The Mormons: history, beliefs, and practice

Mormons are the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The main book used by the Mormons, the Mormon Bible, is called the Book of Mormon. However, Mormons also believe in the Old and New Testaments. The Church of Latter-Day Saints is a Christian Church. Their beliefs are based mainly on Christianity but also on Judaism. Members believe in Jesus Christ and the Second Coming of Christ. However, many of the beliefs of Mormonism are different from those of most other Christian sects.

Mormonism is a new sect of Christianity, and the religion was founded in the United States of America in the early 19th century. The founder of the religion was a man named Joseph Smith, who was "a poor farm boy who became a charismatic prophet, much criticized polygamist, town and temple builder, and finally a martyr for the faith he had established," ("The Mormons"). Joseph Smith saw visions of God that inspired him to write the Book of Mormon. Smith helped lead his followers across country to escape religious persecution.

The Mormons have been persecuted since the religion started and to some extent they still are. When the religion was first starting, the followers of Joseph Smith moved from the Eastern part of the United States in New York to the Western states. Ohio and Missouri were the first areas where the Mormons settled. As many as 12,000 Mormons lived in Missouri during the 1830s (Harris). About 20,000 Mormons made Nauvoo, Illinois their home (Harris). The Christian sect was attracting more converts, and a man named Brigham Young went to Great Britain to preach and attract more followers. However, persecution of the Mormons continued. Eventually after they were forced to leave Illinois, the Mormons settled in Utah and Salt Lake City.

Brigham Young thought Salt Lake City was "Kingdom of Heaven on Earth," (BBC). The Mormons sometimes refer to Utah as Zion or "New Jerusalem," (Harris). At the time, though, Utah was a part of Mexican California and few Anglo settlers lived there (Harris). Brigham Young became a major figure in the history of Mormonism because he helped the religion grow and also led the groups of followers west to Utah. According to Harris, Brigham Young led 143 men and women to Salt Lake City. The Mormon Church headquarters and main temple are still in Salt Lake City, even though the religion has millions of followers worldwide. A branch of the Mormon Church is still in Independence, Missouri and is called Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ("The Mormons"). Independence, Missouri is where the second coming of Christ would occur, according to Joseph Smith ("The Mormons").

One of the reasons why the Mormons were and still are persecuted is because they allow polygamy, multiple wives. Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and in 1843 he made polygamy an official part of the Mormon religion (Harris). Smith claimed that polygamy was practiced by the "pre-Judaic" tribes (Harris). Polygamy was called "celestial marriage," and Joseph Smith claimed that he received his orders to practice polygamy in a religious vision ("The Mormons"). Polygamy was and still is illegal even though it was still a part of the Mormon traditions.

According to the BBC, there are "substantial differences" between the Church of Latter-Day Saints and the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches. Even though all the Christian Churches are based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, they all differ in their practices and beliefs. The Mormon Church also has a different leadership hierarchy than other Christian Churches, but one that still includes priests, bishops, and clergy. Unlike in the Catholic Church, the Mormon priesthood is not a professional one (BBC).

Besides the practice of polygamy, several things set apart Mormonism from other Christian faiths. The Mormons believe that "human beings can become like gods" after death (BBC). Human beings have a "pre-mortal" life and also become resurrected after death in the spirit world ("The Mormons"). The Mormons also believe that each soul has a "plan of salvation," which resembles the idea of reincarnation because any person who did not follow the Mormon gospel must go back to the Terrestrial Kingdom ("The Mormons"). Like other Christian beliefs, the Mormon heaven is divided into three distinct realms: a heaven ("Celestial Kingdom," a hell ("Telestial Kingdom"), and what Mormons call "Terrestrial Kingdom," ("The Mormons"). Unlike Catholicism, Mormonism does not believe in original sin.