Questions tagged [lds]
Use for questions about the history, teachings, doctrine, or practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called Mormons. The LDS faith recognizes as canonical several books (such as the Book of Mormon) that are not generally accepted among most other Christians and believes in modern-day prophethood and revelation.
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What are the sources of LDS theology that an LDS theologian need to consult to write a systematic theology?
I came across an essay published in BYU Studies journal 54.1 (2015) "Toward a Mormon Systematic Theology - Essay on Wrestling the Angel by Terryl L. Givens". I was surprisingly pleased by ...
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On what basis did Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith declare that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit cannot indwell a believer?
The following is what Joseph Smith said from "Doctrines & Covenants, Section 130, Paragraph 3 regarding John 14:23.
John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a ...
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The Mormon Church teaches that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son. How do you reconcile this when the Bible says the Father cannot be seen?
Top leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a document titled: "The Restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ; A Bicentennial Proclamation to the world.
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What is the policy for Latter-Day Saints' leaders (like bishops) being politically engaged?
Recently a bishop in the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said a politically tinted or motivated remark publicly. I don't mind lay members being involved like Harry Reed or Mitt Romney, ...
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What are the Six Prophetic & Apostolic Proclamations to the World?
In the April 2020 Sunday Morning session of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson, before reading what would become the sixth ...
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Does the Mormon Church endorse the children of narcissistic parents breaking off contact with them (not necessarily permanently/forever)?
Same question as here but Mormon instead of Catholic.
Edit: Okay fine I'll try to make this self-contained.
There's this article about narcissists, written from a Christian perspective, ending with ...
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Why is it more difficult for a Mormon woman to control whom she is eternally sealed to?
The USA Today newspaper has an article titled "Mormon doctrine leaves potential for 'eternal polygamy'" (reference) that makes the following statement:
Decades have passed since male members of the ...
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In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what is an Elder's Quorum meeting supposed to be?
Two Sundays of each month, the adult men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meet as an Elder's Quorum. At each meeting they discuss one of the most recent General Conference talks.
I'...
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According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was Jesus Christ ordained to the Priesthood?
This may seem like a stupid question (ie. why would someone need to be ordained to their own priesthood order?). However, I can't seem to find reference to Him being ordained or to Him not needing to ...
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Who Wrote the 1981 Introduction to The Book of Mormon?
I know that the general answer to this question can be found easily. It was added to the Book in 1981, which is when Spencer W Kimball was the president of the Church. So it could probably be said ...
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What is the stance of the LDS Church on gender?
Gender is a hot topic as of late, with a seemingly small but very vocal minority preaching that gender is fluid, non-binary, and that people may choose to identify with whatever gender they wish.
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Did Joseph Smith create any secular writings?
I'm interested in Joseph Smith's non-religious worldviews and I'm curious if he did any substantial writing outside of a strictly religious context (i.e. philosophy, politics, etc).
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Who are "we" in the pre-mortal life according to the LDS?
From this link
In our premortal life, we were taught lessons that prepared us to
assist Heavenly Father in bringing about the salvation of His children
(see D&C 138:56).
For a non Christian like ...
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Where does the LDS section heading for 1 Corinthians 7 come from?
In the chapter heading to 1 Corinthians 7 in the official LDS scriptures, it states:
Paul answers special questions about marriage among those called on missions—Paul praises self-discipline.
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What is the name of the Eternal Father worshipped by Latter Day Saints?
I understand that Latter Day Saints believe all human beings, male and female, are the spirit children of heavenly parents – a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother. Those spirit children progress by ...
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In the Lord's Vineyard what does the grafting teach (Jacob 5)?
Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon is a beautiful parable of Jesus Christ working in his Vineyard to save the children of God. It is prophetic in teaching how he works.
Here are some symbols involved:
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Basis for priesthood restricted to men
Is there a scriptural basis (preferably in Doctrine & Covenants) for the priesthood being restricted to men (at least on this earth)?
If not, what is the explanation for this practice?
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According to Latter-day Saints, Jesus is Jehovah in OT. Therefore do they view all the occurrences of the Tetragrammaton as referring to Jesus?
Lesson 5 in the "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel Teacher Manual" (link) has the title Jesus Christ Was Jehovah of the Old Testament.
In the introduction this lesson says that:
In ...
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LDS doctrine on "intelligences" having always existed vs God(s) whose "godship" had a beginning
This was inspired by the accepted answer to this other question, which stated that
Mormons believe that god arranged pre-existing matter in creation. The
matter always existed; creation was an ...
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Joseph Smith Translation of verses in Isaiah 42 vs the Great Isaiah Scroll
This question is about the rendering of some passages in the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). This is a collection of verses that add or replace sections of the King James Version which was deemed to ...
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Is there any evidence that people of Jewish descent came to the Americas before the birth of Christ Jesus
While doing research into a question about the Aztec and Mayan peoples I found an article from the official web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which suggests that Jesus ...
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What is the earliest use of the phrase "the Lord's law of health" in reference to the LDS Word of Wisdom?
Background
The modern Church uses the phrase "the Lord's law of health" to describe the Word of Wisdom. For example, Chapter 29 of Gospel Principles is called "The Lord's Law of Health." However, ...
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What do LDS believe regarding the necessity of suffering?
I apologize for the length of this question, but it requires establishing some premises that refute the most common response, being that the purpose of suffering is for us to learn and grow, and be ...
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Do Latter Day Saints / Mormons consider themselves to be henotheists?
Up until now, I saw Christianity as a whole to be monotheistic (there is only one god that created the world, is all-powerful and intervenes in the world).
Whilst looking at monotheism and henotheism ...
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How does the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about Jesus Christ differ from Protestant Trinitarian Christology?
The Protestant Trinitarian view of Jesus Christ is that he is the only-begotten Son of God – begotten, not made. He is of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made. He is the Word ...
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Why were the golden plates necessary if Joseph Smith received his translation of the Book of Mormon by viewing a stone in his hat?
Firsthand accounts say that Joseph Smith used a seer stone to receive the translation for the Book of Mormon (emphasis mine):
Joseph Smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, ...
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Latter Day Saints, Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden
It was pointed out in this answer and this answer that in the book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:22-23 it states
And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have ...
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The fall was part of God's plan?
@JBH pointed out in the comments within *Could* Adam and Eve have children before the fall? that on the latter day saints website it states that
The fall is an integral part of Heavenly Father's ...
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According to LDS teaching could Adam and Eve have children before the fall?
2 Nephi 2:23 states
And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have
remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no
misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
...
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When is mormon.org going to be updated?
According to the new Style Guide of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, mormon should not be used to refer to the Church or its members, which mormon.org (which is owned by the Church) ...
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How was the translation of the Book of Mormon shown through Joseph Smith's seer stones and hat?
The Wikipedia article on the golden plates says that Joseph Smith translated the golden plates into the Book of Mormon with the help of "seer stones". Initially, he is said to have used two stones set ...
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Which German Bible translation was Joseph Smith fond of?
In some of Joseph Smith Jr.'s last speeches, he mentioned a German translation of the Bible which he was fond of. E.g., he says in the King Follet discourse (emphasis added):
I have an old edition ...
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What is the corruption Mormons believe will infect their church before the second coming?
Doctrine & Covenants 112:23-26 reads (emphasis mine):
Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt ...
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According to the Mormon Doctrine, when God said, "let there be light," was He talking about the Light of Christ?
Background
The LDS perspective of the Creation is that there was a spiritual creation (Genesis 1; Moses 2; Abraham 4:1-5:3) and a physical creation (Genesis 2:4-6; Abraham 5:4-6; Moses 3:4-6).
First ...
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What is the LDS line of authority should a Bishop be unavailable?
I am seeking a complete and authoritative explanation of this issue.
Who presides at Sacrament meeting (common Sunday services) when the bishop of a ward (pastor of a local congregation) is ...
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According to Mormons, how did the unclean spirits sin by "not keeping the first estate"?
The top-rated answer to this question refers to the Mormon thought on pre-existence as it says:
All men and women lived with God as his spirit children before coming
to the earth as mortal beings....
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List of old heresies condemned by the Catholic Church now present in Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses
The title says it all, I'd like a list of all heresies condemned by the Catholic Church, but note this, it must be before the Protestant Reformation. This time specifically those heresies identified ...
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Must all Mormons marry and have children?
Mormonism believes "that God’s [first] commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth [Gen. 1:28] remains in force". Does this mean all Mormons must marry and have children? Or can ...
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History of the age restrictions in the Priesthood in the LDS Church
In the LDS Church, some offices in the Priesthood have minimum age requirements:
A deacon must be at least 12 years old
A teacher must be at least 14 years old
A priest must be at least 16 years old
...
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How are King Zedekiah (Old Testament) and Laban (Book of Mormon) related? [duplicate]
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi and his brothers go to the "house of Laban" to retrieve the plates of brass (see 1 Nephi 3). In 1 Nephi 3:31, Laman and Lemuel object to Nephi stating that they should try ...
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What, specifically, if anything, is heterodox about LDS eschatology?
I know the Christology and soteriology of Mormonism is heterodox. But would Mormons disagree with any of the following:
the inspiration of scripture (Book of Mormon notwithstanding)
the ...
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How did the Gift of the Holy Ghost operate before Christ came?
How did the Gift of the Holy Ghost operate before Christ came? In particular, I'm wondering how it operated among the ancient Jewish people, who only had the Aaronic priesthood, and therefore would ...
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Was Mormon a priest according to the LDS?
Background
Before John the Baptist laid hands on Joseph Smith to establish the Aaronic Priesthood, and Peter, James, and John laid their hands upon Joseph Smith to establish the Melchizedek ...
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What does the LDS Church teach about infallibility?
"Infallibility" is a loaded word and very likely has different connotations in different denominations. In its most basic form, it suggests that there is a path (revelatory or not) between God and ...
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What are the Main Characteristics of Mormon Prophets?
I ask this question, as a Catholic, because Mormonism is hierarchical in structure and has a lot of similarities with Catholicism, although seemingly they are superficial as in being surface ...
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What are the main differences between the Catholic Popes and the Mormon Prophets?
I ask this question, as a Catholic, because Mormonism is hierarchical in structure and has a lot of similarities with Catholicism, although seemingly they are superficial as in being surface ...
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What is the LDS Law of Common Consent and why is it important?
The LDS Church is perhaps unique in the idea that instruction and change within the Church isn't simply automatic — that Church leaders can't simply do what they want. This doctrine is embodied ...
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According to Mormonism, is the Black race cursed and if so what does that imply?
I was wondering, since I've heard this a lot and I've done some research about it. I'd like to know what Mormons, at least contemporary Mormons, have to say about this.
Keeping in mind documents ...
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In LDS Doctrine, is the Resurrection a Priesthood Ordinance?
I have heard some LDS members say that the act of resurrection is actually a Priesthood ordinance. Is there scripture or words from LDS leaders stating such? Or is this an assumption?
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The LDS perspective on the Four Horsmen
As a continuation of this question, this question and this question:
Few Biblical symbols, allegories, or metaphors have fired the imagination more than the alleged Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ...
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