Category: Mormon Theology
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Mormonism Affirms Its Doctrine of “Being Perfect—in Christ”
8 July 2019 The June issue of Ensign magazine (2019), published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contains an article in its “What We Believe” section titled, “We Believe in Being Perfect—in Christ” (30-31, emphasis in the original). The LDS doctrine related to being perfect has been examined and discussed several times at…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Judgment
In Mormonism, final judgment is something that takes place at the end of the millennium. The success in keeping the commandments is what determines one’s final destination: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, or outer darkness. Seventeenth President Russell M. Nelson stated, One day we will meet our Maker and stand before…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Intermediate State
Leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach that the spirit of a dead person goes temporarily to one of two possible places, paradise or spirit prison, depending on how righteous the person was in mortality. This is an temporary state, with the soul moving to one of the three kingdoms of…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Word of Wisdom
The Word of Wisdom is a special commandment found in Doctrine and Covenants 89 that leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim was given by God. It teaches, among other things, that no “hot” drinks should be consumed and that alcohol and tobacco should be avoided. As far as alcoholic drinks,…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Water Baptism
Mormonism teaches that water baptism performed through the authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is necessary for a person to not only become a church member but also to receive salvation. Getting immersed into water–typically at a local LDS building–is what is called baptismal regeneration. Verses from the Bible are often…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Obedience
According to Mormonism, obedience is doing God’s will by keeping all the commandments given by God as revealed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to unique LDS scripture, it is possible to keep these commandments. First Nephi 3:7 in the Book of Mormon says, “I will go and do the things…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Sin / Transgression
Although the two words are similar, there is a difference between sin and transgression in Mormonism. Sin is “willful disobedience of God’s commandments or to fail to act righteously despite a knowledge of the truth.” It is knowing what you ought to do or not do but doing the opposite. Transgression is the “violation or…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Repentance
Repentance in Mormonism describes the process by which a church member receives forgiveness. The goal is to ceasing all sin. As one church manual reports, “Our Father in heaven does not sin, and He does not allow people who sin to live with Him. To live with Him, we must repent of our sins. To…
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Kingdoms of Glory (Defined)
Kingdoms of Glory. The three possible eternal destinations of humankind known as the celestial, terrestrial and telestial kingdoms. A common verse used to support this unique LDS teaching is 2 Corinthians 12:2. Return to dictionary here.
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Crash Course Mormonism: Grace
According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, grace is provided to all people leading to a kingdom of glory. According to 2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” This teaching of grace is different from what Paul said…
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Jane Manning James: “Is There No Blessing for Me?”
The Salt Lake Tribune recently (14 June 2019) published an opinion piece by Jana Riess, author, researcher, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Titled, “Commentary: Black Mormon pioneer Jane Manning James — only member ever sealed as a ‘servant’ — finally gets her due,” the article first noted that a feature…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Forgiveness
According to Mormonism, forgiveness of sins is available to those who repent and then are completely obedient to the covenants made at baptism, in sacrament services, and at the temple. Let’s take a closer look at all that is required. The Standard Works According to the Doctrine and Covenants, there are several aspects to receiving forgiveness of…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Covenants / Commandments
According to Mormonism, covenants made at baptism, the temple endowment ceremony, and the weekly sacrament service are vital for any member who hopes to be exalted and qualify for eternal increase, allowing a person to live with one’s family throughout eternity. Baptism A Mormon becomes a member by getting baptized by the LDS Church. In…
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Crash Course Mormonism: Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit
According to Mormonism, the Holy Ghost is a child of God from the preexistence who does not have a body of flesh and bones, as do Heavenly Father and Jesus. He is the third member of the Godhead who is sometimes described as the Holy Spirit and other times described as distinct from the Holy Spirit. The…
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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: 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