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Beliefs of the LDS Church

Social, historical and scientific beliefs

Sponsored link.

LDS Church teachings on social matters, history and science:

Marriage:

	According to a 2000-NOV issue of US News and World Report, LDS teaching has been emphasizing the church's commitment to conservative and family values. They are downplaying its past beliefs in polygyny (plural marriages involving one man and multiple wives) and racism.
	Status of marriage at death: Couples who could have been sealed (married in a Mormon temple), but did not take advantage of that opportunity will be forcibly divorced at death and start eternity as single individuals. Fortunately, temple ordinances which will seal a couple can still be done after a person's death. Many Mormons feel a heavy pressure to have a Temple marriage to a fellow Mormon. If they do so, the latter will be automatically sealed. Many Mormons believe that If they marry a non-Mormon, they may face a future of loneliness in heaven, and can never be accepted into the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom.
	Divorce while on Earth: During the LDS' biannual conference in 2007-APR, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve discussed divorce. He said: "This is a sensitive subject because it evokes such strong emotions from persons it has touched in different ways. ... I speak out of concern, but with hope. He noted that many divorcees are innocent victims: "... whose former spouses persistently betrayed sacred covenants or abandoned or refused to perform marriage responsibilities for an extended period. ... [They] have firsthand knowledge of circumstances worse than divorce. ... "When a marriage is dead and beyond hope of resuscitation, it is needful to have a means to end it. ... Often the cause is not incompatibility but selfishness. [Those with] ... serious marriage problems should see their bishop. As the Lord's judge, he will give counsel and perhaps even discipline that will lead toward healing. Bishops do not counsel members to divorce, but they can help members with the consequences of their decisions. ... Even those who think their spouse is entirely to blame should not act hastily. ... The best way to avoid divorce from an unfaithful, abusive or unsupportive spouse is to avoid marriage to such a person. If you wish to marry, inquire well. ... [A good marriage] does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection." _1,2

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Creation of the universe: The creation of mankind, the earth, and the rest of the universe is accurately recorded in Genesis. But the seven days of creation were not necessarily 24 hours days; they may have involved billions of years. Belief in an old earth appears strong among individual Mormons. An 1973 opinion poll of Mormon students at Brigham Young University found that only 27% (vs 5% in 1935) believed that "The world’s creation did not take millions of years."

According to the Book of Moses, which the church teaches was written by Moses, creation is a continuous process involving many worlds:

"And worlds without number have I created…for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten...And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works" ₃

Evolution: The same 1973 opinion poll found that most students denied that humanity evolved from lower species. 81% of BYU students (vs 36% in 1935) agreed that: "Man’s creation did not involve biological evolution." However, the church does teach a belief commonly found among evangelicals: "micro-evolution." That is, that change is possible within a species.

History of North American people: The church teaches that:

	The Jaredite people were one of many groups scattered from the Tower of Babel circa 2250 BCE. They settled on the East coast of Central America. They were totally destroyed because of their corruption.
	Some Israelites departed from the Middle East about 600 BCE, before the time of the Babylonian captivity and arrived in America. A patriarch Lehi had two sons: Nephi (from whom the Nephites descended) and Laman (from whom the Lamanites descended). The two tribes lived in a state of continuous feuding and warfare. The earthen mounds throughout the Palmyra, NY area are believed to be attempts at defensive fortification. Eventually, the Lamanites exterminated most of the Nephites circa 385 CE. The former became the ancestors of present day Native Americans. God gave to Native Americans their "red skins" in order to visually separate them from those who had followed God's commandments and teachings.
	Jesus came to America after his resurrection where he performed miracles, delivered a sermon similar to the Beatitudes and selected twelve disciples from the Nephite tribe.

Slavery: The early Mormon church had no official teaching about the owning of slaves. Their beliefs and practices concerning slavery were mixed:

	The abolitionist beliefs of some Mormons, as expressed in articles in their newspapers, resulted in the expulsion of Mormons from Jackson County, MO in the late 1830's. ₄
	In 1836 Joseph Smith declared that slaves should be treated decently by their owners, and that slaves were to obey their masters. ₅
	In 1844, during his presidential campaign, Smith favored abolition.
	In the late 1840's, "Brigham Young tacitly supported slaveholding, declaring that although Utah was not suited for slavery the practice was ordained by God." ₅
	"In 1851 Apostle Orson Hyde said the church would not interfere in relations between master and slave." ₅
	In 1852, Brigham Young, then Governor of Utah, asked the legislature to pass an act that allowed "suitable" whites to bind a Native person to a period of indenture not exceeding 20 years.
	In 1853, Governor Young expelled all slave traders from Utah.
	Under pressure from Mormons in the late 1850's, the local practice of enslaving Natives from the Southern Paiute tribe ceased. ₆

Racism: The Church originally taught that male persons with any black ancestry could not be ordained into the priesthood. This was because blacks were believed to have been cursed by God with the "Mark of Ham," and were to be perpetual slaves. This was a very common belief shared by both Mormons and many other Christians in the 19^th century. It was derived from a biblical passage: Genesis 9:20-27. A second revelation from God to the LDS church in 1978-JUN terminated this limitation . Male African-Americans are now regarded as full members of the LDS and are eligible for consideration for ordination. ₇ More details.

Social conflicts: The LDS beliefs on abortion and homosexuality match those of most conservative Christian churches. They teach that abortion is murder; they oppose abortion access for women except for unusual cases. They teach that homosexual behavior is a very serious sin; they oppose equal rights for gays and lesbians, including the right to marry.

Although their beliefs differ significantly from that of historical Christianity, Mormons believe that the same doctrines were held by the very early Christian church. Although their doctrines are based on modern revelation, they do not feel that any of them conflict with the Bible, except those specifically changed due to new revelations from God. Depending on one's interpretation they feel that all of the doctrines mentioned can be found described, clearly mentioned, or alluded to in the Bible (at least in part).

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

"Church president defends Mormon faith, validity of Book of Mormon," Deseretnews.com, 2007-APR-02, at: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/
Lynn Arave, "Forgiveness is extolled," Deseret Morning News, 2007-APR-02, at: http://www.deseretnews.com/
F.K. Mielsen, "Creation accounts" at: http://www.mormons.org/
"Extermination Order," at: http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/
Jeffrey Nichols, "Slavery in Utah," History Blazer, 1995-APR. Online at: http://www.utahhistorytogo.org/
Terri McBridem, "This was Nevada: Slavery in Nevada," at: http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/
Newell Bringhurst, "Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The changing place of Black people within Mormonism," Greenwood Press, (1981).

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Beliefs of the LDS Church

Social, historical and scientific beliefs

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Beliefs of the LDS Church

Social, historical and scientific beliefs

LDS Church teachings on social matters, history and science:

References used:

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