Mormonism: Latter-Day Saint - Essay Example

Mormonism
According to the LDS statistical report (as cited in BBC Religion), the group has ‘13.5 million members worldwide.
Mormons’ belief in God is very much different from those of other Christian denominations. According to their doctrine, God is an exalted man who has a physical body like any other human being. Even human beings have the potential to attain this stature in the afterlife. As described in the book of Gruss and Thuet What Every Mormon (And Non-Mormon) Should Know, Mormon’s God consists of three distinct beings- collectively called Godhead- who are united in purpose, love, and will (281-282). Among these three beings, God the Father is the all-knowing Supreme Being named Elohim who created the whole world, for he has absolute wisdom. The second being of the Godhead is Jesus Christ, who according to the Mormons, showed the perfect way of human life; and he is the first-born spirit child and biological child of the Father, and by whom Father performed the creation of the world (Gruss & Thuet 283). The creation is a process that is very similar to the act of a craftsman, for he did not create anything out of a vacuum but perfectly organized already existing materials. Again, the Father himself is an exalted human who might have lived on another planet once, and who gained ultimate wisdom by closely adhering to the rules of his God. Jehovah, the God in the Old Testament referred to Jesus who later taught his disciples to live tighter for the common goal. Jesus died, got buried, and was resurrected. Mormons’ Christ owns a physical body that neither limits his holiness nor prevents him from being God (BBC Religions).

The third being that is Holy Spirit also is a unique being like Elohim and Jesus Christ. The only difference is that he is spirit and has nobody, but at the same time resembles a man. Unlike other Christian doctrines, Mormon's Holy Spirit is not omnipresent. Although He can be present only at one place at a time, his power is so intense that spreads across the whole universe in no time. Holy Ghost is the being that inspires people to obey God the Father and the Son. All Godly experiences, ‘love, comfort, and affection’ are being transmitted through the Holy Ghost (BBC Religions).

With regard to spiritual life, Mormons give higher emphasis to sustainable growth in knowledge and understanding, which is only possible through ongoing scripture study and personal preparation. Like any other form of belief, LDS also maintains temples and priesthood which play central roles in their ceremonies. The ceremonies, normally termed as ‘ordinances and covenants can be performed only in temples by proper authority- priest. Among such ceremonies, endowment and eternal marriage are important. During endowment, one promises that one would lead a righteous life by closely following God’s Commandments. Marriage is not a simple one-time event; instead, it lasts forever once the couples enter eternal marriage, which is often termed as a sealing. Through this covenant, a family, including the children born and yet to be born, gets the blessings to be united forever.

LDS temples are the holy houses where Jesus Christ is expected to come and dwell. Mormons worship Jesus as the Son of God and Savior. Like almost all other Christian denominations, LDS also offers baptism but extends its scope even to the dead. Baptism and certain other ceremonies are performed even on behalf of the dead in case they could not receive those ordinances before they died.

Mormon families are comparatively large in size as the religion encourages married life. However, premarital sex, homosexuality, and sex outside of marriage are serious sins. The church also prohibits abortion except when it is a serious medical requirement or the pregnancy is the result of rape.

LDS church gives much emphasis to education because according to the belief, knowledge acquired on earth is retained in life after death. All adults attend Sunday classes where scripture and other religious matters are taught. The church runs special classes for high school students after school hours and that is usually known as ‘seminaries’.