Marriage is Ordined of God in the LDS Church
For individuals considering becoming a member of the LDS Church, it's essential to understand that the Church views marriage as divinely sanctioned. Nonetheless, LDS teachings do not mandate the practice of polygamy.
Mormonism is satanic
The Mormon Church has been known to attack Christianity for centuries. And their attacks have been more aggressive in recent years.
A new study from the Foundation for Apologetics and Research in Interfaith Culture (FAIR) has examined the error behind a claim made by the LDS that inverted stars on their temples are Satanic. This is one of the most popular accusations against the Mormons, but it's not the only one.
But what's the real story? In a nutshell, the article by Maxwell Institute contributor Russell C. McGregor argues that it's not surprising to learn that the LDS is a cult because it's "nonsensical." It also argues that the LDS Church has never given a clear, pure, or plain promise of salvation.
Rather than give an exhaustive list of the LDS Church's illogical, misguided, and downright wrong ideas, the article goes to great lengths to stifle any and all criticism by claiming that it's not a Christian activity.
The article also claims that the LDS Church has a satanic secret to being a cult, but that's a bit of a stretch. For example, the LDS Church has never taught that apostasy is universal. However, the Church does teach that all Christians are sinners.
On the other hand, the article does not mention that the LDS Church has also been known to use the Bible's most obscure apocrypha. The Book of Mormon is a book of revelation that is passed down through generations of copyists and religionists. And, the LDS Church has even broken rules of hermeneutics, meaning that the same words can mean different things to different people.
In the end, the article misses the mark by a factor of two. That's because it doesn't explain the true source of the aforementioned LDS satanic secret. And the article's faulty logic serves as a double-edged sword, foreshadowing what might come.
The article might be a good start, but it falls short in many other areas. Perhaps, the LDS Church should take a more active role in promoting their own religion and not stifling other viewpoints. It would also be a good idea to put an end to the sexism and apologies that plague the Church, and apologies for any mistake the LDS has made.
Mormonism views the family as the most important organization in time and all eternity
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is a religious movement with an estimated 12 million members worldwide. Most of these members are American, though there are growing numbers of Asian and African Americans as well.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Mormonism is its focus on family. Although traditional gender roles are still different for boys and girls, many influential LDS leaders idealize a monogamous nuclear family.
The family unit is now the most important organizational unit in Mormonism. While the church does not guarantee that a family will be together forever, it does emphasize the importance of the family as a redemptive unit.
As the population of America grows, more families are choosing to join the Mormon church. In every ward, there seems to be a new family joining the Mormon community.
The Mormon Church is an elaborate priesthood organization with an intricate administrative structure. It also has a missionary force of 25,300 full-time missionaries. It has missionaries stationed around the world. Its administrative machinery is constantly being rearranged to meet the needs of the Church.
The Book of Mormon, a Mormon scripture, has been the official scripture of the LDS Church for centuries. It is written in the style of the Old Testament and contains a historical narrative. The Book of Mormon also functions as a binding agent.
The church encourages members to research genealogies and collect the names of dead relatives. In addition, the church encourages members to attend ward activities and home teaching. The wards are designed to strengthen family unity. The church's welfare programs provide mutual support.
Several denominations have been established within the Mormon Church, including the Community of Christ, the Reader's Digest church, the Strangite, and the Young Women's Christian Association. Each of these denominations has its own set of beliefs, but they share common expectations of the Latter-day Saints.
The church has moved from the bottom of the scale to the middle during the last century. It has also moved up the social and class scales.
The church's policy on black lay priests has been abolished. It has also excommunicated intellectuals who question the basic tenets of the church.
Joseph Smith asked God to clarify the biblically sanctioned practice of plurality of wives
One of the most controversial aspects of Joseph Smith's life is his polygamy. While many church members may have heard of it, many would not have been aware of it.
While there is no official church document that outlines the plural marriages of Joseph Smith, numerous lesson manuals do. Additionally, there are historical records that show that Joseph Smith knew of the doctrines involved in D&C 132.
While there are no proofs that Joseph Smith engaged in sex with any of his wives, the majority of faithful LDS scholars are convinced that Joseph had sexual relations with about ten of his wives.
Although the LDS church does not condone polygamy, they do acknowledge it. They even have an essay claiming that polygamy is morally redeeming. However, it is unclear how the LDS Church would justify Joseph's plural marriages.
The most interesting thing about polygamy is that it was not always enforced. Several high ranking members have been known to leave the Church for this reason. In fact, there is a growing number of people who are not members.
Interestingly, Joseph's first polygamous wife, Vilate Kimball, was not among the twenty-one women that he married after he passed the Abrahamic test. While most of the wives were fertile, they did not produce offspring. In fact, one of his daughters was born after he was married to another woman.
Although there is no official church document that details the origins of Joseph Smith's polygamy, the LDS church does make bold claims about its founder. These claims are often accompanied by a slew of the usual "facts." For example, Joseph supposedly married Sara Cleveland, but a DNA test has not been able to verify that claim.
While there is no definite way to determine the true origins of Joseph's polygamy, the LDS Church does state that no other marriage system exists. While this may be an unpopular position, it is also true.
One of the LDS church's biggest claims is that it is the only true religion. Yet, it is doubtful that the church truly believes that. It is far more likely that the church's leaders are simply unsure of the truth.
LDS doctrine does not require plural marriage
Among Latter-day Saints, there is debate about the merits of polygamy. Some argue that it is a sin to engage in unauthorized polygamy. Others claim that it is a necessary commandment from God.
The practice of plural marriage in the nineteenth century is an important part of LDS history. Though it has been controversial, many Saints infused it with love, forgiveness, and compassion.
The Church does not currently practice polygamy. However, many believe that it will be revived in the afterlife. A few breakaways continue to obey the founding prophet's dictum.
In the nineteenth century, polygamy was practiced for a number of reasons. It was a time of social and cultural changes. Some were confused by the changing social norms. A handful of men and women, including Joseph Smith, were sealed to multiple wives. The women and men of the early polygamists pledged to keep their involvement confidential.
In 1852, Orson Pratt defended the practice. He claimed that it was a divinely approved state at the time. The practice was eventually rescinded by President Wilford Woodruff.
After the Manifesto was signed in 1890, many Latter-day Saints began to accept plural marriage. They saw it as a way to enter the celestial kingdom. The practice was later banned by the Second Manifesto.
The controversy over polygamy was also fueled by political pressure from the federal government. The LDS Church faced pressure to change its stance on polygamy. This was done as a result of Section 132.
While many Latter-day Saints agree that plural marriage is not a commandment from God, they also believe that it will be restored in the afterlife. The sealing ordinance, which is conducted in the Mormon temple, binds mortal relationships in both this life and the next. The sealing may include possible sexual relations.
Throughout the nineteenth century, Church leaders had difficulties practicing plural marriage. Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles resigned. They argued that the Second Manifesto was wrong. The Church emphasized the importance of circumlocution.
Despite the difficulties, the practice of polygamy in the nineteenth century helped raise seed for God in the Salt Lake Valley. Those who participated in early plural marriages believed that a day would come when the practice would be publicly recognized.
