A few scriptures give some of the reasons why members of the Church are asked to keep journals. In the Book of Mormon it says, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). This scripture illustrates one reason why members are encouraged to keep journals and records; because they can be an inspiration to your children, grandchildren and others. Keeping a journal also helps those who will come in later generations feel a link to their ancestors, thus fulfilling the scripture, “and the hearts of the children will turn to the fathers” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:16).

Another reason to keep a journal is that it can be a personal inspiration. Numerous Church leaders have explained that those who keep journals are more likely to remember God in their daily lives, and that a journal can be a source of strength when things are not going well.

Another main reason is that a journal can provide historical insight and be a historical source for future generations. One example of this in the Mormon Church is Wilford Woodruff. He faithfully kept a journal for 63 years and the information found in his journals provides a detailed record of the history of the Church during that time. If President Woodruff had not kept a journal many of the things known about the Church and life in Utah during that time would be lost. Journals also help maintain family history knowledge and may help future generations who are doing genealogical work for your family.

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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 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.

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.

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.

Joseph Smith had been ridiculed for claiming to see visions, but when rumor spread that he had gold plates, opposition turned dangerous. There were many efforts made to steal the plates from Joseph. Translation was also difficult at first. It was done by the use of a Urim and Thummim buried with the plates. The first 116 pages of manuscript went missing when the acting scribe, Martin Harris, took them home to show his wife. This stalled translation for awhile, but it eventually resumed with a new scribe, Oliver Cowdery. The translating was forced to move to neighboring Pennsylvania to escape frequent disturbance by persecutors, and was finished at a remarkable pace.

The first printing of the Book of Mormon happened in 1830, and shortly thereafter Joseph Smith organized the Church of Christ in Fayette, New York. Soon after the organization, missionaries travelled around preaching the restored gospel. In order to escape the opposition that Joseph had faced in New York for the past ten years, he gathered all the converts in Kirtland, Ohio. Kirtland became the first headquarters for the Church in Mormon history. Joseph Smith had been receiving many revelations concerning the establishment of the Church and he recorded them. One of them identified Missouri as the location for Zion and another commanded a temple be constructed for higher worship. The revelations concerning the Church were eventually published as the Book of Commandments, which is now the Doctrine and Covenants.

Mormon history is plagued with persecution, and as the Mormon population rose, hatred intensified. Joseph Smith had sent some ahead to Missouri to prepare for the immigration of the Church. For a few years the Mormon population was split between Kirtland and Jackson County, Missouri. Only a year after the first Mormon temple was dedicated in Kirtland, the Mormons were commanded to gather together in Missouri. However, the hatred in Missouri was worse than Ohio. The settlers were not happy with the perceived Mormon take over of their land and contention often turned violent. Mormons were driven from their homes more than once and were finally driven from the state by an extermination order. They fled to Illinois.

On the banks of the Mississippi River Mormonism flourished. Joseph Smith named the city Nauvoo and it soon became the largest city in the state due to the success of Mormon missionaries in Europe and the U.S. Construction on another Mormon temple began and Mormon doctrine matured. Many of the unique doctrines of Mormonism were introduced in Nauvoo; baptism for the dead, polygamy, and eternal marriage. The practice of polygamy rekindled hatred among the enemies of Mormonism and ultimately resulted in the imprisonment and murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in Carthage Jail in 1844.

When Mormonism didn’t end with the death of Joseph Smith, as many thought it would, they were forced out of Illinois and led by Brigham Young to the Utah territory. The Mormons had to settle their own land to find peace, and the Mormon pioneer crossing the plains to Utah is a revered symbol of Mormon history. The peace of Utah would be threatened by the public announcement of the practice of polygamy by the Church. The conflict between the Mormons and the U.S. government resulted in the Utah War. However, the more pressing matter of the Civil War eased tensions until its conclusion. The eradication of polygamy became a political rallying point again and forced Mormons to abandon the practice in 1890.

The end of polygamy brought statehood for Utah and the stabilizing of Mormon history. Mormonism now had a home and a central location for expansion. For many years converts migrated to Utah from the eastern states and Europe. Mormon leaders eventually asked converts to remain in their home lands to help build up the kingdom of God throughout the world. The latest chapter of Mormon history has been an international one. With 12 million members, more than half now live outside the United States.

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.

The Book of Mormon, in turn, gets its name from a prophet/historian named Mormon . Mormon lived on the American continent sometime in the late fourth century A.D. (ca. A.D. 311-385). During his life he kept the records of his people, called the Nephites, and eventually creating an abridement of their history which is the record now called theBook of Mormon . In addition to being a prophet and historian, he was also a great military leader for his people, but because of their wickedness and rebellions, they were destroyed in a major war sometime around A.D. 385. Mormon’s son, Moroni, who escaped the general slaughter of his people, completed the record after his father’s death and buried the record, which was engraved on Golden plates, in a hill in what is now upper state New York. Hundreds of years later,Moroni returned as an angel of God and appeared to Joseph Smith to show him where the records were buried.

In addition to these, the word Mormon appears in other places within the text of the Book of Mormon. Two books within the Book of Mormon, have it as part of their title. “The Words of Mormon,” and the “Book of Mormon,” were written primarily by the prophet Mormon and deal with Mormon’s own time period and teachings. Finally, in another section within the Book of Mormon, called the Book of Mosiah, Mormon refers to an oasis where a prophet named Alma baptized followers of Jesus Christ on the American continent.

When asked once what the word “Mormon” meant, Joseph Smith speculated that it could be tranlated as “More Good” (see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp 299-300).

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.

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.