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Of all the numbers in the Pew Research Center’s recently released survey of “Mormons in America,” the highest, most overwhelming numbers are these: 98 percent of respondents said they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 97 percent say their church is a Christian religion.
This comes on the heels of earlier surveys indicating that 32 percent of non-LDS U.S. adults say the LDS Church is not a Christian religion, and an additional 17 percent are unsure of LDS Christianity. The theological and semantic reasons for this can be complex, but for the 1,019 self-identified Mormons who participated in the Pew survey, their theological position is clear: Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, and they consider themselves to be Christian.
“Certainly in Latter-day Saint theology is this idea that if you understand who you are, you understand that there’s a purpose in life, you understand your connection to God, that certainly has an impact on how you live your life... Read the rest of this article »
By Amy Choate-Nielsen
Deseret News
Published: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 7:00 p.m. MST
David Letterman knows how to get a laugh.Like most comics, he riffs on the day’s news, deadpans the camera and revels in audacity.”Oh, did you hear about this?” the host of CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman asked his audience recently. “A campaign staffer on the Newt Gingrich campaign was fired because he was making negative comments about Mormons. I thought, now, wait a minute — isn’t Newt in favor of multiple wives?”
Laughter rumbled from the audience followed by applause. The polygamy punch line is a familiar one when it comes to poking fun at Mormons — as though Mormons and polygamy are synonymous in mainstream media. Ironically, the practice that’s most linked to Mormons is a practice most Mormons oppose, according to a groundbreaking new study of Mormons in America released Thursday by the Pew Research Center‘s Forum on Religion and... Read the rest of this article »
SMITHFIELD — After dinner, three baths, four bedtime stories and a half-a-dozen goodnight kisses for 2-year-old twins Brock and Isaac and 6-year-old Ellie, Erin and Brian Thompson finally sink into the couch with weary smiles.
Being parents is just what they always wanted. And they love it.
“Of course we have our crazy moments,” Thompson says, “but for the most part we just try to find the good things in the day and remember that they’re only going to be little for so long.”
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Thompsons believe that maintaining a strong marriage and raising and teaching children are essential keys to happiness and their most important responsibilities on earth.
In fact, 81 percent of Mormons say being a good parent is “one of the most important things in life,” according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life — the first survey of Mormons about Mormons,... Read the rest of this article »
As the “Mormon moment” extends into 2012, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life today released a groundbreaking new survey, the first ever published by a non-LDS research organization to focus exclusively on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their beliefs, values, perceptions and political preferences.
Entitled “Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their Place in Society,” the survey was conducted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 16, 2011 among a national sample of 1,019 respondents who identified themselves as Mormons. The results validate a number of long-held stereotypes (most American Mormons are white, well-educated, politically conservative and religiously observant) while providing a few interesting surprises (care for the poor and needy is high on the list of LDS priorities, while drinking coffee and watching R-rated movies aren’t as taboo among the rank and file as you might think).
“While this survey... Read the rest of this article »
By Mel Borup Chandler.
In most churches, people volunteer for a particular ministry or cause. They work underneath a paid clergy, who are professionally trained or educated, or who have established a ministry based upon their charisma or spirituality.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes erroneously called the Mormon Church) has no paid clergy, but is manned top to bottom by people “called” to perform needed tasks and offer leadership. The organization of the Church is supervised by Jesus Christ and is modeled after Christ’s ancient church, with 12 apostles called from their worldly pursuits, seventies, and all the other offices described in the New Testament.
Some critics of the Church point out that the prophet, his counselors, and the twelve apostles are paid. These men have relinquished their worldly pursuits to serve the Lord full-time for a modest subsistence. No one in their right mind would look at Mormon apostleship as a way to get... Read the rest of this article »
Not many people really know that there are popular singers earning fame and fortune in the world today who are Mormons. Even before David Archuleta won fame on American Idol in 2007, the Osmonds in 1970’s were already popular with their hit songs “Hold Me tight”, “I Can’t Stop”, and “Love Me For A Reason” , which was later popularized by The Boyzone in the 90’s. Although there are just a small percentage of Mormons from the total 14,131,467 members worldwide who sing and become popular for a period of time, it’s still interesting to mention some of them like The Jets in the 90’s, The Brett Family (today), Alex Boye ( a member of a band named Awesome ), Brooke White, Carmen Rasmusen, Nathan Pacheco, Gladys Knight, Brandon Flowers, Neon Trees, SHeDAISY, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
As recorded in one of the Mormonism‘s modern scriptures, Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 it states: “… the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall... Read the rest of this article »
By Edgar.
Most religions of today have their own obvious identity mark or distinguishing feature such as a unique ceremony, unusual practice or tradition, grand buildings, or the very members of its organization. This is also true of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or Mormons. What are Mormons really like? Some people equate Mormons with reclusive polygamous groups who dress in old-fashioned prairie clothing. But those peoples are not Mormons. Mormons are not Amish or Mennonites, either. They dress in modern clothing, live everywhere, work in all professions, believe in doing good, getting an education, and serving in their communities.
Mormons would usually refer Matthew 7:16; 20 which states that “… by their fruits ye shall know them.” They believe that like a good tree which bears good fruits, their church and its members are also doing all they can to seek the poor and the needy, to help, support and rescue those who need to be... Read the rest of this article »
Polygamy and Mormons have been two things which have been linked in the news quite a bit. However, the truth is that there is no such thing as a modern polygamous Mormon. President Gordon B. Hinckley, fifteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church), stated the following in October 1998:
I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church. Most of them have never been members. They are in violation of the civil law. They know they are in violation of the law. They are subject to its penalties. The Church, of course, has no jurisdiction whatever in this matter.
If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church. An article of our faith is binding... Read the rest of this article »
By Jhumer.
In the year 1936, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church), formally established a Church Welfare System. The purpose of this program is to help LDS Members become self-reliant, care for the poor and the needy and to give service to others.
Mormons volunteer at a church cannery to prepare food for the poor.
In the formation of this program, President Heber J. Grant, then the President of the Mormon Church said:
“Our primary purpose was to set up, insofar as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our church membership”(In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 3).
The LDS Church believes that in order for its members to be able to effectively help others,... Read the rest of this article »
By Roy.
Most people think of “Mormons” as a strict religious group, imposing many restrictions. Some might say to themselves that they could not be like them. Some might wonder what kind of lifestyle these Mormons are dealing with. Misconceptions abound, which sometimes regard Mormons as odd and secretive. However, those who have Mormon friends and neighbors know differently. Mormons are industrious and trustworthy people. There are Mormons who serve in government offices, in the military, in all kinds of businesses, in entertainment, sports, and in medical fields. And there are Mormons who work as scientists, teachers, lawyers, engineers, and in other fields. Other than the fact that they look so wholesome, you might not know when you are meeting a Mormon.
The Mormon Church believes “in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men” (Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13). These virtues... Read the rest of this article »
