Mormonism facts for kids
Mormonism is a religious movement that began in 1830. It was founded by a young man named Joseph Smith. People who follow this religion are called Latter-day Saints, or sometimes Mormons.
Latter-day Saints believe their church is a "restoration" of the original Christian Church. They believe that Jesus Christ started this church and that it was brought back by Joseph Smith. The church was first called The Church of Christ. Today, the largest group is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They consider themselves Christians, even though some of their beliefs are different from other Christian churches.
Latter-day Saints believe in baptism by being completely underwater. This is like what is explained in the Articles of Faith, a set of beliefs written by Joseph Smith. Most Latter-day Saints do not practice polygamy (marrying more than one person) anymore. It was stopped by the church in 1890. However, some small groups, called "Mormon Fundamentalists," still practice it.
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Joseph Smith's First Vision
Joseph Smith, Jr. said that he had special visits from God the Father, Jesus Christ, and many angels. The first visit is called the First Vision. It happened when Joseph was a teenager. He wanted to know which church he should join.
He went into the woods behind his family's house in New York to pray. He said he felt evil powers fighting him. Then, a bright light appeared, and he was rescued. In the light, he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. They told him not to join any church because none of them had all of the truth. They also told him that they had important work for him to do.
The Book of Mormon
One important part of Joseph Smith's work was translating the Book of Mormon. Joseph said that an angel named Moroni visited him. Moroni showed him where an ancient book was buried. This book was written on pages made of gold, sometimes called the Gold Plates. It was hidden in a stone box in a hill near Joseph's home.
Moroni visited Joseph once a year for four years. Then, he told Joseph to take the Gold Plates. The book was written in a very old language. Joseph translated it into English with help from God. He used special tools called the "Urim" and "Thummim." The book was published as The Book of Mormon in 1830.
The Book of Mormon tells stories of two main groups of people. They lived in North and South America hundreds of years ago. It also tells about another group who came to the Americas thousands of years ago. The book teaches many things about Jesus Christ. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Book of Mormon is a special book from God, just like the Bible. They believe that reading both The Book of Mormon and the Bible helps people get closer to God and find happiness. This book is also why church members are sometimes called "Mormons."
Latter-day Saint Beliefs and Practices
Today, the main center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in Utah. However, there are more than 17 million Latter-day Saints living all over the world. The leader of the church is called the president. Latter-day Saints believe he is a prophet, guided by God. They believe God guides him just like he guided Joseph Smith and the prophets in the Bible.
Latter-day Saints believe it is important for families to spend a lot of time together. They also believe that after they die, families can live together forever. Latter-day Saints do not drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. They also do not smoke tobacco.
They meet once a week on Sunday for church services. During these services, they have the sacrament and listen to short talks or sermons. They also have Sunday School to learn more about their beliefs. The church also has activities during the week.
Latter-day Saints also have special buildings called temples. These are the most holy buildings in their religion. After a temple is built and dedicated, only Latter-day Saints who are living good lives can go inside.
Different Latter-day Saint Groups
While most people think of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when they hear "Mormon," there are other groups. These groups also call themselves Mormon or Latter-day Saint, but their beliefs can be different.
After Joseph Smith died, Brigham Young became the second president of the Church. Most Latter-day Saints followed Brigham Young to Utah. However, some people did not think he should be the next president. These people stayed in Illinois. They believed that Joseph Smith's son should be the next leader. Today, this church is called the Community of Christ. It is the second largest church that calls itself Mormon.
Other differences happened later. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that a man should only marry one woman. This is called monogamy. In the early days of the church, some men were married to more than one woman at the same time. This was called polygamy. When the main Church stopped polygamy in 1890, some people left. They continued to practice polygamy. These groups are very small compared to the main Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asks people not to use the word Mormon or pictures of their temples when talking about these groups. This is because they are not connected to the main Church anymore.
Latter-day Saints and Christianity
Many practices in Mormonism are similar to those in other Christian groups. However, there are some differences from traditional Christian beliefs, like those of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant faiths.
In English, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the King James Version of the Bible as part of its official scripture.
Early on, the Mormon movement said it was bringing back the true Christian faith. They believed that other churches at the time had lost some important truths. Many Christians in the 1830s saw some of the Mormon beliefs and practices as very different. These differences sometimes led to conflicts between Latter-day Saints and other Christian groups. Even though there is no violence now, the unique beliefs of Latter-day Saints are still discussed.
Latter-day Saints believe in Jesus Christ as the literal firstborn Son of God and Messiah. They believe his crucifixion was a sacrifice for sins, and they believe in his resurrection.
However, Latter-day Saints do not accept the traditional Christian idea of the Trinity. This idea is taught by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and many Protestant churches. Latter-day Saints believe that the New Testament predicted that people would turn away from Christian teachings. They believe there would be a "restoration" of the original church before Jesus Christ returns.
Some important differences with mainstream Christianity include:
- Latter-day Saints believe Jesus began his atonement for sin in the Garden of Gethsemane and continued it until he was crucified. Other Christians often believe the crucifixion alone was the physical atonement.
- Latter-day Saints believe heaven is divided into three degrees of glory. They also believe in hell, which they sometimes call outer darkness.
- Latter-day Saints do not believe that God created everything from nothing. They believe that matter is eternal, and God organizes existing matter.
Many Latter-day Saint beliefs are connected to North and South America. They believe the people in the Book of Mormon lived in the Western Hemisphere. They also believe that Jesus Christ appeared in the Western Hemisphere after his death and resurrection. They believe the true faith was restored in upstate New York by Joseph Smith. Some Latter-day Saints also believe that the Garden of Eden and the place where Christ will return are in the state of Missouri.
Images for kids
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The Book of Mormon
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Latter-day Saints believe that the U.S. Constitution is the result of divine inspiration.
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Latter-day Saints see Jesus Christ as the most important figure of their religion.
See also
In Spanish: Movimiento de los Santos de los Últimos Días para niños
