MormonFAQ

Mormon FAQ page is under construction.

The purpose of this page is two-fold:

1. to provide factual information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons);
2. to provide reporters and other authors with advice on the consistent use of words, names, places and other elements in writing about the Church and related restorationist groups.

It is hoped that the information given will be helpful to journalists and others who write about restorationist faiths and their members, doctrines, practices, or beliefs.

Disclosure statment:While this page is sponsored by a pro-LDS group, every effort has been made to take a neutral position on the issues presented here. There may be links in some of the entries. Be forewarned that following those links may lead to information that is likely sponsored by sources favorable to the religions described.

WHO ARE THEY?

Restorationist Faiths.

Restorationist faiths or churches are defined as all faiths who can trace their origins to Joseph Smith, Jr. [1805-1844] and the religious manifestations that he reported during his life. Restorationist movements either spring directly from the religious community founded by Smith, or via separation from some other restorationist faith(s), much as Protestant groups broke with Roman Catholicism and then fragmented further.

It is vital that writers maintain a neutral tone when reporting on events. This is of particular concern when the writer is a member of one of the restorationist churches. Pejoratives such as apostate or break-off should never be used to describe faith groups, except when directly citing a source. When this is done, it ought to be clear that the characterization belongs to the source, not the media.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

This is the largest of all of the restorationist movements and is based in Salt Lake City. Note the lower case on the word "day" and the use of hyphenation. Also, since the starting "The" is part of the formal name of the Churc, it should be capitalized, even if used in the middle of a sentence. http://www.lds.org/, http://www.mormon.org/

The Community of Christ (RLDS)

Previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church is the only other world wide church with in the restorationist movement, and is headquartered in Independence, Mo. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.cofchrist.org/

Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This group was formally organized in 1991 in response to what they felt was the liberal direction of the Community of Christ (RLDS). Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

This church also broke with the The Community of Christ over the issues of the ordination of women and other changes in that church. Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

http://www.theremnantchurch.com/

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of America's largest practitioners of plural marriage. The FLDS Church emerged in the 1930s largely because of the LDS Church's continued practice of excommunicating any practitioners of plural marriage. There is no connection between the FLDS Church and the LDS Church, as members of the FLDS church are mostly children or grandchildren of people who were excommunicated from the LDS church because of their practice of polygamy.

Note the lack of hyphenization in "Latter Day," and the fact that both words are capitalized.

Others

There are many other small denominations of restorationist churches. The purpose of this guide is not to list them all, but to make interested authors aware that they exist. The various denominations are not affiliated with each other, so it is important to correctly identify which denomination you are referring to in anything you may write. There is no "synod" or "umbrella group" of restorationist movements.

Mormon

The term Mormon was originally used as a pejorative to identify a person who believed in The Book of Mormon (some early critics also used the term Mormonite, but this quickly fell from favour. Some early newspapers used the term Mormonite. While it may be tempting to use that label the same way today, the term "Mormon" used without additional modifiers has come to represent members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not appropriate to identify members of the Community or Christ or members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as "Mormon" as that would be confusing. It becomes especially objectionable to the LDS church members to identify members of the FLDS as Mormons because the founders of that denomination were excommunicated from the LDS church.

ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led at the highest levels by two presiding quorums: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The First Presidency

The First Presidency consists of the President of the Church—often referred to more informally as the Prophet of the Church—and counselors, generally two. Historically there have been occasions when more than two counselors were used, usually when the President of the Church had health issues that would not allow him to function at full administrative capacity.

Upon the death of a councilor, the President will call a replacement—such replacements generally come from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (see below), but any faithful male may be called.

The First Presidency is automatically dissolved upon the death of the President—the councilors have no role or authority apart from him. If councilors were members of the Quorum of the Twelve prior to joining the First Presidency, they resume their previous place in the senority of that Quorum.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The second governing quorum of the Church is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Quorum members are called by the First Presidency, and are ranked by seniority. The President of the Quorum is thus that Quorum member who has served in the Quorum for the longest period of time.

The President presides over this body, and assumes the leadership of the Church upon dissolution of the First Presidency. When this occurs, the pre-eminent function of this body is to reconstitute the First Presidency.

Succession in the LDS Church=

Exception: As noted above, councilors of the First Presidency resume their positions within the Quorum of the Twelve upon the death of the Church President, and are ranked by senority. The longest-serving member of the Quorum of the Twelve is always the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, even if he is a member of the First Presidency. For administrative reasons, however, the next-longest serving apostle will be designated the "Acting President" of the Quorum of the Twelve. This situation actually obtains at present—President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency is the longest-serving apostle after the current Church president. President Monson is thus "President of the Quorum of the Twelve." The next-longest serving apostle is Boyd K. Packer, the "Acting President of the Twelve."

Historically, the longest-serving apostle will be chosen by the Quorum of the Twelve to replace a deceased president of the Church. Generally, this will be the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. If, however, the longest-serving apostle was a member of the First Presidency at the death of the Church president, when he resumes his place and senority within the the Quorum of the Twelve he becomes the presiding authority for both the Twelve and the Church.

Once the Quorum of the Twelve has designated a new President of the Church, the President chooses two councilors, generally from among the remaining apostles. This leaves the Quorum with eleven apostles remaining, and a replacement apostle is chosen and assumes the lowest position of senority.

The Quorums of the Seventy

The Quorums of the Seventy serve throughout the Church under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Members of these quorums serve as Regional Authorites, oversee missionary work, and represent the Church leadership throughout the globe. The Seventy are presided over by seven presidents that together form a quorum called the Presidents of the Seventy.

The Presiding Bishopric

The Presiding Bishopric oversees the work of the Aaronic Priesthood throughout the Church. This includes work related to welfare, building construction and maintenance, and youth programs. The Presiding Bishopric consists of a Bishop and two counselors.

Stake Leadership

At the local level, the highest governing body is the Stake presidency. A stake oversees a group of local congregations (called wards). The leadership form is patterned after the leadership of the Church. There is a Stake Presidency with a President and two counselors, and a high council of twelve men.

Ward Leadership

A ward or local congregation is presided over by a Bishopric which consists of a Bishop and two counselors. They in conjunction with other priesthood leadership form a committee called the Priesthood Executive Committee (PEC). This committee regulates the functioning of local priesthood units. The Bishopric in conjuction with all other leadership of the ward and its auxilary organizations form a committee called the Ward Correlation Committee. Through this committee, ward efforts are brought together in unity.

TERMS

A

Aaronic Priesthood This is one of the two Latter-Day Saints priesthoods. It is made up of three offices Deacon, Teacher and Priest each with increasing duties. In the LDS Church it is generally given to young men starting at age 12. In the RLDS and most other restorationist churches it is given to adults most of the time. Capitalize both words. See priesthood.

Aaronic Order A communal restorationist faith in and around Esk-Dale, Utah.

apostate Never use the word apostate to describe or label any church or person. If a church can trace it's origins to another church then it should be stated in that way. For example: The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ which formed by members of the RLDS Church in 1989.

Apostle A calling usually in reference to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the RLDS Church it may be used as a title, Apostle John Smith. Use the term Elder in the LDS Church, Elder John Smith. a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Auditorium, The Capitalize when referencing to the building at Independence, Mo.

B

baptism for the dead The practice of baptizing a person by proxy for a deceased person. Do not capitalize. This rite is performed most often in the temples of the LDS Church.

Barlow University A college in Colorado City, Arizona operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Barlow)

bishop A lay person called to oversee the operation of a local congregation (LDS) or to assist in the temporal affairs of the church in a given area (RLDS). Capitalize when part of the title. Bishop John Smith otherwise lower case as in the bishop's storehouse. In the RLDS and Temple Lot, etc. bishops have the general oversight and responsibility for all the temporal affairs of the church and its members.

Book of Commandments A book of scripture first published in 1833. It was reissued in 1835 as the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Commandments is still used by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and several other restorationist churches. .

Book of the Law of the Lord A book of scripture translated by James J. Strang in 1851. Used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strang) and related groups.

The Book of Mormon A book of scripture used by most, but not all, of the restorationist churches. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr. it is also known as The Record of the Nephites by some churches. Use the word Mormon only in the context of The Book of Mormon, not as a nickname for a church or its members. The LDS Church's media style guide give the name as The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ which is rarely used even within the LDS Church. Citing scriptures from the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon has two different verse numbering systems in use it is important to cite verses from it in a consistent way. The numbering system used by the church about which the story is concerning should be used with the alternate system used afterwards. The two systems are noted as either LDS or RLDS. For example: 1Ne. 1:1 (1Ne. 1:1 RLDS) You should do this even in cases where the two numbering systems agree. Abbreviations of book titles The following are the accepted abbreviations. Table 1: default 1 Ne. 1 Nephi 2 Ne. 2 Nephi Jacob Jacob Enos Enos Jarom Jarom Omni Omni W of M Words of Mormon Mosiah Mosiah Alma Alma Hel. Helaman 3 Ne. 3 Nephi 4 Ne. 4 Nephi Morm. Mormon Ether Ether Moro. Moroni