Mormonism - InfoBarrel

A Mormon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name Mormonism,which is commonly used in speaking of this religion, comes from the use of the Book of Mormon asone of the works of scripture in this church.

The Book of Mormon was published by Joseph Smith in 1830. The book tells of ancient peoples whocame from Palestine to the New World and of a true Church established among them by theresurrected Christ. According to Smith, this information was inscribed in reformed Egyptianhieroglyphics on gold plates about 385 A.D. by a prophet named Mormon. The plates were buried ina hill between Palmyra and Manchester, N.Y. Mormon's son, Moroni, in the form of an angel, guidedSmith to their hiding place. Smith further testified that with divine assistance he was able totranslate Mormon's inscriptions. Eleven witnesses confirmed his story.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized by Joseph Smith in Fayette,New York, on April 6, 1830. Because of the persecution to which Joseph Smith and his followerswere subjected, some moved westward to Ohio, some to Missouri, and finally, to Nauvoo, Illinoiswhere they established their first permanent settlement. In 1844, Joseph Smith and his brotherHyrum were killed by a mob even though they were in the Carthage, Illinois, jail for protection fromthe mob.

Brigham Young then became president of the church, and in 1846, about fifteen thousand of hisfollowers started the pioneer movement to the Rocky Mountain territory. In July of 1847, the firstadvance company reached Salt Lake Valley, in what is now Utah, and began the cultivation of thatterritory. Utah has remained the headquarters of the Mormon Church.

The principle beliefs of the church are given briefly in its Articles of Faith. These include belief in apersonal God; in Jesus Christ; in repentance; in baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; thatmen will be punished only for their own sins and not for Adam's; that through the atonement ofChrist, all men may be saved by obedience to the Gospel.

According to its members, Mormonismgives man an exalted place in theuniverse. They believe man possessesunlimited possibilities, and "What God is,man may become". Members of thechurch support it by the principle of"tithing". This means members contributeone tenth of their income or earnings forthe maintenance and operation of thechurch.

The church also has a missionary systemmaintained by members at their ownexpense. About two thousand youngpeople are constantly engaged in thiswork.

http://www.infobarrel.com/Mormonism