The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (LDS)—the Mormons—was founded in North America in 1830 by six people; by the twenty-first century it numbered approximately eleven million worldwide. Its founder, Joseph Smith Jr (1805-44) received a series of visions. In the First Vision God the Father and his Son appeared in a pillar of light, gave Joseph a sense of the forgiveness of his sins and, in answer to his religious quest, announced that while all contemporary churches were misguided the truth would be revealed in due course. Later, the angel Moroni directed him to hidden records that became The Book of Mormon published in 1830. In two subsequent visions John the Baptist ordained Joseph and his friend Oliver Cowdery into the Aaronic Priesthood and the apostles, James, and John ordained them into the Melchizedek Priesthood. Together these events restored true teachings and rituals that God had removed because of human disobedience.
Joseph called people to repent and gather in North America to await Christ’s Second Coming. This Adventist and Millenarian (see Millenarianism) outlook reflected religion in Joseph’s society. Many joined him: thousands of Europeans made the arduous journey by sea and by land. Joseph gave his closest followers additional distinctive rites including plural marriage or polygamy and rites called endowments that conferred a special status after death as the eternal couple advanced into a kind of god-like state along with their eternally expanding family. Importantly, baptism for the dead gave those who had died before hearing the Christian message the ability to accept it in the afterlife if their descendents performed the key rituals on their behalf in earthly temples. The growth in power of the early Mormons, as converts and migrants gathered in the Eastern States, along with their adoption of polygamy and secret rites caused opposition from other churches and, eventually, from the Federal Government. Joseph was killed while in prison in 1844 (and polygamy outlawed in the 1890s).
After a brief struggle Brigham Young (1801-77) led the majority of grief-stricken Saints west until they came to the Great Salt Lake Valley. There they established themselves, developing distinctive doctrines and practices associated with temples. Salt Lake City serves as the focus for the faith to this day. Some remained behind and formed other smaller groups, the best know coming to be The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS, spelling its name differently from the Latter-day Saints) led by direct descendents of Joseph. At the turn of the twenty-first century the RLDS changed their name to The Community of Christ, reflecting their avoidance of the distinctive LDS doctrines and temple rites and their acceptance of all major points of doctrine concerning God, the Holy Trinity, and salvation, held by mainstream Christianity. This community, like the LDS, believes in continuous revelation through its prophet. One, in 1968, called members to build a new temple at the headquarters’ town of Independence, Missouri—a temple that would be open to all and a place of learning and peace. More significant still was the decision to ordain women in 1985. Early in the twenty-first century the LDS emphasized the focus on Christ in its own name but maintained a strong commitment to male-focused priesthoods and to temples as places accessible only to members in good standing and as places existing to further the eternal destiny of families.
New revelations are rare amongst LDS, the most significant of the twentieth century came in 1978 when the ban on ordaining African males was lifted. New revelations appear in The Doctrine and Covenants. Along with The Pearl of Great Price and Book of Mormon these form the standard works of the church.
Organization
The Aaronic Priesthood—divided into deacon, teacher and priest—takes Mormon boys from the age of twelve to eighteen while the Melchizedek Priesthood covers all other worthy males. The Prophet and his Twelve Apostles along with what are called The Seventy are paid leaders of the church. All others are voluntary, unpaid ‘laymen’. Geographically the church is divided into stakes and stakes into wards. The Stake President, supported by two counsellors, is responsible for the bishop (each with two counsellors) who runs each ward. Other organizations exist for adult women—The Relief
Society—as well as for young men and young women. A unified programme of worship and instruction meets for a three-hour block on Sunday morning. This includes separate groups for men and women as well as a united Sacrament Meeting when bread and water are taken in remembrance of the atoning death of Christ and in the hope that his Spirit will be with members today. One night a week is without any church activity when the Family Home Evening takes place. Once a month a Fast and Testimony Meeting is held when members attest to their belief in God, Christ, the church and its leaders and what church life has done for them. After repentance and faith, initiation is by baptism by immersion and the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost. Members follow the Word of Wisdom, a food code avoiding alcohol, tea and coffee, and tithe income to support the church financially. Many young adults serve a two-year period as full time missionaries, then return home, marry or continue their education. Education is encouraged as is marriage with another Mormon. Temple marriage seals people for time and eternity with the union as the basis for eternal progression of a united family group gaining a divine identity.
