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What is a Mormon?
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Discussions of the topic, "What is a Christian?" often end up being lists of what is NOT a Christian. Instead of a making a positive statement, many religions define Christian by exclusion. Here is a brief, affirmative statement that summarizes "What is a Mormon?"
A Mormon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name "Mormon" was first used in a disparaging manner as an ethnic or racial slur. In time, the usage of the word changed and is regarded as a distinctive name, however inaccurate it might be.
Mormons (or as we prefer, Latter-day Saints) are Christians who have a distinctive belief in the Book of Mormon as a companion scripture to the Holy Bible. Mormon is the name of an ancient prophet-historian who compiled a series of texts that testify of Jesus Christ, composed by a colony of Israelites who migrated to the New World around 600 B.C. Mormon abridged these records and engraved them on metal plates so that they would last for centuries.
Latter-day Saints do not worship Mormon any more than Jews worship Moses or Catholics worship Peter. We revere him as a holy prophet. Around 400 A.D., Mormon was mortally wounded in a war and he bequeathed the plates which bore his book to his son Moroni. To Mormon's record, Moroni added his own record and the translation of the Book of Ether, an ancient scripture that goes back to 2200 B.C. Before Moroni passed away, he buried these records in a stone box in a hill near what is now the towns of Manchester and Palmyra in upstate New York. The plates containing the Book of Mormon remained there for 1400 years.
Latter-day Saints believe that a young American farm boy, Joseph Smith was visited by God and called as a prophet. To him was revealed the location of the plates. Several years later, when he was mature enough to be entrusted with the record, he received the plates from Moroni himself, who returned as an angelic messenger. Joseph translated the plates by God's inspiration and published them to the world as the Book of Mormon. Following the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, other revelations were given which are regarded as scripture by Latter-day Saints. These include the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
The distinctive teachings of "Mormonism" can be found in the Articles of Faith. This document is not a creed in the traditional sense, but is a succinct statement of beliefs summarized for a newspaper reporter by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I won't go through them all here, but I'll highlight just a few pertinent ones in my own words.
Mormons believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. We believe they are separate and distinct personages, not just different manifestations of the same Being.
Latter-day Saints believe that all men and women are the spirit children of God and that he loves us. Mankind is not utterly depraved as taught by Protestant-Evangelicals or Calvinists. We believe all people are inherently good and are endowed with a divine spark from our Creator. We are accountable for our own sins and don't believe humans to be "conceived in sin." Children who die before the age of accountability are saved. Those who die in ignorance of the gospel will receive the opportunity to hear it and accept it before the resurrection and the judgment.
Mormons rely solely upon Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life. We believe that faith in Christ obliges one to live in obedience to God's commandments. All men and women are commanded to repent of evil actions and to be baptized. Mormons believe in baptism by immersion. Baptism must be performed by one having authority from God to be valid.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by revelation and has the same authority and organization as the church of the ancient saints. There are living apostles, prophets, elders, deacons, whose duties are defined by revelation. No one called of God to preach the gospel may be paid for this service. For this reason, all Mormon apostles, bishops, elders, missionaries, etc. are laymen who must work in a secular profession to provide for themselves and their families.
Many young LDS men and women volunteer to serve as missionaries in the USA and all over the world. These missionaries serve at their own expense, usually self-supported or supported by their families. It's a calling that requires years of personal sacrifice and preparation. For the sake of thrift and convenience, many missionaries travel on bicycles in large urban areas. We have no proscription against the use of technology (after all, I'm writing this on a laptop PC!)
Latter-day Saints believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy and inasmuch as possible, members avoid working, buying or selling, or engaging in other secular pursuits on Sundays. LDS church members observe the law of tithing. Faithful members donate one-tenth of their income to the Church. Mormons are commanded to refrain from drinking alcohol, coffee, or tea and the use of tobacco and other addictive substances. We also observe a strict code of morality, avoiding sexual contacts outside of marriage. Great blessings come to us from observing these principles.
Mormon life is centered on strengthening the family. Personal and private religious devotions are learned in the family and are the strength of the Church. Mormons believe the love between a husband, wife, and their children endure beyond the grave. Latter-day Saints marry for "time and all eternity" in sacred temples, not "til death to you part." The family is the center of our happiness on earth and the foundation for it in eternity.
Faithful Latter-day Saints are endowed with spiritual gifts according to the will of God. Tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretations of tongues, etc. are currently present and active among the members of the Church today. The fountain of knowledge and revelation still springs forth among us and the saints believe that God will continue to reveal many important things in the future pertaining to the building of his kingdom on the earth.
Mormons believe that God will literally gather the tribes of Israel. Jesus Christ will return personally to reign on the earth. The earth will be renewed and return to the "Eden-like" state in which it was created. Latter-day Saints will one day erect the city of New Jerusalem (described in the New Testament) on the American continent.
Mormons believe in tolerance and religious liberty. Latter-day Saints have suffered at the hands of bigots and religious zealots like no other religion in U.S history. Thus Mormons respect the rights of others to worship whatever they will, but we claim the same privilege for ourselves. It is of paramount important to be good citizens in whatever city, state, or nation in which we may live.
Latter-day Saints seek to be honest, pure, moral, and benevolent. Mormons believe in serving humanity and doing good in the world. The saints serve God by serving others. We believe faith requires action. The Church joins with Christian, Muslim, and secular relief agencies to respond to disasters all over the world. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and providing opportunity where none exists are the works God has inspired us to do. Mormonism is practical religion.
The afterlife is a real place to Mormons. We believe in a literal resurrection of the dead. The world upon which we live will be transformed into a celestial kingdom that can abide the presence of God. The meek and the righteous will "inherit the earth." Mormons believe in a multi-tiered heaven consisting of "many mansions." All people will be judged according to their faith and works. As all are not alike in faith and obedience, there are many kingdoms of greater and lesser glory to which we will attain. In the most glorious of all possible kingdoms, those who have been faithful and obedient will live in the presence of God forever with their families and will continue to progress throughout eternity.
For more info: Please visit www.mormon.org
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