Basic Mormon Doctrine Summary
Chapter: LDS
Culture
 | What makes a
culture?
 | We have
discussed the Sunday, and weekly activities of Mormons within
the society of Mormonism in the articles concerning Mortal Existence in the Chapter Plan of Salvation (Chronological) |
| We have
discussed Mormon practices that largely isolate Mormons from the
general population |
| We have
discussed unique Mormon teachings that set Mormons apart from
others (e.g. the constant wearing of sacred underwear; the
avoidance of coffee and caffeinated soda) |
| We have
discussed uniquely Mormon cultural characteristics that result
from the teaching and practices of Mormons (e.g. reliance on
feelings over critical thinking to discern truth or the practice
of "bearing one's testimony as a defense to critical
thinking") |
| We have
discussed that Mormons are largely controlled by the great
authority of a few men whose words supercede the words of
scripture and whose instructions are continually heard through
church periodicals and curriculum |
| We have
discussed uniquely Mormon concepts (e.g. conditional 'gifts'
that their god is obligated to give once the requirements
are fulfilled) |
| We have
discussed unique Mormon definitions for common biblical terms
(e.g. grace, salvation, damnation) |
| In addition
there are words which are uniquely Mormon (we can coin the term
'Mormonese'). For example deseret is a word only found in
the book of Mormon that supposedly means honeybee. |
| Mormonism also
has its own distinctive mythology, centered especially around
the stories in the Book of Mormon and around Joseph Smith and
the Mormon pioneers. |
| All these
factors work to create a uniquely Mormon culture which to a
large degree isolates Mormons from non-Mormons |
|
| Isolation
| The very
structure of the Mormon church encourages isolation |
| The local
meetinghouse offers many programs and activities all week long |
| Local wards
often offer their own Scouting troop |
| Many local wards
offer intramural leagues in multiple sports |
| Frequently
stake houses offer dances for the youth from all the stake's
wards |
| High school
students attend "seminary" every school day in a building often
located adjacent to the public high school |
| The LDS church
has an "institute" building near many secular
universities that offer LDS courses, services, and social
activities including LDS fraternities and sororities |
| Monday night
is "family home evening". Mormons will not be
interacting with non- Mormons during this time |
| Every family
is visited by their home teachers each month |
| If there is a
woman in the home, she will be visited by female "visiting
teachers" each month |
|
| Busy "as
a Bee"
| Being busy is
an integral part of the LDS faith - both inside and outside of
the church |
| Worldly
success is very highly esteemed and encouraged |
| For example
the General Authorities are not trained theologians but successful
bankers, lawyers, doctors, business executives, and politicians |
| Church
callings and volunteer work |
| Self-sufficiency
 | A year's supply of
food storage and potable water |
| Large gardens,
canning, freezing, etc. |
| Making clothes |
|
| Maintaining a
journal |
| Missionary
work |
|
| Other general
aspects of Mormon culture
| Morally Good |
| Family-oriented |
| Observance of
the Sabbath |
| Tithing |
| A different
concept of worship |
|
| Mythology
| Stories both
from the Book of Mormon and early LDS church history |
| While Mormons
object to calling these stories myths, the stories are not held
as true outside of Mormon circles |
| Many of these
uniquely Mormon stories create even more strong bonds binding
Mormons to Mormonism and separating them from the rest of the
world
| Our motive for
looking at them is to see this cultural effect |
| Attacking the
authenticity of these myths is not the witnessing technique espoused
on this site |
| Once Mormons have
heard God's truth, spoken in love, and the Holy Spirit is at
work, Mormons may be willing to take a more objective look
at their mythology |
|
| Example:
Joseph Smith's first vision and visitation by Heavenly Father
and Jesus
| "The greatest
event that has ever occurred in the world since the
resurrection" |
| Marked the end of
the great apostasy |
| Signaled the return
of the true church to the earth |
| Proved Joseph Smith
was a true prophet of God |
| Does not stand up to
scrutiny from non-Mormons |
|
| Many other incidents
from Joseph Smith's life have also become so embellished that it
is difficult to separate the facts from the fiction
| The account of his
death |
| Incidents of
Christ-like mass healings |
| Participation in the
creation |
|
| His status has
been elevated to second only to Jesus Christ both in Mormon
scripture and "continuing revelation"
| His coming was
prophesied in the Book of Mormon |
| "Joseph Smith,
the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus
only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other
man that ever lived in it." (D&C 135:3) |
| Brigham Young:
"No
one will enter the celestial kingdom without the consent of
Joseph Smith" |
|
| Joseph Smith is
the center of Mormon sacrament meetings, not Jesus Christ |
| Books have
been written exposing the myths that surrounds Joseph Smith
| Recommended: No Man knows my History,
Fawn M. Brodie |
|
| Another story
given mythical embellishments is the journey of early Mormons
from Missouri to Utah
| Called the
"Great Trek" |
| compared with the
Exodus and Utah compared with the Promise Land |
| Called a greater
accomplishment for the Mormons than the Exodus was for
ancient Israel! |
| Many bigger than
life stories have developed |
|
| A significant
area of Mythology is the Mormon teaching concerning a
Pre-existence
| See the
article Premortal Existence
in the chapter Plan of Salvation
(Chronological) |
|
| Additional
Mormon myths center on Christ's second coming, conversion,
and the Mormon teachings of a Millennium
| Mormons believe
Jesus will return to both Jerusalem and Independence,
Missouri (which they consider Zion) |
| This Zion "will
be the capital and city of God for Ephraim and his
followers" (the ten lost tribes of Israel) |
| Mormons consider
themselves to be the descendants of the ten lost tribes |
| Joseph Smith stated
that upon conversion the Holy Ghost will change a person's
blood to become a literal descendant of Abraham |
| During their Millennium,
worthy parents will
be able to raise a child who died |
| In the last days the
continents will be rejoined |
|
| Family
mythology - Mormons do not leave the embellishing to the heroes
of the Mormon church
| Established Mormon
families compile 'family histories' that promote the lives
of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents to near
godhood status |
|
| There are
stories in the Book of Mormon which are scripture to Mormons,
but mythology outside of the LDS church
| Lehi leaves
Jerusalem centuries before Christ taking his family across
the ocean to America |
| Jesus appears to the
Nephites in America after His resurrection |
| A great battle
fought at the hill of Cumorah |
| Native American
Indians are the people called Lamanites |
|
| Since there is
little doctrine defined in the Book of Mormon, it impacts Mormon culture
more than Mormon beliefs |
| Conclusion:
| In previous chapters
we have seen Mormon doctrine and practices that separate and isolate Mormons
from non-Mormons |
| In this article we
see that uniquely Mormon stories,
held sacred within Mormon circles but considered mythology
outside of Mormonism, also work to separate and isolate Mormons
from non-Mormons |
| All of this helps to create a
culture within a unique, exclusive, and reclusive society |
| This culture has an
inherent distrust of people and beliefs outside of Mormonism |
| Attacks of their
mythology, practices, and doctrine works to increase this
cultural effect |
|
|
| Controlled
| As we have just seen,
many things work to set Mormons apart from Christians
and other non-Mormons and bind Mormons together as a group,
creating a unique culture
| Unique Mormon doctrine |
| Work righteousness |
| Focus on financial success |
| Exotic Mormon religious
practices |
| Mormon mythology |
| Etc. |
|
| But it is
control that holds this group and culture together. A
powerful and invasive control from the top down |
| Mormon culture
can be seen as a carefully controlled society
| The awe of the
living prophet |
| The 'divine
authority' of continuing revelation |
| The hierarchal
structure of the church |
| The power and
authority each level holds over the levels below |
| Set church-wide
Sunday curriculums |
| Set church-wide
daily curriculum for high school students |
| Set polices,
procedures and direction for everything from what to give,
what to eat and drink, how to garden, who may play on a ward
softball team, penance for a sin, who may enter a temple,
how to dress, how to run a home |
| Callings issued from
the top down (versus volunteering for positions of interest) |
| Monthly visits from
home teachers and visiting teachers |
| Yearly evaluations
to retain or receive a temple recommend |
| The never
questioning attitude towards priesthood authority |
|
| This
inordinate degree of control can be compared with how God
protected ancient Israel with many unique laws from being disseminated into the
general peoples and cultures of Caanan |
|
|
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