"what is now Utah. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is by far the largest of these groups, with a membership count totaling over 15,000,000 worldwide and the only group to initially reside in Utah. The ""Missouri Mormon"" groups include those non-polygamous groups that chose not to travel to Utah and are currently headquartered in Missouri, which Joseph Smith designated as the future site of the New Jerusalem. These organizations include Community of Christ, Church of Christ (Temple Lot), Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and others. ""Polygamy-Practicing Mormon"" groups are those that currently practice"
"that the term ""Mormon"" should only apply to the LDS Church and its members, and not other adherents who have adopted the term. The church cites the ""AP Stylebook"", which states, ""The term Mormon is not properly applied to the other Latter Day Saints churches that resulted from the split after [Joseph] Smith’s death."" Despite the LDS Church's position, the term ""Mormon"" is widely used by journalists and non-journalists to refer to adherents of Mormon fundamentalism. The official name of the Salt Lake City, Utah–based church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the term ""Mormon Church"""
"Mormons Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity, initiated by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the Mormons followed Brigham Young to what would become the Utah Territory. Today, most Mormons are understood to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Some Mormons are also either independent or non-practicing. The center of Mormon cultural influence is in Utah, and North America has more Mormons than any other continent, though the majority"
"Mormon (word) The word Mormon most colloquially denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism in restorationist Christianity. ""Mormon"" also commonly refers, specifically, to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which is often colloquially, but imprecisely, referred to as the ""Mormon Church"". In addition, the term ""Mormon"" may refer to any of the relatively small sects of Mormon fundamentalism, and any branch of the Latter Day Saint movement that recognizes Brigham Young as the successor to founder Joseph Smith. The term ""Mormon"" applies to the religion of Mormonism, as well as its"
"Mormon Political Manifesto established a written rule that the general authorities of the church would require the approval of the First Presidency before seeking public office. Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) The Church of Christ was the original name of the Latter Day Saint church founded by Joseph Smith. Organized informally in 1829 in New York and then formally on April 6, 1830, it was the first organization to implement the principles found in Smith's newly published Book of Mormon, and thus represents the formal beginning of the Latter Day Saint movement. Later names for this organization included the"
"the Mormons. The term ""Mormon Church"" is in common use, but the church began discouraging its use in the late 20th century, though takes no issue with the term ""Mormon"" itself. The church requests that the official name be used when possible or, if necessary, shortened to ""the Church"" or ""the Church of Jesus Christ"". Tax-exempt corporations of the LDS Church include the ""Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"", a corporation sole which was organized in 1916 under the laws of the state of Utah to acquire, hold, and dispose of real"
"Mormonism Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 30s. After Smith was killed in 1844, most Mormons followed Brigham Young on his westward journey to the area that became the Utah Territory, calling themselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Other sects include Mormon fundamentalism, which seeks to maintain practices and doctrines such as polygamy, and various other small independent denominations. The second-largest Latter Day Saint denomination, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,"
"official name of the church and the central position of the Savior in its theology. It stresses our allegiance to the Lord, Jesus Christ."" In 2001, the church sent out a press release encouraging reporters to use the full name of the church at the beginning of news articles, with following references to the ""Church of Jesus Christ"". The release discouraged the use of the term ""Mormon Church"". Riess and Tickle assert that, starting in the late twentieth century, Mormons have focused their attention on Jesus Christ more than at any other time since the inception of their faith. Some"
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian, Christian restorationist church that is considered by its members to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States, and has established congregations and built temples worldwide. According to the church, it has over 67,000 missionaries and a membership of over 16 million. In 2012, the National Council of Churches ranked the church as the fourth-largest"
"True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or True Mormon Church was a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. It was founded in the spring of 1844 in Nauvoo, Illinois, by leaders dissenting from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Reformed Church's president was William Law, a former counselor to Joseph Smith (then President of the Church). Law was joined by his brother Wilson Law, Robert D. Foster, Charles A. Foster, Francis M. Higbee, Chauncey L. Higbee and Charles Ivins. Members of the"
"Humor"" sells a line of clothing, including T-shirts and underwear, bearing the name ""Molly Mormon"". A series of paperback romance novels written by LDS fiction author Tamra Norton has also appropriated the term into the series' title. Books in the series include ""Molly Mormon?"", ""Molly Married?"", and ""Molly Mommy?"", and follow a Mormon girl named Molly through her teens on to married student life at BYU Idaho and then on to parenthood. Molly Mormon Molly Mormon (sometimes abbreviated MoMo) is a term for the popular stereotype of a female member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS"
"since 2001 called the Community of Christ, does not describe itself as ""Mormon"", but instead follows a Trinitarian Christian restorationist theology, and also considers itself Restorationist in terms of Latter Day Saint doctrine. The word ""Mormon"" originally derived from the Book of Mormon, a religious text published by Smith, which he said he translated from golden plates with divine assistance. The book describes itself as a chronicle of early indigenous peoples of the Americas and their dealings with God. Based on the name of that book, early followers of Smith were more widely known as ""Mormons"", and their faith was"
"God requires following the example of Jesus Christ, and accepting his atonement through ordinances such as baptism. They believe that Christ's church was restored through Joseph Smith and is guided by living prophets and apostles. Central to Mormon faith is the belief that God speaks to his children and answers their prayers. The number of members in 1971 was 3,090,953 and as of 2018, there are 16,118,169 members worldwide. The word ""Mormons"" most often refers to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) because of their belief in the Book of Mormon, though members often"
"Molly Mormon Molly Mormon (sometimes abbreviated MoMo) is a term for the popular stereotype of a female member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A Molly Mormon is thought to be the ""perfect Mormon woman""—an attractive and chaste woman whose life revolves around the family and marriage and the social demands of Mormonism, like loving multiple children, and who embodies the cheery, chipper, and domesticated female in Latter-day Saint culture. Typically, a Molly Mormon would not dissent against her husband or the priesthood and supports Mormon social and political views per own request. Peter Priesthood"
"has long been attached to the church as a nickname, it is not a preferred title, and the church's style guide says, ""Please avoid the use of 'Mormon Church', 'LDS Church' or the 'Church of the Latter-day Saints.'"" LDS Church leaders have encouraged members to use the church's full name to emphasize the church's focus on Jesus Christ. J. Gordon Melton, in his ""Encyclopedia of American Religions"", subdivides the Mormons into ""Utah Mormons"", ""Missouri Mormons"", ""Polygamy-Practicing Mormons"", and ""Other Mormons"". In this scheme, the ""Utah Mormon"" group includes the non-polygamous organizations descending from those Mormons who followed Brigham Young to"
"discussion about ""Mormonism and Popular Culture"". All About Mormons ""All About Mormons"", also known as ""All About the Mormons?"", is the 12th episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series ""South Park"", and the 108th overall episode of the series. It was originally broadcast on Comedy Central in the United States on November 19, 2003. The episode revolves around the religion and culture of Mormons, as a Mormon family moves to the town of South Park, and influences the beliefs of the family of character Stan Marsh. The story of Joseph Smith's founding of Mormonism and the"
"embraced by the faith. Because the term became identified with polygamy in the mid-to-late-19th century, some Latter Day Saint denominations who never practiced polygamy have renounced the term. The term ""Mormon"" is taken from the title of the Book of Mormon, a sacred text adherents believe to have been translated from golden plates which had their location revealed by an angel to Joseph Smith and published in 1830. According to the text of the Book of Mormon, the word Mormon stems from the Land of Mormon, where the prophet Alma preached the gospel and baptized converts. Mormon—who was named after"
"All About Mormons ""All About Mormons"", also known as ""All About the Mormons?"", is the 12th episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series ""South Park"", and the 108th overall episode of the series. It was originally broadcast on Comedy Central in the United States on November 19, 2003. The episode revolves around the religion and culture of Mormons, as a Mormon family moves to the town of South Park, and influences the beliefs of the family of character Stan Marsh. The story of Joseph Smith's founding of Mormonism and the origin of the Book of Mormon"
"true. Most Mormons do not claim to have had heavenly visions like Smith's in response to prayers, but feel that God talks to them in their hearts and minds through the Holy Ghost. Though Mormons have some beliefs that are considered strange in a modernized world, they continue to hold onto their beliefs because they feel God has spoken to them. Mormons Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity, initiated by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844,"
"Mormon Corridor The Mormon Corridor is the areas of Western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), who are commonly known as Mormons. In academic literature, the area is also commonly called the Mormon culture region. It has also been referred to as the Book of Mormon belt as a cultural reference to the Bible Belt of the southeastern United States, and the Book of Mormon. Beginning in Utah, the corridor extends northward through western Wyoming and eastern Idaho to Yellowstone National Park. It"
"Black Mormons Most Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Black people have been members of Mormon congregations since its foundation, although the church placed restrictions on proselytization efforts among black people. Before 1978, black membership was small. It has since grown, and in 1997, there were approximately 500,000 black members of the church (about 5% of the total membership), mostly in Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean. Black membership has continued to grow substantially, especially in West Africa, where two temples have been built. By 2018, an estimated 6% of members were black."
"gun"", and would be replaced with a ""theodemocratic"" Kingdom of God. Smith taught that this kingdom would be governed by theocratic principles, but that it would also be multidenominational and democratic, so long as the people chose wisely. Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, he published the Book of Mormon, and he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present by the time of his death 14"
"Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith as ""The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi"". According to Smith's account and the book's narrative, the Book of Mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as ""reformed Egyptian"" engraved on golden plates. Smith said that"
"Book of Mormon rejected the doctrine of universal reconciliation, Smith later taught that damnation was a temporary state from which the wicked would ultimately escape after they had paid for their sins, to be resurrected into one of the two lesser kingdoms of glory. Mormonism takes an extended view of Christian perfection, asserting that through the grace of Jesus, Mormons may become perfectly sanctified and thereby literally become gods or achieve a state known as exaltation. To achieve exaltation, Mormons must remain obedient to the teachings of Jesus, receive all the ordinances (or sacraments), which includes baptism, confirmation, receiving the"
"Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, he published the Book of Mormon, and he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present by the time of his death 14 years later. Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont. By 1817, he had moved with his family to the burned-over district of western New York, an area of intense religious revivalism during the Second Great Awakening. Smith said he"
"Judaism and Mormonism Mormonism, or the Latter Day Saint movement, teaches that its adherents are either direct descendants of the House of Israel or adopted into it. As such, Mormons regard Jews as a covenant people of God and hold them in high esteem. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the largest church in Mormonism, is philo-Semitic in its doctrine. Studies have shown that American Jews generally view Mormons more positively than any other religious group, despite often voting on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Explanations for Jews' high regard for Mormons is speculated to"
"Church of the Firstborn (LeBaron order) The Church of the Firstborn (or, the ""LeBaron order"") is a grouping of competing factions of a Mormon fundamentalist religious lineage inherited, adherents believe, by a polygamous Latter-day Saint family community that had settled in Chihuahua, Mexico, by Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr. by 1924. Factions accepting leadership succession by some of Dayer senior's sons self-describe as members of the Church of the Firstborn without a legally formalized organization. What became over time the most substantial faction is that of Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, often shortened as the ""Church of"
"called ""Mormonism"". The term was initially considered pejorative, but Mormons no longer consider it so (although generally preferring other terms such as Latter-day Saint, or LDS). Mormonism shares a common set of beliefs with the rest of the Latter Day Saint movement, including use of and belief in the Bible, as well as in other religious texts including the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. It also accepts the Pearl of Great Price as part of its scriptural canon, and has a history of teaching eternal marriage, eternal progression, and polygamy (plural marriage) (although the LDS Church formally abandoned"
"Mormons and eventually repudiated as official church doctrine by the LDS Church in 1978. However, modern critics of the church and popular writers often attribute a formal doctrine of blood atonement to the Church. Throughout the winter special meetings were held and Mormons urged to adhere to the commandments of God and the practices and precepts of the church. Preaching placed emphasis on the practice of plural marriage, adherence to the Word of Wisdom, attendance at church meetings, and personal prayer. On December 30, 1856, the entire all-Mormon territorial legislature was rebaptized for the remission of their sins, and confirmed"
"function as a sign—as tangible evidence that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God—that mission could have been accomplished much more concisely."" Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith as ""The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi"". According to Smith's account and the book's narrative,"
"not canonical. The church's most distinctive scripture, the Book of Mormon, was published by founder Joseph Smith in 1830. It is believed to be ""another testament of Jesus Christ"" and bears that subtitle as of 1982. Smith stated that, under divine direction, he translated the Book of Mormon from metal plates having ""the appearance of gold"" found buried near his home. Eight men signed a statement as witnesses that Smith possessed the plates and that they had seen them. , the full text of the Book of Mormon had been translated and published in 77 languages, and selections in an"
"left the LDS Church and still consider themselves to be cultural Mormons. Others have formed new religions (many of them now defunct). For instance the Godbeites broke away from the LDS Church in the late 19th century, on the basis of both political and religious liberalism, and in 1985 the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ broke away from the LDS Church as an LGBT-friendly denomination, which was formally dissolved in 2010. Mormonism Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 30s."
"Jesus and set forth the church's official view regarding him. In 2001, the church issued a press release encouraging reporters to use the full name of the church at the beginning of news articles, with following references to the ""Church of Jesus Christ"". The release discouraged the use of the term ""Mormon Church"". Church leaders at the same time acknowledged that the connection of the term ""Mormon"" with the church was not going away. In October 2001, the church officially launched a new web-site, mormon.org, which was aimed at providing information about the church to assist in missionary efforts. By"