The Anthropology of Mormonism

The Anthropology of Mormonism

Essay One

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LSD) was established in 19th century (1820) by Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Mormons believe that their Church is a refurbishment of the Church as regarded by Jesus and other Christian Churches have gone afield and astray. After the murder of Joseph Smith, it was developed by Brigham Young. He drifted with new Mormons to Salt Lake City in 1847. They believe that God has a carnal body, is married and can have children. They also have faith that humans can become gods in the hereafter. They strongly focused on the traditional values and family life (BBC, 2010). They prohibited homosexuality, abortion, unmarried sexual acts, gambling, pornography, tobacco, tea, consuming alcohol, use of drugs and coffee. Their fundamental beliefs also consists on the Book of Mormon, Devil, many Gods, mother goddess, Trinity of God, heaven, Holy Ghost, Jesus, Joseph Smith, pre-existence and salvation.

Doctrine of the Mormon comprises on the Apostasy and restoration, sacred texts, God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Their social philosophy has the concepts of prayer, revelation, family, gender, exaltation, marriage. They also have the law of Chastity. In their societies, they have leadership and hierarchy, service hierarchy, i.e. priesthood, Aaronic priesthood, Melchizedek priesthood. They also have auxiliary organizations which examine the duties and expectations of the Church members, finances, organized worship and participation.

According to their beliefs, God is not separate species, nor is he the great incomprehensible one, indeed he is our father in heaven (Gregory A. Prince, 2005). They believe that God is all knowing and all powerful Supreme Be...

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...hesive. To many it demonstrated a welcome solution to a highly fluid culture of extensive individualism and liberalism in which people pursued prosperity and improvement for them and their relatives at the same time as they required a sense of fitting and sought out numerous forms of society.

Bibliography

BBC. (2010, October Monday). www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/history/josephsmith_1.shtml

Gregory A. Prince, W. R. (2005). David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Utah: The University of Utah Press.

Hyde, J. (1857). Mormonism: Its Leaders and Designs. New York: W.P. Fetridge & Company.

Shipps, J. (1985). Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition. New York: University of Illinois.

W. Paul Reeve, A. E. (2010). Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia: A Historical Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge.