Editing Mormons (section)

== Beliefs ==
{{Main|Mormonism|Mormon cosmology}}

Mormons have [[Standard Works|a scriptural canon]] consisting of the Bible (both Old and New Testaments), the [[Book of Mormon]], and a collection of revelations and writings by Joseph Smith known as the [[Doctrine and Covenants]] and [[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price]]. Mormons, however, have a relatively [[Continuous revelation|open]] definition of [[Religious text|scripture]]. As a general rule, anything spoken or written by a [[Prophet, seer, and revelator|prophet]], while under inspiration, is considered to be the word of God.<ref>{{citation |contribution-url = http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/4172 |contribution = Scriptures: Authority of Scripture |pages = 1280–1281 |last = Jackson |first = Kent P. |author-link = Kent P. Jackson |editor-last = Ludlow |editor-first = Daniel H |editor-link = Daniel H. Ludlow |year = 1992 |title = Encyclopedia of Mormonism |location = New York |publisher = [[Macmillan Publishing]] |isbn = 978-0-02-879602-4 |oclc = 24502140 |title-link = Encyclopedia of Mormonism |access-date = January 19, 2016 |archive-date = February 3, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203023934/http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/4172 |url-status = live }}.</ref> Thus, the Bible, written by prophets and apostles, is the word of God, so far as it is translated correctly. The [[Book of Mormon]] is also believed to have been written by ancient prophets and is viewed as a companion to the Bible. By this definition, the teachings of Smith's successors are also accepted as scripture, though they are always measured against and draw heavily from the scriptural canon.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|pp=25–26}}.</ref>

[[File:Christus statue temple square salt lake city.jpg|thumb|Mormons see {{nowrap|[[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus Christ]]}} as the premier figure of their religion.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|p=8}} ("As the name of the church &nbsp;... suggests, Jesus Christ is the premier figure. Smith does not even play the role of the last and culminating prophet, as Muhammad does in Islam"); {{cite web |url = http://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/what-mormons-believe-about-jesus-christ |title = What Mormons Believe About Jesus Christ |publisher = LDS Newsroom |access-date = November 11, 2011 }}; In a [http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-executive-summary.aspx#beliefs 2011 Pew Survey] a thousand Mormons were asked to volunteer the one word that best describes Mormons. The most common response from those surveyed was "Christian" or "Christ-centered".</ref>]]

Mormons believe in "a friendly universe" governed by a God whose aim is to bring his children to immortality and eternal life.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|p=79}}.</ref> Mormons have a unique perspective on the [[Plurality of gods|nature of God]], the origin of man, and the purpose of life. For instance, Mormons believe in a pre-mortal existence where people were literal spirit children of God<ref name="PMGpos">{{Cite journal |title = Plan of Salvation |journal = True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference |year = 2004 |url = http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/true-to-the-faith/plan-of-salvation |page = 115 }}</ref> and that God presented a [[Plan of salvation (Latter Day Saints)|plan of salvation]] that would allow his children to progress and become more like him. The plan involved the spirits receiving bodies on earth and going through trials in order to learn, progress, and receive a "fullness of joy".<ref name=PMGpos /> The most important part of the plan involved [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]], the eldest of God's children, coming to earth as the literal Son of God to conquer sin and death so that God's other children could return. According to Mormons, every person who lives on earth will be resurrected, and nearly all of them will be received into various [[Degrees of glory|kingdoms of glory]].<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|p=75}}.</ref> To be accepted into the highest kingdom, a person must fully accept Christ through faith, repentance, and through [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]] such as [[Baptism (Mormonism)|baptism]] and the [[Confirmation (Latter Day Saints)|laying on of hands]].<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|p=78}}; In Mormonism, an ordinance is a formal act, in which people enter into [[Covenant (Latter Day Saints)|covenants]] with God. For example, covenants associated with baptism and the [[Eucharist]] involve taking the name of the Son upon themselves, always remembering him, and keeping his commandments; {{Cite journal |title = Atonement of Jesus Christ |journal = True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference |year = 2004 |url = http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/true-to-the-faith/atonement-of-jesus-christ |page = 14 }};  {{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|pp=60–61}} Because Mormons believe that everyone must receive certain ordinances to be saved, Mormons perform vicarious ordinances such as [[baptism for the dead]] on behalf of deceased persons. Mormons believe that the deceased may accept or reject the offered ordinance in the [[Spirit world (Latter Day Saints)|spirit world]].</ref>

[[File:Latter Day Saint confirmation (Mayhew 1852).png|thumb|left|A Latter Day Saint [[Confirmation (Latter Day Saints)|confirmation]] {{circa|1852}}]]

According to Mormons, a deviation from the original principles of Christianity, referred to by them as [[Great Apostasy#Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The Great Apostasy]], occurred after the [[ascension of Jesus Christ]],<ref name = PMG35>{{Cite book |author = Missionary Department of the LDS Church |author-link = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |title = Preach My Gospel |publisher = [[LDS Church]], Inc |year = 2004 |page = 35 |url = http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-1-the-message-of-the-restoration-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ |isbn = 978-0-402-36617-1 }}</ref> marked by the corruption of Christian doctrine by [[Greek philosophy|Greek]] and other philosophies,<ref name = GA2>{{Cite book |last = Talmage |first = James E. |author-link = James E. Talmage |title = The Great Apostasy |year = 1909 |pages = 64–65 |publisher = The Deseret News |url = https://archive.org/stream/greatapostasycon00atalm#page/68/mode/2up |isbn = 978-0-87579-843-1 }}</ref><ref name = MARV1>{{Cite book |last = Richards |first = LeGrand |author-link = LeGrand Richards |title = A Marvelous Work and a Wonder |publisher = Deseret Book Company |year = 1976 |page = 24 |isbn = 978-0-87747-161-5 |title-link = A Marvelous Work and a Wonder }}</ref> Mormons claim the [[martyr]]dom of the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]]<ref name = GA1>{{Cite book |last = Talmage |first = James E. |author-link = James E. Talmage |title = The Great Apostasy |year = 1909 |page = 68 |publisher = The Deseret News |url = https://archive.org/stream/greatapostasycon00atalm#page/68/mode/2up |isbn = 978-0-87579-843-1 }}</ref> led to a loss of [[Priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood authority]] to administer the church and its ordinances.<ref name = Eyring>{{Cite journal |last = Eyring |first = Henry B. |author-link = Henry B. Eyring |title = The True and Living Church |url = http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ensign/2008/05/the-true-and-living-church |journal = Ensign |pages = 20–24 |date = May 2008 }}; Cf. [http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=John&verse=14%3A16-17&src=1000 John 14:16–17] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718074722/http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=John&verse=14%3A16-17&src=1000 |date=July 18, 2012 }} and [http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=John&verse=16%3A13&src=1000 16:13] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021205848/http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=John&verse=16%3A13&src=1000 |date=October 21, 2013 }}, [http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=Acts&verse=2%3A1-4&src=1000 Acts 2:1–4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717004335/http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=Acts&verse=2%3A1-4&src=1000 |date=July 17, 2012 }}, and [http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=Galatians&verse=1%3a6-9 Galatians 1:6–9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717233430/http://bibref.hebtools.com/bibref.php?book=Galatians&verse=1%3a6-9 |date=July 17, 2012 }}.</ref>
Mormons believe that God [[Restoration (Latter Day Saints)|restored]] the [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] church through Joseph Smith. In particular, Mormons believe that [[Angel#Latter Day Saints|angels]] such as [[Saint Peter|Peter]], [[James, son of Zebedee|James]], [[John the Apostle|John]], [[John the Baptist]], [[Moses]], and [[Elijah]] appeared to Smith and others and bestowed various priesthood authorities on them. Mormons believe that their church is the "only true and living church" because of the divine authority restored through Smith. Mormons self-identify as being Christian,<ref>{{Cite report |title = Mormonism in America |url = http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-executive-summary.aspx |publisher = Pew Research Center |date = January 2012 |access-date = January 15, 2012 |archive-date = January 15, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120115005308/http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-executive-summary.aspx |url-status = dead }} (Mormons are nearly unanimous in describing Mormonism as a Christian religion, with 97% expressing this point of view); {{citation |author = Robinson, Stephen E. |date = May 1998 |url = http://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/new-era/1998/05/are-mormons-christians |title = Are Mormons Christians? |publisher = Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints |work = [[New Era (magazine)|New Era]] }}.</ref> while many Christians, particularly evangelical Protestants, disagree with this view.<ref>{{Cite report |title = Romney's Mormon Faith Likely a Factor in Primaries, Not in a General Election |date = November 23, 2011 |publisher = Pew Research Center |url = http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Romneys-Mormon-Faith-Likely-a-Factor-in-Primaries-Not-in-a-General-Election.aspx |access-date = January 16, 2012 |archive-date = January 14, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120114203658/http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Romneys-Mormon-Faith-Likely-a-Factor-in-Primaries-Not-in-a-General-Election.aspx |url-status = dead }} (About a third of Americans and half of evangelical Protestants view Mormonism as a non-Christian religion).</ref> Mormons view other religions as having portions of the truth, doing good works, and having genuine value.<ref>"Have the Presbyterians any truth? Yes. Have the Baptists, Methodists, etc., any truth? Yes. They all have a little truth mixed with error. We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true 'Mormons'." {{Cite book |title = Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith |page = 316 |author = Joseph Fielding Smith |year = 1993 |title-link = Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (book) }}; Mormons take an [[Inclusivism|inclusivist]] position that their religion is correct and true but that other religions have genuine value. {{Cite book |title = Religions of the World: A Latter-day Saint View |last1 = Palmer |last2 = Keller |last3 = Choi |last4 = Toronto |publisher = Brigham Young University |year = 1997 }}.</ref>

The LDS Church has a top-down hierarchical structure with a president–prophet dictating [[revelation (Latter Day Saints)|revelations]] for the entire church. Lay Mormons are also believed to have access to inspiration and are encouraged to seek their own [[Revelation (Latter Day Saints)#Personal revelation|personal revelations]].<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|p=54}}.</ref> Mormons see Joseph Smith's [[First Vision]] as proof that the heavens are open and that God answers prayers. They place considerable emphasis on "asking God" to find out if something is true. Most Mormons do not claim to have had heavenly visions like Smith's in response to prayers but feel that God talks to them in their hearts and minds through the [[Holy Ghost]]. Though Mormons have some beliefs that are considered strange in a modernized world, they continue to hold onto their beliefs because they feel God has spoken to them.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Bushman|2008|pp=15, 35–35}} (Outside observers sometimes react to Mormonism as "nice people, wacky beliefs." Mormons insist that the "wacky" beliefs pull them together as a people and give them the strength and the know-how to succeed in the modern world).</ref>