Mormonism F.A.Q

1. Are Mormons Christian?
YES! Mormons believe the divinity of Jesus Christ. We believe He is the God of Israel. We believe He really did die for our sins and that without Him there would be no salvation. He is the way, the truth and the light. He was crucified for our sins and He really did rise again on the third day. Jesus is the creator of the heavens and the earth and all things. He is God. We worship Him with all our hearts, minds, might, and strength.

2. Are Mormons Racist?
No. Racism is resoundingly condemned in the church. It is true that there was a time when people of African decent were restricted from the priesthood. To understand this more fully please go to this link: Blacks And the Priesthood

3. Do Mormons practice polygamy?
No. Current Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not practice polygamy. Men are allowed to legally marry only one woman. The church stopped the practice of polygamy over 100 years ago. There are other churches that claim to be break-offs of our church that practice polygamy today. However a true Latter-day Saint would be excommunicated for practicing polygamy. If a married man is widowed by the death of his wife, and he can marry again in the temple. Technically this would have him sealed to two women at once, one living and deceased. That would be the only situation in the church where a man is technically married to two women at once. It is not clear how this situation will be ironed out in the next life.

4. Do Mormons think they can work their way to heaven?
Absolutely not! Mormons believe that without the grace of Jesus Christ everything we do would not only fall short, but it wouldn't even come close to getting us into heaven. We do believe that our works are necessary to show our faith in Jesus Christ. But our works in themselves will never be enough. Many of our works will condemn us. But through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and sincere repentance we can be made clean through His merits and blood. The Book of Mormon teaches that we can't even breathe without the grace or enabling power of Jesus Christ.

5. Do Mormons believe they can become Gods?
Mormons believe they can become like God through the merits, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ, and through the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost. We believe that one of the reasons we were sent to earth in the first place was to be given an opportunity to progress and become more like our Father in heaven. Just like we send our children off to college to gain an education and become more like us, God has sent His children here to earth to gain an education. Some will graduate with honors and some will not. God will be the judge. Perhaps some day, long after this life, some will become like our Heavenly Father. Not to replace Him, but to live the life He lives, in a family situation. We could never be exactly like God in that He has never sinned. However the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to change. We can change even to the point that we are like our Father in Heaven. We can become "Joint-heirs" with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17)

6. Do Mormons believe that Adam was God?
The so-called "Adam-God Theory" is false doctrine. It is not the doctrine of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church teaches that the Godhead consists of God the Father (the Father of our Spirits), Jesus Christ (The Son, Creator, and Redeemer), And the Holy Ghost (the Testator, Revelator, and Sanctifier). There are some references by second and third party sources that Brigham Young taught the "Adam-God Theory". It is not clear in what context or exactly what brother Brigham was talking about. For any idea to become doctrine of the church it must be given by revelation from God to His prophet, ratified by the 12 apostles and sustained by the members of the church. This idea was not. Prophets who have succeeded Brigham Young have clarified that the idea that Adam was God is false doctrine and not the belief of the church.

7. What is the role of women in the Church?
Women are honored and revered as equals to men in the church. Women do not hold the priesthood. They do not need to hold it. For a man to be exalted, he must hold and honor the priesthood. A man also cannot be exalted in the highest kingdom of heaven without being sealed to a woman for time and all eternity. Women are the final and most wonderful creation of God. Mormons look at the role of women differently than most of our culture today. While the world denigrates the idea of a woman nurturing and and raising children as almost slavery, we believe that when a women is able to act in this capacity, she is expressing her God-given abilities of both creativity and love. There is nothing more noble and beautiful than a loving mother. (See the proclamation on the family)

8. Do Mormons hate gay people?
No! Mormons do not hate anyone. Mormons are taught to love everyone as a beloved son or daughter of God no matter what their situation in mortality is. Mormons believe that any sexual act outside the legal bounds of marriage between one man and one woman is a sin. This is true regardless of sexual orientation. This means, adultery, fornication, and same gender sexual relationships are all sins. There are worthy members of the church who experience same-gender attraction but choose to turn away from those temptations and live the standards given by the Lord himself. By refraining from same-gender relationships and any sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman, these members can worship in the Temple and have the full blessings of the Gospel. The same is true for any member struggling with any sexual temptation. Although the church does not endorse political parties or specific politicians, it does reserve the right to speak up on matters of morality. That is why it was involved with the proposition 8 question in California. We believe that marriage should be defined between one man and one woman.

9. Do Mormons believe that all non-Mormons will go to Hell?
No! Mormons believe that in the end, almost everyone who has ever lived on the earth will obtain a kingdom of glory and beauty. There will only be a few people, called the "Sons of Perdition" who along with Satan and his demons will not obtain a kingdom of glory. These are people who have committed the unpardonable sin spoken of by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. (Matt 12:31) However if one desires to obtain the Kingdom of God, or Celestial Kingdom, they must have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure faithfully to the end of their lives.

10. Do Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers?
Mormons believe that God is the Father of ALL creation. God is the father of all spirits. However, each spirit has his or her own free will. They can choose good or evil. All spirits are brothers and sisters and God is the Father of all of them. Jesus Christ is the first born and the only begotten of the Father in the flesh. He has never chosen evil and never will. He has used His free agency to do good and is a member of the Godhead. As the bible teaches, Satan was also one of Gods spirit children and was an angel who rebelled against God and is fighting against Him today. Now, Satan is a fallen angel. (see Isa. 14:12)

11. Are the Ordinances in the Temple just ripped off from Masonry?
No! What we do in the temple is too sacred to talk about in this post. Mormonism is a restoration of the original church of Jesus Christ. Although there was a great apostasy it does not mean that all things that Jesus taught were wiped off the face of the earth. It just means that there are derivatives and apostate forms of the gospel and it's ordinances found all over the earth. Some elements of the fullness of what Jesus taught can be found in Protestant faiths, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Masonry, Native American religions, Shintoism, Hinduism, and even Yoga to name a few. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the Gospel in it's purity. That is what is found in the temple.

12. Does DNA prove the Book of Mormon false?
No! DNA does not prove the Book of Mormon false. There are many evidences for the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. click here to read more: DNA And The Book Of Mormon

Of all the questions about Mormonism, the most important question of all is this:

Is Mormonism true? Was Joseph Smith really a true prophet of God? Is the Book of Mormon God's word? Is Jesus really the Christ?

You can find out if you will humbly ask God in prayer, with the real intent to know the answer. I testify that it is true. It is the church of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Click here for Missionaries