Mormonism

Anyone who is a "Mormon" is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church is very unified in its organization and doctrine, so all Mormons should have most of the same beliefs and practices. However, Mormons do come from all races, nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds. Mormons are rich and poor, White and Black, Asian and Hispanic. They are united by their common faith and nothing else.

Of course everyone has a different level of activity or involvement in their religious faith. Some Mormons are more religous than others, just as you would find in any religion. Mormons sometimes refer to 'active', 'less-active', and 'non-active' members, which refers to how active an individual is in their congregation.

There are also a small number who claim to be Mormon but are actually members of various break off groups. They still believe the basic foundation of Mormonism, and so call themselves Mormons, but disagree with the mainstream Mormon church on some aspect. For example, some call themselves "Mormon Fundamentalists" or "Mormon Polygamists". These are not members of the mainstream Mormon church, so they are not technically Mormons. They belong to splinter groups which broke off when the mainstream church banned the practice of polygamy. They are not recognized as Mormons by the "Mormon" church.

Check out the "Related Link" below to learn about different Mormons.

Devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wear sacred undergarments, called temple garments, as a physical symbol of their covenants with God. Members start wearing them after they have received their "endowment," a sacred temple ceremony that usually occurs when members go on proselytizing missions or get married. The garments are thin, white shorts and a t-shirt that come in a variety of fabrics. Both men and women wear them.

This question is a two part question that has no answer. The Mormon Trail is commonly known as the trek westward from the state of Illinois to the (now state) of Utah which began in 1846. The Prophet Joseph Smith was assassinated prior to the trek westward in 1844. Therefore Joseph Smith never traveled the Mormon Trail.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the 'Mormon' church) believe that they are practicing the same religion practiced by Adam and Eve, so they might say that their religion is 6,000 years old.

The Church itself was officially established on April 6, 1830, making it 182 years old this year (2012). Mormons believe that the truth was lost from the earth at the death of Jesus' Apostles and thus had to be restored to the earth.

The temple garment you refer to is a quiet and personal reminder of sacred covenants that an individual has made with Christ. They represent a deep personal commitment to use every bit of heart, might, mind and strength one possesses to serve Jesus Christ in word, deed and thought.

However if it is the idea of a sacred garment of any kind that you have a problem with then you need look no further than the Old Testament for examples of God's followers being required to wear sacred and symbolic clothing. All of ancient Israel was required to wear some sort of symbolic clothing. Especially the priests. A description of the symbolic clothing the priests were supposed to wear anciently can be found in Exodus chapter 28.

Between 1847 and 1877, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) settled many cities in the western United States and evangelized in Europe, Canada, the eastern US, and the Pacific Islands.

Well, at the end of the process there is a disciplinary hearing where both sides are presented, and that disciplinary hearing determines whether the member remains a member or not. A lot is involved in the decision, and it is to be made with great care, with the best interest of the member in mind. Even if the member is excommunicated, that person can eventually be re-baptized if they repent and come back. Also, a lot goes on before a disciplinary hearing, and a member can get a lot of help just by going to the Bishop with anything serious. Depending on the issue, it might not even go to a disciplianry hearing. Most issues can be resolved just between you and the bishop.

It is estimated that over 70,000 migrated to Utah.

Joseph Smith had 11 children with his wife Emma, only 5 of them lived to adulthood. They were:

Alvin Smith (died on day of birth)

twins Thaddeus and Louisa Smith (died on day of birth)

twins Joseph and Julia Murdock (adopted - Joseph died in his first year, Julia lived to be 69)

Joseph Smith III (lived to age 82)

Fredrick Granger Williams Smith (lived to age 26)

Alexander Hale Smith (lived to age 71)

Don Carlos Smith (Died at 14 months)

a stillborn male was born in 1842

and the youngest, David Hyrum Smith, was born 5 months after Joseph was killed. He lived to be 60)

It was previously alleged that Joseph had children through other women as well, but DNA evidence proved these allegations false in 2007.

Yes. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) believe in the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. They typically use the King James Version of the Bible. Church leaders have said that the Crucifixion and Resurrection are the two most important events in the history of the world. The Crucifixion satisfied justice and made it possible for all who come to Christ to be saved, and the Resurrection conquored death and made it possible for all men to live again in the Kingdom of God.

You can learn more about what 'Mormons' believe about Jesus Christ, as well as their beliefs on other topics, at the "Related Links" below.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism) is found across the world, with the exception of some communist countries, and certain countries in the middle east, and it is especially prevalent n South America.

This is excluding the United states, where Mormonism is obviously prevalent.

The Angel Moroni typically faces east. Presumably this is symbolic of Moroni heralding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who will come from the east (Matthew 24:27). Not all Moroni statues face east, however. One exception is the Angel Moroni atop the Nauvoo, Illinois Temple. This angel faces to the West in commemoration of the Saints' Trek to the Great Salt Lake Valley from Nauvoo. Other Moroni statues that do not face east are: Accra Ghana (NorthEast); Anchorage Alaska (NorthEast); Apia Samoa (SouthWest); Boise Idaho (South); Buenos Aires Argentina (SouthEast); Chicago Illinois (North); Dallas Texas (South); Johannesburg South Africa (South); Kona Hawaii (NorthEast); London England (South); Manhattan New York (SouthWest); Manila Philippines (West); Mexico City Mexico (south); Nuku'Alofa Tonga (West); Oaxaca Mexico (SouthEast); St. Louis Missouri (South); Santiago Chile (South); Seattle Washington (West); Seoul Korea (south); Stockholm Sweden (south); Suva Fiji (south); Taipei Taiwan (west); and Veracruz Mexico (west).

Temples with no Angel Moroni statue are Cardston Alberta; Hamilton New Zealand; Laie Hawaii; Logan Utah; Manti Utah; Oakland California; and St. George Utah.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) can eat meat if they want to. The official teaching of the Church is that God provides animals for meat, and that meat is to be eaten in winter and times of need. Some Mormons eat meat and some choose to be vegetarian, it's all just a personal preference.

Mormons believe that a person must:

1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Repent of their sins

3. Be baptized into Christ's church by someone holding God's authority known as the Priesthood

4. Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, also by someone holding the Priesthood

They also believe that after these things are done that they must "endure to the end" which means they must continue to have faith in Christ, repent of any mistakes, and live their lives like Christ as best they can for the remainder of their life.

Additional:

There are several "ordinance for salvation" to obtain the "highest degree of exaltation" (i.e. the "highest heaven").

They are:

1) Baptism, by immersion by one having authority from God (i.e. "the priesthood")

2) Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost (confirmation)

3) "The endowment" - be worthy to enter a "Holy Temple" and receive further ordinances

4) Temple Marriage - Marriage in the temple not only for time, but for "all eternity." This is between a man and woman.

5) Sealing to parents and children - If a man and woman are married in the temple prior to the birth of their children they are automatically "born in the covenant" or sealed to them for eternity. Otherwise all children may be sealed at any time afterwards to a mother and father (whether living or dead). A legally adopted child may be sealed to parents, or a step child, or any children born prior to the parent's temple marriage.

Also, all the above ordinances may be done by proxy after death. This is the reason for the emphasis on Genealogy and Family history. They believe the the concept of vicarious (or proxy) work on behalf of another. The person for whom the work is done still has free agency to accept or reject any ordinance performed on their behalf.

The church has several websites and the principle one to explain and teach the "basic beliefs" is mormon.org. The other one, geared towards members of the church is lds.org.

Yes. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attend church worship services on Sunday as well as Sunday School and Womens/Mens groups. Sunday church meetings generally last three hours.

Some Church members also choose to attend other worship services or meetings held on weekdays.

In relation to the world population, there really aren't that many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church). There are about 14.5 million Mormons worldwide (as of January 2013) and about 7 billion people in the world. So only 0.2% of the world population is Mormon. Compare that to 17% of the world being Catholic, or 20% of the world's population being Muslim, and Mormons are hardly worth mentioning. However, 14.5 million members is quite a large number considering the relatively recent and humble beginnings of the Mormon church, not to mention the high standards that are expected of it's membership. Of course there are many reasons why there are 'so many' Mormons: -For one, they have an actively proselyting missionary force of approximately 60,000 young people, going door to door around the world seeking anyone interested in hearing their message. These missionaries bring in an average of 250,000 new converts per year. -Most converts join because they are touched by the message of the Gospel of Christ and desire to join with others who have a similar faith. The Mormon church has some unique doctrines which many prospective converts realize they cannot find in other religions. Of course there are always some who join because the Church will assist them with food, housing, and other necessities if they are not able to provide it for themselves. -In addition to converts joining due to the missionary efforts, Mormons also have strong family values and place a high emphasis on marriage and children. The average Mormon family has more children than the average non-Mormon family, and in a typical year over 100,000 new children are born into the Mormon church.

Of course. It depends on the person's individual choice. Although members can and do marry outside the church, they are strongly discouraged from doing so because the authority for this marriage lasts only 'til death do us part'. The problem is Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe that marriage is Forever, but that these Eternal marriages can only be performed in holy edifices called, 'Temples' by proper authodity from God. To be worthy to enter the temple, one needs to be temple worthy and temple ready, having been interviewed by their bishop and stake president for active Church membership and testimony.

When the "Mormon" (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) settlers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in what is now Utah, there was nothing there. The entire area was untamed wilderness, and practically a desert. They built Salt Lake City from scratch, but visitors to the settlement later on spoke well of it.

In the very old days (before Christ was even born), Mormon and Christian mean had more than one wife. But, in more recent doctrine (the Book of Mormon), in 2 Nephi of the Book of Mormon, a revelation came unto Nephi that God frowned upon those with multiple wives and exclaimed that that "was not His way". (This is coming from a member of the Mormon church). The above answer is exactly right because God allows free agency (A prophet CAN lead you astray) and polygamy has always been an "abomination" unto God. The early "saints" were led astray by Joseph Smith who was warned not to "follow his own will and carnal desires" (D&C 3:1-11). He later repented just before he was assassinated Masonically (research book written on this~find it on the internet)."This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David and Solomon his son. Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord" (Book, Jacob 2:23-24). Further research into the writings of D. Michael Quinn, an award winning historian, other credible resources, and even altered LDS scriptures yielded confirming answers. D. Michael Quinn's historical research into the early years of the church found that Joseph Smith repented of polygamy weeks prior to his assassination by burning the original polygamy manuscript with his first wife Emma and telling the Quorum to burn their Masonic temple garments and to stop practicing polygamy. J June 10, 1844: "Hyrum (Joseph's brother) tells Nauvoo City Council that the 1843 revelation pertains to ancient polygamy, not to modern times…" J June 20, 1844: "Smith writes the apostles to return to Nauvoo immediately and probably on this occasion, instructs them to destroy their endowment undergarments." Ju June 23, 1844: "…Joseph and Emma Smith burn the original manuscript of the 1843 polygamy revelation, presumably on this evening…" (Quinn 645-46). After the Masonic murder of Joseph Smith, D&C Section 132 is politically added to LDS scriptures to justify polygamy. Is this why Joseph Smith was murdered? Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards (unharmed at Carthage Jail and later wrote about it ~?) early leaders, were 33rd degree Masons who had infiltrated the church (Quinn 114-5). (also see HCK's autobiography pg. 11) The book, "Wife No. 19…," written in 1875 by Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of President Brigham Young gives her description of the "bondage" of women in polygamy (Young). The women believed that their eternal salvation rested on their obedience and willingness to share their husband with other wives. And what was the attitude of polygamous wives as reported by their husbands? "…they have not seen a week's happiness since they became acquainted with that law [plural marriage] or since their husbands took a second wife" (Johnson). Historical research shows that polygamy is an abomination to most women including those who live it for their "salvation" (Young). Ten of Brigham Young's wives divorced him, even though he was the "Prophet and President" of the LDS Church (Young, chapter 37). The control of satanic Masonry and continued belief in polygamy with the suppression of women in the LDS church could well account for depression in Utah being the highest for many years (U.S. Census 2003) including the latest poll of 2007 reported by the Church-owned newspaper; The Deseret News (Thalman). Utah also leads the nation in abuse and pornography! (Deseret News) "All is not well in Zion" as warned of in the Book of Mormon with the Saints believing that Zion is where they dwell: "they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth…and thus the devil…leadeth them away carefully down to hell" (Book, 2 Nephi 28). Works Cited Quinn, Michael D. The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power. Salt Lake City: UT Signature Books. 1995. Young, Ann Eliza. Wife No. 19 or The Story of a life in Bondage being a Complete Expose` of Mormonism and Revealing the Sorrows, Sacrifices and Sufferings of Women in Polygamy. 1875.

As of January 2010, there are 13,824,854 baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) worldwide. 6,058,907 of those members were in the United States.

To compare the size, there are approximately as many Mormons as there are Jews worldwide.

You can see a great interactive map showing the membership numbers of the Church at the "Related Link" below.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) consider fornication a serious sin. A Mormon who commits fornication is expected to voluntarily confess this sin to their Bishop when they feel the desire to repent of this sin. The Bishop will guide and support them throughout the repentance process. For some, especially those in leadership positions, a probationary period may occur in which they are removed from leadership and have certain privileges - such as leading congregational prayer or attending special Temple services - temporarily revoked. Exactly what happens will depend on the individual situation, but for most Mormons they will simply go through a period of repentance with the support of their Bishop, and then life will continue on as normal.

Those Mormons who fornicate and decide not to confess or repent of their sins will await God's judgement in the afterlife. The Book of Mormon has strong words against those who 'procrastinate the day of their repentance', saying that they will become subjected to the devil. (see Alma 34:35)

Mormons believe that hiding one's sins or postponing repentance will bring more guilt and pain, but that God as our loving creator desires us to confess and repent so that He may, through His grace, forgive us and restore our personal peace.

The vast majority of the followers of Joseph Smith believed that Brigham Young was his successor. Today about 15 million people believe that Brigham Young was appointed by God to be Joseph Smith's successor. They are the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) and a handful of offshoot branches.

Another group thought that Joseph Smith's young son, Joseph Smith III, should be the successor. There are about 500,000 people today who believe Joseph Smith III was Joseph Smith's successor. They are members of the Community of Christ and a handful of offshoot branches.

A third group believed that James Strang was appointed by God to be Joseph Smith's successor. There are about 300 people today who adhere to this belief; they are often called "Strangites".

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) does not interfere in the marital relationships of it's members. Interracial couples are becoming increasingly common among Mormons, and they are treated exactly the same as couples who are of the same race.