The History and Practices of Mormonism

Mormonism is based on the Mormon gospel and religious beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as the LDS Church. Mormons are Christians who have four main scriptures from which they derive their practices and beliefs: the King James Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. Mormons also derive faith, gospel, and practices from living Prophets who are Church leaders.

The LDS Church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah where the Mormons operate the Salt Lake City Temple, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the LDS Family History Library and much more. The Family History Library is open to the public and you do not have to be Mormon to get tips on doing Genealogy and getting free family tree templates. The Salt Lake City Temple is one of the largest tourist attractions in the world with free tours of parts of the Temple given each day.

If you study religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a fascinating history going back to ancient civilizations and early day Saints during the life of Jesus Christ. The reason the Church refers to Latter-day Saints or LDS is because there was an earlier Church of Jesus Christ faith being practiced by these ancient civilizations. When the Angel Moroni led Joseph Smith to the gold plates that were translated into what is now the Book of Mormon, the religion was born again as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the Angel Moroni in gold that you see at the top of most Mormon Temples.

Joseph Smith retrieved the gold plates from the Angel Moroni on the Hill of Cumorah near the township of Palmyra, New York. The gold plates were not written in English, so Joseph Smith had to translate them and the first Book of Mormon was printed in 1830. During this process, there were two separate occasions where witnesses saw the gold plates. On one occasion there were Three Witnesses and on the other occasion, there were Eight Witnesses. This is an important part of the history of the Mormon faith to those who are baptized Mormon because the faith continues to be questioned on whether or not the gold plates actually existed.

You cannot be baptized in the Mormon religion until you are the age of 8 and have gone through the missionary studies of the Mormon history and beliefs. The studies you learn from the missionaries include some important practices and beliefs of Mormonism that are found in the Doctrine and Covenants, the King James Bible, The Pearl of Great Price, and the Book of Mormon. The Word of Wisdom, which is Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, is a major scripture that identifies the Mormon belief of keeping the body Holy. The Articles of Faith are a statement of the fundamental beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in addition to The Ten Commandments and other scriptures.

The Articles of Faith
As Presented by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4 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.

5 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.

6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8 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.

9 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.

10 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 the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11 We claim the privilege of worshiping 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.

12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13 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.

Joseph Smith

A Brief Presentation of 5 Key Beliefs of the Mormon Religion

Seal Yourself to Family for Eternity

Mormons believe that through a series of pastoral recommendations and sacred Temple ceremonies, you can be spiritually sealed to your spouse, your children, and your parents not just here on Earth, but for eternity in the hereafter. Further, it is believed that if you are not sealed to your Family here on Earth, that when you see them in the hereafter, you will only recognize them as someone you knew, but not as your Family member.

Baptize the Dead for Eternal Salvation

Another reason Mormons believe so strongly in finding and documenting your Family History is because they allow faithful Mormons to be baptized for people who have already died that did not have a chance to be baptized on Earth. You do not have to be Mormon to request that one of your deceased Family members be baptized for Eternal Salvation. Mormons believe that any deceased person who did not have the opportunity to learn about God while on Earth, should be allowed a second chance for Eternal Salvation. These baptisms for the deceased are conducted in Mormon Temples, allowing someone on Earth to be baptized in the name of the deceased person and in the name of Jesus Christ. That way, when the Judgment Day comes, your loved one who was never baptized on Earth will have a chance to go to Heaven.

Keep A Year Supply of Food for Health and Survival

The Mormons keep a year supply of non-perishable food on hand in case of emergency and in order for survival. There have been many disasters like Hurricane Katrina where reports were that the Mormons were some of the first responders, bringing food, water, and emergency shelter supplies to communities. More than just survival, Mormons believe that the body is the Temple of God and not being reverent to your body is just as bad as not showing reverence to God while in a chapel.

The Body is the Temple of God

People often wonder why Mormons cannot drink coffee, tea, alcohol or smoke cigarettes. It is much like trying to understand why some religions do not allow dancing, or why Jews can only eat Kosher foods. The Mormons believe the Body is the Temple of God and should be respected and treated as if it were like the Body of God. There is much written in the Words of Wisdom and other Mormon scriptures about the resurrection of all people like Jesus was resurrected and taking care of the body while on Earth is a belief related to these scriptures.

The Cross is Not Displayed on Churches

If you wonder why the cross is not displayed on Mormon churches or Temples, it is because the cross is a symbol of death. According to the late Church Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, "But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ." He then asked: "If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion? The official name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The only Mormons that wear crosses around their necks are the chaplains serving military duty to illustrate that they are Christian chaplains. Mormons are indeed Christians and while they do not criticize other faiths for wearing and displaying crosses, they choose not to use the cross as a symbol of their faith.

Sources:

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD

Free Online Family Tree Templates
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1476274/free_online_family_tree_templates.html?cat=15

10 Tips for Investigating Your Family History
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1475728/10_tips_for_investigating_your_family.html?cat=37