What Do Mormons Believe?

What is the Book of Mormon?

Mormons believe The Book of Mormon is a testament of Jesus Christ, his teachings, and his dealings with ancient inhabitants of the American continent. It covers a period from roughly six centuries before to four centuries after Christ. It also chronicles the appearance of the resurrected Christ to these ancient peoples, and the eventual demise of those who believed in him and went by the name of Nephites. Mormons believe the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and told him about the record. It was delivered to Smith in 1827; he translated it, and published it in 1830. Mormons consider it to supplement the Bible, as they do believe in both the Old and New Testaments. They prefer the King James Version.

What About Polygamy?

Mormons believe, as the Book of Mormon teaches, that the commandment of God regarding marriage is that a man shall have one wife—unless God expressly commands otherwise. Mormons believe, for purposes and reasons they do not presume to know, that at certain times God has commanded the practice of plural marriage, the term Mormons use for polygamy. This was the case with the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph Smith, the church’s founding prophet, had multiple wives. In the early days of the LDS church, perhaps 20 to 25 percent of Latter-day Saints practiced polygamy. In 1890, Mormons believe God authorized the end of the practice. Today, some breakaway sects continue to practice polygamy, but they are not affiliated with the LDS church, and individuals who practice plural marriage are excommunicated by the Church today.

Who is Joseph Smith?

Mormons generally hold that Joseph was a prophet “like Moses or Isaiah or Jeremiah or other Old Testament prophets.” As the prophet of the Restoration, Mormons believe that Joseph did more than speak God’s word and reveal his will to others. Specifically, they believe Joseph Smith was the man God elected to be the vehicle for the restoration of priesthood authority and the truth of the gospel that was more fully present in the Church which Christ organized during his mortal ministry. Also unlike the Old Testament model, a prophet in the Mormon faith is an ordained office from which the person presides. Mormons, in other words, continue to look to a modern prophet (Gordon B. Hinckley) as the chief administrator and spiritual authority of the church organization, with Jesus Christ as the actual head.

What Happens When We Die?

One's spirit immediately joins the spirit world and will be assigned to either paradise or spirit prison. Based on one's record of thoughts, words, and actions, righteous believers will live in a state of paradisiacal happiness. Unbelievers and sinners in spirit prison will live in misery, but they are provided the opportunity to repent, accept the gospel, receive ordinances performed for them by the living, and thus move to the lowest level of heaven. At the Final Judgment and Resurrection, most will be assigned to a one of three kingdoms of heaven where spiritual growth continues. Only a few, the most wicked sinners, will suffer eternal torture in the outer darkness, as most will have accepted the gospel and suffered for their sins enough by the end of the Millennium.