A look at Utah’s “Majority Religion” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints www.mrm.org

Basic Church Statistics Began in 1830 with 6 members. Entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847 Reached their first million in 1947. Currently has a membership of just over 16 million (most of whom are located outside of the United States). The state of Utah has a total population of just over 3 million people. About 60% of Utahans are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over 60,000 full-time missionaries. 159 operating temples.

Joseph Smith [1805-1844] “Every man who has lived since the days of Joseph Smith is subject to accepting him as a prophet of God in order to enter into our Heavenly Father’s presence.” LDS Church News, March 17, 2001

A “Restored” Gospel “. . . Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that we are led by a living prophet today; and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth.” True to the Faith, 2004, p. 178

Leadership Structure of the LDS church First Presidency (Composed of three men ꟷ the “prophet, seer and revelator,” and his two counselors. Quorum of the Twelve (12 Apostles) Presidency of the Seventy (7 men) General Authority Seventies (91 men) Ward – A large congregation of approximately 300 members. Led by a bishop and two counselors. Branch – A smaller congregation led by a branch president and two counselors. Stake – Comprised of usually 5 to 12 wards and branches. Led by a Stake President.

15th President Gordon Hinckley What of the Mormons? 1976 “They [Mormons] are generally classed as Protestants, since they are not Catholic. Actually they are no closer to Protestantism than they are to Catholicism. Neither historically nor on the basis of modern association, theology, or practice can they be grouped with either. Suffice it to say that its theology, its organization, and its practices are in many respects entirely unique among today’s Christian denominations.” 15th President Gordon Hinckley What of the Mormons? 1976

How is the LDS Church Unique? Different Scripture Different view of God Different view of salvation Different view of the hereafter

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepts four books as scripture: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These books are called the standard works of the Church. . . In addition to these four books of scripture, the inspired words of our living prophets become scripture to us. Their words come to us through conferences, the Liahona or Ensign magazine, and instructions to local priesthood leaders.” Gospel Principles 2009, pp. 45, 48

A Faulty Bible Articles of Faith - “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” (Article Eight). Apostle Neil Maxwell – “By faulty transmission, many ‘plain and precious things’ were ‘taken away’ or ‘kept back’ from reaching what later composed our precious Holy Bible” (“The Wondrous Restoration,” Ensign, April 2003, p.35).

How is the LDS Church Unique? Different Scripture Different view of God Different view of salvation Different view of the hereafter

The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.426 (ellipsis and brackets his) “Men with keen intelligence got together… [at] Nicaea and created a God. They did not pray for wisdom or revelation. They claimed no revelation from the Lord. They made it just about like a political party would do, and out of their own mortal minds created a God which is still worshiped by the great majority of Christians.” The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.426 (ellipsis and brackets his)

LDS Apostle James Talmage Articles of Faith, p. 430 “We believe in a God who is Himself progressive, whose majesty is intelligence; whose perfection consists in eternal advancement -- a Being who has attained His exalted state by a path which now His children are permitted to follow, whose glory it is their heritage to share … the Church proclaims the eternal truth: ”As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be.” LDS Apostle James Talmage Articles of Faith, p. 430

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith 2007, pp.40, 41 “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!” “Doctrine and Covenants 130:22: ‘The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as tangible as man’s’” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith 2007, pp.40, 41

A different Jesus “As a church we have critics, many of them. They say we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity. There is some substance to what they say.” 15th President Gordon B. Hinckley “We look to Christ,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 2002, p. 90

How is the LDS Church Unique? Different Scripture Different view of God Different view of salvation Different view of the hereafter

“After all we can do” “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23

“The perfect relationship between the atoning grace of Christ and the obedient efforts of mankind is powerfully stated by Nephi: ‘We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23). Furthermore, we are invited to ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.’ When we deny ourselves ‘of all ungodliness,’ then and only ‘then is his grace sufficient’ for us (Moroni 10:32)” “Plain and Precious Truths Restored,” Ensign, October 2006, p.53

A Pernicious Doctrine? “One of the most pernicious doctrines ever advocated by man, is the doctrine of ‘justification by faith alone,’ which has entered into, the hearts of millions since the days of the so-called ‘reformation.’” 10th President Joseph Fielding Smith The Restoration of All Things, 1964, p. 192

James E. Faust (First Presidency) Ensign, November 2001, p.18 Jesus’ death was insufficient payment for our sins “All of us have sinned and need to repent to fully pay our part of the debt. When we sincerely repent, the Savior’s magnificent Atonement pays the rest of that debt.” James E. Faust (First Presidency) Ensign, November 2001, p.18

How is the LDS Church Unique? Different Scripture Different view of God Different view of salvation Different view of the hereafter

Possible destinations for mankind Celestial Kingdom – Faithful Mormons who confess and forsake all of their sins and keep all of the commandments. Terrestrial Kingdom – Lukewarm Mormons and good people who rejected the “restored Gospel” of Mormonism during their mortality. Telestial Kingdom – The wicked of this world. Outer Darkness – The devil and his angels, and sons of perdition (Mormons who left the faith knowing it is true, and fought against the LDS Church).

The law you keep in mortality determines where you will spend eternity “A man will have a celestial glory if he abides the law of the celestial kingdom; he will have a terrestrial glory if he abides the law of the terrestrial kingdom; he will have a telestial glory if he abides the law of the telestial kingdom. That is the law of God unto us.” 4th President Wilford Woodruff, April 6, 1890, [Conference address], Collected Discourses 2:51

“It is the celestial glory which we seek “It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings must be earned.” 16th President Thomas S. Monson "An Invitation to Exaltation,” Ensign, May 1988, p.53

What about polygamy? “Question: Is polygamy gone forever from the Church? We only know what the Lord has revealed through His prophets, that plural marriage has been stopped in the Church. Anything else is speculative and unwarranted.” (www.mormonnewsroom,org, “Polygamy: Questions and Answers With the Los Angeles Times”) Today, any member married to more than on living wife is excommunicated.

What is Eternal, or Celestial Polygamy? “If a husband and wife have been sealed and the wife dies, the man may have another woman sealed to him if she is not already sealed to another man.” Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops, 2010, p. 20 17th President Russell M. Nelson – Married to Dantzel White (deceased) and remarried to Wendy Watson. Dallin H. Oaks (First Counselor) – married to June Dixon (deceased) and remarried to Kristen McMain.

www.mrm.org