Mormonism
Mormonism (also called Latter Day Saint theology or Mormon theology and Latter Day Saint culture or Mormon culture) is a religion, ideology, cultural movement, and subculture originating in the early 1800s as a product of the Latter Day Saint movement. The term Mormonism is also often used to refer specifically to the theology and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is by far the most numerous and well-known religion among sects claiming derivation from American born prophet Joseph Smith. Its origins stem from the American religious Revivalist and Restorationist movements of the 19th century, and is one of many religions to stem from this period (see also Aquarianism and Oahspism). By population, it is the largest of the religions born on American soil, estimates being a little more than half of all Revivalists. Mormonism has secured for itself a worldwide following. Though born in the NAL, the early Mormons migrated westward and have settled in Louisianne.
Description
Mormonism is based on belief in Jesus as the Messiah, in the Israelites as a covenant people; as a form of Restorationism, it professes a restoration to the earth of the original Church instituted by Christ himself and thought to have been lost in a Great Apostasy after the death of Christ. Consequently, it has had complex and uneasy relationships with both mainstream Christianity and mainstream Judaism.
Most who practice Mormonism may be respectfully referred to as Latter Day Saints (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spell this Latter-day Saints). Other generally acceptable terms include LDS, Saints, and Mormons, although members of some sects other than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prefer not to be called Mormons. A very small minority view the terms Mormonism and Mormons as offensive slurs. Historically, Latter-day Saints have also been called Mormonites and Brighamites (followers of Brigham Young).
Mormons practice baptism by immersion. The first Mormon baptisms in the Federated Kingdoms were performed in the River Ribble, because of its status as the boundary between Kemr and England. This avoided interference from the established Christian religions.
Mormonism as a theology
As a theology, Mormonism as a whole includes a highly diverse and eclectic cluster of religious beliefs. There is much in common with the Campbellite, Restorationist, and Universalist beliefs prevalent to the area. Smith's theology was seen by contemporary Mormons as answering nearly all of the unresolved religious questions of his day. The bedrock Mormon belief, however, is the acceptance of modern prophecy; that is, that people in modern times have the gift to authoritatively speak the mind or will of God. Common to all sects of Mormonism is the belief that Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was such a prophet. While the modern prophet is traditionally considered (for all practical purposes) infallible, there appears to be a growing tendency towards discounting prophetic pronouncements as personal opinions or beliefs of those leaders.
Joseph Smith, when asked what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believed, wrote what is now known as the Articles of Faith. Though the articles of faith are not a complete representation of the beliefs of Mormonism, they do represent some fundamental beliefs.
Presidents of the LDS Church
The Presidents of the LDS Church in Ill Bethisad are as follows:
