How many Founding Fathers were Mormon?

Answer 1

None of the Founding Fathers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormon church was not founded until 1830.

However, the Mormon church believes in baptism for the dead. By proxy, they are baptized in the temple for specific people who have passed on and not had a chance to hear the gospel.

Mormons believe that in 1877, the spirits of the Founding Fathers appeared to their prophet in the St. George, Utah temple and asked to be baptized. Their baptismal work was done shortly after. (See related link for more information on their baptism.)

Members of the LDS Church revere the Founding Fathers. Their work in establishing a free country played a major part in the restoration of the gospel and founding of the Mormon church.

AnswerThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which the misnomer "Mormon" refers, was organized on April 6, 1830. Since the Founding Fathers lived in the late 1700s, none of them were "Mormon" because the religion had not been founded yet. However, Latter-day Saints believe that the Founding Fathers were truly inspired men, who helped to fulfill the Lord's purpose of creating a nation which had the freedom of religion. This made it possible for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be organized in the United States of America. Latter-day Saints also believe that their religion contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which had been lost from the earth with the death of the Twelve Apostles, and which had to be restored in its fulness.

Latter-day Saints also believe in the work for the dead, which is referenced in the New Testament. This is one purpose for temples in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Temples are places where faithful Latter-day Saints can receive ordinances for themselves, in which they make sacred covenants with God. These ordinances are performed only once per individual, though. This means that when faithful Latter-day Saints return to the temple, they have the opportunity to perform these same ordinances, as proxies, for their deceased ancestors. This gives those who died without the opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness will have the opportunity to choose, on the other side of the veil, whether or not they want to accept that work.

Many of the Founding Fathers have had their temple work done for them, and now Latter-day Saints, or "Mormons," believe those men, who were inspired of God on this life, have had the opportunity to accept or reject that work in the next life.