Sects. "church of jesus christ of latter-day saints". Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Russell Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made an important statement on Thursday. The statement said Church leaders intend to make every effort to use the full name of the Church instead of abbreviations and nicknames.

“The Lord has put into my mind the importance of His revealed name for His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” President Nelson said in a statement. “We are entrusted with a certain work - we must bring ourselves into harmony with His will. Over the past few weeks, many Church leaders and heads of Church departments have taken the necessary steps to address this. ”

The updated style guide calls for avoiding acronyms such as “LDS” and the nickname “Mormons” as alternatives to the Church name in phrases such as “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church,” or “Church of Latter-day Saints.”

The announcement and leadership changes raised questions about the future of prominent Church organizations such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, LDS Business College, and the Mormon Canal. The new change also reflects a more dramatic cultural and linguistic shift than any previous attempt to inspire Church members to avoid the term “Mormon,” which has a difficult record in Church history.

It is curious to note that the statement was made available through one of the official church sites - mormonnewsroom.org ( Mormon News). This and other sites, possibly including the main Church site lds.org, will receive updated names, representing a challenging change for the Church.

Monumental changes

Details have not yet been specified, but the statement says that Church sites and materials will be changed over the next several months in line with President Nelson's direction.

For many years, the term Mormon has been used in the official names of websites, media channels, and international brands. An example is the I Am Mormon Campaign, which encouraged Church members to share their stories, ending with the phrase “… and I am a Mormon.”

In addition, the term is part of the daily life of members of the Church.

Patrick Mason, chair of Church Research at Claremont University, says big changes are coming within the Church.

He notes that Church members quickly adapted to the new term “caring ministry” introduced in April, but says that moving away from the term “Mormon” will require b aboutgreater effort.

“There has always been a certain ambiguity about the term, and it seems to me that the problem lies in the practicality of how to get around the word. mormon... This word is more than two hundred years old. It is better known than the term preferred by the Church. "

According to Mason, the new terminology will take root among Church members, but will find less resonance outside of it. Nonetheless, Mason states that the emphasis on the correct name of the Church will resonate around the world.

History

Since its very restoration in 1830, the Church has had an uneasy relationship with the term "Mormon." Church leaders have long reprimanded antagonists for referring to the Church as “Mormon,” but in recent decades there has been more tolerance for the nickname.

Joseph Smith was given the full name of the Church through revelation in 1838. Before that, it was called the Church of Jesus Christ, and then the Church of Latter-day Saints.

At various times in Church history, leaders have encouraged the use of the full, official name.

In 2001, Elder Dallin Oaks stated that he did not mind being called a Mormon, but did not want to be spoken of as belonging to the "Mormon Church." At the same time, the First Presidency issued an official decree urging Church members to use an official title or acronyms that include the name of Jesus Christ.

In 2011, Elder Boyd Packer said: “It's one thing when people call this Church Mormon and we are Mormons, and it’s quite another when we say that.”

Six months later, Elder Russell Ballard, who today serves as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, declared that the nickname “Mormon” was acceptable. At the same time, he called for avoiding the term "Mormon Church".

“It is by this name [(full name of the Church, approx. translator)] The Lord will call us on the last day. That name will set His Church apart from the rest, ”Elder Ballard said.

He revisited the topic again in 2014, further urging that the term LDS Church be avoided.

Today, with President Nelson and President Oaks in the First Presidency, and President Ballard as head of the Twelve, the topic is once again relevant. President Nelson emphasized that this time, the Church will do its utmost to establish the official name for use.

Updated style guide

The following items are noted on the Mormon News website:

• When first mentioning the Church, it is preferable to use its full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Where an abbreviated reference is required, the terms "Church" or "Church of Jesus Christ" are recommended. The term "restored Church of Jesus Christ" is also accurate and recommended.
• The expression "Mormon Church" has long been applied to the Church by the media, but it is not an official name and the Church does not recommend using it. Therefore, you should avoid using the abbreviation “LDS” and the epithet “Mormon” as the abbreviated name for the Church. The expressions “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church,” and “Latter-day Saint Church” are discouraged.
• When referring to members of the Church, the preferred terms “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” and “Latter-day Saints”. We ask you not to use the term "Mormons".
• The word "Mormon" and its derivatives are appropriate to use in proper names, for example, "The Book of Mormon", or in historically established expressions, for example, "Mormon Tract."
• The term "Mormonism" is incorrect and should not be used. When describing the doctrine, culture, and lifestyles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the precise term “the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” should be preferred.
• When referring to individuals and organizations that practice polygamy, it should be noted that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not associated with groups that practice polygamy.

Other names: Mormons.
Leadership.
President of the Religious Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Russia - Alexander Germanovich Lokshin. Mission President - Richard Chappil.
The location of the centers.
The world center of the church is located in the USA, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The centers are located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. The spiritual center of the Mormons (Zollikofen), which is their "house of God", is located in Switzerland.
In Russia, the administrative center of Mormons is the Religious Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
In Moscow:
Management Board - metro Chistye Prudy, Chistoprudny Blvd., 2, apt. 19, tel. 925-03-98, 921-58-32;
Suschevsky Val, 13/1, quarter 1-a, t. 972-47-40.
Mormon missions operate in the following cities of Russia:
Volgograd, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Magadan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk (including school No. 64), Rostov-on-Don (Novocherkassk), Samara, Saratov, St. Petersburg, Tver, Chelyabinsk, etc.
In November 1995, there were 12 congregations in Moscow.
The number of adepts.
There are currently about 10 million Mormons in 130 countries around the world.
1850 - 60,000 people, 1900 - 230,000 people, 1950 - 1,000,000 people, 1961 - 1,800,000 people, 1964 - 2,000,000 people, 1970 - 2,500 000 people, 1985 - 6,000,000 people
Mormons make up 75% of the population of Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah (USA).
The number of Mormons in Russia at present, according to the representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in our country, Elder Schwartz in the summer of 1996, is about 5,000 people. It is known that in Chelyabinsk there are about 40 Mormons, in Voronezh - 30, Magadan - 10-20, Yekaterinburg - 150.
Doctrine.
The foundations of Mormon teachings are found in three books, which they consider to be no less important than the Bible itself: The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Mormon is the foundation of Mormon teaching. Where there is conflict between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are considered true. This book consists of 15 small books, about 500 pages in total. They tell the story of the ancient population of America. During the construction of the Tower of Babel, the tribe of the Jaredites came to America, divided and ceased to exist as a result of internal enmity and struggle. In 600 BC, under the prophet Lech, representatives of the tribe of Manasiah came to America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: Nephites and Lamanites. Christ appeared to the Nephites after the Resurrection and gave directives for the foundation of the church. Through guilt, this true Church has disappeared, disintegrated. In A.D. 400 the last battles raged between the Nephites and the Lamanites near the Cumorah Hill. There the Prophet Mormon and his son buried the above records with the events recorded on them (420-421).
Mormons view The Book of Mormon "as a revelation, because they believe it contains what Jesus preached in His" American days. "
Most of the Doctrine and Covenants book "is made up of the revelations of Joseph Smith during his career, as well as some of the revelations of his followers (1823-1890).
The book "The Pearl of Great Price" also deals with the revelations and translations from the gold plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.
The Mormon creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841.
In their teaching about God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man was created in the likeness of God, and from this they conclude that God has a material body, just like man. Hence the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He is nevertheless Omniscient, since angels inform Him about all the events taking place on earth. But the Father is not the only God. There are many other "Gods". And for people there is an opportunity to become God someday. "What a person is now - such was God once, what God is now - such a person can someday become." This is the main idea of \u200b\u200bMormon teaching.
Since the motto of Mormons is: "optimism and faith are progress", then everything for them is about development. The person is on the upward path; he is "a god in the bud."
According to the teachings of Mormons, a person is not born a sinner, i.e. he has no inherited sin. Mormons consider it a sin to revolt against the "foundations of progress."
According to the teachings of Mormons, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, an individual can be justified from personal sins if he himself makes an effort. The Atonement is the work of God and man together. After death, a person becomes involved in various degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) earthly; 3) heavenly;
Mormons consider America to be the center of future world events, since Mormons are the people of God's covenant in the last time - the new Israel. For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.
In 1843 I. Smith received a "revelation" about the eternal duration of the conjugal union with the inclusion of polygamy. Polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government, Mormons abolished polygamy in 1890. Until today, they believe in the correctness of this teaching, but do not practice it. Baptism means the forgiveness of sins and membership in the church. Baptism can be accepted from the age of eight, and the baptizer enters into an alliance with the Creator. He must make a vow that he will keep God's commandments.
Only the "worthy" can receive the supper. Mormons believe that the Supper has nothing to do with the sacrifice of Christ, but serves to renew union with God and to recognize membership. According to Mormon teaching, the laying on of hands is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The laying on of hands is performed by priests. The act of the laying on of hands is what they call confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, cleansing and sanctification.
Only the head of the church has the authority to seal. A sealed marriage will not end in death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual realm. All representatives of unsealed marriages in eternity will be service spirits and will not be able to marry.
Characteristic.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is included in this guide because it has been classified as a totalitarian sect in:
some documents of the State Duma of the Russian Federation;
a. Dvorkin's book "Ten Questions to an Obsessive Stranger: A Guide for Those Who Do Not Want to Be Recruited", 1995: "You need to know that all totalitarian sets to one degree or another use deception in recruiting ... 10 suggested questions: ... 5. Tell us about the past of the head of the organization ... The very first Mormon - Joseph Smith - began his spiritual career with spiritualism and treasure hunting "(that is, Mormons are also mentioned in the book telling about totalitarian sects);
the book by AI Khvyli-Olinter "Dangerous totalitarian forms of religious sects" (1996).
In the Definition of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church "On pseudo-Christian sects, neo-paganism and occultism" (December 1994) Mormons are called "pseudo-Christianity and pseudo-religion".
The founder of this organization was the American Joseph (in another transcription - Joseph) Smith, who was born in 1805 in Jarone, Vermont, USA. At the age of 14, he received his first vision, in which it was revealed to him that he would not in any way join the existing churches.
In 1823 he received a second vision. The angel who appeared to him called himself Moroni. He spoke of the hidden "gold leaves" on Cumorah Hill, which contain important messages from ancient American history. The angel Moroni called Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 was he allowed to retrieve the buried treasure. The documents were written in "Old Egyptian letters" that could only be read with the help of "prophetic glasses" in the same box as the letters. His future associates Harris and Oliver Cowdery became his assistants. After completing the transfer, Smith replaced the plates.
In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published with a print run of 5,000. On April 6, 1830, a six-member Mormon church was founded in Fayeti, New York. This society spread relatively quickly, as its followers were actively proselytizing in some states. The hostility and persecution of Mormons led to the fact that they had to frequently change their place of residence. Several cities were founded by the Mormons where, based on revelation, Jesus Christ was to appear. Sadly, Latter-day Saints' books omit Smith's trial, his failed banking scam in Kertland, Ohio, his pre-revelation polygamy, the armies he organized in Missouri and Illinois, and the order to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him, the bloody clashes of Mormons with settlers in the middle of the last century.
In 1844 I. Smith ended up in Karthage prison, where the mob of the city shot him. Bryham Young became Smith's successor. During his tenure, it came to a "sacrificial procession" to the Great Salt Lake. For 17 months (1846-47) exactly 1700 km were covered. There they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or New Jerusalem).
Negotiations with the government for Mormons to be admitted to the United States failed due to the assumption of polygamy. When the practice was officially banned, the Mormons were admitted to Utah in 1896.
In 1838, the Mormons adopted the "divine commandment" to give tithes. Through active recruiting from around the world, Mormons quickly spread their teachings. Each missionary does his work free of charge and voluntarily for 2-3 years. And if in 1850 the number of members of the sect was 60 thousand people, then in 1985 - 6 million people.
In 1843, the first Mormon missionary congregation was founded. In Switzerland and Austria, Mormons began their activities in 1850. Mormons are now influential in Western countries. Their centers are located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. Their spiritual center (Zollikofen), which is their "house of God", is located in Switzerland.
Mormons willingly point out the strictness of their moral life: they do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, and do not drink such drinks as coffee and black tea.
The organization of the Mormon sect is based on a strict hierarchy. It is subdivided into "Colas" (districts) and "Wards" (assemblies).
In 1829, "John the Baptist" appeared to I. Smith and O. Cowdery and "ordained" them to the Aaronic priesthood. A month later, the "apostles" Peter, James and John appeared to them and "ordained" them to the priestly ministry of Melchizedek. On this basis, Mormons claim to hold the priesthood of the Almighty and have access to all holy powers. The "Melchizedek Priesthood" is concerned with spiritual matters, while the "Aaron Priesthood" is concerned with worldly matters.
It is customary for Mormons to be baptized in place of the dead. Only baptism is really and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, for deceased ancestors, substitute laying on of hands and sealing is also possible. To carry out these acts, accurate data of the deceased must be given. This explains the zeal with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894, the Family History Library in the American city of Salt Lake City, founded by Mormons, has been collecting and processing data from registers, censuses and other documents containing the names of people who lived on earth. These names are necessary for Mormons for the mysterious initiation of people into adherents of their cult in their temples, the entrance to which "outsiders" (not Mormons) are prohibited. Mormons include the dead in their cult in absentia, adding millions of dead people of various nationalities, religions, and beliefs (including atheists) to their organization's rosters. This work, hidden from the uninitiated, is accompanied by widespread Mormon efforts to create a single "Worldwide Genealogy Center" controlled by the Latter-day Saints. Since 1992, Mormons have begun to actively work with the Archival Departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia with the aim of copying (microfilming) archival documents. Having signed a contract with the State Archival Service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many metric books (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. The copies obtained from the Russian archives become the property of the Corporation of the President of the Mormons, which are then provided to researchers of genealogies through his own genealogical structure for a fee.
The Church of Latter-day Saints is now an empire with an annual income of $ 3 million (in part from collecting tithes from its members). 40 thousand of their missionaries work around the world.
Mormons pay special attention to their appearance: they dress cleanly and neatly, cultivate good manners, are intelligent, polite, and literate. The zeal of representatives of Mormons in improving these qualities comes from their teaching, which states that a person is "a god in embryo" and their ultimate goal is to move up the path of progress through personal improvement and become equal to God at the finish line. That is, gradually "grow" into the heavenly Kingdom.
Below is an excerpt from the Bulletin No. 60 (220) of the State Duma of the Russian Federation dated December 4, 1996:
"Despite the name and use of Christian terminology, the teaching of Mormons, according to the unanimous opinion of all traditional Christian confessions, not only has nothing to do with Christianity, but also denies all twenty-century Christianity as a whole. This sect ... operates in Russia in an atmosphere of the strictest Therefore, we know least of all about the true goals and forms of their activities in our country. ”In the documents recently submitted by the sect to the Council for Interaction with Religious Organizations under the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, it was reported that the Mormons had imported to Russia and distributed humanitarian aid in the amount of $ 14 million STA. It seems that humanitarian aid for such a huge amount could not go unnoticed. Nevertheless, few people have heard of Mormon aid in Russia. It is reasonable to ask the question: if this figure is reliable, then where did that money go?
The active work of Mormons in the Russian archives is costly and a matter of great concern. It should be noted that the secret temple rites of the Mormons and their doctrine of salvation are closely related to the genealogical research carried out by the CIHSPD. In Mormon temples, strictly secret "temple ordinances" are performed for the living and the dead (baptism, weddings, etc.), after which both become, according to the sect's teachings, Mormons. The names of the deceased are included in the lists for Mormon ordinances in absentia, without asking for the consent of the relatives of the deceased. Note that every living Mormon can have countless dead wives, with whom he was married in absentia in his temple. All members of the sect, in addition to direct "missionary work," are constantly looking for new archival names and data for the correspondence "homormation" of as many people as possible. Special Mormon teams examine government archives, museum and university collections of documents, archives of city governments, civil registrations, and parishes around the world. All filmed archival microfilms end up in the Mormon storehouse for eternal content, becoming their property ... A convenient reason for the relevant authorities to become interested in the activities of Mormons may be a direct violation of the foundations of the law. We know that they rent schools and other educational institutions for their worship services. Thus, in Moscow, they held services in secondary school No. 36 (on the territory of the Conception Convent) and in the premises of the music college at the Ulitsa 1905 Goda metro station. It seems that in provincial cities Mormons rent educational institutions on a much larger scale than in Moscow. "

Caution: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) sect.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is a dangerous sect of American descent.

Unlike Christians who claim the unity of God, mormons practice polytheism (polytheism), although they do not like to admit it.

According to the teachings of Mormons, it is permissible to kill people:“Will you love that man or woman enough to shed their blood? I can give you many examples when people were righteously slaughtered in order to atone for their sins ... the wickedness and neglect of nations forbid this principle to be fully realized, but the time will come, when the Law of God is in full force "(Chairman Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 44, pp. 219, 220).

The sacred books of Mormons are the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, the Bible. However, they trust the first three unquestioningly, while the Bible is often questioned. “I believe that the Bible that everyone reads, after it came out of the pen of its true authors, ignorant translators, careless scribes, or malicious and corrupt priests, contains many mistakes” (Teachings of Prophet J. Smith, p. 327).

The teachings of this sect are far from safe.Mormon preachers are taught to use deceit when recruiting new members. "So you don't need to tell the truth at first?" - I asked the sisters who taught me. They smiled and nodded affirmatively. This approach confused me. After all, the 13th article of faith of Mormons seems to say about the need to be honest "(Yulia DIDENKO," Why I Left the Marmon Community "). The section, guided by which Mormon missionaries rub into trust (according to the Mormon wording," establish trusting relationships ") in itself 3 points-instructions:

Meet.

Build a relationship based on a common view, which means emphasizing the other person’s similar views and hushing up differences.

Show empathy.

The Mormon sect is well known for its archival data collection activitieswhich they lead in all countries where they preach their doctrine. Since 1992, Mormons began to actively work with the archival departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia in order to copy archival documents. Having signed a contract with the state archival service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many registers and other documents. The goal of the Mormons is the mass copying of all archival information in Russia. The legal opinion of April 9, 2002 ends with the following conclusion: It is unacceptable to provide the Genealogical Society of Utah (USA) (a religious association of Mormons) with Russian archival materials in any form, including by providing the said organization with the possibility of microfilming Russian archives. illegal. However, Mormons continue to collect information, often in violation of the law. Repeatedly, Mormon preachers were detained in closed military installations. According to the newspaper "Kaliningradskaya Pravda" dated 09.23.2000: " The Mormon sect is actively used by the special services of the United States and Germany as a cover for conducting intelligence activities to collect classified information (socio-political, economic and military) on the territory of Russia, interfering in the internal political processes taking place in the country, inciting sectarian strife. Foreign missionaries pay special attention to reconnaissance infiltration into special-mode military facilities, and establishing direct contacts with servicemen. A certain part of young Mormons who return to the United States after missionary work ... join the CIA and the FBI. " whether a Russian person can calmly relate to the sacrilege committed over the memory of his ancestors.

In my time the Mormon sect was famous for polygamypracticed in it.

After a series of scandals, most Mormons abandoned this practice, but they still believe that people who become gods (the goal of any Mormon's life) should have many wives. "Those Ones who became Gods, even Children of God, are those who were polygamists." (Chair Brigham Young. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11. p. 269). Every Mormon man dreams of becoming a god after death, taking possession of the planet and living on it with a harem made up of women posthumously married to them in temple rites.

There are Mormon parishes and meeting houses in Saratov and the region. The teaching is being actively promoted. Through dishonest and unethical methods, Mormons attract young people. Now Mormons intend to build a temple in the center of Saratov (Gorky st., 65), in which religious ceremonies will be held, including "baptism of the dead" and "marriage with the dead." This ritual use of the names of our departed is akin to Satanic desecration of cemetery graves. To carry out these blasphemous ceremonies, sectarians from all over Russia will come to Saratov, they will buy more and more Saratov land and involve our fellow citizens in the sect. The location of the future sectarian building in the immediate vicinity of the Orthodox Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and the Muslim mosque is especially offensive for representatives of traditional religions. Probably, it is not without reason that the place for the future sectarian structure was chosen near the regional government.

In 1857, in the state of Utah, the Mormons who settled there, on the orders of their "prophet" Brigham Young, committed the massacre of non-Mormon settlers. More than 120 people (mostly women and children) were brutally killed ("The Mormon Prophet is guilty of the worst massacre in US history").

Let's not allow this story to be repeated in Saratov!

Church External Relations Service
Saratov Diocesan Administration

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According to the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (colloquially known as the “Mormon Church or LDS Church”), this is a unique restoration of the original Church that was established by Jesus Christ in the first century BC. The latter came under apostasy (and is no longer the Church of Christ as such), but it was restored to its original form in the early 19th century through a series of revelations by the prophet Joseph Smith Jr.

The LDS Church claims to represent the Kingdom of God on earth. She encourages all people to come to Christ through faith in Him, repenting, being baptized and enduring to the end in faith keeping all the commandments.

The best way to learn about the LDS Church is from Mormon members or missionaries. However, don't take their statements literally: Compare them to your own belief system, or if you are already a Christian, compare them to your own view of Christianity. Most importantly, pray with a sincere heart and true intent, trusting in Christ and that the Spirit of God will lead you to the truth.

Steps

Learn more about what Mormons believe. This can be more difficult than it sounds. In this case, the best source of information is a member of the Mormon Church or their missionaries. You can get literature on Mormonism from the Mormon Church website.

Read the Book of Mormon. This book is central to Mormon beliefs. Read the book with an open mind and heart, comparing its teaching to the Bible.

Meet with the Mormon missionaries. These young people devote up to two years of their lives teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ, all for free. Walk up to them on the street when you see them, or invite them into your house when they knock on your doors. If you don't see them, ask them to come by contacting them through the Mormon Church website.

Attend Sunday services at a Mormon chapel near you. You can find the address in the phone book or on the Church website. When you are in worship, listen to the announcements being delivered to you and talk to Church members and the bishop / branch president or his counselors.

Remember and pray about what you have been taught. Find a quiet place in your home or park. Get on your knees and speak to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Ask him to give you a sign if the Church is true and let the Holy Spirit answer you.

Depending on the response you receive, accept the invitation of the Mormon missionaries to be baptized as proof to others and to God that you have accepted Jesus Christ and want to follow Him.

1. Confirmation that you have become a member of the LDS Church. A priesthood holder will put his hands on your head and confirm that you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tell you, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit (also known as the Divine Spirit) will be your constant companion as long as you keep the commandments of the Lord throughout your life. As a verified member, your personal information will be added to the records of the Mormon Church, and then you will be officially considered a member of the worldwide church in a spiritual and physical sense. Congratulations!

   • On the other hand, remember that most missionaries are young people who live a Spartan life, very often distant from their friends and family. They also endure many rejections (and sometimes even abuse) in their daily lives and do not receive financial support from the Church. Treat them with kindness and respect - the way you would treat your children in their place. (Whether you accept their messages or not). They and their families make huge sacrifices so that you can find out what they believe to be true.
   • Mormons take their religion very seriously. It is a duty to a lifestyle. If you are not ready to accept this duty, you do not have to be baptized until you are ready for it.
   • Don't be afraid to question or question missionaries about why they believe in the Book of Mormons.
   • Know that Mormons are Christians. Christians believe in God and Jesus Christ. Christians believe in the Bible. Mormons also believe in such things, however, in other things too.
   • If you are not yet a Christian, read the Bible, especially the New Testament, and learn about the life of the Savior, Jesus Christ. You may get confused in your first attempts at reading the Old Testament, but Genesis is at least worth reading for a general outlook, and it should help you get closer to some of the concepts mentioned in the New Testament and the Book of Mormons (creation, Abraham, House of Israel, Joseph in Egypt, etc.) There are also Bible stories originally created for children that you can read so that your initial learning goes a little faster before (or during) more intensive study.
   • If you don't understand the Book of Mormons, there are always children's stories that can be found on the LDS Church website in various formats. While these stories are intended for children, they also work well for adults.
   • If you do not want to read the Book of Mormons, you can watch the Book of Mormon Journey movie (found by Google) online. But this film only covers the first two parts of the Book of Mormons. The film, however, was not filmed with the help of the Church and sometimes contains liberal interpretations of how everything could have been (this is especially true of things that are not mentioned in the film, for example, Nephi's attitude towards his future wife and various statements of the characters). Many people think this movie is a bad introduction to the Book of Mormons, so feel free to compare this movie to a book, think it over.

   Warnings

   • If you feel uncomfortable with being baptized, do not let missionaries and / or other Church members pressure you. The decision to join this church is entirely up to you. Study everything that interests you in detail and pray: if you are sincere, God will give you confidence in what you desire.
   • Be wary of those who claim to know more about Mormon beliefs than the Mormons themselves.
   • Conversely, many Christians from "traditional" denominations know little about the teachings of Mormons and reject them quickly, without giving themselves a real attempt to understand them. Consider any information provided to you as “secondary” information provided to you by the Mormons themselves.
   • While Mormon missionaries do not "officially" criticize other religions, they explain why other faiths are not entirely true, especially in matters of ordinance and priesthood authority. Remember that these missionaries are usually young people and therefore inexperienced. Raised in a mainstream Mormon environment, their understanding of other churches is often neglected. (As well as the best way to learn about Mormons “from Mormons,” the best way to learn about Catholicism, Methodism, etc., is from members of those denominations, not Mormon missionaries.)
   • Do not think that the Church has "secret" teachings that it is silent about. According to Mormons, doctrines exist.

Other names: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Church of Latter-day Saints.

Printed editions: Liahona magazine.

Sect history: The founder of this sect is the American Joseph Smith, who was born in 1805 in Sharon, Vermont, USA. His father, Joseph Smith Sr., was a mystic who spent most of his life in search of imaginary treasures and occasionally indulged in financial fraud.

In 1820. Smith Jr. had a wonderful vision in which God the Father and God the Son materialized during his prayer, revealed to him that he was chosen to revive true Christianity, and in no case should he adhere to existing churches. However, the "high destiny" did not prevent Joseph from continuing with his family to search for lost treasures, and using the indication of magic stones, magic wands and other similar attributes. This kind of passion for mysticism played, apparently, a decisive role in the formation of Smith Jr. as a "new prophet."

In 1823 he had a second vision. The angel who appeared to him called himself Moroni. He talked about the hidden "gold leaves" on Cumorah Hill, which are covered with the characters of the "modified Egyptian language" and contain important messages from ancient American history. The angel Moroni called Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 was he allowed to retrieve the buried treasure. The documents were written in "Old Egyptian letters" that could only be read with the "prophetic glasses" lying in the same box as the letters. His future associates Harris and Oliver Codvery became his assistants. May 15, 1829 Joseph and Oliver were “anointed” to the “Aaronic Priesthood” by the “John the Baptist” who appeared to them.eat".

In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published in 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, a six-member Mormon church was founded in Fayeti, New York. In the same 1830, the famous Protestant preachers of the time, Parley Pratt and Sidney Rigton, were converted to the new faith, which led to a sharp increase in the number of the new organization. This society spread relatively quickly, because his followers in some states were active in proselytizing (turning representatives of other confessions into members of the sect). Mormons' hostility and persecution forced them to move frequently. The Mormons founded several cities where Jesus Christ was to appear on the basis of revelation.

The notorious practice of polygamy was practiced among Mormons by direct "divine revelation" until 1890, when, under the influence of the authorities, they were forced to abandon such a way of family life. In 1838, the "divine commandment" of tithes was adopted by the Mormons. It should be noted that in the period from 1831 to 1844. Smith, according to his testimony, received over 135 revelations.

In 1844, former Smith aide John Bennett spoke openly about the practice of plural marriage in the church. When the wave of revelations became threatening, the outraged "prophet" tried to use force against the anti-Mormon newspaper Observer Nova. After the intervention of the state administration, Joseph Smith, along with his brother Hyrum, ended up in the prison in Karthag, where the outraged townspeople took the prison by storm. During the shootout, Smith was killed.

Bryme Young became Smith's successor. Under his leadership, a “sacrificial procession” was organized to the Great Salt Lake. In 17 months (1846-47), 1,700 km were covered. There they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or "New Jerusalem").

The history of Mormons bears traces of a serious crime. In 1857. Young ordered his "bishop" John Lee to destroy the train with settlers, which he did exactly. Twenty years later, Lee was tried and executed by the US government for this act.

Negotiations with the government of Mormons to legalize them in the United States failed due to the assumption of polygamy. When this practice was officially banned, Mormon activities were allowed in 1896 in Utah.

The Church of Latter-day Saints currently has 8 million followers and has an annual income of $ 3,000,000 (in part from collecting tithes from its followers). 40,000 of their missionaries work around the world. Mormons make up 75% of the population of Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah (USA).

Doctrine: Besides the Bible, Mormons have three “sacred” books, which they consider to be no less important than the Bible itself:

a) The Book of Mormon;
b) "Teachings and Unions";
c) "Pearl of Great Price";The Book of Mormon. This book is the foundation of Mormon teaching. Where there is conflict between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are considered true. This book consists of 15 small books (total of 500 pages). They tell the story of the ancient population of America. During the construction of the Tower of Babel, the tribe of Jaredites came to America, divided and self-destroyed as a result of internal enmity and struggle. In 600 BC, under the prophet Lech, representatives of the tribe of Manasseh came to America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: Nephites and Lamanites. Christ appeared to the Nephites after the Resurrection and ordered them to found a church. Through the fault of the Nephites, this true Church disappeared and disintegrated. A.D. 400 the last battles between the Nephites and the Lamanites took place near the Cumorah Hill. There the prophet Mormon and his son buried the above records with the events recorded on them, (420-421).Mormons view the Book of Mormon as a revelation. it, in their opinion, contains what Jesus preached in His "American days." The data in this book contradict the historical, archaeological, ethnographic evidence. In addition, since its first edition, the book has undergone many changes, sometimes concerning the meaning, sometimes the words, and sometimes the characters, and the last changes were made even in 1981. Modern Mormons are often unaware of these details. Moreover, in many places this "revelation" contains borrowings from the "King James Bible", taken together with the errors that the authors of this translation of the Bible made.The book "Teachings and Unions". Most of it is made up of the revelations of Joseph Smith, which he received during his career, as well as some of the "revelations" of his followers (1823-1890).The book "Pearl of Great Price". It also deals with "revelations" and translations from the gold plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.The Mormon creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841.In their teaching about God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man was created in the likeness of God, and from this they conclude that God has a material body, like man. Therefore, God the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He, nevertheless, is Omniscient, since angels inform Him about all the events taking place on earth. But the Father is not the only God. There are many other "gods". And people have the opportunity to become God someday. "What a person is now - such was God once, what God is now - such a person can someday become." This is the main idea of \u200b\u200bMormon teaching.

Since the motto of Mormons is: "optimism and faith are progress", then for them everything is about development. Man is on the upward path, he is "a god in the bud."

According to the teachings of Mormons, a person is not born a sinner, i.e. he has no inherited sin. The Mormons consider it a sin to revolt against the "foundations of progress."

According to the teachings of Mormons, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, an individual can be justified from personal sins if he himself makes an effort. The Atonement is the work of God and man together; after death, a person becomes involved in varying degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) earthly; 3) heavenly.

Mormons consider America to be the center of future world events, because Mormons are said to be "God's end-time covenant people" - "the new Israel." For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.

In 1843, I. Smith received a "revelation" about the eternal duration of a conjugal union in polygamy: "A sealed marriage will not end its existence with death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual kingdom. All representatives of unsealed marriages in eternity will be service spirits and will not be able to marry. " Polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government, the Mormons abolished it in 1890. Until today, they believe in the correctness of polygamy, but officially declare that they do not practice it. However, it turns out that there are examples of polygamy in Mormon communities today.

Mormons teach that the laying on of hands is the gift of the Holy Ghost. The laying on of hands is performed by the “priests”. The act of the laying on of hands is what they call confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, cleansing and sanctification. Only the head of the “church.” Baptism means the forgiveness of sins and admission to membership in the church. Baptism can be accepted from the age of eight, while the one receiving the baptism enters into an alliance with the Creator. He must vow that he will keep God's commandments.

It is customary for Mormons to be baptized in place of the dead. Only baptism is really and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, for deceased ancestors, substitutionary laying on of hands and sealing is also possible. To carry out these acts, accurate data of the deceased must be given. This explains the zeal with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894, the Family History Library in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, collects and processes data from registers, censuses and other documents containing the names of people who lived on earth. These names are necessary for Mormons for the mysterious initiation of people into adherents of their cult in their temples, the entrance to which "outsiders" (non-Mormons) are prohibited. Mormons include the dead in the ranks of their cult in absentia, adding millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists) to the lists of their organization. This work, hidden from the uninitiated, is accompanied by large-scale activities of Mormons to create a single "World Genealogy Center" controlled by the "Latter-day Saints" sect.

Since 1992, Mormons have begun to actively work with the Archive Departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia with the aim of copying (microfilming) archival documents. Having signed a contract with the State Archival Service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many registers of births (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. The copies obtained from the Russian archives become the property of the Corporation of the President of the Mormons, which are then provided to researchers of genealogies through his own genealogical structure for a fee. Mormons pay special attention to their appearance: they dress cleanly and neatly, cultivate good manners, are intelligent, polite, and literate. The zeal of the representatives of Mormons in improving these qualities comes from their teaching, which states that a person is “a god in embryo” and their ultimate goal is to move up the road of progress through personal improvement and at the finish line become equal to God, that is, gradually “grow in "To the heavenly Kingdom.The secret contains the fact that those of the Mormons who have undergone a ritual of special initiation are required to wear underwear with the image of Masonic symbols.

Structure and internal organization: The Mormon community is organized in a theocratic fashion with elements of Western democracy. It is headed by a "prophet or seer" who receives "revelations" from above and has unlimited power in various areas of the sect's life. It is assisted by a three-member Supreme Council as an advisory body. Administrative power is largely American in nature.

Mormon worship strongly resembles Protestant worship and is based on preaching, reading and singing hymns. In Salt Lake City, there is a major Mormon shrine crowned with six towers and a gilded statue of the "angel Moroni," who pointed out to the sect founder where the Book of Mormon was hidden.

Number of followers: 1850 - 60,000 people; 1900 - 230,000 people; 1950 - 1,000,000 people; 1961 - 1,800,000 people; 1964 - 2,000,000 people; 1970 - 2,500,000 people; 1985 - 6,000,000 people; According to the statement of Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley for 2000-11000000.

Criminal actions: includes sect founder Smith's glass fortune-telling trial, his failed banking scam in Kertland, Ohio, his pre-revelation polygamy, militias in Missouri and Illinois, and orders to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him and the case of the destruction of a train of settlers by the "prophet" of Mormons - Brigham Young. Repeated trials on the facts of polygamy. Russian law enforcement agencies recorded cases of collecting intelligencecultural data by members of the sect.

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If guests come to you with badges on their chests, in beautiful, strict suits and, smiling from the doorway, tell you that only eggs and Jackie Chan are cooler than you, then you have fallen into the Mormons. After assuring your exclusivity, the sectarians will begin to tell you about themselves. They will talk for a long time, show their family photos. In the photos you will see a large family, in the photo everyone will be smiling with "cloned smiles". Then you will tell about yourself, and you will be admired for a long time. After all these amenities, you will be presented with the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. A precious pearl. " Then you will be asked “What do you feel?”, Because of how much good you have heard about yourself, you will say that you feel good. You will be told that the Holy Spirit is calling you and that it is vital for you to become a Mormon.

The most interesting thing is that it is almost impossible to argue with Mormons, they agree with everything and ask to visit you again, or offer to visit their community, where you quit smoking, start speaking English, cross-stitch and knit socks, playing football and drinking juice ... You will master all this in two weeks. In parallel, you will be "permeated with true faith"

1. You give a tenth of your income to the community. On Saturdays, you eat once a day and the money saved goes to the community in excess of the tithe. "Extra money" that you do not need for social needs goes to the community in excess of the tithe.

2. Your new friends constantly visit you, you also visit. You are engaged in convincing one another of the truth of the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Then with the whole brigade you go from door to door with your photo albums and sectarian literature.

3. If your family, unlike you, is a non-Mormon, then they are enemies. They tempt you. You must renounce them. The community is your family. The community needs you. You must be educated, successful, polite, young and beautiful. And also prolific. The main mission of a woman in the sect is to give birth to a bunch of marmonites. Forcibly.

4. You cannot smoke, drink coffee and tea, alcoholic beverages. Other stimulants are also strictly prohibited.

5. You are taught English by American "hot boys", only taught by the "Book of Mormon", so that later you go around the world to carry the word of the sect, of course you are traveling with your own money. Thus, you will be driving for two years. If after that you have money left, and the community takes care of this, you become a priest (boys), a fertile womb (girls).

6. You collect from archives the names of your deceased relatives, friends, acquaintances, just different now deceased people and are engaged in the fact that “baptize their souls”, “crown their souls”, etc. Here is such an entertaining necrophilia.

7. You are constantly accused of not being rich enough and donating little, not smart enough and bringing in few converts, you do little for the good of the community. You have few children, future priests and fertile queens of the sect. For this you can be kicked out of the community and you will burn in hell.

8. In the end, you realize that you are a complete failure, you are constantly reminded of this, and you go crazy. The community does not need crazy people. Psychiatrists need them.