Mormon 101
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Foundation
History
Practices
Doctrine
Foundation:
God Speaks Through Prophets
Moses
Isaiah
Adam
Abraham
Samuel
Foundation:
Comparison of Christian Churches
Catholic
Christ’s Church
Pope (Peter)
12 Apostles
Protestant
Mormon
Christ’s Church
Christ’s Church
Prophet (Peter)
Prophet (Peter)
12 Apostles
12 Apostles
Apostasy
Apostasy
Enlightenment
Restoration (1830)
Joseph
Smith
Martin
John
Luther
Wesley
(Lutheran) (Methodist)
God calls a prophet and
restores His church
12 Apostles
Etc.
Prophet (Gordon Hinckley)
12 Apostles
Pope Benedict XVI
Direct line of authority to Christ’s
Church. Pope is infallible.
No authority. Churches do their best
to understand true doctrine.
God calls new prophet and restores
authority. Prophet receives revelation.
History: Mormon History Timeline
Nauvoo was the largest city
in Illinois in 1845 with a
population of 20,000.
70,000 saints traveled the
1300 mile Mormon Trail before
the railroad arrived in 1869.
Saints Settle in
Utah
1847
Brigham Young,
second prophet.
Colonization
(Settled over 600 Communities)
Saints Settle in
Nauvoo, Illinois
1840-1846
Saints Settle in
Jackson County, Missouri
1831-1839
There were 26,000
members when Joseph
Smith was Martyred in 1844.
First Temple Built
Kirtland, Ohio
1831-1838
Church Organized
Fayette, New York
1830
History: Church Membership
6
1830
Today
• 52,500 Mormons in Chicago
• 54% of Mormons live outside United States
13 million
Prominent Mormons
• Stephen Covey
• Mitt Romney
• Senator Orrin Hatch
• Gladys Knight
• J. W. Marriott
• Steve Young
• The Osmonds
4 million
250,000
1896
500,000
1,000,000
1930 1947
1978
2006
Practices: Church
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Lay Clergy – The clergy at the Mormon church is not paid. Normal
members serve as bishop for 5-7 years.
Sermon – The sermon each Sunday is given by different members
each week.
Fast Sunday – The first Sunday of each month Mormons fast 24
hours (two meals) and donate the money saved to poor.
Sabbath Day – Mormons keep the Sabbath day holy by refraining
from shopping, work and leisure activities.
Home Teaching – Pairs of men are assigned to teach and watch
over 2-5 families.
Visiting Teaching – Pairs of women are
assigned to teach and watch over 2-5
women.
Mutual – The youth meet every
Wednesday evening to work on Scouting
for the young men and a similar program
for the young women.
Practices: Church Schedule
Church Schedule
Sacrament Meeting
Hymns, Bread & Water, Talks, Musical Numbers
(Everyone Combined)
Hour 2
Hour 3
Nursery
(1.5-3 yrs old)
Hour 1
Jr. Primary
Combined
(3-7 yrs old)
Sr. Primary
Classes
(8-11 yrs old)
Jr. Primary
Classes
(3-7 yrs old)
Sr. Primary
Young Young
Combined
Men Women
(8-11 yrs old) (12-18) (12-18)
Sunday School Classes
(12+ yrs old)
Priesthood Relief Society
(Men) (Women)
The chapel is shared by three wards. Each year times are rotated.
9:00
10:00
Ward 1
11:00
12:00
1:00
2:00
Ward 2
Ward 3
3:00
Practices: Church Organization
Jesus Christ
Prophet
12 Apostles
Seventy
Stakes
(8-10 Wards per stake)
Wards
(200-400 members per ward)
Jesus Christ leads his church by
communicating with the prophet.
Chosen by God as a prophet, seer,
revelator and president of the church.
Called as a special witness of Jesus Christ.
They are called to serve until they die.
Go about the church teaching and
organizing under the direction of the 12
apostles.
A Stake President leads a stake. He
is called to serve for 7-10 years.
A Bishop leads a ward. He is
called to serve for 5-7 years.
The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “Of
Latter-Day Saints” is used distinguish today’s church from the church in Christ’s
time. The Mormon church is a nick name.
Practices: Commandments
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10 Commandments – Mormons
keep the 10 commandments.
Tithing – Mormons believe in the law
of tithing (donating one-tenth of their
increase to the Lord).
Word of Wisdom – Mormons keep a
modern commandment called the
Word of Wisdom. They do not
consume tea, coffee, alcohol or
tobacco.
Law of Chastity – No sexual
relations out of wedlock.
Practices: Home
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Family Home Evening – Mormons reserve Monday evening for
family night. Family night typically includes: prayer, songs, lesson,
game and treat.
Prayer – Mormon prayers are extemporaneous, not memorized.
They pray to the father in the name of the Son. They say blessings
on their food at each meal. They are encouraged to pray together as
a family morning and evening. They also say individual prayers for
others, help, comfort, questions and protection.
Scripture Study – Mormons are encouraged to study the scriptures
as a family and as an individual each day.
Practices: Preparedness
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Food Storage – Mormons are
taught be prepared by keeping
a year’s supply of food and
money.
72 Hour Kits – Mormons are
taught to have a kit containing
food and other preparedness
items to take with in times of an
emergency.
Gardens – Mormons are
encouraged to grow a vegetable
garden.
Practices: Ordinances
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Baptism – Mormons choose to be baptized at age 8.
They believe that children who die before the age of
eight are innocent and saved through the atonement of
Christ.
Priesthood – All worthy men in the church may hold
the priesthood. Young men hold the Aaronic
priesthood giving them the power to administer the
sacrament and baptize. Men hold the Melchezideck
priesthood giving them the authority to give the gift of
the Holy Ghost, bless the sick and lead the church.
Temple Endowment – Adult members go to the
temple to receive their endowment, an extension of
their baptismal covenants. Only worthy members may
enter the temple.
Eternal Marriage – Couples are married in the temple
for eternity. Also, children are sealed to their parents
for eternity. Marriages for time are performed in the
chapel.
Practices: Temple Worship
• Temples – There are 120 temples in operation today. Temples
used to perform ordinances for the living and the dead. The dead
may then choose to accept or reject the ordinances that have
been done for them. Temples are closed on Sundays and
Monday evening.
• Baptisms for the dead – Youth and adults go to the temple to
perform baptisms for the dead.
• Genealogy – Mormons research their ancestors so they can do
ordinance work for them.
• Genealogy Resources – The Mormon church has the largest
genealogy library in the world. Records are photographed around
the world and stored on microfilm.
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2.4 million rolls of microfilm, 742,000 microfiche
Currently 200 cameras filming in 45 countries
725 million names transcribed into computer
36 million names linked to families
Washington DC Temple
Practices: Education
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Seminary – High school students attend seminary every morning at
6am before school.
BYU – The church operates Brigham Young University. It has
campuses in Utah (30,000), Idaho (11,600) and Hawaii (2,400).
Practices: Missionary Work
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Missions – Mormon young men are
encourage to serve two-year missions at
age 19. Mormon young women may also
serve missions at age 21. Retired older
couples also serve missions. Missionaries
pay for their own living expenses. There are
currently 56,000 fulltime missionaries.
Missionary Work – Mormons believe it is
there responsibility to share the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the news of the restoration
of His church with others.
Belief About Other Churches – Mormons
believe that all people have the right to
worship as they wish. Mormons believe that
other churches have some truth and that
God has restored additional truths through
his modern day prophets.
Doctrine: Joseph Smith
1805
Birth
(Vermont)
1820
First
Vision
1823
1827 1829 1830
Receives Receives
Book of
Gold
Mormon Plates
(Moroni)
Book
Of Mormon
Published
Aaronic
Church
Priesthood Organized
Restored
(John The Baptist)
Melchezidek
Priesthood
Restored
(Peter, James and
John)
1836
Sealing
Powers
(Elijah)
1844
Martyrdom
(Illinois)
Doctrine: Plan of Salvation
1 Cor 15:40-41
Rev. 12:7, Jer. 1:5
2/3
Earth
Alma 34:31-35
Spirit
World
Spirit and
Mortal Body
Problems
- Death
- Sin
Jesus Christ
Spirit
Terrestrial
Kingdom
Good people of the
world
Telestial
Kingdom
Thieves, murderers,
etc.
Outer
Darkness
Deny Jesus Christ
after having a
perfect knowledge
1 Peter 3:19, 4:6
Alma 40:11-14
Veil of
Forgetfulness
Intelligence
Accept Jesus Christ,
baptized, temple
ordinances
1 Cor 15:12-22
Judgment
God’s
Plan
Prison
Paradise
Resurrection
Pre-Earth
Life
Purposes:
- Obtain a body
- Be tested
Death
Satan
Satan’s
Plan 1/3
Body’s Birth
Spirit’s Birth
Agency
Celestial
Kingdom
Spirit Spirit and
Immortal Body
Solutions
- Resurrection
- Atonement
Doctrine: Book of Mormon
5000 BC
4000 BC
3000 BC
2000 BC
Christ’s
Birth
1000 BC
1000 AD
2000 AD
New Testament
Old Testament
600 BC
421 AD
Book of Mormon
• The Book of Mormon
serves as a second
witness of Jesus
Christ.
• The American Indians
are the descendents of
the people in the Book
of Mormon.
Lehi commanded to leave Jerusalem
and sail to the Americas.
Christ visits the Americas as a
resurrected being after his death.
Last prophet (Moroni)
dies.