What Exactly is the Belief of Mormons?

Question

Okay, so let me start. :)
The other day this Mormon kid started bashing me for being Catholic. He kept saying that all other religions were a bunch of damn lies and Mormon was the best lol.
Look, I know that there HAS to be nice Mormons who are openminded and are respectful to other religions. I won't let one ignorant person ruin my impression of them. I would never stereotype anyone based on their relilgion!

Does anyone know any good sources? I can't find anything on the web but a bunch of religion bashers. I know there's a lot to this religion, but if anyone can help me that would be great. I don't know much, but so far I know that Joseph Smith added on to the bible..? I would really like to become more diverse on my knowledge of religions.

Thanks you guys! : ))))

Answer 1

These are the basic beliefs of our Church........

1 WE BELIEVE 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 immersion 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 glory.

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.




The Book of Mormon was not an "addition" to the Bible. It is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and goes hand in hand with the Bible. Many people say we have added to the Bible because of the scripture in Revelation. I have yet to find a contradiction between the 2, and have read both quite extensively.

I would tell you more, but I don't know what you want to know, so I could say anything. lol fell free to email me if you have any questions.

Answer 2

I'm also happy you didn't judge all Mormons by your friend's actions. In fact, most Mormons believe "religion bashing" is a sin. In a statement made by the first presidency in 1978, the Church proclaimed: "The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals." This respect for other religions would certainly extend to Catholics.

http:://www.exmormon.com does not paint an accurate picture of Mormonism. In fact, it contains a fair amoung of bigotry. Better sites would be http://www.mormon.org , or my own site, http://www.allaboutmormons.com

Good luck with your research! Thank you for being such an understanding person.

Answer 3

I invite you to visit www.Mormon.org. That is a site set up by the church with basic information about our faith for those who want to know what we REALLY believe.

The boy who is harassing you is not keeping with our beliefs. Our leaders continue to remind us that the best way to teach people our beliefs is through example. We have what we call the Articles of Faith- they are 13 basic statements about what we believe. The 11th states, "We claim the privilege of worshiping the Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege. Let them worship how what or where they may" So you can see that behavior is simply not in keeping with our teachings.

Answer 4

I respect your open mindedness. You met the exception, not the rule. Drizzt Prince gave you the best answer. I would ask you to focus on Article of Faith #11, We claim the priviledge of worshipping God according to the dictates of our own conscience and afford all men the same priviledge, let them worship what, where or how they may.
We believe in accentuating the positive. We don't go around bashing others. The negative approach is not Christ's way of doing things.
President Hinckley said that we invite all to come unto Christ. Bring all that is good with you. Let us add to it. I applaud you for wanting to find out for yourself.
In addition to lds.org, you can also go to mormon.org

Answer 5

I am happy to hear that you have not judged the entire church by the actions of a disrespectful person. Thank you.

Well here is a list of our basic beliefs (called the Articles of Faith)
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1

also the official website of the church has many good things to read!
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD

I would suggest the "About the Church" tab as a good place to start ...read the "Basic Beliefs"
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/

then also maybe go to the "Gospel Library" tab and then to General Conference...that is what the leaders of our Church are emphasizing and talking about at this time!
http://lds.org/conference/display/0,5234,23-1,00.html

may God bless you!

Answer 6

Thank you for not judging us by the actions of one person.
I find it interesting that after you specifically stated that all you could find on the web was bashers and asked for other sources, people still gave you sites that bash Mormons.

Anyway, you've had some great answers. The typical sites are
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/

and a few others
http://fairlds.org/
http://farms.byu.edu/

Have fun learning.

Answer 7

you want to know beliefs? check out www.mormon.org and www.lds.org You can also get a free Book of Mormon to read for yourself.

I think the kid needs to grow up. But then he is a kid.

Answer 8

Well first off, I dont think added on is really the right way to say it. He more or less just translated it diffrant and wrote it down. they belive the bible is the word of god only if it is translated right. check out LDS.org and go to history

HP=16 does not know. his souce is a anti mormon site. haha

Answer 9

Does the Mormon church condemn other religious systems?

Mormons do not like it when their Church is labeled a cult by Christians. This bothers them and they want desperately to be accepted as Christian by the Christian community. The Mormon church spends a great deal of time and money on public relations with the aim of portraying a loving, family oriented, non-condemning Christian denomination. But Christians react to this and cite the great differences in doctrine between Mormons and Christians and continue to pronounce the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a non-Christian cult.
The battle continues and Mormons try to claim that they do not go around condemning other religions like "anti-Mormons" do. They say they are forgiving, tolerant, good Christian people who don't have anything against anyone. They claim they are being more Christ-like.
Their desire for a good image is understandable. But the question remains. Does the Mormon church condemn other religious systems? The answer is definitely, "Yes." Let's look at Mormon writers and see what they have said.

Joseph Smith said . . .

(Regarding Joseph Smith's alleged first vision where celestial personages appeared to him.) . . .) "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 — and which I should join. 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 . . ." (Joseph Smith, "History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 5-6.)

"What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world." ("Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, page 270.)

(In questions directed to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. . .)
First -- "Do you believe the Bible?"
If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do."
Third — "Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?"
Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings, page 119.)

Brigham Young said. . .

"But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong." (Brigham Young, "Journal of Discourses," Vol. 2, page 171. - 1855)

John Taylor said . . .

"We talk about Christianity, but it is a perfect pack of nonsense....Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen its pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it? It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century."( Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, page 167 - 1858)

"Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (J.D.", Vol. 10, page 127. - 1863)

James Talmage said . . .

"A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". ("The Articles of Faith," Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah. P. 182.)

Bruce McConkie said . . .

"With the loss of the gospel, the nations of the earth went into a moral eclipse called the Dark Ages." ("Mormon Doctrine," Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, page. 44.)

Joseph Fielding Smith said . . .

"Again, following the death of his apostles, apostasy once more set in, and again the saving principles and ordinances of the gospel were changed to suit the conveniences and notions of the people. Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." ("Doctrines of Salvation," page 266.)

The Book of Mormon says. . .

"And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth" (1 Nephi 14:10).

"And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose foundation is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence. . ." (1 Nephi. 14:17).

The Doctrine and Covenants says . . .

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face" (Doctrine and Covenants, 112:23).


When the Mormon missionaries come to the door and do their "gospel" presentation, they mention an apostasy and the need for a prophet, their prophet, to restore the true Teachings of Jesus. Of course, these ‘restored' teachings are completely false.
Nevertheless, the Mormon church clearly condemns other religious systems. Those Mormons who complain about poor treatment should familiarize themselves with their teachers' words.
http://www.carm.org/lds/attack.htm

In an era of rapid cult growth worldwide, Christians today more than ever need the trustworthy information contained in The Kingdom of the Cults. This comprehensive new edition equips readers from every walk of life to use biblical truth to counter the efforts of cults to masquerade as mainstream Christians.
http://www.waltermartin.org/mormon.html#mormeve

"Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet...When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go." (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408, 409)
- Joseph Smith: founder, prophet, seer, and revelator of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
http://www.utlm.org
(Here is a website that will give you tons of knowledge about Mormonism.)

These people have done an excellent job researching Mormonism and can give you lots of knowledge, too:
http://www.irr.org/mit/Default2.html

Answer 10

I have Mormon friends and they go to

www.lds.org


The org. stands for "organization," which means it's the real deal, this is their official church sponsored website.

Good luck.