Religious Foundations
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, has a number of marked differences from mainstream Christianity. Founded by American religious leader Joseph Smith in the early 19th century, the Mormon Church is a well-known offshoot of Christianity that arose in a different direction from traditional denominations.
In Mormonism, the founder Joseph Smith is considered a latter-day prophet. This is a unique claim that allows members of the Church to embrace new scripture, such as Smith’s ‘Book of Mormon’ which details the story of Jesus visiting American Indian peoples after his death – facts that contradict current mainstream Christian understandings.
Smith’s teachings, magnified by the later leadership of Brigham Young, went on to form the religion without any of the refinements made by Catholic theologians or Protestant founders. One key to this is that Mormons do not recognize the Nicene Creed as binding; rather, they believe in the Bible as ‘the revealed word of God'(Davis, 16).
Overview of Beliefs
On some theological points, Mormons differ greatly from the majority of Christians. Firstly, Mormons accept the Bible as the word of God, but also include the ‘Book of Mormon’ as the Standard Works, in addition to other revelations and teachings of Smith and Young. This results in a different concept of salvation, whereby those who accept and abide by the teachings of Smith and Young, who sin, and repent, can eventually be resurrected and reach a ‘celestial glory’.
Mormons also believe that, after the resurrection, Jesus visited and taught the people in America. This is in contrast to traditional Christianity, which holds that the teachings of Jesus were only intended for Middle East Jewish audiences. Furthermore, Mormons do not accept the doctrine of the ‘Trinity’, instead believing that there are three separate beings in the Godhead – God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
Mormon beliefs about the nature of the Godhead are not shared by mainstream Christianity. Furthermore, there is no original sin in Mormonism: instead, every human being is born with a spark of divinity from God, and is thus potentially capable of redemption.
Contemporary Practices
The Mormon Church is vast and powerful, and a major contemporary element of modern Mormonism is their huge networks of temples throughout the world. These temples serve different purposes, and host various religious services, teachings and lessons.
In the temple, Mormons are baptized in the names of their forebears and participate in ordination ceremonies for the priesthood. Mormons also practice certain rituals, including ‘divine healing’ and ‘giving testimony’. These ceremonies, which involve prayer and ‘speaking to God’, are essential in Mormonism and are powerful aspects of the Mormon belief system.
Furthermore, Mormons also practice polygamy, or ‘plural marriage’, though modern Mormons no longer accept or practice this belief. Polygamy was banned by the Church in 1890, making it a unique teaching that helps to separate Mormonism from Christianity.
Impact of Mormonism
The story of the Mormon Church, and its teachings, have impacted millions of people throughout the world. Whether it is the strict view of heaven and hell, or the belief in a God that is distinct and different from Christianity, the Church of Latter-day Saints has inspired and shaped many of its members.
Mormonism has also helped to influence American culture, as Mormons have developed into a powerful political force in the United States. In addition, the Mormon Church is noted for its support of missionary work and its large presence in international development.
Mormons emphasize practical Living, such as ‘mutual aid’, ‘cooperation’ and ‘self-reliance’, promoting a lifestyle that is characterized by hard work and dedication to spiritual teachings.
Social Norms in Mormonism
Mormonism has a unique set of social norms that range from dress codes to abstention from alcohol and tobacco. Mormons are encouraged to attend public services and follow religious practices. A central tenant of following LDS teachings is abstention in sexual activity before marriage, and sexual relationships or marriage between same-sex couples are strictly prohibited.
Current Christian denominations have become generally more accepting of homosexuality, but Mormons have maintained traditional views on the topic. This is just one of the areas in which Mormonism and Christianity diverge, producing an ever widening divide in their approaches.
Organizational Differences
Organizationally, the Mormon Church is run by lay clergy, most of whom are unpaid. There is no Roman Catholic organ-like structure in place, as with traditional Christianity. Accordingly, the Church is frequently accused of disregarding traditional Christian beliefs and traditions in favor of unorthodox interpretations of scripture.
Mormons differ from mainstream Christianity in that the Church is run by visible leadership and lead by the influence of specific individuals. Authority in the Church is given to certain individuals through a process of ordination and sustained through loyalty to the first and second presidents.
Fruits of Mormon Belief
The fruits of Mormonism are visible in the millions of adherents in many nations around the world. Mainstream Christianity and Mormonism both boast profound spiritual truths and paths of salvation, but they simply take different paths to reach their ultimate goal.
The teachings of Mormonism, while differing in many respects to the writings of traditional Christianity, still hold immense power and offer many advantages to its followers. While the differences between the two religions may seem vast, the time of divergence has now made the Mormon Church a distinct institution.
Balance of Time and Space
In Mormonism, time and space are both unfolded before them, and therefore, the perception of life and eternity of both physical and spiritual realms is extremely different from that of Christianity. The concept of an eternal resting place, also known as ‘the Celestial Kingdom’, is the basis for belief in Mormonism.
Mormons believe that human beings will be rewarded according to their desires and works. They also believe in pre-existence, the notion that individuals can shape their lives by their actions in the present and thus influence what will happen after death. Additionally, Mormons believe that the ultimate destination of an individual will be based on the degree of faith he or she had at the time of death.
Life After Death
Mormon beliefs on the afterlife are strongly rooted in the belief that the faithful will be resurrected and return to the Celestial Kingdom. Also, the faithful may have the opportunity to progress spiritually and temporally, ultimately reaching a high degree of glory in the eternal realms.
Mormons also believe that those who have performed a lesser degree of righteousness will still exist after death, but in less exalted way than those who reach the Celestial Kingdom. They may find themselves in a state known as ‘spirit prison’, where they will remain until the end of the world, and be judged for their actions in life.
Legal Consequences
A further point of difference between Mormonism and Christianity are the legal requirements and expectations of adherents. Mormons are expected to adhere to a strict code of laws that are outlined in the Church’s teachings, restrictions against which can result in excommunication and legal consequences.
This is a point of difference from mainstream Christianity, in which adherents tend to be only answerable to their spiritual conscience. Additionally, Mormons are subject to a system of temple attendance and ‘priesthoods’ that is intended to organize the Church and provide spiritual leadership, something that is not generally considered binding within traditional Christian denominations.
The Role of Women
Mormon beliefs also guide certain role distinctions between men and women. Mormon men are expected to take the initiative in taking charge of the spiritual life of the family, and are also encouraged to take responsibility and serve as priests in the Church. Conversely, Mormon women are responsible for providing support and spiritual nurture to their families.
This distinction between men and women is in strong contrast to traditional Christian beliefs, which hold that both genders are absolutely equal before God.
Conclusion
To conclude, the key difference between Mormonism and Christianity is rooted in the different interpretations of scripture and the choice of which books to consider valid and inspired. While traditional Christianity bases its beliefs on the Bible and Nicene Creed, Mormons have their own unique interpretations, seeing the Bible as an inspired work, but placing more emphasis on their own scriptures, revelations and teachings.
Those of the Church of Latter-day Saints have their own interpretations of salvation and the afterlife, and their beliefs and practices often stand in stark contrast with other major Christian denominations. The guiding principles of the faith, however, offer adherents a powerful and inspiring spiritual system.
