Mormon 101

1. Foundation
2. History
3. Practices
4. Doctrine
 Foundation:
God Speaks Through Prophets

Moses Isaiah

Adam

Abraham Samuel
 Foundation:
Comparison of Christian Churches
Catholic Protestant Mormon
Christ’s Church Christ’s Church Christ’s Church
Pope (Peter) Prophet (Peter) Prophet (Peter)

12 Apostles 12 Apostles 12 Apostles

Apostasy Apostasy

Enlightenment Restoration (1830)

Joseph God calls a prophet and
Smith restores His church

Martin John 12 Apostles

Luther Wesley Etc.
(Lutheran) (Methodist)

Prophet (Gordon Hinckley)

12 Apostles
Pope Benedict XVI
Direct line of authority to Christ’s No authority. Churches do their best God calls new prophet and restores
Church. Pope is infallible. to understand true doctrine. authority. Prophet receives revelation.
 History: Mormon History Timeline
Nauvoo was the largest city There were 26,000
in Illinois in 1845 with a members when Joseph
population of 20,000. Smith was Martyred in 1844.
70,000 saints traveled the
1300 mile Mormon Trail before Church Organized
the railroad arrived in 1869. First Temple Built Fayette, New York
Kirtland, Ohio 1830
1831-1838
Saints Settle in
Saints Settle in Nauvoo, Illinois
Utah 1840-1846
1847

Saints Settle in
Jackson County, Missouri
Brigham Young,
1831-1839
second prophet.

Colonization
(Settled over 600 Communities)
 History: Church Membership

Today
• 52,500 Mormons in Chicago
• 54% of Mormons live outside United States 13 million

Prominent Mormons
• Stephen Covey
• Mitt Romney
• Senator Orrin Hatch
• Gladys Knight
• J. W. Marriott
• Steve Young
• The Osmonds 4 million

6 250,000 500,000 1,000,000

1830 1896 1930 1947 1978 2006

 Practices: Church
• Lay Clergy – The clergy at the Mormon church is not paid. Normal
members serve as bishop for 5-7 years.
• Sermon – The sermon each Sunday is given by different members
each week.
• Fast Sunday – The first Sunday of each month Mormons fast 24
hours (two meals) and donate the money saved to poor.
• Sabbath Day – Mormons keep the Sabbath day holy by refraining
from shopping, work and leisure activities.
• Home Teaching – Pairs of men are assigned to teach and watch over
2-5 families.
• Visiting Teaching – Pairs of women are
assigned to teach and watch over 2-5
women.
• Mutual – The youth meet every
Wednesday evening to work on Scouting
for the young men and a similar program
for the young women.
 Practices: Church Schedule
Church Schedule

Sacrament Meeting
Hour 1 Hymns, Bread & Water, Talks, Musical Numbers
(Everyone Combined)

Jr. Primary Sr. Primary

Hour 2 Sunday School Classes
Combined Classes
(1.5-3 yrs old)

(12+ yrs old)

(3-7 yrs old) (8-11 yrs old)
Nursery

Jr. Primary Sr. Primary Young Young Priesthood Relief Society

Hour 3 Classes Combined Men Women (Men) (Women)
(3-7 yrs old) (8-11 yrs old) (12-18) (12-18)

The chapel is shared by three wards. Each year times are rotated.

9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00

Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
 Practices: Church Organization

Jesus Christ Jesus Christ leads his church by

communicating with the prophet.

Chosen by God as a prophet, seer,

Prophet revelator and president of the church.

Called as a special witness of Jesus Christ.

12 Apostles They are called to serve until they die.

Go about the church teaching and

Seventy organizing under the direction of the 12
apostles.

Stakes A Stake President leads a stake. He

is called to serve for 7-10 years.
(8-10 Wards per stake)
Wards A Bishop leads a ward. He is
called to serve for 5-7 years.
(200-400 members per ward)

The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “Of
Latter-Day Saints” is used distinguish today’s church from the church in Christ’s
time. The Mormon church is a nick name.
 Practices: Commandments
• 10 Commandments – Mormons
keep the 10 commandments.
• Tithing – Mormons believe in the law
of tithing (donating one-tenth of their
increase to the Lord).
• Word of Wisdom – Mormons keep a
modern commandment called the
Word of Wisdom. They do not
consume tea, coffee, alcohol or
tobacco.
• Law of Chastity – No sexual
relations out of wedlock.
 Practices: Home
• Family Home Evening – Mormons reserve Monday evening for
family night. Family night typically includes: prayer, songs, lesson,
game and treat.
• Prayer – Mormon prayers are extemporaneous, not memorized.
They pray to the father in the name of the Son. They say blessings
on their food at each meal. They are encouraged to pray together as
a family morning and evening. They also say individual prayers for
others, help, comfort, questions and protection.
• Scripture Study – Mormons are encouraged to study the scriptures
as a family and as an individual each day.
 Practices: Preparedness
• Food Storage – Mormons are
taught be prepared by keeping a
year’s supply of food and
money.
• 72 Hour Kits – Mormons are
taught to have a kit containing
food and other preparedness
items to take with in times of an
emergency.
• Gardens – Mormons are
encouraged to grow a vegetable
garden.
 Practices: Ordinances
• Baptism – Mormons choose to be baptized at age 8.
They believe that children who die before the age of
eight are innocent and saved through the atonement of
Christ.
• Priesthood – All worthy men in the church may hold
the priesthood. Young men hold the Aaronic
priesthood giving them the power to administer the
sacrament and baptize. Men hold the Melchezideck
priesthood giving them the authority to give the gift of
the Holy Ghost, bless the sick and lead the church.
• Temple Endowment – Adult members go to the
temple to receive their endowment, an extension of
their baptismal covenants. Only worthy members may
enter the temple.
• Eternal Marriage – Couples are married in the temple
for eternity. Also, children are sealed to their parents
for eternity. Marriages for time are performed in the
chapel.
 Practices: Temple Worship
• Temples – There are 120 temples in operation today. Temples
used to perform ordinances for the living and the dead. The dead
may then choose to accept or reject the ordinances that have
been done for them. Temples are closed on Sundays and
Monday evening.
• Baptisms for the dead – Youth and adults go to the temple to
perform baptisms for the dead.
• Genealogy – Mormons research their ancestors so they can do
ordinance work for them.
• Genealogy Resources – The Mormon church has the largest
genealogy library in the world. Records are photographed around
the world and stored on microfilm.
– 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, 742,000 microfiche
– Currently 200 cameras filming in 45 countries
– 725 million names transcribed into computer
– 36 million names linked to families

Washington DC Temple
 Practices: Education
• Seminary – High school students attend seminary every morning at
6am before school.
• BYU – The church operates Brigham Young University. It has campuses
in Utah (30,000), Idaho (11,600) and Hawaii (2,400).
 Practices: Missionary Work
• Missions – Mormon young men are
encourage to serve two-year missions at
age 19. Mormon young women may also
serve missions at age 21. Retired older
couples also serve missions. Missionaries
pay for their own living expenses. There are
currently 56,000 fulltime missionaries.
• Missionary Work – Mormons believe it is
there responsibility to share the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the news of the restoration
of His church with others.
• Belief About Other Churches – Mormons
believe that all people have the right to
worship as they wish. Mormons believe that
other churches have some truth and that
God has restored additional truths through
his modern day prophets.
 Doctrine: Joseph Smith
1805 1820 1823 1827 1829 1830 1836 1844

First Receives Receives Sealing

Birth Book Martyrdom
Vision Book of Gold Powers
(Vermont) Of Mormon (Illinois)
Mormon Plates (Elijah)
(Moroni) Published
-
Aaronic Church
Priesthood Organized
Restored
(John The Baptist)
-
Melchezidek
Priesthood
Restored
(Peter, James and
John)
 Doctrine: Plan of Salvation
1 Cor 15:40-41

Celestial Accept Jesus Christ,

Agency Satan Purposes: Kingdom baptized, temple
Prison ordinances
Satan’s - Obtain a body Paradise
Plan 1/3 - Be tested 1 Cor 15:12-22
Spirit’s Birth

Body’s Birth

Resurrection
Judgment
God’s

Death
Pre-Earth Plan
Spirit Terrestrial Good people of the
Earth Kingdom world
Life 2/3 World

Rev. 12:7, Jer. 1:5 Alma 34:31-35 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6

Alma 40:11-14
Telestial Thieves, murderers,
Veil of etc.
Kingdom
Forgetfulness

Intelligence Spirit Spirit Spirit and

Spirit and
Immortal Body Deny Jesus Christ
Mortal Body
Outer after having a
Darkness perfect knowledge
Jesus Christ

Problems Solutions
- Death - Resurrection
- Sin - Atonement
 Doctrine: Book of Mormon
Christ’s
5000 BC 4000 BC 3000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC Birth 1000 AD 2000 AD

New Testament
Old Testament

600 BC 421 AD
Book of Mormon

• The Book of Mormon

Lehi commanded to leave Jerusalem Last prophet (Moroni)
serves as a second and sail to the Americas. dies.
witness of Jesus
Christ. Christ visits the Americas as a
• The American Indians resurrected being after his death.
are the descendents of
the people in the Book
of Mormon.