Mormonism
Book - 2025
Covers the history, doctrines, rituals, temples, holy books, missionaries, and issues of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, along with information on famous Mormons and places to visit.
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
Hoboken, NJ :
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
[2025]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Other Authors
- Edition
- 2nd edition
- Physical Description
- xiv, 350 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes index.
- ISBN
- 9781394315765
- Introduction
- About This Book
- Foolish Assumptions
- Icons Used in This Book
- Beyond the Book
- Where to Go from Here
- Part 1. What the Mormon Faith is All About
- Chapter 1. A New World Religion
- Why Know about Mormonism?
- The Mormon Worldview
- Life before mortal life
- Life on earth
- Life after mortal life
- Joseph Smith and Mormonism's Beginnings
- Translating additional scriptures
- Establishing the Church
- Coming to terms with the M-word
- Day-to-Day Mormon Life
- What Makes Mormonism Different?
- Chapter 2. The Mormon Plan of Salvation
- Mormon Karma: The Premortal Life
- From intelligence to spirit
- Relax, you've already passed the first test
- Premortality in the here and now
- Acing the Test of Mortality
- Adam and Eve: Heroes of humanity
- Satan: A necessary evil
- It ain't over till it's over: Enduring to the end
- The Afterlife: Eternal Progression
- A waiting room for spirits
- Reaching the three degrees of glory… or outer darkness
- Chapter 3. Heavenly Parents, Savior, and Holy Ghost
- The Head Honcho: God the Father
- What if God were one of us?
- God the organizer
- Why does God go to all this trouble?
- Differences in beliefs about God
- Second Mate: Christ the Son
- First and best
- Both mortal and divine
- The Savior's post-crucifixion checklist
- When he comes again
- Differences in beliefs about Jesus Christ
- God's Whisperer: The Holy Ghost
- The Spirit who never got a body
- The gift of the Holy Ghost
- The Holy Ghost's many roles
- The unforgivable sin
- Chapter 4. Restoring the Priesthood and the Church
- Gospel Comings and Goings
- Beginning the Restoration
- Joseph Smith's early years
- Kneeling in the Sacred Grove
- After the vision
- Bringing Back the Church Step by Step
- A parade of heavenly messengers
- Continuing the gospel tradition
- Understanding the Priesthood
- For boys: The Aaronic Priesthood
- For men: The Melchizedek Priesthood
- Performing priesthood ordinances
- What about women and the priesthood?
- Chapter 5. Together Forever: The Eternal Importance of Family
- The Eternal Family Unit
- Why families are so important
- "Till never do you part"; Eternal sealing
- Breadwinning and homemaking
- Populating the earth
- Shaking the Family Tree: Family History Work
- The reason for the fuss
- Using FamilySearch - whether you're Mormon or not
- God's People: The Family of Israel
- Abraham and God shake on it
- The house of Israel in Mormon scriptures
- Gathering God's children
- Becoming adopted into Israel
- Personal Prophecy: Patriarchal Blessings
- Discovering personal lineage
- Other aspects of a patriarchal blessing
- Understanding a patriarchal blessing
- Part 2. Eternal Rituals and Endless Meetings
- Chapter 6. Welcome to the Meetinghouse!
- What's a Ward?
- Specialty wards
- Wards in the making: Branches
- Participating in the Ward
- Get to work! Every member has a job
- What to do when you're in the pew: Sacrament meetings
- Getting dunked
- Confirmation: Installing a direct line to God
- Baby blessings: Welcoming a new lamb into the flock
- Funerals: Saying farewell, for now
- Meetinghouse weddings: For time only
- Other Sunday meetings
- Weekday events
- Participating in the Stake
- Twice a year: Stake conference
- Finding Grandpa's grandpa: Stake family history centers
- Stake 'n' shake: Stake activities
- Chapter 7. Sacred, Not Secret: Inside Mormon Temples
- Distinguishing the Temple from the Meetinghouse
- Temple Ordinances - Why Latter-day Saints Go to the Temple
- Understanding the essential ordinances
- Why perform ordinances for the dead?
- Becoming Eligible for Temple Ordinances
- Getting a temple recommend
- Performing baptisms for the dead
- A preparation checklist
- Finally! Receiving Your Own Endowment
- Receiving part one of the endowment (the initiatory)
- Receiving part two of the endowment
- Sealing Families for Eternity
- Temple sealings for the living
- When sealing relationships get complicated
- Chapter 8. In and Around Church Headquarters
- A Tour of Church Headquarters
- Governing the Church: General Authorities
- Following the prophet
- Apostles and seventies and bishops - Oh my!
- A Two-Day Marathon: General Conference
- LDS Welfare and Humanitarian Relief
- Taking care of their own: The Church's welfare program
- Taking care of others: LDS humanitarian relief
- Survival of the Smartest: Latter-day Saint Education
- A daily dose of the gospel
- Stone-cold sober: Brigham Young University
- Part 3. Holy Books and Sacred History
- Chapter 9. The Bible and the Book of Mormon
- The Bible: True, with a Few Tweaks
- Thus saith the King James Version
- Not enough by itself
- Joseph Smith's corrections to the Bible
- So, where are Joseph's corrections?
- Getting Acquainted with the Book of Mormon
- Hitting the highlights
- What a long, strange trip: Lehi's journey to the New World
- Can't we all just get along? The Nepnites and the Lamanites
- The crowning event: Christ's appearance
- Biting the dust: The end of the Nephites
- How the Book of Mormon Came to Be
- An angel in the night
- Seer stones and scribes: Translating the golden plates
- "You believe what?!" Reactions to the book
- What happened to the plates?
- The Book of Mormon in Mormon Life
- Avoiding the sin of pride
- Taking care of the poor
- Teaching the children
- Repenting of sins and receiving forgiveness
- Finding answers to spiritual questions
- Chapter 10. Mormonism's Other Scriptures
- A Scriptural Hodgepodge: The Pearl of Great Price
- Revisiting Moses
- Mummy dearest: Uncovering the writings of Abraham
- Expanding Matthew
- Chronicling Joseph Smith
- Lining up the Articles of Faith
- Modern-Day Revelations in the D&C
- But wait, there's more: God's revelations to Joseph Smith and others
- Key LDS scriptures in the D&C
- Wrapping up: Official declarations
- The Beat Goes On: Recent Revelations Not Found in the D&C
- Picturing the ideal family
- Day-to-day wisdom from the prophet
- Chapter 11. Searching for a Home
- A Significant Pit Stop: Kirtland, Ohio
- Receiving new revelations and doctrines
- Building the Kirtland Temple
- Empty pockets and loaded threats: Good times come to an end
- Kirtland here and now
- Seeking Zion in Missouri
- Getting booted out of Zion
- Going to war
- Missouri here and now
- Nauvoo, Illinois: A Refuge on the Mississippi
- Building a community
- Constructing the Nauvoo Temple
- Trouble in Nauvoo
- Arrest and martyrdom
- Nauvoo here and now
- Chapter 12. Moving on to Utah with Brigham Young
- A Crisis of Leadership
- The Lion of the Lord: Brigham Young
- Another unschooled boy from Vermont
- Becoming a leader in the Church
- Famous leader and down-to-earth family man
- A legacy to build on
- Westward Ho! The Pioneer Experience
- Packing up and leaving Illinois
- The first company
- Keep 'em coming: The Perpetual Emigrating Fund
- Chapter 13. Building the Kingdom In Utah
- Building Zion
- Settling the Salt Lake Valley
- Movin' on out: Settling the Jell-O Belt
- Conflicts with the Outside World
- The Utah War and the Mormon Reformation
- The Mountain Meadows Massacre
- Polygamy: A Divine Principle (But an Outdated Practice)
- Who practiced polygamy, and why?
- Government pressure to end polygamy
- The legacy of polygamy
- Mormonism in Transition
- Pledging allegiance to the flag
- Facing some lingering problems
- Gathering strength for a worldwide boom
- Part 4. Mormonism Today
- Chapter 14. Called to Serve: Missionaries and International Growth
- Missionaries of All Shapes and Sizes
- Boy wonders
- Girl power
- Silver is golden
- Hail to the chief
- Enlisting in God's Army
- Embracing the calling
- Financing the mission
- Missionary boot camp
- Living the Missionary Life
- Finding and teaching
- Following the rules
- Rapid Growth: Mormonism Around the World
- Retaining members
- Being sensitive to cultural differences
- Strengthening the worldwide Church
- Chapter 15. Hot-Button Issues for Latter-day Saints
- Are Latter-day Saints Christian?
- Becoming Like Our Heavenly Parents
- DNA Science versus the Book of Mormon
- Getting Seer-Stoned
- One Vision, Several Versions
- Women and the Priesthood
- What About Heavenly Mother?
- Crimes of Violence
- Puh-puh-puh… Polygamy
- Brigham Young goes public
- The end of polygamy?
- Racial Rapprochement
- Mummy's the Word
- LDS versus LGBTQ+
- The Church's gay track record
- Transgender Latter-day Saints
- Chapter 16. Earthly Sacrifices for Heavenly Blessings
- Chase and Be Chaste: The Law of Chastity
- Understanding the purposes of sexuality
- Staying chaste
- Enjoying marital intimacy
- Receiving the blessings of chastity
- Dealing with sexual sin
- Whaddya Mean, No Coffee? Living the Word of Wisdom
- Interpreting the Word of Wisdom
- Reaping Word of Wisdom benefits
- Tithing: Paying the Lord's Tax
- Donating tithing gladly
- Knowing where your tithe is going
- Receiving tithing dividends
- Fast Sunday: The Slowest Sabbath of the Month
- Why Mormons fast
- How and when to fast (And who shouldn't)
- Chapter 17. Connecting with God and Each Other
- What Latter-day Saints Do Daily… Ideally
- Talking with the Big Guy
- Studying scriptures
- What Latter-day Saints Do Weekly… Ideally
- Observing the Sabbath
- Family Home Evening (Sorry, no Monday Night Football)
- What Latter-day Saints Do Monthly… Ideally
- Reaching out to each other
- Break out the breath mints
- Mormon "date night"
- Chapter 18. In the World but Not of the World.;
- Becoming Self-Reliant
- Staying out of debt
- Getting squirrelly: Food storage
- Preparing for emergencies
- Journaling, Scrapbooking, and Other Mormon Pastimes
- Keeping a record
- Getting scrappy
- Crafts and comfort food
- Taking in a Bit of Culture
- Lifting a chorus to the Lord
- A little bit rock and roll
- Mormon books
- Mormon theatre
- Mormon cinema
- Part 5. The Part of Tens
- Chapter 19. Quick Answers to Ten Common Questions About Mormonism
- Are Latter-day Saints Christian?
- How Can Latter-day Saints Give Up 10 Percent of Their Income?
- What Happens Inside an LDS Temple?
- Why Don't Latter-day Saints Drink Alcohol or Coffee?
- Why Do Latter-day Saints Have Such Large, Strong Families?
- Do Latter-day Saints Believe in the Bible or Just the Book of Mormon?
- Do Latter-day Saints Really Believe that Humans Can Become Gods?
- Why Can't Women Hold Priesthood Offices?
- Do Latter-day Saints Still Practice Polygamy?
- Why Do Latter-day Saints Revere Joseph Smith?
- Chapter 20. Ten Mormon Places to Visit
- Sharon, Vermont
- Palmyra, New York
- Kirtland, Ohio
- Missouri
- Nauvoo and Carthage, Illinois
- Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Martin's Cove, Wyoming
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Provo, Utah
- Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii
- Chapter 21. Ten Famous Latter-day Saints You've Probably Never Heard Of
- Martha Hughes Cannon
- Walker Lewis
- Floyd Gottfredson
- Philo T. Farnsworth
- John Held Jr
- Frank E. "Ted" Moss
- May Swenson
- Samuel W. Taylor
- Esther Peterson
- Gladys Knight
- Index