Mormons – The Latter-day Saints

Many new groups have arisen within Christianity, while some claim to be Christian they are not recognized as such by other traditions. These groups often take a Christian idea or teaching and develop their own ways that differ greatly from traditional Christianity such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known as the Mormons. The founder of the Mormons was Joseph Smith. Mormonism began with one family, that family was the family of Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith of Vermont and New York. Joseph Smith, Jr. was the fourth child among eight other siblings. Joseph Smith, Jr. known as Joseph Smith became the Prophet and First Elder of the Church of Christ during its organization of April 6, 1830. Joseph Smith had a series of visions where he received spiritual instruction from God the Father; Jesus Christ; John the Baptist; the Apostles Peter, James, and John; and from an angel known to the church members as Moroni. He also had a revelation in which he was told that all existing Christian traditions were corrupt and he was to responsible for keeping the true word of God alive and bring people to salvation, therefore, he established a new Church of last day saints (Latter-day Saints). It was Moroni that revealed to Joseph Smith the where about of a set of gold tablets and bestowed upon him the ability to interpret their meaning which was in a form of Egyptian language. Joseph Smith was one of the three from his family that had gain an eyewitness to the golden plates. The golden plates were the Book of Mormon, which recounted the history and teaching of the Nephite prophets. Mormons call themselves Christians but their beliefs and teachings differ substantially from other Christian communities. The following are among the most important teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
 Our Father in Heaven and Our Mother in Heaven are physical beings. They have spirit children who are subsequently born on earth in human form.
 Marriage is eternal if “sealed” in a Mormon Temple ceremony.
 The afterlife is a transformative process through which humans can ultimately become divine.
 Between the time of his crucifixion and resurrection Jesus preached in the Americas.
 The Church is led by prophets who continue to receive revelations for God.
These teachings and Smith’s infamous practice of polygamy, Mormons were severely persecuted. Because polygamy filtered down through the entire Mormon Church, the United States government threatens to confiscate all Mormon property and to threaten them with complete dissolution in order to stamp out the then widely accepted practice. The Mormons grew and prospered in the Nauvoo, Illinois and as the practice of polygamy became apart of the wider Mormon community and outsiders as well, increasing distrust of Prophet Smith (Joseph Smith, Jr.) increased by one of his former assistant John C. Bennett. Bennett exposed the practice of polygamy in Nauvoo, which was more than the Prophet Smith could continue to tolerate. The criticism caused the prophet to order the destruction of its most threatening mouth-piece, an anti-Mormon publication entitled “The Nauvoo Expositor, the State of Illinois took matters in their own hands. The prophet and his brother were thrown into a jail in Carthage, Illinois. While the prophet and his brother awaited trial for their part in the wrecking of the Expositor, a mob comprised of about two hundred persons stormed the Carthage jail and brutally murdered Joseph Smith and his brother. This brought about the vigorously unwilling prophet’s head the unwanted crown of early martyrdom, thus insuring his everlasting enshrinement in Mormon history as a “true seer.” A couple of years prior to Joseph Smith’s martyrdom, he was asked by the editor of the Chicago “Democrat” to write a paper on the history of the Church and a statement summarizing its beliefs. The response came in form of thirteen Articles of Faith, which were adopted by the Mormons as a standard epitome of belief:
 We believe in God The Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
 We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
 We believe that these ordinances are, 1st: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2nd: Repentance; 3rd: Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th: Laying of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
 We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, etc.
 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelations, visions, healing, interpretations of tongues, etc.
 We believe the Bible to be the word of God so far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
 We believe that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
 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.
 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.
 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, “We believe all things, hope all things,” we have endured many things, and hope to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith taught that God had continued to maintain a warm, loving kinship with man, that He was not an impersonal force, and that the veil that was between Him and man could be penetrated. Joseph Smith’s second principal teaching was concerned with pre-mortal life, a life before the birth. Because man was concerned about life after death, Smith came along with a perfectly logical but immensely startling question. It was, quite simply: If a man lives after death and if he has, as they say, an immortal soul, did he not live before he was born? He taught that man lived with God as a child, in the spirit world, before coming on earth. Smith also taught that in the life before this present one, a plan of experience was at hand for us. The man that accepted the offer left his pre-mortal state and came to this life. The Father (God) was there to support him, but he had to learn on his own. His taught that salvation comes to all, but come in greater degree to some than it does to others. The meanest sinner will receive a greater gift in heaven than he could imagine, but those whose works here in mortal life have been outstanding will receive a higher place in the mansions of the Lord than others. After the death of the prophet, Brigham Young was accepted by the large majority of Mormons. Brigham Young ruled the Mormon Church. He inherited what is known as the divinely appointed prophetic mantle of the first prophet. From this, each succeeding president of the Mormon Church claims the same authority as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young – an infallible prophetic succession. Joseph Smith gave the movement (Mormonism) its initial thrust and Brigham Young supplied the needed momentum necessary to establish it as a bona fide religion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has accepted four sacred works as sources of Authority: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. The prophet’s words of the present are also a source of authority. The Mormons do not put their complete trust in the Bible because as fore stated in the Thirteen Articles “We believe the Bible to be the Word of God in so far as it is translated correctly…” This allows the Mormons to add their new non-biblical teachings by claiming they were doctrines deliberately removed by the Catholic Church. They believe the Bible is the Word of God that is Old Testament (past times). The Book of Mormon is supposedly an account of the original inhabitants of America to whom Christ appeared after His resurrection. The Book of Mormon is believe to be the New Testament (present times) that is used today to guide the people. The Doctrine and Covenants is a record of 138 revelations revealing some of Mormonism’s distinctive doctrines such as baptism for the dead and celestial marriage. The Pearl of Great Price contains the Book of Moses, which is roughly equivalent to the first six chapters of Genesis, and The Book of Abraham, a translation of an Egyptian Papyrus that later proved to be fraudulent. It also contains an extract from Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible; extracts from the History of Joseph Smith, which is he autobiography; and the Articles of Faith. The Melchizedek Priesthood is the most important of the two Mormon priesthoods consisting of the presidency, apostles, patriarch, high priest, seventies, and elders. Aaronic Priesthood is the other priesthood which includes the Presiding Bishopric, priests, teachers and deacons. The Mormon Church believes in three heavens with the Celestial Heaven being the highest. They believe that the Telestial Kingdom to be the lowest division of heaven and it is reserved for those having no belief in Christ or the Gospel. The also be that Lucifer is the spirit-brother of Jesus and is the second-born creature of God after Jesus. The church lays great emphasis on genealogical research, so that the ancestors of the members may be baptized by proxy. The Mormons believe as many Christians today believe but they have added to their beliefs by the use of other doctrines to establish their religion. The prophets being present today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow as many is look for the true God and the true gospel. We all have a religion story to share but the influence we have over others differs greatly. There are not many Joseph Smiths today that can gain influence by what he believes to be the true gospel. We cannot throw away the account of others because of our own beliefs. The Mormons are true followers of their faith. They continue to remember the events from their past the leads up to their present faith. They believe in order and they believe that one cannot obtain eternal life if he or she is not working here on earth. Their mission is to tell the world about God and his Son Jesus Christ but to also tell them about Joseph Smith that the visions for the church of today. It they will live by these visions they can obtain a reward in eternal life that will be greater than any reward they could imagine. They know that they will be paid according to their works, therefore, they salvation is not free. If they do not work on earth, they will not be allowed to enter in the eternal heavens with the expectations of a great reward. The Mormons are dedicated to the cause of God, their church, Joseph Smith, literature and the words from the prophets of today. They will let you be persuaded about the Book of Mormons after you have read it for your self.

Bibliography

Breuilly, Elizabeth; O’Brien, Joanne; Palmer, Martin, Religions of the World The Illustrated Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions & Festivals. New York: Facts on File, Inc, 1997.

Hopfe, Lewis M., Religions of the World/Lewis M. Hopfe (1935-1992); revised by Mark R. Woodward .New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2004, 2001, 1998, 1991, 1983.

McDowell, Josh; Stewart, Don, Handbook of Today’s Religions. Nashville, Atlanta, London, Vancouver: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1798.

Mullen, Robert, The Latter-Day Saints: The Mormons Yesterday and Today. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1966.