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Mormonism (also called Latter Day Saint theology or Mormon theology and Latter Day Saint culture or Mormon culture) is a religion, ideology, movement, and subculture originating in the early 1800s as a product of the Latter Day Saint movement. The term Mormonism is also often used to refer specifically to the theology and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is by far the most numerous and well-known religion among sects claiming derivation from Joseph Smith.
Mormonism is based on belief in Jesus as the Messiah, in the Israelites as a covenant people; as a form of Restorationism, it professes a restoration to the earth of the original Church instituted by Christ himself and thought to have been lost in a Great Apostasy after the death of Christ. Consequently, it has had complex and uneasy relationships with both mainstream Christianity and mainstream Judaism, as discussed in Mormonism and Christianity and in Mormonism and Judaism.
Most who practice Mormonism may be respectfully referred to as Latter Day Saints (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spell this Latter-day Saints). Other generally acceptable terms include LDS, Saints, and Mormons, although members of some sects other than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prefer not to be called Mormons. A very small minority view the terms Mormonism and Mormons as offensive slurs. Historically, Latter-day Saints have also been called Mormonites and Brighamites (followers of Brigham Young).
Mormonism as a theology
As a theology, Mormonism as a whole includes a highly diverse and eclectic cluster of religious beliefs. Heavily influenced by the Campbellite, Restorationist, and Universalist beliefs common to the area, Smith compiled a theology that attempted to answer nearly all of the unresolved religious questions of his day. The bedrock Mormon belief, however, is the acceptance of modern prophecy; that is, that people in modern times have the gift to authoritatively speak the mind or will of God. Common to all sects of Mormonism is the belief that Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was such a prophet. While the modern prophet is traditionally considered (for all practical purposes) infallible, there appears to be a growing tendency towards discounting prophetic pronouncements, particularly among Mormons well-aquainted with Mormonism's long history of embarassing prophetic misteps.
Joseph Smith, when asked what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believed, wrote what is now known as the Articles of Faith. Though the articles of faith are not a complete representation of the beliefs of Mormonism, they do represent some fundamental beliefs.
See also
External links
Official websites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- LDS.org (http://lds.org) - the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Mormon.org (http://mormon.org) - information on basic beliefs, a meetinghouse locator, and a place to email questions
- Provident Living (http://www.providentliving.org/) - addresses lifestyles for spiritual and temporal welfare
- The Scriptures - Internet Edition (http://scriptures.lds.org)
- FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org) - used for family history and genealogical research
- Gospel Library (http://lds.org/gospellibrary/0,5082,4-1,00.html) - contains official publications and texts
Additional Websites
- BYU Speeches (http://speeches.byu.edu) - given by Latter-day Saints at Brigham Young University, Provo, addressed to BYU students
- LDS General Conference Scriptural Index (http://scriptures.byu.edu) - links from scriptures to the general conference talks that cite those scriptures (created at BYU)
- LDSresource.net (http://www.ldsresources.net) - an online listing for aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Mormon Answers (http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/) - frequently asked questions about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- LDS Today (http://www.ldstoday.com/) - news related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- FAIR (http://www.fairlds.org/) - the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research
- Meridian Magazine (http://www.meridianmagazine.com) - online publication for Latter-day Saints.
- Stay LDS (http://www.stay-lds.com/) - advice for Church members who may have questions or doubts.
Opposing Views
- Exmormon.org (http://exmormon.org) - by former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Apologetics Index (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/) - by Evangelical Christians, provides research resources from a variety of perspectives
- Mormonism and the LDS Church (http://www.lds-mormon.com/) - a fairly extensive critical collection by a former Mormon missionary.
- Utah Lighthouse Ministry (http://www.utlm.org/) - a ministry to Mormons of Evangelical Christians who have left the LDS Church
- Concerned Christians (http://www.concernedchristians.org/) - an Evangelical ministry by former Mormons to Mormons
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