs. 23:5, 24.)
In New Testament times, while Paul was doing missionary work on the island of Cyprus, Elymas, “a sorcerer, a false prophet” not only withstood Paul’s teaching himself, but sought “to turn away the deputy” [of the island] from the faith. Then Paul, “filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes upon him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:6-10.)
There can be no mistaking how Paul felt about this representative of sorcery.
Later, at Ephesus, Paul’s preaching resulted in a conversion of many people to the gospel of Jesus Christ, insomuch that “… many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” (Acts 19:18-20.)
When these people came into the true fold of the Lord they no longer had any desire or need for the books of the “curious arts” which apparently were the manuals of false religious crafts.
Willful participation in these forms of superstitious worship is sinful, as Samuel the prophet counseled king Saul, “… rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. …” (1 Sam. 15:23.) The Biblical record also shows that when Saul lost the spirit of the Lord, he became involved in spiritualism. (See 1 Sam. 28:1-20.)
And finally, to the Galatians, Paul wrote that “witchcraft” is one of “the works of the flesh,” from which they who have the Spirit of the Lord will turn away. (See Gal. 5:19-21.)
The scriptures show that the enchantments and the spells of the wizard, the medium, and the necromancer are characteristic of the false religions and superstitions of the world, and that those who practice such are actually in competition with the true prophets and apostles. All who are acquainted with the spirit and faith of Jesus Christ will want nothing to do with any form of divination and spiritual wizardry.
another quote to argue from the last line, "All who are acquainted with the spirit and faith of Jesus Christ will want nothing to do with any form of divination..." Oh, really? And that is why the LDS church has prophets that talk to God, that members of that church can get "personal revelations" about their lives and choices they are making or have not even made yet. That is, most assuredly, why they believe in the Bible and in the book of Revelations which specifically states future events which would affect the whole world. /sarcasm
Here is my reply:
oh, ye of closemindedness, look where your lack of understanding has brought you: to judgement of a person and their actions that you don't even know.
Wicca is a religion of peace with onesself, nature and a Mother Goddess, rather than a Father God. The teachings include a line from what is called "The Wiccan Rede" (something similar to the Articles of Faith for those of LDS faith) "...and ye harm none, do what you will." This isn't witchcraft in the form of devil worship or animal sacrifices (although that was certainly a part of the "True Church" at one point; ie Adam and Eve, Cain (not wanting to sacrifice the best of his) and Able, Abraham and Isaac- or rather the lamb: Moses was when that started to change in the bible.) You don't so harshly damn those of Buddhists, Hindu, Jews or other "Christian" religions like Catholics, Lutherans (forgive me if I spelled that wrong, -other forum board member-), Protestant or Baptists. All these religions (including Wicca) teach love, faith in a higher being, respect for onesself and the world at large, and peace as a whole. Wicca is more focused into the cycles of nature, much like the Native Americans and their different religions. They don't have the same "thou shalt nots" that the Mormon religion does such as thou shalt not "shop on Sunday." I know it is "keep the... Sabbath day holy," but what does that mean to you vs. me is going to be different anyway. Some of those in the LDS religion won't even watch TV on Sunday (excepting General Conference) just to begin to issustrate some differences within the LDS religion members practices.
Hollywood, in their great and grand style, has made Wicca out to be something that it really isn't. The movie "the Craft" is a very good example of what Wicca really isn't. Even the TV show "Charmed" is a mockery of that religion and was made only for entertainment value.
So, what is it (since we have covered a lot of what it is not)? Yes, wikipedia is a good place to start. I might suggest that you take the time to read in wiki about Mormons, too. So that you read that and can understand how minimalized the information is. Other than that, perhaps open your heart to listening to someone of the religion explain their beliefs to you is the best way to know why and what they believe. Just don't preach to them. They have a right (called free agency in the LDS religion) to worship however they want. Please let me quote to you from the Articles of Faith so that there is no debate about that, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
The member of your family, -first poster-, who believes it, is the right person to ask about it. Even Mormons have different ways of describing themselves, as do differing sects of other Christian religions. Most Christian religions do not believe that Mormons are Christians, so I reiterate, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew 7:1 King James Version of the bible. Be open to hearing her/his faith in God, not just all the things that you have been taught to be wrong in your faith.
/steps off soap-box
Ruth
I was raised in the LDS religion. It saddens and embarrasses me that so many of that religion are so close-minded to everything. It's not all of them, it never is. Just as, I am sure, is true of all people, religion set aside. We all have our own faith, our own needs for our "higher power" to fulfill in our lives. Why can't we all simply celebrate that we have the choice? Why can't we all just love, without condition, every person in the world and treat them all as people we love and respect?