Mormon Beliefs

Jesus Shows His Wounds MormonMost people know little about Mormon beliefs and tend to believe rumors and hearsay, even if that “information” is bizarre or negative. There are many myths about Mormons and Mormonism that continue to be believed. Mormons hope people will check their facts before spreading information about Mormonism that could be false.

Mormons are devout Christians who follow the gospel taught by Jesus Christ and His original apostles. The gospel has been fully restored to the earth in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. The kingdom of God on earth is called The Church of Jesus Christ, and Christ is the author and leader of the Church, giving revelation through His prophet and apostles just as in ancient times. To distinguish the Church in these latter days from the followers in ancient times, the phrase “of Latter-day Saints” has been added to the name of the Church.

Many lost truths have been restored to the earth in the latter-days, as well as lost scripture, and Mormons believe God will continue to reveal more truth and more scripture as we become worthy to receive it.

The Thirteen Articles of Faith

Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the restoration, wrote thirteen articles of faith to answer questions posed by a newspaper reporter. Here they are:

  1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
  2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
  3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinancesof the Gospel.
  4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
  6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
  7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
  8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
  9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
  10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaical glory.
  11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
  12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
  13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul–We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith.

Jesus Christ

Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are devout Christians. Some Christians of other churches hope to trip up Mormons with the following question: "Is Jesus God?" Because of Mormonism's complex doctrine, and because Mormons are not "creedal Christians" and don't believe in the trinity, most Mormons will hesitate when asked...

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What is Mormonism?

What is the Mormon Religion? When people ask me if I’m Mormon, I usually want to say something like, “Well, depending on how you’re using the term, my answer will either be ‘Yes,’ or ‘Yes, with a few clarifications.’” The reason for that somewhat strange and unconventional response is I have met many people throughout...

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Mormon Scriptures

Most people are aware that the Mormon Church uses more scriptures than the Bible.  The Church uses the King James Version of the Bible in English-speaking countries, to which it has made no changes except to add cross-references to other scriptures, a dictionary, a topical guide, maps, etc.  The other scriptures used by the Church...

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About Mormon Temples

Oquirrh Mt. Utah The temple is a sacred place, dedicated to be the House of the Lord. Anciently, God used sacred spaces both in nature and in holy edifices as a place to speak to man. The Garden of Eden, Mount Sinai, Moses' Tabernacle, and Solomon's Temple are all examples of such sacred spaces. Temples...

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About Revelation in Mormonism

By Gale The proclamation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes nicknamed the Mormon Church) is that the heavens are open, that God speaks to His children and always has, and always will.  Some accuse Mormons of adding to the Bible, citing the "curse" in the Book of Revelation.  Mormons have not...

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About Personal Prayer in Mormon Belief

Mormons believe in an all-powerful but personal God who hears and answers our prayers, has a plan for each one of us, and who is willing to give us comfort and personal revelation according to our needs. Mormons believe in personal prayer to God Mormons believe in the Bible and what it says about prayer. ...

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8 Comments

  1. gary

    mY name is Gary and I was reading about the morman cault and I read were the mormans forbid to drink tea or coffee or use tobacco why is that it’s not a sin to drink coffee or tea or even alcohol as long as u don’t get stupid they drank wine so sence I drink coffee and tea and I do smoke does that mean I’m going to hell I’m a southern Baptist and I may not know everything about the bible I do know that it does not say anything in the bible that u are not supposed to drink coffee and tea and alcohol now I don’t drink alcohol but I am just wondering why its forbidden to a morman it don’t make since to me

    Reply
    • Gale

      Thanks for your question. Mormonism is not a cult. The commandment not to drink alcohol, coffee, or tea, and not to use tobacco was given as a revelation from Jesus Christ to our first prophet Joseph Smith in 1833. The commandment can be read here — https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng

      The commandment was given because of the bad things that will be offered to us “In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days.” This law of health also gives us advice on how to eat healthy foods.

      Reply
  2. Chris Martinez

    Do you believe in the Holy Eucharist? Do you believe it to be the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus CHRIST?

    Reply
    • Gale

      We partake of bread and water every sabbath day as a representation of the body and blood of Christ. We don’t believe in transubstantiation, that the sacramental offerings become the literal body and blood of Christ. Thanks for your question.

      Reply
  3. Sherry

    Can a Mormon marry a non-Mormon?

    Reply
    • rachelstewart

      Thank you for your question. A Mormon can marry a non-Mormon, and many people have chosen to do so. However, they will not be able to be married in the temple. Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have a current temple recommend can enter dedicated temples.

      Reply
  4. Willard Murema

    I have a question for you,

    1. Where did the name Jesus came from, when his name was in Hebrew and Aramaic.

    2. So since the Latin, Greek, old English had no letter J , who introduced the letter J,and if you transliteration was correct to leosous, if you put a J does the name have same spiritual meaning.

    3. Where did you can those white long haired smooth face so called Jesus, ( the Hebrew boy born by mirrian-mary was not a like that)
    If you don’t have his actual pics which authority gave you the right or to continuous us those so called fake pics of Jesus, deceiving the world.

    If ask Vatican priests who hold the evidence they will give you his actual pics if you are obsessed by pics in all your books.

    Reply
    • Gale

      Willard, you are correct in that there is not a “J” sound in Hebrew. The names in the various English translations of the Bible are “anglicanized” for English-speaking readers. Jesus’ name in Hebrew is Y’shua, close to Joshua. Not sure what it would be in Aramaic.

      Artists through the ages have painted their subjects any way they want. Although Jesus was indeed a Judahite, descriptions in the Bible make Him sound like He had lighter, even ruddy coloring, which is also common in the Mediterranean area. Western painters have tried to show that, but some have also attempted to make Him look more Middle Eastern or “Jewish.” The millions of Christians are not responsible for their artwork and shouldn’t be condemned because of artists’ use of their imagination.

      Maybe the Vatican should publish their pictures of Jesus. They would be very valuable.

      Reply

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