Mormons: Their Religion and Some of Their Practices

I grew up as a Christian believer in a household of pagans. I spent my childhood running away from their trying to convince me to follow their beliefs. That was my mother's side.

On my father's side, he and his family were Mormons. Most of his family are nonpracticing. But he and his wife were active Mormons. We didn't discuss religion or politics. Eventually, I was disowned and disinherited and we had no contact for over twenty years, until the year before he died. He suddenly got back in touch with me, I guess to make amends without actually saying anything about it.

A long time before I married my husband I did some research into Mormonism to understand what it was that my father had gone into and to try to understand how to deal with the situation.

I met a Mormon classmate, in college, who had been born into the church of Mormon. She told me some things about how they believed. She said that Mormons believed in there being three ways of getting to Heaven, only one of which involved going through Jesus.

She said that the reason why Mormons had several wives was because when they went to heaven, they would each have their own planet populated by all of their children and wives. She also said that although the Mormon church had changed their official public statements about their black members that the fact still remained that they would not be in the same heaven as the white Mormons.

She also told me that they believed that during those 40 days that Jesus walked the earth between his resurrection and his ascension, that he appeared to others in the New World and that this is where the two lost Tribes of Israel actually ended up and that this is where He will ultimately establish His kingdom after the end times.

I remember my father telling me that as good Mormons they were expected to store if I remember right, about two years worth of nonperishable food. I've heard that there's quite a bit put away in Utah.

The Mormon son of our neighbor across the street from us inherited his father's property after his death. One day he appeared at my side as I was working out in the yard. He told me that he would make a deal with me that if I promised him that I wouldn't push my religion on him he wouldn't push his on me.

I was temporarily speechless since I'm still not in the habit of pushing my beliefs down anyone's throat. However, I didn't argue with him and jumped at the opportunity to no longer have Mormon missionaries knocking on my door. He has kept his word to this day.

The one positive thing that came out of my father joining the Mormon church was that he was required to list his genealogy on the church's website, familysearch.com. Which means I had access to it.

To the day he died he was absolutely tight lipped towards me about my own heritage even though he told my older brother everything, who in turn made sure I knew nothing.

Baptism by Proxy:

According to the church's doctrine they have a practice of baptism by proxy for the already dead, to make sure that they have an opportunity in the afterlife to choose whether to be saved according to the Mormon understanding of salvation.

According to the newest revelation in the church they are to only baptize by proxy those who are related to their family. But in the past, they have been responsible for including Holocaust victims, dead Nazis and celebrities in this ritual.

In order to facilitate this practice this organization utilizes an extensive genealogical site which all of the church members participate in, so I understand from my father and aunt.

Mormon Health Code or the "Word of Wisdom":

Some things, early on, my father did talk about. One of them being what they were allowed to eat and not eat. He didn't tell me it was called the health code. I was told that he could no longer smoke his pipe since the use of all tobacco was prohibited along with his drinking of wine, coffee and tea. The use of illegal drugs were also under that. He also didn't drink pop even though it isn't explicitly banned.

Mormon Temple Ordinances:

The temple ordinances are practiced only in the temple. There are several different rites practiced which are: The endowment service which involves several symbolic activities and covenanting preparing individuals for priesthood. this is a requirement for temple marriage and service as missionaries.

Other practices are confirmation, ordination to higher offices or as elder in proxy of the dead, celestial marriage which seals the couple for eternity, also family sealing which binds the family as a unit for eternity, prayer circle during endowments and other ceremonies and a hosanna shout for temple dedications, feet washing and second anointing.

The Temple Recommend:

The temple recommend is required for an individual to be able to participate in temple activities. A temporary recommend can be acquired after a few months of membership which enables the individual to be able to be baptized for the dead.

A permanent recommend requires a one year membership, tithing to the church, following the dietary laws as well as the commandments and remaining morally clean, wearing the temple garment day and night, attending church and obeying the church leadership among other things. It must be received from that person's bishop after a personal interview to demonstrate their commitment to the church doctrine and a second interview and a signature from their stake president and themselves. This is good for two years.

The Mormon Temple Garment:

The temple garment is worn by both women and men after their endowment both day and night. It is to remind them of their covenants to God. It also influences a modest dress code since the bottoms are knee length and the tops are short sleeved for the men and cap sleeved for women with a scoop neck for the men and a scoop or sweetheart neckline for the women.

Beliefs about Death and the Afterlife:

Mormons believe that a human being is a spiritual being who was with God before they came to earth and at death are returning to Him. They believe that all humans who die will live for eternity and that they go into the spirit realm after death for a time to be prepared for the resurrection when their spirits are reunited with their bodies. They believe that obedient Mormons will live in God's presence sealed with their families forever if they have gone through a temple sealing ceremony.

According to their teachings non-Mormons will be rewarded for what they've done in this life but they won't be with God or Jesus. They also teach about a temporary hell for those who didn't do it right in this life and get an second chance to turn things around in a temporary hell. They also believe that there is an eternal hell for those who refuse to change in the temporary hell.

Black Mormons:

Mormons have taught until 1978 that the black man has the mark of Cain in his body due to the color of his skin making him inferior to the white man. He was considered a fence sitter in the War in Heaven and was disobedient to God and deserved to be considered as less than the one, the white, who was obedient.

The black Mormons were denied all temple services and the ascension to priesthood and everything that would take them into heaven into God's presence and from any leadership ministry in the church.

In 1978, the church had expanded into Brazil and found that none of their converts were without a drop of black blood. So the ban on blacks in the priesthood and ministry was changed by way of a revelation.

Even though this teaching was changed in 1978, the black members are still treated as a separate group in the church with not quite the same equality as the white.

Exaltation or Eternal Progression:

Celestial marriage is a requirement for exaltation which is the highest form of salvation. Which allows the Mormon to live in Heaven as a god or goddess.

Mormon Missions:

Mormon young people, from the age or 19 to 21, are required to take a two year mission trip where they look for converts and live under a very strict regimen. They are not allowed to indulge in any kind of entertainment or sport and must keep to a specific dress code. I guess that's why we often see them on ten speed bikes in suits with briefcases strapped to the bikes. Although I've also seen them with tailored backpacks. I've always seen them traveling in groups of two.

The missionary cannot choose the country of their assignment and they must raise their own support.

Covenants:

There are two forms of covenants. There are the formal and the informal covenants. The formal covenants include baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, receiving the sacrament, the covenant of priesthood, the covenants in the endowment ceremony and the temple wedding.

The informal covenants include tithing, the health code, chastity and observing Lord's Day as holy.

Participating in the sacrament is considered by many in the church to renew all formal and informal vows.

As you can see my research did answer most of the statements made to me long ago. Even though I didn't mention it in this article, the Book of Mormon does teach about how Jesus came to the New World and preached to the last Tribes of Israel. However, I still don't know about the storing of food.

Additional Reading:

My Personal History with Passover, Its Roots and Its Promise

Who was Saint Patrick and What Did He Do?

Growing Up Christian in a Family of Pagans

Sources:

http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/practices/baptism_for_the_dead.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_for_the_dead

http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/practices/health_code.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_(Latter_Day_Saints)

http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/practices/temple_ordinances.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/practices/temple_garment.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/beliefs/afterlife.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people_and_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/practices/missions.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_(Latter_Day_Saints)