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MormonFAQ/Basic beliefs
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For the official declaration of the LDS beliefs and practices, go to Mormon.org.
Summary of Beliefs
First and foremost, the LDS church believes that God is a loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The Bible is used as a principal book of scripture.
They consider themselves to be a Christian denomination and it is extremely offensive to them to consider them otherwise. But, they do not consider themselves to be Protestant. They are restorationist.
Some of the beliefs that differentiate the LDS Church from other churches include:
- Modern day revelation and modern day prophets
- Starting with Joseph Smith in 1830, the Church has a prophet that leads the church. The prophet generally gives counsel and guidance and there is no expectation of infallibility. There is also a strong belief in receiving revelation "line up line." We--meaning the membership and the prophet--learn only what we are able to apply in our lives. Free agency also plays a big role and everyone is free to choose to follow or not to follow.
- Apostasy and Restoration
- Mormons believe that Jesus established a church on the earth. As the Apostles were killed, there was a loss of authority in the Church. While there were many great and inspired people throughout time in many denominations, the authority and many teachings were lost and had to be restored.
- Scripture
- LDS and RLDS believe that the Bible is the word of God as it is written down by man. They do not hold it as the infallible Word of God as it may contain the errors of men. But, even though they say that, they are traditionally conservative in their Bible interpretation and are strong readers of the Bible. One Barna Research poll has members of the LDS Church reading the Bible more frequently than many protestant denominations. The Latter-day Saints also believe in an Open Canon. That means they believe in scripture in addition to the Bible. The Book of Mormon is considered scripture as well as the Doctrine and Covenants (called the Book of Commandments by some denominations) and the Pearl of Great Price (Not accepted by all non-LDS denominations.)
- View of Salvation
- Christ makes it possible for us to be saved. But he expects us to repent and come to him. This means he expects us to do what he asks. LDS believe he asks us to be baptized, live a goodly life, and repent as we make mistakes. Christ saves us, the ordinances such as baptism do not. But Jesus asks us to show our commitment to him through following his commandments and one cannot expect to be saved if he or she willfully and knowingly refuses the gospel ordinances. Everyone will have the opportunity to be saved and we are not able to say who is saved and who isn't as God will be the judge and not man.
- Nature of God
- Mormons believe in God the Father, in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Where they differ from many other denominations is they don't believe they are one in substance as many trinitarians believe. Mormons also believe that God has a physical, but glorified body.
- Deification
- One belief that irritates some of the protestant denominations is the belief that God is our Heavenly Father, and that through Jesus Christ we might one day be like Him and be joint-Heirs with Christ in our Heavenly Father's presence. The doctrine is called deification by many theologians and was widely believed by some of the early church fathers in early Christianity.
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