Mormonism and Christianity

2094 Words5 Pages

Here is a riddle. When does 1.5% equal 50%-70%? The answer? When discussing the percentage of Mormons in the United States of America compared to that of Salt Lake City, Utah (Demographics) (Salt Lake). The numbers can be a point of some debate but using even the most moderate numbers are astounding. What do we know about Mormonism? What has pop culture told us? Is it true? These questions and more will be answered, and to some these answers may be astounding.

Joseph Smith was born in 1805 in Sharon, Vermont (Oliver, Branch, and Walker). According to the religion, he prayed his first prayer at age 16, and he saw Jesus and God the Father in a vision (Oliver, Branch, and Walker). About seven years later, the angel Moroni (the son of the prophet Mormon) gave him two golden tablets inscribed with symbols, which he translated into the Book of Mormon in 1830 (Oliver, Branch, and Walker). The Church of Christ was founded on April 6th of that same year and was the first church for the religion. Four years later the church changed its name to Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) (Oliver, Branch, and Walker). On June 27th, 1844 Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum die in a gunfight at a jail where he and others are being held on charges of treason. They were attacked by a mob. Joseph did manage to kill two gunmen and wound another with a small pistol, which was smuggled in earlier (Oliver, Branch, and Walker).

Brigham Young then takes over as the second prophet. Brigham Young Dies in 1877 and is officially succeeded by John Taylor in 1880 (Oliver, Branch, and Walker). Seven years later Taylor dies and is succeeded by Wilford Woodruff in 1889. During this time there were many difficulties for the Mormons. There were many disagreements withi...

... middle of paper ...

...Christianity and Mormonism have something in common, and that is a strong desire to live a good and loving life and they both offer the world something to cling to and strive to achieve.

References

Oliver, T. Branch, R. and Walker, J. (n.d.) Historical Events, Notable Doctrines. Mormonism Overview. Retrieved November 24, 2006 from http://www.watchman.org/lds/ldshst96.htm

(n.d.). Demographics of the United States. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 24, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Religious_affiliation

(n.d.). Salt Lake City, Utah. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 24, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City,_Utah#Demographics

Lue, D. (n.d.). Mormons and Polygamy or, "Utah: Where Monogamy is Monotony". Retrieved November 24, 2006 from http://www.delsjourney.com/close-ups/us/travels_sw/mormons_and_polygamy.htm

Show More
Related

  • The Impact Of The Kingdom Of Matthias On Gender Roles

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    This event changed the role of American religion during the early nineteenth century. Non-traditional religions such as Mormonism resulted from this religious revival movement as well. The religious revivals that emphasized individual choice of humans over predestination of God continuously shook New England Calvinism. The “cult of Matthias” was unlike any other religious groups during the time period.

    Read More

  • The Difficulties of Mormons and Gentiles Living Together

    446 Words  | 1 Pages

    How far was smith to blame for Mormons trouble? Smith founded the religion so in some ways it was all his fault if their was no religion the Mormons wouldn't be in any trouble and

    Read More

  • Social And Political Reactions To Mormon Polygamy

    2000 Words  | 4 Pages

    113 Encyclopedia Britanica. Chicago, IL. Chicago, 1965. Bitton, Davis & Beecher, Maureen U. New Views of Mormon History. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1987.

    Read More

  • Mormonism: A Paradigm of an American Faith

    1645 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...shall, eds. Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia. New York, New York: ABC-CLIO, August 10, 2010. Print.

    Read More

  • The Mormon Family

    1385 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Growth of the Church - LDS Newsroom." LDS News | Mormon News - Official Newsroom of the Church. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .

    Read More

  • The Journey and Downfall of Royce Oatman

    2601 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Oatman’s adventure began as a result of their decision to join a new sect of the Mormon faith. This particular belief, whose followers were named Brewsterites, had its roots in Kirtland, Ohio around 1836. A young boy, about ten years old, named Colin Brewster, showed promise in the eyes of Joseph Smith, the great Mormon prophet. Many had already noticed the boy’s “gift for seeing in vision distant objects not seen by the natural eye” (McGinty 40). Eventually, Brewster’s vision of a round table lead to his acceptance as “a prophet, a seer, a revelator and translator” (McGinty 31), by Joseph Smith Sr. and two other church elders, one of which was referred to as Lord.

    Read More

  • Kingdom Of Matthias Sparknotes

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...leased from prison, Mathews continued his quest for religion by seeking Joseph Smith of the Mormon society, under the alias Joshua the Jewish Minister. The two had a heated discussion of resurrection and reincarnation. On the other hand, Matthews claimed to be both God and the reincarnation of the apostle Matthias. However Matthews his meeting with Smith was unsuccessful because both prophets believed the other was of the devil. Matthews’ s religious journey albeit chaotic and aberrant now serves as subconscious guide for how new religious movements and cults in present day America.

    Read More

  • Polygamy in America

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    “History of Fundamentalist Mormons.” Wheat & Tares. Wheat and Tares, 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. .

    Read More

  • The Mormon Religion

    1518 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Mormon population holds true to their unique religious beliefs. Most Mormons are similar to those who practice Christianity, however there are some differences. Over the past two centuries that Mormonism has been founded by Joseph Smith, this faith has expanded across the United States. Even though the faith has been powerful to many believers it is becoming less frequently practiced. This religion not only practices God and Jesus as separate people but also believes that God is seen in everyone. Since, Mormons are very religious and godlike we have to be competent to these differences when working with this population. There is very little information about how to perform Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a child that is practicing

    Read More

  • Terry Tempest Williams and Mormonism

    1430 Words  | 3 Pages

    Terry Tempest Williams is fully aware that she is contradicting the church when she writes “women have no outward authority,” yet she still chooses to take part in a ritual of healing that can only be performed by the men. Williams, however, does so in privacy and in the “secrecy of the sisterhood.” The word secrecy hints at the idea of doing something which is not accepted and against certain beliefs of today’s church. She was born and raised in a home of devout Mormons who follow the traditional beliefs of their faith. She acknowledges that the Mormon Church places great importance on obedience. In college she began to question her faith and today would not consider herself an “orthodox Mormon,” although Mormonism still has an impact in her life and work. In her writing, Williams continually contradicts the values of the Mormons.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Religions of Christianity and Hinduism

    2515 Words  | 6 Pages

    Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Two Religions

    2411 Words  | 5 Pages

    In our current day and age, there are many religions as the chart above shows. Some of which may appear similar. These religions may be superficially the same; however, they have very distinct doctrinal differences. For example two religions may believe in a heaven and a hell, but the way correct way they think to get to heaven can be completely different. There are also many religions who believe in Jesus as the son of God; other beliefs say that he was just a mere man or a prophet. C.S. Lewis is a renowned Christian apologetic; before he devoted his life to Christ he said “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said wouldn't be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he's a poached egg -- or else he would be the devil of hell; you must take your choice” (Lewis). Many religions believe in a higher power. Some religions like Buddhism, believe in many gods. Other religions say that there is only one god.

    Read More

  • A Defense of Polyamory

    1418 Words  | 3 Pages

    Polyamory, like polygamy, refers to the state of conducting multiple romantic relationships at once; however, there are many distinctions between the terms. The most blatant difference is that polygamy specifies the participants are all married to each other, whereas polyamory encompasses a spectrum of relationships ranging from casual to committed. Furthermore, polygamy has its roots in religious and highly patriarchal systems, such as the Abrahamic faiths or the notorious Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Quite distinctly, the lifestyle we now know as polyamory grew out of the hippies’ free love movement in the 1960s, with considerably different values. In its modern form, it is a secular alternative lifestyle that is gradually gaining in popularity. It is estimated that there are over half a million openly polyamorous families in the United States alone.

    Read More

  • The Mormon Symbolism in Twilight

    1520 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the most predominant examples of Mormon ideology in the Twilight Saga is the

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Jesus Christ And Heavenly Father

    1783 Words  | 4 Pages

    All religions differ in one way or another, but one of the biggest distinguishers for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is our core belief in the Godhead. This core belief, while not included in the Genesis account of the Creation, can be seen in Moses 2:1: “I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth…” Immediately we can see that Heavenly Father referred to His Son as the creator of the heaven and the earth, and it was only under the direction of the Father that it occurred.

    Read More

More about Mormonism and Christianity

Open Document