Mormonism

{{hatnote|LDS redirects here. Not to be confused with [[LSD]].}}{{bronze}}
[[File:SLC TempleSquare.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The Salt Lake City 
Moron
 Mormon Temple]]{{mormonism}}{{christianity}}
{{cquote|Nicknames of the Church, such as the "LDS Church", the "Mormon church," or the "Church of the Latter-day Saints" … is a major victory for [[Satan]].|||'''Mormon''' church President Russell M. Nelson<ref name=stack>[https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/10/07/members-offend-jesus/ Members ‘offend’ Jesus and please the devil when they use the term ‘Mormon,’ President Nelson says] by Peggy Fletcher Stack et al. (October 7, 2018) ''The Salt Lake City Tribune''.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/it-is-a-correction-president-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-explains-shift-in-name/2018/10/08/9159295e-cb5a-11e8-ad0a-0e01efba3cc1_video.html 'It is a correction': President of ‘The Church of Jesus Christ’ explains shift in name: Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explained Oct. 8 the reasoning behind updating the church's name.] ''The Washington Post''.</ref>}}

'''Mormonism''' is (debatably) a [[Christian]] sect that arose in the [[United States]] in the early nineteenth century. Mormons, who follow the religion's holy book, the ''[[Book of Mormon]]'', are generally members of the '''Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''' (LDS), though smaller splinter churches with slightly different doctrine than the mainline LDS Church exist, such as the {{wpl|Community of Christ||.}} The LDS, based in Salt Lake City, [[Utah]], traces its origins at least as far back as the original congregation founded by [[Vermont]]-born [[Con artist| conman]] turned [[Religious leaders | spiritual leader]] [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] (1805-1844). Smith took his following from New York state to Kirtland, [[Ohio]], then to [[Missouri]], and finally to Nauvoo, [[Illinois]], where opponents assassinated him. After Smith's assassination, [[Brigham Young]] (1801-1877) took the largest group of followers to Salt Lake City.

Officially, the LDS has occasionally hated both the terms "Mormon" (and its derivatives) and "LDS", preferring the long-winded "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or "Latter-day Saints".<ref name=stack/>

As of 2009 the LDS had roughly 13.5 million members worldwide.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/ataglance/glance.shtml Mormons at a glance] (2009-10-02) ''BBC''.</ref> Both Mormonism and [[Bahá'í|Bahaism]] have been called the "fourth [[Abrahamic religion]]", both being founded in the 19<sup>th</sup> century.<ref>''Do You Need God? Exploring Different Paths to Spirituality Even for Atheists'' by  Rory J. Q. Barnes (2014) ''Christian Alternative''. ISBN 1782793798.</ref> However, Mormons will generally object to the characterization, insisting that they are Christians.{{efn|And Bahá'í will insist that they are not a "new" religion, but a combination of all religions. And Muslims will insist that their version is restoration of the original, uncorrupted religion. And Christians, especially [[Restorationism|restorationist]] types, will say other Christian denominations have deviated too much from initial doctrine, and ''their'' religion is most faithful to the original church. Really, everyone is always the original, claiming the benefits of old-age [[tradition]].}}

While most people think of the LDS as an [[American]] religion, having experienced its greatest expansion in the US, the oldest surviving branch is not in fact in the United States, but rather the [[United Kingdom]]; founded in the city of Preston in Lancashire in 1837, it is the "longest continuously functioning unit in the [LDS] Church anywhere in the world."<ref>https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/1994-09-24/blessings-of-house-of-the-lord-reach-faithful-in-many-lands-138774</ref> In addition to this, the church established one of its two UK temples at nearby Chorley, as well as its UK [[missionary]] training centre, in 1998.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7227889.stm Welcome to Mormon heartland… Chorley, Lancs] by Finlo Rohrer (5 February 2008, 10:29 GMT) ''BBC''.</ref> The oldest surviving Mormon chapel is also located in the UK, at Gadfield Elm in Worcestershire; initially a religious meeting-house for a breakaway sect of [[Methodism|Methodists]], its members converted to Mormonism in 1840.<ref>{{wpa|Gadfield Elm Chapel}}</ref>The Church even has a [[YouTube]] channel that has over 2 million subscribers <ref>[https://m.youtube.com/c/churchofjesuschrist]</ref>.

==Structure==
In LDS terminology, a "ward" is a local congregation, and a "stake" is a regional grouping of several wards. They roughly correspond to "parish" and "diocese" in the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Anglican]]/[[Episcopal Church|Episcopal churches]]. A "branch" is a local congregation still in formation, which may range from a few Mormons meeting in somebody's home in an area where there is no established ward to pretty much a really small ward. A "temple" is a regional building reserved for special worship services such as temple weddings and [[baptism]]s for the [[dead]], and is not open to the public, only to Mormons currently in good standing in the church. Regular Sunday services are held in a branch/church/meetinghouse/ward, not in the temple.  Often, two or more wards will share the same meetinghouse. The leader of an individual congregation is called a "[[bishop]]". Bishops in the LDS church correspond to [[Religious leaders|pastors or priests]] in other denominations, owing to a rather peculiar interpretation of the [[Protestant]] doctrine of the {{wpl|universal priesthood (doctrine)|priesthood of all believers}} (about which more below). Mormon religious leaders are selected for candidacy by 
[[God]]
 higher-ranking members of the church bureaucracy and presented to the congregation; each member is given the opportunity to promise to aid the candidate in performing their new job, or to show their objection to it. As an added bonus, the candidate himself{{efn|All positions of authority in the church are held by men.}} is given no say in the process — while one is technically allowed to say 'no' when selected, it's a ''major'' faux pas and almost always more trouble than it is worth.

Men in the church are considered to be members of either the "Aaronic priesthood" or the "Melchizedek priesthood".{{efn|Melchizedek priesthood is derived from {{bible|Psalm|110|4}}. Aaron the priest is mentioned a few times in the Bible.}} Membership in either priesthood is not available to women. Kate Kelly campaigned to allow women's ordination and was [[excommunication|excommunicated]].<ref name=little>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28890069 Push to ordain Mormon women leads to excommunication] by Jane Little (26 August 2014) ''BBC''.</ref> Boys 12 years old or older, and new Mormon converts, are admitted by the local bishop to the Aaronic priesthood as long as they are church members in good standing and follow Mormon [[moral]] codes (or at least have convinced the bishop that they do, even if they secretly sneak a [[coffee]] or [[beer]] or a secret peek at [[Pornography|''Penthouse'']] now and then). Upon adulthood (or a year or so of active church membership for new converts) they can then be admitted to the Melchizedek priesthood. Members of either priesthood have the title "priest", and members of the Melchizedek priesthood also have the title of an "elder" in the church.

This peculiar practice of investing lowly 12-year old boys with the title of "deacon", 14-year olds with the title of "teacher", 16-year olds with the title of "priest", 18-year olds fresh out of high school with the title of "elder" in the church, and local pastors with the title of "bishop", probably accounts for some of their success in gaining converts: it's just like grade inflation making school teachers popular. After all, we are talking about the same church that teaches that if members stick with it, they will eventually become a [[deity]] lording over their own [[planet]].{{efn|"As for their labor and pursuits in eternity… We shall go on from one step to another, reaching forth into the eternities until we become like the Gods, and shall be able to frame for ourselves, by the behest and command of the Almighty. All those who are counted worthy to be exalted and to become Gods, even the sons of God, will go forth and have earths and worlds like those who framed this and millions on millions of others…"<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Journal_of_Discourses/17/2 Journal of Discourses/17/2] ''Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research''.</ref>}}{{efn|Well, at least white men. Women have to settle for being members of the Relief Society, whose purpose is to assist (male) members of the priesthood. Black men had to wait until 1978 before they could be admitted to either priesthood.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/10/archives/new-jersey-pages-mormon-church-strikes-down-ban-against-blacks-in.html Mormon Church Strikes Down Ban Against Blacks in Priesthood] by The New York Times</ref>}}

The leadership of the church is in the President of the Church, who is also considered to be a "[[prophet]], seer, and revelator" and the successor to Joseph Smith, Jr. The current president is Russell Nelson. The First Presidency consists of the President of the Church and his counselors. The President and other members of the First Presidency are chosen by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who are considered by the church to be successors to the original [[Apostle|Twelve Apostles of Jesus]]. The Mormon church, like the Catholic and Orthodox churches, practices {{wpl|apostolic succession||.}}

A "dry Mormon" is slang for somebody who is not a [[Baptism|baptized]] member of the LDS church, but who hangs out with Mormons and/or attends Mormon church services. Many "dry Mormons" are those checking out the church and may become fully baptized converts. A "[[Jack Mormon]]" is roughly the opposite, somebody raised Mormon who has drifted away from active church membership and down the [[sinful]] path of coffee consumption, [[fornication]], [[Alcohol|liquor]], being ski bums at Utah's awesome slopes or desert rats in southern Utah canyon country, and worse, but is still (at least on paper) a member of the church.

Leaving Mormonism is hard because the local bishop, the family, neighbors, and friends 
pester that person with visits and the like
 do what they can to persuade the [[Apostasy|apostate]] to stay. A website has been set up offering legal help to former Mormons for getting removed from the roll without harassment.<ref>[https://archive.is/Hb9k1 This Website Will Help You Officially Resign from the Mormon Church] by Hemant Mehta (February 6, 2016) ''Friendly Atheist''.</ref>

===Schisms and splinters===
{{main|Schism}}
There are numerous spinoff groups although most can trace their roots to one of two major events in LDS history: the succession crisis following the death of Joseph Smith or to fundamentalist sects who started following the prohibition of polygamy in Utah.<ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7UwNYS5xe8&t=2s</ref> Most members of groups from the former category do not consider themselves to be “Mormons” and reject the label when applied to themselves. These groups vary greatly from the Utah LDS church in both theology and practice.

Joseph Smith was {{wpl|Death of Joseph Smith|murdered by a lynch mob|}} in Carthage, Illinois on June 27, 1844 without a designated successor. Most historians of the church believe that his older brother Hyrum was supposed to take over in the event of his death. However, he too was also killed by the same mob. Without a clear successor numerous camps started to form in the Latter Day Saint movement. Brigham Young managed to politically outmaneuver his rivals, laid claim to the mantle of Prophet-President, and initiated the migration from the United States into Utah (which was then still part of Mexico). However, not all Saints followed Young and several restoration sects trace their lineages to this moment (the largest being Community of Christ, originally known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). 

The RLDS church was started by a group of dissident saints who rallied to the most senior of Joseph Smith's wives, Emma (his only legal wife), and her son, Joseph Smith III who became its first Prophet-President. This church was explicitly anti-polygamy from the start even going so far as to claim (incorrectly) for much of its history that Smith did not have multiple wives. They then went about absorbing as many independent LDS congregations as they could find. They were led by paternal descendants of Joseph Smith until the 1990s when they underwent a number of reforms, the last Smith to lead them retired, and turned over the reins to somebody else. Now headquartered in Independence, [[Missouri]] it  tends toward liberal Protestantism holding the Book of Mormon as part of their legacy but not literal history and they make a practice of revising the Doctrines and Covenants (which they see as updating their scripture). They are LGBT affirming, clergy roles are open regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and men and women of color are in senior leadership positions in the church. They own two temples, the first ever Mormon Temple in Kirtland, Ohio (run primarily as a museum for preservation purposes) and a temple built in Independence, Missouri in the 1990s across the street from the original temple lot in the town. These buildings are open to the public and function more like large churches; no esoteric practices occur there unlike their Utah based counterparts. Community of Christ has numerous fundamentalist spinoff sects of its own, primarily over their decision to allow for the ordination of women. Today, it has become a spiritual home for many disaffected ex-Mormons who wish to continue with religion.<ref> https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/01/women-lgbt-mormons-community-of-christ</ref> 

One of the more unique sects to branch of after the succession crisis are the {{wpl|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)|Strangites|.}} James Strang had only been a Latter-Day Saint for a few months when Smith had died. He claimed to have produced a letter written by Smith designating him the successor (it is an obvious forgery) and claimed to find yet another "lost" book, the {{wpl|Book of the Law of the Lord|''Book of the Law of the Lord''|.}} Still, he managed to gather followers first to [[Wisconsin]] and later to Beaver Island, Michigan in the middle of Lake Michigan. He declared himself a king (but also became a respected member of the Michigan legislature), re-instituted polygamy (but allowed women to have a say in the matter), and instituted animal sacrifices. This lasted until 1856 when the US Navy sent a warship to evict the settlers and Strang died in custody.<ref> https://www.michiganradio.org/offbeat/2015-11-04/how-a-mormon-king-shaped-a-sleepy-island-in-lake-michigan</ref> Their remaining church is located in Wisconsin.

Also tracing their lineage from this period is the fourth largest of the Mormon-related sects, after the LDS, CofC, and FLDS, is the Church of Jesus Christ based in the [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]] area, often called {{wpl|The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|Bickertonites}} although they do not use that name themselves.{{efn|Odd trivia: Alice Cooper grew up in the Bickertonite church. This is the origin of the rumor that he grew up Mormon.}} The Bickertonites trace their lineage to {{wpl|Sidney Rigdon}} an early collaborator of Joseph Smith’s who was essentially muscled out of church leadership by Young. Upon leaving Nauvoo, Rigdon took his followers back to Pittsburgh, where he was originally from. The Bickertonite church is more like a [[Holiness movement|Holiness church]] with some [[Pentecostal]] influence; they practice foot washing, greeting one another with a "holy kiss", and "gifts of the Spirit" such as [[faith healing]] and [[speaking in tongues]], and while they accept the Book of Mormon as scripture, they reject many of Joseph Smith's later teachings. The remaining spinoff sects tracing from this period number in the hundreds but with few members. A small group called the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) owns the site in Independence, Missouri which Joseph Smith prophesied would be the location of the [[Second Coming]] of Christ. They won the land after successfully defending themselves in a lawsuit with the RLDS church in the 1890s. The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) has been described<ref>''Mormon America'' by Richard & Joan Ostling (1999) HarperCollins. ISBN 0060663723.</ref> as embodying the practices of the earliest Joseph Smith followers in New York with a fairly conventional Protestant theology, and likewise reject many of his later teachings. The Cutlerites are unique LDS now based in Independence. They practice a form of the Endowment Ceremony which is thought to be preserved from the nineteenth century and is distinct from what is practiced in the main LDS temples, however, they have successfully kept the details of their ceremony secret.{{cn}}

In 1882 the United States government passed laws prohibiting polygamy in Utah territory and began conditioning Utah’s statehood on the prohibition of the practice. As a result of the main LDS church prohibiting the practice, the [[cult]]ish [[Fundamentalist Mormonism|Fundamentalist LDS church (FLDS)]] developed. It is the largest sect still supporting [[polygamy]]. The FLDS have been the most controversial and usually considered a cult, with such practices as members holding no property of their own with all property held in common by the church, [[arranged marriage]]s of [[Statutory rape|underage girls to older men]] in the church, and expelling young men from the church ostensibly for various sins (in reality because they are seen as competition with older men for marriage to multiple wives, and in an isolated polygamist community there just aren't enough women to go around.) A more “liberal” version of this group is called the Apostolic United Brethren. They practice polygamy but don’t require the women to wear pioneer dresses. They are the group which is portrayed on TLC’s sister wives.

There are some even stranger groups professing belief in the Book of Mormon exist, such as the Arizona-based Peyote Way Church of God, for which the Book of Mormon is scripture and [[peyote]] a sacrament.{{efn|Odd trivia: Joseph Smith’s grandson Fred Smith, the RLDS Prophet President used peyote, wrote his PhD dissertation about the cactus, and fought against its criminalization.<ref>[https://gileriodekel.com/2022/01/the-psychonautic-prophet/ Frederick M. Smith: The Psychonautic Prophet]. gileriodekel.com, 29 January 2022.</ref>}} The Church of Israel, a splinter group from the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), is sometimes cited as one of the origins of [[Christian Identity]].

The Utah LDS church considers all these other groups to be apostate. They probably each think the same of the LDS as well as each other — [[Life of Brian|Splitters!]]

==Theology==
{{main|Theology}}
[[File:Christ in the Land Bountiful.jpg|thumb|Christ in the Land Bountiful]]
Though a [[Christian]] sect (although there are many Christians who consider them [[heretic]]s), they differ scripturally from most other Christians, claiming that the Book of Mormon was originally written by followers of the [[Judaism|Hebrew]] prophets and [[Jesus]] who visited the Americas after Jesus' death and resurrection. Mormon is supposedly the name of the prophet who originally compiled the text.  Mormons believe these people split into two tribes, Nephites and Lamanites, that the Nephites, after many fluctuations, ultimately remained true to God but were eventually killed off by the Lamanites. The Lamanites, who ultimately turned far from God (who darkened their skins to punish them for doing so), [[ironically]] survived and are believed to be the progenitors of some of the [[American Indians]].{{efn|Hardly a compelling theological argument, as the apparent lesson to be learned is that turning away from God keeps one from dying out.}} There is no substantial [[Archaeology|archeological]] or [[genetic]] [[evidence]] supporting this claim. Much of the Book of Mormon is stories of fighting between the Nephites and Lamanites and how either side would cyclically turn to God, become prosperous, and fall because of pride. Except for the last time, of course.

The Mormons have a very strong connection with the American West, as they migrated in the mid-1800s to what is now Utah, to avoid religious persecution. The Mormons basically founded the state and its largest city — Salt Lake City — and consequently Utah and the city are the world headquarters for the LDS religion. Utah has the highest concentration of Mormons in the world.

Good Mormons do not drink coffee or [[tea]], because Joseph Smith, Jr. had a [[Word of Wisdom|revelation from God]] that "hot drinks" are bad. This restriction has since been increased in seriousness from a suggestion for alleged health reasons to a commandment, the following of which is required to enter their temples. Although the text of Mormon scripture forbids hot drinks, in reality the restriction is only on tea and coffee. Other hot drinks, including coffee substitutes such as Postum (sometimes called "Mormon Coffee") are allowed, while iced tea and iced coffee are still forbidden. To make sense of this, some members believe that the real commandment is not to drink caffeine; however, this is not the stance of the church, which does allow caffeinated drinks such as soda.<ref>''The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Twelfth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints'' by Edward L. Kimball (1978) Bookcraft. ISBN 0884943305.</ref>{{rp|202}} There is therefore a (false) [[urban legend]] that the LDS church owns a sizable portion of the Coca-Cola Company.<ref>[http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/mormon.asp Mormon Ownership of Coca-Cola] by David Mikkelson (27 August 2012) ''Snopes''.</ref> This restriction is in addition to the common [[fundamentalist]] religions' prohibitions against [[smoking]] and drinking.  Good Mormons also [[tithe]], which they have to do to maintain their "temple recommend".{{efn|The "temple recommend" is a document issued by the believer's local church certifying said believer's worthiness to enter an LDS temple. Not all LDS Mormons carry them, for various reasons, though it is highly advised that church members obtain and keep them in good standing for the various ceremonies done in the temple, including temple weddings. One of the other things that Mormons don't do is drink alcoholic beverages, as the Word of Wisdom refers to "avoid strong spirits", but for some reason it's okay to drink "beverages made from hops." How Mormons explain that beer is not good to drink, is uncertain, but they say that hops beverages refers to hops tea?}}

Mormons in good standing attend an "endowment ceremony" in the temple in which they are taught the secret passwords they will need to tell the [[angel]]s to enter Heaven.  During this ceremony they are given their temple garments, a set of underwear they are expected to wear at all times from then on as a token of the covenants they made.  The endowment ceremony has been the source of [[conspiracy theories]] by anti-Mormon fundamentalist Christians that the ceremony is secretly Satanic or [[Mason]]ic in nature, while the underwear is a common source of lulz for those poking fun at Mormonism (and for the really twisted, yes, [[Rule 34]] applies.)

Perhaps the greatest claim to fame by the Mormons, at least as far as the general public is concerned, is their acknowledged acceptance of [[polygamy]] during the early years of the church.  "Officially" they renounced polygamy in 1890 as a condition of Utah being granted statehood, but while the church generally stopped performing polygamous marriages at that time, existing polygamous marriages were not dissolved, and the church continued to tolerate the practice for several more decades. Polygamy is still practiced among some Mormon splinter groups in Utah, Arizona, Texas and parts of Canada. However, those practicing polygamy in the LDS church today may become subject to church discipline, disfellowship, and excommunication.  

===Differences from Christian orthodoxy===
[[File:Mormonflowchart.png|thumb|right|300px|The flowchart guide to Mormonism -- as according to an ex-Mormon.<ref>[https://mollymuses.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/mormon-flow-chart-for-your-soul/ Mormon Flow Chart for your Soul] by Molly</ref>]]
Besides the obvious — embracing the Book of Mormon as inspired scripture — Mormon theology differs from other Christians on several points. Indeed some Christians insist Mormonism is not Christian at all.<ref>[http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/political-and-social-issues/mormonism-is-not-christianity-11628184.html Is Mormonism Christian?] by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (29 Mar 2010) ''Christianity.com''.</ref><ref>[http://carm.org/is-mormonism-christian Is Mormonism Christian? Are Mormons Christian?] by Matt Slick (Dec 4, 2008) ''CARM''.</ref>
For the Utah LDS church:
* Mormons believe in 
[[Henotheism#Mormonism|a form of polytheism]]
 [[monolatrism]] in which God the Father is but one of many gods. They do not worship nor recognize these other gods in any devotional sense, and view only the one God as their Heavenly Father. These other gods are gods of other universes, and God the Father is the god of ours.
* In Mormon theology God the Father is busy (in his home near the star Kolob or on the planet Kolob{{efn|Kolob is not an actual astronomical body.<ref>{{wpa|Kolob}}</ref>}}) producing spirit children whom He then sends to [[Earth]] to become human newborns. Humans are thus begotten, not merely created, children of the Heavenly Father.
* Jesus is the first of God the Father's begotten spirit offspring and was a co-creator of Earth. He is seen as both the "Son of God" and an eldest brother to humankind. The phrase "only begotten son" is used, sometimes in the longer form "only begotten son in the flesh", making a distinction with the spiritual begetting that is common to all.
* Satan is also a spiritually begotten offspring of God the Father, who fell due to [[sin]]. [[Evangelical Christians]] use this as one of their main criticisms of Mormonism, that this means Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers.
* Humans are given free agency, or [[free will]] to either choose or reject God's plan for their lives.  God sending his spirit children to Earth in human bodies is a kind of test period he puts us through to find out which of us will freely choose his ways. "CTR"—Choose The Right—refers to this free agency and is the Mormon answer to [[WWJD]]. This belief should be understood in the light of a strong emphasis on obedience to God, and to church authorities as his earthly representatives. In the extreme this leads to a fire-and-forget conception of free will, in which its proper purpose is to be exercised at one point in time to choose to obey from then on, with a rather diminished role thereafter. This extreme form is not doctrinal, but statements from church leaders sometimes approach it.
* Mormons believe in three levels of [[Heaven]].  
*# The Celestial Kingdom is the highest level and is where faithful Mormons who [[Marriage|marry]] in the church go.  
*# Good members of other religions who acknowledge God but are not part of the Mormon church, and Mormons who do not follow all the church ordinances, go to the Terrestrial Kingdom.  
*# The Telestial Kingdom is the lowest level of Heaven, where unrepentant sinners go. Interestingly enough, although this is the lowest kingdom and may be considered hell by comparison to the Celestial Kingdom, church members often say that if one were to view a glimpse of this kingdom, it would be so desirous as to drive a person to [[suicide]] to get there faster.  

:The Mormon conception of [[Hell]] is "outer darkness" rather than a literal burning hell; it's really described as much the opposite of what its name implies, being very cold. The eternal torture there is not so much the physical pain of burning flesh as much as it is the psychological and emotional torture of being inescapably devoid of the love of God or mercy of Christ. Extremely few if any people who have ever gained mortal bodies will go there because it is reserved for Satan and his angels and any others who have committed the sin of denying the Holy Spirit, which is said to be as hard as looking at the Sun and denying its existence. Again, nearly all unrepentant sinners will go to the Telestial Kingdom. 

:This leads to an interesting inversion of [[Pascal's wager]]. If, according to Mormon theology, one became a sincere Mormon who "in mortality" knew "the power of God" and later "denied the truth and defied God’s power" (i.e., wised up), one would be a "son of perdition" and cast into the outer darkness upon death. On the other hand, if one ignores the annoying missionaries and never joins the Mormons one goes to the so-so afterlife. This may not be a risk worth taking.<ref>[https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/chapter-33-kingdoms-of-glory-and-perdition?lang=eng Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Chapter 33: Kingdoms of Glory and Perdition] ''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''.</ref>
* The early Christian church fell into apostasy and only the Mormon faith has restored the true church.  Other churches are seen as having a portion of God's light and truth, but lacking the fullness or completeness of truth it is believed that the Mormon faith has. (And they wonder why other Christians don't like them… the feeling is apparently mutual.)
* The Bible is seen as an imperfect record of God which became corrupted through mistranslation or deliberate alterations, while the Book of Mormon is seen as a complete record restoring things missing from the Bible. [[Islam|If any of this sounds familiar]], it's because [[Quran|it's been done before]].
* Mormon and other LDS denominations believe in "continuous revelation", in which the prophets of each church can declare their reception of a "revelation" from God, which is then approved by the church leadership and entered into the "Doctrines and Covenants" book. This ever-expanding book is upheld as "open scriptural canon" alongside the Christian Bible and the Book of Mormon, distinguishing Mormonism from other Abrahamic religions' almost-exclusive reliance upon ''interpretation'' of the [[Torah]], Christian Bible or [[Qu'ran]]. (It's also the means by which church members of the LDS Church were notified after 1978 that black people were no longer banned from the priesthood.{{cn}}) [[File:Dallin H. Oaks2.JPG|150 px|thumb|right|"It’s wrong to criticize leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true…"{{efn|Oaks claimed that his quote was taken [[out of context]]. So for those interested, the full quote is:
{{cquote|It’s wrong to criticize leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true, because it diminishes their effectiveness as a servant of the Lord. One can work to correct them by some other means, but don’t go about saying that they misbehaved when they were a youngster or whatever.|||Dallin H. Oaks<ref name=oaks/>}}}} — Apostle Dallin H. Oaks. Based on Mormon theology, this phrase is direct revelation from God.<ref name=oaks>[https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Dallin_H._Oaks/It%E2%80%99s_wrong_to_criticize_leaders_of_the_Church,_even_if_the_criticism_is_true Question: Did Elder Dallin H. Oaks say that it’s wrong to criticize leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true?] ''Faithful Answers Informed Response''.</ref>]]
* The Mormon Church teaches that God the Father was once a man himself and became a god, and likewise, humans who follow his plan completely and go to the Celestial Kingdom can eventually become gods too.
* Mormons believe in baptism of the dead by proxy, that is to say that living Mormons can be baptized in place of deceased non-Mormon relatives which will extend the possibility of their being able to choose the Mormon faith or not after death so that they may have a chance to enjoy the covenants that they could have made with mortal bodies on Earth. There is a widespread misconception among church members that "sealings" seal entire families together for eternity as if to create a hillbilly mansion in Heaven.{{efn|For people with dysfunctional families, this may seem more like Hell.}} In reality only couples are really sealed together to eventually co-rule as gods and goddesses over their own dominions. The issue of people not getting married in this life is often said to be resolved during the Millennium. This practice has gotten the Mormon church into hot water more than once when it was discovered they had baptized some Jewish [[Holocaust]] victims by proxy.{{efn|A morbidly humorous plea here by one Holocaust survivor was "Leave our six million people, all victims, alone, they have suffered enough."<ref>"Jewish group wants Mormons to stop proxy baptisms" by Allison Hoffman (Noember 10, 2008 23:02) ''Jerusalem Post''. Reprinted in: [https://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/ldsagree.html The Issue of The Mormon Baptisms of Jewish Holocaust Victims and Other Jewish Dead], compiled by Bernard I. Kouchel, ''JewishGen''.</ref> The thought of having to go to Mormon Heaven on top of being a victim of [[genocide]] was just too much.}} It has also provoked complaints from Catholics, who object to another church baptizing their dead.<ref>[https://www.deseret.com/2008/5/4/20086315/catholics-told-not-to-give-lds-parish-data Catholics told not to give LDS parish data] by Geoffrey Fattah (May 4, 2008, 12:30am MDT) ''Deseret News''.</ref> It is also the source of the intense Mormon interest in genealogy; the local Mormon church is often a good resource used by non-Mormons tracing their ancestry because they have extensive genealogy records.
* The Mormon church throughout its history has maintained a practice of storing food and other goods for their members for [[charity]] and times of emergency, and encourages all members to store a year's supply of food for their families. Some Mormons take this further and get into [[survivalism]]. The policy is referred to as "Provident Living" in official Church publications.<ref name="mormonwiki">[http://www.mormonwiki.com/Food_Storage Food Storage] ''Mormon Wiki''.</ref> In the time of Brigham Young, the  minimum was to store 7 years' worth of food reserves.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200804141350/https://www.ldsliving.com/Poll-How-Much-Food-Storage-Do-You-Have-/s/76243 Poll: How Much Food Storage Do You Have?] by Kelsey Berteaux (July 08, 2014) ''LDS Living'' (archived from August 4, 2020).</ref>
* Mormons believe the Second Coming of Christ is imminent due to the one true faith&trade; having been restored (actually, the Third Coming — they believe Christ already came back to Earth a second time to minister to and teach the ancestors of the [[Native Americans]] immediately following his [[crucifixion]]). They do not believe that there will be a [[rapture]]. Joseph Smith prophesied the return of Christ would be in present-day Independence, [[Missouri]], and also taught that the [[Garden of Eden]] was located near Independence. The church teaches its members that we are living in the 'Last Days' and that the current generation may well be the final generation of humanity, and has taught that for over a century (and several 'final generations') now.
* Many Mormons feel that they believe in God because they find it more likely that God exists than that Joseph Smith could have written the Book of Mormon without divine inspiration. This is no joke. Any serious argument with a Mormon will eventually involve them asking how the Book of Mormon could be written without divine intervention. They will follow up by denigrating Joseph Smith to the point of calling him an uneducated idiot — to further their point.<ref>Source: A non-Mormon ([[:User:MikAlHan]]) who grew up reading LDS literature and arguing frequently with Mormons in South Jordan, Utah. Until recently South Jordan was the only city in the world with multiple LDS temples.</ref> The presence of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon does raise interesting questions however.
* According to the LDS scripture The Book of Abraham, every person in Heaven gets their own planet, and God lives on planet Kolob. Recently the church denied that the Book of Abraham is meant to be taken literally.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140302025513/http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/02/mormons-dont-get-planet-once-they-die-say-mormons/358669/ Mormons Don't Technically Get a Planet Once They Die, Say Mormons] by Danielle Wiener-Bronner (Feb 28, 2014 12:19PM ET) ''The Wire'' (archived from Marc h2, 2014).</ref>
*According to the Book of Mormon, Jesus visited the American continent after his resurrection.

Many of these [[theological]] points come from Joseph Smith's later revelations, and are rejected by some of the splinter groups who accept only the Book of Mormon and Smith's earlier teachings which have a more conventional Christian theology and a [[monotheism|monotheistic]], [[trinity|trinitarian]] view of God.

==Relationships with other denominations==
Broadly speaking, older and more widely known Christian sects look down on Mormons. This [[Other|othering]] may be due in part to the unorthodox theology and [[metaphysics]] that its members hold, but what is puzzling is a tendency by opponents to refer to themselves as "Christians" (rather than [[Pentecostal]]s, [[Baptist]]s, [[Lutheran]]s, [[Catholic]]s or whatever denomination they are part of) against the Mormon — [[No true Scotsman|despite the fact that Mormon theology sees Jesus Christ as the son of God]].{{cn}} However, this othering [[My enemy's enemy|usually stops just as long as the Mormons are fighting against atheists]], or, surprise surprise, helping to stop progress of [[gay rights]].{{cn}}

Mormonism's concept of the Godhead<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160712174018/http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1090&index=6 Do Latter-day Saints believe that men and women can become gods?] In: ''Latter-day Christianity: Basic Issues'' by Robert L. Millet & Noel B. Reynolds (1998)  Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. ISBN 0934893322.</ref> is sometimes used to say that Mormons are not Christian because they aren't [[Monotheism|monotheistic]] in "the doctrine or belief that there is only one God" definition of the word.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3BqLZ8UoZk Banned Mormon Cartoon — Extended Version] (May 27, 2011) ''YouTube''. Excerpt from ''The Secret World of Mormonism''.</ref> Mormonism's own teachings about Godhead are as confusing as the teachings regarding the Trinity.{{efn|"Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that human beings can grow and progress spiritually until, through the mercy and grace of Christ, they can inherit and possess all that the Father has — '''they can become gods'''."<ref name=peterson>[https://latterdaysaintmag.com/do-latter-day-saints-believe-that-men-and-women-can-become-gods/ Do Latter-day Saints believe that men and women can become gods?] by Daniel C. Peterson (July 22, 2018) ''Meridian Magazine''.</ref> Furthermore, "Even though Mormons believe in the ultimate deification of man, nothing in LDS literature speaks of worshipping any being other than the Father and the Son. Latter-day Saints believe in 'one God' in the sense that they love and serve one Godhead, '''each member of which possesses all of the attributes of godhood'''."<ref name=peterson/>}}

==Social mores==
Good Mormons have more mores; bad Mormons have less mores.

===Missionary work===
{{More sources}}
[[File:Mormon missionaries at Teotihuacan.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Mormon missionaries in uniform.]]
Mormon men are expected to spend two years of their young adulthood in the mission field, at mostly their own and their families' expense. The fairly low retention rate for members born in the church (it's estimated that as many as half the [[children]] born to members grow up to leave the church, and the actual number may be far higher) means that missionary work is considered extremely important by the church authorities, as a steady stream of converts is the only way for the church to maintain its size. The LDS church picks where they go and missionaries are expected to live an austere lifestyle during those two years, refraining from TV, sports, or reading books other than the Book of Mormon and selected books on Mormon theology. Being an "RM" (returned missionary) is a mark of especially good standing in the church, while failure of a young adult to go on a mission is generally a sign they have "backslidden" and are headed for "Jack Mormon" status. (A "Jack Mormon" is similar to a lapsed Catholic, or a non-practicing Jew.)

The LDS church has had some success in converting people in [[Latin American]] countries. Missionaries start out with a decided disadvantage in countries such as [[Japan]], where if they are so fortunate as to be invited into someone's home, they are immediately offered some [[green tea]] (which they must refuse, making the worst possible impression right off the bat).

Many of their visits come as a result of people calling the LDS church or visiting their website to request free Bibles and Books of Mormon. Mormon missionaries will show up at your door in pairs, dressed in identical suits looking like [[Amway]] salesmen, and preach the religion. They give out free Books of Mormon like candy and want you to read it. If you show interest, they will have a series of followup visits where they give filmstrip or flip-chart presentations, and will invite you to attend church on Sundays. The flip-chart presentations are a sanitized version of Mormon theology that leaves out the most ridiculous parts of their theology;{{efn|This is referred to within the church as "milk before meat", known elsewhere as [[bait-and-switch]], a form of [[deceit]].}} for example, they won't mention that God lives near the star (or planet) Kolob with his multiple spirit wives having celestial [[sex]] to breed spirit children, who then inhabit human bodies. Nor will they mention their now-abandoned beliefs regarding polygamy or Blacks. If asked about one of these beliefs they are well-trained in either spinning the subject favourably or moving on to something else altogether. One of their big hooks is to ask you to pray over the Book of Mormon after reading some of it. You are supposed to have a subjective "burning in the bosom" feeling to prove the Book of Mormon is true.

===Charity===
{{main|Charity}}
One of the teachings of Mormonism is that it's good to be charitable to all people.

Interestingly, the Church, for many years, was the largest individual sponsor of the [[Boy Scouts of America]],<ref>{{wpl|Boy Scouts of America#Chartered organizations and units}}</ref> and also spent 1.5 billion dollars on a shopping mall in Salt Lake City.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/realestate/commercial/mormon-backed-mall-breathes-life-into-salt-lake-city.html?_r=0 Mormon-Backed Mall Breathes Life into Salt Lake City] by Caitlin Kelly (July 9, 2013) ''The New York Times''.</ref><ref>[https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54478720&itype=cmsid The money behind the Mormon message: Faith and finances • From malls to media, ranches to real estate, the LDS Church rakes in billions.] by Caroline Winter et al. (October 5, 2012 12:18 pm) ''Bloomberg Businessweek'' via ''The Salt Lake Tribune''.</ref><ref>[https://utahstories.com/2012/04/city-creek-center/ City Creek Center: The true cost of the Mormon mall] by Richard Markosian (April 5, 2012) ''Utah Stories''.</ref>

The LDS Church is also globally involved in humanitarian work. It has donated millions to [[hurricane]], flood, mudslide, earthquake, tsunami, and other natural disaster relief aid.{{cn}}

The Mormon church has a built-in welfare program. The program is designed to give short-term aid to practicing Mormons. This aid is given under the discretion of the bishop of a ward (parish). Aid is usually given out in the form of monthly rations of groceries, and many a low-income Mormon family will have a pantry filled entirely with church-branded food given to them from the Bishop's Storehouse.{{cn}} This system is one of the few remaining holdovers from the extremely early days of the church, when [[Communism|church members held all property in common, basic needs were provided for equally, and additional resources were allocated by a centralized distribution authority on an as-needed basis]].{{cn}} As welfare programs go, the Mormons can be quite stingy: David Nolan, a Mormon faithful, needed help paying his house mortgage and was offered $40 to buy food.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/12/28/lds-church-musical/ The wealthy LDS Church offered a man $40 for food, he says. So he wrote a Mormon musical.] by Marisa Iati (December 28, 2021 at 8:06 p.m. EST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

The Mormon-controlled state legislature is the reason that Utah is very difficult to obtain federally-sponsored welfare. The Mormon hierarchy wants people to seek assistance from the Mormons instead, thereby obtaining a source for [[proselytization]] and potential conversion.<ref>[https://www.propublica.org/article/utahs-social-safety-net-is-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-what-does-that-mean-if-youre-not-one Utah Makes Welfare So Hard to Get, Some Feel They Must Join the LDS Church to Get Aid] by Eli Hager (Dec. 2, 2021, 5 a.m. EST) ''ProPublica''.</ref>

It was estimated in 2012 that the LDS Church takes in $7 billion per year in tithing, mostly from US Mormons. It was estimated to own $35 billion in non-investment (church) real estate holdings. It has a policy of ''decreasing'' transparency and membership control as far as where the [[money]] goes: temples, investments (farms, ranches, shopping malls), missions, or charity.<ref>[http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/13/13262285-mormon-church-earns-7-billion-a-year-from-tithing-analysis-indicates Mormon church earns $7 billion a year from tithing, analysis indicates] by Peter Henderson (13 Aug 2012; 4:00pm, EDT) ''NBC News'' (archived from November 24, 2013).</ref>  Unlike most Protestant denominations, the LDS Church has a centralized financial system.<ref>[http://www.shields-research.org/Critics/10Points_for_Disbelief.htm Ten Points for Disbelief in Mormonism] by Brian B. (c. 2003) ''Scholarly & Historical Information Exchange for Latter-Day Saints''.</ref>

===Fraud===
According to Ned Hill{{efn|A professor of business management and a former dean of the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.}} Mormons often fall prey to financial [[scam]]s as they try to take the fast route to charitable donations.<ref name="scam">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100131093936/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=an7Pm3hkmauw Mormons Become Victims in $50 Million Scam to Sell Gold Bullion] by James Sterngold (September 1, 2009 00:01 EDT) ''Bloomberg'' (archived from January 31, 2010).</ref> In a massive case of [[advance fee fraud]], many Mormons (and other evangelical Christians) lost their life's savings in a ruse to allegedly broker the sale of 20,000 tons of [[gold]] allegedly owned by a group of [[Israeli]]s to Arab buyers.<ref name="scam"/> In 2023, a [[Ponzi scheme]] that primarily targeted Mormons collapsed, having allegedly taken in $500 million between 2017 and 2022 from 900 people.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/02/01/mormon-ponzi-scheme-vegas-fbi/ An alleged $500 million Ponzi scheme preyed on Mormons. It ended with FBI gunfire. In Las Vegas, a lawyer with huge gambling debts is accused of a financial fraud that left hundreds of victims in its wake] by Lizzie Johnson (February 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. EST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> 

Mormons seem to be an exceptionally [[credulous]] bunch, probably because of all the [[bullshit|hooie]] that they are required to swallow to be members in good standing. Mormons love to lose money on [[multilevel marketing]] (MLM) schemes, known as "Mormons Losing Money" in Utah.<ref>[http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/04/mitt-romney-nu-skin-multilevel-marketing-schemes Get-Rich-Quick Profiteers Love Mitt Romney, and He Loves Them Back: Mormon country is rife with miracle-cure peddlers whose get-rich-quick schemes have boomed in the recession. One of the biggest beneficiaries of their campaign largesse? Mitt Romney.] by Stephanie Mencimer (May/June 2012) ''Mother Jones''.</ref> One ex-Mormon speculates that the Mormon hierarchy wants to keep the unwashed masses of Mormons [[poor]] through tithing and MLMs, and hence dependent on Mormon charity.<ref>[http://notamormon.blogspot.com/2006/08/why-do-so-many-mormons-enter-mlm.html Why Do so many Mormons enter MLM schemes?] (August 07, 2006) ''Not a Mormon''.</ref>

===Sex===
Mormons disapprove of sex outside marriage, [[masturbation]], and [[pornography]]. Eight-year-old children are questioned about what sexual things they have been doing and made to feel like [[pervert]]s for masturbating.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44644130 Mormon Church must end children's sexual interviews, members say] by Jo Adnitt & Joice Etutu (1 July 2018) ''BBC''.</ref> It is common in Mormon culture for many boys around the time they are ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood to be given a pamphlet called ''{{wpl|To Young Men Only||,}}'' a sermon given by ultra-conservative Mormon Apostle Boyd K. Packer. It uses "a little factory" as an analogy for the male reproductive system and claims that ejaculations are only acceptable to the lord if they are nocturnal emissions or when this "power" is used "only with our partner in marriage." The pamphlet thoroughly condemns masturbation, pornography, and [[Gay sex|homosexual activity]] as "immoral and forbidden by the Lord." The pamphlet urges men to "vigorously resist" homosexual enticement, even using violence if necessary.<ref>[https://www.qsaltlake.com/news/2010/10/14/some-things-that-are-true-are-not-very-useful/ Some Things That are True are Not Very Useful] by Ben Williams (October 14, 2010) ''QSaltLake Magazine''.</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/ToYoungMenOnly ''To Young Men Only''] by Boyd K. Packer (1976)  ''Intellectual Reserve''.</ref>

[[File:Apostle Boyd G̶a̶y̶ ̶S̶a̶c̶k̶e̶r̶ K. Packer.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Apostle Boyd K. Packer — Ultra-Conservative, even by Mormon Standards!]]
{{cquote|I repeat, very plainly, physical mischief with another man is forbidden. It is forbidden by the Lord. There are some men who entice young men to join them in these immoral acts. If you are ever approached to participate in anything like that, it is time to vigorously resist. While I was in a mission on one occasion, a missionary said he had something to confess. I was very worried because he just could not get himself to tell me what he had done. After patient encouragement he finally blurted out, "I hit my companion." "Oh, is that all," I said in great relief. "But I floored him," he said. After learning a little more, my response was, "Well, thanks. Somebody had to do it, and it wouldn’t be well for a General Authority to solve the problem that way." I am not recommending that course to you, but I am not omitting it. You must protect yourself.|||Boyd G̶a̶y̶ ̶S̶a̶c̶k̶e̶r̶ K. Packer}} 

This peddling of masturbatory shame, sexual negativity, and violence against homosexual advances is aggravated and reinforced by "worthiness interviews", as mentioned above, in which minors aged as young as eight are questioned by older male church officials, usually bishops or stake presidents who are not clinicians or qualified mental health professionals, in isolation behind closed doors. They are interrogated about whether they masturbate, watch pornography, or have sexual relations with others. If they answer yes to any of these questions, they may be chastised, told they will go to Hell, or referred to "addiction recovery" and/or [[conversion therapy]] programs.<ref>[https://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2017/11/report-mormon-masturbation-interviews-damage-children/ Mormon Masturbation Interviews Damage Children] by Michael Stone (November 21, 2017) ''Patheos''.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44644130 Mormon Church must end children's sexual interviews, members say] by Jo Adnitt & Joice Etutu (1 July 2018) ''BBC''.</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/24/us/mormon-young-excommunicated/index.html Why a former Mormon bishop was excommunicated for criticizing sexually explicit youth interviews] by Lauren Jackson (1:32 PM EDT, Mon September 24, 2018) ''CNN''.</ref>

Despite them claiming otherwise, the anti-pornography organization Fight the New Drug was founded by Mormons,<ref>https://www.thedailybeast.com/porn-kills-love-mormons-anti-smut-crusade?ref=scroll</ref> and has engaged in several other forms of dishonesty in an effort to get teenagers to stop watching porn.<ref>https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4409139&itype=CMSID</ref>

===Marriage===
{{main|Marriage}}
The LDS church puts a large premium on marriage within the church, and having large families. Single Mormon young adults and converts are under pressure to marry somebody in the church, and areas with larger Mormon congregations will have a special "singles ward" for single members to attend so you can meet that special someone. Marrying outside the church bars you from the most sacred of Mormon ceremonies, the Temple Marriage, which is done inside the Mormon temple, although this often becomes another source of new Mormon converts as the non-member is pressured to convert to Mormonism so they can be married in the temple. Non-Mormon family members are also barred from attending the Temple Marriage ceremony, so often Mormon couples will hold two wedding ceremonies, one in the temple and a separate one which non-Mormon family and friends can attend. According to Mormon theology, being married in the temple opens one up to the highest levels of Heaven when you die. Mormons believe that all people who have ever lived will have baptism and temple marriage opportunities available to them through "temple work", which includes baptisms and marriage rites being performed by temple attendees on behalf of the dead. The belief is that the dead who did not have the opportunity during life of receiving these "ordinances" can choose whether to accept them as personally binding.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020712075307/http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/temples/Temple_Worship_EOM.htm Temple Worship and Activity] by Immo Luschin, ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'', Volume 4, via ''Light Planet'' (archived from July 12, 2002).</ref>

[[Polygamy]] was allowed at the time of Joseph Smith (Smith himself had several wives, some of whom were as young as 14). The second 'prophet' of the church, Brigham Young, had dozens of wives and married and impregnated children as young as 15; other high-ranking church leaders at the time are on record as having wives as young as 13, and several of them married multiple girls on the same day. This still happens in Mormonism's splinter groups, which continue to practice polygamy to this day.<ref>[http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon216.htm Daniel Peterson, Apologize This - Child Brides!] by Troy (May 03 22:04 2003) ''Recovery from Mormonism''.</ref> For example, [[Warren Jeffs]], the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison for sex crimes.<ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52354441-78/jeffs-sexual-child-jurors.html.csp Warren Jeffs gets life in prison for sex with underage girls] by Lindsay Whitehurst  (August 11, 2011) ''The Salt Lake Tribune''.</ref>

===Mormon cinema===
In recent years, a genre of independent films made in Utah intended for Mormon audiences has developed.  Seemingly this is partly to fill a Mormon desire for clean entertainment — video stores in Utah have drawn criticism in the past for renting popular movies modified, without the filmmakers' permission, to remove sex, violence, and vulgar language.  The new genre of Mormon cinema is very much unlike evangelistic Protestant films like ''[[Left Behind]]'' whose main point is [[evangelism]]. They are strictly entertainment, annoyingly (or refreshingly, depending on your perspective) saccharine, "clean" comedies like ''The R.M.'' and ''The Singles Ward'' whose humor derives from in-group references to Utah and Mormon culture.  This latter fact effectively limits their appeal; someone looking for "clean" alternatives to popular movies, but not familiar with Mormon culture, is not going to get most of the jokes. The effect is gently poking fun at the excesses of Mormon culture while ultimately reaffirming the church and its values. The genre also extends to murder mysteries, historical drama, animation, documentaries, and dramatisation of ''Book of Mormon'' stories, and has grown so large there are now LDS film festivals, the nickname Mollywood, and — spawning its own splinter decidedly ''not'' endorsed by the LDS Church, a small movement devoted to independent ''gay'' Mormon cinema. Jack Mormons might enjoy the 1997 comedy ''Orgazmo'', in which a Mormon missionary is induced to become a porn star.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124819/ ''Orgazmo'': Naive young Mormon Joe Young is recruited to act in porn movies] ''IMDb''.</ref> <br />

BYU TV, a television channel owned by Brigham Young University and is owned by the church, also has a variety of TV shows. The shows can be found on many cable packages nationwide, [[YouTube]], local Utah TV, and Sirius XM radio.<ref>[https://www.siriusxm.com/byuradio BYUradio] ''Sirius XM''.</ref> Chief among the shows is Studio C, a squeaky-clean sketch-comedy version of ''Saturday Night Live'' that is hosted by college students from the university. Their most famous video, ''Top Soccer Shootout Ever With Scott Sterling (Original)'', has over 80 million views on YouTube as of 2021.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F9jXYOH2c0 Top Soccer Shootout Ever With Scott Sterling (Original)] by Studio C (Nov 14, 2014) ''YouTube''.</ref>

==Child sexual abuse allegations==
A large number of child sexual abuse allegations have been brought against the church based on the "look-back window" that had previously been applied to other hierarchical organizations, most notably the Catholic Church, [[Scientology]] and the Boy Scouts. Due to the large number of lawsuits, attorneys have been trying to consolidate them into a single lawsuit in the [[California]] jurisdiction. The most damning allegation is that a Mormon help line for abuse victims was used to coverup complaints by keeping the victims from seeking legal redress.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/mormon-church-child-sex-abuse-allegations-california Mormon church rocked by child sexual abuse allegations in California: Look-back window results in nearly 100 allegations against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] by Edward Helmore (8 Mar 2025 10.00 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

==Groups Mormons hate and/or don't mention==
There's a lot of 'em.

===Women===
[[Orson Scott Card]] (himself a Mormon) said, "…women are virtually absent from the Book of Mormon. When they do manage to show up, they are rarely named. There are only three women who are actually of the culture of the Book of Mormon who are given names. One is Sariah, the mother of Nephi. Another is a [[Prostitution|harlot]] named Isabel, and the third is a servant woman named Abish. None of the queens who show up in the story are mentioned by name. None of these writers ever mentions his own wife, and when women do show up in a specific role they're still almost never named. Nephi did not even bother to mention the name of the woman who saved his life by pleading for him in the desert."<ref>[http://www.nauvoo.com/library/card-bookofmormon.html The Book of Mormon — Artifact or Artifice?] by Orson Scott Card (February 1993) ''Nauvoo''.</ref> This would certainly seem consistent with the Hebrew tradition that the text is allegedly translated from.

Women do not hold the priesthood; one woman was excommunicated for campaigning through a group called Ordain Women to allow women's [[ordination]] as priests.<ref name=little/> In a 2017 leak, it was found that the Church had actually compiled a so-called "Enemies List" formatted as a spectrum from "far left" to "far right", and it placed Ordain Women on the "far left". The Church issued a [[copyright]] take-down to try and remove this from the Internet, though they hadn't done so for previous leaks by the same group.<ref>Jennings Brown (March 14, 2017). [https://gizmodo.com/mormonleaks-goes-to-battle-with-mormon-church-over-leak-1793233049 "MormonLeaks Goes to Battle With Mormon Church Over Leaked 'Enemy List'"]. ''Gizmodo''.</ref> Women take part in the Mormon Church's Relief Society organization, which is one of the largest and oldest women's organizations in the world. Mormons often claim that it is '''the''' oldest and largest.<ref>{{wpa|Relief Society}}</ref>

===Children ''and'' the mentally disabled===
In Mormonism, children under 8 and the mentally disabled are believed incapable of committing sin<ref> [http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5446 Accountability] ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'', edited by  Daniel H. Ludlow (1992) Macmillan. ISBN 0028796055.</ref>{{rp|22}} — which gives one a whole new perspective reading Orson Scott Card's ''[[Ender's Game]]''.

===LGBTQ===
{{main|LGBTQ}}
The church takes a negative stance on [[homosexuality]] claiming, like most other Christian denominations, that it is a sin. Tolerance is taught in the church following the maxim "love the sinner, despise the sin." The church gave significant support to [[California Proposition 8]], an attempt to amend the California state constitution to prohibit [[same-sex marriage]]. This support attracted criticism, and the church was fined for not accurately reporting its contributions to the campaign to pass the amendment.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100611040045/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/mormon-church-to-be-fined-by-state-political-commission-over-proposition-8.html Mormon Church to be fined by state political commission over Proposition 8] by Ruben Vives (June 8, 2010 |  9:44 pm) ''The Los Angeles Times''.</ref>

There are a small number of openly gay Mormons;<ref>{{wpa|Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families, & Friends}}</ref> they are generally tolerated so long as they pledge to remain entirely [[celibate]] as far as homosexual relations are concerned and agree to lead an essentially monastic existence if they choose not to pursue a heterosexual relationship that could be within the temple covenant.<ref name="HLDSWP"/> In 2015, the Church prohibited children with gay parents from receiving blessings, becoming missionaries, receiving baptism, ordination, or confirmation by the Church.<ref>Tracy Connor and Alex Johnson (November 6, 2015). [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mormon-church-bars-children-same-sex-couples-baptism-blessings-n458416 "Mormon Church Bars Children of Same-Sex Couples From Baptism, Blessings"]. ''NBC News''.</ref> This was repealed four years later.<ref>Claire Hansen (April 4, 2019). [https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-04-04/mormon-church-will-allow-children-of-lgbt-parents-to-be-baptized "Mormon Church Will Allow Children of LGBT Parents to be Baptized"]. ''U.S. News & World Report''.</ref>

The Church historically endorsed [[conversion therapy]], including the use of [[Electroconvulsive therapy|electroconvulsive shocks]] on gay people.<ref>(March 28, 2011). [https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mormon-gay-cures-reparative-therapies-shock-today/story?id=13240700 "Mormon 'Gay Cure' Study Used Electric Shocks Against Homosexual Feelings"]. ''ABC News''.</ref> Officially, the Church no longer advocates conversion therapy, now considers identifying as gay to be acceptable, and no longer recommends heterosexual relationships for homosexuals,<ref name="HLDSWP">{{wpa|Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref> but as of 2019 continued to advocated against banning conversion therapy performed on minors.<ref>(October 16, 2019). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lds-church-lgbtq-minors-conversion-therapy-utah-ban-opposes/ "Mormon Church urges Utah not to bar 'conversion therapy' for LGBTQ minors"]. ''CBS News''.</ref>

Young gay Mormons are often treated as sinful or as an abomination even by their own families. Many are thrown out of their homes. [[Suicide]] among young Mormons is increasing especially since the Church increased condemnation of gays. There are adult Mormons who oppose homophobia and who try to protect and counsel vulnerable young gays.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160712182653/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/11/meet-the-mama-dragons-mormon-moms-protecting-their-lgbt-kids-from-within-the-church/ Meet the “Mama Dragons”: Mormon Moms Protecting Their LGBT Kids From Within The Church] by Camille Beredjick (July 11, 2016) ''Patheos''.</ref><ref>Amber Leventry (July 15, 2018). [https://www.scarymommy.com/mama-dragons-faith-based-love-protect-lgbtq-kids "The Mama Dragons Are Using Fiery And Faith-Based Love To Protect Their LGBTQ Kids"]. ''Scary Mommy''.</ref>

While the church forbids "homosexual behavior," it does not teach that just being gay is a sin on its own.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/same-sex-attraction?lang=eng Same-Sex Attraction] ''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints''.</ref> Mormon literature prefers the euphemism "same-sex attraction" over words like gay, lesbian, or [[bisexual]]. This language treats homosexuality as an unfortunate affliction rather than a valid identity, and separates gay Mormons from non-Mormon gay communities which might affirm their sexuality.

In 2024, the Mormon Church announced an ignorant and hateful policy against [[transgender]] Mormons, lumping transgender members in "with churchgoers who have committed [[incest]], [[rape|sexual predatory behavior]], [[Child sexual abuse|sexual violence against children]] and embezzlement of church funds."<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/mormon-transgender-restrictions-lds-church-rcna167582 Mormon church issues new restrictions on transgender members: The new policies include a measure to annotate trans members’ records, grouping them with members who have committed sexual violence or child abuse.] by Matt Lavietes (Aug. 21, 2024, 1:46 PM PDT / Updated Aug. 22, 2024, 8:00 AM PDT) ''NBC News''.</ref> While we're at it, embezzlement is a bit odd to place alongside sexual misconduct, too.

===Nonwhites===
Nowadays, the Church says that it "embraces the universal human family", without regards to race.<ref>[https://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood Race and the Priesthood] ''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints''.</ref> It certainly wasn't that way in the past (and in the present, for all too many practicing Mormons).

Mormons also thought Black people were ineligible for the "priesthood" (which in Mormon theology is all male believers in good standing) until recently — 1978 to be precise. (It seems that in 1978 [[God]] decreed that BYU might wish to bring in some Black athletes if they ever wanted to schedule another football game again.) Hmmm… apparently they realized they were missing out on a much larger pool of potential converts for their missionaries, which they send around the world.

Back in the day, the church was relatively open about their views on Blacks:

{{cquote|[Black people] come into the world [[slaves]] mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have [[soul]]s, and are subjects of [[salvation]]. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability. The slaves in Washington are more refined than many in high places, and the black boys will take the shine of many of those they brush and wait on.

Elder Hyde remarked, 'Put them on the level, and they will rise above me.' I replied, if I raised you to be my equal, and then attempted to oppress you, would you not be indignant and try to rise above me, as did Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and many others, who said I was a fallen Prophet, and they were capable of leading the people, although I never attempted to oppress them, but had always been lifting them up? Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization.|||Joseph Smith, Jr.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/history-of-the-church-volume-5/page/204/mode/2up ''History of Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: A Source- and Text-Critical Edition, Volume 5: 1842–1843''], edited by Dan Vogel (2015) Smith-Pettit Foundation. ISBN 9781560852452. Page 205.</ref>}}

{{cquote|Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the [[Mark of Cain|seed of Cain]], the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so. The nations of the earth have transgressed every law that God has given, they have changed the ordinances and broken every covenant made with the fathers, and they are like a hungry man that dreameth that he eateth, and he awaketh and behold he is empty.|||Brigham Young<ref>[https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/JournalOfDiscourses3/id/4266 ''Journal of Discourses''] by Brigham Young (1863) Volume 10, Page 110.</ref>}}

Yes, that's right. Brigham Young claimed that any man (or depending on how you interpret his choice of words, any Mormon man) who has sex with a Black woman will instantly die. Needless to say, this is not, in fact, something known to happen.

All this is somewhat sad — as Joseph Smith himself professed some [[abolition]]ist beliefs, baptizing and ordaining several black men to the priesthood, including Elijah Abel, Joseph T. Ball, Peter Kerr, and Kwaku Walker Lewis.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100415023142/http://www.mtgriffith.com:80/web_documents/earlyldsviews.htm Early Mormon Views on Slavery, the Abolitionists, and the Civil War] by Michael T. Griffith (2009). Archived from April 15, 2010).</ref><ref>[https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/african-americans-and-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints/ African Americans and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] ''Black Past''.</ref> Brigham Young was the predominant driving force against [[African Americans]] in the church's early history.

==Some famous Mormons==
{{collist|2|
* {{wpl|Jack Anderson||,}} [[journalist]] famous for his muckraking on [[Watergate]], [[Iran-Contra]], [[J. Edgar Hoover]], Liberty Lobby, ''[[ad nauseam]]''. He was a first-class busybody (nothing like us, of course).
* {{wpl|John Browning||,}} inventor of the modern machine-gun action-mechanism
* {{wpl|Jacinda Ardern||,}} former Prime Minister of [[New Zealand]]. (Ardern grew up as a Mormon but left the church in 2005 because it conflicted with her personal views, in particular her support for gay rights.)
* [[Glenn Beck]], media agitator (joined for the cook-outs) 
* {{wpl|Arthur Gary Bishop||,}} convicted [[pedophilia|child molester]] and serial killer (but remember, religion makes us moral!)
* {{wpl|Don Bluth||,}} producer of animated movies, cousin of Mitt Romney
* [[Orson Scott Card]], [[science fiction | science-fiction]] author who wrote ''Ender's Game'', a novel that owes so very very much to [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s novel ''Starship Troopers''.  (Heinlein was definitely not a Mormon, as his collection ''Revolt in 2100'' makes clear.)
* {{wpl|Butch Cassidy||,}} bank robber
* {{wpl|Eldridge Cleaver||,}} a former leader in the [[Black Panther Party]]. He flipped through a bunch of religions in his later life.
* {{wpl|Stephen Covey||,}} author of [[self help]] books
* {{wpl|Philo Farnsworth||,}} inventor of the cathode ray tube (CRT)
* {{wpl|Jon Heder||,}} star of ''Napoleon Dynamite'' (in fact, many Mormons were involved with that film)
* {{wpl|Ken Jennings||,}} that 74-time ''Jeopardy!'' champion
* {{wpl|Glen A. Larson||,}} creator of ''Knight Rider'' and the original version of ''Battlestar Galactica'', whose plot shares a number of obvious similarities to Mormon cosmology/mythology. For example, humans originated from a planet named "Kobol" (similar to Kolob, God's home according to Mormons), which contained 12 distinct tribes/colonies (from the Biblical '12' tribes of Israel, and the Quorum of the 12), with the 13<sup>th</sup> 'lost' tribe being Earth.
* {{wpl|Evan Mecham||,}} former governor of Arizona and a [[racist]] [[crank]]
* [[Stephenie Meyer]], author of the ''Twilight'' book series
* {{wpl|The Osmonds||,}} the Mormon answer to Michael Jackson's Jackson Five.
* {{wpl|Anne Perry}} (''neé'': Juliet Marion Hulme), mystery novelist and adult LDS convert who, at the age of 15, helped her friend murder her friend's mother.
* [[Harry Reid]], U.S. Senate Democratic majority leader (2007-2015)
* [[W. Mitt Romney|Mitt Romney]], former governor of [[Massachusetts]], 2008/2012 Republican presidential candidate, as of 2019 a senator for Utah and somehow inheritor of John McCain's role as "the guy who talks like a maverick but always votes the party line"
* {{wpl|Mick Ronson||,}} best known for miming [[oral sex]] on David Bowie
* {{wpl|Brandon Sanderson||,}} fantasy author who wrote ''Elantris'', ''Mistborn'' series, and the final installments of the late Robert Jordan's series ''The Wheel of Time''.
* [[W. Cleon Skousen]], author, BYU professor, and conspiracy theorist
* {{wpl|Lindsey Stirling||,}} the violinist, dancer, songwriter and YouTuber. 
* The Udalls:
** {{wpl|Mo Udall||,}} former Arizona congressman and 1976 presidential candidate
** {{wpl|Stewart Udall||,}} Secretary of the Interior in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. A Kennedy supporter, he gave Lyndon Johnson a parting one finger salute when he used his authority as Secretary of the Interior to re-name DC Stadium into RFK Memorial Stadium as it sits on land leased from the National Parks Service.
** {{wpl|Tom Udall||,}} U.S. Senator from New Mexico
* {{wpl|William B. Ide||,}} President of the California Republic (June 17 - July 9, 1846)
* {{wpl|Steve Young||,}} Super Bowl Champion Quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, and descendant of Brigham Young (Steve Young won't say which one of Brigham Young's 55 wives he is descended from)
}}

==Some Mormon Terms==
*A "Stake House" is a̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶t̶a̶u̶r̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶c̶i̶a̶l̶i̶z̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶f̶s̶t̶e̶a̶k̶ a peculiar homophone and slang term for a meetinghouse, in particular one where the local stake president's office is. Hungry [[heathen]]s are often disappointed by this revelation.
*To be of "pioneer stock" means to be descended from the Mormon pioneers, and to be of pioneer stock is sometimes considered an honour by Mormons.
*The History of the Church is the history of the Mormon Church, compiled by a Mormon leader.
*The Book of Abraham is another volume of Mormon scripture allegedly authored by Joseph Smith. Notably, the "source" material from which Smith claimed to translate it exists and says nothing like what the Book of Abraham says.<ref>{{wpa|Book of Abraham}}</ref> It is, in fact, a common funerary text.
*The "November policy" is an amendment to the Mormon Church's administration handbook which was leaked in November 2015, expanding the definition of "apostasy" (the gravest sin in Mormonism) to include same-sex marriage. Children of a same-sex couple cannot be admitted to the Mormon Church until the age of 18 and until they 'renounce their parents' lifestyle'.<ref>[https://www.kuer.org/religion/2018-08-10/the-lds-church-quietly-doubles-down-on-a-controversial-gay-policy The LDS Church Quietly Doubles Down On A Controversial Gay Policy] by Lee Hale (August 10, 2018 at 7:47 AM MDT) ''KUER''.</ref>
*The [https://cesletter.org/ CES Letter] is an open letter from a then-Mormon asking questions about Mormon history and practices; the letter became famous among the ex-Mormon community.<ref>{{wpa|Jeremy Runnells}}</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.lds.org The LDS Church's home page]
*[http://www.exmormon.org Recovery from Mormonism, an ex-Mormon board dissecting the church's more bizarre culture and practices]
*[http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/drameana Women and Child Abuse in Mormonism]
*[http://www.cofchrist.org The Community of Christ, the former Reorganized LDS Church]
*[http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/08/13/120813crat_atlarge_gopnik?currentPage=1 ''The New Yorker'': I, Nephi] — Adam Gopnik (13 August 2012). Discusses the history of Mormonism and its resulting meanings.
*[http://cesletter.com/Letter-to-a-CES-Director.pdf Letter to a CES Director] A strong knowledgeable criticism of Mormonism
*[http://youtu.be/46PXaJxzuDE YouTube: You Can't Touch Mormon Jesus]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTi8dq4KAeE The Heretic's Guide to Mormonism, at Skepticon 4]
*[http://new.exchristian.net/2016/05/how-internet-is-killing-religion-part-1.html How the Internet is killing religion -- Part 1]  This includes a humorous account of factual problems with Mormonism.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcQthyiTA7c 50 problems with the Mormon Church, a sleekly-designed video pointing out falsehoods in the church ]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bu7yZsvh1Y 50 more problems (̶s̶p̶o̶i̶l̶e̶r̶:̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶b̶l̶e̶m̶s̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶e̶n̶d̶)̶]

===Wikis===
* [http://en.fairmormon.org/Main_Page The FAIR Wiki]:  Run by a Mormon [[apologetics]] group.  Editing appears to be closed to the general public and articles have a pro-Mormonism POV
* [http://www.mormonwiki.com/Main_Page MormonWiki.com]:  Describes itself as a "free encyclopedia about Mormons from the perspective of faithful members," but editing is open to the public.  Articles tend to have a pro-Mormonism POV. Dead.
* [http://mormon.wikia.com/ MormonWikia]:  Yet another wiki with a proclaimed pro-Mormon POV.  "This is not a place for criticism of any nature." Dead (deservedly, given what we just mentioned).

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2|80%}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:American religions]]
[[Category:Christian denominations]]
[[Category:Cults]]
[[Category:Deceit]]
[[Category:Mormonism]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Native American woo]]
[[Category:Pseudohistory]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]
[[Category:Racism]]
[[Category:Rape culture]]
[[Category:Sexism]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

Categories: American religions, Christian denominations, Cults, Deceit, Mormonism, Homophobia, Native American woo, Pseudohistory, Purity culture, Racism, Rape culture, Sexism, Transphobia, YouTube