5 Facts About Mormons — Just the basics

Who are the Mormons of Today?  I know a lot of people have questions — so here are some I get asked frequently, hopefully they answer a few of your questions:1

First off, “Mormon” is just just a nickname.

When you refer to use, please use “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

Facts about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

LDS Meetinghouse {church}

1.  What’s the difference between a Temple and a Church.

Anyone can go inside an LDS church.  They are open to everyone.  We hold weekly services there and they most often have a gym, kitchen — just your basic church.  We do not have daycare services at our churches, like some do.  The Temple is only for those who hold a temple recommend.  You can get one of those by answering simple questions.  Most of them are things you would do anyway, just to be a good person.  We do have to follow the Word of Wisdom {no coffee, tea, drugs or smoking} and we do have to pay tithing {10% of our increase to the church}.  Inside the temple we have different services, most of which you do once for yourself and the rest of the time you do for ancestors who have died.

2.  Are Mormons members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?

Yes, Mormon has become something of a nickname.  Our full name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We even have a cute song about it. 🙂  It means this is the restored church that Jesus Christ had when he was on the earth.  Some people call us LDS.  It’s all the same.  HOWEVER, our official name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

NOW, fundamentalist LDS or Restored LDS are not the same.  They are NOT members of the same church I belong to.  They believe fairly different things.  Similar to Lutheran and Catholic churches.

Related post:  What happens at a Mormon Baptism?

3.  Do Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints practice Polygamy?

I got asked this a LOT when I moved to California.  No.  We do not.  Any member who starts to practice polygamy is excommunicated as soon as anyone knows about it {so, that does mean members COULD be practicing polygamy without anyone knowing it, but that would be difficult to do long term}.  SO many people acted like Polygamy WAS being practiced, and I just didn’t know about it.  It’s not.  The church is totally not OK with Polygamy.  I still think Kody is creepy.

4.  What are the Mormon Garments?

I get asked this a LOT in California where we had a communal change room and were required to wear the hospital scrubs.  They look like a t-shirt and biker shorts.  They have symbols on it that remind of us of covenants we make in the temple.  We wear them closest to our skin, because we also hold our covenants closely.  These are things we have promised to do our entire life here on earth.  They’re nothing huge.  Help the poor, help the church, do not commit adultery, things like that.  But I do hold my covenants close enough to wear these garments when it was 114 degrees outside and we were moving.  I take them seriously, but I get that a lot of people think it’s weird.  I get that. 🙂  Garments are not to be altered or taken off for special occasions.  The end.

5.  Do Mormons Use Electricity?

I got asked this one once.  Mormons are everywhere.  They probably are in your school and helping on your little league team.  Mormons tend to be very family-centered people who love life, their families and God.  That makes them, in general, good neighbors.  We use electricity, we have the internet, we drive cars, Mormons can use phones.  Mormons aren’t Amish.  How many Mormons are there?  There are currently (at last head count) 15,082,028 Mormons Worldwide.

So, there’s 5 fast facts about Mormons.  I hope they were helpful for people with questions.  Have more questions?  Ask them below and maybe I’ll answer them there, or in a future blog entry.

{I would ask that people keep their comments respectful of ALL religions in the comments or I will delete them immediately.  Check out our 11th Article of Faith — we hope you’d provide the same to us.}