RELIGION AND THEOLOGY

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints



The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Introduction

It is said to be the largest sect belonging to a religious belief in the Latter Day Saint Movement. It was initiated by a Christian primitive known as Joseph Smith. It occurred during the Second Great awakening which occurred in the 19th century. The church is situated in Utah in the city of salt lake. There are several congregations that are established along with many temples around the world. It has more then 50, 0000 missionaries that are operating on a worldwide level. The numbers of people who attend the church are more than 14.1 million. They follow the religious theory called Mormonism.

Similar to other churches during the time of the latter day saint movement, it considers itself to be a church which has been restored and it was started by Jesus Christ. It was lost after the Great Apostasy. The church constitutes of an open canon which in turn has scriptural texts which are four in number, the old as well as the new testaments, Mormon, The covenants and the doctrine along with the pearl of great price. The canon also consists of a revelation which was narrated by Joseph Smith along with commentary and the exegesis. It also has texts which are believed and said to be written by the ancient prophets.

In the doctrine known as continuing revelation, the church believes that the Christ under the guidance of father leads the entire church by communicating his will to the president. The present president is Thomas S. Monson. The adherents also have a belief that they can also receive revelations from the heavenly father which can guide them in conducting their lives. In this church, male members who pass the age of 12 can be appointed to the priesthood. Women cannot be appointed into the priesthood, but they have the opportunity of serving in other leadership designations.

Men as well as women can fulfill the role of missionaries. The church has a vast missionary program which has the responsibility of conducting its humanitarian services at a worldwide level. The pre-set standards for the adherents are that they have to have sexual purity, fasting, Sabbath observance as well as health. The adherents also need to invest 10 percent of their income to the church (www.library.lds.org).

History

The history of Church is divided into three ...