Category: Crash Course Mormonism
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Crash Course Mormonism: Atonement
Mormonism’s definition of the atonement is unique when compared to what has been historically taught in biblical Christianity. The Cross For Mormons, the symbol of the cross is a negative symbol because Mormon leaders say that the atonement took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, GREATEST SUFFERING WAS IN…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Virgin Birth
Both Mormons and Evangelical Christians believe in the “Virgin Birth.” Yet what have LDS leaders taught about this special event to distinguish it from the biblical doctrine? A church manual provides a backdrop for the teaching: From their accounts we learn that Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to marry…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Jesus
The name of Jesus is found in the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many may be surprised to learn that the Jesus of Mormonism is different than what is taught in the Bible. The Jesus of Mormonism had his beginning when he was born to God the Father and Heavenly…
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Crash Course Mormonism: God the Father
God the Father has several different names in Mormonism, including Heavenly Father or Elohim. A good picture of this version of God can be seen in founder Joseph Smith’s statement from what is known as the King Follett Discourse: I will go back to the beginning before the world was, to show what kind of…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Priesthood
Mormonism teaches that the authorized priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1829, the year before he founded his church. Today two kinds of priesthood are available to eligible males but not to females. The first priesthood is called the Aaronic Priesthood. Smith…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Scripture
While Christians may use the word “scripture” when speaking to Latter-day Saints, they ought to understand that Mormonism holds to more than just the Bible as scripture. Let’s take a look at the different meanings that could be understood by Mormons with the word scripture. Standard Works The four scriptures–also known as the Standard Works–are…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Christianity
According to the teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, original Christianity was marred by the Great Apostasy, which took place soon after the death of Jesus’s twelve disciples. This left the authority of the church in flux until it was eventually restored by LDS founder Joseph Smith. Second President Brigham Young…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Great Apostasy
The Great Apostasy is the idea that true Christianity lost God’s authority soon after the death of Christ’s apostles, which made it necessary for God to restore the true church through Joseph Smith and the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. If there had been no Great Apostasy, there…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Preexistence / Premortality
Preexistence, also known as premortality, is the belief that God the Father and Heavenly Mother(s) produced spirit children in a spirit world. According to third President John Taylor, “We know that our spirits existed with the Father before we came here” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, 2001, p. 187). According to Mormonism,…
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Crash Course Mormonism
Understanding the ABC’s of Mormonism An short overview of the different aspects of Mormonism around 1,000 words per article. Beginnings Authority The Godhead Salvation Church Ordinances / Practices The After-Life See also
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Crash Course Mormonism: Creation
According to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, matter is eternal. Creation in Mormonism took place “ex materia,” or out of material already present. Because God did not have power to create anything out of nothing, He had to reorganize elements that were already present and have no beginning or end ; these elements cannot…