God does not simply hand down information. He expects us to figure things out through prayerful searching and sound thinking. The First Presidency consisting of the president or prophet of the Church and his two counselors and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles receive inspiration to guide the Church as a whole.
Individuals are also inspired with revelation regarding how to conduct their lives and help serve others. All women are daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. Women and men are equal in the sight of God. In the family, a wife and a husband form an equal partnership in leading and raising a family. While worthy men hold the priesthood, worthy women serve as leaders, counselors, missionaries, teachers, and in many other responsibilities— they routinely preach from the pulpit and lead congregational prayers in worship services.
They serve both in the Church and in their local communities and contribute to the world as leaders in a variety of professions. Their vital and unique contribution to raising children is considered an important responsibility and a special privilege of equal importance to priesthood responsibilities.
Latter-day Saints believe that God wants us to become like Him. But this teaching is often misrepresented by those who caricature the faith. Through following Christ's teachings, Latter-day Saints believe all people can become "partakers of the divine nature" 2 Peter This idea is not taught in Latter-day Saint scripture, nor is it a doctrine of the Church. This misunderstanding stems from speculative comments unreflective of scriptural doctrine.
Mormons believe that we are all sons and daughters of God and that all of us have the potential to grow during and after this life to become like our Heavenly Father see Romans In our world of diverse religious observance, many people of faith wear special clothing as a reminder of sacred beliefs and commitments.
This has been a common practice throughout history. These garments are simple, white underclothing composed of two pieces: a top piece similar to a T-shirt and a bottom piece similar to shorts. Not unlike the Jewish tallit katan prayer shawl , these garments are worn underneath regular clothes. Temple garments serve as a personal reminder of covenants made with God to lead good, honorable, Christlike lives. The wearing of temple garments is an outward expression of an inward commitment to follow the Savior.
Biblical scripture contains many references to the wearing of special garments. In the Old Testament the Israelites are specifically instructed to turn their garments into personal reminders of their covenants with God see Numbers Indeed, for some, religious clothing has always been an important part of integrating worship with daily living. Such practices resonate with Latter-day Saints today. Because of the personal and religious nature of the temple garment, the Church asks all media to report on the subject with respect, treating Latter-day Saint temple garments as they would religious vestments of other faiths.
Ridiculing or making light of sacred clothing is highly offensive to Latter-day Saints. There are more than 14 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and not one of them is a polygamist. The practice of polygamy is strictly prohibited in the Church. The general standard of marriage in the Church has always been monogamy, as indicated in the Book of Mormon see Jacob For periods in the Bible polygamy was practiced by the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, as well as kings David and Solomon.
It was again practiced by a minority of Latter-day Saints in the early years of the Church. Polygamy was officially discontinued in — years ago. Those who practice polygamy today have nothing whatsoever to do with the Church.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. People of all races have always been welcomed and baptized into the Church since its beginning. Luther College is the first choice for high school to university transition. Enjoy all the benefits of a larger campus, without feeling lost in the crowd.
Our community is full of caring mentors and peers to ensure a positive student experience. Luther College is recognized for its high standards of teaching , focused research , and one-on-one academic advising. We value and protect this heritage of excellence in scholarship, freedom of inquiry, and faithful seeking after truth.
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The U of R Kinesiology Building is footsteps away with its Olympic size pool , gymnasium , and health centre. The Saints, or Mormons as they are referred to by church outsiders, [1] assert that they are Christian as they believe in the Jesus Christ of the Bible. However, many outsiders do not agree. The fact that twenty-two percent of recently polled Americans would oppose voting for a Mormon for President causes one to wonder why there is such opposition to Mormonism in its country of origin.
According to a standard dictionary definition of Christians "as believers and followers of Christ", Mormons are Christians. Russell Ballard urged Brigham Young University students to not let educational goals lead them to postpone marriage.
A recent poll by College Pulse of students currently attending four-year colleges and universities found that the most common response among students about the ideal age to be married was However, the response among Mormon students was Even with a concerted emphasis on family formation and religious education, there is evidence that an increasing number of Mormons are still leaving the church.
And while this rate is still better than that of most other Christian denominations , it represents a modest decline from , when the retention rate stood at 70 percent.
It is an argument that resonates with many younger Mormons. Sarah, another young Mormon mother, concedes that the church might be out of step with young people — even younger Mormons — on the issue of same-sex marriage. But there are signs that the church hierarchy is listening. Quin Monson, a professor of political science at BYU and co-author of Seeking the Promised Land: Mormons and American Politics , says that while the church has maintained its conservative theological stance, it is offering a kinder and gentler approach on hot-button social issues like LGBTQ rights.
In , the LDS Church launched a website called Mormon and Gay featuring firsthand accounts of Mormons who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Importantly, the church remains opposed to same-sex marriage, but church leaders have adopted much more inclusive language when discussing LGBTQ members of the church.
This shift stands in stark contrast to what is unfolding in the United Methodist Church, which recently voted to toughen prohibitions on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy.
The Catholic Church remains similarly steadfast in its opposition to same-sex marriage. At the congregational level, members of conservative churches still receive negative messages about LGBTQ people with some regularity. A Pew Research Center study found that 46 percent of white evangelical Protestants said their clergy had brought up the issue of homosexuality in the past couple of months, and the overwhelming majority of those who reported hearing about the issue said their clergy spoke out against it.
The reasons Americans leave religion are varied, often complex, and incredibly personal. As a result, there is no single tactic that will ensure the vitality of religious congregations in the US.
But the Mormon experience is instructive. At a time when the American family is undergoing seismic shifts in structure and function, the church appears to be leaning into its emphasis on traditional family life and roles. However, the church appears much more willing to change its approach and rhetoric, if not theology, when it comes to LGBTQ members. Every religious congregation in the US will have to make the same bet about which traditions and practices are inviolable and which are not, where to bend, and where to hold firm.
The restrictions on sexual activity are regarded as helping people appreciate the true value of marriage. It is an act of extreme selfishness for a married couple to refuse to have children when they are able to do so.
Birth control is not banned by the Church. However, as having children is essential for the spirit children of God to come to earth, Mormon couples are encouraged to have children. The Church believes that the decision on contraception is one that should be shared by husband, wife, and God.
Where a couple have decided after prayer that they should not have children for a time, birth control is acceptable, and not just abstinence, since the Church recognises that sexual relations have an important place in expressing and demonstrating the bond of love. Answering the question, "How many children should a Mormon couple have? Oaks said:. All they can care for! Of course, to care for children means more than simply giving them life. Children must be loved, nurtured, taught, fed clothed, housed, and well started in their capacities to be good parents themselves.
Mormons believe that sex between persons who are not husband and wife is wrong. Accordingly they believe that homosexual activity is wrong. I wish to say that our opposition to attempts to legalise same-sex marriage should never be interpreted as justification for hatred, intolerance, or abuse of those who profess homosexual tendencies, either individually or as a group.
We love and honour them as sons and daughters of God. They are welcome in the Church. It is expected, however, that they follow the same God-given rules of conduct that apply to everyone else, whether single or married. Polygamy was practised by some Mormons during the first 50 years of the Church. The Church ended the practice in , although some Mormons very few outside the main church do still practice it.
Mormons are officially opposed to abortion , except where the pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother would be in serious jeopardy, or when the foetus has serious defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. Euthanasia is condemned.
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