Various Mormon Beliefs

Angel Moroni

Moroni was a prophet who wrote in the Book of Mormon of the Mormon Church. He is the son of Mormon, the prophet after whom the Book of Mormon is named. Moroni’s life covers the last part of the fourth century and the first part of the fifth century (Read more).

Baptism in Mormonism

Mormons believe that baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel. Through baptism and confirmation by priesthood authority, you can become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is believed that baptism serves four purposes (Read more).

Chastity

The law of chastity is not a new commandment and not just for those in the Mormon Church. Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, there will never be a “new morality,” meaning that the law of chastity will not change for the times (Read more).

Faith

Mormon theology teaches that faith is the first principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the foundation for a Christ-like life and eternal salvation.  Modern-revealed scripture, the Book of Mormon, identifies faith as a “hope for things which are not seen, (Read more).

Grace

In Mormon doctrine grace is defined as a “divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ” (LDS Bible Dictionary). Robert E. Parsons, a religion professor at Brigham Young University, stated, (Read more).

Great Apostasy

After Christ was crucified, the apostles and prophets he appointed continued to receive revelation for the Church and about the gospel. They recorded these things in the scriptures and taught them to the people. The apostles and prophets went into (Read more).

The Holy Ghost in Mormonism

Mormonism teaches that the Holy Ghost, also known as the Holy Spirit or Spirit, is the third member of the Godhead, or Holy Trinity.  The Holy Ghost is only a spirit and does not have a body of flesh and bones like God the Father and Jesus Christ do.  (Read more).

Joseph Smith the Prophet

Joseph Smith Jr. was born on December 23, 1805, in upper state Sharon, Vermont. His father was Joseph Smith Sr. and his mother was Lucy Mack Smith. He was one of eleven family members. A quick outline of his entire ministry on earth is the following: (Read more).

The Latter-Days

“Latter-days” is a term that is used within the Mormon Church to refer to the final dispensation of earth. This means that it is the time just previous to the Second Coming of Christ. Mormon doctrine teaches that we are currently living in the latter-days (Read more).

Laying on of Hands

In Christ’s Church those who have the proper priesthood authority put their hands on the head of the person receiving the ordinance or blessing. This act has always been used as a way to invoke the power of God. Genesis 48:14 states, (Read more).

Modern Revelation

The term revelation is defined in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Guide to the Scriptures as, “Communication from God to his children on earth. Revelation may come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost by way of inspiration, visions, (Read more).

Mormon Hymns

Music and hymns have always been an integral part of Mormon Church history. Mormons believe that “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me [God], and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (see Doctrine and Covenants 25: 12). Music is used to bring (Read more).

Mormon Music

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) have been taught that music like many things in this world can be used for good or bad.  The First Presidency had this to say about music: (Read more).

New Jerusalem

In the Mormon doctrine, the New Jerusalem, also referred to as Zion is the place where the Saints and the twelve tribes of Israel will gather (see Revelation 21:1-5). Christ will reign from the New Jerusalem as well as the old Jerusalem during the Millennium (Read more).

Ordinances

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Guide to the Scriptures states that ordinances are “sacred rites and ceremonies. Ordinances consist of acts that have spiritual meanings. Ordinances can also mean God’s laws and statutes.” (Read more).

Patriarchal Blessings

The LDS Guide to the Scriptures states that patriarchal blessings are “blessings given to worthy Church members by ordained patriarchs. A patriarchal blessing contains the Lord’s counsel for the person receiving the blessing and declares that person’s lineage (Read more).

Prayer

Personal prayer is a significant part of the lives of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church). President Spencer W. Kimball wrote in a message sent to all of the members of the Church, “When should we pray? (Read more).

Prophet Mormon

Mormon was a Nephite prophet, a military leader, and a record keeper in the Book of Mormon. The reason the Book of Mormon has his name in the title is because he was the one who took all the records of his people and abridged them into a smaller (Read more).

Repentance

In Mormon doctrine repentance is “a change of mind and heart that brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general. Repentance implies that a person turns away from evil and turns his heart and will to God, submitting to (Read more).

Sacrifice

Members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (casually referred to as the Mormon Church) often use the word “sacrifice,” but what are they referring to when they speak of “making a sacrifice”? (Read more).

Sanctification

In Mormonism, the term sanctify means “the process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the atonement of Jesus Christ” (see Moses 6: 59-60). Jesus Christ was the only person who led a perfect, sinless life, the rest of us depend (Read more).

Satan, the Devil

In Mormon doctrine, Satan, also known as Lucifer, is a spirit son of God, as are we all. He was with us in the pre-mortal life and had great influence over those around him. But he fell. As Isaiah 14:12 states, he proposed a plan that would take away man’s agency, which (Read more).

Seer Stones

Seer stones, also called Urim and Thummim, in the Mormon Church are “instruments prepared by God to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages. In the Hebrew language, the words [Urim and Thummim] mean ‘lights and perfections.’ (Read more).

Service

Service, or caring for others, is an important part of the lives of members of the Mormon Church (properly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Members are taught that in serving others they serve God and become more like Him (Read more).

Spirituality

In Mormon belief, spirituality is an important part of life. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a leader in the Mormon Church stated, “as we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. We call this quality of life (Read more).

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue (Greek, “ten words”), are divine laws revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai and engraved on two stone tablets. Appearing in both Exodus (Exodus 20: 2-17) and Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 5:6-21), as well as in (Read more).

Testimonies

The LDS Guide to The Scriptures defines a testimony as “knowledge and a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. A testimony can also be an official or legal declaration of what a person perceives as truth.” To gain a testimony of the truth of the gospel members (Read more).

Tree of Life

In the Book of Mormon, Lehi, a prophet, had a vision in which he saw a tree “whose fruit was desirable to make one happy” (1 Nephi 8:10). Lehi partook of the fruit and described it as filling his soul with joy. A straight and narrow path led to the tree, but obstacles (Read more).

Tithing

The word tithe literally means a tenth part, most often in relation to a tenth part given to God. Just as tithing is commanded in the Bible—Abraham and Jacob as well as other ancient prophets paid tithes (Read more).