Mormons? Can you define what they are?

Question

I don't understand what they are.
Thanx

OLDGIT- the library unfortunatly is closed at this time for me(it's 9.40pm)

And actually the comments are good....

apart from yours of course

Answer 1

Here is one thing that can help explain who we are. I have found this to be about the best explanation.

Latter-day Saints, unlike many other Christian traditions, do not accept the definitions of God as created by the Greek philosophers. Our beliefs about the Godhead "are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]." (The Holy Bible, Ephesians 2:20)
Using the apostolic and prophetic teachings as our base, Latter-day Saints believe in the Jesus who was the preexistent Word of the Father; that was the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; that was the God of Abraham , Isaac, and Jacob; that was the Only Begotten Son of God who was born to the virgin Mary in the town of Bethlehem; that was baptized by John; that healed the sick and raised the dead, that walked on water, multiplied loaves and fishes, and performed many other miracles; that set a perfect example for mankind to emulate and that all men and women are commanded to follow his teachings and example in all things.
We believe that Jesus suffered in the garden and on the cross, until he finally died as a willing sacrifice for mankind in order to bring about an infinite atonement through the shedding of his blood. After his death, we believe that he was physically resurrected and that he ascended into the heavens, from which he will come at the end of this world to establish his kingdom upon the earth and eventually to judge both the living and the dead. We believe Jesus is and was the Holy Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the world and all those who will follow him. Finally, we believe in the Jesus who is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.

Now that we have established the identity of the Jesus Christ in whom Latter-day Saints believe, may I ask who is the Jesus in whom you believe?

A dictionary defines a Christian as "one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus," and "one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus." Thus two characteristics identify Christians: First, they profess belief in the Savior, and second, they act in harmony with the Savior's teachings. Faithful members of the Church called Saints or Latter-day Saints, qualify clearly in both characteristics. In our belief and our action, we demonstrate that "Jesus Christ Himself (is) the chief corner stone" of our faith.

1 We abelieve in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by eimmersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 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.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal gglory.
11 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.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 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, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Answer 2

You can find a lot of the temple ritual in the Bible and Pearl of Great Price, a little in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. In answer to your next question I will site our 9th Article of Faith "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." Yes any changes in the temple ceremony come from God through the current prophet. I do not know or care what all has been leaked out so I cannot provide an educated answer to this question. I do not find any of them "bizarre", however I can imagine that for someone looking at a '"leaked" version of one of the temple rituals, the temple rituals could seem very strange, especially without the aid of the Holy Ghost to help you understand them.

Answer 3

it's an offshoot of Christianity, started in the 19th Century (or was it earlier?) by one guy (was it Joseph Smith?). It's popular in one corner of the USA.

They have their own book instead of the Bible. Regular common-or-garden Christians don't regard them as Christians at all.

They have a particular style of spreading their gospel - it's usually two men, or a man and a woman, smartly dressed and with little badges on reading "Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints" and the name of the person thus: "Elder Bob".

I had a friend at school who was a Mormon. She was NICE. Mmmm. But no joy there, hey ho.

I went (not by choice) to a Mormon-run theme park in Hawaii. It was AWFUL. Yeaauggghhh. But they were nice people, despite insisting on calling their visitors "cousin". Like: you're not a "brother" yet; you have to join if you want that title.

One thing that I think a Muslim would really not like about Mormons: they won't serve you coffee. I am seriously with the Muslims on the subject of coffee. The more the better. Nuff said.

Answer 4

The term Mormon [6] was first used in modern times in the 1830s as a pejorative to describe those who believed that Joseph Smith, Jr. had been called as a prophet of God, and who accepted the Book of Mormon as scripture.

According to Latter-day Saint theology, the term Mormon also refers to a prophet who lived in the Americas in the 4th century A.D. He was called of God to abridge and compile the records of his people and their dealings with God into a single book. This book is now known as the Book of Mormon. After Mormon's death, his son Moroni witnessed the complete destruction of his people and buried the record compiled by his father in a hill in what is now upstate New York. This same Moroni, more than 1400 years later, was sent by God as a messenger to Smith who went to the place where the record was buried, and with a great deal of help from God, Smith translated the record into English. After Smith was murdered in 1844 at the hands of a mob in a Carthage, Illinois jail, the largest body of Latter-day Saints followed Brigham Young, who eventually became President of his denomination, in an exodus to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving there in July of 1847. Smaller groups of Saints followed other claimants to the church presidency, some staying behind in Nauvoo, Illinois, and others dispersing to separate locations.

Answer 5

Mormons believe in the Bible but think certain parts were mistranslated. They have added three other books to the Bible. Mormons consider themselves Christians but originally didn't want to be associated with the name Christian. They believed all other religions were wrong...including all other Christians. Over the years they then wanted to be called Christian.

Their beliefs are interesting. They marry for life and for eternal life. They will each be given a planet to populate with spiritual children. Our God is a lesser god of many and was given planet Earth to be a god over.

Answer 6

Mormon's are belivers in the Church of Lader Day Saints. They believe Utah is holy land and that new prophets have come. They believe that the lord's word came on golden tablets and that only certian people can see them. It is a unique religion.

Answer 7

In 1823 an angel called Mormon appeared to Joseph Smith and revealed to him the book of Mormon. The book was written on Gold tablets that the angel gave Joe special glasses to be able to read, after he had read it the angel took the glasses away and destroyed the tablets. Joe then wrote down the Book of Mormon. Although originally supported by his family, he became estranged from them later in his life, their support for his new religion withdrawn.

Teachings of the Mormon Church include the possibility of baptism by proxy and when a man dies he will become the god of his own planet and his wives will serve him for all eternity.

Please do not confuse this bizarre cult with any form of Christianity - it is not.

Answer 8

They are sincere, decent, law-abiding people who have accepted extra-biblical revelation as if it were God's gospel truth. As with every religion that claims to be truly adhering to the Bible yet which has its own 'special' writings that are equally (if not more) authoritative than the Bible, they are pseudo-Christians.

I had a lady come over from the US who was a third generation Mormon and she spoke to local LDS people who came to listen to her talk. She had with her the sacred under-garments that must be worn, and gently and lovingly revealed many things that LDS people would rather the public did not know about. And not all LDS people themselves know the extent of what goes on in their religion. It takes one to know one, and my friend had been brought up as one but became a Christian and then wanted to reach out to LDS people to show them the critical differences between the gospel of the Bible and the gospel of Joseph Smith.

You could e-mail me directly if you want specific details, or go to www.reachouttrust.org

Answer 9

They're just another false religion. Some bloke called Joseph Smith claimed he found an old book in a field, supposedly a revelation from the Arch Angel Gabriel (sounds familar). Apparently, it was claimed to be more authoritive than the Bible (also sounds familiar). The final clincher that it is a false religion is that part of the Mormon faith was male poligamy (also sounds familiar).

Answer 10

Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their founder is Joseph Smith. He claimed to have restored Christianity to its original form. However, their teachings are not in line with Christianity. They believe in multiple gods, that the God of this earth was once a man on another planet who became the God that He is today...that this God has at least one wife...and that Jesus Christ & Satan are brothers.

You can learn more about them from the links I'll provide in the "sources" section of this answer.

Answer 11

Mormons didn't let black men be priests until the 1970s.
The believe that a man can have multiple wives in the afterlife (it doesn't work the other way around).