Mormonism

Mormonism

Introduction: Mormons are commonly called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS for short.

Mormonism is the theology and tradition of the LDS organization. Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, they see themselves as a restoration of true Christianity.

Founder & Origin : Joseph Smith, a farm boy, started the Mormon church in the 1820s in western New York. He began teaching during the period known as the second great awakening. At the age of 14, he was searching for a true church that taught the truth of God’s word. He was confused by the contradictions in teachings among the various Churches of his day. One day while he was laboring to make sense of these discrepancies of doctrines, he read James 1:5, which reads, “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all freely, without reproach, and it will be given to him.” So he prayed about which denomination that he should be a part of, he claims to have received his first vision. He claims that God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him and told him not to join any of the churches around him, because they were all wrong in their teachings of the truth. 

In the 1820s, he began to write out visitations from the angel Moroni. The angel is said to have commanded Joseph Smith to re-establish the true Christian church. The angel led Joseph to some buried golden plates written by Moroni’s father Mormon, and these plates contained the true gospel. 

On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith started the church of Christ, which later became known as the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.

The LDS church underwent persecution, mainly because of their unorthodox teachings, one of them being polygamy. This persecution caused them to move from New York to Ohio. From Ohio to Missouri. They teach that Joseph Smith was martyred for the Mormon faith on June 27, 1844 which caused Brigham Young to lead the people out to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mormonism Today

The Teachings of Mormonism: 

A prominent part of Mormon theology is the book of Mormon.

Mormons, teach that the book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ, and includes God’s outreach to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. They teach that the Lord Jesus Christ came to the North American continent after his resurrection.

They teach that the Bible contains errors.

They have another holy book, called doctrine and covenants.

Another holy book of the LDS church is the Pearl of great price. 

They believe in God, but do not believe that Jesus is God.

Teachings on Revelation/Inspiration of Scripture: They believe that the Book of Mormon is the most accurate Book ever written. They believe that the writings of their prophets are as inspired by God as the Bible.

Teachings about God: They teach that God used to be a man but He became a God of earth through His obedience. “As man now is, God once was.” -Mormon teaching. They teach that God has a physical body and that he was married and call his wife “the heavenly mother.”

Teachings about Jesus: They teach that Jesus was a created being and that he is the older spirit brother of Lucifer. They teach that Jesus had a wife. 

Teachings about Salvation: They teach that salvation is a process of good works which leads to becoming the god of your own planet. They teach that you must be baptized in a Mormon temple to receive the salvation.

They teach that there are 3 levels of Heaven. They teach that hell is for the devil and his angels, and those who turn away from the Mormon faith.

2 Nephi 25:23 “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

They reject the teaching of the Trinity. 

Essential Practices of the LDS Church:

2 hour Sunday meetings which includes sacrament meetings, and alternating Sunday school meetings.

only Mormons in good standing can enter a Mormon temple.

Baptisms for the dead, and the sealing of eternal marriages take place in the temples.

The LDS church practices sharing the Mormon faith through missionaries, starting with men at the age of 18, and women at the age of 19.

Mormons teach that families can be sealed together for time and eternity. This takes place in the Temples. 

Mormons practice F.H.E. Family home evening which encourages studying the Book of Mormon and playing games. 

The church officially renounced polygamy in 1890.

Key Beliefs: Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost, Family seal, baptism for dead family members who didn’t die as Mormons.

This is why they emphasize very strongly the need to know your ancestry.

Organization; 1st President with 2 counselors. The president is referred to as the seer, prophet and revelatory. He is called God‘s representative on earth. The president is chosen by seniority.

Under the president and his two counselors, you have the 12 apostles, Under the 12 apostles you have the quorum of the 70. under the quorum of the 70 you have the presiding bishops over the various regions and under them are the stakes, and under them are the wards with local bishops presiding over the local churches.

Galatians 1:1-9

Witnessing to Mormonism

Be cordial. 

They are nice people because they’re trying to earn their way.