Christian Vs Mormon Practices
Christians believe that all people should strive to follow Christs commands and example in their everyday actions. For many, this includes obedience to the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament. Other Christian practices include acts of piety such as prayer and Bible reading. Christians assemble for communal worship on Sunday, the day of the resurrection, though other liturgical practices often occur outside this setting. Scripture readings are drawn from the Old and New Testaments, but especially the Gospels.
Mormons wear ceremonial temple garments under their daily clothes and perform baptisms for the dead, and other ordinances by proxy, in temples and doing attendant genealogical research. A dietary code called the Word of Wisdom, currently requiring abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and illegal drugs caffeinated soft drinks are left to individual discretion. Virtually all Christians hold special ceremonies or rites, often called sacraments. The Mormons call these ceremonies ordinances. The three main ordinances practices by Mormons are Baptism, Confirmation, Sacraments, Endowments and Sealings. While Mormons are expected to confess their sins directly to God as repentance, some Christians confess their sins to a priest.
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Read A Brief Summary Of This Topic
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , also called Mormonism, church that traces its origins to a religion founded by Joseph Smith in the United States in 1830. The term Mormon, often used to refer to members of this church, comes from the Book of Mormon, which was published by Smith in 1830 use of the term is discouraged by the church. Now an international movement, the church is characterized by a unique understanding of the Godhead, emphasis on family life, belief in continuing revelation, desire for order, respect for authority, and missionary work. Its members obey strict prohibitions on alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea and promote education and a vigorous work ethic.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and had more than 16 million members by the early 21st century. A significant portion of the churchs members live in the United States and the rest in Latin America, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Philippines, and parts of Oceania.
Another Mormon denomination, the Community of Christ , is headquartered in Independence, Missouri, and had a membership of approximately 250,000 in the early 21st century.
The Thirteen Articles Of Faith
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Restorationchurch Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
Epitome of Faith
1. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son JesusChrist, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, andnot for Adams transgression.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all men maybe saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
4. We believe that these ordinances are: Faith in God andin the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance. Baptism by immersionfor the remission of sins. Laying on of hands for the giftof the Holy Ghost. We believe in the resurrection of thebody that the dead in Christ will rise first, and the rest ofthe dead will not live again until the thousand years are expired. We believe in the doctrine of eternal judgment which providesthat men shall be judged, rewarded or punished, according to thedegree of good or evil they shall have done.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God and ordained bythe laying on of hands of those who are in authority, to
entitle him to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinancesthereof.
6. We believe in the same kind of organization that existed inthe primitive church, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers,evangelists, etc.
7. We believe that in the Bible is contained the Word of God,so far as it is translated correctly. We believe the Book of Mormonto be the Word of God.
8. We believe that the canon of Scripture is not full, but thatGod, by His Spirit will continue to reveal His word to men untilthe end of time.
Do Mormons Believe In Birth Control
Both birth control and abortion are prohibited in Mormonism due to the religions central premise, which holds that heaven is populated with millions of souls that are waiting for their chance to inhabit a physical body.Prenatal care is given a high emphasis since the female body is believed to be the tabernacle of the spirit and the dwelling of Gods spirit offspring.As a result, prenatal care is extremely important.
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The Founder Joseph Smith Jr
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. and five associates on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York.
When Smith was fourteen years old, he claimed to have had a religious experience, in which both God the Father and Jesus Christ spoke to him and instructed him not to affiliate himself with any denomination. Three years later, he reported being visited again by a heavenly angel named Moroni who told him that a book written on gold plates had been buried and Smith had been charged with its protection.
Smith allegedly retrieved the gold plates in 1827 and began the process of translating their engravings. On March 26, 1830, when his dictation was complete, Smith published the work as the Book of Mormon. Shortly thereafter, on April 6, 1830, Smith also founded the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints church.
To avoid conflict and persecution encountered for his claims, Smith and his followers moved to Kirtland, Ohio early in 1831. Here the churchs first temple was built and some Mormons believed erroneously that Jesus Millennial reign had begun. However, the controversy and mob violence that had plagued Smith followed him to Kirtland and in early 1832, Joseph was dragged from his bedroom in the dead of night, tarred and feathered, and left for dead.
In February, 1844, Smith announced his candidacy for President of the United States, with Sidney Rigdon as his vice-presidential running mate.
Mormons And Family Life
The survey confirms that family life is very important to most Mormons. Four out of five Mormons believe that being a good parent is one of the most important goals in life, and roughly three out of four Mormons put having a successful marriage in this category. This puts family concerns significantly above career concerns, having free time and even living a very religious life as priorities for Mormons.
Two-thirds of Mormon adults are married, compared with 52% of the general public.3 More than four out of five married Mormons are married to another Mormon. By comparison, 81% of married Protestants are married to another Protestant, and 78% of married Catholics are married to another Catholic, according to the Pew Forums 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey.
Nearly six-in-ten Mormons say that the more satisfying kind of marriage is one where the husband provides for the family and the wife takes care of the house and children, while 38% say that a marriage where the husband and wife both have jobs and both take care of the house and children is preferable. Among the general public, the balance of opinion on this question is reversed 30% prefer a marriage where the husband is the sole breadwinner, while 62% prefer a marriage in which both husband and wife work.
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Romney Was Concerned His Mormon Faith Would Hurt His Politics
In the political arena, while seeking the Republican nomination for the presidency, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney became concerned that his Mormon identity might be hurting him in the polls. In an attempt to assuage the publics misgivings, in December 2007 he gave a speech that some commentators compared to one John F. Kennedy delivered in 1960 to address concerns about his Roman Catholicism. While acknowledging his faith, Romney argued that if elected, his oath to the U.S. Constitution, rather than his faith, would outline his paramount duty.
Although Romney did not win the Republican nomination in 2008, he did run in 2012, and very little of the campaign centered around his religion or that of his running-mate, Wisconsin representative Paul Ryan, who was a Roman Catholic. A Pew study shows that the percentage of white evangelicals who voted for Romney was almost identical to the percentage of Mormons who did so .
This article was originally published in 2009 and updated in 2017 and 2019. Dennis Miles is a reference and instruction librarian at Texas Wesleyan University.
Myth : Mormons Wear ‘magic Underwear’
This one is only half mythical. Mormons who have gone to an LDS temple do wear special undergarments, but they aren’t magical.
Large and ornate LDS Temples are different from the smaller, plainer chapels where Mormons hold their Sunday services. At 168 Temples around the world, worthy church members over 18 years old can receive essential ordinances for salvation. When someone goes to the temple for the first time, they receive the temple “garment,” which is a pair of special underwear top and bottom with religious significance.
For Mormons, the garment is supposed to act as a daily reminder of important covenants made in the temple. It’s not supposed to have any magic powers, even though Bowman says Mormon folklore is full of such stories. The hotel magnate Bill Marriott, a member of the church, once told “60 Minutes“that his sacred undergarments had saved his life in a freak boating accident.
“The boat was on fire. I was on fire. I was burned. My pants were burned right off me. I was not burned above my knee. Where the garment was, I was not burned,” said Marriott. “My undergarments were not singed.”
Bowman gets why non-Mormons think it’s weird to wear special underwear, but in the context of world religions, Mormons aren’t odd at all.
“Most religious traditions require some sort of special clothing,” says Bowman. “Yarmulkes in Judaism, headscarves in Islam, some Hindus have a spot on their forehead, Turbans for Sikhs. Mormons are more typical than not.”
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The Book Of Mormon Is Another Testament Of Jesus Christ
As further confirmation of the divinity of the work Joseph Smith was called to do, the Lord revealed a volume of ancient scripture which had been recorded on the American Continent. Joseph Smith was given power to translate this record, which came to be known as the Book of Mormon. It contains the writings of prophets who lived and taught in the Americas at the time the Bible was being written in Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon contains many beautiful truths about the Savior Jesus Christ, and stands with the Bible as a second witness that Jesus was more than just a man: He was the very Messiah prophesied of in times of old, the Savior and the Redeemer of Mankind.
Because it was translated by the power of God, the Book of Mormon also serves as a witness that Joseph Smith was called by God, for if the Book of Mormon is a true record inspired by God, then Joseph Smith must also be a prophet. By knowing that Joseph Smith was a prophet, men and women can also know that the church he was led to organize is Christâs church today.
Myth : Mormons Aren’t Really Christians
In the 1980s, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints debuted a new logo with the words “Jesus Christ” in a much larger font. The Book of Mormon was also given a subtitle, “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Both of these moves were in response to the persistent myth that Mormons aren’t Christians.
Bowman says that at the heart of this misunderstanding is a legitimate question: What does it mean to be a Christian?
“The broadest and most inclusive definition of a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ,” says Bowman, and by that definition Mormons are clearly Christians.
The earthly ministry and eternal role of Jesus Christ as the savior of mankind are the focus of Mormon doctrine and worship, and faithful members strive to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ through scripture study and prayer.
But there are also narrower definitions of Christianity where Mormon beliefs can be problematic. In Catholicism and mainline Protestantism, for example, there’s the belief of the Trinity as a single Godhead manifested as three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In Mormon teachings, based on the Book of Mormon and other revelations and visions received by Joseph Smith, the Godhead is not a Trinity, but rather three separate and distinct beings acting with one will and purpose.
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What Is The Latter
For Latter-day Saints, mortal existence is seen in the context of a great sweep of history, from a pre-earth life where the spirits of all humankind lived with Heavenly Father to a future life in His presence where continued growth, learning and improving will take place. Life on earth is regarded as a temporary state in which men and women are tried and testedand where they gain experiences obtainable nowhere else. God knew humans would make mistakes, so He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would take upon Himself the sins of the world. To members of the Church, physical death on earth is not an end but the beginning of the next step in Gods plan for His children.
Church Has Been Committed To The First Amendment Principle Of Religious Freedom
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Church or LDS, has always been committed to the principle of religious freedom.
This commitment is found in one of their books of scripture called Doctrine and Covenants: We believe that religion is instituted of God and that men are amenable to him, and him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe on the rights of others…that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul .
The eleventh Article of Faith states, 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 LDS Church recognizes the necessity of government for holding people accountable for their actions and promoting the good and safety of society. The twelfth Article of Faith affirms the duty of citizens to obey the rule of law. Indeed, Mormons believe that God had a hand in the development of the U.S. Constitution.
Although the Mormons believe in religious freedom and the divine origin of the Constitution, they fared poorly early on in their relations with the government and fellow citizens.
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Prove All Things Hold Fast That Which Is Good
The FOUNDATION of Mormon beliefs is the ROCK OF REVELATION. 10 for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The Bible has been a primary source of Gods relationship with His people, laws of God, and beliefs. PILLARS of Mormon beliefs are Gods holy PROPHETS. There have never been a people that God recognized as His own without communicating with them. The Bible offers us 4,000 years of the association of God with His people. Yet, outside of this one church none have ever had a prophet to assure the people they are walking on the path of light and life.
The CHURCH OF CHRIST exists only when there is a prophet of God on earth to stand at the head. When the church was first organized by Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830according to the law of the land: freedom of religionit was organized by a prophet of God who was called of God and ordained to that office under the hands of angels. The church was soon organized with the same officers of the Melchisedec Priesthood as was the Church of Christ throughout time including under Jesus. 11 And he gave some, apostles and some, prophets and some, evangelists and some, pastors and teachers 12 FOR the perfecting of the saints, FOR the work of the ministry, FOR the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.