Rituals, Beliefs, & Symbols
Comparing Mormon with Wicca
Contrasting with The Bible
Is there one God or are there many gods? Is there God or are there gods and goddesses? What about the afterlife? What lies ahead for those who pass on from this world? Will they go through pearly gates, become a ruler of their own planet, or come back as a spirit guide to those left here on earth? Although the beliefs of the Mormon Church are comparative with other Christian religions, they also share several beliefs and rituals with those, such as Wicca, who study the art of neo-paganism.
The history of the Mormon Church goes back to 1863 when its founder, Joseph Smith, II, claimed to have a vision of the angel Moroni, who appeared to him in upper New York State and instructed him to interpret ancient writings on gold plates. The Mormon doctrine states that Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared to the Native Americans. The accounts with the Native Americans were transcribed onto the gold plates according to Moroni, the messenger. One doctrine of the Mormon Church, The Pearl of Great Price, shares a lot of the private journals of founder Joseph Smith. Founder Smith recalls, "He called me by name, and said that he was a messenger...and that his name was Moroni...," (Pearl. II:33) This is one of the main cornerstones of the Mormon doctrine. The Mormon Church had its beginnings from New York and traveled to Kirtland, Ohio, then on to Spring Hill (Independence), Missouri, and finally traveled back to Nauvoo, Illinois. It was at Nauvoo where on, Jun 27, 1844, Joseph Smith, III, his brother Hyrum Smith and friend John Taylor were ambushed at the Nauvoo-Carthage Jail. In the course of events that transpired, Joseph and Hyrum w...
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...omes and Critics at Waldorf Schools. National Post. Nov. 16, 2002
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Meyer, David J. Symbols of the Occult - What Every Latter-day Saint Should Know.
Beaver Dam, WI: Oct 2003. Disc. Nov. 2004 http://www.helpingmormons.org/occult_symbols.htm
Smith, Joseph, junior. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1981. 1830.
Smith, Joseph, junior. The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1981. 1830.
Smith, Joseph, junior. The Pearl of Great Price. Salt Lake City, Utah: Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1981. 1830.
...leased from prison, Mathews continued his quest for religion by seeking Joseph Smith of the Mormon society, under the alias Joshua the Jewish Minister. The two had a heated discussion of resurrection and reincarnation. On the other hand, Matthews claimed to be both God and the reincarnation of the apostle Matthias. However Matthews his meeting with Smith was unsuccessful because both prophets believed the other was of the devil. Matthews’ s religious journey albeit chaotic and aberrant now serves as subconscious guide for how new religious movements and cults in present day America.
The gentiles did not take kindly to polygamy, they thought it was wrong and that it was selfish and disloyal. This caused a fall out between the two groups and eventually this caused fighting and the Mormons were forced to move. The gentiles felt the new Mormon religion was imposing and that it was an insult to set up a new religion without some kind of miracle or great leader. The Mormon faith was set up by a normal man for normal people it had a new face on religion. Some of the gentiles accepted it others didn't there was a fall out and the Mormons were attacked.
The Oatman’s adventure began as a result of their decision to join a new sect of the Mormon faith. This particular belief, whose followers were named Brewsterites, had its roots in Kirtland, Ohio around 1836. A young boy, about ten years old, named Colin Brewster, showed promise in the eyes of Joseph Smith, the great Mormon prophet. Many had already noticed the boy’s “gift for seeing in vision distant objects not seen by the natural eye” (McGinty 40). Eventually, Brewster’s vision of a round table lead to his acceptance as “a prophet, a seer, a revelator and translator” (McGinty 31), by Joseph Smith Sr. and two other church elders, one of which was referred to as Lord.
Before the founding and organizing of the LDS church and introduction of polygamy, Joseph Smith received bitter persecution. He was tarred and feathered by a mob, but this was nothing compared to the treatment the saints received when their practice of polygamy became well known (Arrington JS 26-7). In order to escape the torture, Joseph Smith led one hundred and fifty or more saints from New York to Kirtland, Ohio in 1831 (Arrington JS 21). After living in harmony with the native Gentiles for several years, the town of Kirtland be...
I am regularly (such as last night) in conversation with well-educated Mormons who struggle when trying to deal with rational concepts related to things like science, investment strategies, politics and other purely secular matters. And I see in their struggles infections likely attributable to the magical thinking at the heart of what is required these days to be a literally believing Mormon. The conversation in which I participated last night that caused this essay had to do with an investment opportunity that a bright, successful young Mormon had been offered. Some Mormons still respect my judgment regarding investments that seem not to require "the Spirit", and he wanted to run by me what had been proposed to him. I was happy to listen for a few minutes and tell him what I thought.
A handsome boy kneels down for prayer beside a tree in his father’s orchard. It is a nice sunny spring day with the warm rays of the radiant sun gently kissing the boy’s face. “God, give me a sign,” he pleads to his heavenly father. He is only 14, yet religion fascinates him. Confused by what Christian faith to believe in, he was not sure whether he wanted to become a Baptist like his parents, or a Methodist, which church’s teachings appealed more to him. A slight cool breeze passes through his chestnut colored hair. In a moment he finds himself paralyzed, unable to move, at the mercy of some evil force. A shadowy mist surrounds him. The boy is afraid and does the only thing he could think of: he prayed, “God save me!” Immediately a pillar of light descends over his head like a crown of gold. A strange calmness overcomes the boy, and the shadows around him recede. To the boy, who questioned God’s existence, this was a sure sign that his heavenly father was still there. That boy was Joseph Smith, who had just experienced the first of a series of visions that he would receive throughout his faithful life. Soon after his first vision, he received another in which he the angel Moroni visited him, who presented him with a map. Smith traveled to a nearby hill where he found several golden tablets, etched with mysterious characters of ancient languages long forgotten. Smith was ordered by the angel to translate the plates into what is now known as the Book of Mormon (from which the Mormons gained their name), the cornerstone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or simply abbreviated as the LDS Church. (Millet 6-8).
Exploring Why the Mormons Settled in Salt Lake City Salt Lake City is located in the west of North America. It was a desolate wilderness, dry, and a place where many people assumed was uninhabitable. So why did the Mormons ‘relocate’ to such an area? unattractive and diverse place? Brigham Young, in 1845 organised the mass movement of 15,000 men, women.
After those heartbreaking years of deaths, Simeon heard of the mormons and became very interested. He named his son Mosiah after the Book of Mormon and it’s people was born on February 19, 1837. The same day, his twin Anariah was born that day but died a few hours after birth. Betsy, who was a healthy child was born March 22,1838. At the time, Simeon’s brother James came to Simeon’s home as a missionary of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. He preached them and Simeon and his wife was baptized by him on April 15,1839. But that wasn’t enough for Simeon. He wanted to see the prophet Joseph in person, and maybe even offer his services to the church. In June 1840, he set off to Nauvoo on foot which was a 500 mile trip. There he saw the prophet Joseph Smith. Simeon was set ap...
They belive that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet for the church and given the task of translating the book of mormon. The Book of Mormon is Another testament of Jesus Christ, similar to the Bible. He soon founded his own church and began converting people to his faith. Soon persecuted for their beliefs, they left New York moving first to Ohio, then Missouri, and finally Nauvoo, Illinois where they lived for five years. At that time, an anti-Mormon lynch mob found and killed Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith. Brigham Young then became Smith's successor as the second prophet of the church, and led the Mormons away to Utah where they settled at Salt- Lake-
Actually, “Mormon” is just a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (Another nickname is the acronym LDS) A cursory glance at the church’s full name contains Christ’s name. By the very name of their church, members state their belief in Christ.
The True Temple of Solomon in Chicago, Illinois, was established in 1950 as seen on the Church’s website. Prophet Peter Banks, is the founder of this church. In the religion that he preaches he claims that he and his followers are a form of Christianity. After Prophet Peter passed away his grandson Prophet John, was left to take control of the Church and all other property that corresponded with the church. From 2000 until present day Prophet John has been growing as activist in the south-side neighborhoods surrounding his church. Many fundraisers and food drives have been held over the years to help the ...
"Growth of the Church - LDS Newsroom." LDS News | Mormon News - Official Newsroom of the Church. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .
Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. When he was 14, Joseph Smith received a vision in answer to his prayer about which church to join (Church History). He said, "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me […] When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith-History 1:16-17). During his twenties, Joseph Smith suffered persecution and hardship as he translated The Book of Mormon, a set of gold plates that were given to him by the angel Moroni, using the Urim and Thummim (Church History). Early Mormons withstood oppression because they were considered commercial, political and religious threat to their neighbors (mormon.org). In January of 1844 Joseph Smith was nominated at candidate for president of the United States. Later that year, on June 27, Joseph Smith was martyred, along with his brother Hyrum Smith, at Carthage Jail. (Churc...
The Mormon population holds true to their unique religious beliefs. Most Mormons are similar to those who practice Christianity, however there are some differences. Over the past two centuries that Mormonism has been founded by Joseph Smith, this faith has expanded across the United States. Even though the faith has been powerful to many believers it is becoming less frequently practiced. This religion not only practices God and Jesus as separate people but also believes that God is seen in everyone. Since, Mormons are very religious and godlike we have to be competent to these differences when working with this population. There is very little information about how to perform Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a child that is practicing
“History of Fundamentalist Mormons.” Wheat & Tares. Wheat and Tares, 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. .