Sects. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Foundation Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Russell Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made an important announcement Thursday. The statement said that Church leaders intend to make every effort to ensure that the full name of the Church is used instead of abbreviations and nicknames.

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

The updated style guide encourages the avoidance of abbreviations such as "LDS" and the nickname "Mormon" as alternatives to the name of the Church in phrases such as "Mormon Church", "LDS Church" or "Latter Day Saint Church".

The announcement and leadership changes have raised many 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 effort to inspire members of the Church to avoid the term "Mormon," which has had a difficult reputation in Church history.

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

Monumental change

Details are yet to be released, but the statement says that over the next few months, Church websites and materials will be changed 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 a Mormon" campaign, during which members of the Church were encouraged to share their life stories, ending with "... and I am a Mormon."

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

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

He notes that members of the Church quickly adjusted to the new term "ministering ministry" introduced in April, but says that abandoning the term "Mormon" would require about more effort.

“There has always been some ambivalence 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 over 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 the members of the Church, but will find less response outside it. However, Mason states that focusing on the right name for the Church will resonate around the world.

History

Ever since its restoration in 1830, the Church has had an uneasy relationship with the term Mormon. Church leaders long time antagonists were reproached for referring to the Church as "Mormon", but in recent decades the nickname has become more tolerant.

Joseph Smith received the full name of the Church by revelation in 1838. Prior to that, it was called the Church of Jesus Christ, and then the Church of Latter-day Saints.

At various times in the history of the Church, leaders have called for 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 referred to as belonging to the "Mormon Church." At the same time, the First Presidency issued an official decree urging Church members to use the official name or abbreviations that included the name of Jesus Christ.

In 2011, Elder Boyd Packer said, "It's one thing for others to call this Church Mormon and us Mormons, and quite another for us to call it that."

Six months later, Elder Russell Ballard, who today serves as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, declared that the title "Mormon" was acceptable. At the same time, he urged that the term "Mormon Church" be avoided.

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

He revisited the topic in 2014, additionally urging the term "LDS Church" to be avoided.

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

Updated style guide

The Mormon News website notes the following points:

• When first mentioning the Church, it is preferable to use its full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• When abbreviated reference is needed, 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 means of mass media, however, it is not an official name and the Church does not recommend its use. Therefore, the use of the abbreviation "LDS" and the epithet "Mormon" as an abbreviation for the Church should be avoided. The expressions "Mormon Church", "LDS Church", and "Church of the Latter Day Saints" are undesirable.
• When referring to members of the Church, the terms "members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and "Latter-day Saints" are preferred. We ask you not to use the term "Mormons".
• The word "Mormon" and its derivatives are appropriate in proper names, such as "Book of Mormon," or in historical expressions, such as "Mormon Road."
• The term "Mormonism" is a misnomer and should not be used. When describing the doctrine, culture, and lifestyle 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 plural marriage, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be identified as not affiliated with groups that practice polygamous marriages.

Other names: Mormons.
Management.
President of the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Russia - Lokshin Alexander Germanovich. The mission president is Richard Chappil.
Location of centers.
The Church World Center 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 "God's house", is located in Switzerland.
In Russia, the administrative center of the Mormons is the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
In Moscow:
Management Board - m. "Chistye Prudy", Chistoprudny Boulevard, 2, apt. 19, tel. 925-03-98, 921-58-32;
Suschevsky Val, 13/1, apt. 1-a, tel. 972-47-40.
Mormon missions operate in the following Russian cities:
Volgograd, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Magadan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk (including at school No. 64), Rostov-on-Don (Novocherkassk), Samara, Saratov, St. Petersburg, Tver, Chelyabinsk and others.
As of November 1995, there were 12 congregations in Moscow.
The number of adherents.
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 the present time, according to the statement of 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 there are about 40 Mormons in Chelyabinsk, 30 in Voronezh, 10-20 in Magadan, and 150 in Yekaterinburg.
Doctrine.
The foundations of Mormon doctrine are found in three books that they consider no less important than the Bible itself: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Mormon is the foundation of Mormon doctrine. Where there are conflicts between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are assumed to be true. This book consists of 15 little 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 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 Manasseh came to America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: the Nephites and the Lamanites. Christ appeared to the Nephites after the Resurrection and gave directive instructions for the founding of the church. Because of guilt, this true Church disappeared, disintegrated. In the year 400 A.D. the last battles raged between the Nephites and the Lamanites near the Hill Cumorah. There the prophet Mormon and his son buried the above-mentioned plates 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".
Much of the Doctrine and Covenants consists of Joseph Smith's revelations during his career and some of his followers (1823-1890).
The book "The Pearl of Great Price" also deals with revelations and translations from the golden plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.
The Mormon Creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841.
In their doctrine of God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man is made in the likeness of God, and conclude from this that God has a material body, just like man. Therefore, the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He is nonetheless the All-Knowing; 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 man is now - such was once God, what is God now - such can one day be a man." This is the basic idea of ​​the Mormon doctrine.
Since the motto of the Mormons is: "optimism and faith - progress," then they are all about development. Man is on the path leading up; he is "a god in the bud."
According to the Mormons, a person is not born a sinner; he has no hereditary sin. The sin of the Mormons is the indignation of man against the "foundations of progress."
According to the 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 to do so. Redemption is a joint work of God and man. 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 world events of the future, since Mormons are the people of God's end-time covenant - the new Israel. For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.
In 1843, I. Smith received a "revelation" about the eternal duration of the marital union with the inclusion of polygamy. Plural marriage was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government, the Mormons abolished plural marriage in 1890. Until today, they believe in the correctness of this teaching, but do not practice it. Baptism means the forgiveness of sins and acceptance into church membership. Baptism can be received from the age of eight, while the recipient of baptism enters into an alliance with the Creator. He must make a vow that he will keep God's commandments.
The Supper can only be received by those who are "worthy". 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 Mormonism, the laying on of hands gives 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, purification 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 ministering spirits and will not be able to marry.
Characteristic.
The religious organization 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 State Duma Russian Federation;
A. Dvorkin's book "Ten Questions to an Obsessive Stranger: A Guide for Those Who Don't Want to Be Recruited", 1995: "You need to know that all totalitarian networks to some extent use deception when 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 indicated in the book telling about totalitarian sects);
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 "false Christianity and pseudo-religion."
The founder of this organization was the American Joseph (in another transcription - Joseph) Smith, who was born in 1805 in Jaron, Vermont, USA. At the age of 14, he received his first vision, in which it was revealed to him that he would in no case 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 "golden plates" on Cumorah Hill, which contain important messages. ancient history America. The angel Moroni called Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 was he allowed to take the buried treasure. The documents were written in "Old Egyptian script" that could only be read with the help of "prophetic glasses" in the same drawer as the script. His assistants were his future associates Harris and Oliver Cowdery. After the translation was completed, Smith returned the plates to their place.
In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published in an edition of 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, the six-member Mormon Church was founded in Fayeti, New York. This society spread relatively quickly, as its followers were active in proselytizing in some states. The hostile attitude towards the Mormons and their persecution led to the fact that they often had to change their place of residence. Mormons founded several cities where, based on revelation, Jesus Christ was to appear. Unfortunately missing from the Latter Day Saint books are the Smith trials, his failed banking scam in Kirtland, Ohio, his polygamy prior to revelation, his organized armies in Missouri and Illinois, and the order to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him, the bloody clashes between the Mormons and the 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. Smith's successor was Briam Young. In 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 between the Mormons and the government for their admission to the United States failed due to the admission of polygamy. When this practice was officially banned, the Mormons were admitted to Utah in 1896.
In 1838, Mormons adopted a "divine command" to give tithes. By actively recruiting about the world, the Mormons quickly spread their teachings. Each missionary does his work for free 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 meeting was founded. In Switzerland and Austria, the Mormons began their activities in 1850. Mormons have a lot of influence in Western countries today. Their center is located in Frankfurt am Main, in Hamburg and Bern. Their spiritual center (Zollikofen), which is their "God's house", is located in Switzerland.
Mormons are willing to point out the strictness of their moral life: they do not smoke, drink alcohol, or drink beverages such as coffee and black tea.
The organization of the Mormon sect is based on a strict hierarchy. It is subdivided into "Kolas" (districts) and "Wards" (meetings).
In 1829 "John the Baptist" appeared to E. Smith and O. Cowdery and "ordained" them to the Aaronic priesthood. A month later, the "apostles" Peter, James and John appeared to them and "consecrated" 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 "Priesthood of Melchizedek" is in charge of spiritual affairs, while the "Priesthood of Aaron" is in charge of temporal matters.
It is customary for Mormons to be baptized instead of the dead. Only baptism is valid and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, a vicarious laying on of hands and sealing is also possible for deceased ancestors. To carry out these acts, the exact data of the dead must be given. This explains the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894 Library family history(Family History Library) in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, collects and processes data from parish registers, censuses and other documents containing the names of people who previously lived on earth. These names are necessary for the Mormons to mysteriously initiate people into their cult followers in their temples, where "outsiders" (non-Mormons) are not allowed to enter. Mormons in absentia include the dead in the ranks of their cult, replenishing the lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This work, hidden from the uninitiated, is accompanied by a large-scale activity of the Mormons to create a single "World Genealogy Center", controlled by the organization "Latter Day Saints". Since 1992, the Mormons began to actively work with the Archival Administrations of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia in order to copy (microfilm) archival documents. Having entered into 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. Copies received from the Russian archives become the property of the Mormon President's Corporation, which are then provided to pedigree researchers through his own genealogical structure for a fee.
Now the "Church of Latter Day Saints" is an empire with an annual income of 3 million dollars (partly due to the collection of "tithes" from its members). 40 thousand of their missionaries work all over the world.
Mormons pay special attention to their appearance: they dress cleanly and neatly, cultivate good manners, are intelligent, polite, and literate. The diligence of Mormon representatives in improving these qualities comes from their teaching, which says that man is "a god in the bud" 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 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 teachings of the Mormons, in the unanimous opinion of all traditional Christian denominations, not only have nothing in common with Christianity, but also denies all twenty-century Christianity as a whole. This sect ... operates in Russia in an atmosphere of the most strict secrecy. Therefore, we know the least about the true goals and forms of their activities in our country.In the documents recently submitted by the sect to the Council for Cooperation with Religious Organizations under the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, it was reported that the Mormons since the early 90s have imported to Russia and distributed humanitarian aid worth 14 million STA dollars. It seems that humanitarian aid for such a huge amount could not have gone unnoticed. Nevertheless, few people have heard of Mormon aid in Russia. It is reasonable to ask: if this figure is reliable, then where did that money go?
High cost and high concern active work Mormons in Russian archives. It should be noted that Mormon secret temple rites and their doctrine of salvation are closely related to the genealogical research carried out by CIHSMS. In Mormon temples, strictly secret "temple sacraments" are performed for the living and the dead (baptisms, marriages, etc.), after which both of them become, according to the teachings of the sect, 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. I note that every living Mormon can have countless dead wives, whom he married in absentia in his temple. All members of the sect, in addition to direct "missionary work", are constantly busy searching for new archival names and data for the correspondence "Orthodoxization" of as many people as possible. Special teams of Mormons study government archives, museum and university collections of documents, archives of city governments, vital records and parishes around the world. All recorded archival microfilms end up in the Mormon storage for eternal keeping, becoming their property... A convenient reason for the relevant authorities to become interested in the activities of the Mormons can be a direct violation of the fundamentals of the law by them. We know that they rent schools and other educational institutions for their worship meetings. So, in Moscow they held services at secondary school No. 36 (on the territory of the Zachatievsky convent) and in the premises of the musical technical school at the Ulitsa 1905 Goda metro station. It seems that Mormons rent educational institutions in provincial cities on a much larger scale than in Moscow.

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

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

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

According to the teachings of the 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 where people were righteously slaughtered to atone for their sins ... the wickedness and neglect of the nations forbid this principle from being fully implemented, but the time will come when the law of God shall be in full operation" (Chairman Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 44, pp. 219, 220).

The sacred books of the 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 has come out from the pen of its real authors, ignorant translators, careless scribes, or malicious and corrupt priests, contains many errors” (Teachings of the Prophet J. Smith, p. 327).

The teachings of this sect are far from safe. Mormon preachers are taught to use deception when recruiting new members. "So you don't need to tell the truth first?" I asked the sisters who taught me. They smiled and nodded in the affirmative. This approach confused me. After all, the 13th creed of the Mormons seems to speak of the need to be honest" (Yulia DIDENKO, "Why I left the Marmon community"). The section, guided by which Mormon missionaries are rubbed into trust (according to the Mormon wording "establish trusting relationships"), includes includes 3 points:

Meet.

Build relationships based on common ground, which means emphasizing the concurring views of the interlocutor and hushing up differences.

Show empathy.

The Mormon sect is widely known for its archival data collection activities. which they lead in all countries where they preach their doctrine. Since 1992, the Mormons began to actively work with the archival departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia in order to copy archival documents. By signing 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 parish 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: Providing the Genealogical Society of Utah (USA) (a religious association of Mormons) with Russian archival materials in any form, including through providing the organization with the opportunity to microfilm Russian archives, is unacceptable and illegally. However, Mormons continue to collect information, often in violation of the law. On numerous occasions, Mormon preachers were detained on the territory of closed military installations. According to the newspaper "Kaliningradskaya Pravda" dated September 23, 2000: " The Mormon sect is actively used by the US and German intelligence agencies as a cover for carrying out intelligence activities to collect classified information (socio-political, economic and military nature) on the territory of Russia, interfering in internal political processes taking place in the country, inciting inter-confessional hatred. Foreign missionaries pay special attention to reconnaissance penetration into special regime military facilities, establishing direct contacts with military personnel. A certain part of young Mormons returning to the United States after missionary work ... enters the service of the CIA and the US FBI. "The Mormons also need the names of dead people from the archives for their ritual -" posthumous baptism "of people. This is how they replenish the lists of members of their sect. Hardly whether a Russian person can calmly relate to the blasphemy committed against the memory of his ancestors.

In my time the Mormon sect was known for its plural marriage practiced 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 Only Ones who became Gods, even Children of God, are those who were polygamists." (Chairman 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 congregations and meeting houses in Saratov and the region. The doctrine is being actively promoted. Mormons use dishonest and unethical methods to attract young people. Now the Mormons intend to build a temple in the center of Saratov (Gorkogo St., 65) where religious ceremonies will be held, including "baptism of the dead" and "marriage with the dead." Such ritual use of the names of our dead is akin to satanic abuse of cemetery graves. To conduct 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. It is probably not without reason that the place for the future sectarian structure was chosen near the regional government.

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

We will not allow this story to be repeated in Saratov!

External Church 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 the LDS Church”), it is a unique restoration of the original Church that was established by Jesus Christ in the first century BC. The latter fell into apostasy (and is no longer the Church of Christ per se), 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. It 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're already a Christian, compare them to your own view of Christianity. Most importantly, pray with a sincere heart and true intention, believing in Christ and that the Spirit of God will lead you to the truth.

Steps

Learn more about what Mormons believe. This may be more difficult than it seems. IN this case, the best source of information is a member of the Mormon Church or their missionaries. You can get Mormon literature 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 teachings with the Bible.

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

Attend Sunday worship at your nearest Mormon chapel. You can find the address in the phone book or on the Church website. When you have already arrived at the service, listen to the announcements that are given to you and talk with the members of the Church, as well as with 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 Mormon missionaries to be baptized as a proof to others and to God that you have accepted Jesus Christ and want to follow Him.

1. Proof that you have become a member of the LDS Church. The Clergy Holder will put his hands on your head and certify that you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tell you to "Receive the Holy Ghost." 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 you will then be officially considered a member of the worldwide church in the spiritual and physical sense. Congratulations!

   • On the other hand, remember that most missionaries are young people who live spartan lives, very often alienated from their friends and family. They also experience a lot of rejection (and sometimes even scolding) 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 if you were them. (Whether you accept their messages or not). They and their families make great sacrifices so that you can know what they believe to be true.
   • Mormons take their religion very seriously. It is a duty to a way of life. If you are not ready to accept this debt, you should not be baptized until you are ready for it.
   • Don't be afraid to ask missionaries questions or question why they believe in the Book of Mormon.
   • 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 on your first attempts at reading the Old Testament, but Genesis is at least worth reading for general understanding and should help you get close to some of the concepts mentioned in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon (creation, Abraham, House of Israel, Joseph in Egypt, etc.) There are also Bible stories originally written for children that you can read to get your initial learning a little faster before (or during) your more intensive study.
   • If you don't understand the Book of Mormon well, there are always children's stories available on the LDS Church website in various formats. Although these stories are intended for children, they are also well suited for adults.
   • If you still don't want to read the Book of Mormon, you can watch the Book of Mormon movie Journey (available with a Google search) online. But this movie only covers the first two parts of the Book of Mormon. The film, however, was not made with the help of the Church and contains liberal interpretations at times of how things could have been (especially those that are not mentioned in the film, such as Nephi's attitude towards his future wife and various statements of the characters). Many feel that this movie is a poor introduction to the Book of Mormon, feel free to compare this movie to the book, think it over.

   Warnings

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

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

Printed editions: Liahona magazine.

History of the sect: 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 money scams.

In 1820 Smith Jr. had a miraculous 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 adjoin existing churches. However, the "high destiny" did not prevent Joseph from continuing with his family to search for lost treasures, moreover, using the indication of magic stones, magic wands and other similar attributes. This kind of passion for mysticism and 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 spoke of the hidden "golden plates" on the Hill Cumorah, which are covered with hieroglyphs of the "altered Egyptian language" and contain important messages from the ancient history of America. The angel Moroni called Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 was he allowed to take the buried treasure. The documents were written in "Old Egyptian script" that could only be read with the help of "prophetic glasses" in the same drawer as the script. His assistants were his future associates Harris and Oliver Codveri. May 15, 1829 Joseph and Oliver were "anointed" to the "Aaronic Priesthood" by "John the Baptist" appearing to them eat".

In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published in an edition of 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, a six-member Mormon church was founded in Fayeti, New York. In the same 1830, famous Protestant preachers of the time, Parley Pratt and Sidney Wrigton, 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 were actively proselytizing in some states (converting representatives of other faiths to membership in the sect). Hostility towards the Mormons and their persecution forced them to change their place of residence frequently. Several cities were founded by Mormons where Jesus Christ was to appear based on revelation.

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

In 1844, Smith's former assistant John Bennet spoke openly about the practice of plural marriage in the church. When the wave of revelations became threatening, the indignant "prophet" tried to use force against the anti-Mormon publication Novu Observer. After the intervention of the state administration, Joseph Smith, along with his brother Hyrum, ended up in a prison in Carthage, where the indignant townspeople stormed the prison. Smith was killed in the shootout.

Smith's successor was Brime Young. Under his leadership, a "sacrificial procession" was organized to the Great Salt Lake. For 17 months (1846-47) 1700 km were covered. There they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or "New Jerusalem").

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

Mormon negotiations with the government to legalize them in the United States failed due to the admission of polygamy. When this practice was officially banned, Mormon activity was allowed in 1896 in the state of Utah.

The Church of Latter-day Saints currently has 8 million adherents and has an annual income of $3,000,000 (partially through the collection of "tithes" from its adherents). 40,000 of their missionaries work all over the world. Mormons make up 75% of the population of Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah (USA).

Doctrine: In addition to 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 alliances";
c) "Precious Pearl";"Book of Mormon". This book is the foundation of Mormon doctrine. In places where there are contradictions between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are considered true. This book consists of 15 small books (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 Jaredites came to America, divided and self-destructed as a result of internal enmity and struggle. In 600 BC, under the prophet Lech, representatives of the tribe of Manasseh arrived in America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: the Nephites and the Lamanites. Christ appeared to the Nephites after the Resurrection and commanded them to found a church. Through the fault of the Nephites, this true Church disappeared, disintegrated. In A.D. 400 the last battles between the Nephites and the Lamanites took place near the hill Cumorah. There, the prophet Mormon and his son buried the above-mentioned plates with the events recorded on them (420-421).Mormons view the Book of Mormon as a revelation because it, they believe, contains what Jesus preached in His "American days." The data of this book contradict historical, archaeological, ethnographic evidence. In addition, since its first edition, the book has undergone many changes, sometimes in meaning, sometimes in words, and sometimes in acting characters, with the latest changes being made as far back as 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 mistakes that the authors of this translation of the Bible made.The book "Teachings and Unions". Most of it is the revelations of Joseph Smith, which he received during his work, as well as some of the "revelations" of his followers (1823-1890).Book "Pearl of Great Price". Here we are also talking about "revelations" and translations from the golden plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.The Mormon Creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841.In their doctrine of God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man is made in the likeness of God, and conclude from this that God has a material body, just like man. Therefore, God the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He is nonetheless the All-Knowing; 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 man is now - such was God once, what is God now - such can one day be a man." This is the basic idea of ​​the Mormon doctrine.

Since the motto of the Mormons is: "optimism and faith - progress," then they are all about development. Man is on the upward path, he is "God in the bud."

According to the Mormons, a person is not born a sinner; he has no hereditary sin. The sin of the Mormons is the indignation of a person against the "foundations of progress."

Mormons believe that 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 to do so. Redemption is a joint work of God and man. After death, man 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 world events of the future. Mormons are ostensibly "the people of God's end-time covenant"—the "new Israel." For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.

In 1843, I. Smith received a “revelation” about the eternal duration of the marriage union with polygamy: “A sealed marriage will not end its existence with death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual realm. All representatives of unsealed marriages in eternity will be ministering 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. To this day, they believe in the correctness of polygamy, but officially declare that they do not practice it. However, it turns out that there are still examples of polygamy in Mormon communities.

According to Mormonism, the laying on of hands gives 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, purification and sanctification. Only the head of the “church” has the sealing authority. Baptism means the forgiveness of sins and admission to the church. Baptism can be received from the age of eight, while the recipient of baptism enters into an alliance with the Creator. He must make a vow that he will keep God's commandments.

It is customary for Mormons to be baptized instead of the dead. Only baptism is valid and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, a vicarious laying on of hands and sealing is also possible for deceased ancestors. To carry out these acts, the exact data of the dead must be given. This explains the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894, the Family History Library in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, has been collecting and processing data from parish registers, population censuses and other documents containing the names of people who previously lived on earth. These names are necessary for Mormons to mysteriously initiate people into their cult followers in their temples, where "outsiders" (non-Mormons) are not allowed to enter. Mormons in absentia include the dead in the ranks of their cult, replenishing the lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This work, hidden from the uninitiated, is accompanied by large-scale Mormon activities to create a single "World Genealogy Center", controlled by the Latter Day Saints sect.

Since 1992, the Mormons began to actively work with the Archival Administrations of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia in order to copy (microfilm) archival documents. Having entered into 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. Copies received from the Russian archives become the property of the Mormon President's Corporation, which are then provided to pedigree researchers 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 Mormon representatives in improving these qualities comes from their teaching, which says that a person is “a god in the bud” and their ultimate goal is to move upward along the path of progress through personal improvement and become equal to God at the finish line, i.e., gradually “grow to the heavenly kingdom.The secret is the fact that those of the Mormons who have undergone a special initiation ritual are required to wear underwear with the image of Masonic symbols.

Structure and internal organization: The Mormon community is organized along theocratic lines 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. As an advisory body, it is assisted by a three-member supreme council. Administrative power is largely of a purely American character.

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

Number of followers: 1850 - 60000 people; 1900 - 230,000 people; 1950 - 1000000 people; 1961 - 1800000 people; 1964 - 2000000 people; 1970 - 2500000 people; 1985 - 6000000 people; According to Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley, 2000 is 11,000,000.

Criminal activities: includes glass fortune-telling trial of sect founder Smith, his failed banking scam in Kirtland, Ohio, his polygamy prior to revelation, his organized militias in Missouri and Illinois, and the order to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him. , as well as the case of the destruction of the train of immigrants by the "prophet" of the Mormons - Brigham Young. Repeated lawsuits on the facts of polygamy. Law enforcement agencies of Russia recorded cases of collection of intelligencefood 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 come across the Mormons. After assuring you of 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 large family, in the photo everyone will smile 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 the Doctrine and Covenants. Precious pearl." Then you will be asked “How do you feel?”, due to how much good you have heard about yourself, you will say that you feel good. You will be told that it is the Holy Spirit who 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 . All this you will master in two weeks. In parallel, you will be “penetrated with true faith”

1. You donate a tenth of your income to the community. On Saturdays you eat once a day, the money saved goes to the community in addition to the tithe. The “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. What you are doing is convincing one another of the truth of the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Then, with the whole brigade, you walk around the apartments with your photo albums and sectarian literature.

3. If your family, unlike you, are "non-Mormons", then they are enemies. They tempt you. You need to 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 a sect is to give birth to a bunch of marmons. By force.

4. You can not smoke, drink coffee and tea, alcoholic drinks. Other stimulants are also strictly prohibited.

5. You are taught English language American "garny lads" only teach according to the "Book of Mormon", so that later you go around the world to carry the word of the sect, naturally you go with your own money. Thus, you will ride for two years. If after that you have money left, and the community takes care of it, you become a priest (boys), a fruit-bearing uterus (girls).

6. You collect from the 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. That's some interesting necrophilia.

7. You are constantly accused of not being rich enough and donating enough, not smart enough and bringing few converts, you are not working enough for the good of the community. You have few children, future priests and fruit-bearing wombs of the sect. For this you can be expelled from the community and you will burn in hell.

8. In the end, you realize that you are a complete loser, you are constantly reminded of this, and you go crazy. Crazy community is not needed. They need psychiatrists.