What is Mormonism?

Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) is a religion established in 1830 by Joseph Smith Jr. in the north eastern United States.  Joseph claims to have seen two heavenly beings – God the Father and Jesus Christ – in response to his prayer asking which church to join.  They told him to join none, and that he was to restore the original Church of Christ.

Where does the word “Mormon” come from?

The word Mormon comes from a central figure in “The Book of Mormon.”  As in the Bible, The Book of Mormon is a compilation of shorter writings by various ancient prophets.  Mormon – a later prophet – compiled and abridged onto plates of gold nearly one thousand years of writings, and called the work The Book of Mormon.  His son Moroni added his words to the book and buried it approximately 600 A.D.

Moroni subsequently appeared to the boy Joseph and revealed the location of the plates.  Joseph’s translation of the work was published and distributed in the 1830s, and people began calling the burgeoning religion “The Mormons.”

What do Mormons believe?

Mormons believe God is the Father of human spirits, and that He sent mankind here to learn to become more like Him.  If proven worthy (through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and continual vigilance to God’s commandments) members will enjoy happiness in this life and Eternal Life in the next.  [Refer to the video for greater detail.]