Mormonism – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I. IntroductionMormons is the cat valium name of members of The Church of deliveryman christ of Latter-day Saints, a delivery boyian body to United States origin. The name is from the prophet Mormon, whose writings, members believe, form the sacred overbolds of Mormon.The present-day church service is descended from the persecuted sect that established a self-sufficient settlement in the barren dessert of Utah in 1847. The Mormons still devour their major strength in Utah, precisely have expanded into new(prenominal) sections of the country and have made converts in many foreign countries. provide argon in flavour Lake City, Utah (Davies, 2003).The purpose of this study is to (1) go through the history of Mormonism (2) analyze the beliefs, practices, and organization of the movement from a biblical (Christian) stance and (3) explain the movements response to Biblical claims of Jesus Christ as well as wherefore or why not I believe this group deserves the label of Cont emporary Religious sweat (Cult).II. BackgroundA. HistoryMormonism was open uped by Joseph metal deformer (1805-1844), who lived as a youth near Palmyra, westerly clean York. At 14 he began to have visions. In 1827, he announced that after revelation in 1823 he found favourable plates with hieroglyphics, which he translated with divine aid and published as the Book of Mormon (1830). The golden plates were not made public, but 11 men testified that they had seen them. Smith founded the church in 1830 with sex members. The sect grew rapidly in number (Interview of Martin Harris).In 1831 the Mormons established their first temple in Kirtland, Ohio, near Cleveland, but the group suffered severe financial problems and lost many of its members.Other Mormons colonized in Independence, Missouri. Soon forced to move beca practise of the hostility of their neighbors, they next founded the t givespeople of their neighbors, they next founded the town of Far West in Caldwell County. In 1838 -39 they were determined out of Missouri because of religious prejudice and fear of Mormon political power.The refugees next settled in Commerce, Illinois, and renamed the town Nauvoo. Here on spongelike land along the Mississippi the Mormons built an impressive city of astir(predicate) 20,000, then the largest city in Illinois. Again there was religious persecution and pungent strife over the growing political power of the Mormons. A new source of conflict was the doctrine of polygamy introduced by Joseph Smith. In 1844, Smith was dispatch by a mob. Because of continued harassment by their neighbors, the Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in 1846 (Mormonisms History, 2006).III. DiscussionThe Mormons believe their church is the true modern successor of the archean church of Jesus Christ. The churchs aim is to prepare the earth, by the preaching of the restored gospel and the founding of the Latter-day Zion, for the Messiahs guerrilla coming and the advent of the millennium.A. BeliefsT he Mormons accept the tidings as sacred and odour upon the Book of Mormon as equal to it in dominance. But I strongly believe that there is no book in the world that would equal to the account book, not even the Book of Mormons because this Scripture (Bible) is graven image-breathed as express in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 both Scripture is graven image-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. This would mean that the writers of the Bible are inspired and anointed by the Spirit of God (Barlow, 1997).The Book of Mormons tells the history of an old-fashioned band of Jewish exiles believed by Mormons to be the ancestors of the American Indians but the Bible is silent about it. Other books of scripture are the Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations given through the founder, Joseph Smith and the Pearl of Great Price, containing the writings-not found in the Bible-which Mormons believe are revelation of Abraham and Moses. Moreover, I contest that the church should not be under the beliefs of its founder but should be followed by the teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church.The Mormons believe in continuous revelation by God. Yes, I agree to it but the revelation must always be in the context of the Scripture thus, anything that is not in the word of God is not of God. In addition, the Mormons believe that God the Father and his son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. Individual members whitethorn receive revelations from God for the guidance of their own lives. But sole(prenominal) one man at a time may receive revelations from God for the total church, and he is the president of the whole church. Mormons emphasize faith in Jesus Christ and repentance for sins (Barlow, 1997).I resist to what the Mormons believe because no one ever sees God. Even Moses and Abraham and other outstanding men of God did not see him face to face because no one can stand in his presence for he is a Holy God. When God appeared to Moses, God showed himself in a form of electrocution bush and Moses trembled because of Gods presence. Moreover, God can do anything he wants to do because he is an omnipotent God. He can enunciate to disparate people at the same time. He doesnt only when exhibit himself and speak to the leader of the church but also reveal himself and speak to us individually through the Holy Spirit and his words because God has no favoritism.B. PracticesThe Mormons baptize by immersion for the remission of sins and practice place of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Holy Communion is celebrated with popsicle and water. In the Bible, the remission of sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ. piddle baptism is mentioned in the Bible but it simply signifies that you buried your old career and new life has waited for you.The Mormons have two practices exclusive with them baptism for the dead and airy espousals. Baptism for the dead is chiefly for ancestors not baptized as Mormons a aliveness person is baptized in proxy for the dead. A celestial marriage is one in which a couple is married under the authority of the priesthood in a Mormon temple and is sealed for eternity so that in the celestial kingdom the family the family relationship will be resumed. Marriages right(prenominal) a temple are for life on earth only (Givens, 1997). From the 1840s until 1890, Mormon doctrine permitted plural marriage, or polygamy. I would cite that these teachings are not found and written in the Bible. Our marriage to our fellow here on earth is only temporary.Mormon temples are used only for secret rites, primarily those of celestial marriage and baptism of the dead. They are open only to Mormons of good standing. Sunday services are held in local churches called screen halls, and non-Mormons are welcomed. Visitors may also enter the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, which is used for conferences and concerts (Davies, 2003).Mormonism l ooks upon health as a spiritual value and bans the use of liquor, tobacco, coffee, and tea. Recreation is encouraged. There is emphasis on education and on work and thrift. The church operates a vast welfare program for its members who are in need, and it disapproves of public aid. Members support the church by tithing (giving one-tenth of their gross income). On the other hand in the Bible, we are taught that our body is the temple of the alimentation God as stated in first Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19-20 that is why we should take care of our bodies because we need to glorify Godbody, soul and Spirit.IV. ConclusionIn conclusion, I will base my belief according to the word of God which is theBible so I would say that Mormonism or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a cult because it does not follow to the full to the word of God. They have practices and beliefs which cannot be found in the Scripture. As I said earlier, anything that is not from the word of God i s not of God. Though they may claim that they believe on Jesus Christ yet their practices are not in line the teachings of Jesus.Reference1. Mormonisms History. CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS AND look for MINISTRY. http//www.carm.org/lds/beginning.htm 2006.2. Interview of Martin Harris. https//user.xmission.com/research/about/docum4.htm3. Barlow, Philip L. (1997). Mormons and the Bible The Place of the Latter-Day Saints in American Religion. Oxford University Press. New York.4. Davies, Douglas J. (2003). An Introduction to Mormonism. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, England.5. Givens, Terryl L. (1997). The Viper on the Hearth Mormons, Myths, and the Construction of Heresy. Oxford University Press. New York