Mormonism

Mormonism is a religion that comprises the religious and institutional elements of the early Latter Day Saint (LDS) movement and derives from the leadership of Brigham Young and/or the religion’s founder Joseph Smith Jr.

The movement was created in the 1840s in Nauvoo, Illinois. Today, Mormonism applies to Mormon fundamentalism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and various reformist churches, like the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ. It does not refer to some of the other branches of the Latter Day Saint movement, such as the Community of Christ. Though the latter believes in the Book of Mormon, they are not followers of Brigham Young.

Theological Mormonism is another specialized form of Mormonism, which shares a common belief system with the rest of the LDS movement, including the Book of Mormon, the use of the Bible, and Doctrine and Covenants. Where it differs from other LDS traditions in that it also accepts the Pearl of Great Price as part of its teachings – and it has a history of teaching plural marriage (a belief that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abandoned back in 1904), eternal progression and eternal marriage.

Another offshoot of the religion is Cultural Mormonism, which is Theological Mormonism in reverse – includes a lifestyle promoted by the Mormon institutions, and includes cultural Mormons who identify with the culture, but not necessarily the theology.

Speaking of speaking theology, here’s a snapshot of what Mormons believe in:

* The Old and New Testaments,
* In Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior,
* Jesus’ crucifixion as a final offering,
* Jesus’ resurrection.

LDS rejects the creeds and definition of the Trinity as taugh by the Roman Catholic Church, t he Anglican Communion, Trinitarian Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Mormons also maintain that the Book of Mormon to be divine scripture equal in authority to the Bible itself. They believe that the text of the Book of Mormons were taken from the earth with the original apostles’ death, and were eventually restored to Joseph Smith, Jr. Hence, Mormons believe that with the Book of Mormons, they’ve facilitate a full restoration of primitive Christianity.

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