1. Mormon 101 1.Foundation 2.History 3.Practices 4.Doctrine

2. Foundation: God Speaks Through Prophets Adam Moses Isaiah Abraham Samuel

3. Foundation: Comparison of Christian Churches CatholicProtestantMormon Christ’s Church Pope (Peter) 12 Apostles Christ’s Church Prophet (Peter) 12 Apostles Christ’s Church Prophet (Peter) 12 Apostles Pope Benedict XVI Apostasy Enlightenment Martin Luther (Lutheran) John Wesley (Methodist) Etc. Direct line of authority to Christ’s Church. Pope is infallible. No authority. Churches do their best to understand true doctrine. Restoration (1830) Joseph Smith 12 Apostles Prophet (Gordon Hinckley) 12 Apostles God calls new prophet and restores authority. Prophet receives revelation. God calls a prophet and restores His church

4. History: Mormon History Timeline Church Organized Fayette, New York 1830 First Temple Built Kirtland, Ohio 1831-1838 Saints Settle in Jackson County, Missouri 1831-1839 Saints Settle in Nauvoo, Illinois 1840-1846 Saints Settle in Utah 1847 Colonization (Settled over 600 Communities) 70,000 saints traveled the 1300 mile Mormon Trail before the railroad arrived in 1869. Nauvoo was the largest city in Illinois in 1845 with a population of 20,000. There were 26,000 members when Joseph Smith was Martyred in 1844. Brigham Young, second prophet.

5. History: Church Membership 1830 2006 13 million 1978 4 million 250,000 Today 52,500 Mormons in Chicago 54% of Mormons live outside United States 18961930 500,000 1947 1,000,000 6 Prominent Mormons Stephen Covey Mitt Romney Senator Orrin Hatch Gladys Knight J. W. Marriott Steve Young The Osmonds

6. Practices: Church Lay Clergy – The clergy at the Mormon church is not paid. Normal members serve as bishop for 5-7 years. Sermon – The sermon each Sunday is given by different members each week. Fast Sunday – The first Sunday of each month Mormons fast 24 hours (two meals) and donate the money saved to poor. Sabbath Day – Mormons keep the Sabbath day holy by refraining from shopping, work and leisure activities. Home Teaching – Pairs of men are assigned to teach and watch over 2-5 families. Visiting Teaching – Pairs of women are assigned to teach and watch over 2-5 women. Mutual – The youth meet every Wednesday evening to work on Scouting for the young men and a similar program for the young women.

7. Practices: Church Schedule Sacrament Meeting Hymns, Bread & Water, Talks, Musical Numbers (Everyone Combined) Hour 1 Hour 2 Hour 3 Jr. Primary Combined (3-7 yrs old) Sr. Primary Classes (8-11 yrs old) Jr. Primary Classes (3-7 yrs old) Sr. Primary Combined (8-11 yrs old) Sunday School Classes (12+ yrs old) Young Men (12-18) Young Women (12-18) Priesthood (Men) Relief Society (Women) Ward 1 9:0010:0011:0012:001:002:003:00 Ward 2 Ward 3 The chapel is shared by three wards. Each year times are rotated. Church Schedule Nursery (1.5-3 yrs old)

8. Practices: Church Organization Prophet 12 Apostles Seventy Stakes (8-10 Wards per stake) Wards (200-400 members per ward) Jesus Christ A Bishop leads a ward. He is called to serve for 5-7 years. A Stake President leads a stake. He is called to serve for 7-10 years. Called as a special witness of Jesus Christ. They are called to serve until they die. Jesus Christ leads his church by communicating with the prophet. Chosen by God as a prophet, seer, revelator and president of the church. Go about the church teaching and organizing under the direction of the 12 apostles. The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “Of Latter-Day Saints” is used distinguish today’s church from the church in Christ’s time. The Mormon church is a nick name.

9. Practices: Commandments 10 Commandments – Mormons keep the 10 commandments. Tithing – Mormons believe in the law of tithing (donating one-tenth of their increase to the Lord). Word of Wisdom – Mormons keep a modern commandment called the Word of Wisdom. They do not consume tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco. Law of Chastity – No sexual relations out of wedlock.

10. Practices: Home Family Home Evening – Mormons reserve Monday evening for family night. Family night typically includes: prayer, songs, lesson, game and treat. Prayer – Mormon prayers are extemporaneous, not memorized. They pray to the father in the name of the Son. They say blessings on their food at each meal. They are encouraged to pray together as a family morning and evening. They also say individual prayers for others, help, comfort, questions and protection. Scripture Study – Mormons are encouraged to study the scriptures as a family and as an individual each day.

11. Practices: Preparedness Food Storage – Mormons are taught be prepared by keeping a year’s supply of food and money. 72 Hour Kits – Mormons are taught to have a kit containing food and other preparedness items to take with in times of an emergency. Gardens – Mormons are encouraged to grow a vegetable garden.

12. Practices: Ordinances Baptism – Mormons choose to be baptized at age 8. They believe that children who die before the age of eight are innocent and saved through the atonement of Christ. Priesthood – All worthy men in the church may hold the priesthood. Young men hold the Aaronic priesthood giving them the power to administer the sacrament and baptize. Men hold the Melchezideck priesthood giving them the authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost, bless the sick and lead the church. Temple Endowment – Adult members go to the temple to receive their endowment, an extension of their baptismal covenants. Only worthy members may enter the temple. Eternal Marriage – Couples are married in the temple for eternity. Also, children are sealed to their parents for eternity. Marriages for time are performed in the chapel.

13. Practices: Temple Worship Temples – There are 120 temples in operation today. Temples used to perform ordinances for the living and the dead. The dead may then choose to accept or reject the ordinances that have been done for them. Temples are closed on Sundays and Monday evening. Baptisms for the dead – Youth and adults go to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. Genealogy – Mormons research their ancestors so they can do ordinance work for them. Genealogy Resources – The Mormon church has the largest genealogy library in the world. Records are photographed around the world and stored on microfilm. –2.4 million rolls of microfilm, 742,000 microfiche –Currently 200 cameras filming in 45 countries –725 million names transcribed into computer –36 million names linked to families Washington DC Temple

14. Practices: Education Seminary – High school students attend seminary every morning at 6am before school. BYU – The church operates Brigham Young University. It has campuses in Utah (30,000), Idaho (11,600) and Hawaii (2,400).

15. Practices: Missionary Work Missions – Mormon young men are encourage to serve two-year missions at age 19. Mormon young women may also serve missions at age 21. Retired older couples also serve missions. Missionaries pay for their own living expenses. There are currently 56,000 fulltime missionaries. Missionary Work – Mormons believe it is there responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and the news of the restoration of His church with others. Belief About Other Churches – Mormons believe that all people have the right to worship as they wish. Mormons believe that other churches have some truth and that God has restored additional truths through his modern day prophets.

16. Doctrine: Joseph Smith First Vision Birth (Vermont) 1805 Martyrdom (Illinois) 1844 1820 Receives Book of Mormon (Moroni) 1823 Receives Gold Plates 1827 Book Of Mormon Published - Church Organized 1830 Aaronic Priesthood Restored (John The Baptist) - Melchezidek Priesthood Restored (Peter, James and John) 1829 Sealing Powers (Elijah) 1836

17. Doctrine: Plan of Salvation Pre-Earth Life Earth Spirit World ResurrectionJudgment Celestial Kingdom Terrestrial Kingdom Telestial Kingdom Death Body’s Birth Spirit Spirit and Mortal Body SpiritSpirit and Immortal Body Outer Darkness Spirit’s Birth Intelligence Prison Paradise Accept Jesus Christ, baptized, temple ordinances Good people of the world Thieves, murderers, etc. Deny Jesus Christ after having a perfect knowledge Purposes: - Obtain a body - Be tested Problems - Death - Sin Solutions - Resurrection - Atonement Jesus Christ Satan God’s Plan Satan’s Plan 2/3 1/3 Agency Veil of Forgetfulness Rev. 12:7, Jer. 1:5Alma 34:31-35 1 Cor 15:40-41 1 Cor 15:12-22 Alma 40:11-14 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6

18. Doctrine: Book of Mormon Christ’s Birth New Testament 600 BC421 AD 1000 BC2000 BC3000 BC4000 BC5000 BC1000 AD2000 AD Old Testament Book of Mormon Lehi commanded to leave Jerusalem and sail to the Americas. Last prophet (Moroni) dies. Christ visits the Americas as a resurrected being after his death. The Book of Mormon serves as a second witness of Jesus Christ. The American Indians are the descendents of the people in the Book of Mormon.