I believe these are people from the English Church who are allowed to marry more than one woman?
2007-10-04 22:55:05 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think I'm the first actual Mormon to answer your question, so I think I speak with authority. Most of what has already been said is incorrect. TeePee in particular.
The "Mormon" Church founded in 1830 in New York State when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a young boy, Joseph Smith, in answer to his prayer. He was later directed to restore Jesus Christ's true church which all the doctrines, beliefs and practices which had been lost or corrupted over the centuries. The Church now has 13 million members worldwide. It is called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but many people nickname members "Mormons" because we believe in the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible.
There was a time, very early on, when Mormons practiced polygamy. The church was persecuted a great deal (still is, judging from some of these answers) and many of the men were killed. The widows and orphans were taken in by other families, but because Mormons are so strict about the law of chastity, Joseph Smith asked God how men might care for these women under their own roofs without committing sin. In reply God permitted them to take these women as additional wives.
Once Utah was established, the danger was over and there were more men again, the practice was discontinued, again by direction of God. That was well over 100 years ago. However, there are some offshoots which do not accept this revelation and want to continue to practice polygamy. The may call themselves Mormons, but they are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any member who supports or practices polygamy is excommunicated.
The church believes in the sanctity of the family, and that the family unit can be eternal. We believe in living exemplary lives and we have a strict moral code which forbids alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and harmful drugs. Most of all, however, we believe the Jesus Christ is our saviour and that He atoned for our sins so that we could be forgiven and have a living relationship with our Heavenly Father.
More information is available at www.mormon.org.
2007-10-05 00:30:26 · answer #1 · answered by sunnyannie 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The correct spelling is Mormon, but they don't call themselves that. They call themselves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You might see it abreviated as LDS.
They are an offshoot of traditional Christianity founded by Joseph Smith in the 1800's in the U.S. They were persecuted on the east coast, and so migrated westward. On the way a lot of the men died, and they made it legal for the surviving men to have more than one wife, so that all the women would have a family to protect them. After they reached Utah they continued to practice polygamy until the U.S. government cracked down on them, and they officially disproved it. Although some extremist Mormom offshoots still practice polygamy, it is not approved of by the mainstream LDS church.
2007-10-05 06:04:37 · answer #2 · answered by Theresa 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Mormons (not mormans) are primarily the LDS, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They came from the Church of Christ as it was called originally in 1830 (it's true LDS folks, look it up). They are are restoration church, meaning they came from no church but are a restoration. When Joseph Smith was killed by a "Christian" mob the church broke into many factions, the largest was Brigham Young's faction who went to Utah.
The Brighamite or LDS faction instituded polygamy and racisms against Africans. Joseph Smith practiced neither and publically denounced polygamy. Some say he did it secretly but it depends on which history you believe, the Brighamite faction, the antis, or other Restoration factions. What I am certain of is the Book of Mormon itself bitterly condemns polygamy calling it a whoredom and abomination before God, no excuses, no exceptions, and those who do such things shall be thrust down to hell period.
LDS offer up many excuses as to why they had many wives, each are full of holes. They still defend the practice today but excommunicate any who actually do it, a rather strange dichotomy.
Today there are some 100 different Restoration churches that believe in the Bible and Book of Mormon. The LDS is by far the largest. There are some smaller factions that are more like a Protestant church such as the Baptists or SDAs. There are a few very small kook factions such as Warren Jeffs FLDS that still practice polygamy. Again polygamy is bitterly opposed by the Book of Mormon as well as many other LDS (the large Utah faction) beliefs.
The Book of Mormon says:
Jacob 2:24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
2007-10-05 07:09:16 · answer #3 · answered by Technoman 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
No..they arent English. I think youre thinking of like the Warren Jeffs guy. He made up his own thing, and called himself like reformed mormon or something. Its not what mainstream mormonism is. He is just a weirdo. Mormons dont have more than 1 wife. Its illegal too, and they generally try to live the laws of the land. So that wouldnt work either! Just do a search for questions on here and type in mormon and you'll get loads of answers. Or there's always mormon.org or lds.org.
2007-10-05 06:06:03 · answer #4 · answered by Barefoot 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A very very deceived and misinformed cult who think they can become gods, by their good works and countless lives of progressions Gods true word the bible only says it is appointed unto man once to die (once that mean this life) then judgment. In their books or teaching is still written that in heaven polygamy will continue on so when they say they don't believe that they lie or simply don't know this is so. By the way Satan the father of all lies said to Eve if she ate of the fruit that they would become like God. that was a lie and still is today, and many have been deceived by Satan and led astray. A million years of a mans good works will not take away one sin. Only Jesus and Jesus alone is able to forgive sin. All our works are as filthy rags to Him completely useless.
2007-10-05 06:18:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
They are the people of the magic enscribed Golden Plates that only one man saw before they disappeared again.
2007-10-05 05:59:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
They are simply a group of people that have beliefs that will send them straight to hell.
2007-10-05 06:00:18 · answer #7 · answered by witness 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Just another American religious cult.
2007-10-05 06:03:25 · answer #8 · answered by Riley 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋