FAIR - User contributions [en]

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-12T15:09:43Z

EdwinSlack: /* Further reading */

{{question}}

==Question==
Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise, is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

#Open by addressing Heavenly Father.
#Give thanks for the blessings He has given you.
#Ask for the things that you need.
#Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

These parts are illustrated in "[http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=14&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=14&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I Pray In Faith]," from ''[http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,8764-1,00.html Children's Songbook]'', the Church's hymnal for children aged 3-11:

<blockquote>
1. I kneel to pray ev’ry day. 
I speak to Heav’nly Father. 
He hears and answers me 
When I pray in faith. 

2. I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; 
I thank him for blessings he sends; 
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, 
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.{{ref|jkp.1}}
</blockquote>

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are: kind, merciful, exalted, gracious, and many Latter-day Saints include the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name." This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men." Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this aspect during public prayers (private prayers are another matter) but if one examines temple dedicatory prayers, more lengthy examples are available.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. Latter-day Saints in public are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant or extroverted about it than some other Christians. But we are no less grateful to God.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise].

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude].

==Endnotes==

#{{note|jkp.1}} Janice Kapp Perry, Song #14, "[http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=14&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=14&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I Pray In Faith]," ''Children's Songbook'' (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,8764-1,00.html}}

==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{CultureAttitudeWiki}}



===External links===
[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=bd9676e6ffe0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Sweet Power of Prayer] - Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1a06dbdcc370c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD “From Whom All Blessings Flow”] - Elder Neal A. Maxwell Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=118eb5658af22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD The Nourishing Power of Hymns] - Elder Jay E. Jensen Of the Seventy

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-12T15:04:00Z

EdwinSlack: /* Further reading */

{{question}}

==Question==
Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise, is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

#Open by addressing Heavenly Father.
#Give thanks for the blessings He has given you.
#Ask for the things that you need.
#Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

These parts are illustrated in "[http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=14&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=14&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I Pray In Faith]," from ''[http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,8764-1,00.html Children's Songbook]'', the Church's hymnal for children aged 3-11:

<blockquote>
1. I kneel to pray ev’ry day. 
I speak to Heav’nly Father. 
He hears and answers me 
When I pray in faith. 

2. I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; 
I thank him for blessings he sends; 
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, 
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.{{ref|jkp.1}}
</blockquote>

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are: kind, merciful, exalted, gracious, and many Latter-day Saints include the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name." This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men." Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this aspect during public prayers (private prayers are another matter) but if one examines temple dedicatory prayers, more lengthy examples are available.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. Latter-day Saints in public are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant or extroverted about it than some other Christians. But we are no less grateful to God.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise].

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude].

==Endnotes==

#{{note|jkp.1}} Janice Kapp Perry, Song #14, "[http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=14&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=14&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I Pray In Faith]," ''Children's Songbook'' (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,8764-1,00.html}}

==Further reading==



===External links===
[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=bd9676e6ffe0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Sweet Power of Prayer] - Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1a06dbdcc370c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD “From Whom All Blessings Flow”] - Elder Neal A. Maxwell Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=118eb5658af22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD The Nourishing Power of Hymns] - Elder Jay E. Jensen Of the Seventy

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-12T15:01:36Z

EdwinSlack: Adding Further reading

{{question}}

==Question==
Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise, is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

#Open by addressing Heavenly Father.
#Give thanks for the blessings He has given you.
#Ask for the things that you need.
#Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

These parts are illustrated in "[http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=14&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=14&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I Pray In Faith]," from ''[http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,8764-1,00.html Children's Songbook]'', the Church's hymnal for children aged 3-11:

<blockquote>
1. I kneel to pray ev’ry day. 
I speak to Heav’nly Father. 
He hears and answers me 
When I pray in faith. 

2. I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; 
I thank him for blessings he sends; 
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, 
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.{{ref|jkp.1}}
</blockquote>

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are: kind, merciful, exalted, gracious, and many Latter-day Saints include the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name." This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men." Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this aspect during public prayers (private prayers are another matter) but if one examines temple dedicatory prayers, more lengthy examples are available.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. Latter-day Saints in public are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant or extroverted about it than some other Christians. But we are no less grateful to God.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise].

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude].

==Endnotes==

#{{note|jkp.1}} Janice Kapp Perry, Song #14, "[http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=14&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=14&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I Pray In Faith]," ''Children's Songbook'' (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,8764-1,00.html}}

==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===
[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=bd9676e6ffe0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD Sweet Power of Prayer] - Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1a06dbdcc370c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD “From Whom All Blessings Flow”] - Elder Neal A. Maxwell Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

[http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=118eb5658af22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD The Nourishing Power of Hymns] - Elder Jay E. Jensen Of the Seventy

===Printed material===

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-12T03:45:22Z

EdwinSlack: /* Praise in Prayer */

{{question}}

==Question==
Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise, is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

#Open by addressing Heavenly Father.
#Give thanks for the blessings He has given you.
#Ask for the things that you need.
#Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

These parts are illustrated in this song, from ''The Children Sing'', the Primary hymnal.

<blockquote>
1. I kneel to pray ev’ry day. 
I speak to Heav’nly Father. 
He hears and answers me 
When I pray in faith. 

2. I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; 
I thank him for blessings he sends; 
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, 
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938 
© 1987 by Janice Kapp Perry. 
</blockquote>

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are: kind, merciful, exalted, gracious, and many Latter-day Saints include the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name." This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men." Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this too long for public prayers (private prayers are another matter) but if one examines temple dedicatory prayers, more lengthy examples are available.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. We are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant about it than some other Christians. But we are no less grateful to God.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise]

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude]

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-11T21:59:33Z

EdwinSlack: /* Praise in Prayer */

Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Question==
Why LDS prayers do not contain praise even though the scriptures say that they should. Even the Lord's prayer contain the phrase "Hollowed be they name" which seems like praise to me. Consequently, I don't know how to answer her question. She would also like to hear praise music in Church, but that is another subject.

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

1. Open by addressing Heavenly Father 
2. Give Thanks for the blessings He has given you. 
3. Ask for the things that you need. 
4. Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen 

These parts are illustrated in this song, from "The Children Sing", the Primary hymnal. 

1. I kneel to pray ev’ry day. 
I speak to Heav’nly Father. 
He hears and answers me 
When I pray in faith. 

2. I begin by saying “Dear Heavenly Father”; 
I thank him for blessings he sends; 
Then humbly I ask him for things that I need, 
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938 
© 1987 by Janice Kapp Perry. 

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are; Kind, Merciful, Exalted, Gracious, and I have heard many others including the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name". This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men". Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this too long, but if you look at Temple Dedicatory prayers you will find instances that can be long indeed.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. We are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant about it than some other Christians. But we are no less grateful to God.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise]

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude]

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-11T21:47:27Z

EdwinSlack: /* Praise in Prayer */

Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Question==
Why LDS prayers do not contain praise even though the scriptures say that they should. Even the Lord's prayer contain the phrase "Hollowed be they name" which seems like praise to me. Consequently, I don't know how to answer her question. She would also like to hear praise music in Church, but that is another subject.

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

1. Open by addressing Heavenly Father 
2. Give Thanks for the blessings He has given you. 
3. Ask for the things that you need. 
4. Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen 

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are; Kind, Merciful, Exalted, Gracious, and I have heard many others including the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name". This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men". Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this too long, but if you look at Temple Dedicatory prayers you will find instances that can be long indeed.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. We are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant about it than some other Christians.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise]

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude]

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-11T21:46:07Z

EdwinSlack: /* Praise in Music */

Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Question==
Why LDS prayers do not contain praise even though the scriptures say that they should. Even the Lord's prayer contain the phrase "Hollowed be they name" which seems like praise to me. Consequently, I don't know how to answer her question. She would also like to hear praise music in Church, but that is another subject.

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

1. Open by addressing Heavenly Father
2. Give Thanks for the blessings He has given you.
3. Ask for the things that you need.
4. Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are; Kind, Merciful, Exalted, Gracious, and I have heard many others including the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name". This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men". Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this too long, but if you look at Temple Dedicatory prayers you will find instances that can be long indeed.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. We are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant about it than some other Christians.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise Songs of Praise]

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude Songs of Gratitude]

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-11T21:45:35Z

EdwinSlack: /* Praise in Music */

Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Question==
Why LDS prayers do not contain praise even though the scriptures say that they should. Even the Lord's prayer contain the phrase "Hollowed be they name" which seems like praise to me. Consequently, I don't know how to answer her question. She would also like to hear praise music in Church, but that is another subject.

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

1. Open by addressing Heavenly Father
2. Give Thanks for the blessings He has given you.
3. Ask for the things that you need.
4. Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are; Kind, Merciful, Exalted, Gracious, and I have heard many others including the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name". This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men". Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this too long, but if you look at Temple Dedicatory prayers you will find instances that can be long indeed.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. We are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant about it than some other Christians.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise|Songs of Praise]

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude|Songs of Gratitude]

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Question: Do the Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

2010-01-11T21:44:41Z

EdwinSlack: Created page with ' Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship? ==Question== Why LDS prayers do not contain praise even though the scriptures say that…'

Do the Latter-day Saints use praise of God as part of their prayers and songs in worship?

==Question==
Why LDS prayers do not contain praise even though the scriptures say that they should. Even the Lord's prayer contain the phrase "Hollowed be they name" which seems like praise to me. Consequently, I don't know how to answer her question. She would also like to hear praise music in Church, but that is another subject.

==Answer==
===Praise in Prayer===
Praise, and the language of praise is integrated into the worship of Latter-day Saints in both prayer and song. The most common "recipe" that is given children in teaching them to pray in our church consists of 4 parts:

1. Open by addressing Heavenly Father
2. Give Thanks for the blessings He has given you.
3. Ask for the things that you need.
4. Close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Two areas here often are used for praise in the Church, with a third being used on occasion.

A great deal of praise is often attached to the addressing of Heavenly Father. Such praise will often describe traits of God that we wish to praise. Common words of praise are; Kind, Merciful, Exalted, Gracious, and I have heard many others including the phrase from the Lord's prayer "Hallowed be Thy Name". This can be taken to excess, and when that happens it can seem to be "praying for to be seen of men". Thus it is more common in the Church not to prolong this too long, but if you look at Temple Dedicatory prayers you will find instances that can be long indeed.

The second area where praise very commonly enters prayer, is when the one praying is giving thanks for blessings. This occurs more in personal prayer than it does in public prayer, but gratitude is a form of praise, and when pondering blessings it is good for a Latter-day Saint to allow the Spirit to move them to praise. But even in public prayer, praise can be manifest in this section of the prayer as God's many blessings are enumerated.

Occasionally praise can enter during the requesting part of prayer as we proclaim the mercies of the God we are requesting a boon from.

In any case, praise is an important part of prayer as a way to draw closer to God. We are, perhaps, a bit less exuberant about it than some other Christians.

===Praise in Music===
We have a great deal of praise music in the Church. If you look in the back of a hymnal you will find a topical guide and in there you will find a listing for praise. Here in the Church online Library you can find a list of songs from that list from our Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Praise]

Songs of Gratitude can also be considered songs of praise and you will find many of the same songs under that topic in the Hymnal:
[http://www.lds.org/cm/topicsearchalpha/1,18284,4789-1-1,00.html?searchPhrase=Gratitude]

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T21:02:54Z

EdwinSlack: /* Endnotes */ Removed reference to picture.

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO1}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, [http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference address.
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "[[Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders]]" The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
{{PriesthoodFAIR}}

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:54:00Z

EdwinSlack: /* FAIR web site */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO1}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, [http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "[[Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders]]" The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
{{PriesthoodFAIR}}

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:47:55Z

EdwinSlack: /* Endnotes */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO1}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, [http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "[[Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders]]" The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:37:22Z

EdwinSlack: /* Endnotes */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO1}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, [http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:26:38Z

EdwinSlack: /* Source(s) of the criticism */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO1}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.[http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference]
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:26:17Z

EdwinSlack: /* Endnotes */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO2}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.[http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference]
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:25:54Z

EdwinSlack: /* Source(s) of the criticism */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson,{{ref|Foot_RO2}}

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:24:38Z

EdwinSlack: /* Endnotes */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson, [http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==
#{{note|Foot_RO1}}Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:24:10Z

EdwinSlack: /* FOOTNOTES */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source referenced in: Daniel C. Peterson, [http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth"], 2000 FAIR Conference

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

:When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

:It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

:We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

:I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

:Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

:Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

:After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

#{{note|Foot_RO2}}See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).
#{{note|Foot_RO3}}''Discourses of Brigham Young'', p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{s||Matthew|19|27-28}}; see also {{s||Luke|22|28-30}}). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."
#{{note|Foot_RO4}}Brigham Young, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_15/Increase_of_Saints_Since_Joseph_Smith%E2%80%99s_Death,_etc. "Increase of Saints Since Joseph Smith’s Death, etc."], Aug. 24, 1872, ''Journal of Discourses'' 15:137.
#{{note|Foot_RO5}}See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.
#{{note|Foot_RO6}}Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.
#{{note|Foot_RO7}}W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ: "Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior."(Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)
#{{note|Foot_RO8}}Hugh Nibley, ''Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment'', 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.
#{{note|Foot_RO9}}Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism.''

==Further reading==
*BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, [http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"]

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T20:06:44Z

EdwinSlack: Fixing footnotes

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.{{ref|Foot_RO3}}

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."{{ref|Foot_RO4}}

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.{{ref|Foot_RO5}} But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.{{ref|Foot_RO6}}

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.{{ref|Foot_RO7}} Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.{{ref|Foot_RO8}} The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.{{ref|Foot_RO9}}

=== FOOTNOTES ===
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''
#{{Note|Foot_RO2}}
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement
made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not
meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be
considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

#{{Note|Foot_RO3}}
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

#{{Note|Foot_RO4}}
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

#{{Note|Foot_RO5}}
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

#{{Note|Foot_RO6}}
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

#{{Note|Foot_RO7}}
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of
performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy
husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of
resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance
for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

#{{Note|Foot_RO8}}
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

#{{Note|Foot_RO9}}
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.



==Further reading==
BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T19:59:57Z

EdwinSlack:

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,{{ref|Foot_RO2}} Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

=== FOOTNOTES ===
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of
performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy
husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of
resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance
for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''
#{{Note|Foot_RO2}}
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement
made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not
meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be
considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).



==Further reading==
BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T19:16:10Z

EdwinSlack: /* FOOTNOTES */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

=== FOOTNOTES ===
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement
made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not
meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be
considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of
performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy
husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of
resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance
for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T19:15:27Z

EdwinSlack: /* Response */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

== FOOTNOTES ==
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement
made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not
meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be
considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of
performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy
husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of
resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance
for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T19:14:44Z

EdwinSlack: /* Response */

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

FOOTNOTES
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement
made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not
meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be
considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of
performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy
husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of
resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance
for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHodges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T19:01:57Z

EdwinSlack:

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

FOOTNOTES
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHofges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T19:01:17Z

EdwinSlack: /* Response */

{{Resurrection as an ordinance}}

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and
exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances
and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They
will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have
already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth
and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others
for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the
keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered
them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or
know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and
no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or
invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and
resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother
Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know
nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection
will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the
dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that
such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until
Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

FOOTNOTES
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHofges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T18:59:17Z

EdwinSlack: /* Response */

{{Resurrection as an ordinance}}

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental
particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea,
and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be
brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.
We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.
I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.
Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.
After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

FOOTNOTES
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHofges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T18:58:07Z

EdwinSlack: /* Response */

{{Resurrection as an ordinance}}

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.
We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.
I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.
Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.
After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

FOOTNOTES
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHofges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T18:55:45Z

EdwinSlack: Bringing in Blair's content

{{Resurrection as an ordinance}}

==Criticism==
Mormons believe men have the right to resurrect their spouses by a specific ordinance.

===Source(s) of the criticism===
During a lecture at Calvary Chapel in Chino, California, counter-cultist Kurt Van Gorden stated that Mormon men have the option of resurrecting their wives (or not resurrecting them), implying this could be used as a bargaining chip of sorts.

Source: Daniel C. Peterson, 2000 FAIR Conference
http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2000_Easier_than_Research_More_Inflammatory_than_Truth.html

==Response==
Van Gorden was referring to speculations or statements from past church leaders who said resurrection will be an ordinance of sorts (or at least requiring priesthood keys in order to occur). Bearing in mind that not all statements of General Authorities carry the weight of revelation or scripture,2 Brigham Young tied "keys" to resurrection:

When the angel who holds the keys of the resurrection shall sound his trumpet, then the peculiar fundamental particles that organized our bodies here, if we do honor to them, though they be deposited in the depths of the sea, and though one particle is in the north, another in the south, another in the east, and another in the west, will be brought together again in the twinkling of an eye, and our spirits will take possession of them.3

In 1872 he stated his belief that there are some ordinances the Church does not currently practice, one being resurrection:

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case.

We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are.

I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of the resurrection. They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again, as many have already done and many more will. They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys of authority to baptize others for the remission of their sins. This is one of the ordinances we can not receive here, and there are many more."4

Additionally, Wilford Woodruff's journal contains the following:

Who will resurrect Joseph's Body? It will be Peter, James, John, Moroni, or someone who has or will receive the keys of the resurrection. It will probably be one of those who hold the keys of this dispensation and has delivered them to Joseph and you will see Jesus and he will eat peaches and apples with you.5 But the world will not see it or know it for wickedness will increase. Joseph and Jesus will be there. They will walk and talk with them at times and no man mistrusts who they are. Joseph will lead the Armies of Israel whether He is seen or no, whether visible or invisible as seemeth him good.

Joseph has got to receive the keys of the resurrection for you and I. After he is resurrected he will go and resurrect Brother Brigham, Brother Heber, and Brother Carloss, and when that is done then He will say, "now go Brother Brigham and resurrect your wives and children and gather them together. While this is done, the wicked will know nothing of it, though they will be in our midst and they will be struck with fear. This is the way the resurrection will be. All will not be raised at once but will continue in this way until all the righteous are resurrected.

After Joseph comes to us in his resurrected body, He will more fully instruct us concerning the baptism for the dead and the sealing ordinances. He will say, be baptized for this man and that man and that man be sealed to that such a man to such a man, and connect the Priesthood together. I tell you their will not be much of this done until Joseph comes.... Our hearts are already turned to him and his to us.6

Perhaps there is some speculation in connection with a portion of the temple ceremony before a husband and wife are sealed.7 Hugh Nibley has made connections between ordinances and resurrection in Egyptian ritual, for example.8 The closest contemporary reference I could find dealt not with the resurrection as an ordinance, but with the priesthood keys playing a part in the final judgment as stated in Matthew 19:27-28 (see footnote 3 below). The Encyclopedia of Mormonism makes no mention of it in the Resurrection article but makes an oblique reference to priesthood power directing raising of the dead, which is considered temporal (such as in the raising of Lazarus) contrasted with the eternal resurrection.9

FOOTNOTES
[1]
Daniel C. Peterson, "Easier than Research, More Inflammatory than Truth," 2000 FAIR Conference address. The picture is Aaron Brown's "I never planned on falling in love with you," Exploding Dog Comics, Sept. 10, 2008.

[2]
See FAIRwiki, "Official Church doctrine and statements by Church leaders." The drift of this doctrinal stance has been mentioned by LDS leaders from Joseph Smith ("a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such" [History of the Church 5:265]) to the present. Also consider the recent statement from LDS Public Affairs:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church...Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines" (Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS Newsroom, May 4, 2007).

[3]
Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 372. Perhaps these keys involve the concept of judgment found in the New Testament, wherein Christ told the apostles "ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27-28; see also Luke 22:28-30). Brigham and other early leaders taught this principle extended to whomever held the keys over a particular dispensation in which people live. For more, see "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth."

[4]
Brigham Young, Aug. 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:137.

[5]
See "Priesthood: the chain that reaches from heaven to earth." It appears the concept of priesthood stewardship was part of Woodruff's reasoning as well.

[6]
Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for the World's End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, pp.168-169. For a review, see Matt W., "Initial Thoughts on “Waiting for Worlds End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," New Cool Thang, Nov. 10, 2008.

[7]
W. John Walsh's statements on Jeff Lindsay's Light Planet website appear to hint toward that interpretation, but asserts resurrection is the right of Christ:

Now, Latter-day Saints do believe that in some instances, a woman's husband will be given the privilege of performing the resurrection ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior. In cases where a woman does not have a worthy husband, the Savior may allow her father to do so. Likewise, a man's father will be given the privilege of resurrecting him. In such cases, the person performing the resurrection ordinance is simply performing the ordinance for and in behalf of the Savior (Walsh, "Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?" All About Mormons.)

[8]
Hugh Nibley, Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, 2nd ed. For an overview see Bryce Hammond's "The Egyptian Ankh, 'Life! Health! Strength!'" on his Temple Study blog.

[9]
Douglas L. Callister, "Resurrection," pp.1222-1223, and Dennis D. Flake, "Raising the Dead," p. 1192, in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==
BHofges, Life On Gold Plates, "Resurrection as an Ordinance?"
http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2008/12/resurrection-as-ordinance.html

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T18:30:47Z

EdwinSlack: /* FAIR wiki articles */

{{draft}}

==Criticism==

===Source(s) of the criticism===

==Response==

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}
{{WomenWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T18:28:10Z

EdwinSlack: /* FAIR wiki articles */

{{draft}}

==Criticism==

===Source(s) of the criticism===

==Response==

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===
{{PriesthoodWiki}}

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Plan of salvation/Resurrection/Mormon views regarding

2008-12-12T18:25:48Z

EdwinSlack: Initial page creation

{{draft}}

==Criticism==

===Source(s) of the criticism===

==Response==

==Conclusion==

==Endnotes==

''None''



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===
*FAIR Topical Guide:

===Videos===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Template:PriesthoodWiki

2008-12-12T18:07:40Z

EdwinSlack:

{{editme|url=Template:PriesthoodWiki|before=|after='''''FAIR Priesthood wiki articles'''''}}
*[[What does the Bible teach about priesthood|Bible teachings about priesthood]]
*[[Christians don't need a mediating priesthood|Christians don't need a mediating priesthood?]]
*[[Elias and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple]]
*[[Jesus is the only Melchizedek priesthood holder]]
*[[Location of the organization of the Church]]
*[[No Paid Ministry]]
*[[Priesthood non-transferable|Priesthood non-transferable?]]
*[[Priesthood restoration|Need for priesthood restoration]]
*[[Date of the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood]]
*[[Women and the priesthood]]
*[[Resurrection as a Priesthood Ordinance]]

Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Do Christians Believe in Three Gods/Relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

2008-09-02T19:28:52Z

EdwinSlack:

{{DVDHeadingBox|The Relationship Between Father, Son and Holy Spirit}}

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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">How should we reconcile Biblical claims?</h2>
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The RBC pamphlet notes:

:Both Testaments...give us reason to believe that ''one'' can be more than one. That this is beyond our ability to fully understand is not reason to reject it, but to try to understand as much as we can of what God has revealed. (p. 5)

The author is correct that the Bible does portray the "one God" as more than one person. The author has decided that Nicene Trinitarianism is the proper solution, and so must fall back on the fact that this view of the Trinity is a "mystery": it cannot be fully understood with human reason.

The Christians at RBC Ministries are entitled to take such an approach. However, the Latter-day Saints take a different approach, while readily admitting that there are ways in which "''one'' can be more than one."
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">How did Jesus define the unity between Himself and the Father?</h2>
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We have already seen (see [[An_Examination_of_%22Do_Christians_Believe_in_Three_Gods%22/Bible_and_Nicea|here]]) that appeals to John 10:30 cannot be used to prove a Nicene Trinitarianism. In fact, John 10:30 implies a oneness of purpose in the original Greek, not a oneness of essence or being.

This perspective is reinforced by Jesus' great intercessory prayer:

:Neither pray I for these [his apostles] alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That ''they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee'', that they also ''may be one in us'': that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that ''they may be one, even as we are one'': I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. ({{b||John|17|20-23}}, emphasis added)

Jesus here provides the solution to the dilemma which has gripped much of Christianity. The oneness of which Jesus speaks between the Father and the Son is the ''same'' oneness into which He invites the apostles and all believers. Christian doctrine does not teach that all believers will be absorbed into God as part of the same being or essence. Thus, God and Jesus do not share the same "essence" (a non-Biblical term and claim derived from Greek philosophy), but instead share the same purposes, goals, will, and indwelling love (as demonstrated by John 10:30).

Latter-day Saints would agree with the RBC pamphlet when it says that

:Each [of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit] lives with the other two in an I-You relationship. Each Person is self-conscious and self-directing. Yet one Person never acts independently of the others or in opposition to them. The mind, will, and emotions of each Person is in perfect unity with the mind, will, and emotions of the other two. (p. 21)

This is, in fact, an excellent description of how Latter-day Saints understand God's oneness. They simply decline to go a step further and introduce non-biblical categories of "essense" to the discussion, because they are not scriptural.

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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">LDS doctrine on the Godhead/Trinity</h2>
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An apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ, Elder Jefffrey R. Holland, recently spoke on the LDS view of the Godhead:

:Our first and foremost article of faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” ({{s||A+of+F|1|1}}) We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true....

:We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings, noting such unequivocal illustrations as the Savior’s great Intercessory Prayer just mentioned, His baptism at the hands of John, the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the martyrdom of Stephen—to name just four....

:To whom was Jesus pleading so fervently all those years, including in such anguished cries as “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” ({{b||Matthew|26|39}}) and “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”?({{s||Matthew|27|46}}) To acknowledge the scriptural evidence that otherwise perfectly united members of the Godhead are nevertheless separate and distinct beings is not to be guilty of polytheism; it is, rather, part of the great revelation Jesus came to deliver concerning the nature of divine beings. Perhaps the Apostle Paul said it best: “Christ Jesus … being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”({{b||Philippians|2|5-6}}){{ref|holland1}}

Elder Holland continued:

:We agree with our critics...that [the Nicene] formulation for divinity is truly incomprehensible. With such a confusing definition of God being imposed upon the church, little wonder that a fourth-century monk cried out, “Woe is me! They have taken my God away from me, … and I know not whom to adore or to address.” How are we to trust, love, worship, to say nothing of strive to be like, One who is incomprehensible and unknowable? What of Jesus’s prayer to His Father in Heaven that “this is life eternal, that they might know ''thee'' the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom ''thou'' hast sent”?{{ref|holland2}}

We see again both the post-biblical nature of the Nicene solution, and the fact that it was new: the monk quoted was distressed because a small group within Christianity had imposed its new views on the majority.{{ref|debating1}}
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Endnotes</h2>
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#{{note|holland1}}{{Ensign|author=Jeffrey R. Holland|article=The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent|date=November 2007|start=40|end=42}}{{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=d2552bce258f5110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1}}
#{{note|holland2}}''Ibid.''; citing Owen Chadwick, ''Western Asceticism'' (1958), 235 and {{b||John|17|3}}, italics added.
#{{note|debating1}} For a history of the conflict, debates, intimidation, violence, and manipulation which attended the establishment of the later creeds based on verbatim stenographic records, see Ramsay MacMullen, ''Voting About God in Early Church Councils'' (Yale University Press, 2006). ISBN 978-0300115963.
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{{DoYouHaveQuestions}}

Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Do Christians Believe in Three Gods/Origins of Nicene Trinitarianism

2008-09-02T19:20:48Z

EdwinSlack:

{{DVDHeadingBox|What is the origin of Nicene Trinitarianism?}}

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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">What do "Mormons" say about the origins of Trinitarianism?</h2>
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RBC Ministries begins their pamphlet by writing:

:Mormons [and other groups]....insist that the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity is unbiblical and is a hangover from the polytheism of Greek and Roman mythologies. (p. 1)

It is true that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not consider Nicene Trinitarianism to be a biblical doctrine. This is not, however, an idiosyncratic conclusion reached by the Latter-day Saints, but is amply attested to by scholars of all persuasions going back decades. It is indisputable, on textual and historical grounds, that Nicene Trinitarianism requires concepts and ideas not found in the Bible.

The pamphlet is in error, however, for the reasons which most informed Latter-day Saints would give for the rise of Nicene Trinitarian views. It is unlikely that Greek polytheism led to the Trinity, since the Greeks viewed the ultimate, or supreme God as a Unity or "One." In the Latter-day Saint view, the early Church succumbed to internal apostasy and dissension within a relatively short time period. LDS authors term this "the Great Apostasy." This very early fall from the fulness of Christ's gospel occurred because of the rejection of and death of the apostles.

With the passing of the apostles, revelation no longer guided the deliberations of the scattered, fragmented Christian church(es). Sincere, well-meaning leaders—and, doubtless, at least some leaders who sought to use religion for their own purposes—were left to articulate Christian doctrine as best they could. Many turned to the best, most sophisticated tools at their disposal: the philosophy of Greece.

This time-line of events is not mere supposition—it is amply demonstrated by the historical record, as we will now see.
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Were the earliest Christians Trinitarians in a sense compatible with Nicea?</h2>
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There is abundant evidence that “Trinitarianism”, as now understood by the majority of Protestants and Catholics was not present in the Early Christian Church. Wrote the great scholar Emil Brunner more than half a century ago:

:When we turn to the problem of the doctrine of the Trinity, we are confronted by a peculiarly contradictory situation. On the one hand, the history of Christian theology and of dogma teaches us to regard the dogma of the Trinity as the distinctive element in the Christian idea of God, that which distinguishes it from the idea of God in Judaism and in Islam, and indeed, in all forms of rational Theism. Judaism, Islam, and rational Theism are Unitarian. On the other hand, we must honestly admit that the doctrine of the Trinity did not form part of the early Christian-New Testament-message. Certainly, it cannot be denied that not only the word "Trinity", but even the explicit idea of the Trinity is absent from the apostolic witness of the faith. The doctrine of the Trinity itself, however, is not a Biblical Doctrine...{{ref|brunner1}}

Thus, while modern Christians--like RBC Ministries--are accustomed to think of Nicene Trinitarianism as "the distinctive element in the Christian idea of God," it "did not form part of the early Christian-New Testament message." It was an innovation.

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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">What ''were'' early Christian beliefs about God?</h2>
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If Nicene Trinitarianism was not Biblical and not part of the early Christian message, what ''did'' early Christians believe about God?

We do know that Christian orthodoxy before Nicaea was not the Trinitarian creeds now popular:

:'Subordinationism', it is true, was pre-Nicean orthodoxy.{{ref|bettenson1}}

‘Subordinationism’ is a doctrine which means that Jesus and/or the Holy Ghost are ‘subordinate’ or ‘subject’ to God the Father: i.e., they deferred to Him. In subordinationism, Jesus must be a separate being from the Father, because you can’t be subject to yourself. This was the orthodox position before the Nicean council. Ideas that were once orthodox were later considered unacceptable after the councils altered and added to the doctrine.

:Writers who are usually reckoned orthodox but who lived a century or two centuries before the outbreak of the Arian Controversy, such as Irenaeus and Tertullian and Novatian and Justin Martyr, held some views which would later, in the fourth century, have been branded heretical...Irenaeus and Tertullian both believed that God had not always been a Trinity but had at some point put forth the Son and the Spirit so as to be distinct from him. Tertullian, borrowing from Stoicism [a branch of Greek philosophy], believed that God was material (though only of a very refined material, a kind of thinking gas), so that his statement that Father, Son and Spirit were 'of one substance', beautifully orthodox though it sounds, was of a corporeality which would have profoundly shocked Origen, Athanasius and the Cappadocian theologians, had they known of it.{{ref|hanson1}}

And:

:It [subordinationism] is a characteristic tendency in much Christian teaching of the first three centuries, and is a marked feature of such otherwise orthodox Fathers as St. Justin and Origen…Where the doctrine [of the Trinity] was elaborated, as e.g. in the writing of the Apologists, the language remained on the whole indefinite, and, from a later standpoint, was even partly unorthodox. Sometimes it was not free from a certain subordinationism.{{ref|cross1}}

So, Christians whose ideas were completely orthodox earlier would have been considered ‘heretics’ (i.e., going against the accepted doctrine) after the Nicean councils. This seems to be clear evidence that the doctrine was radically changed.

One also notes that Paul and the other New Testament writers would have been likewise ‘unorthodox’. Eusebius, an early Church historian, was even termed "blatantly subordinationist" by a Catholic author.{{ref|richard1}}

Even after the Trinitarian ideas were formed, there were three ‘camps’ of believers that understood the matter in very different ways:

:If such was the teaching of Athanasius and his allies [i.e., ''homousis'' as numerical unity of substance, rather than ‘the same kind of being’ in the three persons of the Godhead], at least three types of theology found shelter at different times in the anti-Nicean camp. The first, indefinite, on occasion ambiguous on the crucial issues, but on the whole conciliatory, reflects the attitude of the great conservative 'middle party'.... It's positive doctrine is that there are three divine hypostases [i.e., persons], separate in rank and glory but united in harmony of will.{{ref|kelly2}}

Thus, most believers initially believed that there were three persons with a united will. It was only later that this group was overcome by Athanasius and his group’s brand of Trinitarianism, which is the basis for today’s understanding in most of Christianity. Indeed, Athanasius and his cadre were decidedly in the minority:

:The victory over Arianism achieved at the Council was really a victory snatched by the superior energy and decision of a ''small minority'' with the aid of half-hearted allies. ''The majority did not like the business at all'', and strongly disapproved of the introduction into the Creed . . . ''of new and untraditional and unscriptural terms'' (emphasis added).{{ref|bethune-baker1}}

And, there is a noted tendency for some Christian writers to assume that the way they understand the nature of God is the only way in which anyone could have understood it. An evangelical scholar notes:

:The view of God worked out in the early [postapostolic] church, the "biblical-classical synthesis," has become so commonplace that even today most conservative [Protestant and Catholic] theologians simply assume that it is the correct scriptural concept of God and thus that any other alleged biblical understanding of God . . . must be rejected. The classical view is so taken for granted that it functions as a preunderstanding that rules out certain interpretations of Scripture that do not "fit" with the conception of what is "appropriate" for God to be like, as derived from Greek metaphysics.{{ref|sanders1}}

RBC Ministries denies that "Greek metaphysics" (i.e., philosophy) played a role, but that is what the scholarship shows.
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Why, then, was Nicean Trinitarian introduced at all?</h2>
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:Let us return to the second century, when it was first sensed that the formulations of the New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers were not sufficient to describe the nature of the divinity. A new way of doing this was attempted. Thus the so-called Monarchian controversy occurred... In addition to the Modalists (such as Sabellius), for whom Christ and the Holy Spirit were modes in which one Godhead appeared, there the Dynamists or Adoptionists, who conceived of Christ either as a man who was raised up by being adopted by God, or as a man filled with God's power.{{ref|aland1}}

Simply put, people tried a ‘new’ way of talking about God because of disputes about the nature and mission of Christ. In the LDS view, this is because the loss of revelation to the Apostles (due to the apostasy) meant that Christianity was divided about key issues. No one had a good way to resolve the questions, and so they turned to the best intellectual tools they had—they merged Christian theology with Greek philosophy.

Father Charles Curran, a Roman Catholic priest, said,
:We [the Christians] went through the problem of appropriating the word in the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries with the great trinitarian and Christalogical councils where we finally came to the conclusion of three persons in God and two natures in Jesus. Many people at the time said, ‘Well, you can’t say that because those words aren’t in the scriptures.’ That’s right, they aren’t in the scriptures, they are borrowed from Greek philosophy, but they are the on-going account of the believing community to understand, appropriate and live the word of God in its own circumstances.{{ref|curran1}}
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Do all Christians understand the Trinity in the same way?</h2>
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Owen Thomas, a professor of systemic theology, noted that:

:...our survey of the history of the [Trinity] doctrine in the text has indicated that there are several doctrines of the trinity: Eastern, Western, social analogy, modal, so forth. There is one doctrine in the sense of the threefold name of God of the rule of faith as found, for example, in the Apostle's Creed. This, however, is not yet a doctrine. It is ambiguous and can be interpreted in a number of ways. There is one doctrine in the sense of the Western formula of "three persons in one substance." However, this formula is also ambiguous if not misleading and can be interpreted in a number of ways. A doctrine of the trinity would presumably be one interpretation of this formula . . . let us assume that the phrase "doctrine of the trinity" in the question refers to any of a number of widely accepted interpretations of the threefold name of God in the role of faith.{{ref|thomas1}}

So, there is ambiguity and disagreement still. This is not characteristic of revelation, but rather of man’s imperfect intellectual efforts to define God according to philosophical criteria. Proponents of this view have even added text to the Bible and opposed the correcting of such errors when it was discovered.

As one current thinker about the Trinity writes:

:The notion that in the Trinity one Person may be the font or source of being or Godhead for another lingered on to be a cause of friction and controversy between the East and the West, and still persists today. The main thesis of these lectures, I have said, is that the act of faith required for acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity is faith that the Divine unity is a dynamic unity actively unifying in the one divine life the lives of the three divine persons. I now wish to add that in this unity there is no room for any trace of subordinationism, and that the thought of the Father as the source or fount of God-head is a relic of pre Christian theology which has not fully assimilated the Christian revelation.{{ref|hodgson1}}

There is no room in his doctrine for ‘subordinationism’, but remember (already quoted above) that: "'Subordinationism', it is true, was pre-Nicean orthodoxy."

It is interesting that ideas that were once perfectly orthodox within early Christianity (like subordinationism) are now classed as “pre-Christian theology” which hasn’t yet “assimilated the Christian revelation”. If anything, this looks like a ‘post-Christian theology’ that has ‘altered the Christian revelation’. This observation is not intended to argue that subordinationism is correct in all particulars, but merely to point out that current creedal ideas are not what all Christians have always believed.
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! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">A move to change?</h2>
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Some Christian theologians have recognized the above difficulties with the Nicene formulation of the trinity, and are advocating a removal of the Greek philosophical ideals that have unnecessarily clouded the issue:

:If we search for a concept of unity corresponding to the biblical testimony of the triune God, the God who unites others with himself, then we must dispense with both the concept of the one substance and the concept of the identical subject. All that remains is: the unitedness, the at-oneness of the three Persons with one another, or: the unitedness, the at-oneness of the triune God.{{ref|Moltmann1}}

The history and current views of Christians are not as uniform, or as biblical, as RBC Ministries wishes us to accept.
 '''To learn more:'''
*[[Godhead and the Trinity]]
*[[Template:ApostasyWiki|Apostasy]]

|-
! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Endnotes</h2>
|-
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#{{note|brunner1}}Emil Brunner, ''The Christian Doctrine of God'' (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1949), 205, 236.

#{{note|bettenson1}}Henry Bettenson, editor and translator, ''The Early Christian Fathers:A Selection from the Writings of the Fathers from St. Clement of Rome to St. Athanasius'', (Oxford University Press: 1969), 239. ISBN 0192830090.
#{{note|hanson1}}RPC Hansen, "The Achievement of Orthodoxy in the Fourth Century AD", in Rowan Williams, editor, ''The Making of Orthodoxy'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), 151–152.
#{{note|cross1}} FL Cross and EA Livingston, editors, ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church'', 2nd edition, (London: Oxford University Press, 1974), 1319, 1394.
#{{note|richard1}}RL Richard, "Trinity, Holy", in ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 15 vols., (New York:McGraw-Hill, 1967) 14:298.
#{{note|kelly2}} JND Kelly, ''Early Christian Doctrines'', rev. ed. (New York: Harper, 1978), 247–248.
#{{note|bethune-baker1}} IF Bethune-Baker, ''An Introduction to the Early History of Christian Doctrine'', 8th edition, (London: Methuen, 1949), 171. (emphasis added)
#{{note|sanders1}} John Sanders; cited in Clark Pinnock, Richard Rice, John Sanders, William Hasker, and David Basinger, ''The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God'' (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 60.

#{{note|aland1}} Kurt Aland, ''A History of Christianity'' (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1985), 1:190.
#{{note|curran1}}{{Sunstone1|author=Charles Curran|article=Creative Fidelity: Keeping the Religion a Living Tradition|vol=11|date=July 1987|start=45}} Cited in {{BYUS1|author=Robert L. Millet|article=Joseph Smith and Modern Mormonism: Orthodoxy, Neoorthodoxy, Tension, and Tradition|vol=29|num=3|date=1989|start=footnote 14}}

#{{note|thomas1}} Owen C. Thomas, ''Theological Questions: Analysis and Argument'' (Wilton, Conn.: Morehouse-Barlow, 1983), 34.
#{{note|hodgson1}} Leonard Hodgson, ''Doctrine of the Trinity'' (London: Nisbet & Co. Ltd., 1944), 102.

#{{note|Moltmann1}} Jürgen Moltmann, ''The Trinity and the Kingdom of God'', trans. Margaret Kohl (London: SCM, 1981), 150.
|-

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{{3GodsRightColumn}}
|}
{{DoYouHaveQuestions}}

Did Gordon B. Hinckley say that Latter-day Saints do not believe in the Biblical Christ?

2008-06-27T15:40:18Z

EdwinSlack: /* Answer */

{{draft}}

{{question}}

==Question==
Did Gordon B. Hinckley say that Latter-day Saints do not worship the Biblical Jesus?
==Answer==

President Gordon B. Hinckley, responding to a question regarding whether Latter-day Saints believe in the “traditional Christ,” stated:

:''No I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the dispensation of the fullness of times.''{{ref|churchnews.062098.7}}

President Hinckley is referring to the concept of Christ that has developed in the centuries since the Nicene Creed was formed—He is saying that we do not believe in ''non-Biblical creeds''. This statement is quite correct: Latter-day Saints do not have some of the same beliefs about Christ that other Christian churches do. He is ''not'' saying that we do not believe in the ''Biblical Christ''. In fact, the reason that Latter-day Saints do not accept these creeds is ''because'' they are non-Biblical. Consider the following words by President Hinckley:

:''Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the greatest figure of time and eternity. Believe that His matchless life reached back before the world was formed. Believe that He was the Creator of the earth on which we live. '''Believe that He was Jehovah of the Old Testament, that He was the Messiah of the New Testament''', that He died and was resurrected, that He visited the western continents and taught the people here, that He ushered in this final gospel dispensation, and that He lives, the living Son of the living God, our Savior and our Redeemer.''{{ref|ensign.apr.1989.2}} {{ea}}

In the statement above, there is no question that President Hinckley is professing belief in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament. Critics, however, ignore clear statements such as these, and instead look to justify their claims that Latter-day Saints are not Christian by mining the quotes of church leaders for phrases which seem to support their position. In order to strengthen their claim, critics sometimes even modify these quotes. Consider the use of President Hinckley’s quote in the critical [[Search for the Truth DVD:Distorted quotes|''Search for the Truth'' DVD]]. The critics have actually ''added'' a phrase to the quote:

:''No I don't '''believe in the traditional Christ'''. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the dispensation of the Fullness of Times.''{{ref|searchforthetruth}}{{ea}}

President Hinckley understood how the critics would attempt to portray Latter-day Saints with regard to their belief in Christ:

:''As a Church we have critics, many of them. They say we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity. There is some substance to what they say. Our faith, our knowledge is not based on ancient tradition, the creeds which came of a finite understanding and out of the almost infinite discussions of men trying to arrive at a definition of the risen Christ. Our faith, our knowledge comes of the witness of a prophet in this dispensation who saw before him the great God of the universe and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. They spoke to him. He spoke with Them. He testified openly, unequivocally, and unabashedly of that great vision. It was a vision of the Almighty and of the Redeemer of the world, glorious beyond our understanding but certain and unequivocating in the knowledge which it brought. It is out of that knowledge, rooted deep in the soil of modern revelation, that we, in the words of Nephi, “talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that [we and] our children may know to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins” ({{s|2|Nephi|25|26}}).''{{ref|ensign.may.2002}}

President Hinckley was quite clear in his position regarding Christ:

:''Are we Christians? Of course we are Christians. We believe in Christ. We worship Christ. We take upon ourselves in solemn covenant His holy name. The Church to which we belong carries His name. He is our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer through whom came the great Atonement with salvation and eternal life.''{{ref|ensign.nov.1998}}

It is clear that Latter-day Saints believe in the Biblical Christ—the Christ that is described in the New Testament.

==Endnotes==
#{{note|churchnews.062098.7}}LDS Church News, June 20, 1998, p.7
#{{note|ensign.apr.1989.2}}{{Ensign1|start=2|author=Gordon B. Hinckley|article=Be Not Faithless||date=Apr. 1989}};See also “Words of the Prophet: My Testimony of Christ”, New Era, Apr. 2001.
#{{note|searchforthetruth}}This version of the statement is attributed to President Hinckley in the “Search for the Truth” DVD. A screenshot may be viewed [[DVD-25March2007:HinckleySS1|here]].
#{{note|ensign.may.2002}}{{Ensign1|start=90|author=Gordon B. Hinckley|article=We Look to Christ|date=May 2002}}{{link|url=http://beta.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=69e58c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}}
#{{note|ensign.nov.1998}}{{Ensign1|start=70|author=Gordon B. Hinckley|article=What Are People Asking about Us?|date=Nov. 1998}} {{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=7c86605ff590c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}}

==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===
*[[Search for the Truth DVD:Distorted quotes]]

===FAIR web site===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Spiritual manifestations at the dedication of the Kirtland temple

2008-01-31T16:39:06Z

EdwinSlack: /* Answer */

{{question}}

==Question==
Was there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy.

==Answer==
The earliest account we have is from apostate Benjamin F. Winchester, who was a friend of Joseph Smith’s, an LDS leader in the early 1840s. He wrote that the Kirtland temple dedication “ended in a drunken frolic.” Benjamin Winchester left the Church during the Nauvoo era in the 1840s, the temple dedication occurred in March of 1836, so, he was a member even AFTER the supposed events in Kirtland that he later condemned. Why? Why didn’t he leave earlier if he knew that such things were serving as the surrogate for spirituality 5 years earlier?

Such an accusation conflicts with many other contemporary accounts and is inconsistent with the Latter-day Saint attitude toward intemperance. If such behavior had been manifest, individuals would have undoubtedly recorded the information in their diaries or letters in 1836, but the negative reports emerged long after the events had transpired and among vindictive critics who had become enemies of the Church.{{Ref|Heavens_Resound}}

In 1886 an antimormon named Wilhelm Wyle published a book called MORMON PORTRAITS; JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET, HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS, in it he published the most lurid tales he could gather about the early leaders of the Church

He quotes from William McLellin and other early Church apostates to demonstrate that the Prophet and his family and friends were drunkards and fakes. Among his tales is this one regarding the Kirtland Temple dedication. Very likely his source was Mr. Winchester, but I haven't been able to review his book to ascertain that for sure. Assuming of course that there are source notes in the book.

In 1890 one A. Theodore Schroeder went to Salt Lake City and stayed for ten years digging through libraries and collections again looking for ammunition with which to attack the Church. He returned to Wisconsin in 1900 and donated all his books and papers to the Wisconsin State Historical Society Library, in Madison Wisconsin. He also wrote several anti-mormon articles in journals of the time. He quotes W. Wyle in many of his articles. One in particular was published in the American Historical Journal v.3 1908. In it he quotes Wyle in an article called "Mormonism and Intoxicants" (pp 238-249).

Other, more modern authors, like Richard Abanes, have quoted W. Wyle and Theodore Schroeder to substantiate their claims against the Church. Ultimately all their "proofs" fall upon the word of apostates.

It is ironic that critics refer to the Kirtland Temple dedication as some form of "pentecost" for the early Church, when, at the first pentecost, the Apostles were also accused of being drunken. (Acts 2:13-15)

In November 2002, an early account of the dedication of the Kirtland temple surfaced. It was written up in BYU studies 42, no 2 (2003). The BYU Studies article, titled "Pentecost Continued" confirms the spiritual outpouring and is an excellent contemporary window into the event.
Quoting from account "Sunday evening after joseph spoke opened & told them the day of penticost was continued the the [sic] Brethren began to to prophesy many prophesied in the name of the Lord then began speaking in tongues and it filled as it were the whole house, perhaps there were forty speaking at once cloven tongues of fire was seen to sit on many of them an hand was seen laid upon one when he spake in tongues to the lamanites many Visions seen, one saw a pillow or cloud rest down upon the house bright as when the sun shines on a cloud like as gold, two others saw three personages hovering in the room with bright keys in their hands, and also a bright chain in their hands ..."

==Endnotes==
#{{Note|Heavens_Resound}} [Milton V. Backman, Jr., The Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-Day Saints in Ohio, 1830–1838 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1983), 309n377]



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Spiritual manifestations at the dedication of the Kirtland temple

2008-01-31T16:33:54Z

EdwinSlack: /* Answer */ Added BYU Studies reference.

{{question}}

==Question==
Was there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy.

==Answer==
The earliest account we have is from apostate Benjamin F. Winchester, who was a friend of Joseph Smith’s, an LDS leader in the early 1840s. He wrote that the Kirtland temple dedication “ended in a drunken frolic.” Benjamin Winchester left the Church during the Nauvoo era in the 1840s, the temple dedication occurred in March of 1836, so, he was a member even AFTER the supposed events in Kirtland that he later condemned. Why? Why didn’t he leave earlier if he knew that such things were serving as the surrogate for spirituality 5 years earlier?

Such an accusation conflicts with many other contemporary accounts and is inconsistent with the Latter-day Saint attitude toward intemperance. If such behavior had been manifest, individuals would have undoubtedly recorded the information in their diaries or letters in 1836, but the negative reports emerged long after the events had transpired and among vindictive critics who had become enemies of the Church.{{Ref|Heavens_Resound}}

In 1886 an antimormon named Wilhelm Wyle published a book called MORMON PORTRAITS; JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET, HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS, in it he published the most lurid tales he could gather about the early leaders of the Church

He quotes from William McLellin and other early Church apostates to demonstrate that the Prophet and his family and friends were drunkards and fakes. Among his tales is this one regarding the Kirtland Temple dedication. Very likely his source was Mr. Winchester, but I haven't been able to review his book to ascertain that for sure. Assuming of course that there are source notes in the book.

In 1890 one A. Theodore Schroeder went to Salt Lake City and stayed for ten years digging through libraries and collections again looking for ammunition with which to attack the Church. He returned to Wisconsin in 1900 and donated all his books and papers to the Wisconsin State Historical Society Library, in Madison Wisconsin. He also wrote several anti-mormon articles in journals of the time. He quotes W. Wyle in many of his articles. One in particular was published in the American Historical Journal v.3 1908. In it he quotes Wyle in an article called "Mormonism and Intoxicants" (pp 238-249).

Other, more modern authors, like Richard Abanes, have quoted W. Wyle and Theodore Schroeder to substantiate their claims against the Church. Ultimately all their "proofs" fall upon the word of apostates.

It is ironic that critics refer to the Kirtland Temple dedication as some form of "pentecost" for the early Church, when, at the first pentecost, the Apostles were also accused of being drunken. (Acts 2:13-15)

In November 2002, an early account of the dedication of the Kirtland temple surfaced. It was written up in BYU studies 42, no 2 (2003). The BYU Studies article, titled "Pentecost Continued" confirms the spiritual outpouring and is an excellent contemporary window into the event.
Quoting from account "Sunday evening after joseph spoke opened & told them the day of penticost was ccoonntitniuneude33d55 the the [sic] brethren began to to prophesy many prophesied in the name of the lord then began speaking in tongues and it filled as it were the whole house perhaps there were forty speaking at once cloven tongues of fire was seen to sit on many of them an hand was seen laid upon one when he spake in tongues to the llaammaanniitteess many visions seen one saw a pillow or cloud rest down upon the house bright as when the sun shines on a cloud like as gold two others saw three personages hovering in the room with bright keys in their hands and also a bright chain in their hands tehhheee I1 did not intend this for a letter but this morning while writing brother bovee concluded to start for home"

==Endnotes==
#{{Note|Heavens_Resound}} [Milton V. Backman, Jr., The Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-Day Saints in Ohio, 1830–1838 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1983), 309n377]



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Spiritual manifestations at the dedication of the Kirtland temple

2008-01-30T14:37:56Z

EdwinSlack: /* Answer */

{{question}}

==Question==
Was there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy.

==Answer==
The earliest account we have is from apostate Benjamin F. Winchester, who was a friend of Joseph Smith’s, an LDS leader in the early 1840s. He wrote that the Kirtland temple dedication “ended in a drunken frolic.” Benjamin Winchester left the Church during the Nauvoo era in the 1840s, the temple dedication occurred in March of 1836, so, he was a member even AFTER the supposed events in Kirtland that he later condemned. Why? Why didn’t he leave earlier if he knew that such things were serving as the surrogate for spirituality 5 years earlier?

Such an accusation conflicts with many other contemporary accounts and is inconsistent with the Latter-day Saint attitude toward intemperance. If such behavior had been manifest, individuals would have undoubtedly recorded the information in their diaries or letters in 1836, but the negative reports emerged long after the events had transpired and among vindictive critics who had become enemies of the Church.{{Ref|Heavens_Resound}}

In 1886 an antimormon named Wilhelm Wyle published a book called MORMON PORTRAITS; JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET, HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS, in it he published the most lurid tales he could gather about the early leaders of the Church

He quotes from William McLellin and other early Church apostates to demonstrate that the Prophet and his family and friends were drunkards and fakes. Among his tales is this one regarding the Kirtland Temple dedication. Very likely his source was Mr. Winchester, but I haven't been able to review his book to ascertain that for sure. Assuming of course that there are source notes in the book.

In 1890 one A. Theodore Schroeder went to Salt Lake City and stayed for ten years digging through libraries and collections again looking for ammunition with which to attack the Church. He returned to Wisconsin in 1900 and donated all his books and papers to the Wisconsin State Historical Society Library, in Madison Wisconsin. He also wrote several anti-mormon articles in journals of the time. He quotes W. Wyle in many of his articles. One in particular was published in the American Historical Journal v.3 1908. In it he quotes Wyle in an article called "Mormonism and Intoxicants" (pp 238-249).

Other, more modern authors, like Richard Abanes, have quoted W. Wyle and Theodore Schroeder to substantiate their claims against the Church. Ultimately all their "proofs" fall upon the word of apostates.

It is ironic that critics refer to the Kirtland Temple dedication as some form of "pentecost" for the early Church, when, at the first pentecost, the Apostles were also accused of being drunken. (Acts 2:13-15)

==Endnotes==
#{{Note|Heavens_Resound}} [Milton V. Backman, Jr., The Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-Day Saints in Ohio, 1830–1838 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1983), 309n377]



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Spiritual manifestations at the dedication of the Kirtland temple

2008-01-30T14:34:47Z

EdwinSlack: New page: {{question}} ==Question== Was there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy. ==Answe...

{{question}}

==Question==
Was there really spiritual manifestations attending the dedication of the Kirtland temple? I have heard allegations that it was in fact a drunken orgy.

==Answer==
The earliest recorded was from apostate Benjamin F. Winchester, who was a friend of Joseph Smith’s, an LDS leader in the early 1840s. He wrote that the Kirtland temple dedication “ended in a drunken frolic.” Benjamin Winchester left the Church during the Nauvoo era in the 1840s, the temple dedication occurred in March of 1836 so, he was a member even AFTER the supposed events in Kirtland that he later condemned. Why? Why didn’t he leave earlier if he knew that such things were serving as the surrogate for spirituality 5 years earlier?

Such an accusation conflicts with many other contemporary accounts and is inconsistent with the Latter-day Saint attitude toward intemperance. If such behavior had been manifest, individuals would have undoubtedly recorded the information in their diaries or letters in 1836, but the negative reports emerged long after the events had transpired and among vindictive critics who had become enemies of the Church.{{Ref|Heavens_Resound}}

In 1886 an antimormon named Wilhelm Wyle published a book called MORMON PORTRAITS; JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET, HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS, in it he published the most lurid tales he could gather about the early leaders of the Church

He quotes from William McLellin and other early Church apostates to demonstrate that the Prophet and his family and friends were drunkards and fakes. Among his tales is this one regarding the Kirtland Temple dedication. Very likely his source was Mr. Winchester, but I haven't been able to review his book to ascertain that for sure. Assuming of course that there are source notes in the book.

In 1890 one A. Theodore Schroeder went to Salt Lake City and stayed for ten years digging through libraries and collections again looking for ammunition with which to attack the Church. He returned to Wisconsin in 1900 and donated all his books and papers to the Wisconsin State Historical Society Library, in Madison Wisconsin. He also wrote several anti-mormon articles in journals of the time. He quotes W. Wyle in many of his articles. One in particular was published in the American Historical Journal v.3 1908. In it he quotes Wyle in an article called "Mormonism and Intoxicants" (pp 238-249).

Other, more modern authors, like Richard Abanes, have quoted W. Wyle and Theodore Schroeder to substantiate their claims against the Church. Ultimately all their "proofs" fall upon the word of apostates.

It is ironic that critics refer to the Kirtland Temple dedication as some form of "pentecost" for the early Church, when, at the first pentecost, the Apostles were also accused of being drunken. (Acts 2:13-15)

==Endnotes==
#{{Note|Heavens_Resound}} [Milton V. Backman, Jr., The Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-Day Saints in Ohio, 1830–1838 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1983), 309n377]



==Further reading==

===FAIR wiki articles===

===FAIR web site===

===External links===

===Printed material===

Countercult ministries/Tower to Truth Ministries/50 Questions to Ask Mormons

2007-12-18T16:17:36Z

EdwinSlack: /* Footnotes */

{{DoYouHaveQuestions}}

==Answers to 50 Anti-Mormon Questions==

Anti-Mormon literature tends to recycle the same themes. Some ministries are using a series of fifty questions, which they believe will help "cultists" like the Mormons. One ministry seems to suggest that such questions are a good way to deceive Latter-day Saints, since the questions "give...them hope that you are genuinely interested in learning more about their religion."

This ministry tells its readers what their real intent should be with their Mormon friend: "to get them thinking about things they may have never thought about and researching into the false teachings of their church." Thus, the questions are not sincere attempts to understand what the Latter-day Saints believe, but are a smokescreen or diversionary tactic to introduce anti-Mormon material.{{ref|anti1}}

The questions are not difficult to answer, nor are they new. This page provides links to answers to the questions. It should be noted that the questions virtually all do at least one of the following:

# misunderstand or misread LDS doctrine or scripture;
# give unofficial material the status of official belief;
# assume that Mormons must have inerrantist ideas about scripture or prophets like conservative evangelical Protestants do;
# apply a strict standard to LDS ideas, but use a double standard to avoid condemning the Bible or their own beliefs if the standard was applied fairly to both.
__TOC__

==Questions About LDS Prophets==

=== 1. Why does the Mormon church still teach that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God after he made a false prophecy about a temple built in Missouri in his generation ({{s||DC|84|1-5}})===

This was not a prophecy, but a command from God to build the temple. There's a difference. Jesus said people should repent; just because many didn't doesn't make Him a false messenger, simply a messenger that fallible people didn't heed.

''Learn more here:'' [[Independence temple to be built "in this generation"]]

=== 2. Since the time when Brigham Young taught that both the moon and the sun were inhabited by people, has the Mormon church ever found scientific evidence of that to be true? (''Journal of Discourses'' (1870), 13:271)===

In Brigham (and Joseph's) day, there had been newspaper articles reporting that a famous astronomer had reported that there were men on the moon and elsewhere. This was published in LDS areas; the retraction of this famous hoax never was publicized, and so they may not have even heard about it.

Brigham and others were most likely repeating what had been told them by the science of the day. (Lots of Biblical prophets talked about the earth being flat, the sky being a dome, etc.—it is inconsistent for conservative Protestants to complain that a false belief about the physical world shared by others in their culture condemns Brigham and Joseph, but does not condemn Bible prophets.)

In any case, Brigham made it clear that he was expressing his ''opinion'': "Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is." Prophets are entitled to their opinions; in fact, the point of Brigham's discourse is that the only fanatic is one who insists upon clinging to a false idea.

* ''Learn more here:'' [[Brigham Young and moonmen]] 
* ''Learn more here:'' [[Joseph Smith and moonmen]]

=== 3. Why did Brigham Young teach that Adam is "our Father and our God" when both the Bible and the Book of Mormon ({{s||Mormon|9|12}}) say that Adam is a creation of God? (''Journal of Discourses'' (1852) 1:50))===

The problem with "Adam-God" is that we don't understand what Brigham meant. All of his statements cannot be reconciled with each other. In any case, Latter-day Saints are not inerrantists—they believe prophets can have their own opinions. Only the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve can establish official LDS doctrine. That never happened with any variety of "Adam-God" doctrine. Since Brigham seemed to also agree with statements like Mormon 9:12, and the Biblical record, it seems likely that we do not entirely understand how he fit all of these ideas together.

* ''Learn more here:'' [[Adam-God]]

=== 4. If Brigham Young was a true prophet, how come one of your later prophets overturned his declaration which stated that the black man could never hold the priesthood in the LDS Church until after the resurrection of all other races (''Journal of Discourses'' (1854) 2:142-143)===

Peter and the other apostles likewise misunderstood the timing of gospel blessings to non-Israelites. Even following a revelation to Peter, many members of the early Christian Church continued to fight about this point and how to implement it—even Peter and Paul had disagreements. Yet, Bible-believing Christians, such as the Latter-day Saints, continue to consider both as prophets. Critics should be careful that they do not have a double standard, or they will condemn Bible prophets as well.

The Latter-day Saints are not [[Biblical inerrancy|scriptural]] or [[Fallibility of prophets|prophetic inerrantists]]. They are not troubled when prophets have personal opinions which turn out to be incorrect. In the case of the [[Blacks and the priesthood|priesthood ban]], members of the modern Church accepted the change with more joy and obedience than many first century members accepted the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles without the need for keeping the Mosaic Law.

=== 5. Since the Bible's test of determine whether someone is a true prophet of God is 100% accuracy in all his prophecies ({{b||Deuteronomy|18|20-22}}), has the LDS Church ever reconsidered its teaching that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were true prophets?===

Believing Christians should be careful. Unless they want to be guilty of a double standard, they will end up condemning many Biblical prophets by this standard.

* ''Learn more here:'' [[Joseph Smith and prophetic test in Deuteronomy 18]]

=== 6. Since the current LDS prophets sometimes contradict the former ones, how do you decide which one is correct?===

Most "contradictions" are actually misunderstandings or misrepresentations of LDS doctrine and teachings by critics. The LDS standard for doctrine is the scriptures, and united statements of the First Presidency and the Twelve.

The Saints believe they must be led by revelation, adapted to the circumstances in which they now find themselves. Noah was told to build an ark, but not all people required that message. Moses told them to put the Passover lamb’s blood on their door; that was changed with the coming of Christ, etc.

No member is expected to follow prophetic advice "just because the prophet said so." Each member is to receive his or her own revelatory witness from the Holy Ghost. We cannot be led astray in matters of importance if we always appeal to God for His direction.

=== 7. Since there are several different contradictory accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision, how did the LDS Church choose the correct one?===

The First Vision accounts are not contradictory. No early member of the Church claimed that Joseph changed his story, or contradicted himself. Critics of the Church have not been familiar with the data on this point.

The shortest answer is that the Saints believe the First Vision not because of textual evidence, but because of personal revelation.

* For the most common claim about a contradiction, see here: [[Only one Personage appears in the 1832 account]] 
* Many questions about the First Vision are addressed here: [[First Vision accounts]]

=== 8. Can you show me in the Bible the LDS teaching that we must all stand before Joseph Smith on the Day of Judgment?===

This is a misunderstanding and caricature of LDS doctrine. There is, however, the Biblical doctrine that the apostles will help judge Israel:

:Ye [the apostles] are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ({{b||Luke|22|28-30}}; see also {{s||Matthew|19|28}})

Since the saints believe in modern apostles, they believe that those modern apostles (including Joseph) will have a role in judgment appointed to them by Jesus.

Those who condemn Joseph on these grounds must also condemn Peter and the rest of the Twelve.

* ''Learn more here:'' [[Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief]]

==Questions About LDS Scripture (excluding the Bible)==
=== 9. Can you show me archeological and historical proof from non-Mormon sources that prove that the peoples and places named in the Book of Mormon are true?===

This question is based on the mistaken assumption that the Bible message that Jesus is Christ and Lord is somehow "proved" by archeology, which is not true. It also ignores differences between Old and New World archeology. For example, since we don't know how to pronounce the names of ANY Nephite-era city in the American archeologic record, how would we know if we had found a Nephite city or not?

* ''To learn more:'' [[Archeology and the Bible]]
* For physical Book of Mormon evidence specifically, see:
** [[Book_of_Mormon_geography:Old_World|Old World geography]]
** [[Book_of_Mormon_and_warfare|Warfare]]

=== 10. If the words "familiar spirit" in {{b||Isaiah|29|4}} refer to the Book of Mormon, why does "familiar spirit" always refer to occult practices such as channeling and necromancy everywhere else in the Old Testament?===

The term "familiar spirit," quoted in the often-poetic Isaiah (and used by Nephi to prophesy about the modern publication of the Book of Mormon) is a ''metaphor'', not a description of any text or its origin.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Book of Mormon as a "familiar spirit"]]

=== 11. Why did Joseph Smith condone polygamy as an ordinance from God (D. & C. 132) when the Book of Mormon had already condemned the practice (Jacob 1:15, 2:24)===

The critics need to read the next verses. The Book of Mormon says that God may command polygamy, just a few verses later. ({{s||Jacob|2|30}}).

* ''To learn more:'' [[Book of Mormon condemns polygamy]]

Many Biblical prophets had more than one wife, and there is no indication that God condemned them. And, the Law of Moses had laws about plural wives—why not just forbid them if it was evil, instead of telling people how they were to conduct it?

* ''To learn more:'' [[Polygamy not Biblical]]

And, many early Christians didn't think polygamy was inherently evil:

* ''To learn more:'' [[Early Christians on plural marriage]]

=== 12. Why were the words "white and delightsome" in 2 Nephi 30:6 changed to "pure and delightsome" right on the heels of the Civil Rights campaign for blacks?===

The critics have their history wrong. The change dates to 1837. The change was made by Joseph Smith in the 1837 edition of the Book of Mormon, though it was not carried through in some other editions, which mistakenly followed the 1830 instead of Joseph’s change. It was restored in the 1981 edition, but that was nearly 150 years after the change was made by Joseph.

This issue has been discussed extensively in the Church's magazines (e.g. the ''Ensign''), and the scholarly publication ''BYU Studies.''

* ''To learn more:'' {{Dialogue1|author=Douglas Campbell|article='White' or 'Pure': Five Vignettes|vol=29|num=4|date=Winter 1996|start=?}}{{link|url=http://www.geocities.com/marcschindler1/vignette.htm}}

=== 13. If God is an exalted man with a body of flesh and bones, why does {{s||Alma|18|26-28}} and {{b||John|4|24}} say that God is a spirit?===

In Alma, the reference is to Jesus Christ, who before His birth did not have a physical body.

John 4:24 does not say God is "a" spirit, but says "God is spirit." There is no "a" in the Greek. The Bible also says "God is truth" or "God is light." Those things are true, but we don't presume God is JUST truth, or JUST light—or JUST spirit.

As one non-LDS commentary puts it:

:''That God is spirit is not meant as a definition of God's being—though this is how the Stoics [a branch of Greek philosophy] would have understood it. It is a metaphor of his mode of operation, as life-giving power, and it is no more to be taken literally than 1John 1:5, "God is light," or Deut. 4:24, "Your God is a devouring fire." It is only those who have received this power through Christ who can offer God a real worship.''
::- J. N. Sanders, ''A Commentary on the Gospel According to St. John'', edited and completed by B. A. Mastin, (New York, Harper & Row, 1968), 147–148.

* ''To learn more:'' [[God is a Spirit]]

=== 14. Why did God encourage Abraham & Sarah to lie in {{s||Abraham|2|24}}? Isn't lying a sin according to the 10 commandments? Why did God tell Abraham and Sarah to lie when 2 Nephi condemns liars to hell?===

In the Bible, there are accounts of God commanding or approving less than complete disclosure. These examples seem to involve the protection of the innocent from the wicked, which fits the case of Abraham and his wife nicely.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Why would Abraham lie?]]

=== 15. Why does the Book of Mormon state that Jesus was born in Jerusalem (Alma 7:10) when history and the Bible state that he was born outside of Jerusalem, in Bethlehem?===

The Bible also says that Bethlehem ("the city of David") is at Jerusalem. ({{b|2|Kings|14|20}}) Was the Bible wrong? (Bethlehem is in the direct area of Jerusalem, being only about seven miles apart.)

* ''To learn more:'' [[Book of Mormon anachronisms:Jerusalem vs Bethlehem]]

=== 16. If the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, as Joseph Smith said, why does it contain over 4000 changes from the original 1830 edition?===

Christians should be careful with such attacks. If they don’t want to have a double standard, they'd have to realize that there are more differences in Biblical manuscripts of the New Testament than there are words in the New Testament! Yet, Latter-day Saints and other Christians still believe the Bible.

Most of the changes to the Book of Mormon were issues of spelling, typos, and the like. A few changes were for clarification, but the original Book of Mormon text would easily serve members and scholars.

* ''To learn more:'': [[Book of Mormon textual changes]]

=== 17. If the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the everlasting gospel," why does the LDS Church need additional works?===

The Book of Mormon's definition of "fulness of the gospel" is not "all truths taught in the Church." The fulness of the gospel is simply defined as the core doctrines of Christ's atonement and the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Critics do not trouble to understand what the Book of Mormon says before attacking it.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Book of Mormon and the fulness of the gospel]]

=== 18. If the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the everlasting gospel," why doesn't it say anything about so many important teachings such as eternal progression, celestial marriage, the Word of Wisdom, the plurality of Gods, the pre-existence of man, our mother in heaven, baptism for the dead, etc?===

The Book of Mormon's definition of "fulness of the gospel" is not "all truths taught in the Church." The fulness of the gospel is simply defined as the core doctrines of Christ's atonement and the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Critics do not trouble to understand what the Book of Mormon says before attacking it. Making the same attack twice (see #17) makes it no more convincing the second time.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Book of Mormon and the fulness of the gospel]]

=== 19. Why do you baptize for the dead when both {{s||Mosiah|3|25}} and the Bible state that there is no chance of salvation after death?===

The passage in Mosiah 3:25, and any passages in the Bible which also imply there is no chance of salvation after death, are clearly addressed to those who have the opportunity to repent in this life. Those who have not, by no fault of their own, embraced the everlasting gospel in this life will have the opportunity to do so after death.

The critics are on thin ice with this attack—do they wish us to believe in a God so unjust that He would damn someone for all eternity, simply because they never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus?

Why ''wouldn't'' members of the Church baptize for the dead, when the Bible teaches this idea? (See {{b|1|Corinthians|15|29}}.)

''To learn more:''[[Template:BaptismDeadWiki|Baptism for the dead]]

=== 20. Since the word grace means a free gift that can't be earned, why does the Book of Mormon state "for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." ({{s|2|Nephi|25|23}})===

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes the same thing about grace that the earliest Christians believed. Modern Protestant ideas are different from earlier teachings, which is fine, but it doesn't make Mormon ideas "false" if we agree with how the earliest followers of Jesus saw the matter.

One Evangelical Christian author wrote of his sudden discovery that his previous beliefs about salvation were very different from those held by the early Christians:

:If there's any single doctrine that we would expect to find the faithful associates of the apostles teaching, it's the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. After all, that is the cornerstone doctrine of the Reformation. In fact, we frequently say that persons who don't hold to this doctrine aren't really Christians…

:Our problem is that Augustine, Luther, and other Western theologians have convinced us that there's an irreconcilable conflict between salvation based on grace and salvation conditioned on works or obedience. They have used a fallacious form of argumentation known as the "false dilemma," by asserting that there are only two possibilities regarding salvation: it's either (1) a gift from God or (2) it's something we earn by our works.

:The early Christians [and the Latter-day Saints!] would have replied that a gift is no less a gift simply because it's conditioned on obedience....

: The early Christians believed that salvation is a gift from God but that God gives His gift to whomever He chooses. And He chooses to give it to those who love and obey him.
::—David W. Bercot, ''Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity'', 3rd edition, (Tyler, Texas: Scroll Publishing Company, 1999[1989]), 57, 61–62. ISBN 0924722002.

The Latter-day Saints are pleased to be in the company of the earliest Christians. And, the LDS cannot be excluded as Christians because they have not embraced the modified doctrines adopted later.

Further, the phrase "after all we can do" must be interpreted in light of other Book of Mormon passages which define "all we can do" as repentance and being forgiven of sin and cleansed of guilt (see {{s||Alma|24|10-12}}).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, on of the present day apostles, spoke on these issues and doctrines thoroughly:

* {{Ensign1|author=Dallin H. Oaks|article=Have You Been Saved?|date=May 1998|start=55}}{{link|url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=83db605ff590c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1}}
''To learn more:''
{{GraceWiki}}

=== 21. Does the LDS Church still regard the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price as Holy Scripture even after several prominent Egyptologists proved it was an ancient funeral scroll?===

The LDS Church announced that fragments of the papyrus were from the Book of Breathings within two months of their acquisition.

The big print in the Church magazine published as soon as the scrolls were recovered can be seen [[Search for the Truth DVD:Book of Abraham:Book of Dead Scan (full size zoom)|here]].

Critics often don't tell people that we are missing at least 85% of the scrolls that Joseph Smith had. We don't have papyrus with the Book of Abraham on it (except Facsimile #1) and have never claimed to.

* ''To learn more:'': [[Book of Abraham:Book of the Dead]]

=== 22. Why does the Book of Abraham, chapters 4 & 5, contradict Alma 11 in stating that there is more than one God.===

The term "God" may be used in more than one way. Latter-day Saints are not Nicene [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|Trinitarians]], but still believe in "one God."

* ''To learn more:'' [[Polytheism]]

=== 23. Why does D. & C. 42:18 say there is no forgiveness for a murderer when 3 Nephi 30:2 says there is forgiveness for him?'===

[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/42/ Doctrine and Covenants 42] is "the law of the Church" and pertains to those who are baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who by baptism are adopted into the house of Israel. {{s|3|Nephi|30|2}} pertains to those who are still "Gentiles" and who are not yet "numbered with [God's] people who are of the house of Israel." For a member of the Church to committee murder there is no forgiveness, whereas a person who has not yet made baptismal covenants may, under certain conditions, be forgiven. Some Lamanites repented and were forgiven of their murders (see {{S||Alma|24|10-12}}).

=== 24. If the Adam-God doctrine isn't true, how come D. & C. 27:11 calls Adam the Ancient of Days which is clearly a title for God in Daniel Chapter 7?===

Like many Christians, the LDS see many parallels between Christ (who is God) and Adam. Christ is even called, on occasion, the "second Adam." It is thus not surprising that {{s||DC|27|11}} associates Adam with a divine title or status when resurrected and exalted—after all, LDS theology anticipates human deification, so God and Adam are not seen as totally "other" or "different" from each other. This does not mean, however, that Adam and God are the same being, merely that they can ultimately share the same divine nature.

=== 25. Why does the Book of Mormon contain extensive, word-for-word quotes from the Bible if the LDS Church is correct in teaching that the Bible has been corrupted?===

It would be more correct to say that the Book of Mormon teaches that plain and precious things have been removed from the Bible {{s|1|Nephi|13|28}}. The vast majority of that which has remained in the Bible is both true and valuable.

Latter-day Saints take two years of every four in Sunday School studying the Bible. They cherish it. They merely refuse to believe that the Bible is all that God has said, or can say. God can speak whenever He wishes.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Bible basics]]

For extensive evidence that the Bible both underwent change ''and'' deletions in the very early years, see [[Biblical_inerrancy|here]].

* ''To learn more:'' [[Biblical completeness]]

=== 26. Why do the Bible verses quoted in the Book of Mormon contain the italicized words from the King James Version that were added into the KJV text by the translators in the 16th and 17th centuries?===

The italics do indeed identify words added by the translators. They were "added" because they were necessary words for making sense of the translation: in Hebrew and Greek the words are sometimes implied, but necessary for English to make sense. (Italics can mislead us, however, in suggesting that there is such a thing as a word-for-word translation without interpretation, save for the italics.)

Thus, in some cases the italic words are necessary, and Joseph or another translator would have had to put them in. In other cases, Joseph removed the italic words. (It's not clear that Joseph even owned a Bible during the Book of Mormon translation era, much less that he knew what the italics meant.)

This is really a question about why the Book of Mormon text is often very close (or, in some cases, identical to) the King James Version. If Joseph was trying to forge a book (as the critics claim) then why did he quote from the Bible, the one book his readers would be sure to know?

* ''To learn more:'' [[Joseph Smith Translation and the Book of Mormon]]

=== 27. If the Book of Mormon was engraved on gold plates thousands of years ago, why does it read in perfect 1611 King James Version English?===

Because Joseph translated it as King James English.

Why do modern translations of the Greek and Hebrew Bible sound like modern English, even though the texts are hundreds or thousands of years old? Because that's how the translators translated them. It doesn't say anything about what the language is like on the original.

(French translators make totally different translations than English translators, but the manuscripts remain the same!)

Do Christians condemn the Bible as an inauthentic record because their translations sound like 21st century English? This question is a good example of how insincere these "questions" from an anti-Mormon ministry are.

==Questions About the Bible==

=== 28. If marriage is essential to achieve exaltation, why did Paul say that it is good for a man not to marry? ({{b|1|Corinthians|7|1}})===

Paul does not say it is good not to marry, but quotes the ''Corinthian Saints''' comments in a previous letter to him. Paul is responding to this claim, and he critiques it.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Paul says good not to marry?]]

=== 29. Since the Word of Wisdom teaches us to abstain from alcohol, why did Paul encourage Timothy to drink wine for the stomach? ({{b|1|Timothy|5|23}})===

In Timothy's day, water was often not safe to drink. (Historically, it is interesting that the temperance movement opposing alcohol only took off in the United States once relatively clean water supplies were available to most people—prior to that, alcohol mixed with water was a necessary way of keeping water drinkable.)

The Word of Wisdom was given to modern saints as protection against "the designs of conspiring men in the last days." Certainly we don't have to look far to see such conspiracy against the health of customers at work today in tobacco companies or street drug dealers.

This shows why modern revelation is so important—what was dangerous for us in the modern age (cigarette manufacturers, illicit drugs, alcohol marketing, etc.) may need different advice from God than that given 2000 years ago where dying from dysentery transmitted by contaminated water was a far bigger risk than dying of cirrhosis or stomach cancer.

A related question which Christian critics ought to ask themselves might be, "Since we know now that alcohol—including wine—can cause gastritis, ulcers, or stomach bleeding why did Paul (a prophet!) tell Timothy to use it?"

This is a lot like earlier questions about Joseph Smith or Brigham Young expressing a false, though popular, opinion about scientific matters. Paul isn't any less an apostle because he expressed a false idea about the benefits of alcohol on stomach problems.

''To learn more:'' [[Wine for the stomach and the Word of Wisdom]]

=== 30. If obeying the Word of Wisdom—which tells us to abstain from coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco—is important for our exaltation, why did Jesus say that there is nothing that can enter a man to make him defiled ({{b||Mark|7|15}})?===

The Word of Wisdom says nothing about such substances "defiling us." Members believe it is important to obey the Word of Wisdom because God has commanded us not to do something, and we have promised not to do it. We should keep our promises to God.

The Jews promised not to eat pork, and so it was a sin for them not to eat pork—not because pork contaminates or "defiles" them, but because disobedience (that which comes OUT of us, as Jesus said) shows we do not love and trust God.

The underlying principle here is obedience to God, not the Word of Wisdom, ''per se.''

''To learn more:'' [[Template:WoWWiki|Word of Wisdom]]

=== 31. If Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament and Elohim is referred to as God in the Old Testament, can you explain Deuteronomy 6:4 to me "Hear, O Israel: the Lord (Jehovah) our God (Elohim) is one Lord (Jehovah)?===

An alternate translation of the passage is "Hear, O Israel: The LORD [Jehovah] is our God[Elohim], the LORD alone" (ESV footnote). In this case, "Elohim" is used as a title meaning "God" while "Jehovah" is used as a proper name. This translation also would suggest the possibility of other gods for other non-Israelite nations as seen in Deuteronomy 32:8-9.

Moreover, we must not make the mistake of thinking that the name-titles "Jehovah" and "Elohim" had those meanings anciently, or were always used that way in scripture—they did not, and were not.

These titles as used in the LDS Church for the Father and the Son are modern (i.e., 20th century) and are used for clarity when distinguishing members of the Godhead. It is not to be expected that ancient writers used the terms always in the same way. The use of the term such as "Elohim" could mean, depending on the context and grammar, "God," "gods," or even what would be better termed "angels" or "heavenly beings."

* ''To learn more:'' [[Elohim and Jehovah]]

=== 32. Why does the Mormon Church teach that we can be married in heaven when Jesus said in {{b||Matthew|22|30}} that in the resurrection man neither marry, nor are they given in marriage?===

Marriages persist after resurrection if done by proper authority; they are not entered into after the resurrection. Yet, the Bible teaches that men and women are not complete before God without each other (See {{s|1|Corinthians|11|11}}).

The Church teaches that marriages need to be performed either in person or by proxy here on the earth. Thus all such marriages will be arranged either here or in the spirit world, and conducted either now or during the millennium on earth.

''To learn more:'' [[Marriage not needed for exaltation]]

=== 33. How can worthy Mormon males become Gods in the afterlife when God already said that before him no God was formed, nor will there be any Gods formed after him ({{s||Isaiah|43|10}}).===

Critics often misunderstand the doctrine of [[Deification_of_man|''theosis'', or human deification]]. Yet, it is a doctrine shared by many early Christians and much of modern Eastern Christianity (e.g., Eastern Orthodox).

However, the question asked here represents a misunderstanding of the Isaiah scripture in its ancient context when compared with the rest of the Bible.

* ''To learn more:'' [["No God beside me"]]

=== 34. If God had a father who was a God, how come Isaiah 44:8 says that he doesn't know him?===

Again, the interpretation of this verse is mistaken.

* ''To learn more:'' [["No God beside me"]]
* ''See also:'' [[Infinite regress of Gods?]]

=== 35. If God was once just a man who progressed to becoming a God, how do you explain Psalm 90:2:…"even from everlasting to everlasting, thou are God"===

The only aspect of this about which we are certain is that God the Father underwent a mortal experience like Christ did. Jesus was, however, God before He underwent His mortal experience, and the Father may have been too. We simply don't know.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Unchanging Nature of God]]

=== 36. How can God be an exalted man when Numbers 23:19 says that God is not a man?===

The verse actually says (NET Bible version):

:God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? ({{B||Numbers|23|19}})

Thus, the teaching here is that God is not a fallible mortal who will change his goals or say He will do something and then not do it. There is, by contrast, abundant Biblical evidence of God's physical form upon which man's body was patterned:

* ''To learn more:'' [[Corporeality of God]]

=== 37. Why does the Mormon Church teach that Elohim had sexual relations with Mary to produce Jesus when both Matthew and Luke teach she was a virgin (''The Seer'', January 1853, p. 158)? ===

''The Seer'' was a publication that was [[The_Seer|officially disavowed]] by the First Presidency soon after it was published. So, this is not LDS doctrine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the virgin birth of Christ, but has no doctrine about ''how'' such a miracle occurred.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Jesus Christ's conception]]

=== 38. Why does the LDS Church teach that Jesus paid for our sins in the garden of Gethsemane when {{b|1|Peter|2|24}} says that it was on the cross? ===

The atoning sacrifice began in the Garden of Gethsemane and culminated on the cross. We can see from the Gospels that the suffering began in the Garden and went on until Jesus said on the cross "it is finished." Neither aspect was unimportant, and both involved suffering which we cannot fathom (see {{S||DC|19|18}}The LDS Church has no quarrel with this doctrine. This hostile question seems to be an attempt to suggest that Latter-day Saints do not value or appreciate Christ's saving death on the cross, but this is false.

It may be that the Church sometimes emphasizes Gethsemane, because traditional Christianity has long focused on the cross in art, iconography, and ritual. Yet, Gethsemane must not be overlooked, where Christ "sweat...as it were great drops of blood" for the sins of all humanity ({{b||Luke|22|44}}; see also {{s||Alma|7|11}}, {{s||DC|19|18}}).

* ''To learn more:'' [[Was Jesus crucified on a cross?]]

=== 39. Why did Bruce McConkie write that a man may commit a sin so grievous that it will place him beyond the atoning blood of Christ (''Mormon Doctrine'', 1979, p. 93) when the Bible says that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin ({{b|1|John|1|7}})?===

"Mormon Doctrine" is not an [[Fallibility_of_prophets#Standard_of_doctrine_in_the_Church|official publication]] of the LDS Church.

In this case, however, Elder McConkie is in good company since Jesus taught that there was an unforgivable sin:

:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
: 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, '''it shall not be forgiven him''', neither in this world, neither in the world to come. ({{s||Matthew|12|31–32}}, emphasis added)

Thus, it seems that 1 John is best interpreted as meaning that any forgivable sin is cleansed through—and only through—the blood of Christ. Latter-day Saints understand the "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost" to be rejecting the atonement of Christ when one has a perfect knowledge of it.

John later qualifies his statement making clear there is a sin that is unforgivable.

:If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_jn/5/16#16 1 John 5:1].

The counsel here is to pray for those who sin unless they have committed the "sin unto death" which cannot be forgiven. Obviously, if one rejects the atonement of Christ, one cannot be saved by it, and so one will not be forgiven for that sin.

=== 40. Why does the LDS Church teach that man first existed as spirits in heaven when 1 Corinthians 15:46 says that the physical body comes before the spiritual?===

1 Corinthians is not talking about the order of creation, but is talking about the regeneration of the wicked person into a spiritual, born again person. Thus, of course the physical (i.e., carnal) person comes first, and the spiritual (i.e., born again) person comes next when regenerated through Christ.

Biblical statements indicate that God is the father of our spirits and we were known to him before our birth (e.g., {{s||Jeremiah|1|5}})

=== 41. Since Jesus statement, "be ye therefore perfect" ({{s||Matthew|5|48}}) is in the present tense, are you perfect right now? Do you expect to be perfect soon? According to {{s||Hebrews|10|14}}, how are we made perfect?===

In this life, perfection is something that can only be achieved by God's grace and '''in Christ'''. His perfection becomes ours through our covenant relationship with Him.

:Yea, come unto Christ, and be '''perfected in him''', and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be '''perfect in Christ'''; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are '''perfect in Christ''', and deny not his power, then are ye '''sanctified in Christ''' by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/10/32-33 Moroni 10:32-33]

However, Matt. 5:48 suggests there will be a time when we will actually and independently be perfect like God. This, however, is not to be achieved in this life nor for a long time after death.

=== 42. Why do Mormons say the sticks in Ezekiel 37 represent the Bible and the Book of Mormon when Ezekiel 37:20-22 tells us that the sticks represent two nations, not two books?===

The two symbols are not exclusive. The sticks can be nations, and each nation has a witness of Christ which helps in restoring scattered Israel. The use of the Ezekiel passage is a modern one for Latter-day Saints. It does not mean that this is the only interpretation, or the use to which Ezekiel intended it to be put.

* ''To learn more:'' [[Book of Mormon as the stick of Ephraim]]

=== 43. Why does the LDS Church teach that Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers when both the first chapter of John and Colossians teach that Jesus is the Creator of all things, including Lucifer?===

This is another question intended more to sensationalize beliefs and polarize rather than lead to meaningful communication. Presumably, something akin to guilt by association is intended. The short answer a similarly rhetorical statement -- the critic, Judas, and Hitler are brothers too! But the reality of that relationship obviously need not taint the good standing of the critic. All sons of Adam (including all subsequent generations) are brothers.

Latter-day Saints do indeed believe that in a meaningful sense Jesus, angels (including the fallen angel Lucifer), and Adam and all his sons are sons of God -- and hence, brothers. The Bible corroborates our respective sonships. No Christian should disagree with that. Perhaps the criticism stems from the fact that Latter-day Saints happen to believe that all the sons of God existed together pre-existently? However, this belief need not change the general equation for brotherhood upon which all Christians agree. Suffice it to say that Latter-day Saints believe Jesus Christ had a unique status as God in the pre-existence -- a status other sons of God did not have! Jesus Christ's earliest introduction in Scripture uniquely embraced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes that clear -- ''... one among them that was like unto God'' -- [http://scriptures.lds.org/abr/3/24#28 Abraham 3:24–28]). None other had Christ's status. And that unique status Jesus Christ had in the in the pre-existence means Lucifer's brotherhood and our brotherhood with Him there were exactly the same as our common brotherhood with Him is based on His dwelling on the Earth. Brothers yes. Different yes.

* ''On Colossians, see:'' [[Creation in Colossians 1:16]]
* ''To learn more:'' [[Jesus Christ is the brother of Satan]]

A word on "all" from Evangelical leader, Charles Spurgeon:

''"The whole world is gone after Him." Did all the world go after Christ? "Then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan." Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem baptized in Jordan? "Ye are of God, little children," and "the whole world lieth in the wicked one." Does "the whole world" there mean everybody? If so, how was it, then, that there were some who were "of God?" The words "world" and "all" are used in seven or eight senses in Scripture; and it is very rarely that "all" means all persons , taken individually.'' (Particular Redemption, February 28, 1858)

In other words, if the Bible is to be deemed to be ''always'' plain/perspicacious, if such a philosophically absolute interpretation of the word "all" were intended by John or Paul, they would certainly have provided the necessary academic/philosophical clarification, in the immediate context, and the Bible would be much more of a systematic theology and less of a compilation of religious history and moral teaching, and simple witness of God's existence and love.

=== 44. Why do worthy Mormon males hold the Aaronic Priesthood since {{b||Hebrews|7|11-12}} clearly teaches that it was changed and superseded by something better?===

* ''To learn more:'' [[Hebrews 7 and the Aaronic Priesthood]]

=== 45. If your leaders are correct about the complete falling away of the true church on earth, was Jesus in error when he said that the gates of hell would not prevail against it ({{b||Matthew|16|18}})===

* ''To learn more:'' [[Apostasy and the "gates of hell"]]

==Miscellaneous / General Questions==

=== 46. If having a physical body is necessary to become a god, how did Jesus become a god before he had a body?===

Having a body is necessary for a fullness of joy ({{s||DC|93|33}}). It was necessary that at some point Jesus receive a body, but the timeframe in which He did so is not particularly important. (To travel to another country, one needs both a passport and an airplane ticket. It doesn't matter in which order one gets the passport or the ticket, but one must eventually have both in order to reach one's destination.) If correct sequence is an imperative, the question is begged how Christ's atonement could be efficacious to those who were born, lived, and died prior to His crucifixion. The fact that it was should blunt any feigned requirement for sequence concerning Christ's receipt of a physical body.

=== 47. Do you think the LDS Church will reconsider its teachings that the American Indians are descendants of the Jewish race now that DNA has proven that they are actually descendants of the Asian race?===

It was never LDS doctrine that the Book of Mormon peoples were "Jewish." They were from Ephraim and Manasseh, two other tribes of Israel, but not Judah explicitly.

LDS doctrine only holds that some of the ancestors of the Amerindians were from the Middle East of circa 600 BC. Most scholarship on this matter since at least the 1950s (and stretching back to the turn of the century) has seen the Nephite contribution as numerically small.

If Lehi existed, however, and has any descendants at all, then all Amerindians share Lehi as an ancestor.

There is a huge literature on this matter:

* [[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
* [[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
* [[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence:Geography issues|Geography and DNA]]

=== 48. If polygamy was officially re-instituted by the Mormon Church, how would your wife feel about you taking another woman?===

This is obviously a leading question—entirely hypothetical and intended to be negatively emotive. The general principle, however, is that each member always has the responsibility to determine if new policies are from God, and then to act accordingly. This has always been so. People had to decide whether to listen to Moses when he told them what the Lord wanted them to do. People had to decide whether to listen to Samuel, David, or Elijah when they told them what the Lord wanted. They had to decide whether to heed Jesus Himself who, when many chose to stop following Him, asked the apostles, "Will ye also go away?" ({{b||John|6|67}}.)

Obedience is always an individual decision.

=== 49. Since the LDS Church teaches that there was a complete apostasy of the true church on earth, does that mean that the 3 living Nephites and the Apostle John went into apostasy also?===

No. "Apostasy" merely means that no organized Church on the earth had the full authority or doctrine necessary for salvation for mortals. The Nephites and John were not exercising their priesthood authority for others in a church setting. There was no mortal priesthood authority, and no Church authorized to act in God's name.

=== 50. Why are Mormon Temple ceremonies secret to the public when the Old Testament temple ceremonies were open to public knowledge?===

Large portions of LDS temple ceremonies are publicly discussed in orthodox publications such as the ''Ensign'', the ''History of the Church'', and the ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism''. There are, however, certain aspects of temple worship that are considered to be of such a sacred character that they are not to be viewed by, nor discussed with, the uninitiated. The same was true with the biblical temple of ancient Israel -- Gentiles were never allowed into the three main temple areas (outer court, holy place, holy of holies) and the entrances throughout the temple complex were guarded by porters and shielded by veils. The majority of the Israelites were never allowed to view the ordinances that took place in the temple proper (holy place, holy of holies).

Many early Christian groups had ceremonies or services (frequently referred to as the "mysteries") that were only open to those who were faithful members in good standing. Would the critics also condemn them?

''To learn more'': Hugh W. Nibley, "Evangelium Quadraginta Dierum," ''Vigiliae Christianae'' 20 (1966):1-24; reprinted in {{Nibley4|article=Evangelium Quadraginta Dierum: The Forty-day Mission of Christ-The Forgotten Heritage|start=10|end=44}}{{link1|url=http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?id=114&table=transcripts}}

Jesus also taught his apostles things which they were not permitted to teach to everyone, and this was done in [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/christ/forty_day_ministry.html private].

The Latter-day Saints are merely following a pattern of respect for holy things laid down by Jesus and the early Christians ({{b||Matthew|7|6}}). It is ironic that their critics have lost this aspect of Christian life and worship, clearly spelled out in history and scripture.

{{DoYouHaveQuestions}}

==Footnotes==
#{{note|anti1}} Tower to Truth Ministries, "50 Questions to Ask Mormons," ''towertotruth.net'' (accessed 15 November 2007).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:55:20Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===
==== "DNA Proves the Book of Mormon is false." ====
Critics tend to opt for the most naive, ill-informed reading possible of the Book of Mormon text, and then cry foul when the Saints point out that they have given much thought to these issues and come to more nuanced conclusions that are more faithful to the Book of Mormon text than the critics' poorly-considered caricatures.

Critics do not provide the "whole story" of the DNA data, and seem to want to use the certainty which DNA provides in modern crime-solving as a springboard to trick the Saints, the media, and investigators into thinking that their historical DNA conclusions are as solid.

In fact, DNA data tells us nothing which we did not already know from archaelogical data—at present, the human settlement of the Americas is thought to date thousands of years before the advent of Lehi. Many of these settlers have links to east Asia. None of this is news, and none of it threatens the Book of Mormon's status as authentic history.

But, the critics hope that their listeners will be awed by the banner of DNA science, and conclude that something more impressive is going on. Informed members of the Church have not been persuaded by their tactics, and much has been written to help non-specialists understand the "numerous and complex" issues in the fascinating and valuable science of genetics.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Book_of_Mormon_and_DNA_evidence]].

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
''Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ'' 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest.

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature.

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:54:39Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===
==== "DNA Proves the Book of Mormon is false." ====
Critics tend to opt for the most naive, ill-informed reading possible of the Book of Mormon text, and then cry foul when the Saints point out that they have given much thought to these issues and come to more nuanced conclusions that are more faithful to the Book of Mormon text than the critics' poorly-considered caricatures.

Critics do not provide the "whole story" of the DNA data, and seem to want to use the certainty which DNA provides in modern crime-solving as a springboard to trick the Saints, the media, and investigators into thinking that their historical DNA conclusions are as solid.

In fact, DNA data tells us nothing which we did not already know from archaelogical data—at present, the human settlement of the Americas is thought to date thousands of years before the advent of Lehi. Many of these settlers have links to east Asia. None of this is news, and none of it threatens the Book of Mormon's status as authentic history.

But, the critics hope that their listeners will be awed by the banner of DNA science, and conclude that something more impressive is going on. Informed members of the Church have not been persuaded by their tactics, and much has been written to help non-specialists understand the "numerous and complex" issues in the fascinating and valuable science of genetics.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Book_of_Mormon_and_DNA_evidence]].

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
''Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ'' 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest.

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:54:21Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===
==== "DNA Proves the Book of Mormon is false." ====
Critics tend to opt for the most naive, ill-informed reading possible of the Book of Mormon text, and then cry foul when the Saints point out that they have given much thought to these issues and come to more nuanced conclusions that are more faithful to the Book of Mormon text than the critics' poorly-considered caricatures.

Critics do not provide the "whole story" of the DNA data, and seem to want to use the certainty which DNA provides in modern crime-solving as a springboard to trick the Saints, the media, and investigators into thinking that their historical DNA conclusions are as solid.

In fact, DNA data tells us nothing which we did not already know from archaelogical data—at present, the human settlement of the Americas is thought to date thousands of years before the advent of Lehi. Many of these settlers have links to east Asia. None of this is news, and none of it threatens the Book of Mormon's status as authentic history.

But, the critics hope that their listeners will be awed by the banner of DNA science, and conclude that something more impressive is going on. Informed members of the Church have not been persuaded by their tactics, and much has been written to help non-specialists understand the "numerous and complex" issues in the fascinating and valuable science of genetics.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Book_of_Mormon_and_DNA_evidence]].

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
''Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ'' 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:51:37Z

EdwinSlack: /* Book of Mormon */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===
==== "DNA Proves the Book of Mormon is false." ====
Critics tend to opt for the most naive, ill-informed reading possible of the Book of Mormon text, and then cry foul when the Saints point out that they have given much thought to these issues and come to more nuanced conclusions that are more faithful to the Book of Mormon text than the critics' poorly-considered caricatures.

Critics do not provide the "whole story" of the DNA data, and seem to want to use the certainty which DNA provides in modern crime-solving as a springboard to trick the Saints, the media, and investigators into thinking that their historical DNA conclusions are as solid.

In fact, DNA data tells us nothing which we did not already know from archaelogical data—at present, the human settlement of the Americas is thought to date thousands of years before the advent of Lehi. Many of these settlers have links to east Asia. None of this is news, and none of it threatens the Book of Mormon's status as authentic history.

But, the critics hope that their listeners will be awed by the banner of DNA science, and conclude that something more impressive is going on. Informed members of the Church have not been persuaded by their tactics, and much has been written to help non-specialists understand the "numerous and complex" issues in the fascinating and valuable science of genetics.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Book_of_Mormon_and_DNA_evidence]].

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
''Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ'' 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:42:10Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
''Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ'' 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:40:08Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T19:01:53Z

EdwinSlack: /* "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

=====Option #1=====
That distorts our doctrine beyond recognition. As the Bible teaches, we believe that faithful Christians will share in the glory and work of the God Our Father. As Jesus says in the Book of Revelation, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev 3:21) 
Our Father’s work involves providing mortal worlds upon which His spirit children can receive bodies and be tested, thereby giving them the opportunity to be like Him and have what He has. We don’t know very much about this creative process at all, but we believe that God will allow the faithful to participate in that work, just as He allowed Jesus to do so. But, we will always do that work under His direction, and for His glory, just as Jesus gave all honor and glory to the Father.

=====Option #2=====

(Based on Blake Ostler)

Latter-day saints accept the teaching of 2 Peter 1:4 which states that we participate in the divine nature. It’s not an unusual belief – Eastern Orthodox have a strong doctrine of theosis or human deification. The Roman Catholic church has recently in its cathechism added a section about human deification and participation in the divine nature. There’s been somewhat of a lesser strain of that belief in protestantism,
but I would emphasize that John Calvin taught a notion of deification.

It’s not a strange belief at all. It’s simply the notion that as the Father and the Son are one, the disciples can also be one just as they are. And in that relationship, the glory that the Father and the Son possess and share can be shared with the disciples. And Mormons believe that John 17 teaches precisely that.

Critics distort our beliefs, and are welcome to reject the belief in their own churches. But they should not act like this is something bizarre. Historically, it's more unusual that their branch of Christianity doesn't have it.

=====Option #3=====

A: This is a sacred thing that we do not speak of lightly. It is not something that can be explained in short sound bytes. It is not an established doctrine of the Church, but it is a common belief held by the majority of the members. Let me try to explain.

The first point to understand is that we don't see God as something that is "Totally Other" or "Totally different" from humanity. We really see him as Our Heavenly Father, in a very literal sense. When this principle is taught in the Holy Bible we completely believe it.

As the Bible tells us, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - except Jesus. But, through the Fathers mercy, He promises to give us everything that He has, to allow sit us down on His throne as He has placed Jesus on a throne.

We believe everyone is already divine, in some sense, because they are children of a divine Father in Heaven. The atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the ability to express and develop that divine potential into a divine reality. This mortal earth life is a continuation of the process of developing that potential first begun in the pre-mortal existence where we lived with our Father in Heaven.

In a nutshell, we believe the Father can make us like Him, and since He is divine, we will be too. But, that never means we can supercede Him, or replace Him or Jesus. We will always worship the Father as God. This is something that happens because of the Grace of God, it is not something that we can earn in any sense of the word. It's not meant to be an expression of arrogance, but simply an expression of the wonderful grace available to us all.

We think is says a lot more about God than it does about us.

This is a concept alluded to in the Holy Bible and discussed at some length by the early Church Fathers. A current understanding of these beliefs is a result of continuing revelation from God. Other Christian faiths have rejected modern day revelation and have lost understanding of these principles.

Unfortunately, our critics try to make it sound blasphemous or ridiculous, and hope that they can use sound-byte attacks to convey ideas we don't really believe.

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity]].

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T18:53:19Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

=====Option #1=====
That distorts our doctrine beyond recognition. As the Bible teaches, we believe that faithful Christians will share in the glory and work of the God Our Father. As Jesus says in the Book of Revelation, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev 3:21) 
Our Father’s work involves providing mortal worlds upon which His spirit children can receive bodies and be tested, thereby giving them the opportunity to be like Him and have what He has. We don’t know very much about this creative process at all, but we believe that God will allow the faithful to participate in that work, just as He allowed Jesus to do so. But, we will always do that work under His direction, and for His glory, just as Jesus gave all honor and glory to the Father.

=====Option #2=====

(Based on Blake Ostler)

Latter-day saints accept the teaching of 2 Peter 1:4 which states that we participate in the divine nature. It’s not an unusual belief – Eastern Orthodox have a strong doctrine of theosis or human deification. The Roman Catholic church has recently in its cathechism added a section about human deification and participation in the divine nature. There’s been somewhat of a lesser strain of that belief in protestantism,
but I would emphasize that John Calvin taught a notion of deification.

It’s not a strange belief at all. It’s simply the notion that as the Father and the Son are one, the disciples can also be one just as they are. And in that relationship, the glory that the Father and the Son possess and share can be shared with the disciples. And Mormons believe that John 17 teaches precisely that.

Critics distort our beliefs, and are welcome to reject the belief in their own churches. But they should not act like this is something bizarre. Historically, it's more unusual that their branch of Christianity doesn't have it.

=====Option #3=====

A: This is a sacred thing that we do not speak of lightly. It is not something that can be explained in short sound bytes. It is not an established doctrine of the Church, but it is a common belief held by the majority of the members. Let me try to explain.

The first point to understand is that we don't see God as something that is "Totally Other" or "Totally different" from humanity. We really see him as Our Heavenly Father, in a very literal sense. When this principle is taught in the Holy Bible we completely believe it.

As the Bible tells us, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - except Jesus. But, through the Fathers mercy, He promises to give us everything that He has, to allow sit us down on His throne as He has placed Jesus on a throne.

We believe everyone is already divine, in some sense, because they are children of a divine Father in Heaven. The atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the ability to express and develop that divine potential into a divine reality. This mortal earth life is a continuation of the process of developing that potential first begun in the pre-mortal existence where we lived with our Father in Heaven.

In a nutshell, we believe the Father can make us like Him, and since He is divine, we will be too. But, that never means we can supercede Him, or replace Him or Jesus. We will always worship the Father as God. This is something that happens because of the Grace of God, it is not something that we can earn in any sense of the word. It's not meant to be an expression of arrogance, but simply an expression of the wonderful grace available to us all.

We think is says a lot more about God than it does about us.

This is a concept alluded to in the Holy Bible and discussed at some length by the early Church Fathers. A current understanding of these beliefs is a result of continuing revelation from God. Other Christian faiths have rejected modern day revelation and have lost understanding of these principles.

Unfortunately, our critics try to make it sound blasphemous or ridiculous, and hope that they can use sound-byte attacks to convey ideas we don't really believe.

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Baptism_for_the_dead]].

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T18:42:33Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

=====Option #1=====
That distorts our doctrine beyond recognition. As the Bible teaches, we believe that faithful Christians will share in the glory and work of the God Our Father. As Jesus says in the Book of Revelation, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev 3:21) 
Our Father’s work involves providing mortal worlds upon which His spirit children can receive bodies and be tested, thereby giving them the opportunity to be like Him and have what He has. We don’t know very much about this creative process at all, but we believe that God will allow the faithful to participate in that work, just as He allowed Jesus to do so. But, we will always do that work under His direction, and for His glory, just as Jesus gave all honor and glory to the Father.

=====Option #2=====

(Based on Blake Ostler)

Latter-day saints accept the teaching of 2 Peter 1:4 which states that we participate in the divine nature. It’s not an unusual belief – Eastern Orthodox have a strong doctrine of theosis or human deification. The Roman Catholic church has recently in its cathechism added a section about human deification and participation in the divine nature. There’s been somewhat of a lesser strain of that belief in protestantism,
but I would emphasize that John Calvin taught a notion of deification.

It’s not a strange belief at all. It’s simply the notion that as the Father and the Son are one, the disciples can also be one just as they are. And in that relationship, the glory that the Father and the Son possess and share can be shared with the disciples. And Mormons believe that John 17 teaches precisely that.

Critics distort our beliefs, and are welcome to reject the belief in their own churches. But they should not act like this is something bizarre. Historically, it's more unusual that their branch of Christianity doesn't have it.

=====Option #3=====

A: This is a sacred thing that we do not speak of lightly. It is not something that can be explained in short sound bytes. It is not an established doctrine of the Church, but it is a common belief held by the majority of the members. Let me try to explain.

The first point to understand is that we don't see God as something that is "Totally Other" or "Totally different" from humanity. We really see him as Our Heavenly Father, in a very literal sense. When this principle is taught in the Holy Bible we completely believe it.

As the Bible tells us, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - except Jesus. But, through the Fathers mercy, He promises to give us everything that He has, to allow sit us down on His throne as He has placed Jesus on a throne.

We believe everyone is already divine, in some sense, because they are children of a divine Father in Heaven. The atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the ability to express and develop that divine potential into a divine reality. This mortal earth life is a continuation of the process of developing that potential first begun in the pre-mortal existence where we lived with our Father in Heaven.

In a nutshell, we believe the Father can make us like Him, and since He is divine, we will be too. But, that never means we can supercede Him, or replace Him or Jesus. We will always worship the Father as God. This is something that happens because of the Grace of God, it is not something that we can earn in any sense of the word. It's not meant to be an expression of arrogance, but simply an expression of the wonderful grace available to us all.

We think is says a lot more about God than it does about us.

This is a concept alluded to in the Holy Bible and discussed at some length by the early Church Fathers. A current understanding of these beliefs is a result of continuing revelation from God. Other Christian faiths have rejected modern day revelation and have lost understanding of these principles.

Unfortunately, our critics try to make it sound blasphemous or ridiculous, and hope that they can use sound-byte attacks to convey ideas we don't really believe.

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Salvation_of_non-members]].

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).

MormonFAQ

2007-12-14T18:41:23Z

EdwinSlack: /* "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." */

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

# to provide factual information about the restoration sects (Sects resulting from Joseph Smith) including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons, the LDS Church);
# to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

''Disclosure statment:''While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here.

= WHO ARE THEY? =

==Restorationist Faiths.==

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as ''apostate'' or ''break-off'' should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)===

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City.
Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Church, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence.
http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

===The Community of Christ (RLDS)===

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church within the restorationist movement and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

===Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.===

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints===

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

===The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)===

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church. Members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

===Others===

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

===Mormon===

The term ''Mormon'' was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term ''Mormonite,'' but this quickly fell from favor.) While it may be tempting to use the label "Mormon" to identify all that that belong to a restorationist movement church, that would be incorrect. Using the term "Mormon" without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

=ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP=
==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)==
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (See [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e72c12fccd78f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=3e0511154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Newsroom - Organizational Structure of the Church])

From the highest levels the body of the Church is divided into Areas which contain Stakes amd Missions. Within a Stake, Local congregations are Wards and Branches, within a Mission local congregations are Branches.

For more detail of the organization of the LDS Church see:
[[MormonFAQ-LDS Org]]

==The Community of Christ (RLDS)==
The Community of Christ is presided over by the First Presidency and The Council of Twelve Apostles. Congregations are communities and are led by a pastor.

For more detail on the organization of the Community of Christ see:
[[MormonFAQ-CoC Org]]

=BELIEFS AND PRACTICES=

For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to [http://www.www.Mormon.org Mormon.org].
== Summary of Beliefs ==
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.

They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.

Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:

1) Modern day revelation and modern day prophets. Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.

2) Apostasy and Restoration. Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.

3) Scripture. LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)

4) View of Salvation. Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.

5) Nature of God. Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe.

6) Deification. One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.

== Common Mis-characterizations ==
There are many things in the LDS church that are held up to ridicule by professional anti Mormons and by some of the protestant denominations. These things simply are not true.

===Bible===
==== "With Mormons, the Bible is not the ultimate authority." ====
We refuse to put limits on God's ability to speak to His children. Therefore, a ''book'' is not our ultimate authority, and this is true for the Bible as well as for the Book of Mormon. God is our ultimate authority, and we believe he continues to speak to us collectively, through his prophets, and individually. One of the things He has told us is the great value of the Holy Bible for teaching us about Jesus Christ.

There ''has'' to be some other authority than the Bible—otherwise, how can we know the Bible is true? We can't believe the Bible just because the Bible says we should. Mormons believe the Bible because ''God'' tells them it's true.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Open_canon_vs._closed_canon]].

===Book of Mormon===

===Christ===

==== "Mormons deny the deity of Christ:" ====
On the contrary, we believe firmly in the deity of Christ. We hold that Jesus was Jehovah of the Old Testament (therefore "God") and that he is the literal (spiritual and physical) Son of God the Father. To say that we deny his deity is simply not true. His deity is affirmed in all of the books of scripture we use. 
Unique LDS Scriptural Passages affirming the deity of Christ 
Mosiah 15:1 -- ...God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. 
D&C 19:1, 16-19 -- I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world... For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

==== "Mormons believe that Lucifer and Jesus are brothers."====

It sounds sinister when it's put that way, doesn't it? This is a good example of how critics misrepresent what we believe to attack instead of understand.

Put in proper context, the belief is that Jesus and Satan, as well as all of us, share the same spiritual Parent: God the Father. This in no way assumes that Jesus and Satan are spiritual equals (just as Cain and Abel shared the same father, but were stark contrasts to one another). We believe that Jesus upheld the Father's plan for us, while Satan rebelled against it and was cast out. At his rebellion, the heavens "wept" (D&C 76:26) and he is now the enemy of God, Christ, and every human being. He seeks our misery; Christ seeks to save us, if we will accept Him.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ_is_the_brother_of_Satan]].

===Deification/theosis===

==== "Mormons believe that they can become gods and rule over their own planets." ====
This is a gross mischaracterization of LDS belief. Mormons believe that we will be Joint-Heirs with Christ (see Deification above). While some individuals have speculated on what life would be like in heaven, none of those speculations have followed this claim that has been put forward by professional anti-Mormons. Mormons are offended by this claim.

For more information on this subject see our FAIRwiki article on [[Deification_of_man]]

=====Option #1=====
That distorts our doctrine beyond recognition. As the Bible teaches, we believe that faithful Christians will share in the glory and work of the God Our Father. As Jesus says in the Book of Revelation, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev 3:21) 
Our Father’s work involves providing mortal worlds upon which His spirit children can receive bodies and be tested, thereby giving them the opportunity to be like Him and have what He has. We don’t know very much about this creative process at all, but we believe that God will allow the faithful to participate in that work, just as He allowed Jesus to do so. But, we will always do that work under His direction, and for His glory, just as Jesus gave all honor and glory to the Father.

=====Option #2=====

(Based on Blake Ostler)

Latter-day saints accept the teaching of 2 Peter 1:4 which states that we participate in the divine nature. It’s not an unusual belief – Eastern Orthodox have a strong doctrine of theosis or human deification. The Roman Catholic church has recently in its cathechism added a section about human deification and participation in the divine nature. There’s been somewhat of a lesser strain of that belief in protestantism,
but I would emphasize that John Calvin taught a notion of deification.

It’s not a strange belief at all. It’s simply the notion that as the Father and the Son are one, the disciples can also be one just as they are. And in that relationship, the glory that the Father and the Son possess and share can be shared with the disciples. And Mormons believe that John 17 teaches precisely that.

Critics distort our beliefs, and are welcome to reject the belief in their own churches. But they should not act like this is something bizarre. Historically, it's more unusual that their branch of Christianity doesn't have it.

=====Option #3=====

A: This is a sacred thing that we do not speak of lightly. It is not something that can be explained in short sound bytes. It is not an established doctrine of the Church, but it is a common belief held by the majority of the members. Let me try to explain.

The first point to understand is that we don't see God as something that is "Totally Other" or "Totally different" from humanity. We really see him as Our Heavenly Father, in a very literal sense. When this principle is taught in the Holy Bible we completely believe it.

As the Bible tells us, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - except Jesus. But, through the Fathers mercy, He promises to give us everything that He has, to allow sit us down on His throne as He has placed Jesus on a throne.

We believe everyone is already divine, in some sense, because they are children of a divine Father in Heaven. The atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the ability to express and develop that divine potential into a divine reality. This mortal earth life is a continuation of the process of developing that potential first begun in the pre-mortal existence where we lived with our Father in Heaven.

In a nutshell, we believe the Father can make us like Him, and since He is divine, we will be too. But, that never means we can supercede Him, or replace Him or Jesus. We will always worship the Father as God. This is something that happens because of the Grace of God, it is not something that we can earn in any sense of the word. It's not meant to be an expression of arrogance, but simply an expression of the wonderful grace available to us all.

We think is says a lot more about God than it does about us.

This is a concept alluded to in the Holy Bible and discussed at some length by the early Church Fathers. A current understanding of these beliefs is a result of continuing revelation from God. Other Christian faiths have rejected modern day revelation and have lost understanding of these principles.

Unfortunately, our critics try to make it sound blasphemous or ridiculous, and hope that they can use sound-byte attacks to convey ideas we don't really believe.

===God===
==== "Mormons believe that God had sexual intercourse with Mary. "====
This is not a doctrine of the LDS church. It is believed that Jesus is the literal Son of God, but the process by which he was concieved has never been a canonized doctrine of faith within the LDS church. It can't be denied that there may be some members and leaders who have made and do make this assumption, but this is not doctrine of the Church.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Jesus_Christ%27s_conception]].

==== "Mormons don't believe in the God and Jesus of the Bible." ====
Mormons believe in the biblical Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), rather than in the "Trinity" the way many Christians do. We differ from other Christians in our beliefs about the nature of God, and reject the post-biblical creeds that attempted to define God's nature (Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.) and merge the essence of the Three into One. We believe that the members of the Godhead are three distinct, ontologically separate beings, who act in perfect unity to carry out the plan of salvation. The Father and the Son, in our belief, have perfect, glorified, physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost has a body of spirit.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Worship_different_Jesus]].

==== "The Mormon God was once a mortal man on another planet." ====
Many Latter-day Saints infer that because we, as children of God, now live as mortals in this world and have the potential to become gods through the atonement of Christ, that God the Father must have gone through a similar process to be where He is. Early leaders (including Joseph Smith) taught something to this effect. But... it's something about which we know very little, since nothing formal has been revealed to the Church and very little was explained by early leaders. Could it be so? Logically, yes, but we simply don't know enough, and so it's not something that is discussed or taught much in the Church today. As far as we are concerned, God the Father has always been our God and always will be, and we leave it at that. Anything else is really just theological speculation—interesting, but not terribly important.

===History===

==== "Mormonism is a cult." ====
Some of our critics like to use the word "cult" because of its shock value. It is an attempt to equate Mormons with groups like the Peoples Temple group (Jim Jones) or Heaven's Gate, where they make us out to be "kool-aid" drinkers, swallowing whatever our leaders tell us without question, and this is patently not the way the Church operates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a legimate world religion, and has gained the respect of world leaders, political, social, and religious. Theological differences should be no occasion for name-calling or labeling.

"Cult" is simply a word that powerful religions use to call another faith names. Early Christians were labeled as cultists by the Romans. We don't believe name-calling has any place in civil discourse.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[LDS_Church_is_a_cult]].

==== "But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?" ====
Joseph Smith went into the grove at age 14 to ask God "which of all the churches is right, and which should [he] join?" He assumed that the Lord's church had continued on the earth, unchanged through the centuries, and just wanted to know which one it was. What he was told by the Father and the Son in his vision appears to have been a surprising answer to him, that they were all wrong. But what he said was that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight, that the professors (as in professional clergy) were corrupt. That's a far cry from saying that there was nothing good or true or of value in those churches, or that their members were going to hell. God's purpose in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth was to bring people to a clearer understanding of Him and His Son and their plan for creation. So our message to the world is to bring all you have that is good and true and praiseworthy from your own tradition, and let us see if we can add to it.

===Joseph Smith===

==== "Mormons believe that they are saved through obedience to Joseph Smith." ====
Not true. Joseph Smith is, to Mormons, no different than Peter, Paul, Moses, or any of the other biblical prophets. He was an imperfect, fallible human being (by his own admission), as were biblical figures (except Jesus of course), but was nonetheless called by God to be a prophet. To say that one is a prophet doesn't mean he loses his humanity, i.e., ceases to be who he has become in his upbringing and surroundings. God has always spoken through prophets and apostles, imperfect though they be, and to us it is no different with Joseph Smith or any of his successors. (Ross Baron's question to one of his fireside attendees is a good one (paraphrasing), "Can you, as a Christian, reject Peter [or Paul, or whomever], and still accept Christ? It's the same for us with Joseph Smith."

=== Politics ===

==== "What is the view of the Mormon Church on the political process?" ====
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics. This applies in all of the many nations in which it is established. 

The Church does not: 
- Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms. 
- Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes. 
- Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
- Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. 

The Church does: 
- Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections. 
- Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters. 
- Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church. 
- Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

==== "Should someone be disqualified (in the public arena) from holding a high public office, solely on the the basis of his/her religion?" ====
Absolutely not. While the Church itself has a policy of strict political neutrality, members are counseled that "honest men and wise men [women] should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men [women] ye should observe to uphold..." (D&C 98:10), regardless of their religious affiliation. Likewise, people should not necessarily vote for a candidate simply because he or she shares their specific religious faith (or lack thereof).

=== Polygamy ===
==== "Mormons believe you must practice polygamy to be saved." ====
In the LDS church, plural marriage (or polygamy) was a practice and a belief that was appropriate for its time in the 1840's through the 1890's. In the 1890's its usefulness had mostly past as it ended the practice. They follow a Book of Mormon scripture which states plural marriage is not to be practiced except during times when God commands it.

For more information of this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Polygamy_a_requirement_for_exaltation]].

===Racism===

==== "Mormons are racists, or have a history of racism in their church." ====
Mormons have always allowed those of black-African descent to join the Church and worship in the same congregations as everyone else. Sometime in the mid-19th century, a policy was introduced that denied blacks the benefits of membership in our lay priesthood. This policy was in place until 1978, at which time (then) Church president Spencer W. Kimball announced that the priesthood could be enjoyed by any eligible male member. We do not know the reasons for this pre-1978 policy, because there is no recorded revelation given for it. Many have pointed to statements by past Church leaders which, by today's standards, would be considered racist. We would not try to justify statements by our leaders that carried racist connotations. But other Christians who point the "racist" finger at Mormons should certainly not apply a different standard to our past than they do to their own.

For more information on this topic see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Blacks_and_the_priesthood]]

=== Salvation ===

==== "Mormons don't believe in being saved by grace though faith-only in Jesus Christ." ====
Mormons believe they are saved by Jesus Christ. Without Christ, it wouldn't matter how many good works or ordinances you did, it would not lead to your salvation. Similarly, it matters not how much you profess Christ if you do not try to follow Him by obedience to what He taught.

For more information on this topic, see our FAIR-wiki article on [[Works_and_grace]].

==== "Mormonism is 'exclusive,' that is, if you're not a Mormon, you can't be saved." ====
Not true, though our view of salvation is different in some ways. We believe in different levels of salvation, stemming from the idea that God will judge us according to our works and award us accordingly. Paul alluded to differences in the glories of resurrected beings, comparing them to the sun, moon, and stars (1 Cor. 15), and coupled with modern revelation (D&C 76, for exampe), we believe that there are degrees of glory in the hereafter, and that each is a "kingdom of glory," where a degree of salvation is granted through the grace of Christ. In order to attain the highest, people must accept Christ, exercise faith in him, and endure to the end of their lives in faithfulness.

===Temple===

==== "Mormons wear 'magic' underwear. This is one of their strange, 'out there' beliefs." ====
It is true that adult members of the Church who have participated in an ordinance in our Temples, called the "endowment," wear a special undergarment. The purpose of this garment is to serve as a reminder of the covenants one has made to God. Keeping the covenants made brings with it the blessings of spiritual protection. Anecdotal stories of the garment offering physical protection are sometimes related by members of the Church, and this is, perhaps, where some critics of the Church ascribe the "magic" quality to the garment. However, calling it "magic underwear" only serves to ridicule and sensationalize a belief we hold sacred. It is tantamount to making light of the priestly vestments of other faiths, or the yarmulke of the Jews, or the cross jewelry of another Christian. An added benefit of the garment is that wearing it requires that one also wear clothing that is modest. 

Possible question: What covenants are made in the temple? 
"The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to obey each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.
No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God" (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p. 84, emphasis added to make finding information easier).

==== "Mormons believe they can be married forever in heaven." ====
Why this is so problematic to some is a complete mystery. Imagine wanting the covenants you make before God with your spouse here on earth to be continued in eternity! This is indeed a core doctrine of the Church, that in the Temple, a couple can be sealed together for this life and for all eternity, rather than "til death do you part." We take seriously Jesus' declaration to Peter, that "whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..." (Matt. 16:19). Children can likewise be joined to their parents by this same sealing power. It's funny that even many who are not LDS seem to share a similar hope or belief, judging from much of great music and literature. 
Other scriptural references 
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (emphasis added).

==== "Mormons believe in being baptized for dead people." ====
This is another one of those things that, at first glance sounds a little weird, yet, once understood it's not so strange. Our doctrine of baptsim for the dead starts with the premise that all are on equal footing before God; that it would be unjust to condemn someone to hell for living at the wrong time or in the wrong place, without ever having a chance hear of Jesus. While Jesus' body was in the tomb, he went and began to teach his gospel to those in the Spirit World, where they have the freedom to accept it or reject it. Baptism, for us, is an earthly ordinance; so we search out the names of our deceased ancestors, and act as proxies for them in the Temple where we are baptized in their behalf. In the Spirit World, they have the freedom to accept or reject this proxy ordinance. To us, it's not about giving them a chance to "become a Mormon" when they're dead; it's about accepting or rejecting Christ and His gospel. 
Other references 
D&C 128 Where the doctrine is revealed. 
1 Corinthians 15:29 Where the practice is at least alluded to by Paul. 
Dr. Krister Stendahl, Swedish theologian, former Bishop of Stockholm (Lutheran), and former dean of the Harvard Divinity School (hardly a light-weight in the Christian world), named this LDS doctrine his "holy envy" of the Latter-day Saints in Between Heaven and Earth, aired on KBYU television beginning in October 2002 ("holy envy" meaning "be willing to find elements in the other religious traditions and faiths that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith").

=TERMS=

== A ==

;Aaronic Priesthood:This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches, it is generally given to adults. Capitalize both words. See ''priesthood''.

;Aaronic Order:A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

;anti-Mormon: Those who actively campaign against Mormon beliefs or practices. Merely disbelieving Mormon doctrine, leaving the Church, or disagreeing with Church policy does not make someone anti-Mormon. Some anti-Mormons write books, pamphlets and articles, while others protest outside of church buildings and conference centers while the Mormons worship. For an example of anti-Mormon activities, see: ((link|url=http://www.fairlds.org/Anti-Mormons/Street_Preachers.html}}. Anti-Mormons generally share one of two ideologies: (a) Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups or (b) secular/agnostic/atheist, usually former members. Authors should be aware that that some who pass themselves off as experts on Mormonism have their own ideologic agendas, and sometimes derive some or all of their income from material attacking the LDS church.

;apostate: An inflammatory word used by some to denote a person who has been a member of a Church and who has been excommunicated or who has withdrawn from membership because of belief in doctrines that are not compatible with church doctrine. The term, however, should not be used to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace its origins to another church, then it should be so stated. For example: ''The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.'' If an individual is no longer a member of the church, they should be referred to as a "former member" or some other less inflammatory term.

;Apostle: A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, ''Apostle John Smith''. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, ''Elder John Smith, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.''

;Area Authority Seventy:

;Articles of Faith:

;Auditorium, The: Capitalize when referencing to the building (RLDS) at Independence, Mo.

== B ==

;baptism for the dead: The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

;Barlow University: A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

;Beehive: A term used for a class of young women age 12 or 13.

;Bishop: A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. ''Bishop John Smith'' otherwise lower case as in ''the bishop's storehouse''. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

;Book of Commandments: A book of scripture first published in 1833, consisting of revelations received by Joseph Smith. It was reissued in 1835 with additional revelations as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

;Book of the Law of the Lord: A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

;The Book of Mormon: A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as ''The Record of the Nephites'' by some churches. The LDS Church's media style guide gives the name as ''The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree.
Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations.

*1 Ne. 1 Nephi
*2 Ne. 2 Nephi
*Jacob Jacob
*Enos Enos
*Jarom Jarom
*Omni Omni
*W of M Words of Mormon
*Mosiah Mosiah
*Alma Alma
*Hel. Helaman
*3 Ne. 3 Nephi
*4 Ne. 4 Nephi
*Morm. Mormon
*Ether Ether
*Moro. Moroni

;Branch: Ecclesiastical unit in the LDS Church that is comparable in function to a ward but that is smaller. It is presided over by a Branch President.

;Brigham Young University: Also known as BYU or "The Y". A University in Provo, Utah operated by the LDS church. It is one of the largest private Universities in the West with approximately 27,000 daytime students. It has received many national recognitions and is ranked high in several categories. http://www.byu.edu

;Brigham Young University-Idaho: A University in Rexburg, Idaho operated by the LDS church. Formerly known as "Ricks College." http://www.byui.edu/

;Brigham Young University-Hawaii: A University in Laie, Hawaii operated by the LDS church. http://www.byuh.edu/

;BYU Jerusalem Center: The Jerusalem Center is Brigham Young University's center for study in Jerusalem. Students enroll through the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, travel to the Holy Land, and live in the Center for programs that extend for two or four months. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and language (Hebrew and Arabic). Classroom study is built around field trips that cover the length and breadth of the Holy Land. http://ce.byu.edu/jc/

== C ==
;Celestial Kingdom: The highest of degree of glory in the LDS concept of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the sun It is sub-divided into three heavens or degrees ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1-4#1-4 D&C 131:1-4]).
== D ==
;Deacon: An office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In the LDS Church this office is generally given to boys at the age of 12. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) it is held by adults, both men and women. This office generally performs non-ecclesiastical duties such as collecting offerings and passing the sacrament (communion) to the congregation.

;Doctrine and Covenants:

== E ==

;Elder: There are three uses for the term "Elder." First it is a level of priesthood that belongs to most male members between the ages of 18 and 50. Secondly, it is the title used when referring to all male LDS missionaries who posses that priesthood. Third, it is the title used when referring to members of the the Quorum of the Twelve, or the Seventy. For example, Dallin H. Oaks may be referred to as "Elder Oaks."

;Endowment: Ritualistic-drama ceremony given in LDS temples that teaches man about the creation, fall, atonement, and how man may return to God's presence and be exalted.

;Exaltation: In LDS belief, exaltation refers to the deification of men and women in the highest heaven of the Celestial Kingdom. This is reserved for those who are heirs of God and join-heirs with Jesus Christ (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/8/16-18 Romans 8:16-18]). They will become "gods, even sons of God" (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/58-59#58-59 D&C 76:58-59]) and thus participate in the Divine Council (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ps/82 Psalm 82]).

== F ==
;Family Home Evening :

;Family Prayer:

;Fasting:

;Fast Offerings:

;Fast and Testimony Meeting: On the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church fast. Then when they come to church, instead of their usual meeting they have an open pulpit and allow the members to stand and give their testimonies.

;First Presidency: The highest presiding council of the Church composed of the President of the Church who is the Presiding High Priest over the whole Church and usually two counselors who are also High Priests. All three are referred to by the the title of "President." The RLDS and the LDS Churches both have a First Presidency.

== G ==

;Garments: After a member of the church goes to the temple, they wear special garments as their under clothing as a sacred reminder of covenants made with God. They are similar in form to boxer shorts and an under shirt. Some anti-Mormons mockingly refer to this as "magic underwear" or other derogatory names which behavior is very offensive to the members of the church.

;General Authorities: Church Leaders who have authority in the world wide church and who are not restricted in authority to certain geographical regions alone. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First and Second Quorums of Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric are all general authorities.

;General Conference: The first weekend in April and the first weekend in October, all of the General Authorities of the church will meet in Salt Lake City in the conference center. They will give sermons and talks on a variety of subjects. It is broadcast all over the world and listened to by the members of the LDS church. You can see the talks from General Conference here http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

;Gift of the Holy Ghost: The right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This right is given only after proper and authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who hold Melchizedek Priesthood. It acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify them from sin.

;Godhead:
*The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost acting in a quorum. In the LDS teach that "the Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22#22 D&C 130:22])
*The term "Godhead" as found in the KJV New Testament is archaic and means "godhood"--the quality or state of being divine. LDS do not generally use the term in this fashion although it is in KJV version of the Bible which is used by the Church.

== H ==

;High Priest: This is a level in the LDS priesthood given to many males over the age of 50, or to those who have served in Ward or Stake leadership positions.

;Home Teaching:

;Homosexuality:

== I ==

;Institute:

== J ==

;Jesus Christ:

;Joseph Smith :

== K ==

== L ==

;Laurel:

== M ==
;Melchizedek Priesthood:

;Mia Maid:

== N ==

== O ==

== P ==

;Pastor: The leader of the local congregation in the RLDS Church.

;Patriarch:

;Patriarchal Blessings:

;Pearl of Great Price: A book of scripture held sacred by the LDS Church. It contains various texts including:
*The Book of Moses: Joseph Smith's retranslation of the early chapters of Genesis.
*The Book of Abraham: Joseph Smith's translations of some papyrus that was discovered with some mummies by Michael Chandler.
*Joseph Smith - Matthew: Part of Joseph Smith's retranslation of Matthew, chapters 23 and 24.
*Joseph Smith - History: Joseph's account of early events of the Church, taken from his History of the Church. And,
*The Articles of Faith: A brief statment of basic beliefs of the Church, originally part of a letter by Joseph Smith to John Wentworth, Editor of the Chicago Democrat who inquired of Joseph about the Church.

;Priest: A level in the LDS priesthood held by young men ages 16-18. It is also often held by newer male converts in the LDS church. In the Community of Christ (RLDS) the office of Priest as with other Priesthood offices is generally held by adults, both men and women.

;Primary: The children's organization in the LDS church.

== Q ==

== R ==

;Relief Society: the woman's organization within the LDS church. All women within the church belong to this organization.

== S ==

;Sabbath:

;Seminary:

;Stake: Ecclesiastical unit comprised of wards and branches and presided over by a Stake President.

;Stake Conference: A meeting of the entire stake. It generally takes place twice a year. No ward or branch meetings are held on the Sunday when Stake Conference is held.

== T ==

;Teacher: There are two uses of this word among LDS. The first is the familiar term teacher, as in a Sunday School teacher. The second usage is for a position in the LDS priesthood that is generally reserved for young men age 14-16.

;Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the stars.

;Temple: The temple is not a church building for normal Sunday meetings. It is a place of sacred worship and ceremonies performed for the living and on behalf of the dead.

;Terrestrial Kingdom: The middle kingdom of Glory in the LDS view of heaven. It is compared to the glory of the moon.

;Testimony: This has two uses within the LDS church. First it is a description of belief, as in "He has a testimony of the gospel." Secondly, it is used to describe the verbal expression of that belief, as in "He bore his testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

;Tithing : Tithing has been defined by the Lord as "one-tenth of [a person's] interest annually" ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/119/4 D&C 119:4]). Generally this has been interpreted to mean "increase." The Church has not defined "interest" or "increase" specifically and so it is up to the member to determine what it is.

== U ==

== V ==

== W ==

;Ward: Ecclesiastical unit presided over by a Bishop. Members are assigned to attend wards by geographical location.

;Welfare:

;Word of Wisdom : The health code followed by practicing Latter-day Saints (Mormons.) The current interpretation includes not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking illegal drugs, drinking coffee, or black or green tea. Some Latter-day Saints in the United States  have further interpreted this to mean they should not drink any caffeinated beverages although many have not.

== X ==

== Y ==

== Z ==

;Zion: There are several definitions:

*The name of the people of the Lord ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18#18 Moses 7:18]).
*A city built by Enoch and his people that was translated ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-69#18 Moses 7:18-69]).
*The City of Jerusalem ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_sam/5/6-7#6 2 Sam. 5:6-7]).
*The New Jerusalem that is to be built in Jackson County Missouri ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84/1-4#1 D&C 84:1-4]).
*All of North and South America (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 362).