Statement by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding the proper name of the church. Is the Church of Jesus Christ a cult, and how dangerous is it? Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Russell Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made an important announcement Thursday. The statement said that church leaders intend to direct every effort to ensure that the full name of the Church is used instead of abbreviations and nicknames.

“The Lord has placed in my mind the significance of His revealed name for His Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” President Nelson said in a statement. “We have a specific job to do—to bring ourselves into harmony with His will. Over the past few weeks, many Church leaders and heads of Church departments have taken necessary steps in this regard.”

The updated style guide calls for avoiding abbreviations such as "LDS" and the moniker "Mormons" as an alternative to the name of the Church in phrases such as "Mormon Church," "LDS Church" or "Church of Latter-day Saints."

The announcement and changes in leadership have raised a host of questions about the future of such prominent church organizations as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the LDS Business College and the Mormon Channel. The new change also reflects a more dramatic cultural and linguistic shift than previous efforts to encourage Church members to avoid the term "Mormon," which has a troubled reputation in Church history.

It is interesting to note that the statement was made available through one of the official church websites - mormonnewsroom.org ( Mormon News). This site, as well as other sites, possibly including the Church's main site lds.org, will receive updated names, representing the challenging changes ahead in the Church.

Monumental change

Details have not yet been finalized, but the statement said Church websites and materials will be redesigned over the coming months to reflect President Nelson's direction.

For years, the term "Mormon" has been used in the official names of websites, media channels and international brands. An example is the "I'm a Mormon" campaign, which encouraged Church members to share their life stories, ending with the phrase "...and I'm a Mormon."

In addition, the term is part of the daily life of Church members.

Patrick Mason, chair of Church Studies at Claremont Graduate University, says there will be big changes within the Church.

He notes that Church members have quickly adjusted to the new term "caring ministry" introduced in April, but says abandoning the term "Mormon" will require more O more effort.

“There has always been some ambivalence about the term, and I think the problem is the practicality of how to get around the word Mormon. This word is more than two hundred years old. It is better known than the term preferred by the Church.”

According to Mason, the new terminology will take root among members of the Church, but will have less resonance outside of it. However, Mason states that the emphasis on the correct name of the Church will resonate throughout the world.

Story

Since its restoration in 1830, the Church has had an uneasy relationship with the term "Mormon." Church leaders have long rebuked antagonists for referring to the Church as “Mormon,” but in recent decades the moniker has become more tolerant.

Joseph Smith received the full name of the Church through revelation in 1838. Before that it was called the Church of Jesus Christ and then the Church of Latter-day Saints.

At various times in Church history, leaders have called for the use of the full, official name.

In 2001, Elder Dallin Oaks stated that he did not mind being called a Mormon, but did not want to be described as belonging to the "Mormon Church." At the same time, the First Presidency issued an official decree urging Church members to use the official title or abbreviations that included the name of Jesus Christ.

In 2011, Elder Boyd Packer said, “It is one thing for others to call this Church Mormon and ourselves Mormons, but quite another for us to say so.”

Six months later, Elder Russell Ballard, who today serves as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, declared that the nickname “Mormon” was acceptable. At the same time, he called for avoiding the term “Mormon Church.”

“It is by this name [(the full name of the Church, approx. translator)] The Lord will call us on the last day. It is this name that will distinguish His Church from the rest,” said Elder Ballard.

He returned to the topic again in 2014, additionally calling for the term "LDS Church" to be avoided.

Today, with President Nelson and President Oaks in the First Presidency, and President Ballard as Head of the Twelve, this topic has become relevant again. President Nelson emphasized that this time the Church will make every effort to approve the official name for use.

Updated style guide

The Mormon News website notes the following points:

  • When first mentioning the Church, it is preferable to use its full name: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
  • When abbreviated references are necessary, the terms “Church” or “Church of Jesus Christ” are recommended. The term "restored Church of Jesus Christ" is also accurate and recommended.
  • The term "Mormon Church" has long been used to refer to the Church by the media, but it is not an official designation and the Church does not recommend its use. Therefore, the use of the abbreviation "LDS" and the epithet "Mormon" as a shortened name for the Church should be avoided. The terms “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church,” and “Church of Latter-day Saints” are not recommended.
  • When referring to members of the Church, the preferred terms are “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” and “Latter-day Saints.” We ask that you do not use the term "Mormons."
  • The word “Mormon” and its derivatives are appropriately used in proper names, such as “Book of Mormon,” or in historical expressions, such as “Mormon Tract.”
  • The term "Mormonism" is a misnomer and should not be used. When describing the doctrine, culture, and way of life characteristic of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the precise term “restored gospel of Jesus Christ” should be preferred.
  • When referring to individuals and organizations that practice polygamy, it should be noted that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not affiliated with groups that practice polygamous marriages.

The President of the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Russia is Alexander Germanovich Lokshin. The mission president is Richard Chappil.

The world center of the church is located in the USA, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The centers are located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. The Mormon spiritual center (Zollikofen), which is their “House of God,” is located in Switzerland. In Russia, the administrative center of Mormons is the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

The foundations of Mormon doctrine are found in three books that they consider no less important than the Bible itself: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

The Book of Mormon is the basis of Mormon doctrine. In those places where there is a contradiction between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are considered true. This book consists of 15 small books, about 500 pages in total. Mormons view the Book of Mormon as revelation because they believe it contains what Jesus preached in His “American days.” Much of the Doctrines and Covenants consists of revelations Joseph Smith received during his career, as well as some of those of his followers (1823-1890). The book "Pearl of Great Price" also talks about revelations and translations from the gold plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.

Mormons adhere to the traditional Christian teachings of the Trinity, atonement, punishment, salvation, and the traditions of the early apostolic Church. Church issues are decided by voting. It is prohibited to drink wine, tea (except green), and drugs. Mormons oppose the love of money, lies, and selfishness; they affirm work as an eternal law. They attach great importance to missionary activity.

The Mormon Creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841. In their doctrine of God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man is created in the likeness of God, and from this they conclude that God has a material body, like man. Therefore, the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He is nevertheless Omniscient, because. angels inform Him about all events taking place on earth. But the Father is not the only God. There are many other "Gods". And there is an opportunity for people to become God someday. Since the Mormon motto is “optimism and faith - progress,” then for them everything is about development. Man is on the path leading upward: he is “god in embryo.” Therefore, Mormons pay special attention to their appearance: they dress cleanly and neatly, cultivate good manners, are intelligent, polite, and literate.

According to Mormon teaching, a person is not born a sinner, i.e. he has no inherited sin. Mormons consider it a sin to rebel against the “foundations of progress.”

According to Mormons, Jesus Christ's sacrifice for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, an individual can be justified from personal sins if he himself makes the effort to do so. Redemption is a joint work of God and man. After death, a person becomes involved in varying degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) earthly; 3) heavenly.

Mormons consider America to be the center of world events in the future, since Mormons are the people of God's covenant of the last time - the new Israel. For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.

In 1843, I. Smith received a “revelation” about the eternal duration of the marital union with the inclusion of polygamy. Polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government, Mormons abolished polygamy in 1890. To this day, they believe in the correctness of this doctrine, but do not practice it.

Baptism means forgiveness of sins and acceptance into the church. Baptism can be accepted from the age of eight, and the person receiving baptism enters into a union with the Creator. He must make a vow that he will keep God's commandments. It is customary among Mormons to be baptized in place of the dead. Only baptism is valid and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, vicarious laying on of hands and sealing are also possible for deceased ancestors. To carry out these acts, accurate information about the deceased must be provided. This explains the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree.

Only the “worthy” may partake of the supper. Mormons believe that the Supper has nothing to do with Christ's sacrifice but serves to renew union with God and to recognize membership. According to Mormon teaching, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands. The laying on of hands is performed by priests. They call the act of laying on of hands confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, cleansing and sanctification. Only the head of the church has the authority to seal. A sealed marriage will not end in death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual realm. All representatives of unsealed marriages will be serving spirits in eternity and will not be able to get married.

Story

The founder of this organization was the American Joseph (in another transcription - Joseph) Smith, born in 1805 in Jaron, Vermont, USA. At the age of 14 he received his first vision, in which it was revealed to him that he should under no circumstances join the existing churches. In 1823 he received a second vision. The angel who appeared to him called himself Moroni and called Joseph Smith to restore the “True Church of Jesus Christ.”

In 1830, The Book of Mormon was published in an edition of 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, the Mormon Church was founded in Fayette, New York, with six members. This society spread relatively quickly, as its followers carried out active proselytizing activities in some states.

Hostility towards the Mormons and their persecution led to the fact that they often had to change their place of residence. Mormons founded several cities where, based on revelation, Jesus Christ was to appear. Unfortunately, what is missing from the Latter-day Saint books are Smith's trials, his failed banking scam in Kirtland, Ohio, his pre-revelation polygamy, the armies he organized in Missouri and Illinois, and the order to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him, bloody clashes between Mormons and settlers in the middle of the last century. In 1844, I. Smith went to prison in Karthage, where the city’s mob shot him.

Smith's successor was Brian Young. During his time, things came to a “sacrificial procession” to the Great Salt Lake. In 17 months (1846-1847), exactly 1,700 km were covered. There they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or New Jerusalem). Negotiations between Mormons and the government to bring them into the United States failed because polygamy was allowed. When this practice was officially prohibited, Mormons were admitted to the state of Utah in 1896.

In 1838, Mormons adopted the “divine commandment” to give tithes. Through active recruitment throughout the world, Mormons quickly spread their teachings. Each missionary does his work free of charge and voluntarily for 2-3 years. And if in 1850 the number of members of the sect was 60,000 people, then in 1985 it was 6 million people.

In 1843, the first Mormon missionary meeting was founded. In Switzerland and Austria, Mormons began their activities in 1850. Currently, Mormons have great influence in Western countries. Their center is located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. Their spiritual center (Zollikofen), which is their "home of God", is located in Switzerland.

The organization of the Mormon sect is based on a strict hierarchy. It is divided into "Kolas" (districts) and "Wards" (assemblies).

Since 1894, the Family History Library in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, has been collecting and processing data from birth records, censuses and other documents containing the names of people who formerly lived on the earth. Mormons need these names for the mysterious initiation of people into adherents of their cult in their temples, entry to which “outsiders” (non-Mormons) is prohibited. Mormons include the dead in absentia into the ranks of their cult, replenishing the lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This hidden work is accompanied by large-scale Mormon efforts to create a single "World Genealogy Center" controlled by the Latter-day Saint organization. Since 1992, Mormons began to actively work with the Archival Departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia for the purpose of copying (microfilming) archival documents. Having concluded a contract with the State Archive Service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many registry books (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. Copies obtained from Russian archives become the property of the Mormon Presidential Corporation, which are then provided to genealogy researchers through its own genealogical structure for a fee.

Mormons in Russia

The first Mormon missionaries arrived in the USSR (Leningrad) in 1990. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was registered in the country in May 1991. By the end of 2000, there were 11,000 Mormons in Russia (plus more than 6,000 in Ukraine). There are at least 500 foreign (mostly from the USA) Mormon missionaries in Russia (700-800 in total in the former USSR). It is interesting that recently the detentions of these “religious figures” on the territory of closed Russian military bases have become more frequent. Mormons claim that they had no idea that there was a secret area there, closed to foreigners.

Mormons attach great importance to Russia. At the end of 2000, they even moved the headquarters of their Eastern European mission from comfortable Germany to Moscow.

In 1998, there were 7 Mormon missions in Russia (two in Moscow and one each in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara and Yekaterinburg), two in Ukraine (in Kiev and Donetsk), one in Vilnius for throughout the Baltic states and small groups of missionaries in Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and several other republics of the former USSR. There are also Mormon offices in cities such as Volgograd, Voronezh, Vyborg, Tver, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Saratov, Sochi, Togliatti, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, etc.

Mormon literature is actively translated into Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian and Georgian. In Russian, they publish two richly illustrated, expensive-looking magazines - Liahona and its children's supplement, Rostok. Mormons perform in Russian cities with concerts. They have their own “seminaries” (by level they are parochial schools).

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Irkutsk region and Buryatia

There is a local religious organization of Mormons in Irkutsk (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). President – ​​Suleymanov Artur Rashidovich. The organization has about 100 people. Small groups exist in Angarsk and Bratsk. There are about 10 people constantly on mission in the regional center. The church carries out constant charitable activities. There is also a Mormon community in Ulan-Ude. Registered in 2000

Mormons have been working in the Angara region since 2003. Before starting missionary activity, they registered with the justice authorities.

Since 2004, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began conducting humanitarian projects. Over the course of several years, five projects have been implemented in Irkutsk: providing multifunctional beds to a regional psychiatric hospital, medical equipment for a day hospital for disabled pensioners, equipping a laboratory for tests in the city clinical hospital N9, age-appropriate beds for children at the Regional Children's Tuberculosis Hospital and equipment for the Center Dikul with three medical diagnostic devices. The project began in 2008, but due to the fact that the Dikul Center is a non-state medical institution, the humanitarian aid provided was subject to a 19% tax. In 2009, the opportunity arose to pay the tax and in December the devices were transferred to the Center. On February 1, 2010, a meeting between the center’s management and representatives of the religious organization “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” took place at the Dikul Center. Letters of gratitude were presented to church leaders. The religious organization is developing new projects.

This denomination, which is usually called Mormons, has existed in Irkutsk since 2002. As of the beginning of 2012, about 180 people are members of the parish. The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Irkutsk is Sergey Vladimirovich Malashkovets. Mormons in Irkutsk carry out active missionary activities, including with the participation of pastors from the United States.

Expert opinions

Chief Advisor to the Department of Ethno-Religious Relations of the Department of the Governor of the Irkutsk Region and the Government of the Irkutsk Region for Public Relations and National Relations Mishin A.V.:

“During the entire period of their work in Irkutsk, we received only one complaint. One woman asked to save her daughter. The girl got a job in a travel company established by local Mormons. She gradually became interested in overseas religious teaching, which greatly frightened her mother, who was afraid, that someday they would sacrifice their daughter. But when she learned that Mormons do not make sacrifices, she calmed down and did not come to us anymore. A characteristic feature of the Mormons is that, by opening missionary branches in different countries, they attract young people with the opportunity to learn English for free. Usually this works. Thousands of young people pass through their organization, some get carried away with the teaching and remain in the sect. The portrait of a missionary for Mormons is quite typical. This is usually a man 18-25 years old. When a boy is born in a Mormon family, parents begin to save money in order to so that the son can devote two years to missionary work, without being distracted by work and study.Many young people are sent to missionaries immediately after graduating from school, so it is not surprising that many of them write with errors even in English. When Irkutsk residents take such courses, they must be prepared for the fact that Mormons do not have their own language teaching system. Teaching is given at a very low level, but it is free. From the point of view of Christians, Mormons were and will be a pagan religious movement or sect that preaches polytheism. Mormons believe that every person can become God, and every God is made up of blood and flesh. The only person in Irkutsk who officially fights Mormons is a deputy of the city duma. He even sent a request to the prosecutor's office about the legality of Mormon activities in the region. The prosecutor's office did not find anything illegal in their activities, which is why they continue their missionary activities."

The organization is called a totalitarian sect by cult specialist A.I. Khvyli-Olinter.

Russian researcher of modern religious sectarianism, activist of the anti-sectarian movement in Russia A.L. Dworkin:

“...Mormons are not Christians; their organization has nothing to do with Christianity. This is a grossly occult neo-pagan sect with very serious totalitarian tendencies, and by falling into it, a person excommunicates himself not only from his people, his history and culture, not only from the world Christian heritage, but also from Christ Himself and His Church.”

In the Definition of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church “On pseudo-Christian sects, neo-paganism and occultism” (December 1994), Mormons are called “false Christianity and a pseudo-religion.”

“Despite the name and use of Christian terminology, the teachings of the Mormons, according to the unanimous opinion of all traditional Christian denominations, not only have nothing in common with Christianity, but also deny all twenty-century Christianity as a whole. This sect... operates in Russia in the most strict atmosphere secrecy. Therefore, we know the least about the true goals and forms of their activities in our country. In documents recently submitted by the sect to the Council for Interaction with Religious Organizations under the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, it was reported that Mormons have imported to Russia and distributed humanitarian aid worth 14 million US dollars. It seems that humanitarian aid for such a huge amount could not go unnoticed. Nevertheless, few people have heard about Mormon aid in Russia. It is reasonable to ask the question: if this figure is reliable, then where where did this money go?

The active work of Mormons in Russian archives requires large expenses and causes great concern. It should be noted that the secret temple rites of the Mormons and their doctrine of salvation are closely related to the genealogical research that is carried out by the CHSDS. In Mormon temples, strictly secret “temple sacraments” are performed for the living and the dead (baptisms, marriages, etc.), after which both of them become, according to the teachings of the sect, Mormons. The names of the deceased are included in the lists for Mormon ordinances in absentia, without asking for the consent of the relatives of the deceased. I note that every living Mormon can have countless dead wives with whom he married in absentia in his temple. All members of the sect, in addition to direct “missionary work,” are constantly busy searching for new archival names and data for the absentee “omormonization” of as many people as possible. Special teams of Mormons study government archives, museum and university document collections, city government archives, vital records and church parishes around the world. All captured archival microfilms end up in the Mormon repository for eternal maintenance, becoming their property... A convenient reason for the relevant authorities to become interested in the activities of the Mormons can be their direct violation of the fundamentals of legislation. We know that they rent schools and other educational institutions for their worship meetings. Thus, in Moscow they held services at secondary school No. 36 (on the territory of the Conception Convent) and in the premises of the music college at the Ulitsa 1905 Goda metro station. It seems that in provincial cities Mormons rent educational institutions on a much larger scale than in Moscow."

Other names: Mormons.
Management.
The President of the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Russia is Alexander Germanovich Lokshin. The mission president is Richard Chappil.
Location of centers.
The world center of the church is located in the USA, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The centers are located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. The Mormon spiritual center (Zollikofen), which is their "God's house", is located in Switzerland.
In Russia, the administrative center of Mormons is the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
In Moscow:
Board - metro station "Chistye Prudy", Chistoprudny Blvd., 2, apt. 19, t. 925-03-98, 921-58-32;
Sushchevsky Val, 13/1, apt. 1-a, t.972-47-40.
Mormon missions operate in the following cities of Russia:
Volgograd, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Magadan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk (including at school No. 64), Rostov-on-Don (Novocherkassk), Samara, Saratov, St. Petersburg, Tver, Chelyabinsk, etc.
In Moscow in November 1995 there were 12 meetings.
The number of adherents.
Currently, there are about 10 million Mormons in 130 countries.
1850 - 60,000 people, 1900 - 230,000 people, 1950 - 1,000,000 people, 1961 - 1,800,000 people, 1964 - 2,000,000 people, 1970 - 2,500 000 people, 1985 - 6,000,000 people.
Mormons make up 75% of the population of Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah (USA).
The number of Mormons in Russia at present, according to the representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in our country, Elder Schwartz in the summer of 1996, is about 5,000 people. It is known that there are about 40 Mormons in Chelyabinsk, 30 in Voronezh, 10-20 in Magadan, 150 in Yekaterinburg.
Doctrine.
The foundations of Mormon doctrine are found in three books that they consider no less important than the Bible itself: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Mormon is the basis of Mormon doctrine. In those places where there is a contradiction between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are considered true. This book consists of 15 small books, about 500 pages in total. They tell the story of the ancient population of America. During the construction of the Tower of Babel, the tribe of Jaredite came to America, divided and ceased to exist as a result of internal hostility and struggle. In 600 BC, under the prophet Lehi, representatives of the tribe of Manasseh came to America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: the Nephites and the Lamanites. Christ appeared to the Nephites after the Resurrection and gave directive instructions for the founding of the church. As a result of guilt, this true Church disappeared and disintegrated. In 400 A.D. The last battles raged between the Nephites and the Lamanites near the Hill Cumorah. There the prophet Mormon and his son buried the above-mentioned records with the events recorded on them (420-421).
Mormons view the Book of Mormon as revelation because they believe it contains what Jesus preached in His American days.
Much of the Doctrines and Covenants consists of the revelations Joseph Smith received during his career, as well as some of the revelations of his followers (1823-1890).
The book "Pearl of Great Price" also talks about revelations and translations from the gold plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.
The Mormon Creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841.
In their doctrine of God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man is created in the likeness of God, and conclude from this that God has a material body, like man. Therefore, the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He is nevertheless Omniscient, because. angels inform Him about all events taking place on earth. But the Father is not the only God. There are many other "Gods". And there is an opportunity for people to become God someday. “As man is now, such was God once; as God is now, such man may someday become.” This is the basic idea of ​​Mormon teaching.
Since the Mormon motto is “optimism and faith - progress,” then for them everything is about development. Man is on the path leading upward; he is "a god in embryo."
According to Mormon teaching, a person is not born a sinner, i.e. he has no inherited sin. Mormons consider it a sin to rebel against the “foundations of progress.”
According to Mormons, Jesus Christ's sacrifice for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, an individual can be justified from personal sins if he himself makes the effort to do so. Redemption is a joint work of God and man. After death, a person becomes involved in varying degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) earthly; 3) heavenly;
Mormons consider America to be the center of world events in the future, since Mormons are the people of God's covenant of the last time - the new Israel. For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.
In 1843, I. Smith received a “revelation” about the eternal duration of the marital union with the inclusion of polygamy. Polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government, Mormons abolished polygamy in 1890. To this day they believe in the correctness of this teaching, but do not practice it. Baptism means forgiveness of sins and acceptance into the church. Baptism can be accepted from the age of eight, and the person receiving baptism enters into a union with the Creator. He must make a vow that he will keep God's commandments.
Only the “worthy” may partake of the supper. Mormons believe that the Supper has nothing to do with Christ's sacrifice but serves to renew union with God and to recognize membership. According to Mormon teaching, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands. The laying on of hands is performed by priests. They call the act of laying on of hands confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, cleansing and sanctification.
Only the head of the church has the authority to seal. A sealed marriage will not end in death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual realm. All representatives of unsealed marriages will be serving spirits in eternity and will not be able to get married.
Characteristic.
The religious organization "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" is included in this directory because it has been classified as a totalitarian sect in:
some documents of the State Duma of the Russian Federation;
A. Dvorkin’s book “Ten Questions for an Intrusive Stranger: A Guide for Those Who Don’t Want to Be Recruited,” 1995: “You need to know that all totalitarian networks, to one degree or another, use deception in recruitment... 10 suggested questions: ... 5. Tell us about the past of the head of the organization... The very first Mormon, Joseph Smith, began his spiritual career with spiritualism and treasure hunting" (that is, in the book telling about totalitarian sects, Mormons are also indicated);
book by A.I. Khvyli-Olinter “Dangerous totalitarian forms of religious sects” (1996).
In the Definition of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church “On pseudo-Christian sects, neo-paganism and occultism” (December 1994), Mormons are called “false Christianity and a pseudo-religion.”
The founder of this organization was the American Joseph (in another transcription - Joseph) Smith, born in 1805 in Jaron, Vermont, USA. At the age of 14 he received his first vision, in which it was revealed to him that he should under no circumstances join the existing churches.
In 1823 he received a second vision. The angel who appeared to him named himself Moroni. He spoke of hidden "golden plates" on the Hill Cumorah that contained important messages from ancient American history. The angel Moroni called Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 was he allowed to take away the buried treasure. The documents were written in "Old Egyptian script" which could only be read with the help of "prophetic glasses" placed in the same drawer as the writing. His future associates Harris and Oliver Cowdery became his assistants. After completing the translation, Smith returned the plates to their place.
In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published in an edition of 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, the Mormon Church was founded in Fayette, New York, with six members. This society spread relatively quickly, as its followers carried out active proselytizing activities in some states. Hostility towards the Mormons and their persecution led to the fact that they often had to change their place of residence. Mormons founded several cities where, based on revelation, Jesus Christ was to appear. Unfortunately, what is missing from the Latter-day Saint books are Smith's trials, his failed banking scam in Kirtland, Ohio, his pre-revelation polygamy, the armies he organized in Missouri and Illinois, and the order to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him, bloody clashes between Mormons and settlers in the middle of the last century.
In 1844, I. Smith went to prison in Karthage, where the city’s mob shot him. Smith's successor was Brian Young. During his time, things came to a “sacrificial procession” to the Great Salt Lake. In 17 months (1846-47) exactly 1,700 km were covered. There they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or New Jerusalem).
Negotiations between Mormons and the government to bring them into the United States failed because polygamy was allowed. When this practice was officially banned, Mormons were admitted to the state of Utah in 1896.
In 1838, Mormons adopted the “divine commandment” to give tithes. Through active recruitment throughout the world, Mormons quickly spread their teachings. Each missionary does his work free of charge and voluntarily for 2-3 years. And if in 1850 the number of members of the sect was 60 thousand people, then in 1985 - 6 million people.
In 1843, the first Mormon missionary meeting was founded. In Switzerland and Austria, Mormons began their activities in 1850. Currently, Mormons have great influence in Western countries. Their center is located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. Their spiritual center (Zollikofen), which is their "god's house", is located in Switzerland.
Mormons readily point out the strictness of their moral life: they do not smoke, drink alcohol or drinks such as coffee and black tea.
The organization of the Mormon sect is based on a strict hierarchy. It is divided into "Kolas" (districts) and "Wards" (assemblies).
In 1829, “John the Baptist” appeared to I. Smith and O. Cowdery and “ordained” them to the Aaronic priesthood. A month later, the “apostles” Peter, James and John appeared to them and “ordained” them to the priestly ministry of Melchizedek. On this basis, Mormons claim that they hold the priesthood of the Almighty and have access to all holy powers. The Melchizedek Priesthood deals with spiritual matters, while the Aaronic Priesthood deals with temporal matters.
It is customary among Mormons to be baptized in place of the dead. Only baptism is valid and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, vicarious laying on of hands and sealing are also possible for deceased ancestors. To carry out these acts, accurate information about the deceased must be provided. This explains the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, America, created by Mormons, has been collecting and processing data from birth records, censuses and other documents containing the names of people who formerly lived on the earth. Mormons need these names for the mysterious initiation of people into adherents of their cult in their temples, entry to which “outsiders” (non-Mormons) is prohibited. Mormons include the dead in absentia into the ranks of their cult, replenishing the lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This hidden work is accompanied by large-scale Mormon efforts to create a single "World Genealogy Center" controlled by the Latter-day Saint organization. Since 1992, Mormons began to actively work with the Archival Departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia for the purpose of copying (microfilming) archival documents. Having concluded a contract with the State Archive Service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many registry books (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. Copies obtained from Russian archives become the property of the Mormon Presidential Corporation, which are then provided to genealogy researchers through its own genealogical structure for a fee.
Now the "Church of Latter-day Saints" is an empire with an annual income of 3 million dollars (partly due to the collection of "tithes" from its members). 40 thousand of their missionaries work all over the world.
Mormons pay special attention to their appearance: they dress cleanly and neatly, cultivate good manners, are intelligent, polite, and literate. The zeal of Mormons to improve these qualities comes from their teaching, which states that man is “God in embryo” and their ultimate goal is to move up the road of progress through personal improvement and at the finish line to become equal to God. That is, gradually “grow” into the heavenly Kingdom.
Below is an excerpt from Bulletin No. 60(220) of the State Duma of the Russian Federation dated December 4, 1996:
“Despite the name and use of Christian terminology, the teachings of the Mormons, according to the unanimous opinion of all traditional Christian denominations, not only have nothing in common with Christianity, but also deny all twenty-century Christianity as a whole. This sect... operates in Russia in the most strict atmosphere secrecy. Therefore, we know the least about the true goals and forms of their activities in our country. In documents recently submitted by the sect to the Council for Interaction with Religious Organizations under the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, it was reported that Mormons have imported to Russia and distributed humanitarian aid worth 14 million CTA dollars. It seems that humanitarian aid for such a huge amount could not go unnoticed. Nevertheless, few people have heard about Mormon aid in Russia. It is reasonable to ask the question: if this figure is reliable, then where where did this money go?
The active work of Mormons in Russian archives requires large expenses and causes great concern. It should be noted that the secret temple rites of the Mormons and their doctrine of salvation are closely related to the genealogical research that is carried out by the CHSDS. In Mormon temples, strictly secret “temple sacraments” are performed for the living and the dead (baptisms, marriages, etc.), after which both of them become, according to the teachings of the sect, Mormons. The names of the deceased are included in the lists for Mormon ordinances in absentia, without asking for the consent of the relatives of the deceased. I note that every living Mormon can have countless dead wives with whom he married in absentia in his temple. All members of the sect, in addition to direct “missionary work,” are constantly busy searching for new archival names and data for the absentee “omormonization” of as many people as possible. Special teams of Mormons study government archives, museum and university document collections, city government archives, vital records and church parishes around the world. All captured archival microfilms end up in the Mormon repository for eternal maintenance, becoming their property... A convenient reason for the relevant authorities to become interested in the activities of the Mormons can be their direct violation of the fundamentals of legislation. We know that they rent schools and other educational institutions for their worship meetings. Thus, in Moscow they held services at secondary school No. 36 (on the territory of the Conception Convent) and in the premises of the music college at the Ulitsa 1905 Goda metro station. It seems that in provincial cities Mormons rent educational institutions on a much larger scale than in Moscow."

The text was prepared as part of the project “Dynamics of the religious situation and religious identity in the Moscow region.” When implementing the project, state support funds are used, allocated as a grant in accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation dated 04/05/2016 No. 68-rp and on the basis of a competition held by the National Charitable Foundation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest organization related to the Mormonism movement that arose in the first half ofXIXcentury in the United States based on the preaching of Joseph Smith and the new sacred text, the Book of Mormon.

Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)arisesVUSAV 1830 year. It was then that the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, published The Book of Mormon.

According to the founder of the movement, at the age of 14 (in 1820) he had his first vision in which God the Father and Christ appeared to him. It was revealed to D. Smith that he should not join any of the existing churches, since the teaching of each of them is wrong: “they preach the commandments of men as doctrines having the appearance of the divine, but deny the power thereof.”

Then, in 1823, an angel named Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and announced that God's covenant with the people of Israel would soon be fulfilled, that the work of the Second Coming would soon begin, and that Smith himself was chosen by God to carry out the latter's plans. In addition, Moroni revealed to Smith that not far from the place where he lives, on a hill underground, golden plates are hidden, on which a new scripture is written. Joseph Smith would have to find these plates and translate the text into English.

In 1827, Smith was allowed to take these sheets and received instructions on how to translate them. According to Smith, the text was written in "modified Egyptian" hieroglyphs, and the translation was carried out either with the help of special glasses or with the help of special stones (called "Urim and Thummim"). Smith placed the plates and stones in a cylinder, and during translation the translated text was reflected in the stones. The sheets themselves were always hidden from view. According to the doctrine, only 11 people personally saw these gold plates and left written statements about it, known today as the “Certification of Three Witnesses” and the “Certification of Eight Witnesses.”

The Book of Mormon went on sale on March 26, 1830, and on April 6 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded.C1831 to 1838 the community settled in the city of Kirtland (Kirtland), Missouri. The organization’s headquarters was here and the first temple was built here, however, due to conflicts with local residents and the administration, the followers of the church left this place. In 1839, a new dynamically growing religious community settled in the city of Nauvoo (Nauvoo), Illinois.

In 1844, Joseph Smith was accused of polygamy in the Nauvoo Expositor. Smith himself denied this accusation, but the city council (J. Smith himself was its mayor) gave the order to destroy the printing press and circulation of the newspaper, which marked the beginning of a serious conflict both within the community and with the non-Mormon population of the district. The result of the conflict was the imprisonment of J. Smith and his murder (along with his brother Hiram).

After the death of J. Smith and his brother, it was not clear who would lead the movement. A so-called succession crisis arose, and the main contenders for the leadership position were Brigham Young, Sidney Rigdon and James Strang. As a result, Brigham Young became the leader of the movement and then the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was he who organized the resettlement of Mormons to Utah and the construction of the city of Salt Lake City, where the headquarters of the movement is located to this day.

Mormons in Russia

According to Mormon sources, the history of the movement in Russia began back in 1843, when two preachers were sent to Russia, but were recalled after the death of Joseph Smith. Then in 1895, the family of Johan M. Lindelof was baptized by a Mormon from Sweden in St. Petersburg. However, this information is not confirmed by other sources.

The modern history of Mormons in Russia begins in 1989, when a US embassy employee was authorized to hold meetings of members of the organization in his apartment. The first missionaries arrived in Leningrad in January 1990. In 1990, a parish was organized in Vyborg. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially registered in May 1991.

Administrative division church is carried out as follows: territories around the world are divided into regions (areas), most regions are subdivided into stakes (stakes), which includes a certain number of parishes (wards, a congregation usually has 300 or more church members) or branches (branch). Local wards are led by bishops, branch presidents are led by presidents, and a stake president is also led by a stake president. At the parish, the work of all auxiliary organizations is organized to help believers.

Moscow is the center of the Eastern Europe region, which in addition to Russia also includes Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Number

Currently, the number of Mormons worldwide exceeds 15 million, with more than 6 million living in the United States. According to church statistics, there are about 23 thousand Mormons in Russia.

Today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducts missionary work in more than 170 countries, and the Book of Mormon has been translated into 93 languages. There are 156 churches in the world, the closest to Moscow are in Kyiv and Helsinki.

Creed

The canon of sacred texts (the so-called exemplary works (standardworks)) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints forms four books. The Bible (for English-speaking countries the King James Version is used, in Russia the text of the Synodal translation is used), the Book of Mormon (TheBookofMormon), Doctrine and Covenants (DoctrineandCovenants) and Pearl of Great Price (ThePearlofGreatPrice). It is important to emphasize that this canon is open because Mormons believe in ongoing revelation.

The Book of Mormon describes events related to several nations that inhabited the North American continent. According to the book, they were numerous, had their own written language and were at a relatively high level of technical development. It tells about the Nephites and Lamanites who inhabited America from 600 BC. e. 400 N each e. It also chronicles the rise and fall of the Jaredites, who, according to the Book of Mormon, arrived in America from the Middle East shortly after the destruction of the Tower of Babel.

The book tells how the prophet Nephi and his family left Jerusalem around 600 BC. It was this prophet and his descendants who were commanded to keep a chronicle of their people. The Book of Mormon is an abridged version of this record. After arriving in America, Nephi's family split into two opposing groups. The Nephites were a righteous and God-fearing people led by Nephi, while the Lamanites followed Nephi's older brothers, Laman and Lemuel. The Lamanites opposed the Nephites throughout history, and the Book of Mormon describes the Nephites as black people 2 .

The book Doctrines and Covenants originally (first published in 1835) consisted of two parts. The first was a series of texts on the basic teaching of the Church (the so-called Lectures on Faith, which were eliminated in 1921), and the second was a collection of important “testaments.” However, over time, the first part was removed, and as it stands today, the book contains "revelations" received by Church founder Joseph Smith, several revelations received by other prophets, and "Authorities 1 and 2."

The peculiarity of the "Official Declarations" is that they were originally statements of the presidents of the Church and were officially accepted as part of scripture somewhat later. "Official Proclamation 1" (appeared in September 1890 and part of the scriptures adopted on October 6, 1890) was published by President Wilford Woodruff. In it, the Church officially abandoned the practice of polygamy. The statement was the result of pressure from the US Congress.

"Official Declaration 2" (became scripture on September 30, 1978) was issued by the First Presidency. The statement lifts restrictions on people of any race or color receiving the priesthood.

The Pearl of Great Price is composed of five parts: Selections from the Book of Moses, which is a portion of the Book of Genesis as translated by J. Smith; The Book of Abraham contains translations of several Egyptian papyri (claimed to contain the writings of the patriarch Abraham); “Joseph Smith – Matthew” – part of the Gospel of Matthew translated by J. Smith; "Joseph Smith– History,” which presents autobiographical excerpts from the life of J. Smith before the emergence of the Church; The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the basic creeds that were set forth in part in a letter by J. Smith in 1842 (published in the Mormon newspaper The Times and Seasons on March 1, 1842). They are a detailed commented list of 13 articles of faith.

Followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that their organization is a restored early Christian church founded by Jesus Christ. From their point of view, this original church disappeared as a result of the so-called. the great apostasy that occurred after the death of the apostles. Only J. Smith received the command of God to restore the true Church. Members of the organization consider faith in Jesus Christ and the atonement to be the core of their religion. The teachings of the organization have both similarities and differences from the teachings of the main Christian denominations. Representatives of the latter do not recognize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Christian, but Mormons themselves consider themselves Christians.

Mormons call God Heavenly Father or Elohim, Jesus Christ the Redeemer of all people. During his life, Jesus showed everyone by his word and example exactly how people should live, loving God and their neighbor. Through his suffering and death on the cross, Jesus accomplished atonement and saved all people from their sins. Moreover, Jesus overcame death through his resurrection and for this reason, all believers will have the same opportunity after death. It is Christ who is the God, the Lord, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and for forty days after his resurrection he taught the people in America the same truths as he taught the apostles in Israel.

Mormons do not adhere to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity; God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit are viewed as separate individuals united only by intentions.

Jesus Christ was the first spirit born of the Father, so he is, in fact, the brother of every person. Initially, people were created by Father Elohim as spiritual beings, however, since further development only in heaven was impossible, people moved to earth and acquired physical bodies. In the physical world, each person is tested and achieves perfection and ultimately divinity, using the right of free choice. From the Mormon point of view, the Fall of man was not a crime, but rather a blessing for people: it opened the way for them to eternal progress. After the end of the world and the resurrection, each person, depending on the deeds accomplished during life, will fall into one of three kingdoms: celestial, terrestial, and telestial, which are said to be like the sun, moon and stars.

The resurrection, from the point of view of Mormons, will be bodily; moreover, they believe that the spirit is also matter, but more subtle. It is for this reason that God the Father and Jesus Christ are also material, exist in space and time, and are characterized by both bodily needs and spiritual passions.

In general, it should be noted that the formation of the Mormon theological system is not yet completed, since revelation is still ongoing.

Rites and priesthood

The 3 Mormon ordinances fall into two groups: ordinances for exaltation and ordinances for instruction and comfort. The first group includes: baptism, communion, the giving of the Holy Ghost or confirmation (the laying on of hands on a newly baptized person to become a member of the church), ordination to the Melchizedek priesthood, endowment, 4 temple (heavenly) marriage, and sealing. The last three sacraments can only be performed in the temple. The sealing ordinance assumes that the family relationships that existed between people before death will continue forever after death, so husbands and wives, as well as children and parents, can be sealed. In addition, Mormons believe that it is possible to perform vicarious baptism for a deceased family member if he died as a non-Mormon and therefore did not have the opportunity to learn the true doctrine. It is for this reason that Mormons take tracing relatives very seriously and compile detailed genealogical lists. For Mormons, it is the family that occupies the most important role in a person’s life and is the main unit of society both on earth and in eternity.

The second group of sacraments includes: naming and blessing of children, serving the sick, consecration of oil, patriarchal blessing, paternal blessing, consecration of graves.

All sacraments can only be performed by a priest, which is all men (women do not have the right to hold positions reserved for priesthood holders, but can hold other leadership positions) who have reached the age of 12 - this is the so-called Aaronic priesthood (12 years - deacon, 14 years - teacher, 16 years - priest). Upon reaching the age of 18, men receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. All sacraments necessary for exaltation can be performed only by those who hold the Melchizedek priesthood (with the exception of baptism, which a man can perform from the age of 16).

From a Mormon perspective, the organization is governed by Jesus Christ, who reveals his will to the president of the church. Mormons believe that the president is a prophet, seer, and revelator. Currently, since 2008, the president is Thomas S. Monson. The President has two advisers and assistants, and together these three make up the First Presidency, the highest governing body. The second most important body of church government is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, assisted in their administration by the Quorum of the Seventy. As the name suggests, a quorum is 70 members, and there have been eight such quorums since 2005 to date. Members of the First and Second Quorums are considered the highest authority of the Church, and for this reason they can work anywhere in the world where the Church exists. The members of the other quorums are regional representatives of the seventy, and their authority is limited to the region in which they serve. Only men holding the Melchizedek priesthood can be members of all of these organizations.

The Presiding Bishopric serves as the governing body of the Aaronic Priesthood. The bishop and two assistants also report to the First Presidency.

In addition to these main organizations, there are a number of auxiliary organizations: the primary society (helps parents educate their children and prepare boys to receive the Aaronic priesthood), the Relief Society (members of the society are all women over 18 years of age, and if they are married or single mothers, then those under 18 years old; main goals - service and help in the family), Sunday school (intended for all children from 12 years old), young men's society (consists of young people from 12 to 18 years old (Aaronian priesthood), promotes the development of young men in the church) , Young Women's Society (helps parents prepare young women for marriage and church covenants).

However, both men and women can be missionaries. The Church carries out a broad missionary program, which is aimed at preaching and providing humanitarian assistance throughout the world.

Social activity

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns several educational institutions, the largest and most famous of which is Brigham Young University in Utah, USA.

In addition, the church publishes the Liahona magazine, which is also published in Russian. The magazine is published in translation into 50 languages.

Today there are 8 meeting houses in Moscow and the Moscow region. On the territory of Moscow:

    Arbatsky and Sokolnichesky parishes (Sredny Ovchinnikovsky Lane, 14).

    Small parish (brunch) Universitetsky (Malaya Pirogovskaya Street, 13).

    Moskovsky (for English-speaking parishioners) and Rechnoy parishes (Leningradsky Prospekt, 80 building 37).

    Khamovnichesky parish (Moskvorechye street, 21 building 2).

    Small parish (brunch) of Perovo (Orekhovo-Zuevsky proezd, 20).

On the territory of the Moscow region:

    Zelenogradsky parish (Zelenograd, building 1117A).

    Small parish (brunch) Podolsky (Podolsk, Ulyanov Street, 1).

The center of the Eastern Europe region is located at st. Vrubel, 1, bldg. 1.

CONTACTS AND REGISTRATION

(NGO register, Moscow region)

    Local religious organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Moscow

(registry of NPOs, region “Ministry of Justice”)

    Centralized religious organization "Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia"

LITERATURE

Davies D. J. An introduction to Mormonism. Cambridge University Press. 2003

Eliason E. A. Mormons and Mormonism: an introduction to an American world religion. University of Illinois Press, 2001.

Jackson A. Mormonism Explained: What Latter-day Saints Teach and Practice. Crossway Books, 2008.

Shipps J. Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1985

R. Safronov

1)It should be noted that research institutions (for example, the Smithsonian in 1996 and 1998, the National Geographic Society in 1998) have made official statements that the Book of Mormon is a religious document, and the institutions themselves have not been able to find any archaeological evidence to support these claims. in the Book of Mormon information. Today, the Book of Mormon is not considered as a historical source in academic and scientific circles due to the lack of originals, material evidence, or obvious correspondence of the book's contents with the geography of the American continent and the history and culture of its peoples.

2) The Mormons themselves believed that the Lamanites were an indigenous population, but the Book of Mormon does not state that there were no other peoples in America besides the peoples described in it

3)The sacraments refer to the rituals and ceremonies that God established for the salvation and well-being of man. Thus, a sacrament is a physical act that symbolically represents a spiritual experience.

4)Receiving all the ordinances in the house of the Lord necessary after a person leaves this life, so that he can return back to the Father.

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According to the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (colloquially known as the "Mormon or LDS Church"), it is a unique restoration of the original Church that was established by Jesus Christ in the first century BC. The latter fell into apostasy (and is no longer the Church of Christ as such), but it was restored to its original form in the early 19th century through a series of revelations by the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.


The LDS Church claims to represent the Kingdom of God on earth. It encourages all people to come to Christ through faith in Him, repenting, being baptized and enduring to the end in faith, adhering to all the commandments.


The best way to learn about the LDS Church is from Mormon members or missionaries. However, do not take their statements literally: Compare them to your own belief system, or if you are already a Christian, compare them to your own view of Christianity. Most importantly, pray with a sincere heart and true intention, trusting in Christ and that the Spirit of God will lead you to the truth.

Steps

    Find out more information about what Mormons believe. This may be more difficult than it seems. In this case, the best source of information is a member of the Mormon Church or their missionaries. You can get literature about Mormonism on the Mormon Church website.

    Read the Book of Mormon. This book is central to Mormon beliefs. Read the book with an open mind and heart, comparing its teachings with the Bible.

    Meet Mormon missionaries. These young men dedicate up to two years of their lives to teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ, all for free. Approach them on the street when you see them, or invite them into your home when they knock on your door. If you don't see them, ask them to come by contacting them through the Mormon Church website.

    Attend Sunday services at a Mormon chapel near you. You can find the address in the phone book or on the Church website. Once you have arrived at the service, listen to the messages given to you and talk with Church members and the bishop/branch president or his advisers.

    Remember and pray about what you have been taught. Find a quiet place in your home or in a park. Get on your knees and talk to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Ask him to give you a sign if the Church is true and allow the Holy Spirit to answer you.

    Depending on the answer you receive, accept the Mormon missionaries' invitation to be baptized as a proof to others and to God that you have accepted Jesus Christ and want to follow Him.

  1. Confirmation that you have become a member of the LDS Church. The Clergy Holder will place his hands on your head and confirm that you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tell you to “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit (also known as the Divine Spirit) will be your constant companion as long as you keep the Lord's commandments throughout your life. As a verified member, your personal information will be added to the records of the Mormon Church and you will then officially be considered a spiritual and physical member of the worldwide church. Congratulations!

    • On the other hand, remember that most missionaries are young men who live spartan lives, very often withdrawn from their friends and family. They also endure a lot of rejection (and sometimes even scolding) in their daily lives and do not receive financial support from the Church. Treat them with kindness and respect, just as you would treat your children if you were them. (Whether you accept their messages or not). They and their families make enormous sacrifices so that you can learn what they believe to be true.
    • Mormons take their religion very seriously. This is a duty to the way of life. If you are not ready to accept this duty, you should not be baptized until you are ready to do so.
    • Don't be afraid to question or challenge missionaries about why they believe the Book of Mormon.
    • Know that Mormons are Christians. Christians believe in God and Jesus Christ. Christians believe in the Bible. Mormons also believe in such things, but they also believe in other things.
    • If you are not yet a Christian, read the Bible, especially the New Testament, and learn about the life of the Savior, Jesus Christ. You may be confused in your first attempts at reading the Old Testament, but Genesis is at least worth reading for general knowledge, and it should help you become familiar with some of the concepts mentioned in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon (creation, Abraham, the House of Israel, Joseph in Egypt, etc.) There are also Bible stories originally written for children that you can read to get your initial learning going a little faster before (or during) your more intensive study.
    • If you are new to the Book of Mormon, there are always children's stories that can be found on the LDS Church website in a variety of formats. Although these stories are intended for children, they are also well suited for adults.
    • If you still don't want to read the Book of Mormon, you can watch the Book of Mormon movie "The Journey" (you can find it with a Google search) online. But this movie only covers the first two parts of the Book of Mormon. The film, however, was not made with the help of the Church and contains at times liberal interpretations of how things could have been (especially regarding what is not mentioned in the film, such as Nephi's attitude towards his future wife and various statements of the characters). Many people think this movie is a bad introduction to the Book of Mormon, feel free to compare this movie to the book, think about it.

    Warnings

    • If you feel uncomfortable about baptism, do not let missionaries and/or other Church members pressure you. The decision whether to join this church is entirely up to you. Study in detail everything that interests you, and pray: if you are sincere, God will give you confidence in what you desire.
    • Be wary of those who claim to know more about Mormon beliefs than Mormons themselves.
    • Conversely, many Christians from "mainstream" denominations know little about Mormon teachings and dismiss them quickly without giving themselves a real attempt to understand them. Consider any information provided to you as "secondary" information provided to you by Mormons themselves.
    • Although Mormon missionaries do not "officially" criticize other religions, they do explain why other faiths are not entirely true, especially in matters relating to ordinances and priesthood authority. Remember that these missionaries are usually young men and therefore inexperienced. Raised in a mainstream Mormon environment, their understanding of other churches is often dismissive. (Just as the best way to learn about Mormons is “from Mormons,” the best way to learn about Catholicism, Methodism, etc. is from members of those denominations, not from Mormon missionaries.)
    • Don't think that the Church has "secret" teachings that it isn't telling you. According to Mormons, doctrines exist.