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beliefs of mormonism
The basic beliefs of Mormonism are that God is our Father and the Creator of the world, Jesus Christ is his Son and the Savior of mankind through whom alone we can be saved, and that the Holy Ghost testifies of God and Jesus Christ and guides men on earth. The path that leads to salvation through Jesus, which He described as the straight and narrow path, consists of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism in His name, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end in faith and righteousness relying wholly upon the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. This path, along with the knowledge that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was resurrected is, according to the beliefs of Mormonism, called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gospel means good news and the good news is that Jesus Christ has overcome physical and spiritual death, both of which prevented us from returning to live with our Heavenly Father again.
These represent the fundamental beliefs of Mormonism about God and salvation. Mormonism’s beliefs about life also include the Plan of Salvation, also called the Plan of Happiness, which includes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also explains where we came from,why we are here ( the Purpose of Life), and where we are going. According to Mormon beliefs, all mankind lived before this life as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. God presented us with a plan which included life on this earth and the mission of Jesus Christ. We accepted it and have been sent down here to live and grow. Only by making choices and learning from own mistakes can we grow to become more like God. We live in a world where good and evil coexist and we can be tempted to do both wrong and right. This ability to choose, called agency, is essential for growth. Because God knew we would all make mistakes, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the whole world and enable us to return to God’s presence where we will be judged according to our works. The path which leads to salvation in the Kingdom of God is the gospel of Jesus Christ. After death, according to Mormon beliefs, we will return to the Spirit world and there await the resurrection and the judgment. Jesus Christ will be the ultimate judge and will assign to each person a kingdom according to their works and faith on Him.
Another important belief of Mormonism is that God sends prophets to make His plan and His Gospel known. The Bible contains the records of the ancient prophets who taught the people of Israel and Judea and later the whole world.Mormons believe that God still sends prophets today, who have authority from God to teach and baptize people in His Name. The first of thesemodern prophets was Joseph Smith, who translated the Book of Mormon and received many important revelations which help us understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The most important role of a prophet is to testify of Jesus Christ. The Mormon Church still has prophets today who continue to be guided by revelation from God.
mormon religion
Mormon religion, or Mormonism, consists of the beliefs, traditions, and religious rites practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The nickname, Mormon, comes from the Mormon belief in the Book of Mormon as a second witness to Jesus Christ and as Holy Scripture comparable to the Bible. The Mormon religion is centered on Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world and Mormons believe that His sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross as the pivotal event in man’s relationship to God. Unlike most other Christian religions,Mormons believe thatJesus Christ still speaks to prophets on the earth today and that scripture is still being revealed. The first of the modern day prophets was Joseph Smith, who translated the Book of Mormon.
Mormon beliefs and practices encompass the whole of life. Mormons believe that the family is sacred and that marriage can last throughout 
eternity if it is bound by God’s power, called priesthood, in Mormon temples. Mormon beliefs also include the importance of faith, baptism in Jesus’ name for those old enough to understand and choose for themselves, and the power of the Holy Spirit in one’s every day life. Mormons believe that everyone should be anxiously engaged in doing good and in helping others. Mormons teach that the purpose of life is to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally through our experiences and that difficulties are part of God’s plan to help us learn how to become more like Him: more humble, loving, and patient. Mankind is by nature good, for we are made in God’s image, but we are weak because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, but through Jesus Christ all mankind can be saved if they obey God by being baptized and striving to keep the commandments.
ex mormon
Ex-Mormon, also written as exmormon or exmo, generally refers to those persons who have voluntarily chosen to leaven the Mormon Church because they disagreed either with its teachings, or with the practices of the Church. While technically anyone who has left Mormonism may be termed anEx-Mormon , the term is usually reserved for those who, after leaving, oppose Mormonism. Ex-Mormons do not constitute a single group and are only defined by what they oppose: the Mormon Church,Mormon beliefs, and its members. Some ex-Mormons join other churches, such as Evangelical Christian or Catholic, and some become agnostic or secular humanist. Their only common factor is opposition and hostility to Mormonism. As such, they can be classified as Anti-Mormon.
Because Mormonism is distinct subculture with its own traditions and even vocabulary, transition out of Mormonism can represent a very real culture shock. A similar problem confronts those converting to Mormonism. Ex-Mormons feel that this means Mormonism is a cult, but really it only shows that Mormonism has a unique culture that separates it in some aspects from the broader American culture. Also, sinceMormonism is very family oriented , transition from the Mormon Church can also mean a painful break with family. The emphasis Mormons place on cooperation means that they frequently work together communally to help one another. In modern American culture, which is highly individualistic, such communal cooperation is viewed negatively. Among Ex-Mormon, such cooperation is portrayed as “group think,” whereas for Mormons it represents fulfilling Jesus’ admonition to serve one another.
Many ex-Mormons feel that faithful members must be brainwashed or easily duped to continue being Mormons. In chat rooms and in ex-Mormon literature, Mormons are invariably portrayed as incapable of free-thought. This is obviously untrue as the many examples of faithful Mormons in every conceivable field at various universities, businesses, and governments throughout the world show. The truth is that ex-Mormons, having rejected as foolish what they once believed, must find someone to blame and so they inveigh the Mormon Church and its members for supposedly tricking them. Ex-Mormons do this to preserve their own sense of pride and to find an excuse for their behavior.
anti mormon
Anti-mormon, also spelled antimormon, refers to those who actively oppose the mission of the Mormon Church by spreading innuendo, hate literature, and misinformation. While not everyone who disagrees with Mormonism is automatically an anti-Mormon, the term is often used that way among Mormons who, because of their history of persecution, are sometimes overly sensitive to such criticism.
The most vocal anti mormonism revolves around the anti-cult movement among evangelical Christians who seek to portray Mormonism as counter to Christianity, a dangerous cult, and a threat to their own congregations because of Mormonism’s active missionary efforts. Secularists are also alarmed at the growth of Mormonism, though they are less likely to publish hate literature attacking Mormonism and its beliefs, though some groups, often comprised of disillusioned exmormons turned natural humanists, do actively oppose Mormonism.
Most anti-Mormon attacks center on one of very few areas of disagreement: Mormon temples, Mormonism’s historical practice of polygamy, the characters of the prophets Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, or the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Anti-Mormons attempt to portray Joseph Smith as disreputal or the Book of Mormon as contradictory to the Bible.
While undoubtedly these have had some effect on Mormons, one of the most interesting reactions to anti-Mormonism has been the growth of the Mormon apologetic community, especially since the growth of the Internet. This includes FARMS, FAIRLDS, Jefflindsay.com, SHIELDS, and a host of other smaller sites and organization who defend Mormon beliefs and the Mormon Church.
Mormon beliefs
The basic Mormon beliefs are those doctrines believed by members of the Mormon Church, properly called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First and foremost, Mormons believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the World. Some other Christians do not believe that Mormons are Christians, since some doctrines of Mormonism differ from those of other Christian denominations.
Central to Mormon belief is the Godhead: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They are three distinct persons united in power, glory, and attributes. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfect. He is the creator of the world. Humans are the spirit children of God, the Father, and He has created this earth and placed mankind upon it as a place for testing and personal growth. God has a plan to provide mankind with experiences and growth, but because we all sin during this process, Jesus Christ came as Savior to redeem mankind from the Fall and to save us from death. This plan is called the Plan of Salvation.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to man’s relationship to God and is an integral part of the Plan of Salvation. The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ’s mission to save mankind from the physical and spiritual deaths which are the result of our sins. Through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sin, baptism by immersion in His name, laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end by following the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, a person will be saved from their sins. All mankind will be resurrected. This constitutes the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is the core of Mormonism.
Mormons have many other beliefs, some of which are shared by other Christians and some of which are not. Some of the more notable differences are that Mormons believe in continuing revelation through living prophets.Joseph Smith was the first prophet since the days of the Bible. Mormons believe that there are other scriptures besides the Bible; the Book of Mormon is one of them. Mormons also believe in Eternal Marriage, a ceremony performed in Mormon temples. Also in Mormon temples, baptism for the dead is performed to give those who died without it a chance for salvation.
A summary of basic Mormon beliefs was written by the Prophet Joseph Smith and is called, the Articles of Faith.
Mormon church history
The history of the Mormon Church is one of faith and sacrifice. From the earliest days of Mormonism’s history until today, faithful Mormons have had to overcome tremendous obstacles to remain faithful. While Mormons do not face violent mobs today as they once did, members must confront a busy, secularized world that attacks the core values of faith in God.
Joseph Smith was the first prophet of the Mormon Church and its founder. In 1820, the young Joseph was troubled by how to come closer to God and Jesus Christ. He saw much confusion in the world and prayed to God. In response to this pray he experienced his First Vision in which God and Jesus appeared to him. Later he was called to a prophet.Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and received revelations just as biblical prohpets did. He organized the Mormon Church with priesthood authority from God.
Over the next several years, the Mormon Church was forced to move, first to Ohio, then to Missouri, Illinois, and finally to Utah. Joseph Smith received many revelations from God before his murder in 1844. He revealed the plan of salvation,the need for Temples, the eternal nature of the family, and the destiny of mankind. After his death, Brigham Young led the Mormon pioneers to Utah where they Church headquarters remains today.
In Utah, the Mormons faced intense persecution because of Mormon polygamy. Thousands of Mormons were jailed or forced to flee. Finally, a revelation from God ended polygamy and the persecution subsided. Since then, Mormonism has grown throughout the world. In the twentieth century,Mormon missionaries took the Church to every continent and the Book of Mormon was translated into dozens of languages. Today, more Mormons live outside the US than within. In the late 1970s arevelation on blacks and the priesthood was received that permitted all worthy men to hold the priesthood and allowed the Mormon Church to grow in Africa. Today, the Mormon Church is growing in South America, Africa, and Asia at record setting pace.
Mormon polygamy
Polygamy was practiced by some Mormons from the 1840s to 1890. Polygamy, or plural marriage, remains one of the most controversial practices in Mormon history. There are many half-truths, rumors, and misinformed teachings about polygamy and its practice by the Mormon Church. In the 1830s, the Prophet Joseph Smith, founder and prophet of the Mormon Church, prayed to understand why certain prophets like Abraham and Moses practiced polygamy. In response, the Lord gave him a revelation (now D&C 132). This revelation teaches that God has commanded polygamy at various times been in order to fulfill certain promises He has made to man. The Book of Mormon teaches polygamy, too:
For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. […] For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things (Jacob 2:27-8, 30).
This teaches that sometimes to “raise up seed,” the Lord will command polygamy, but unless God directly commands it through a prophet, men are forbidden from practicing it. According to Joseph Smith, the first wife had to agree to the new marriage, before it could take place. Polygamy became the most widely known practice of Mormons and was associated with Brigham Young most of all. Polygamy was the cause of some of theworst persecution in Mormon history . The U.S. government passed many laws stripping Mormons of their right to vote or hold public office and arrested many Mormon men. By the 1880s the Mormon Church had lost most of its property and thousands of Mormon men were jailed. Finally, after praying about how to end the difficulties, Mormon Prophet Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the time had come to end the practice of polygamy. Some refused to accept this and left the Mormon Church, but most of the Church accepted it. Today, anyone who practices polygamy is excommunicated from the Mormon Church.
Mormon Cult
Those unfamiliar with what Mormons believ
e and with how the Mormon Church operates, as well as those who wish to discredit Mormon beliefs and frighten people away try to claim that the Mormon Church is a cult. This claim, however, quickly disappears the moment one studies Mormonism and its members who live in over 160 different countries, speak dozens of languages, and come from every walk of life.
Anti-Mormons and Ex-Mormons claim that Mormonism, compared to mainstream Christianity, looks inward and follows one person, the prophet, more than they do God.
To anyone who knows a Mormon, these claims are preposterous. Mormons honor the prophet Joseph Smith much as Christians honor Paul, Moses, and Isaiah. He was a prophet and a gifted leader, but Mormons worship God and Jesus Christ. Because of Mormonism’s separate history it has developed distinct cultural and other practices so that those who leave Mormonism not only abandon a religious belief, but also lose their culture and since this is frequently connected to family traditions as well, this separation can cause difficulties with family members and friends.
Others try to claim that Mormons brainwash their children, but this again is absurd since every culture and religion teaches its values and beliefs to its children. That some outside Mormonism disagree with what Mormons teach their children is not grounds for calling it brainwashing. Mormons believe tenaciously in man’s agency to choose what he believes and practices, but reality also means that going against once received culture and traditions, whether they are religious or secular, can be difficult and trying and it this that ex-Mormons have noted in their struggles, not some inherent evil design by Mormons to control its members. Moreover, since in Mormonism there is only a lay clergy comprised of members of the congregation, there could not possibly be some vast conspiracy of leaders verses the members, since such a division does not exist. Finally, in Mormonism cooperation and unity is highly valued and such emphasis on helping one another sometimes makes outsiders feel neglected, but Mormons do strive to reach out and include others though they, like everyone, are not perfect.
Priesthood meeting
One of three meetings during the standard block of meetings, comprised of all the men (the priesthood) divided into age groups.