What is
"Mormonism"?
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were nicknamed
"Mormons" by non-members because of their belief in The Book of Mormon. Non-members have at times also
referred to the LDS faith as "Mormonism".
What
Do Latter-day Saints Believe About God?
With the vast majority of
their fellow Christians, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
believe in a God of love, who has all knowledge and all power (see 1 Nephi 11:22; 2 Nephi
1:15; 2 Nephi 9:20; D&C 38:1-3; Moses 1:6; 1 Nephi 7:12; Alma 26:35). FARMS
Why don't Mormons have crosses on their buildings and temples?
Latter-day Saints view the "good news" of the gospel as Christ's resurrection more than his
crucifixion.
Can Mormons have more than one wife?
No, Latter-day Saint men can only be married to one
woman at a time. However, during the nineteenth-century a few LDS men were permitted to marry
more than one wife under certain conditions.
Do
Latter-day Saints Believe in the Bible and Biblical Christianity?
"The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints accepts and honors the Bible as the word of God. Latter-day Saints
treasure its inspired accounts of the Savior's life and earthly ministry. They read the
Bible regularly and accept both the Old and New Testaments among the standard works of the
restored Church of Jesus Christ." FARMS
Can You
Help Me Locate a Latter-day Saint Friend?
If you are trying to locate a Latter-day Saint, please call 1-800-453-3860 and ask for the Locating Service in the
Membership Department.
How Many Members Do You Have?
As of 2005, the Mormon church had about 13 million members. As of 1998 members in the United States totaled 5,023,158.
What does LDS stand for?
LDS stands for "Latter-day Saint," the nicknamed preferred by
most members of the Church.
Can you help me with Family History (or genealogy) research?
No, but our Family History section under Daily Living has links to some good resources. The Church's
new Family Search site can be found at http://www.familysearch.org.
Why do Latter-day Saints Try to Convert Others?
"Mormons believe that the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains a fulness of the gospel of Jesus
Christ and that this fulness is not found elsewhere. Therefore, they feel a responsibility
to make the message of the restoration of Christ’s Church available to all who will
hear." FARMS
Do Mormons
believe in the Trinity?
Latter-day Saints believe in the New Testament
teaching that there is a Father, a Son, and a Holy Ghost, all three of whom are fully
divine, then Latter-day Saints believe in the doctrine of the Trinity...However, mormons do not believe in the definition of the trinity formulated by the councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon and elaborated upon by
subsequent theologians and councils--that God is three coequal persons in one substance or
essence. They do not believe it, because it is
not biblical.
Who was Joseph Smith?
"Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844), often referred to as the Prophet
Joseph Smith, was the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Latter-day Saints call him "the Prophet" because, in the tradition of Old and
New Testament prophets, he depended on revelation from God for his teachings, not on his
own learning." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Who
are the present Church leaders?
A brief biography of each general authority and auxiliary presidency.
How
Do I Join the Church?
A discussion of the steps involved in joining the Church. If you would
like to have LDS missionaries visit you in your home, please call (U.S.) 1-800-453-3860
and ask for the Missionary Department.
How is LDS
theology different from other Christians?
As biblical scholar W. D. Davies once pointed out, LDS doctrine can be described as biblical
Christianity separated from hellenized Christianity, a conjunction of first-century
Judaism and Christianity.
What are
some distinctive LDS teachings?
Few religious doctrines are unique in the strict sense, but many are
rare enough to be considered distinctive features of this or that religion or
denomination. Several doctrines of the Latter-day Saints are distinctive in this sense,
although in most cases other Christians have at some time held identical or similar
beliefs. |
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Are Mormons Christian?
Yes, Latter-day Saints are indeed Christians.
What is the
Book of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon is a volume of sacred writings comparable to the Bible.
Its principal purpose is to testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness
of his teachings.
Why
is a Temple Recommend necessary to enter the temple?
Most learning disciplines, including spiritual ones,
have a sequential approach to learning. Before a person can enter the temple, he must have
developed a certain degree of spiritual maturity, as evidenced by issuance of a temple
recommend.
Are Church leaders considered infallible?
No, Church leaders are neither infallible nor without faults. Latter-day
Saints believe that only Jesus Christ was perfect.
What
is the role of women in Mormon society?
The present role of women in LDS society is singular to the degree
that it reflects the teachings and doctrines of the Church. Among the most fundamental of
these is individual agency, or the right
to choose. Consistent with this doctrine, a woman's role varies with her circumstances and
the choices that she makes within the context of LDS belief; she may fill many roles
simultaneously.
Do
Latter-day Saints date outside the faith?
While Latter-day Saints have the right to choose for themselves, the
Church encourages members to date those of their own faith.
Do
Mormons celebrate holidays and birthdays?
Yes, Latter-day Saints usually celebrate the holidays associated with
their particular culture.
What are the Church's policies on divorce?
The Church officially disapproves of divorce but does
permit both divorce and annulment (a decree
that a marriage was illegal or invalid) in civil marriages and "cancellation of
sealing" in the case of temple marriages.
Do Mormons believe in the virgin birth of Christ?
Yes, Latter-day Saints believe that Mary, mother of Jesus
Christ, was a virgin at the time of Jesus'
birth.
Do
Mormons wear special clothing?
Latter-day Saints, who have been to the temple, wear sacred garments under their regular
clothing to remind them of the sacred covenants that they have made with God.
Do Mormons believe that God is married?
Latter-day Saints infer from authoritative sources of scripture and modern
prophecy that there is a Heavenly Mother as well as a Heavenly Father.
What
is the LDS conception of Hell?
"Latter-day scriptures describe at least three senses of hell: (1)
that condition of misery which may attend a person in mortality due to disobedience to
divine law; (2) the miserable, but temporary, state of disobedient spirits in the spirit
world awaiting the resurrection; (3) the permanent habitation of the sons of perdition,
who suffer the second spiritual death and remain in hell even after the
resurrection.
Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?
No, Latter-day Saints worship God the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus Christ. We consider Joseph Smith to be a
Prophet of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ similar to those men mentioned in the Bible
like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and John.
Who Where All the Past
LDS Prophets (Church Presidents)?
Links to Biographies to each of the fifteen Church presidents.
Why did the true Church of Christ need to be restored?
Shortly after the death of the original apostles, there was a general
apostasy in the early Christian Church. Most members of the Church turned away from the
true gospel and persecuted the faithful remainder. The organization ceased to be led by
God.
Why Should I Convert?
"While many Christian Churches teach
portions of the gospel, we alone offer all the knowledge necessary to become Christlike
and receive the fullness of salvation. |
