User:Richwales/Drafts/LDS Church

This draft is based on a translation into English of the LDS Church article in the Romanian Wikipedia. I'm writing this in case it might prove useful to someone who wants a simplified description of the LDS Church to aid in the creation of a corresponding page in another non-English WP site. This page is not intended as a content fork or POV fork.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church or Mormon Church) is a Christian church founded in 1830. As of early 2012, it has about 14 million members (commonly called Mormons) worldwide. The church's headquarters is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States of America.

The LDS Church has many distinctive beliefs and practices, including additional works of scripture, a belief in the premortal existence of mankind, special worship services in temples, marriage for eternity, and baptism and other ordinances (sacraments) for the dead. At one time, some Mormons engaged in polygamy; this practice was officially discontinued over a century ago, but persists in some small breakaway groups which are not associated with the main church.

Notable members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include Krešimir Ćosić (a Croatian basketball player and coach who died in 1995), Marie Osmond (an American singer and actress), and Mitt Romney (the candidate of the Republican Party for the U.S. presidency in 2012).

History

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded on April 6, 1830, in the western part of the US state of New York, by Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Smith, considered by Mormons to be a prophet of God, claimed that God and Jesus Christ had appeared to him in 1820, telling him not to join any church (because they were all imperfect and incomplete), and promising that the true church would one day be reintroduced through him (Smith). Members of the new church endured social and political opposition, wandering for many years in search of a suitable home. In 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by an angry mob. Afterwards, under the direction of Brigham Young, most Mormons settled in a part of Mexico (now the US state of Utah). Nowadays, most residents of Utah are Mormons, and about 10% of all Mormons live in Utah.

Beliefs

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that it is the only true church on the earth. Mormons believe that an apostasy (falling away from true Christian teachings) occurred throughout the early Christian church in the first century AD, after the death of the apostles. The church's true authority could not be reconstructed through study of the scriptures or the work of theologians; rather, the church needed to be restored through revelation from God. Mormons consider themselves to be Christians, but they do not view themselves as being a part of the Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant traditions, and they do not formally subscribe to any of the traditional Christian creeds (such as the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the Chalcedonian Creed). However, even though the LDS Church affirms that all other churches are imperfect and without divine authority, Mormons do not consider the departed followers of other churches to be eternally damned, on account of the LDS belief in the doctrine of baptism for the dead (see below).

Scriptures

The church believes in four scriptural books, called the "Standard Works":

• The Bible (Old and New Testament, though without the deuterocanonical or apocryphal books of the Old Testament).

• The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, believed by Mormons to be a religious history of a family which fled Jerusalem and journeyed to America around 600 BC and their descendants. The principal editor of the book was named Mormon, and this name became a nickname for the members of the new church.

• The Doctrine and Covenants, a book considered by the church to be a collection of important revelations to Joseph Smith from Jesus Christ, and other writings by Smith and his successors.

• The Pearl of Great Price, another collection of revelations and writings.

Modern prophets

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares that it has been led by Jesus Christ since the church's founding in 1830. Joseph Smith and his successors are considered by the church to be "prophets, seers, and revelators" who communicate revelations and commandments from Jesus Christ to the members of the church and to the entire world. The current prophet, Thomas Monson (born 1927), is the 16th president of the church; he succeeded to the presidency upon the death of Gordon Hinckley (1910-2008). The president of the church is assisted by two "counselors" — the three together comprising the "First Presidency" — and by a council known as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. All important decisions require the unanimous agreement of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles.

The purpose of life and the plan of salvation

The LDS Church teaches that this earthly life is a short but crucially important part of a great plan, known as the "plan of salvation" or "eternal progression". Mormons believe that all people originally lived with God, as spirits, and that they were sent to life on earth in order to discover whether they would choose good or evil. In order for men and women to be able to live by faith during this life, they are unable to remember the "pre-earth existence".

Since it was well understood in the pre-earth existence that everyone would make mistakes and commit sin, Mormons believe that it was necessary for a Saviour (Jesus Christ) to be chosen, who would live a perfect life, suffer for the sins of all mankind, and be resurrected from the dead. Through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sin, and obedience to divine commandments, Mormons believe that all may be saved from sin and return in glory to their Heavenly Father (God). Mormons do not believe in the doctrine of original sin, and Mormon children are not baptized until they are eight years old.

In contrast to the beliefs of other churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims that the fall of Adam and Eve was an important and necessary event in the eternal progression of mankind. Mormons believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was taught to Adam, Eve, and others throughout history, and that the complete, perfect Gospel needed to be restored many times after apostasy. Those who learn and understand the fulness of the Gospel during their lifetime have an obligation to obey it; those who did not know the complete Gospel will be judged according to that portion of the law which they did understand, and they will receive an opportunity in the spirit world (see "Salvation for the dead" below) to learn and obey the fulness of the Gospel.

Dietary and health practices

Faithful Mormons avoid the use of tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea, and recreational drugs. Mormons who are in good health customarily fast for one day every month.

Eternal marriage

Mormons uphold the sacred nature of the institution of marriage and the family, and they believe that these institutions can continue throughout eternity. Faithful members marry, not just for this life, but "for time and for all eternity", in a ceremony held in a special building known as a "temple". Mormon temples are not ordinary church buildings; while any member or visitor may attend regular Mormon worship services, only faithful Mormons are allowed to enter a temple.

Converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are already married are able to transform their marriage into an eternal union via a second marriage ceremony performed in a temple. The dead are also married for eternity in Mormon temples, in a manner similar to baptism for the dead (see below).

LDS Church teachings absolutely prohibit sexual activity except between a man and a woman who are legally married to each other.

Salvation for the dead

The LDS Church preaches the possibility of salvation and eternal life for all — including those who did not, during their lifetimes, know about Jesus Christ or the fulness of His Gospel. Mormons believe that all those who have died will receive an opportunity to hear the Gospel in the spirit world, and that everyone who accepts the message of salvation in the spirit world will be able to receive a baptism performed on their behalf, by a living member of the church, in a temple. Mormons search for information about their ancestors, and others as well, so that they can be baptized on behalf of these people and thereby offer them the opportunity to receive a fulness of salvation. They believe, however, that the dead have the ability to decide for themselves whether or not to accept such baptisms.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms that its understanding of the doctrine of salvation for the dead, and the authority to perform baptisms for the dead, came from God through revelation. However, members of the church believe that these doctrines were known to first-century Christians — a belief supported (in their view) by various New Testament passages.

Controversies

Some people do not accept The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as being a Christian church, but instead classify it as a "cult", on account of various Mormon beliefs which differ from those of other churches.

Mormons are sometimes confused — possibly through misunderstanding or ignorance — with other proselyting churches, such as Jehovah's Witnesses. Additionally, some people believe Mormon missionaries are agents or spies of the US government, even though in fact the church's missionaries come from many countries throughout the world.

In the 19th century, many Mormons practised "plural marriage" (polygamy). The church suffered extreme persecution because of polygamy, but the members persevered because they believed they were obeying a commandment of God. The church abolished plural marriage in 1890, and any member of the church who practises polygamy today is excommunicated. There now exist some "Mormon fundamentalist" groups which broke off from the main church on account of disagreements over polygamy; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints disapproves of such groups and disassociates itself from them, but nevertheless, some people confuse these small breakaway groups with the main church, assuming they are all "Mormons" and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to practise polygamy today.

Mitt Romney, former governor of the US state of Massachusetts and a candidate for the US presidency in 2008 and 2012, is a Mormon. Opinion polls in the US, during both of Romney's campaigns, have suggested that many American voters would refuse to vote for him solely on account of his religion.

References

External links

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (official site in English)