Mormonism
Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement, and specifically, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The term derives from the word Mormon, which was originally used as a pejorative term[1] to describe those who believed in the Book of Mormon, a sacred text that adherents believe to be "another testament of Jesus Christ" and testifies of the Bible as part of the religion's canon. There are many subsects of Mormonism, all of which claim to be the true interpretation of Joseph Smith's original teachings. It is common for the different denominations of Mormonism to object to use of the term by other groups. The LDS Church, the largest subsect of Mormonism, states that the term is only "acceptable in describing the combination of doctrine, culture and lifestyle unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."[2] Historically the term has been used very broadly and can mean members of the LDS church, smaller offshoot faiths, or members of Fundamentalist Mormon faiths, with little agreement on a definitive use.
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Basic beliefs
Because of the diversity of beliefs among various Mormon sects, the basic tenets of Mormonism can only be described in the broadest sense. The foundation of Mormonism is that Joseph Smith, Jr. was visited by angels, the Judeo-Christian God (whom Mormons call Elohim), and Jesus (also called Jehovah by Mormons). These divine beings instructed him that all faiths were corrupt and that with the help of a book (The Book of Mormon) engraved on golden plates written by ancient Native Americans and buried in a nearby hill, he could restore the true religion as founded by Jesus Christ himself, with all rites, rituals, and doctrines as they were in primitive Christianity.
A document laying out the core beliefs of Mormonism, the Articles of Faith were composed by Smith as part of an 1842 letter sent to John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. Most Latter Day Saint denominations view the articles as an authoritative statement of basic theology.
The Articles of Faith are as follows:
- We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
- We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
- We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
- 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.
- 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.
- We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
- We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 this, the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
- We claim the privilege of worshipping 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.
- We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
- 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.
Mormonism and Christianity
Christianity PortalMormonism is a restorationist Christian religion, with its origins firmly rooted in the Second Great Awakening.[3] There is much confusion and controversy over whether or not Mormonism should be called a Christian faith due to several factors. Today, the major differences between Mormonism and other Christian churches include the LDS church's views on the Trinity; the nature and purpose of Jesus Christ; baptism, the meaning of salvation, eternal life, "The Gospel," and the afterlife; its temple worship; and its open canon. Mormon cosmology is also substantially different from that of historical Christianity. Given its stance on the Trinity, traditional Christian denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion and most branches of Protestantism consider the teachings of Mormonism heretical. One recent Pew Research poll shows only 52 percent of Americans believe that Mormonism is a Christian denomination. However, among traditional Christians, more than six in ten said Mormonism and their own religion are very different and 57 respondents out of 1,461--3.9%--associated Mormonism with the word "cult."[4][5]
Despite these differences, Mormons and Christians hold similarly conservative views on social issues and often work together in political or humanitarian causes, most recently opposing same-sex marriages with Proposition 8. However, doctrinal conflicts between Mormonism and other Christian denominations remain. Mormonism does not accept the baptism of any other Christian church and rejects the apostolic succession of those churches that claim its existence. Some Christian denominations have acknowledged that Mormonism does not share their apostolic Christian tradition and have also declared Mormon baptisms to be invalid.[6] The issues listed below are a small sample of many talking points, although whether or not they argue for or against the inclusion of Mormonism within the category of Christianity depends entirely on individual viewpoints.
Lack of Roots in Historical Christianity
Its late emergence in the historical Christian tradition makes it arguably part of alternative modern faith systems rather than a traditional Christian faith. While Joseph Smith and almost all of his original followers were members of various Protestant faiths and much of the trappings of Mormon church services resemble New England style Protestantism, the rituals of the Mormon temple have no historical equivalent within Christianity. Mormons consider use of the cross in ritual, decoration, or apparel to be forbidden. However, Mormons celebrate the two most important Christian holidays (Christmas and Easter) and refer to Jesus Christ as their savior and head of their faith, with prophets, apostles, and other leaders acting as his representatives.
The Nature of God
Mormonism differs markedly from the mainstream Christian view of the identity and nature of God. Elohim, the god of Mormonism, is similar to the Judeo-Christian God in that he is male, the deity of this world, and is identified as the father of Jesus Christ. From here the differences are numerous. Mormons believe that God posesses a body of flesh and bone, was not always a deity but progressed to become one by following Mormon teachings as a human being on another world. Human souls are literal offspring of God, which is the doctrinal origin of the necessity of polygamy as many wives were needed to populate the many planets created by Elohim.[7] Mormonism is also arguably a polytheistic faith in that it teaches that God was once a man who became a god, as did his father before him. Mormonism also holds that human men may become gods. Whether or not women can become deities as well in this system of advancement is ambiguous, controversial, and varies considerably by sect. The nature of Jesus is also notably different in that the virgin birth has been denied in favor of the doctrinal teaching that Jesus was the result of a marriage and sexual union between Elohim and the Virgin Mary. These views were expressed most specifically by Orson Pratt[8] and Brigham Young[9], although whether these teachings are canonical, or whether a non-virgin birth of Christ disqualifies Mormonism as a Christian faith varies among individuals and sects.
Scripture
Mormonism teaches that the Gospel of Christ has existed since the days of Adam and Eve, and that throughout history apostasy from this gospel in its pure form led to the need for a restoration. Mormons believe that their doctrine has existed on the Earth throughout history, but at different eras was lost and later restored. Most notably Mormons believe the Great Apostasy occurred after the death of Saint Peter and the other original twelve apostles and the calling of Joseph Smith marked a new restoration that has continued to this day.[10]
The Book of Mormon, published in 1830 in Palmyra, New York, alleges to be a sacred record written by Native Americans practicing Christianity between 600 BCE and 400 CE. Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon is holy scripture and, as another testament of Jesus Christ, a companion to the Bible. Many Christians have held that the Book of Mormon is a fabrication by Smiths, or that it denies the completeness of the Bible as the word of God.
Mormonism and Judaism
- See also: Mormonism and Judaism
Because of the incorporation of many Old Testament ideas into its theology, Mormonism has a historical affinity for Judaism. The beliefs of Mormons sometimes parallel those of Judaism and certain elements of Jewish culture. This is primarily from what are historical and doctrinal connections with Judaism.
Joseph Smith Jr. named the largest Mormon settlement he founded Nauvoo, which means "to be beautiful" in Hebrew. Brigham Young named a tributary of the Great Salt Lake the "Jordan River." The LDS Church created a writing scheme called the Deseret Alphabet, which was based, in part, on Hebrew. Currently, the LDS Church has a Jerusalem Center in Israel, at which some college-aged youth study and learn to appreciate and respect the region.[11]
The LDS church also teaches that its adherents are members of the House of Israel. Patriarchal blessings are received by most individuals in their youth. Among other things, this blessing's purpose is to declare one's lineage; in other words, to which of the twelve tribes of Israel the individual belongs.
Conversely, there has been some controversy involving Jewish groups who see the actions of some elements of Mormonism as offensive. In the 1990s, Jewish groups vocally opposed the LDS practice of baptism for the dead on behalf of Jewish victims of the Holocaust and Jews in general. According to LDS Church general authority Monte J. Brough, "Mormons who baptized 380,000 Holocaust victims posthumously were motivated by love and compassion and did not understand their gesture might offend Jews ... they did not realize that what they intended as a 'Christian act of service' was 'misguided and insensitive.'".[12]
Mormonism and polygamy
Mormonism has been closely associated in public discourse with polygamy. In the 1830s, Joseph Smith, Jr. instituted a form of polygamy in which one man would have several wives (but not the reverse), referred to as plural marriage, which Brigham Young promoted after the LDS church's move to the Utah Territory. According to his own statements, Joseph Smith, Jr. was more than a little uneasy at facing the institution of plural marriage, and said that he did so only after being warned through subsequent divine revelation that he should begin the practice or "be destroyed";[13] however, not all members practiced polygamy.
Upon learning about the practice, mainstream churches and political forces in the United States mounted a vigorous campaign to stamp it out. The United States Congress passed laws criminalizing the practice and dissolved polygamous families, disincorporated the LDS Church, and began seizing church property. A few months after a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of the Federal government's actions to disincorporate the LDS church and force the forfeiture of its property, the church issued its 1890 Manifesto renouncing the practice of polygamy. Today, the LDS Church asserts the time for polygamy has ended, rejects the practice, and excommunicates members who engage in it. In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy."
The 1890 renunciation of polygamy by the LDS Church also led to a number of schisms involving relatively small groups who today describe themselves as Mormon fundamentalists and who still practice polygamy as well as other elements of 19th-century Mormonism that have been rejected or denounced by the LDS Church. These organizations believe that their doctrines and practices remain true to the original teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young.
See also
- Blacks and the Latter Day Saint movement
- Criticism of Mormonism
- God Loveth His Children (Homosexuality and Mormonism)
- List of articles about Mormonism
- Polygamy within Mormonism
Notes
- ↑ Terms used in the LDS Restorationist movement ReligiousTolerance.org
- ↑ Style Guide - LDS Newsroom
- ↑ "Self Described Religious Identification of U.S. Adult Population, 1990-2001". Retrieved on 2008-08-02.
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "Public Expresses Mixed Views of Islam, Mormonism", 2007-09-25.
- ↑ "Poll: Americans More Negative on Islam". The Associated Press, 25 September 2007. Pulled from Google News. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-25-2828128831_x.htm.
- ↑ Vatican Warns of Mormon 'Baptism of the Dead' - Catholic Online
- ↑ "If none but gods will be permitted to multiply immortal children, it follows that each God must have one or more wives. God, the Father of our spirits, became the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh." (Orson Pratt, The Seer, page 158)
- ↑ "The fleshly body of Jesus required a Mother as well as a Father. Therefore, the Father and Mother of Jesus, according to the flesh, must have been associated together in the capacity of Husband and Wife; hence the Virgin Mary must have been, for the time being, the lawful wife of God the Father: we use the term lawful Wife, because it would be blasphemous in the highest degree to say that He overshadowed her or begat the Savior unlawfully . . . Inasmuch as God was the first husband to her, it may be that He only gave her to be the wife of Joseph while in the mortal state, and that He intended after the resurrection to again take her as one of his own wives to raise up immortal spirits in eternity." (Orson Pratt, The Seer, page 158)
- ↑ "The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 11:268)
- ↑ Discourse given by Joseph Smith on May 12, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Samuel W. Richards; quoted in The Words of Joseph Smith, ed. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook [1980], 371)~~~~
- ↑ BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies
- ↑ Pyle, Richard. ""Mormons, Jews sign agreement on baptizing Holocaust victims."". Retrieved on 2007-01-04. AP Newswire, May 5, 1995.
- ↑ (Journal of Discourses, Vol.20, p.28 - p.29, Joseph F. Smith, July 7, 1878)
External links
- Official Mormon
- Mormon.org — church beliefs
- [1] — The Living Christ: Official LDS belief on Jesus Christ
- The Church of Latter-day Saints — church website
- Jesus Christ, The Son of God (LDS website)
- Joseph Smith — church website on Joseph Smith
- Other
- Mormon Studies - academic and cultural study of Mormonism
- Joseph Smith Papers — forthcoming scholarly collection of extant Joseph Smith documents
- PBS: Frontline + American Experience: Mormons — PBS special on Mormon belief
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