The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian denomination. They consider themselves to be the re-establishment of the original church, founded by Jesus Christ. While the beliefs and practices of the LDS Church vary considerably from those of other Christian denominations, many members consider them to be Christian in spirit. This article discusses some of the important aspects of the Mormon faith. We’ll look at doctrines such as family unit, polygamy, and baptism for the dead.
Church leadership
The structure of the church is based on three groups, or “Quorums,” the first two being the General Authority and the third the Presiding Bishopric. In addition to the First Presidency, there are also two other Quorums, the Second Quorum of Seventy and the Third Quorum of Seventy. These groups, which are comprised of seven male members, are known as the general authorities. The First Presidency and the Second Quorum of Seventy are known as “general authorities,” whereas the Third Quorum of Seventy is restricted to the area of their designated jurisdiction.
Mormons follow a strict hierarchy in the church and all members are called to the priesthood. To hold a priesthood office, a male member must be over the age of twelve. The ordination process involves other holders of the priesthood placing their hands on a person’s head. It is also the prerequisite for presidency in the church. Mormon priesthood doctrine emphasizes obedience. Members of the church are discouraged from public criticism of priesthood leaders, and repeated criticism can lead to excommunication.
Doctrine of baptism for the dead
In 1836, Joseph Smith gave the Mormon church the doctrine of baptism for the dead. It is found in the Doctrine and Covenants, not in the Book of Mormon. The idea of baptism for the dead in the name of the deceased is rooted in the doctrine of sanctification by faith alone. The first epistle of St. Paul was written to address problems in the city of Corinth, where there were a variety of non-Christian groups and pagan religions.
It is difficult to argue with the doctrine of baptism for the dead. After all, the first century Church was taught that the dead can receive the Savior’s full gift. In fact, the apostle Paul testifies of the resurrection of the Lord in his first epistle to the Corinthians. But a few Mormons, in particular, take it at face value. Here is why. Is it really biblical?
Family unit
According to the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the family is the basic unit of society. The home is the source of all righteous action. No other instrumentality can fulfill the essential functions of a home. Families are a vital part of society, as they are the center of most of life’s joys. Family relationships are of the utmost importance, as they are the only social organization that transcends death.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family is the most sacred social unit both in time and eternity. Families are God’s gift to His children. They teach correct principles, help each other achieve eternal life, and make up a family unit. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are obligated to seek truth, observe the commandments, study the scriptures, and serve their fellow LDS members.
Polygamy
Throughout the nineteenth century, the Mormon Church practiced polygamy. In 1860, Republican Representative Justin S. Morrill presented a bill to Congress that banned polygamy and instituted financial restrictions on the LDS Church. President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law on July 1, 1862, but it was quickly forgotten. Nonetheless, a dissident group argued that the Church went wrong, secretly retaining polygamy.
In the late nineteenth century, the largest faction of the LDS Church officially prohibited polygamy, and other smaller Latter-day Saint churches joined their ranks to protest the practice. This formal shift in LDS Church doctrine prompted a fundamentalist movement that resulted in the formation of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FCJS).
Despite these concerns, careful analysis of polygamy data shows that the practice was less harmful than once thought. Joseph Smith’s polygamy did not include sex as an essential part of the marriage ceremony. Furthermore, many polygamous marriages were simply sealings for the next life. As a result, cohabitation did occur in polygamous marriages. And the practice did not result in a large number of children. Despite this, polygamy was still troubling in many ways.