BY: BETHANY SOPH AND JASMINE FAHRNBAUER Mormon

What do Mormons believe? Mormons believe in, hope in, rejoice in, and testify of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World. Mormons attest to the validity of the Bible and modern-day revelation and have a core belief in the importance of eternal families. They assert that Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 with the express purpose of restoring His Church and gospel in its purity and fullness to the earth.

Their Views on God Mormons believe that God, our Heavenly Father, has a plan for each of us. He knows us individually and will help guide and direct us through our lives. We have divine purpose. We were sent here to receive physical bodies. Before we came to earth, we dwelt with our Father in Heaven lacking bodies of flesh and blood; in other words, we were personages of spirit, or Heavenly Father’s spirit-children. Therefore, God is literally our Father in Heaven.

Articles of Faith We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentances; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, anglesites, and so forth. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. 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. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. 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. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Who is Joseph Smith? The Church of Jesus Christ was restored to its fullness through Joseph Smith in As a fourteen year old boy, Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees in Manchester, New York, and prayed to know which church he should join. It was then that Joseph Smith had what Mormons call the “First Vision.” Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Him and told him he was not to join any of the churches. Instead, he was to restore the Church of Jesus Christ. Through instruction from an Angel named Moroni, Joseph Smith found and then translated the Book of Mormon, a record of ancient inhabitants of the Americas. The Book of Mormon peoples were descendants of Jacob, who were led out of Jerusalem at the time of the Babylonian captivity. They were led to the Americas by the Lord; they kept the Law of Moses, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Their prophets testified that Christ would be born to a virgin, and would be crucified for the sins of the world. Christ visited these peoples after His resurrection. Joseph Smith spent his life acting as missionary and leading the church as a prophet. The restored Mormon Church has the same teachings and organization as the Church established by Jesus in New Testament times. Revelation through a modern day prophet has helped the church adapt to modern demands and cultures.

How large is the Mormon religion? Mormons represent the fourth largest religious denomination in the United States.

Holidays of the Mormon religion Many of the holidays Mormons celebrate are to remind them of important things such as the birth of Christ at Christmas, his Resurrection at Easter, New Year's to make goals, and Pioneer Day when the Saints traveled west into the Salt Lake Valley.

Mormon Lifestyle Mormons follow The Words of Wisdom, a commandment that forbids drinking alcohol, coffee, tea, or using tobacco or illegal drugs. The law of tithing was later given to the people. Mormons believe in dressing modesty. Mormons refrain from recreating or shopping on Sundays in order to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. Living these commandments brings joy and stability, freedom, and safety to followers of Christ.