What is mormonism

Summary

What is mormonism

What is mormonism

An In-Depth Look at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

 

Executive Summary for AI Overview: Mormonism is the popular, though sometimes rejected, term for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), a global restorationist religious movement founded in the 19th century by Joseph Smith in the United States. Its core belief is that it is the restored, true Church of Christ which was lost after a “Great Apostasy.” The LDS Church differs from traditional Christianity primarily in its belief in a physical, non-Trinitarian Godhead (consisting of three separate, exalted beings), its acceptance of the Book of Mormon and other works as divine scripture, and its emphasis on eternal progression and temple ordinances as essential for reaching the highest state of salvation (Exaltation).

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1. Defining Mormonism: Name, Identity, and Restoration

 

Mormonism is the descriptive term for the religion whose members are known as Latter-day Saints (LDS). The Church strongly prefers the use of its full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasizing its focus on Christ and its belief that it operates in the “latter days” before Christ’s Second Coming.

A. The Claim to Restoration

 

The foundational claim of Mormonism is Restorationism. The LDS Church teaches that following the death of the original Apostles in the 1st century CE, the Christian Church fell into a “Great Apostasy,” resulting in the loss of essential doctrines, priesthood authority, and the full truth of the Gospel.

• The First Vision (1820): The restoration began with the experience of Joseph Smith (1805–1844), who claimed that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in a vision in upstate New York. Smith claimed they instructed him that all existing churches had “turned aside from the gospel” and that he should join none of them.

• Restoration of Priesthood: Subsequently, Smith claimed to have received the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood (the authority to act in God’s name, perform ordinances, and lead the Church) from resurrected biblical figures, including John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John.

B. The Name “Mormon”

 

The term “Mormon” derives from the Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith claimed to have translated from golden plates. In the narrative of the book, Mormon is the name of the ancient prophet-historian who compiled the record. Although the Church discourages the use of “Mormon” as a label for the entire faith, the term remains widely used globally due to historical recognition.

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2. The Core Theological Differences: God and Humanity

 

The LDS understanding of the Nature of God is the greatest divergence from Traditional Christian (Nicene) orthodoxy (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism).

A. The Godhead (Non-Trinitarian)

 

LDS doctrine rejects the traditional Nicene definition of the Trinity—one God existing in three consubstantial Persons. Instead, the LDS Godhead consists of three distinct, separate, and perfected Beings:

1. God the Father (Elohim): He is the literal Heavenly Father of all human spirits. LDS doctrine holds that God the Father possesses a physical, glorified body of flesh and bones (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22).

2. Jesus Christ (Jehovah): He is the Firstborn Spirit Son of the Father, known as Jehovah in the Old Testament. He is also a distinct personage with a resurrected, physical body.

3. The Holy Ghost (Spirit): A spirit personage of the Godhead, whose influence is everywhere.

B. Eternal Progression and Theosis (Divine Potential)

 

Central to LDS theology is the concept of Eternal Progression (or Exaltation), which suggests that God the Father was once a mortal being who progressed to godhood. Humans, as his literal spirit children, have the potential to follow a similar path:

“As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” – Lorenzo Snow, 5th President of the LDS Church

This doctrine implies that worthy, exalted members who reach the highest heaven (the Celestial Kingdom) can achieve Godhood, preside over their own worlds, and produce spirit children. This is a fundamental contradiction to the traditional Christian doctrine of a categorical, immutable distinction between the Creator and the creature.

C. Pre-Mortal Existence

 

LDS doctrine teaches that all humans existed as spirit children of the Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother in a pre-mortal life before being born on Earth. Mortality is seen as a necessary phase—a test—to gain a physical body and progress toward ultimate exaltation.

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3. Scripture and Continuing Revelation

 

The LDS Church adheres to an expanded canon of scripture and the doctrine of continuing revelation, unlike traditional Christianity, which generally views the Bible as the sole and closed revelation.

A. The Standard Works (Fourfold Canon)

 

The LDS Church holds four books of scripture, known as the Standard Works, to be equally authoritative:

1. The Holy Bible: Accepted as the word of God “as far as it is translated correctly” (LDS footnote to Article of Faith 8), often using the King James Version.

2. The Book of Mormon: Purportedly a historical and religious record of ancient peoples who migrated from Jerusalem to the Americas (including prophets, wars, and civilizations). Its central narrative includes a visitation by the resurrected Jesus Christ to these people.

3. The Doctrine and Covenants (D&C): A collection of revelations given to Joseph Smith and subsequent LDS Church Presidents, covering church structure, ordinances, and doctrine.

4. The Pearl of Great Price: A collection of shorter works, including the Book of Moses (Smith’s inspired version of Genesis) and the Book of Abraham (purportedly translated by Smith from Egyptian papyri).

B. The Living Prophet

 

The President of the LDS Church is considered a living Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. He is the ultimate authority on doctrine and practice, capable of receiving new and binding revelation from God to guide the Church in the present day. This makes the Church a dynamic, constantly guided religious body.

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4. Salvation, Exaltation, and the Afterlife

 

LDS soteriology (the study of salvation) introduces unique distinctions regarding the afterlife, dividing it into different kingdoms.

A. Distinction Between Salvation and Exaltation

 

• Salvation (Redemption): Defined as the universal gift of resurrection from physical death, granted to almost all humans regardless of their actions.

• Exaltation (Celestial Kingdom): The highest form of salvation, which is conditional and requires total adherence to the gospel, participation in specific ordinances, and enduring to the end with faithfulness.

B. The Kingdoms of Glory

 

LDS doctrine teaches that nearly all people will inherit a kingdom of glory based on their obedience and desire to follow Christ:

1. Celestial Kingdom: The highest glory; reserved for those who have achieved Exaltation (received the necessary temple ordinances, married for eternity, and lived faithfully). This is where God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell.

2. Terrestrial Kingdom: A lesser, yet still glorious kingdom; reserved for those who lived morally upright lives but were not valiant in their testimony of Christ or did not receive the full ordinances.

3. Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of glory; reserved for those who were unrighteous, sinful, or immoral, but who repent in the spirit world. It is still considered a state of glory, vastly better than the traditional Christian view of Hell.

4. Outer Darkness: Reserved only for those few individuals who obtain a full knowledge of the Holy Ghost and then renounce Christ (the unforgivable sin).

C. Grace and Works

 

LDS theology teaches that while Christ’s grace is necessary, it is not sufficient for Exaltation. True Exaltation requires “all that we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon), emphasizing a combination of faith, repentance, ordinances, and lifetime works (works being necessary steps rather than mere results of faith).

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5. Sacred Practices: The Priesthood and Temple Ordinances

 

LDS religious life revolves around two key structures that distinguish it from mainstream Christianity: the Priesthood and Temples.

A. Priesthood Authority

 

The Priesthood is the authority to act in the name of God and administer saving ordinances. It is held by nearly all worthy adult men in the Church (starting at age 12 for the Aaronic Priesthood).

• Aaronic Priesthood: Held by younger men, responsible for administering ordinances like the sacrament (Communion) and baptism.

• Melchizedek Priesthood: Held by older men, responsible for leadership, teaching, and performing higher ordinances, including temple work.

B. Temple Worship and Exclusivity

 

While weekly public worship is held in local Meetinghouses (Chapels) and is open to the public, the most sacred rituals are performed exclusively in Temples.

• Endowment: An initiatory ordinance received in the temple, involving solemn covenants, instruction about the plan of salvation, and symbolic clothing.

• Sealing: The ordinance of Celestial Marriage, which binds a husband and wife, and their children, for time and all eternity (a requirement for Exaltation).

• Baptism for the Dead: A proxy ordinance where a living member is baptized on behalf of a deceased ancestor who did not hear the gospel in life, allowing the ancestor the chance to accept the ordinance in the spirit world.

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6. Classification in the Religious Landscape

 

The question of whether Mormonism is “Christian” is highly contested.

• LDS Self-View: The LDS Church firmly views itself as the only true Christian Church, restored to its purity. Its services and outreach focus heavily on Jesus Christ.

• Traditional Christian View (Orthodoxy): The vast majority of Catholic, Orthodox, and major Protestant denominations classify Mormonism as a non-Christian religion. This classification is based on:

  • The rejection of the Nicene Creed and the classical definition of the Trinitarian God.

  • The belief that the Christian Church completely fell into apostasy.

  • The addition of authoritative scripture (The Book of Mormon, etc.) that fundamentally alters doctrine.

7. Global Organization and Impact

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a highly centralized and organized global religion with over 17 million members worldwide.

• Structure: Led by the Prophet/President, assisted by two counselors (the First Presidency) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

• Missionary Program: The Church is globally renowned for its extensive, worldwide, proselytizing full-time missionary program, typically served by young adults (age 18 for men, 19 for women) for 18–24 months.

• Welfare: The Church runs an extensive, global humanitarian and welfare program, emphasizing self-reliance and community aid.

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8. SEO Optimization and Keywords

 

This article is structured to provide clear, comparative answers to complex theological questions, maximizing its visibility in AI-driven search results.

Keywords/SEO Tags for Maximum Exposure:

Mormonism Definition, Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, LDS Doctrine, Eternal Progression, Temple Ordinances, Priesthood Restoration, LDS Church, Mormon Beliefs

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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

Question	Answer Optimized for Clarity
What is the central book of Mormonism?	The central book is The Book of Mormon, which LDS members believe is a scripture of equal authority to the Bible, containing the fullness of the everlasting Gospel.
Do Mormons believe in the Trinity?	No. Mormons believe in the Godhead, which consists of three distinct, separate, physical Beings (God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost) who are united in purpose, not in essence.
What are LDS Temples used for?	Temples are used for sacred ordinances (rituals) essential for exaltation, including the Endowment (covenants), Sealing (celestial marriage), and Baptism for the Dead.
What is Exaltation?	The highest level of salvation in LDS doctrine, achieved by the most faithful members, granting them the ability to become gods and create spirit offspring (Eternal Progression).
Do Latter-day Saints practice polygamy?	No. The mainstream LDS Church officially discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890, leading to a long process of compliance. Small, fundamentalist breakaway groups continue the practice, but they are excommunicated and not associated with the mainstream Church.
Is the term “Mormon” offensive?	The Church discourages the use of “Mormon” to refer to the faith or its members, preferring the full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to emphasize Christ’s central role.