Q&A
Q1. What is the history of the Mormon religion and the history of the beginning of the world from the Mormon perspective?
A. They believe, like most Christians that the world was created in six days and that the Lord rested on the seventh. They believe that before the world was created there was a large council in heaven where we decided to come to Earth and receive a body. They also believe that Adam and Eve were the first people on the earth. The modern day Mormon religion was organized in 1830. Prior to that in 1820 Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this latter-day church was visited by the God the Father and Jesus Christ and was told that none of the religions at the time had the full truth. The church was later organized and officially was called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The term Mormon comes from the Book of Mormon, another religious book that the Mormons believe to be true. Also, some people think that Mormons are not Christian; they are because they believe in god the Father and Jesus Christ.
Q2. What are the Tenets by which one should live by? To what does this lead or what is the goal?
A. Mormons believe that they should keep the Ten Commandments, the Word of Wisdom, and keep other commandments, living worthily as best they can. If they sin, then through the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance, they can be forgive so that they might reach eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom.
Q3. What is "heaven"?
A. "Heaven" is a stage between death and resurrection before the final judgement before Christ. After you die you go to either heaven or hell/spirit prison. Heaven is basically paradise, where you wait for the resurrection and final judgement. In spirit prision, everyone who hasn't had the chance to hear the true gospel of Christ, will get the chance to accept the word of God. After the resurrection, we will all be judged according to our works and receive one of three degrees of glory.
Q4. Who are the major leaders or prophets?
A. At the head of the church today is the Prophet and he has two counselors. Then there are Twelve Apostles. After them are the Area 70. The church is divided into areas called stakes. At the head of every stake there is a Stake President who has two counselors. In every stake there are five or six wards or branches. Each ward or branch is led by a Bishop and he has two counselors as well. The prophet of the church today is Thomas S. Monson. Throughout time, there have been other prophets as well. Both in the Bible and the Book of Mormon (the other religious book that the Mormons use and read).
Q5. What are one or two sacred times of year? Why?
A. Like most Christians, Mormons celebrate Christmas which is the birth of Christ. They also celebrate Easter which is the resurrection of Christ. There is also a holiday called Pioneer Day where we remember the pioneers who went on the trek to Utah.
Q6. Where can most of the followers be located in the United States, world, and so forth?
A. In the United States, Utah has the largest Mormon population with 1,236,242 Mormons. That's about one-fourth of the United States Mormon population. Tonga has 32% of its population Mormon. But, the U.S. has more total followers coming in at 4,900,000 Mormons.
Q7.How many Mormons are there in the World compared to the total amount of Christians?
A. As of December 31st 2008 there are 13.5 million Mormons throughout the world. With about one-third in the U.S. There are a total of about 2 billion Christians in the World.
Q8. What caused a split in the denominations of the Mormon religion?
A. When Joseph Smith was martyred there was a fight about who the next prophet should be. Some members were set on who they wanted it to be and didn't ask the Lord what to do. They then left the church and denominations split.
Q9.What are Mormons relationships towards other religions?
A. As stated in the 11th article of faith Mormons explain that "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."
Q10. Is there an end of times for the people on earth in this religions perspective? What does it signify?
A. The Mormons believe that Christ will come again; no one knows when, but when he does come everyone will be resurrected. After being resurrected you have eternal life and are then judged based upon your works on Earth. There are three degrees of glory or outer darkness which is the worst place to go.
Page created by Austin Ahlborn: Thanks to Mormon.org & lds.org & my Dad
