Key Mormon Teachings, Beliefs, and Practices

What follows is an attempt to present central teachings, beliefs, and practices of a major world religion. Few outside a religion are likely to express its essence adequately and therefore completely to do it justice.

Many of those who identify themselves as Latter-Day Saints (LDS), the main branch of Mormonism, would prefer to be called Restorationist Christians—and even descriptors such as LDS and Mormon are currently discouraged. Their formal name is The Church of Jesus Christs of Latter-Day Saints and it is reported to be the fourth largest denomination in the country. Worldwide, there are as many as sixteen million Mormons, many of whom are strongly committed to missionary work. An important feature of Mormon doctrine is the view that America is the promised land and that the United States Constitution was divinely inspired. The United States is therefore regarded as special and exceptional. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is estimated to be wealthy. It owns a great deal of land in the United States and engages in considerable humanitarian work and philanthropic activity.

Mormonism arose during a period in the early nineteenth century that church historians define as the Second Great Awakening (the first took place in the middle of the eighteenth century). The Latter Day Saints are headquartered in Salt Lake City. In addition to the Bible, typically the King James Version, Mormons treat as scripture the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ as the word of God. Most also embrace part or all of Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, as well as other writings. Many Mormons own all four books in one leather-bound volume. Latter-Day Saints endorse ongoing revelation as the path to correct doctrine.

Mormon is believed to have been a prophet in fourth-century America who put together a history of ancient civilizations and inscribed them on gold plates, which in 1823 Joseph Smith unearthed in upstate New York. He then received what Mormons regard as several angelic visits. He was told by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ that existing denominations were in error and that he was to establish a new Christian church.

With divine help, Mormons believe, Smith was able to dictate to an assistant a translation of the golden plates, which were written in a reformed Egyptian language. After completing the translation in 1829, he returned the plates to the angel Moroni, Mormon’s son. Smith and his associates began baptizing converts in 1829 and they formally organized their church the following year.

The Book of Mormon is regarded by Latter-Day Saints to be the history of indigenous American people and their relationship with God. Following promptings from God, it indicates that around 600 BC the prophet Lehi and his family left Jerusalem and sailed to the western hemisphere, only to discover that its indigenous people already believed in Christ. After his resurrection, Christ is said to have visited them. Because of subsequent wars and widespread apostasy, renouncing or abandoning belief and faith, authentic Christianity was lost. Early in the nineteenth century, Mormons believe God chose Joseph Smith whom others quickly regarded as a prophet, to restore it.

Smith and his followers soon ran into opposition. To avoid persecution, they moved from New York to Ohio, then to Missouri, and finally to Illinois, where an inflamed mob assassinated Smith in 1844. After his death, debate arose over who should succeed him. The largest group of Mormons accepted Brigham Young as the new prophet and followed him to Utah.

There they began to practice and promote the marriage of one man to multiple women, a practice Smith had instituted. In 1890, under pressure from the United States Congress, which refused to admit Utah as a state, the LDS church banned polygamy (Utah became a state in 1896). It seems still to be practiced quietly by some conservative Mormons.

Although from the beginning certain Mormons accepted the traditional Christian belief that God exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—most Mormons do not believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share the same substance, essence, or being. In Mormon literature, God refers to God the Father, and Godhead refers to three divine persons, who are distinct beings: God the Father (Elohim), his firstborn son Jesus Christ (Jehovah), and the Holy Ghost. The Father and the Son have glorified and perfected physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost is a spirit without a physical body.

They also believe in the existence of other gods and goddesses outside the Godhead, for example the Heavenly Mother, who is said to be God the Father’s wife. Mormons believe that devout Latter-Day saints may attain godhood in the life hereafter. Following Joseph Smith, they affirm that God was once a man on another planet and was then exalted to godhood.

The intelligence within each person is said to be co-eternal with God, who organized the world but did not create it out of nothing. Some Mormons believe, as Brigham Young did but contrary to mainline doctrine, that Adam was “our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do.”

Latter-Day Saints believe that soon after the ascension of Jesus in Jerusalem, a Great Apostasy occurred, during which Christianity in the Near East was commingled with and corrupted by Greek and other philosophies. This resulted in the loss of all priestly authority to lead and govern the church.

Through Joseph Smith, whom Mormons believe the apostles James, John, Peter, and John the Baptist returned to anoint, the lost priesthood was restored. His legitimate successors today are believed to be prophets who receive divine revelation according to which they guide the church.

Mormons believe human beings existed as spirits (intelligences) in God’s presence. God offered them a plan of salvation, according to which they could progress as God did. They were free to accept or reject that plan, and a third of them, led by Satan, chose to reject it. The other two-thirds accepted God’s offer, came to earth, and received bodies, understanding that they would experience sin and suffering. The purpose of life is to choose good over evil.

Mormonism stresses human agency and responsibility. Because of sin, people do things they shouldn’t. Jesus, however, atoned (paid for) the sins of the world, which Mormons officially accept through faith, repentance, ordinances, and striving to live a Christ-like life. Ordinances are similar to what Christians call sacraments. According to Mormons, some ordinances finalize covenants with God.

These include but are not limited to baptism by immersion, installation of males as priests, and marriage (sealing) to a spouse. Families sealed together in a temple, if they are faithful, are believed to remain together for eternity. Mormons believe that even after death, people in the spirit world have the freedom to choose whether or not to accept God’s offer of salvation.

Differences from Mainline Christianity

Although Mormons typically define themselves as Christians, differences exist between Mormonism and traditional Christianity. The Mormon emphasis on good works is admirable, and they tend to be excellent neighbors, unlikely to host loud parties or throw beer bottles into the street (they eschew alcohol). Mainline Christians reject the notion that Joseph Smith found and translated ancient tablets or that Christ visited America. Christians do not regard the Book of Mormon as scripture, nor do they treat either the Doctrine and Covenants or Pearl of Great Price as authoritative. Mormons are not “trinitarian” and so reject the affirmation that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are of the same essence. They also believe God has a physical body, was once on another planet, or is wedded to a Heavenly Mother, none of which Christians believe. Neither do Christians believe the President of the Latter-Day Saints in Utah is a “prophet. seer, and revelator” who can continue to receive divine revelation.