Mormonism

Mormonism is a religion, movement, ideology, and subculture that originated in the early 1800s as a product of the Latter Day Saint movement led principally by Joseph Smith, Jr. It is self-described as a form of Christian Restorationism,^{[citation needed]} and it encompasses numerous religious denominations. Not easily categorized, Mormonism is generally understood as much more than a religion. The faith has been described at various times and in various contexts as "a sect, a mystery cult, a new religion, a church, a people, a nation, or an American subculture" (Ahlstrom 1972, p. 508).

Mormonism is distinct from the Latter Day Saint movement in that it applies to a subset of the branches of that movement. The term Mormonism is also often used to refer specifically to the theology and subculture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the largest of many church organizations that claim to be part of Mormonism. Other prominent churches include the Community of Christ, which sometimes distances itself from the term Mormonism,^{[citation needed]} and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Mormonism also includes numerous non-denominational adherents to the Latter Day Saint movement, and numerous cultural Mormons who are either non-religious or members of churches outside the Latter Day Saint movement.

Most people who associate themselves with Mormonism may be respectfully called Latter Day Saints (or the hyphenated Latter-day Saints in reference to the largest denomination).^{[citation needed]} Other generally acceptable terms include LDS, Saints, and Mormons, although members of some sects prefer not to be identified as Mormons. A minority object to the terms Mormon and Mormonism, due to their early use as offensive slurs.^{[citation needed]}

Mormonism as a theology

As a theology, Mormonism as a whole includes a highly diverse and eclectic cluster of religious beliefs. There is much in common with the Campbellite, Restorationist, and Universalist beliefs prevalent in the area where Joseph Smith was raised and where he began his ministry.^{[citation needed]} Smith's theology was seen by contemporary Mormons as answering nearly all of the unresolved religious questions of his day.

The bedrock Mormon belief is the acceptance of modern prophecy. Joseph Smith and other early Mormon leaders taught that any person with a testimony of Christ is a prophet.^[1] Most modern members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that, although each individual may receive personal revelation to guide himself in his personal life, only certain people have been divinely appointed as prophets to authoritatively speak the mind and will of God, as in Biblical times.^{[citation needed]} Central to this theology is the belief that Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was such a prophet.

When asked in 1842 what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believed, Joseph Smith wrote what is now known as the Articles of Faith. Though the Articles of Faith are not a complete representation of the beliefs of Mormonism, they do represent some fundamental beliefs of the faith. The Articles were intended to be a declaration of belief and not of practice, and as such they naturally fail to mention most Latter-day Saint ordinances, some of which are considered controversial by detractors of Mormonism.

Typical Mormon doctrines

Mormonism is based on belief in Jesus as the Messiah, in the Israelites (including the Ten Lost Tribes) as a covenant people, and in scriptures such as the Bible and the Book of Mormon. As a form of Restorationism, it professes to be a restoration of the original church instituted by Christ himself and thought to have been lost in a Great Apostasy after Christ's death. Consequently, it has had complex and uneasy relationships with both mainstream Christianity and mainstream Judaism (see Mormonism and Christianity and Mormonism and Judaism).

Nature of God

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches of a Godhead composed of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The Godhead is often described in scripture as one God (2 Nephi 31:21); however, the one Godhead is understood to be composed of three separate beings who are unified in purpose and heart (John 17:21-23). Two of the beings, God the Father and Jesus Christ, are understood to have tangible, perfected bodies of flesh and bone. The concept of the Godhead is distinguished from the concept of the Trinity as codified in 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea and in 381 A.D. at the Council of Constantinople.
The Community of Christ has rejected the concept of the Godhead in favor of Trinitarian theology.
Some modern Mormons believe in theosis and a plurality of Gods that pass through mortality to immortality and forever progress in knowledge and power, as taught by Joseph Smith and other Mormon leaders.^[2]
Most Mormons agree that humans are children of a Father in Heaven, and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ they can return to Him and be joint-heirs with Christ of all that the Father has (Romans 8:17).

Jesus

Jesus Christ was the Only Begotten Son of God the Father.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that Jehovah of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ (and not God the Father).
Because of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, all mankind is saved from death and will rise again and receive a perfected physical body.
Furthermore, the Atonement satisfies the demands of justice; grace, forgiveness, and mercy (i.e. salvation) are extended to all who accept Christ as their personal Savior and become His life-long disciples.
A disciple of Christ follows His teachings in humility, with faith, hope, love, charity, and gratitude.

Salvation

The Mormon concept of salvation includes more than the difference between living in heaven or being punished in hell. Mormons believe God will judge all men "according to their works, according to the desires of their hearts" (Doctrine & Covenants 137:9) to inherit one of three kingdoms of glory (1 Corinthians 15:40; Doctrine & Covenants Section 76). Only those who outright choose Satan over God will be consigned to a place or state called outer darkness, similar to the traditional concept of hell (ie, eternal suffering, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, etc). Some key doctrines relating to Mormon beliefs of salvation are listed below:

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ, through his innate divinity and the Atonement, is solely responsible for the salvation of man.
Salvation is offered to everyone, both living and dead. Anyone who desires salvation may choose to accept it by obeying Christ's commandments.
All humans have been given the gift of free will, or agency. As such, all humans are responsible for the choices they make.
Without the Atonement, no one would be able to be saved, because all fall short of the perfection necessary to live with God.
The process of continually accepting Christ's grace is known as repentance. This involves correcting one's mistakes and changing one's behavior, and it is an essential element of salvation. However, repentance is meaningless without Jesus Christ and the Atonement.
Though individuals experience consequences of the Fall, specifically mortality, only Adam and Eve are responsible for their transgression in partaking of the forbidden fruit.
All mankind will be saved from their mortal condition because of Christ's atonement and resurrection. The spirits of everyone who has ever lived on Earth will be restored to a perfect physical body, regardless of their individual choices on Earth.
Little children who die before reaching the age of 8 years (the "age of accountability") are exempt from the consequences of their actions, and will be saved. Likewise, those over the age of 8 who for any reason are not capable of understanding the concepts of sin and repentance are unconditionally saved.
The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: faith in Jesus Christ; repentance; baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. The latter two are sometimes referred to as "the baptism of water" and "the baptism of fire."
Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins by one who holds priesthood authority from God is, among other things, necessary for individual exaltation.
There are differences between the terms salvation and exaltation, the latter requiring the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, the Endowment and Sealing (Marriage).

Pre-mortal life, human existence, and the afterlife

Mormons generally believe the spirit passes through at least four stages of existence.

Pre-mortal existence as spirit children of Heavenly Father and a relatively unknown Heavenly Mother.
A time of probation and gaining experience on earth, away from the presence of God (see spiritual death).
A spirit world where the spirits of the dead reside until the resurrection. There, those who died without the opportunity to accept the restored Gospel in life will be taught by those who did accept the gospel in life. Hence, the doctrine of vicarious baptism for the dead.
Post-resurrection judgment and inheritance (for most people) of a kingdom of eternal glory (either Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial). However, those who knowingly deny and defy God, as Satan did, will become Sons of Perdition after coming forth in the last resurrection. They do not inherit a kingdom of glory, but instead are sentenced to receive a punishment reserved only for those who know God lives and still choose to follow Satan. Culturally, members of the LDS Church often refer to this punishment as Outer Darkness.

Scripture

The writings accepted as scripture by the Church are collectively called the Standard Works.
The Bible is the word of God as far as it has been translated correctly. There are various opinions about how literally one should interpret the Bible, even if correctly translated. Latter Day Saints generally believe that the truths in the Bible can be supported and understood with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and the truths contained in The Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
The Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants are also the word of God.
Statements or Revelations given by a prophet-president may be presented to the Body of the Church to be accepted by common consent as official and binding doctrine (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Scriptures" p.1278) and some of it has been canonized as scripture and added to the Doctrine and Covenants.

Mormonisms' beliefs about other Christian and non-Christian religions

Mormons believe that:

Joseph Smith, Jr. was guided in restoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reestablishing the church organization that existed at the time of the New Testament Apostles, after many important contributions to the advance of Biblical knowledge among commoners by Reformers such as John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Roger Williams, and many others.^{[citation needed]}
All other Christian churches drifted away from Christ's Church as a result of the Great Apostasy, but nonetheless contain some truth and thus contribute much to the benefit of mankind.^{[citation needed]}
Only the church restored by Joseph Smith has divine priesthood authority to perform ordinances necessary for salvation. Nevertheless, many other sects and faiths (even non-Christian religions) are valuable and teach some good morals.^{[citation needed]}
All men will be judged benevolently on the basis of their actions in relation to the light and knowledge they have during their lives.^{[citation needed]}

Joseph Smith, Jr., in his account of the First Vision, mentions other Christian churches:^[3]

18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

Polygamy and current Mormonism

Main article: Plural marriage.

Privately, Joseph Smith, Jr. insisted that he had been required by God to follow the practice of plural marriage. Joseph told Mary Rollins Lightner that an angel "came to me three times between the year of '34 and '42 and said I was to obey that principle or he would [s]lay me." The practice was highly controversial before and after Joseph's death. As for his own personal feelings about plural marriage, no record from Smith himself has been found. Historians debate the real numbers but generally agree that between 1841 and 1843 Smith had married 28 to 33 women (Bushman, 440). Gouverneur Morris Professor of History, Emeritus at Columbia University, Dr. Richard Lyman Bushman recently has written: "Joseph himself said nothing about sex in these marriages." He goes on to explain that there were other "marriage experimenters" in those times that "focused on sexual relations" but Joseph "so far as can be told, never discussed the sexual component of marriage, save for his concern about adultery." (Bushman, 438-441.) Even Fawn Brodie, a critical author of Joseph Smith, said, "There was too much of the Puritan [in Joseph] to be a careless libertine." (Brodie, 297.)

Joseph Smith never publicly taught polygamy. However, the Church adopted the practice in 1852 when Orson Pratt, under the direction of Brigham Young (President of the Church at the time), publicly announced that the Church was practicing plural marriage under commandment of God.^{[citation needed]} He further stated that the Church believed they had a constitutional right to practice polygamy.^{[citation needed]} The United States government opposed polygamy for years but it was not until the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 was enforced that the LDS Church began to abandon the practice. The Act officially dissolved The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a legal corporation, required the Church to forfeit to the government all property in excess of fifty thousand dollars, and stripped all Latter-day Saints of their voting rights, despite the fact that only a small percentage of members of the Church ever practiced polygamy.^{[citation needed]}

The 1890 Manifesto officially ended the practice of plural marriage among Latter-day Saints. Today, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are excommunicated for practicing polygamy, even in parts of the world where polygamy is lawful and culturally accepted. Polygamy is still practiced by a number of small splinter organizations, that are not part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Historical Book of Mormon

Mormons regard the history recounted in the Book of Mormon to be authentic. Secular historians, however, reject the book's historical accounts. The Old Testament, by contrast, is generally regarded as having some historical value even by those who reject its supernatural elements (see Historicity of the Old Testament).

Current scholarship by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is increasing the historical understanding of the Book of Mormon. The effort to better understand the people of the Book of Mormon includes identifying traditions with local cultures; and locating possible regions for cities named in the Book of Mormon. The effort has generated controversy over the years with those both outside of the faith as well as in. One historical belief about the Book of Mormon is the view that all native Americans are descendants of the prophet Lehi and those who came with him to the Americas. "Where once all Indians were referred to as Lamanites, researchers like Sorenson emphasize that only a small portion of American Indians are descendents of the man known as Lehi." Some scholars suggest that the Book of Mormon is the lineage history of only a small group of meso-Americans which were the descendants of Lehi.^[4] The Book of Mormon suggests that there were other inhabitants in the Americas at the time of Lehi's arrival and scholars speculate that his descendants may have integrated into existing populations, perhaps providing leadership and influencing culture and religion. The debate around DNA evidence and the Book of Mormon illustrates the differences between traditional beliefs and new scholarly thought. No DNA studies have yet suggested any semitic origins for meso-American people; however investigations continue.^[5]

Most of the modern works aimed at the lay reader are published by evangelical groups opposed to the doctrine and theology of Mormonism. These books are frequently targeted at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have been known to mischaracterize Mormonism.^{[citation needed]} Most of these authors come from the Christian countercult movement, and some have come under fire from other evangelical scholars. One recent example is a book by Grant Palmer, "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins." According to Louis Midgley, Grant Palmer is not in fact an "insider"; the title was allegedly suggested by the publisher in order to increase sales (Louis Midgley, "Prying into Palmer," FARMS Review 15:2 (2003), 408.). Latter-day Saint apologists have reviewed and rebutted the work as they have done for such works. Despite receiving theological criticism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to strongly proclaim that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and the vast majority of Latter-day Saints believe the Book of Mormon is factual.

Criticism

In their early years, Mormons encountered frequent conflicts, which forced them to move westward, and eventually settle in Utah. Even after establishing a community in Utah, criticism of plural marriage and other beliefs prompted the Utah War.

Much criticism of Mormonism has been for theological reasons. Many Christians criticize Latter Day Saint doctrines as unorthodox, though Latter Day Saints claim Biblical support for those doctrines and practices. Mormonism also attracts criticism with its bold claims, such as that the authority to act in God's name was lost in apostasy, then restored through Joseph Smith.

Even though many Mormon sects have never practiced polygamy, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not practiced polygamy since 1890, many misconceptions persist.^{[citation needed]}

According to posters at Exmormon.org,^[6] a division of gender roles remains a major factor in driving many away from the LDS Church.^{[citation needed]} However, the issue is not discussed by any Mormon studies journal as being a major cause of dissafiliation.

References

^ "No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy." (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 119, 160 and 278) See also Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 9: 149; Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses 13: 165. Mormons also point to Numbers 11: 26-29 and Revelation 19: 10 in the Bible in support of this teaching.
^ Joseph Smith, "King Follet Discourse" in Journal of Discourses 6: 1-11 or Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 342-361; Joseph Smith, "Plurality of Gods" in Documentary History of the Church 6: 473-479 or Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 369-376; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 3: 93, 3: 336, 7: 333; Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses 6: 120; Heber C Kimbal, Journal of Discourses 5: 19, 8: 211; Orson Pratt, The Seer 23, 132; James Talmage, A Study of the Articles of Faith 430; Milton R Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages 104, 114-115; Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine 250, 322, 642-643; Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1: 10-12; See The Doctrine and Covenants 11: 30, 34: 3, 35: 2, 45: 8, 46: 26, 76: 51-58, 88: 40-50, 93: 1-2, 93: 19-20, 103: 9-10, 121: 26-33, 128: 22-23, 130: 9-11, 132: 18-20; See Mosiah 18: 20-22, Alma 5: 19, Alma 6: 6, 3 Nephi 9: 17, 3 Nephi 12: 8-10, 3 Nephi 12: 48, Moroni 7: 26 and Moroni 7: 48 in The Book of Mormon; See Moses 4: 11, Moses 6: 8-9, Moses 7: 1, Abraham 3: 16-19 and Abraham 4: 1 in The Pearl of Great Price; See Also Genesis 1: 26-27, Genesis 3: 5, Genesis 9: 6, Deuteronomy 10: 17, Joshua 22: 22, Psalm 2: 7-8, Psalm 82: 6, Psalm 136: 2, Daniel 2: 47, Obadiah 1: 21, Matthew 5: 8-10, Matthew 5: 48, John 1: 12, John 10: 34-36, John 14: 12, John 17: 21-23, Acts 17: 28, Romans 8: 14-29, Galatians 3: 26-27, Galatians 4: 6-7, Ephesians 3: 14-19, Ephesians 4: 11-13, Philippians 2: 5-6, Philippians 2: 15, Colossians 1: 21-29, Hebrews 12: 9-10, Hebrews 12: 22-23, 2 Peter 1: 3-10, 1 John 3: 1-2, 1 John 3: 9-10, 1 John 5: 1-2, 1 John 5: 18-21, Revelation 2: 26-27, Revelation 3: 21, and Revelation 21: 7 in The Bible; Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5, 4: 38; Athanasius, Incarnation of the Word of God 54: 3; Athanasius, Against the Arians 1: 39, 3: 34; Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks 1; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor 3: 1; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata or Miscellanies 7: 10; Origen, Commentary of John 29: 27; Origen, Refutations 10: 30; and Augustine, On the Psalms 50: 2
^ Lua error: Book <js_h> not found in Standard Works.
^ Sorenson, John L. "An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon". Deseret Book Company (June 1985).
^ Butler, John M. "Addressing Questions Surrounding the Book of Mormon and DNA Research". Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Retrieved 2006-07-20. See section titled "What current data exist on Native American DNA?" and last paragraph "we are uncovering information each passing year."
^ Mormon "Women and Depression". Retrieved 2006-09-07. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)