The History of the Mormon Church: Part 7 - The Contemporary LDS Church

When Brigham Young led the Utah Latter Day Saints Pioneers to the base of Emigration Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah on July 24, 1847, he came to a place now known as This is the Place Monument, in Heritage Park.

This is the Place Monument in Heritage Park, Utah. This statue of Brigham Young (standing with hat) is on the location where Young led the first group of Pioneers in 1847.  Bas-reliefs of other statue work include symoblic representations of other aspects of Pioneer life, including dealings with Native Americans and Wagon trains coming West along the Mormon Trail.  Wikipedia Commons

It was Young's hope that the Latter Day Saints would  be safe from the persecution they suffered in New York, Ohio, Illionois and Missouri. All the Pioneers who reached the Wasatch Valley in 1847 and in the decades to follow would suffer additional privations of starvation and exposure; many would die trying to reach Utah, a land that was dry, rocky and nearly impossible to farm without irrigation. But it is from this hardy group of original Pioneers  that a singular blend of strong yet adaptable people developed.

From the earliest beginnings of The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints,  to the current LDS Church, one thing is clear: LDS and non-LDS members have a lot to say. 

In the past two years, more TV shows, news magazines and online media and video from liberals and conservatives alike have written about the LDS church than in the years previous to 2006.  Blogs from various ex-Mormon groups and Mormon recovery blogs have formed in the past few years.

Humanitarian efforts within the LDS church were always important and included The Relief Society,  founded by Joseph Smith for women help the poor and needy and also to bring people to Christ. The Relief Society continues as an important part of the LDS woman's life.

The Perpetual Education Fund  is a loan program for people in developing nations to receive an education.

Based on the belief that the human body is like a temple, LDS members do not smoke, drink, take cafeine, or take illegal drugs. Masonic belief is similar to LDS belief in this regard, and is also in keeping with Christ's words that our Body is a Temple, a common philosophy in Protestant and Catholic denominations.

 The Salt Lake Temple at night. The Salt Lake Temple is the largest of the more than 120 LDS Temples worldwide. It was the 6th Temple built. Visitors can walk on the grounds but only LDS members in good standing with the Church can particpate in Temple Ceremonies and only upon a Temple Recommend from their Bishop. Wikipedia Commons. 

View of the Salt Lake Temple as seen from Temple Square. The Temple comprises one square block on Temple Square and can be seen from miles around. The Salt Lake Temple was originally made of sandstone but granite was later added.
Wikipedia, GNU license.

 The Salt Lake LDS Temple and Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Current worldwide membership holds at 13 million members, a substantial increase from the 1980s, where the membership was about 8 million worldwide. The 1980s figure was also a substantial increase from the 1950s and 1960s when membership was much smaller.

The LDS church is often regarded as one of the 'fastest growing religions' in the world.

Young men and women serve abroad or at home as missionaries when they reach age 19 or 20. For many, this means a two-year absence from college.

This experience is often personally rewarding for the missionaries, as it gives LDS members a chance to see first-hand a culture they otherwise may never see.

Hard work, education, and obedience to family and Church are ingrained in LDS members. These are all good things. The adherence to Family Values often draws potential converts to the LDS Church.

The LDS Church swiftly moved from its early, controversial beginnings in the 19th century to a contemporary faith for the contemporary world.

No one would characterize the LDS Church as  progressive, but it maintains a solid  respectable presence in  business, medicine and government.

Included below are beliefs and practices in the LDS church, taken directly from the Church website.

Appendix:

Facts quoted directly from the LDS website.  All links are from www.lds.org and sites linking from lds.org.

• Has over 13 million members, more than half of whom live outside the United States.
• Is represented by over 50,000 missionaries in 162 countries.
• Has published more than 100 million copies of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ in over 93 languages.
• Has more than 100 temples worldwide.
• Has congregations throughout the world where members and visitors meet each Sunday to worship and learn.
• Prints monthly magazines in 50 languages

Organization

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized the same way that Christ organized His Church in New Testament times. The offices listed below are the same priesthood offices that Christ established in His Church—Apostles, Seventies, etc.

• The President of the LDS Church has two counselors who assists him; together, these three men form The First Presidency.
• The First Presidency is helped by Twelve Apostles, who are regarded as special witness of Christ.
• A group of Leaders called the Seventies also help the Twelve Apostles, serving in locations worldwide. 
• Local congregations are led by Bishops, similar to Priests or Ministers in other denominations. The Parish house is called the Stakehouse.
  

Beliefs - from lds.org

• God is our Heavenly Father He loves us and wants us to return to Him.
• Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our Savior. He redeems us from death by providing the Resurrection. He saves us from sin as we repent.
• Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can return to live with God if we keep His commandments
• The Holy Ghost helps us to recognize truth.
• "The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth.
• The priesthood authority of God exists in His Church today, just as it did in the original Church.
• The Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God.
• God reveals His will to prophets today, just as He did anciently.
• Our life has a sacred purpose
• Families can be together forever
• Through serving others, we can experience joy and draw closer to God.

Joseph Smith  summarized the beliefs of the LDS Church  in 13 basic points which are known as The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are:

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ,and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon this the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

*Source: www.lds.org

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Previous:

The History of the Mormon Church: Part 6 - Brigham Young, Polygamy, Utah Becomes a StateMormonism: October, 1985: The Mark Hoffman Forgeries and Pipe Bomb Murders

The History of the Mormon Church: Part 5: September 11, 1857:120 Innocent men, women and children are slaughtered: The Massacre at Mountain Meadows - with UPDATE

The History of the Mormon Church: Part 4 - Brigham Young - polygamy - migration to Utah - blood atonement and the War on Utah

The History of the Mormon Church: Part 3 - The Mormons in Illinois - Polygamy

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In a few days, I  will begin a short discussion of the offshoot sect of the Fundamentalists, the FLDS.

In Mid-February, I will be doing a short series on my ancestors.

I may also be writing additional articles about the Mormon recovery movement.

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Copyright  ©  2006, 2007, 2008 Kathryn Esplin-Oleski