The Mormon Beliefs
Amazing to me is the seemingly parallel origins of The Church of
Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) and Islam. Both faiths began
with a claim of divine revelation to a prophet via an angel, who was
instructed to record additional writings believed to be the 'fullness of
the gospel'. Additionally, both faiths maintain that they are God's
true remnant church on earth.
Where the similarities end is over doctrinal interpretation and general
mentality. Mormons believe in the deity of Christ, progressive
divinely inspired prophets and are polytheistic, Muslims deny the
deity of Christ, revere Mohammed as the final prophet and are
monotheistic. Where Muslims believe in conquering for Allah by
force, Mormons believe in leading to God by charity.
On the surface, much of what members of the LDS do seems similar
to Bible-based Christian denominations.
Mormons are known to eschew alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and
premarital sex while fostering strong family relationships.
Historically, they have a low cancer rate and score higher than the
general population when it comes to physical fitness.
Who wouldn't admire a religious group that promotes the boy scouts
and receives fast offerings to care for widows and the poor? The
history and beliefs of Mormonism are often overlooked on the base
assumption that sound morals make for a good religion.
History
Most people know little about Mormonism. They may be familiar
with the names Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, the practices of
polygamy and proxy baptism, but that only scratches the surface of
Mormon beliefs and teachings.
The LDS church can trace its roots back to Palmyra, NY in 1820.
This is where Joseph Smith, the founding prophet, claimed to have
received a vision while praying in the woods. This vision was
reportedly of God the Father and Jesus Christ and revealed to him
that all churches and creeds were an abomination unto the Lord.
According to the vision, he was to be a prophet to proclaim a
restored message of the true gospel and to establish the one true
remnant church.
In 1823, an angel named Moroni appeared to him at his bedside.
Moroni claimed to be the son of Mormon, the departed leader of a
race known as the nephites. Moroni told Smith about a set of golden
plates that contained the fullness of the gospel. (I do not question
this event itself - I do believe it to be a supernatural revelation, but
based upon Galatians 1:8-9, I do question the claim to the source of
it.)
Some four years after that visit, Smith reportedly found the plates
buried in a hill called cumorah. With them were the urim and
thummim which were used to translate the plates from a language
called 'reformed Egyptian'.
Claiming a visit from John the Baptist and divine revelation, Smith
translated the plates and used them to write the Book of Mormon,
subtitled Another Testimony of Jesus Christ. This book was
published in 1830 and the plates were returned to Moroni. Later that
year Smith founded his church.
Joseph Smith was considered a great seer and prophet by his
followers. Mormons believe that Smith was the prophet spoken of by
Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18:18 and in fulfillment of John
1:21 and 25. (Ensign, Jan. 1989 p.20). This is the same claim that
Mohammed made for himself with the establishment of Islam.
After Smith's murder in the religion's headquarter town of Nauvoo,
Illinois in 1844, Mormons found themselves unwelcome in Illinois
and were virtually forced out of the state. There was a division in the
church as to who their new leader should be. The majority of the
followers at that time embraced Brigham Young as their leader and
followed him to Salt Lake City, Utah, which remains the
headquarters of the LDS church to this day.
Basis
Mormons believe in open canon and the living prophets words are
considered more reliable in a sense than either the words of a dead
prophet or the 4 standard works. Prophets are not considered
infallible and Joseph Smith himself was noted for being the author of
what turned out to be many false prophesies.
The difference between the writings of the former prophets and the
teachings of the living prophets is that the living prophet can address
changing circumstances which allows for doctrinal clarification. This
is based on the belief that the Lord reveals things to the prophets on
a divinely set time table when He feels that it is time for them to
know. This allows for a fluid (open canon) doctrinal position.
Recorded in 1980 by Elder Ezra Taft Benson is the 14 fundamentals
on following the prophet.
The 4 standard works of Mormonism are the Bible, the Book of
Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
All four are considered scripture but not infallible as they were all
touched by man.
Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations from Joseph
Smith and his successors. The last canonized revelation was a vision
given in 1918 and there are also two official declarations - the
abolishment of polygamy in 1890 and the extension of priesthood to
all races in 1978.
The Pearl of Great Price was penned by Joseph Smith, is deemed
inspired, and consists of several books and 13 articles of faith. These
books include the book of Moses (a revision of parts of Genesis),
The book of Abraham, The book of Joseph Smith - Matthew (a
revision of Matthew 24) and the book of Joseph Smith - History (his
testimony).
Beliefs
With their belief in open canon and the weight placed on the words
of the living prophets, some of these doctrines have changed over the
years and many more may be altered. The church meets in
conference every 6 months where church leaders give instruction in
doctrine.
Original Sin
The church rejects the doctrine of original sin as it is traditionally
taught. They teach that man is inherently innocent in the beginning
(Doctrine and Covenants 93:38). Their belief is that the transgression
of Adam was paid for on the cross and that each person will be
judged for their own sins, regardless of Adamic actions. (Moses 6:54)
The Bible and the Book of Mormon differ on the effects of the fall
as recorded in the book of Genesis. The Bible says that Adam and
Eve sinned by their disobedience and because of that, God cast them
out of the Garden of Eden - a negative event.
The Book of Mormon offers a different explanation for the outcome.
It states that what Adam and Eve did was a good thing as it was the
first step to a joyous and happy life. Rather than acknowledging that
the act of disobedience committed was a serious sin, LDS teaches
that the scriptures say that the fall was a necessary step in the plan of
life and a great blessing to us all - a positive event.
This account can be summarized to say that because of the Fall, we
are blessed with physical bodies, the right to choose between good
and evil, and the opportunity to gain eternal life. None of these
privileges would have been ours had Adam and Eve remained in the
garden.
Brigham Young taught for 25 years that that Adam was the God of
this earth. This teaching did not go unopposed by members of the
church at the time it was being taught. In his defense of this
revelation, Young stated, "How much unbelief exists in the minds of
the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I
revealed to them, and which God revealed to me -- namely that
Adam is our Father and God" (Deseret News, June 14, 1873)
It is maintained by the LDS that the Adam-God teachings were taken
out of context and misrepresented. This theology was officially
declared false doctrine in 1976 by President Spencer W. Kimball
(Ensign, Nov. 76, pg. 77).
Mormonism teaches that Adam and Michael the Archangel are the
same person, as are Noah and the Angel Gabriel.
Spirit Brothers
According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus was the spirit brother of
Lucifer and they were procreated as spirit children of the Heavenly
Father and Mother. Jesus later was conceived physically through
Mary. Mormons believe that all beings were first spirit children of
God prior to their time as human beings. Mormon teaching also
holds that Mary remained a virgin after birth. (Ensign, Jan. 1989,
pp.28-29; Come Unto Christ by Ezra Taft Benson, p.4).
Brigham Young taught, "Now, remember from this time forth, and
forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost."
(Journal of Discourses 1:51) LDS Church leaders have taught God
the Father and Mary engaged in a physical relationship in order to
produce the body of Jesus. For example, Bruce R. McConkie wrote
of Christ: "There is nothing figurative about his paternity, he was
begotten, conceived, and born in the normal and natural course of
events, for he is the son of God, and that designation means what it
says." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 742; see also Family Home Evening
Manual, 1972, p. 125-126)
LDS doctrine holds that Jesus and Lucifer both presented plans for
the salvation of mankind to God. Lucifer's plan was based on forced
worship and Jesus' plan on man's choice based on God's will.
(Moses 4:1) Some say that Jesus' plan was chosen over Lucifer's
but the LDS explanation is that Jesus' plan was actually what God
had already decided on and changing that to another path was never
an option.
Deification
The official term for this doctrine in the LDS church is Theosis. The
term theophoros refers to resurrected, glorified man and translates as
the forever God-Man.
Mormonism is a polytheistic religion. The most famous of all
Mormon aphorisms is "As man is now God once was: as God is
now, man may become".
The LDS teaches that God was once himself procreated in another
world and that we as humans may aspire to the status as creator that
He has now. As potential father and mother gods, Mormons will
ultimately be responsible for the population of other planets by
participating in the creation of spirit children.
They do believe Jesus is the son of God and that he was elevated
because of his sinless state. They reject the doctrines of trinity and
triune nature of God. In Mormonism a distinction is drawn between
the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit. As LDS Apostle Marion G.
Romney stated, "The Holy Ghost is a person, a spirit, the third
member of the Godhead" (Ensign May 1977, 43-44). The sixth LDS
prophet, Joseph F. Smith explains that the Holy Spirit is not a person
but rather an impersonal force. (Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, pp.
752-753).
Mormons worship the Father in the name of the Son but do not refer
to either as 'God'. They refer to Jesus Christ as Jehovah, a separate
and distinct being than the Father who is referred to as Elohim.
These names are used to differentiate between the two.
Atonement
The LDS doctrine on this was originated by Joseph Smith and later
affirmed by Brigham Young and was referred to as "blood
atonement". As summarized below, it appears from the writings of
the prophets that some sins are so serious that Jesus' sacrifice is not
enough to cleanse them, that the sinner's own blood is required in a
ritualistic ceremony.
Although difficult to nail down exactly what this teaching once
entailed, it is taught in the church today that the idea of a required
physical atonement for sin was a distortion from the original intent.
Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man
may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power
of atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the
blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though
they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood
shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. (Doctrines of
Salvation, vol. 1, p.135)
Brigham Young said: "It is true that the blood of the Son of God was
shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men
can commit sins which it can never remit...there are sins that can be
atoned for by an offering on the altar...and there are sins that the
blood of a lamb...cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the
blood of the man" (Journal of Discourses, vol.4, p.53-54, also
published in Deseret News, p.235, 1856).
Brigham Young also said: "There is not a man or a woman, who
violates the covenants [fidelity in marriage] made with their God, that
will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never
wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it" (Journal of
Discourses,vol.3, p.247)
Bruce McConkie explains: "But under certain circumstances there are
some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate,
and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed
to atone for their sins" (Mormon Doctrine, p.92)
Please note the citations of the above quotes. The Journal of
Discourses, Mormon Doctrine and the Doctrines of Salvation are the
writings of the prophets but are not considered official church
doctrine.
While not all Mormons accept this doctrine, it is notable that in 1977,
Gary Gillmore, a convicted murderer, requested that his death
sentence be carried out via firing squad because of his belief in the
blood atonement doctrine. His story was immortalized in the 1982
NBC Miniseries, The Executioner's Song.
Official Mormon doctrine states that that the only blood efficacious
for the remission of sins is that of Christ.
Salvation
The Mormon church teaches that it is only through the atoning blood
of Jesus and the act of baptism (personal or proxy) that a person can
even begin the process of salvation. This is defined in terms of
'salvation' and 'exaltation'. Salvation (or resurrection) is granted to all
through the atonement of Jesus, Exaltation is given through
obedience to the gospel principles. Children are are deemed saved
without the requirement of any works.
Salvation therefore is contingent first upon the grace of Christ and
then judged by works. Recommended works include acceptance of
the prophet Joseph Smith, serving a mission, marriage in the temple,
inclusion in the priesthood, completing a genealogical tree,
abstinence from alcohol and hot drinks, tithing, attending sacrament
meetings and obedience to the church. One cited advantage of a
living prophet can be seen here as scriptures say 'hot drinks' but the
prophets have consistently clarified that this refers only to coffee and
tea.
Mormons teach that all who lived on this earth (save the sons of
perdition) will go to one of three heavens: the celestial, the terrestrial
or the telestial. The celestial level (exhultation) is what they consider
'eternal life' and where they believe that you get your godhood.
Proxy Baptism
LDS teachings say that there is no salvation outside of the Mormon
church but all people will/can be saved. How do they explain this
plurality? With proxy baptism. This practice is accomplished in their
temple. They have someone stand in for another person and they
baptize the stand in (proxy) in that person's name. This is typically
done on the behalf of deceased people and a leading motivator in
completing a genealogical tree.
Racism
Mormonism has a dark history of racism in its early days. Although
not doctrine, it was speculated that people of African descent have
dark skin because they were cursed by God and are therefore an
inferior race. This was clarified in 1968 by the prophet, David O.
McKay, who wrote, "There is not now, and there never has been a
doctrine in this church that the Negroes are under a divine curse. We
believe that we have scriptural precedent for withholding the
priesthood from the Negro. It is a practice, not a doctrine and the
practice will some day be changed".
Until 1978, the status on people of African descent was "forbidden"
for marriage and entry into the temple. That year, based on a
revelation given to the prophet Spencer W. Kimball, they changed
their policy banning people of African descent from becoming priests.
The church never admitted they were wrong to discriminate, as they
believe that God reveals things to the prophets on a timetable for a
reason.
Replacement Theology
The premise of Replacement Theology is the doctrine that says that
some church, denomination or religion has replaced Israel as the
Chosen People of God.
As mentioned above, Joseph Smith believed via his vision that he
was to be the prophet designated from God to bring about the one
true church, the remnant church of the Lord.
Smith maintained that through divine revelation, he was told that the
garden of Eden was not in the Tigris and Euphrates river basin but
was actually in the United States in a place he called the Valley of
Adam (Adam-ondi-Ahman or the 'place of God where Adam dwelt')
which today represents the area known as Independence, Missouri.
LDS prophesy calls for a final gathering at this place in Missouri
where all who have held leadership in the church will return. These
will include "Moroni, Elias of the restoration, who is also identified as
being Gabriel or Noah; John the Baptist, Elijah, Joseph who was sold
into Egypt, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Michael who is Adam, and Peter,
James, and John." Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol. 4,
pp. 65-66. It will also include "Every prophet, apostle, president,
bishop, elder, or church officer of whatever degree -- all who have
held keys shall stand before him who holds all of the keys." Bruce R.
McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p. 582.
Mormons do not believe in a physical zionism, they define it as a
spiritual purification of the heart, not as a restoration of the tribes of
Israel. They maintain that the promises and blessings said to be
bestowed on Israel at the end of days is no longer the inheritance of
Israel but is now bestowed on the LDS church.
Polygamy
This is the teaching that Mormons are typically identified with. The
early polygamous believers claimed that Jesus himself was a
polygamist. This belief is not maintained today. This has not been
officially disavowed, it is just considered moot and a non-issue.
The LDS teaches that man cannot reach the highest level of heaven
(exaltation) without having a wife and exaltation can only come to a
man and his wife. Marriage ceremonies held outside of the temple
are considered 'until death do you part'. Marriage ceremonies held in
the temple performed by the appropriate authority are deemed
eternal.
The practice of Polygamy was banned from LDS doctrine in 1890
by the prophet Wilford Woodruff. The official church stance since
that time is that polygamists are excommunicated.
Missions
This is a two year witnessing program where the missionaries are
sent around the world going door to door sharing the Mormon faith
and doing volunteer and charity work. This is not a requirement per
se but there is much pressure from the church in many cases as this
service is believed to best prepare young men and women for the life
they face ahead as good stewards, husbands and wives. Men are
eligible for service at age 19 and women at 21.
Summary
Although Mormons believe in the divinity of Jesus as the saviour and
refer to themselves as the only complete and true church on the
earth, many of their doctrines as outlined above do not agree with
Orthodox Christian teachings.
