In Catholicism and mainline Protestantism , for example, there's the belief of the Trinity as a single Godhead manifested as three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. In Mormon teachings, based on the Book of Mormon and other revelations and visions received by Joseph Smith, the Godhead is not a Trinity, but rather three separate and distinct beings acting with one will and purpose.
Bowman says that some evangelicals also take issue with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of its teaching that certain sacraments and ordinances are necessary for salvation. Another problem some other Christians have with the Mormon church is the fact that it holds the Book of Mormon to be sacred scripture alongside the Bible. The Latter-day Saints response to that is that the Bible itself doesn't say that "all revelations from God would be gathered into a single volume to be forever closed and that no further scriptural revelation could be received.
Polygamy, also known as plural marriage, was a central practice for Mormons in the 19th century, but the church outlawed it in and anyone suspected of practicing polygamy today is excommunicated. In , Joseph Smith received a revelation directing church members to reinstate the ancient practice of plural marriage the biblical King Solomon had wives and concubines as a way of quickly growing the faith's numbers.
Since plural marriage was illegal in the United States, Mormons became an outlaw people and the subject of bitter persecution, driven from place to place until they finally found sanctuary in the wilds of Utah, which wasn't yet a state. In , as Mormons were lobbying Congress to admit Utah as a state, the then-prophet of the church Wilford Woodruff promised to end the practice of plural marriage in the faith.
And in , polygamy officially became punishable by excommunication from the church. The ongoing confusion about Mormons and polygamy is that there are splinter sects living in Northern Mexico and rural parts of Arizona and Utah who continue to practice polygamy and call themselves the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These groups, which often dress in 19th-century garb and live in isolated compounds, are separate and distinct from mainstream Mormons.
Faithful Mormons do their best to live by a set of health and lifestyle rules known as the Word of Wisdom. The original Word of Wisdom was a revelation given to Joseph Smith in after he prayed about the use of tobacco among church members. The answer Smith received was that men and women should not only avoid tobacco, but also alcohol and "hot drinks," which were interpreted as coffee and tea. Meat was also to be eaten "sparingly," only in times of winter and famine, and then always with thanksgiving.
In the original revelation, the Word of Wisdom was less a rule than a "principle with promise" — the promise being physical health, wisdom and knowledge to those who follow its guidelines. The first wagon train that left for Salt Lake City carried coffee with it. In the early 20th century, as polygamy ended, Bowman says that the Word of Wisdom took on a new significance as a way of maintaining social boundaries between the Latter-day Saints and outsiders.
Eventually, adherence to the Word of Wisdom's injunctions against alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea but not meat became a prerequisite for full activity in the Church.
Over time, both Mormons and non-Mormons alike wondered why coffee and tea had made the no-no list, and the consensus was that it must be the caffeine, which can be an addictive substance. So, it became a cultural norm, at least in Utah, for Mormons to avoid caffeinated soda as well as "hot drinks.
The ordinances at the approximately 68 Mormon temples worldwide are not open to the general public. It is quite the opposite, in fact. With great effort the church urges every soul to qualify and prepare for the temple experience. Members require a personal "temple recommend" from their bishop before attending.
A temporary temple recommend can be obtained after a few months' membership. This allows the person to do baptisms for the dead. A permanent temple recommend requires that an individual be a member for one year, and be found "worthy. The recommend is obtained from and signed by the member's bishop after passing a one-on-one worthiness interview, in which one's commitment to the gospel is reviewed.
According to Moroni, this spiritual book contained information about the ancient people who inhabited the Americas. He revealed that the book was inscribed on golden plates near Palmyra , New York , which was close to where Smith lived at the time.
Although the plates were first revealed to him on September 22, , Smith said he was not allowed to retrieve them until September The Book of Mormon was translated and published in Smith also asserted that John the Baptist appeared to him while he was translating the Book of Mormon and instructed him to restore the church by preaching the true gospel.
After the Book of Mormon was published, Mormonism began to spread and grow rapidly. Smith set up Mormon communities in Missouri , Ohio and Illinois. Smith was criticized and persecuted by many for teaching his new ideas.
In February , Smith and his brother were jailed on charges of treason. On June 27, , both Smith and his brother were murdered in jail by an anti-Mormon mob in Carthage, Illinois. After Smith died, the church divided. Young led a large group of persecuted Mormons from Illinois to search for religious freedom. During the s, Young organized the migration of about 16, Mormons from Illinois to Utah. Young was named the President of the Church and kept this title until his death in Scholars believe Young significantly influenced the religious and political landscape of the American West.
Despite moving to a relatively isolated region in Utah, tensions between Mormons and other Americans continued. In September of , a Mormon militia murdered about people who were part of a wagon train from Arkansas. This event became known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The exact motive for the massacre is still debated today, and some records show that Mormon leaders attempted to cover up the attack. Scholars are also unsure who was directly responsible for the violence.
Some have blamed Brigham Young, while others say the local leaders in southern Utah were at fault. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived in the Americas. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research.
Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Newsletters Donate My Account. Research Topics. Mormon Temple Recommends One distinctive aspect of the LDS faith is that worship takes place in two separate contexts. Religious Beliefs Most Mormons hold many of the same beliefs espoused by other Christian traditions. Food Storage Mormons are encouraged to keep a supply of food in storage in case of emergencies, with church leaders recommending that Mormons keep at least three months of supplies on hand.
Belief in Reincarnation, Yoga As is the case among members of other religious groups, significant minorities of Mormons express belief in certain tenets more commonly associated with Eastern religions.
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