MORMONISM History Doctrines Mormon History Overview

MORMONISM History & Doctrines

Mormon History Overview of Mormon Faith n Most successful/distinctive religion born in USA Founded as a “Restoration Movement” in 1830 by Joseph Smith Jr. n Official Names / Divisions n n Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints n Community of Christ (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of LDS) n Church of Christ (Temple Lot) n Multiple “restoration” factions

Mormon History Overview of Mormon Faith n Organizational Features of LDS Hierarchical structure directed by “General Authorities” n Control via “priesthood” n n Melchizedek order (higher) n Aaronic order (lesser) Priesthood exclusively male domain n Church organized administratively n n Wards and Stakes n General Conferences

Mormon History Overview of Mormon Faith n Church growth and resources Annual membership increase of nearly 400, 000 n Outstanding missionary effort (61, 000 active) n Membership characterized by thriftiness / zeal n n High profile – potent social/political force Highly visible Mormon institutions n Multiple educational facilities n Mutual Improvement Association n Highly influential membership n

Mormon History LDS Origins: History of Joseph Smith Jr. n Heritage and Early Life – The Family Traditions Joseph Smith Jr. born Dec 23, 1805 in Sharon, VT n Family of social misfortunes n Family relocated to Palmyra NY n n Father continued unsuccessful farming n No formal church affiliation, but very “religious” family n Joseph enamored by father’s hobbies / worldviews n Money-digging became his avid pastime n Often recounted fantastic native civilization stories

Mormon History LDS Origins: History of Joseph Smith Jr. n The Visions [in “The Pearl of Great Price”] n The Back Woods Theophany of 1820 n Joseph purposed to find true church n Bright light vision in appearance of two “personages” n Message: All Christian traditions/creeds were wrong, he should join none of them n The Bedside Epiphany of 1823 n Appearance of angel Moroni, son of Mormon n Commission / instructions given concerning golden plates n Delayed four years before permitted to recover n Role of Emma Hale of Harmony Pennsylvania

Mormon History LDS Initial Developments n Translating the Gold Plates – A Team Project n Slow process filled with interruptions n Transfer to PA for translation work n Tools for the task (Urim and Thummim) n Smith’s peculiar cavalier attitude n Plates not well-guarded n Loaned and lost translation n Peculiar Methodist affiliation in 1828 n Join church, but dropped under protests n Unanswered questions…

Mormon History LDS Initial Developments n Arrival of Oliver Cowdery (April 1829) Schoolteacher convinced to investigate further n Soon converted and began serving as scribe n Smith desires him as “Translator” n n Restoration of Aaronic Priesthood (May, 1829) Smith & Cowdery– epiphany of John the Baptist n New gift of prophecy and spiritual understanding n Beginning of organization structure of LDS n

Mormon History LDS Initial Developments n Witnesses to the Golden Plates At request of closest associates n Vital “testimony” secured, but not of physical witness to plates n n Publication of the Book of Mormon (1830) Martin Harris offered his property for purpose n Book was published, advertised by Harris and associates, and $1. 25 / copy n

Mormon History LDS Initial Developments n Initiation of Priesthood of Melchizedek (April 1830) n n Eight additional witnesses from inner circle Melchizedek Priesthood then conferred in epiphany of Apostles Peter, James and John April 6 th 1830, they lay hands on each other at farmhouse of Peter Whitmer – ordaining as Elders Initial LDS conference (June 9, 1830) n n n Thirty men gathered organize new religious society Commissioned missionaries armed with Book of Mormon Secured the “conversion” of Sidney Rigdon

Mormon History LDS Transitions n The Kirtland Sojourning (1831 -1838) n Church practices/doctrines expanded n Initial Officers appointed n Ongoing revelations n Mob violence against LDS leaders n Book of Abraham produced by Smith n Temple Dedication, 1836 n Organization of a Bank, 1836

Mormon History LDS Transitions n The new Zion – Independence Missouri n Frustrated followers emigrating to Jackson County n Smith purchased 63 acres deemed as “holy ground” n Growing hostility from neighbors n Mob Violence and Zion’s Camp n Role of Brigham Young emerges n Situation back in Kirtland deteriorating n Final Straw – Governor’s Evacuation Order

Mormon History LDS Transitions n Prophecy, Power, and Polygamy Collide for Smith in Nauvoo (1839 -1844) n Huge population swell / Smith gains civil powers n Controversial aspects of Mormonism emerge n Masonic Lodge influences / Thirteen Articles of Faith n Increasing public criticism & analysis of actions n Martyrdom of the LDS Prophet-King n Burning of the Nauvoo Expositor / Mob justice

Mormon History LDS Transitions n Leadership Transition and Migration West n n Brigham Young forced to remove group for survival n n No automatic line of succession -- rival claims arose Arduous journey to Great Salt Lake valley (1846) Salt Lake City – The Mormon empire in Utah n B. Young as Prophet, Seer and Revelator for 30 years n Confrontation with neighbors remained problem n Mountain Meadow Massacre, 1857 n US interventions ended Mormon political hegemony

Mormon History LDS Transitions n New historical era – Post Brigham Young n Significant changes in church after 1877 n 1890 Manifesto: Woodruff ends polygamy n Capitulation to appease government n Immense ramifications n Sign of new times n Original Mormon church come to end n Time to systematize / sanitize teachings from Smith

Mormonism Authoritative Writings n “Four Standard Works” n The Book of Mormon n n Two ancient civilizations in Americas, fulfilling new covenant to Israel Doctrine and Covenants n n n 135 subsequent revelations compiled from 1830 -1844 Issues of church organization/practices/doctrines The Pearl of Great Price n n Book of Moses, Book of Abraham and accounts of initial commission Holy Bible n KJV insofar as it is properly translated—Article 8

Mormonism Authoritative Writings n Overview of the “Book of Mormon” n Condensed history of high points of two ancient civilizations located in Americas n Authored by prophet Mormon, and his son Moroni n “Reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics” on plates of gold n Unearthed 1400 years later by Joseph Smith n The plot of the book n Jaredites: (2250 BC) emigration and destruction n Nephites: (600 BC) Lehi’s descendents war with Lamanites n Christ visits Americas, revealing himself to Nephites n Nephites annihilated at battle near hill Cumorah in 421

Mormonism Authoritative Writings n Stated Purpose of the Book of Mormon n Eludes theologians, archaeologists & anthropologists For Mormons, Bible predicts the Book of Mormon Arguments against veracity of Book of Mormon 1. Dubious Authorship: Mormon and Moroni? n Solomon Spalding Theory n Ethan Smith Influence n Joseph Smith’s own lively imagination

Mormonism Authoritative Writings n Arguments against veracity of Book of Mormon 2. Fraudulent transcription n n Transcription marked by deception & conflicting accounts n 3. Baseless claim of “Reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics” Very existence of plates is dubious at best Archaeologically Untenable (anachronistic accounting) n 4. Anthropologically Incorrect n 5. Civilizations are beyond belief or obvious historical record Little if any geno-typical / pheno-typical correlations Multiple textual errors, contradictions, corrections

Mormonism Authoritative Writings n Arguments against integrity of Author n Life story riddled with suspicion n Inconsistent accountings, frequent contradictions n Unethical scheming/manipulative/controlling behaviors n It is possible to separate human character from divine message n For Mormonism, this is not valid procedure… n Smith is the vessel of revelation, thus the agency of their doctrines/beliefs n If character is untrustworthy, his message is at least questionable

Mormon Doctrines n Mormonism’s Continuing Revelation n Enabled required metamorphosis for historical/local context n Created internal conflict with new doctrines and rituals n Doctrines emerged coincidentally with Mormon growth n Thirteen Articles of Faith appeared during Nauvoo period n Mormon doctrinal development has three major features: 1) Priesthood offers keys to exaltation 2) Family: basic unit of salvation 3) Afterlife: continuity of eternal union of preexistent souls

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of God n Trinitarian Ambiguity n n n Official Mormon Trinitarian teaching Mormonism teaches a plurality of gods "Elohim" as "the council of the gods" in creation Bible references to One God as “one God pertaining to us” Materialism: The Adam-God doctrines n n Both the Father and Son possess material bodies God is married and has a mother and father Each god is begotten of other gods in succession God and the plurality of gods were men before they were gods n n n Humankind, is likewise destined to become a god “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become” Peculiar Adam-God doctrine of B. Young n Adam is our Father God, the “only God with whom we have to do. ”

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of Jesus Christ JC as founder of faith – our “elder brother” n Confess Jesus was “son of God” n n Reject his divinity implies he is the n n unique Son of God Actually conclude Lucifer is within brotherhood of Jesus Distort Virgin Birth n Jesus born from Father God impregnating Mary n Work of Christ explained in equivocal language n Atonement affects two different kinds of salvation n n General: granted to all on basis of Christ’s resurrection Individual: Christ’s work is enabling grounds upon which our obedience effects salvation

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of Salvation Christ’s resurrection enables all to resurrect n Atonement is partial grounds for resurrection to spiritual life n n Saved by both grace and works of law n Plan of salvation processes through series of stages n All humans have pre-existent souls as spirit children of God n Enter into earthly life gaining physical/mortal body n Prove worthiness to be saved by keeping ordinances n At time of death, the spirit awaits the general resurrection

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of The Blood Atonement n B. Young: “A man might be killed to save his soul” n Heinous sins, for which cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or world to come, can be atoned for by one’s own blood, spilt on ground, that “the smoke thereof might arise to heaven as an offering for their sins…” n Mormons deny the doctrine ever practiced n Still argue, most humane form of capital punishment n Doctrine totally foreign to scripture n Teaches Christ’s blood alone atones

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of the Church Exclusively claim priesthood of Aaron & Melchizedek n LDS is the true church of God on earth n n Doctrine of Preexistent Spirit Life All humans preexisted as spirits n God is literal parent of every human being n Human preexistence & incarnation parallels Christ’s n

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of End Things: Eschatology n n n Specific, literal Zionist model Mormons as the gathering of Ephraimites During millennium, two resurrections will take place n n Righteous raised to meet Lord and descend with him Peaceful millennium, baptisms for dead, led by JC Millennium ends with second resurrection for wicked Satan & forces of evil unite against JC who defeats them n Prepares way for final judgment which dissolves earth in preparation for eternity as resurrected celestial body like the sun/stars

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of End Things: Eschatology n Final state divided into four classes of existence n Sons of Perdition n n Telestial Kingdom (most populated) n n Located on a planet, as repository for souls of lawless and wicked who after much punishment will be offered salvation Terrestrial Kingdom n n n Devil, demons, and humans who committed unpardonable sin Located on specific planet/sphere for those of questionable faith Less faithful / rejected gospel, but again embraced it in the afterlife Celestial Kingdom (on recreated sanctified earth) n Reserved for the righteous and faithful who live forever in family unit with millions of spirit children to inhabit the earth they will form

Mormon Doctrines n Doctrine of Worship & Religious Observances Ward Meetings n Word of Wisdom n Tithing n Sacraments of Lord’s Supper and Baptism n Temple Ceremonies n n Endowments n Celestial Marriage n Baptism for the Dead

Reaching Mormons n Key attractions Traditional family values and wholesome lifestyle n Positive view of humanity, nearly all go to heaven n Claim to be truly restored church n n Key challenges Self-perception as “true” Christians n Non-biblical sources of authority n Ignorance of own history n Blurring of doctrinal distinctives n

Reaching Mormons n Reaching Out to Mormons Problem of finding common ground n Publication of scholarly research n Insider Bridging n n Some strategic approaches 1) Target points of incoherence in Mormon beliefs n To begin from Bible is fraught with difficulties n Prepare for “inner testimony” assuring their correctness n Be on guard for equivocation of biblical terms/concepts n Focus on key distinguishing doctrines n God’s nature, salvation, grace/works, eternal life, final authority

Reaching Mormons n Some strategic approaches 2) Demonstrate inconsistencies between Mormon authoritative sources and current practices n If I believed the Book of Mormon were true, I would have to believe your church is false; if I believed your church were true, I would have to believe the Book of Mormon is false. ” 3) Note contradictions in their own words and writings n n n Attitude can be mistaken as condescending and critical Smith’s changing “revelations” are legitimate target Conclusions n n Blend methods of approach stressing God’s forgiving love Approach from angle: What is God doing in your life?

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