Every
month, thousands of people ask the search engines:
What
is Mormonism?
What does LDS mean?
What does LDS mean?
What
is a Mormon?
Misconceptions About Mormonism
I want to start by answering some questions the world has about Mormonism, by helping to quell some of the rumors and misinformation that have circulated about Mormonism since our founding in 1830.
Here is a list of questions and misconceptions that people have about Mormonism, along with links to my answers:
- Are Mormons Christians?
- Do they believe and study the Bible?
- Do Mormons Practice Polygamy?
- Do Mormons have horns?
- What Secrets Are Being Kept in the Mormon Temples?
- Why can't people who aren't Mormon enter the temples?
- Why do only members in good standing get a temple recommend?
- Do Mormons have secret underwear?
- What doctrines are taught in the temples?
- What do Mormon temple practices and doctrines have to do with the Bible?
- Is Mormonism a Paternalistic Society?
- Is the Mormon Church governed by men?
- Can Mormon women receive revelation?
- What benefits come to a household where husband and father are the head?
- What value do Mormons place on women? What is the role of women in Mormon society?
- Do Mormon women have careers? Higher education? Opportunities for personal development?
- Why do Mormons seem to have such happy families?
- Is Mormonism a Cult?
- Do Mormon leaders believe and practice what they preach?
- Are Mormon leaders only out for money and power?
- Have Mormon leaders sought to isolate their people from society?
- Are Mormons brainwashed?
- How can Mormons believe the things they are being taught?
- What is the difference between a church and a cult?
- What made Joseph Smith such a powerful leader?
- What can I expect from an encounter with Mormon missionaries?
- What motivates Mormons to live the way they do?
The
Prophet Mormon
In
about the year 400 A.D., there lived a prophet in ancient America by
the name of Mormon. He compiled a thousand years worth of the
writings of ancient American prophets that had been handed down from
generation to generation until they came to him.
Mormons
and the Book of Mormon
In
the year 1824, by the power of God, a young boy by the name of Joseph
Smith came into possession of Mormon's writings. With the help of
Almighty God, Joseph Smith was able to translate those writings into
English and publish them as the Book of Mormon – a volume
considered by Mormons to be companion scripture to the Holy Bible.
Not long after the beginning of the movement started by Joseph Smith,
the local people began calling us 'Mormons' – because of the Book
of Mormon.
Read how the coming forth of the Book of Mormon fulfills Bible prophecy
Read how the coming forth of the Book of Mormon fulfills Bible prophecy
The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Mormons
are people who believe in the divine origin of the Book of Mormon.
Furthermore, Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints. The term 'LDS' is an abbreviation of 'Latter-Day
Saint'.
“Why
the long name?” you may ask.
In
April of 1838, the Lord spoke to the prophet, Joseph Smith, and made
reference to “the elders and people of my Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, ...for thus shall my church be called in the
last days...” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:3-4)
We have called ourselves by that name ever since.
We have called ourselves by that name ever since.
Mormonism
Most
people are used to thinking of those of Christian faith as belonging
to one of two categories: Catholic or Protestant. Knowing we're
“Mormons”, people figure we aren't Catholic, so most are pretty
quick to lump us in with Protestants.
The
truth is, we're “Restorationists”.
Catholics
believe they have successfully preserved the ancient church of Jesus
Christ down through the centuries, into the latter days. Like the
founders of some of the more well-known Protestant faiths, Mormons
believe much of the original truth, authority, and structure that
belonged to the ancient church of Jesus Christ was lost during the
Dark Ages.
iSideWith Poll: Would Jesus Be Pleased with Modern Christianty If He Came Back Today?
Martin Luther, John Wesley, and others like them chose to deal with that loss by branching off of Catholicism and founding their own churches, in search of original truth. Joseph Smith chose to deal with it by doing as James, an apostle in the New Testament, directs: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing waivering...” (James 1:5-6)
Martin Luther, John Wesley, and others like them chose to deal with that loss by branching off of Catholicism and founding their own churches, in search of original truth. Joseph Smith chose to deal with it by doing as James, an apostle in the New Testament, directs: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing waivering...” (James 1:5-6)
Mormonism
was God's way of answering young Joseph Smith's prayer. Mormonism
is the restoration of the fullness of the ancient gospel of Jesus
Christ, together with the introduction of new scripture. "Mormonism"
is a name given by modern people to the movement whose foundation
Jesus Christ personally ordered, with intent to re-establish His
prophets, apostles, priesthood authority, revelation from heaven, and
missionary work on the earth in the latter days.
General Apostasy and Restoration Foretold
General Apostasy and Restoration Fulfilled
New Scripture: The Doctrine and Covenants
In the latter days, the Lord has spoken again to His prophets and apostles, just as He promised in times of old He would do. In our time, He has given commandments and ordered them to be compiled into a new book of scripture called "The Doctrine and Covenants". The following is an excerpt from the preface, which the Lord commanded be added to the book:
"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And
also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these
things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which
was written by the prophets— The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh— But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; that faith also might increase in the earth; that mine everlasting covenant might be established; that the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers. Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding. And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known; And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed; And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent; And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time. And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon. And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually... And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh; for I am no respecter of persons... Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:17-39)
Don't Take My Word for It
I'll be the first to admit that these are bold claims. But you don't have to take my word for it. One of the many things Mormonism restored to the earth is the knowledge that you too can ask of God and he will give liberally and not be offended or upset by your asking. You too can come to have the kind of spiritual experience of which the Savior spoke when he said to Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed [the divine identity of the Son of God] unto thee, but thy Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
I'll be the first to admit that these are bold claims. But you don't have to take my word for it. One of the many things Mormonism restored to the earth is the knowledge that you too can ask of God and he will give liberally and not be offended or upset by your asking. You too can come to have the kind of spiritual experience of which the Savior spoke when he said to Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed [the divine identity of the Son of God] unto thee, but thy Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
It
is this very spiritual witness concerning the divine origin of
Mormonism that has led millions of people – myself included – to
call ourselves Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints.
Also of Interest
Also of Interest
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