Mormonism

Mormonism (also called Latter Day Saint theology or Mormon theology and Latter Day Saint culture or Mormon culture) is a religion, ethnic group, movement, ideology and subculture originating in the early 1800s as a product of the Latter Day Saint movement. The term Mormonism is also often used to refer specifically to the theology and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is by far the largest and best-known religion among sects claiming derivation from Joseph Smith, Jr.. However, the LDS Church and other sects of Mormonism, such as the Community of Christ (the next largest organization), often disagree heavily on fundamental doctrinal issues. Therefore, this article is not intended to describe the beliefs of any particular Mormon denomination; instead, it is meant as a broad outline of the things in common between most people who trace their religions' beginnings to Joseph Smith.

Related Topics:
Mormon - Religion - Ethnic group - Movement - Ideology - Subculture - 1800s - Latter Day Saint movement - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Joseph Smith, Jr. - Community of Christ

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Mormonism is based on belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, in the Israelites as a covenant people, and in additional scripture such as the Book of Mormon; as a form of Restorationism, it professes a restoration to the earth of the original Church instituted by Christ himself and thought to have been lost in a Great Apostasy after the death of Christ. Consequently, it has had complex and uneasy relationships with both mainstream Christianity and mainstream Judaism, as discussed in Mormonism and Christianity and in Mormonism and Judaism. (Suggested Reading)

Related Topics:
Jesus Christ - Messiah - Israelite - Covenant - Scripture - Book of Mormon - Restorationism - Restoration - Church - Great Apostasy - Christianity - Judaism - Mormonism and Christianity - Mormonism and Judaism

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Most who practice Mormonism may be respectfully referred to as Latter Day Saints (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spell this Latter-day Saints). Other generally acceptable terms include LDS, Saints, and Mormons, although members of some sects other than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prefer not to be identified as Mormons. A small minority view the terms Mormon and Mormonism as offensive slurs.

Related Topics:
Latter Day Saint - Latter Day Saints - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Saint

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