Is the Mormon church the same in Baltimore, MD or Grand Rapids, MI the same as it is in Idaho or Utah?

Question

Please don't just say Yes, please provide reasons why you think that.

I have specific experience that would suggest otherwise, although technically everything that has been said in response is correct.

Answer 1

Yes...and you should know why since you seem to think you know more about my faith than I do.

Answer 2

Yes it is the same doctrine, with different people.

The church has manuals that they put out for all the classes. The entire church teaches from these manuals every week. Each ward should be on the same lesson every week, there may be a variation of a lesson or two- depending on local Stake Conference schedules.

The church policy states that nothing is allowed to be taught in class that does not come from church published materials. Sometimes teachers will stray a bit from that, but most are good. They made that policy because they want to make sure that we were being taught correct church doctrine at our Sunday Meetings.

The Meeting schedules are pretty Much the same too- Sacrament Meeting- then Sunday School (adults and kids 12-18)/Primary(Children under 18)- Then Relief Society (women) /Priesthood (men) / Young Men (boys 12-18) Part of priesthood actually/ Young Women (girls 12-18) and Primary.

The main variation will be the talks in sacrament meeting. They are assigned by the local leaders and the subject is assigned by the bishop. But the basic meeting, will be the same in every ward anywhere in the world. Sometimes some modifications are made depending on ward size. Like the primary kids are divided into age groups and meet separately according to the age group- in wards or branches with a few primary kids, they may combine all the kids into one class- but the doctrine is still the same.

Edit***
I speak only of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are other groups who call themselves Mormon but are not LDS Like the Fundamendalist Church which practices polygamy, or the Re-Organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, now the Community of Christ, they split from the main body of the Church after the death Of Joseph Smith because they claimed that his heirs should run the church.

Also the Policies regarding what can and cannot be taught in church have been tightened up over the last 20 years or so.

Answer 3

Doctrinally yes

There is latitude on non-essential stuff like say facial hair on leaders -- some ares it's a no no and others it's OK

People-wise -- each congregation is unique. I am not a friendly person but I usually have friends in every ward I have gone too. This ward I have been in for 8 years I have never had a friend nor do I get invited to parties (except the ones at church) Everyone "likes me" but not enough to give my wife a baby shower -- see what I mean. This does not effect my testimony, but you can tell that this ward has it's problems.

Utah Mormons are more neurotic than west coast and east coast Mormons. Mormons in the islands are more friendly that those in the states.

Mormons are different everywhere -- but the doctrines are the same because we correlate our Sunday schools lessons and so forth. Our leaders meet regularly with general leaders from Area Authorities and General Authorities.

Answer 4

There will be little difference in the chapels, the lesson plan or the sacrament. The difference may be in the people. When in you grow up and live in an area where the majority share your faith, you may have a different attitude than when you are a disctint minority.

I believe most outside Utah enter the church expecting to most members will follow the commandments. In Utah there may be an acceptance that cousin Fred is a 'Jack Mormon'. In Utah, there may be less understanding when a family member breaks entirely from the church. Outside Utah, I am saddened when a friend goes inactive, but I recognize it as a choice they can make.

Answer 5

It's been my experience that it is. I've been to churches in Nevada, California, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Utah, and Arizona. I have sisters that live in D.C and Baltimore, and used to live in Connecticut that went to church there. The cultures may be a little different. In the midwest where the members are spread out more, they don't get together as often. In Utah we had break-the-fast potlucks every month.
We have the same Sunday school lessons every week, and twice a month, we have the same Priesthood/Relief Society lessons world-wide. Like next Sunday, I could call my sisters after church and we could talk about what we learned. The Church has handbooks of instructions for the leaders of wards and stakes that give guidelines for them to follow.
They even have world-wide leadership training meetings over satellite broadcast.

Answer 6

I grew up in Scotland and attended many services there, even within different congregations. I have also attended meetings in England, Wales, Pennsylvania, California, Utah, Idaho and Montana. The Church teachings and principles are the same. The structure is the same.

The difference in Utah and Idaho is there are more LDS members per capita and LDS things are more readily available there: bookstores, distribution centres, D.I., more chapels and stake centres, LDS literature in Wal-Mart, Temples are closer, a greater chance to not know people in your Stake, child baptisms are performed in the Stake, 3-4 babies are blessed every Fast Sunday, and chances are higher that a neighbour may be LDS.

Answer 7

It is the same just different people attending the services. We have a Sunday sacrament meeting where the Bishopric or Stake leaders choose who gives the talks or sermon at church for that Sunday. After that we have a Sunday school class that we study the scriptures. All the churches have the same study guide but they may be on different lessons once in a while however they are studying the same thing. Like we study the Old testament or the New testament etc.

Answer 8

Yes, they have the same Prophet, apostles, quorum of the seventy . . . They all watch the same General Conference. They all have the same Ensign, New Era, and Children's Friend. The leaders of the church are called in the same way all over the world. They all have the same scriptures (BOM, D&C, Pearl of Great Price, and Bible). They all perform the same sacrament and other church ordinances and meetings. They have the same temples and ordinances. Baptism is the same and so is the ordaining of the priesthood. They all receive the same inspiration from the same Heavenly Father . . . What other reasons did you want?

Answer 9

First of all Jon, the part that believes in polygamy is called the REORGANIZED Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they broke away from the church because they felt that the presidency should be handed down from father to son, and the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), believe that the Prophet is called by God.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same the world over, the same principals and ordinances are the same all over. They teach the same lessons all over. The books they study out of is the BIBLE, the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants.
We believe in God the Eternal Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit). We believe that they are 3 separate personages with one reason.

Answer 10

Wazzup Frank?

I live in Baltimore, MD (WHYYYYYYYYYYYY) and I know people from Utah, especially missionaries and I know that the church is the same anywhere in the worl, even in your town!!!

Answer 11

Yes. We are all Mormons. Although the accent is very different and the terrain is very different. But in the religious perspective, yes.