The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the LDS Church or the Mormon Church, is the largest and most well-known denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement (a form of Restorationism founded by Joseph Smith, Jr.). The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established churches and temples worldwide, counting nearly 13 million members on its rolls.

Adherents to the church (usually called Mormons or Latter-day Saints) accept Jesus as the head of their church and count themselves as Christians, but do not consider themselves part of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant traditions. Instead, they believe that the church is a restoration of 1st century Christianity. They believe the church is authorized and directed by God through Joseph Smith and his successors, who have introduced new books of scripture to the church's Biblical canon, such as the Book of Mormon. Historically, the church has distinguished itself from traditional Christianity by its former practice of polygamy (officially discontinued in 1890), and by its unique doctrinal views. In recent decades, however, the church has united with traditional Christian churches in promoting humanitarian and moral causes.

History of the Church

Main article: History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a continuation of the Church of Christ, founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6 1830 in either the Manchester-Palmyra area or Fayette, New York.^[1] Joseph Smith established this early church soon after publishing the Book of Mormon. Largely due to the convincing power of this book, which Smith said he translated by a heavenly power, Smith's religion rapidly gained a large following who viewed Smith as a prophet.

In late 1830, Smith envisioned a "city of Zion" in Native American lands near Independence, Missouri, and sent his second-in-command Oliver Cowdery on an mission to the area. Passing through Kirtland, Ohio, the missionaries converted a congregation of Disciples of Christ led by Sidney Rigdon, and in 1831, Smith decided to temporarily move his followers to Kirtland until the Missouri area could be colonized. The church headquarters remained in Kirtland from 1831 to 1838; meanwhile, the church built its first temple, and grew in size.

Though many of Smith's followers attempted to colonize Missouri throughout the 1830s, the church was never able to gain a foothold because of opposition to the religion by other Missouri settlers. Soon after Smith moved there in 1838, the Mormon War ensued, culminating in an Extermination Order signed by the governor of Missouri expelling adherents from the state by military force. The church surrendered, and established its new headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois, a city they built on drained swampland by the Mississippi River, with Smith as mayor. There, the church built a new temple in Nauvoo, and thrived there until Smith and his brother Hyrum, Smith's second-in-command, were killed by a mob in 1844. They were awaiting trial for destroying a local newspaper that said Smith was practicing a form of polygamy and that he intended to establish himself as a theocratic king. Smith, at the time, was a minor candidate for President of the United States.

After Joseph and Hyrum's death, several church leaders campaigned to lead the church during a time known as the Succession Crisis. The majority of adherents accepted the succession claims of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led by Brigham Young. The modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement representing that faction who followed Young.

After continued difficulties in Illinois, Brigham Young left Nauvoo in 1846, and led his followers (called the Mormon pioneers during this period) to the Rocky Mountains, then part of Mexico, which later became Utah, and began to colonize the area with numerous small cities. Young initially governed his followers as a theocracy; however, word of the Mormons' formerly-secret practice of plural marriage (a form of polygamy) soon got back to Washington, D.C., and in 1857, United States federal troops peacefully deposed Young and replaced him with a non-Mormon territorial governor. Over the polygamy issue, hostility between the church and the United States steadily increased until 1890, when the church issued a Manifesto disavowing the practice. This disavowal resulted in a few minor schisms.

Church relations with the United States markedly improved after 1890. New church-sanctioned polygamous marriages ceased officially in 1890, and in practice around 1904, when church president Joseph F. Smith disavowed the practice before the United States Congress and issued a "Second Manifesto". Since about the 1930s, the church has adopted a policy of excommunicating its members found practicing polygamy.

During the 20th century, the Church experienced a period of nearly exponential growth, due to a high birth rate and extensive proselytism. In 1978, the church ended its former practice of racial discrimination. Since the 1990s, growh has no longer been exponential; however, the church continues to gain about 300,000 new members per year. The church has played a prominent role in political matters, supporting prohibition, opposing the Equal Rights Amendment, opposing an MX (Peacekeeper) missile base in Utah, opposing legalized gambling, supporting bans on same-sex marriage,^[2] and opposing legalized physician-assisted death.^[3] Other than what it considers moral issues, however, the church usually maintains a position of political neutrality.^[4]

Beliefs and practices

See also: Articles of Faith (Latter Day Saints)

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have many beliefs in common with Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions, but also some significant departures. Some of the church's unique beliefs are mentioned here; for more detailed information see Mormonism and Christianity.

God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost

Main article: Godhead (Latter Day Saints)

The church believe that God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are "one God", in the sense that they are one "in purpose", but does not accept the traditional Christian Trinity doctrine that the three are one "in substance". Rather, the church teaches that the Father and the Son are two distinct beings with physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost is a distinct being with a "spirit body".^[5] God the Father is understood to be the father in premortal life of the spirits of all people who are, have been, or will be born on this earth.^[6] He is also both the spirit Father and the Father in the flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is thus the Only Begotten Son, inheriting from His Father power over death.^[7]

The church emphatically promotes the idea that its central focus is Jesus. The church places most of its emphasis on Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane, which the church refers to as the Atonement. According to church teachings, it was there that Jesus paid for the sins of humanity. The church also believes in Jesus' physical, bodily resurrection. Because of its emphasis on the Atonement and the Resurrection, the church places less emphasis on Jesus' death by crucifixion, and does not officially use the symbol of the Christian cross.

The church follows what it understand to be the teachings of Jesus, both in the Bible and in its other works of scripture, such as the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, which is said to contain the teachings of Jesus to the Native Americans. The church also teaches that Jesus was the god Jehovah of the Old Testament. Because Jesus is thought to be omniscient and has the same purpose as the Father, the church teaches that Jesus Christ speaks often in the scriptures as though he were the Father.

Official church materials refer to "Heavenly Parents," implying the existence of a Heavenly Mother.^[8] Belief in such a figure is common among members, and she has also been mentioned in talks by church officials, as well as in the hymns of the church.^[9][10] However, no specific doctrine on the subject has been released by the church.

See also: King Follett Discourse, Exaltation (Mormonism), and Mormonism and Christianity

Apostasy and restoration

Main article: Restoration (Latter Day Saints)

In common with other Restorationist churches, the church believes in a Great Apostasy. It teaches that after the death of Christ and the Twelve Apostles, the priesthood authority was lost and some important doctrinal teachings, including the text of the Bible, were changed from their original form, thus necessitating a restoration prior to the Second Coming. That restoration, according to church doctrine, took place during the life of Joseph Smith, Jr., the religion's founder.

The Church teaches that Jesus Christ and God the Father appeared to Joseph Smith, Jr., instructing him to begin the reestablishment of Christ's Church on earth as prophesied in Acts 3:19-21. Joseph Smith, Jr. wrote that Christ had called him to be a latter-day Prophet to tell people of the gospel message and restore the authority from Christ to perform acts in His name.^[11] According to the LDS Church, the unique doctrines taught by the Church are a result of revelations received from God by Joseph Smith, Jr. and his successors.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Priesthood

Main article: Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)

The LDS Church teaches that the authority to act in God's name is called the Priesthood. All worthy male members of the Church may hold the Priesthood and are expected to use it righteously to serve and bless their families and others. Holding the priesthood is a stated prerequisite to hold offices within the hierarchy of the church as the Priesthood provides the authority to officiate and preside over the Church, or portions of the Church. The Church further teaches that this authority was given to Joseph Smith by Peter, James and John. Smith was instructed to organize the Church^[17] and to confer the Priesthood on others. The LDS Church holds Gordon B. Hinckley as the successor to Joseph Smith Jr. and the person who has the Priesthood authority to preside over and receive revelation for the Church as a whole.

The Church teaches that one such revelation was received by Spencer W. Kimball in 1978, when he directed that all worthy men be ordained to the priesthood. This changed a long tradition, from 1849 until 1978, that men of African descent^[18] were not permitted to receive the priesthood or marry in the temple, although they could become members and hold callings within the Church. See Blacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Blacks and Mormonism

Some women claimed to hold the priesthood through their husbands because of temple ordinances; however, this is not Church doctrine. ^[19] The Church teaches that women cannot receive the Priesthood, but places strong emphasis on the importance of motherhood. Motherhood is considered one of the most sacred responsibilities. The Church also teaches that God listens to and answers the prayers of his daughters.^{[citation needed]} The feminist movement has been displeased with the fact that women are unable to hold the priesthood. See Women and Mormonism

The LDS Church also teaches that the priesthood is divided into two parts: the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood (also called the Levitical Priesthood), is considered to be a lesser priesthood tracing its roots to Aaron the brother of Moses through John the Baptist. Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery said that they received this Priesthood on May 15, 1829, when they were ordained by John the Baptist.^[20] In 1835, Smith and Cowdery clarified that this authority was the "Aaronic, or Levitical priesthood".^[21]

The Melchizedek Priesthood, or, the "Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God"^[22] is recognized as a "higher" order of priesthood, or the "high priesthood" and takes its name from Melchizedek who "was such a great high priest".^[23] This priesthood was thought to be the order of priesthood held by Jesus, and a distinction is made between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, which derives in part from the Epistle to the Hebrews, whose author argues that Jesus arose "after the order of Melchizedek, and not...after the order of Aaron."^[24]

Ordinances

Main article: Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)

Latter-day Saint Sacraments are called ordinances, and there are two types: saving ordinances and non-saving ordinances. Saving ordinances are those required for salvation, and include baptism (by immersion), confirmation (laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit), ordination to an office of the priesthood (for males), the Endowment, sealing, and arguably the Second Anointing (which is rarely given). Non-saving ordinances include various kinds of blessings, the "sacrament" (the Latter-day Saint version of the Eucharist or Communion), the dedication of graves, the dedication of buildings, the prayer circle, and the Hosanna Shout. All ordinances must be performed by a man ordained to the appropriate priesthood office, with the exception of certain parts of the Endowment and Second Anointing ordinances, which are performed by "endowed" women in their role as "priestesses".

The church teaches that to obtain the highest degree of salvation (referred to as "exaltation"), all people who have lived past the age of eight must participate in each of the saving ordinances, either in person or by proxy after they are dead. Therefore, church members participate in the saving ordinances on behalf of dead relatives and others whose names have been extracted from historical records. These proxy ordinances are the main function of the church's temples.

Other than sealings, the church does not perform saving ordinances for those younger than age eight, or who have died before the age of eight, when church doctrine states that children become accountable for their sins. The church also does not perform saving ordinances for those who have a mental disability preventing their mental development beyond the age of eight. In particular, the Book of Mormon forbids infant baptism, and states that children who die before becoming accountable for their sins are automatically saved by the grace of Jesus.^[25]

Purpose of life

Main article: Plan of Salvation

The term Plan of Salvation is used by the LDS Church to describe how the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring about the immortality and eternal life of mankind.^[26]

The Church teaches that prior to being born, everyone on earth lived with Heavenly Father (God) as his spirit child.^[27][28] After progressing up to a certain point, further learning and progress was not possible without taking on a mortal body and going through trials while largely separated from God's presence and influence. All those born on this earth were the ones who endorsed Christ's offer to facilitate God's Plan of Salvation involving free-agency as opposed to a plan of forced obedience. As a condition of being born into mortality, a veil that blocks the memories of the pre-mortal life facilitates the exercise of free-agency as well as test the humility and faith of each individual. In confirming this, the Book of Mormon teaches "...this life [is] a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God..."(Alma 12:24).

Further encapsulating the purpose of life are the verses taken from the Book of Abraham where the Creator says: “...We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;”^[29]

The Church teaches that all of humanity will be resurrected and receive immortality as a gift made possible by Jesus' death and resurrection.^[30]

Following the resurrection all will be judged by Jesus Christ. As part of this judgment, each person will be assigned to one of three heavenly kingdoms (sometimes called Degrees of Glory): the Celestial Kingdom,^[31] the Terrestrial Kingdom,^[32] and the Telestial Kingdom.^[33]

The Church also teaches that those people who have not had an opportunity to hear the doctrines of Jesus Christ during life on Earth will have the opportunity to do so prior to the judgment.

Eschatology

Latter-day Saints teach Millennialism, in which, after a period of tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus will occur, followed by a thousand years of peace, after which will occur the Last Judgment. Distinctive within Latter-day millennialism, however, is the idea that Jesus will reign "personally upon the earth" (Article of Faith 1:10), and direct the government or governments that will exist.^[34] Jackson County, Missouri is expected to have an important LDS temple during the Millennium, and Jerusalem is expected to be an important center of government in the world.^[35] As the earth transitions into the Millennial period, only those good and honorable people who stand to inherit the Celestial Kingdom or Terrestrial Kingdom will continue on the earth, because all others will either repent or die by means of disasters and in-fighting among themselves.^[36]

Theology of family and gender

See also: Eternal Marriage, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and Family Home Evening

The LDS Church teaches that, through the ordinances of the restored gospel, families can be sealed together so that spouses may remain together after death and live together eternally. Not only do spouses live together forever, LDS doctrine also teaches that children continue in that familial bond in the afterlife; only marriages and sealings performed in LDS temples will continue after death. Therefore, the Church teaches that all who qualify will be sealed by proxy where living people are sealed vicariously on behalf of those that have died without being sealed.

Because of these beliefs, the LDS Church places a strong emphasis on the importance of the family to individuals and society. In particular, the Church views the nuclear family (father, mother and children) as the most important single unit in the Church, as well as in society. In 1995, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published The Family: A Proclamation to the World, a document explaining major LDS doctrine concerning the family. LDS Church leaders and doctrine support the traditional definitions of family and marriage, including opposing same-sex marriage^[37] and supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment.^[38]

In the early part of the 20th century, Church members were counseled to set aside Monday night as a time to dedicate to their own families. No other church meetings were to be held on this night. The Church still encourages members to meet Monday nights in a Family Home Evening to pray, read scriptures, and engage in other familial recreational activities.

Donations of time and service

See also: Perfection (Latter Day Saints)

See also Worship and Culture below

Latter-day Saints have a high degree of participation outside of worship services. Active church membership generally entails missionary work, family history, participation in church callings, Family Home Evening, and payment of tithes. Other forms of charity are encouraged, including donations of money, clothing and time. The Church teaches its members should be self sufficient and avoid falling into debt.^[39][40]

The Law of Tithing states that members are expected to give 10% of their income to the Church. These funds are used to build meetinghouses and other buildings, to cover operating costs, education, produce materials for use in church classes and organizations, support the missionary program, and to support family history work and other church functions.^[41]

Fast offerings (named for their collection each month after fasting for two meals) are generally expected to be a minimum of the cost of food for the monthly day of fast practiced by members and go towards humanitarian aid, including assisting the needy to become self-reliant. Payment of generous fast offerings is highly recommended.^[42]

Lifestyle code

The church has a lifestyle code, which includes the Word of Wisdom (a health code originally given as a warning with a promise of health by encouraging healthy eating and discouraging the unhealthy use of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee/tea. Later, in 1851, it was given as a commandment),^[43] the law of chastity before marriage, complete fidelity after marriage, and a requirement to obey the laws of the country in which the member lives.

The church condemns abortion and encourages a standard of modesty. With permission from a Bishop, members may procure an abortion in the case of rape or incest. Members with gay, lesbian, or bisexual desires are officially welcomed in the church, but only if they choose to control their sexual desires (which are deemed inappropriate by the church) and remain celibate or heterosexually married and monogamous. Transgendered persons are officially accepted in the church, but may not hold a priesthood office if they are post-operative, or if they are considering sexual reassignment surgery. (1999 Church handbook.)

The church considers "serious" cases to include felonies, abortion, drugs, non-heterosexual or non-married sex, apostasy, or public and vocal criticism of church leaders. Church members who fail to live the church's lifestyle code may, in more serious cases, be subject to church disciplinary action including disfellowshipment or even excommunication as part of the repentance process. Such individuals are encouraged to continue attending church services, but are not permitted to pay tithing, hold callings, or offer public prayer at any church meeting. Other members are frequently unaware of the status of such individuals.^[44]

Origin of Native Americans

Main article: Book of Mormon

Latter-day Saints believe in a covenant relationship between God and the House of Israel, as described in the Old Testament.^[45] As stated in the introduction to the Book of Mormon, they believe that Native Americans are included in this covenant, and that some are descended from members of two of the Lost Tribes of Israel (the tribes of Ephraim & Manasseh) that migrated to the Americas shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, and also from another group of Israelites that migrated after the city's fall.

Controversy has developed regarding this belief as a result of recent genetic research.

America as Promised Land

A more expansive view of the Americas as a covenant land for people of whatever origin whose ancestors have been led by the "hand of the Lord" to settle there is included in Lehi's prophecy in the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 1:5-7: "Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord... That there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring... Unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever."

African Americans and Mormonism

The controversy regarding Blacks and Mormonism has begun to be dissipated since the 1978 revelation announced by letter on June 8 under the direction of LDS President Spencer W. Kimball. The letter stated that "the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple." (Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration 2) This helped to fulfill the promise to Abraham that "thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; ...and in thy seed after thee ...shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal." (Abraham 2:9,11)

Sacred texts and other publications

The Church accepts as canon: the Bible (as "as far as it is translated correctly),^[46] the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. The four are considered the Standard Works. The church also publishes numerous periodicals, manuals, and sometimes "proclamations", which are not scripture, but clarify its teachings.

Holy Bible

See also: Bible

The church has articulated its position on the Bible, in the words of Joseph Smith, Jr. "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly".^[47] Smith used the King James Version of the Bible (KJV), but considered the translation to have omissions and mistranslations; thus he began the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (sometimes called the Inspired Version). The church considers the King James Version as the appropriate translation for English-speaking adherents,^[48] and includes portions of Smith's efforts at Bible translation in the footnotes or appendices to the version of the Bible it prints.^[49] The translation recommended by the church varies for different languages.

Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Main article: Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is also considered canon. The book is named after one of the prophet/historians, Mormon, who, according to the text compiled most of the book onto gold plates. It was first published by Joseph Smith, Jr. in March 1830 in Palmyra, New York. The book describes itself as being written by ancient prophets of the Western Hemisphere who traveled there from ancient Israel circa 600 BC. The church teaches that the gold plates were delivered to him by an angel, and that Smith translated the record by divine inspiration with assistance from the Urim and Thummim. Joseph Smith Jr. said he returned the plates to the angel, identified as Moroni.

Doctrine and Covenants

Main article: Doctrine and Covenants

First Published in 1835, The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations, policies, letters, and statements given to the modern Church, mostly by Smith. This record contains Church doctrine as well as direction on Church government. It is also considered to be canon.

Pearl of Great Price

Main article: Pearl of Great Price (Latter Day Saints)

The Pearl of Great Price is a compilation of several books. The "Book of Moses", which contains an excerpt from Smith's translation of Genesis. "Joseph Smith—Matthew" contains his translation of Matthew 24. The "Book of Abraham" was derived from Egyptian papyrus that came into Smith's possession in 1835.^[50] "Joseph Smith—History" is an excerpt from The Documentary History of the Church containing a letter written by Joseph Smith in 1838. Lastly, the "Articles of Faith" is an excerpt from another of Smith's letters which contain thirteen statements of belief and doctrine.^[51] The Pearl of Great Price completes the church's canon.

Non-canonical publications

The Ensign is an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The magazine was first issued in January 1971 along with the New Era (for youth) and the Friend (for children), all of which replaced the older church publications Improvement Era, Relief Society Magazine, Woman's Exponent, the Instructor, and the Millennial Star. Unlike some of its predecessors, the Ensign contains no advertisements. Content includes faith-promoting and proselytizing information, stories, and sermons.^[52]

Semiannually, the Ensign gives a full report of the proceedings of the annual and semi-annual LDS General Conferences of the Church. It contains the full text of the talks and business of the conferences, as well as a current photographic list of the highest officers of the Church, referred to as the General Authorities.

Liahona is also the name of the official international magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, named after an object used to guide the people in the Book of Mormon. The Liahona is regularly published in fifty different languages, from two to twelve times a year depending on the language. It contains material that is mostly for adults and is translated from articles in the Ensign magazine. It also contains stories from the New Era and Friend for readers of the respective age groups.

Deseret Management Corporation, a for-profit company which is owned by the church operates several companies which publish material:

• Deseret Book. Deseret Book is independently managed and publishes under four imprints and different media. Published materials include: doctrinal non-fiction books, LDS fiction books, electronic resources and sound recordings. Deseret Book also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States.
• Deseret Morning News. Utah's second largest daily newspaper is published in Salt Lake City, Utah and is Utah's oldest continually published daily newspaper. The newspaper is printed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which it co-owns with the Salt Lake Tribune under a joint operating agreement. Deseret News also publishes a weekly publication, the LDS Church News, which is included each Saturday and distributed by mail as a separate publication outside Utah.
• Bonneville International owns and independently manages 1 television and over 30 radio stations in 8 cities within the United States.

Worship and Culture

Worship services

Main article: Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Weekly worship services, including sacrament meetings, are held on Sundays (or Saturday when local custom or law prohibits Sunday worship), in neighborhood-based religious units, and twice each year the Church holds a worldwide General Conference. Congregations for Sunday services are grouped geographically, with larger (~200 to ~400 people) congregations known as wards, and smaller (two through ~200 people) congregations known as branches. These neighborhood congregations meet in meetinghouses, also referred to as "chapels" or "stake centers", on property most often owned by the Church. In some geographic areas, rental property may be used as a meetinghouse. Although the building may sometimes be referred to as a "chapel", the room used as a chapel for religious services is actually only one component of the standard meetinghouse.^[53]

All persons, regardless of their beliefs or their standing in or out of the Church, are allowed to attend.^[54] The sacrament (similar to Communion, the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist in other churches) is offered weekly to the members of the church. Except on Mondays, which are reserved for Family Home Evening, members meet in meetinghouses for various activities throughout the week.

Women usually attend wearing skirts or dresses, while men wear suits or dress shirts (preferably white) and ties. Children are also typically in their "Sunday best."^[55]

Temple worship

Main article: Temple (Latter Day Saints)

Two years after the organization of the Church, in 1832, Joseph Smith, Jr., reported receiving a revelation that called upon church members to build a House of the Lord and restore the practice of temple worship.^[56] The Church built its first temple in Kirtland, Ohio in 1836. This temple was used primarily for instruction and learning.^[57]

In 1846 the Nauvoo Temple was built in Nauvoo, Illinois. With this temple came the introduction of special ordinances, such as the endowment and baptism for the dead.^[58] When the saints moved West to Utah, they were forced to abandon these temples. The Nauvoo temple was destroyed by fire and the Kirtland temple is owned by the Community of Christ.

Soon after the arrival of the Saints in the Rocky Mountains, they began building several temples, including the well known Salt Lake Temple, which took more than 40 years to complete.^[59] The Church continued to build temples as membership grew. Currently there are 124 operating temples, 6 under construction, and 5 announced (not yet under construction). See List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Today faithful members of the Church are encouraged to regularly attend temples and participate in ordinances there, such as baptism for the dead. The Church teaches that certain temple ordinances, including being married in the temple, are necessary for eternal exaltation. The Church also regards the temples as places of peace and refuge that are set apart from the world. Adult members who have performed a temple ordinance called an endowment also receive a temple garment, which they wear under their daily clothing. The Church considers the temple ordinances exceptionally sacred and does not discuss them publicly. Non-members or members without a temple recommend are not permitted to attend or observe these ordinances. For a member to receive a temple recommend they must be worthy. However, the general public, member or non member, is invited to attend an open house of the temple prior to its dedication.

General Conference

Main article: General conference (Mormonism)

Twice a year (Spring and Autumn), the Church holds General Conference, in which the Prophet and other leaders speak from Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. These talks, given in several sessions over two days, are carried worldwide by radio, television, satellite and Internet broadcasts. They are translated into numerous languages, and are later made available on DVD (complete with translations) and also printed in Church publications such as Ensign and Liahona. Attendees come from around the world.

Conference talks address doctrinal topics drawn from scriptures and personal experiences, messages of faith and hope, Church history and information on the Church as it expands throughout the world.

Throughout the 20th century, Conference talks were given from the Salt Lake Tabernacle. With a maximum capacity of about 8,000 per session, the Tabernacle would be filled and thousands of other attendees would sit on blankets on Temple Square lawns. In 2001, the LDS Conference Center was opened, and since that time talks have been given in the Center's 22,000-seat main auditorium.

Conference satellite broadcasts may be watched, live, in thousands of chapels worldwide. The public is invited to attend General Conference, either through these broadcasts, in the Conference Center or other areas at Temple Square.

Culture

Main article: Culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Due to the differences in lifestyle promoted by church doctrine and history, a distinct culture has grown up around members of the Church. It is primarily concentrated in the Rocky Mountains, but as membership of the Church spreads around the world, many of its more distinctive practices, such as following the Word of Wisdom, a health code prohibiting the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, and other addictive substances, follow.^[60] Because of the prohibition on such things as tobacco and alcohol, the culture in high Mormon populations reflects these restrictions.^[61] The Church discoura