Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mormons Part 3

I gave my Non-Mormon friends a short True/False quiz on LDS trivia. Here are the questions and answers:

T/F Some Mormons practice polygamy. FALSE

HBO's Big Love - NOT MORMON

TLC's Sister Wives, - NOT MORMON

This Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of our Church. At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon. At other times the Lord has given other instructions. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord told the prophet Jacob “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things (Jacob 2:27-30).

In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage.

The Lord’s law of marriage is monogamy unless he commands otherwise to help establish the House of Israel.

T/F Mormons don’t drinking alcohol, coffee, and tea. TRUE

T/F Mormons don't smoke. TRUE

Joseph Smith was given a revelation commonly know as the Word of Wisdom. It is a health code which all faithful Latter-day Saints strive to follow. We have been taught that alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and other drugs are harmful to our bodies. We are taught to eat healthy and exercise We strive for moderation in all things. The beautiful thing about this revelation is that it was given many, many years before there was any sort of scientific knowledge to back it up. There is great freedom in obeying this spiritual law.

T/F Mormons believe in the Bible. TRUE

Mormons believe, revere and love the Holy Bible. We see it as a powerful, important, and sacred holy record which serves as the bedrock of all Christianity. We also believe in the Book of Mormon, which supports and exalts the Bible

T/F Mormons believe families can be together even after death. TRUE

Families are of utmost importance to Latter-Day Saints. We believe that one of the reasons we are here on this earth is to have a family. But unlike other religions we believe that families can continue after this life. Through the Sealing Power, restored to Joseph Smith by the prophet Elijah, families can be sealed together for time and for all eternity in holy temples. Marriage can last for time and all eternity, not "until death do you part."

T/F Mormons trace their priesthood power back to Christ himself. TRUE

When Christ was on the earth he gave his Priesthood power (the power and authority to act in God's name) to his Apostles. He gave the power to baptize to John the Baptist. When Christ was crucified and his Apostles killed, this Priesthood Power was taken from the earth. When Joseph Smith reorganized this Church, these same men, namely Peter, James, John and John the Baptist came to Joseph and bestowed this power to him and his Apostles. Each worthy male member of this church can hold this priesthood to bless his own home and family. When a man is given this Priesthood (by the same manner Christ gave it) he is often given a copy of his personal "line of authority" to trace his Priesthood power back to Christ himself.

T/F Mormons believe in current revelation and a living Prophet, just as in Biblical times. TRUE

Just as in the Bible, our Church is led by a Prophet. God loves his children and wants them to return to him. He has given us Prophets to guide us. Joseph Smith Jr. was the first prophet called of God in our times. Since then, this mantle has been passed on many times. When a Prophet dies the senior Apostle is automatically sustained by the church as the new Prophet. Today our Church is led by a Prophet named Thomas S. Monson. He is called of God as a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator for our times.

Thomas S. Monson, Prophet, Seer & Revelator

T/F Mormons worship a man named Joseph Smith Jr. FALSE

We honor and love Joseph Smith, just as we love and honor each of our Prophets and the Prophets of ancient times. But we do not worship him. We worship God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

T/F Mormons attend church for 3 hours each Sunday. TRUE

Each Sunday we meet with our local congregation, known as a ward. We spend one hour in a meeting known as Sacrament Meeting during which we partake of the Sacrament as taught by Jesus Christ. We also listen to sermons (or talks) given by our leadership and fellow ward members on gospel topics. Following Sacrament Meeting we attend Sunday School, where we study the scriptures. We are divided into classes by age. The children attend Primary classes, the teens attend age-appropriate scripture classes, and the adults attend a class called Gospel Doctrine. During the third hour of Church we split again. This time by gender. The men attend a Priesthood meeting. The women attend Relief Society. The teen boys attend a Young Men class. The teen girls attend a Young Women class, and the children continue in their age- appropriate Primary classes. There are classes for children as young as 18 months.

T/F Mormons pay 10% of their income to the church. TRUE

The law of tithing is found in the Old Testament. Today members of the LDS church follow this law. We pay 10% of our income, as well as a monthly Fast Offering to the church. This money is NOT used to pay our leadership. Our local leadership is comprised of our fellow ward members. These offices are not paid. We volunteer our time to serve in the church. Tithing and Fast Offering money is used to help the poor and needy, build and maintain church buildings and temples, print and distribute Books of Mormon and other church publications, Family History work, and other necessary Church functions.

T/F There are more than 13 millions Mormons around the world. True

The newest number given is now more than 14 million. This church is growing rapidly. There are members of this Church found in nearly every country in the world. There are more members of this Church outside the United States, than in it.

Any Questions? Did you learn something new?

Sources: mormon.org and True to the Faith