All About Mormons

Introduction

In every religion, beliefs and practices can be categorized as essential or peripheral. “Essential” in this context means “fundamentally important to the religion.” Every good member should either possess essential beliefs or be working in good faith towards possessing them; additionally, every good member should try his best to perform all essential practices.

In contrast, peripheral beliefs and practices, while often commonly accepted and frequently performed, are not necessarily fundamental. One can hold unorthodox views of peripheral beliefs, for example, and still remain a “good” member. Peripheral beliefs and practices are important and can strengthen faith, but they are not fundamental.

In many religions, essential beliefs and practices are defined in “creeds”. Mormonism is challenging in this respect because we reject formal creeds in favor of continuing, modern revelation from God. Nevertheless, many investigating our church want to know what exactly someone needs to believe and do to be a “good Mormon.” Complicating things further, many anti-Mormons publish lists of “Mormon beliefs” that are misrepresentations or fabrications at worst, and poor descriptions of beliefs that are trivial or peripheral to our faith at best.

There are two important occasions when Mormons make formal declarations of their faith. In the baptismal and temple-recommend interviews, Mormons formally accept certain beliefs and practices that demonstrate they are prepared to join the church or to worship in a Mormon temple, respectively. If we assert that someone who has joined the church and prepared themselves for temple worship is a “good Mormon,” the statements of faith made in these interviews are, by definition, all that is “essential.”

Essential Beliefs

1. God is our Eternal Father. Jesus Christ is God’s son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. The Holy Ghost is likewise part of the Godhead (~”Trinity”). Mormons must have faith in these three.
2. 

   For members of the church, Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer through whom salvation is made possible. (Reflections of Christ)

   Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we can overcome death and sin. That’s what “Savior” and “Redeemer” mean.
        Commentary: Mormons do consider Christ to be divine, and Mormons do believe salvation comes through Him.
3. Jesus Christ’s ancient church and gospel have been established again in our days. God used a man, Joseph Smith, to help restore the ancient church.
        Commentary: Mormons do not worship Joseph Smith. We see him only as a prophet, like Moses or Peter from the Bible.
4. The current worldwide leader (i.e., president) of the Church is also a prophet of God. God has authorized him, and him alone, to preside over the church as Christ’s imperfect, human representative. The top governing bodies of the Church (the “First Presidency” and the “Quorum of the Twelve”) are also prophets. While it’s not necessary to agree with every policy or idea expressed over the pulpit, Mormons should support these and other leaders in a spirit of good will (i.e., they should be “sustained”).
        Commentary: Again, no leader in the church should ever be worshipped.
        Commentary: Mormons do not believe prophets are perfect or infallible.
        Commentary: We do respect them as men called by God to transmit His message to the Church.

Essential Practices

1. Baptism is an essential ordinance (religious ceremony) in which converts promise God that they will become disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ (i.e., that they will “take His name upon them”).
2. There are other ordinances, performed in Mormon temples, that are also essential and sacred. While many good Mormons are not yet ready for temple worship, those who are promise to dedicate themselves to God and to seek charity, benevolence, and purity of thought. Temple worship is associated with sacred symbols that good Mormons should respect, including special symbolic clothing. Whenever appropriate, good Mormons should wear this clothing as a private symbol of their faith.
3. Mormons must be chaste. This means they avoid sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. When a Mormon is not chaste, he must repent and sincerely change his ways, which is possible through Jesus Christ.
        Commentary: “Sexual relations” include pornography use.
        Commentary: In modern times, polygamy is also unchaste.
        Commentary: While homosexual relations are not considered chaste, homosexuals themselves are welcome to worship with us. In fact, there are many gay Mormons who choose abstinence and make important spiritual contributions to the Mormon community.
4. Mormons donate 10% of their earnings to the Church, thereby demonstrating that their dedication to God is greater than their love of material things (Malachi 3:10).
        Commentary: The Mormon clergy is almost universally unpaid, so this money is not used to line the pockets of the pastor.
        Commentary: These donations are used to build Mormon chapels, to purchase religious books for the members of the Church, to finance the Church’s missionary program, etc.
5. Good Mormons follow certain dietary rules. Specifically, Mormons do not drink coffee, black tea, or alcohol. They do not use illegal drugs, nor do they use tobacco in any of its forms.
        Commentary: Mormons can drink caffeinated soda pops, though many choose not to do so.
        Commentary: Mormons can also eat chocolate.
        Commentary: There seems to be some ambiguity as to whether or not Mormons should drink green tea.
6. Mormons should honor the Lord’s day (the Christian Sabbath). In most parts of the world, Mormons celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday. Honoring the Lord’s day includes going to church, where one can participate in a weekly ordinance (religious ceremony) called the sacrament. Additionally, honoring the Sabbath day includes serving others.
7. Families are very important to Mormons. Except in certain exceptional circumstances (rape, incest, the mother’s life is in jeopardy, etc.), Mormon women should not have elective abortions, and Mormon men should not encourage those abortions. Family members, while imperfect, should strive to treat each other with kindness and respect. In cases of divorce, Mormons must continue to meet financial or other obligations to former spouses and/or children.
        Commentary: Things like adultery are also obviously taboo, since they are not considered “chaste,” as defined above.
8. Good Mormons should not support or affiliate themselves with groups or individuals who specifically and intentionally oppose the teachings and practices of the LDS Church. For example, some dissident polygamist groups erroneously refer to themselves as “Mormons.” Since the LDS (“Mormon”) Church excommunicates anyone found to be practicing polygamy, good Mormons cannot associate themselves with these groups.
        Commentary: The Mormon Church stays out of party politics, and Mormons are free to affiliate themselves with whatever political party best fits their world views.
        Commentary: Good Mormons often associate with people who disagree with their beliefs and practices. The church does not advocate the shunning of ex-members, for example, as in some other denominations. It’s only in those rare circumstances when a group or individual intentionally and actively tries to damage Christ’s church that association and support should perhaps be withdrawn.
9. Good Mormons should deal honestly with others. This includes obeying the law of the land.
10. 

    Temples are considered houses of God, places of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world.

    Finally, there is also a subjective component to being a “good” Mormon. If a Mormon feels like his life is not in harmony with the teachings and requirements of Christ’s gospel, or if he has made moral mistakes serious enough to require the attention and help of a clergymen (i.e., a bishop), he should confess to the appropriate person, ask God for forgiveness, change his heart, and abandon his sins. A good Mormon should subjectively feel that he’s spiritually prepared and worthy to worship in the temple with a clear conscience.

Conclusion

No Mormon is perfect. Some good Mormons don’t feel entirely comfortable with all the essential beliefs mentioned above, for example, but they are actively trying to understand and accept those beliefs through personal study and prayer. Some good Mormons have failed to follow all the essential practices too, but they’ve repented of their mistakes and have changed their ways. All people are inevitably imperfect, but good Mormons sincerely try their best to follow Christ and His commandments.

We believe the Bible is the Word of God, His sacred revelation to ancient prophets and apostles. We also believe in the Book of Mormon.