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Mormon Life Articles
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as the “Mormon Church” by the media, are well-known for their interest in genealogy. Mormons actively research information about their ancestors, and keep records themselves to pass on to their children. In Mormon temples, members of the Church perform ordinances, such as baptism for the dead, for their ancestors, making it possible for those who have passed on to accept and follow the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mormon Genealogical Research
Ever since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in 1830, members have actively sought information about their ancestors. One of the main missions of the Church is to work toward the fulfillment of the following scripture, which was repeated several times by an angel to the young Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, in 1823:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful... Read the rest of this article »
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often misnamed the “Mormon Church” by the media) teaches that homosexuality is contrary to the plan of God for His children. A modern-day revelation titled “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” explains further why homosexuality is in opposition to God’s plan:
Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. . . .
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. . . .
Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor... Read the rest of this article »
SMITHFIELD — After dinner, three baths, four bedtime stories and a half-a-dozen goodnight kisses for 2-year-old twins Brock and Isaac and 6-year-old Ellie, Erin and Brian Thompson finally sink into the couch with weary smiles.
Being parents is just what they always wanted. And they love it.
“Of course we have our crazy moments,” Thompson says, “but for the most part we just try to find the good things in the day and remember that they’re only going to be little for so long.”
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Thompsons believe that maintaining a strong marriage and raising and teaching children are essential keys to happiness and their most important responsibilities on earth.
In fact, 81 percent of Mormons say being a good parent is “one of the most important things in life,” according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life —... Read the rest of this article »
By Amy Choate-Nielsen
Deseret News
Published: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 7:00 p.m. MST
David Letterman knows how to get a laugh.Like most comics, he riffs on the day’s news, deadpans the camera and revels in audacity.”Oh, did you hear about this?” the host of CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman asked his audience recently. “A campaign staffer on the Newt Gingrich campaign was fired because he was making negative comments about Mormons. I thought, now, wait a minute — isn’t Newt in favor of multiple wives?”
Laughter rumbled from the audience followed by applause. The polygamy punch line is a familiar one when it comes to poking fun at Mormons — as though Mormons and polygamy are synonymous in mainstream media. Ironically, the practice that’s most linked to Mormons is a practice most Mormons oppose, according to a groundbreaking new study of Mormons in America released Thursday by the Pew Research Center‘s... Read the rest of this article »
A recent The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life conducted an in-depth survey of Mormons in the United States. Mormon is a nickname sometimes used to describe members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The fourth article in a series that appears in Deseret News is evaluating the results of this survey and providing context for the results.
Immigration is a controversial topic in the United States. The survey asked one question on this topic. They were asked which of two statements most closely matched their view, even if they didn’t completely agree. They were asked whether immigrants strengthen or burden the nation. No distinction was made between legal and illegal immigration, leaving those polled to decide for themselves what the question meant.
In the general U.S. population, 45 percent of Americans feel that immigrants strengthen the country, while 44 percent burden it. 12 percent feel that neither or... Read the rest of this article »
Of all the numbers in the Pew Research Center’s recently released survey of “Mormons in America,” the highest, most overwhelming numbers are these: 98 percent of respondents said they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 97 percent say their church is a Christian religion.
This comes on the heels of earlier surveys indicating that 32 percent of non-LDS U.S. adults say the LDS Church is not a Christian religion, and an additional 17 percent are unsure of LDS Christianity. The theological and semantic reasons for this can be complex, but for the 1,019 self-identified Mormons who participated in the Pew survey, their theological position is clear: Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, and they consider themselves to be Christian.
“Certainly in Latter-day Saint theology is this idea that if you understand who you are, you understand that there’s a purpose in life, you understand your connection to God, that certainly has... Read the rest of this article »
As the “Mormon moment” extends into 2012, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life today released a groundbreaking new survey, the first ever published by a non-LDS research organization to focus exclusively on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their beliefs, values, perceptions and political preferences.
Entitled “Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their Place in Society,” the survey was conducted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 16, 2011 among a national sample of 1,019 respondents who identified themselves as Mormons. The results validate a number of long-held stereotypes (most American Mormons are white, well-educated, politically conservative and religiously observant) while providing a few interesting surprises (care for the poor and needy is high on the list of LDS priorities, while drinking coffee and watching R-rated movies aren’t as taboo among the rank and file as... Read the rest of this article »
All too frequently, the only thing people know about the Mormon Church (officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is that its members practice polygamy. The sad thing about this is that Mormons do not practice polygamy, nor have they for more than 100 years. However, this is a misconception that has continued for a long time. While Mormons did once practice polygamy, even its history is largely misunderstood. (Learn more about Mormon polygamy.)
Mormon women have always held a great deal of freedom. Even when polygamy was practiced by Mormons, no woman was ever forced into a polygamous marriage. In fact, only a small percentage of members of the LDS Church ever did practice polygamy. Divorce was even available to women who joined a polygamous marriage and then found themselves unhappy in the situation. Because of historical misconceptions about the practice of polygamy, many people continue to think today that Mormon women are oppressed... Read the rest of this article »
The Mormon doctrine of the Plan of Salvation is one that fills me with peace, hope, and joy. Having been blessed to grow up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I sometimes take the knowledge that I have of this doctrine for granted. Yet, whenever I stop to think about it, the beauty and simplicity of the plan overwhelm with gratitude.
There are a few names for the Plan of Salvation among Latter-day Saints (also called Mormons: members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). These include, but are not limited to, the Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Happiness, the Plan of Mercy, and the Plan of Redemption. Each of these captures a small facet of what the whole plan encompasses. Mormons believe that each of us existed before we came to this earth as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. It follows, then, that we are still children of our Heavenly Father. Not a mysterious, incomprehensible being, but a being in whose... Read the rest of this article »
Matt Durazzani served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Rome Italy mission from January 1999 to January of 2001. During his two-year service as a Mormon missionary–whose time is committed to teaching about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth–Matt (Elder Durazzani) was assigned to serve as Assistant to the Mission President.
Rome, Italy Temple Site Photo: Clark Harrop
Elder Durazzani, along with other elders who assisted the Mission President, actually lived in the very home that is situated on the highest part of the hill on the acquired land for the Rome, Italy temple! Four to six elders at a time, who were assisting in the Mormon Mission Office, stayed in that spacious home–with a rustic unfinished lower level, bunks on the next, and living quarters with a kitchen on the higher level.
Recently, Matt and I visited as he reflected on his time in that home and his missionary experiences,... Read the rest of this article »
