Interfaith Information
Tolerance
"The LDS principles of tolerance are rooted in
the teaching that all who have lived, now live, and will yet live on this earth are spirit
children of God and are responsible only to God for their religious beliefs and practices.
"We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our
own conscience," says Article of Faith 11, "and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship, how, where or what they
may." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Why
does Mormonism arouse such animosity?
"Although the religions of men are often
tolerant of each other, they cannot abide the presence of living prophets and the truths
of salvation. Their bitterness and opposition toward Mormonism are an essential witness of its truthfulness." Joseph Fielding McConkie
Do
only Mormons go to Heaven?
No, Latter-day Saints do not believe that
they are the only ones who go to Heaven. However, they believe that certain blessings are
reserved only for faithful Latter-day Saints.
We
Bear Witness of Him
President Gordon B. Hinckley encourages
Latter-day Saints to be kind and respectful of other religions in spite of any doctrinal
differences.
Social Relations
With Non-Mormons
"The social milieu of the Church in modern times may be compared to
that of the New Testament Church. In each situation, a peculiar people amid multiple
religious traditions and structures engendered hostility." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism
Judaism
Jewish
Interfaith Relationships
"Generally, relations between members of the two groups have been
characterized by mutual respect and goodwill. Exceptions include sharp differences between
Mormons and some Jews on the issue of the purpose of the Brigham Young University Center
for Near Eastern Studies in Jerusalem (dedicated 1989; see Brigham Young University: Jerusalem Center for Near
Eastern Studies). However, a workable relationship prevails." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism
Judaism
"The views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its
members toward Jews and Judaism have been shaped chiefly by LDS teachings and by
historical contacts with Jewish communities. These teachings include regarding the Jews as
an ancient covenant people with a prophesied role in the contemporary gathering of Israel
and in events of the last days, and the contacts include educational activities in Israel
and LDS proselytizing efforts outside of Israel." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism
Circumcision
"In modern times, Joseph Smith affirmed the perpetuity of the Abrahamic Covenant and defended
the integrity of Judaism. Today, however, if Latter-day Saint males are circumcised, it is
for cleanliness and health, not religious, reasons." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism
Jewish Studies
A collection of graduate papers in Jewish Studies
Other Faiths
Interfaith
Relationships - Other Faiths
"Generally the LDS outreach to non-Christians has had a positive,
invigorating effect on members of the Church, has strengthened Church membership
significantly, and has brought about increased awareness of cultural differences as well
as a willingness to work within those differences." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism
Overview of
World Religions
A discussion of Mormonism in relationship to Buddhism, Confucianism,
Hinduism, Islam, and Shinto.
Atheism
"Atheism is the disbelief in or denial of the existence of God." Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Satanism
'The cult of Satanism has evolved over many years. At the present time,
symbols related to Satan have become so prevalent that the warning voices of leaders in
the Church have again been raised concerning some people's fascination with the power of
evil. Latter-day Saints are admonished to avoid any contact with Satanism, even with the
good intention of learning about it in order to warn others of its dangers." Encyclopedia of Mormonism(See Daily Living home page)
Overview"Latter-day Saints believe that God has inspired
not only people of the Bible and the Book of Mormon,
but other people as well, to carry out his purposes.
Today God inspires not only Latter-day Saints but also
founders, teachers, philosophers, and reformers of other
Christian and non-Christian religions." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Buddhism"The philosophy of Gautama (Gotama, in Pali),
sometimes called Theravada Buddhism, with its emphasis
upon the worthlessness of the physical body, of
individuality, of this phenomenal mortal life, of faith
in God, and of judgment, disagrees with LDS
doctrine...This is not to say that the gospel and
Buddhism contradict one another in every way. The LDS
religion, like Buddhism, advocates meditation, reverence,
inspiration, and moderation. Latter-day Saints embrace
elements similar to those of the Eightfold Middle Path,
which advocate freedom from ill will and cruelty, and
abstinence from lying, talebearing, harsh and vain
thought, violence, killing,
stealing, and sexual
immorality (see Commandments)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Confucianism"The Confucian focus upon moral example as the
basis of harmony in society, government, and the universe
is consistent with LDS views. However, Confucius was not
interested in metaphysics or theology; he did not
advocate belief in God, nor did he talk about life after
death. He was concerned with humans in their social
setting." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism
Hinduism"Hinduism and the gospel of Jesus
Christ differ in their perceptions of deity. In
Hinduism there exist many gods, of thunder, drink, fire,
sky, mountains, and the like, who are variously playful,
capricious, vindictive, loving, and law-abiding....For
Latter-day Saints, God the
Father, his son Jesus Christ,
and the Holy
Ghost form a tritheistic group of individuals of
unified purpose and power, always systematic and ethical.
(See Teachings
About the Godhead home page)" Encyclopedia
of Mormonism
Islam"On balance, Mormon teachings thus seem to have
cast Islam in a positive historical role." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Shinto"No counterpart to the central tenet of LDS
faith—the crucifixion and Atonement of Christ—exists in Shinto. While the LDS Church and
many other world religions concentrate on the theology of
death and sin, the importance of holy writ, and the
responsibilities of parenting and church service, Shinto
values and attitudes are transmitted through festive
celebrations of the powers within mountains, waterfalls,
trees, and other aspects of nature." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism(See Daily Living home page; Interfaith
Relationships home page)
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Christianity
Christians in Belief and Action
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin explains how
Latter-day Saints are Christians.
Christians
and Christianity
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not see itself
as one Christian denomination among many, but rather as God's latter-day restoration of the fulness of
Christian faith and practice. Thus, from its earliest days LDS Christians sought to
distinguish themselves from Christians of other traditions. Other forms of Christianity,
while bearing much truth and doing much good under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are
viewed as incomplete, lacking the authority of the priesthood of God, the temple ordinances, the comprehensive
understanding of the Plan of Salvation,
and the nonparadoxical understanding of the Godhead." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Christology
Christology is the theological study of the human and divine natures and
roles of Jesus Christ. This article compares how some other Christian groups view the
nature and role of the Savior to the LDS view.
Christian
Interfaith Relationships
"The Church has never existed in isolation or insulation from other
Christian faiths. Its roots and its nurture are in, and remain in, the Christian heritage.
But its claim that the heavens have opened anew, that a restoration of the lost radiance and
power of the full gospel of Jesus Christ is
under way at divine initiative, and its rejection of many long-standing traditions have
generated misunderstanding and ill will." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
How
is LDS theology different from other Christians?
"As biblical scholar W. D. Davies once pointed out, LDS doctrine can be described as biblical
Christianity separated from hellenized Christianity, a conjunction of first-century
Judaism and Christianity." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
What
are some distinctive LDS teachings?
"Few religious doctrines are unique in the strict sense, but many are
rare enough to be considered distinctive features of this or that religion or
denomination. Several doctrines of the Latter-day Saints are distinctive in this sense,
although in most cases other Christians have at some time held identical or similar
beliefs." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Harmonization
of Paradox
"Because Latter-day Saints reject the
influences of Neoplatonism on original Christian theology, they are not on the horns of
the dilemmas posed by some of the paradoxes in traditional Christian theology." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Catholicism
and Mormonism
"Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy are
grounded in the same theological tradition. They are similar to each other doctrinally and
hold teachings that differ from Mormonism." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Why
do mormon missionaries to preach to other Christians?
At April 1998 General Conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained why we
proselyte members of other denominations.
Immaculate
Conception
"Latter-day Saints accept neither the ... doctrine of original sin
nor the need for Mary's immaculate conception (MD, p. 375). Instead, they "believe
that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" (A of
F 2), because Jesus' Atonement redeems all, including Mary, from the responsibility for
Adam's trespass (Moro. 8:8)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Protestantism
"While Latter-day Saints share with Protestants a conviction of the
importance of the scriptures, an
extensive lay priesthood (but given only by the laying on of hands by those having proper priesthood authority), and the
primacy of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior as the first principle of the gospel,
they differ from them by affirming a centralized authority headed by a latter-day prophet
and by a number of other doctrines unique to the Church, i.e. temple ordinances for the living and the
dead, and the eternal nature of the marriage
covenant." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
"Mormonism"
and Christendom
It has become popular among opponents of the LDS faith to distort and
misrepresent this LDS belief by claiming that Mormons despise all of the beliefs and
advocates of all non-LDS Christian churches. This article addresses that charge.
Are Christians Mormon?
"Here the plan is to reverse the question and ask,
"Are Christians Mormon?" This is not mere word play. In our time there are
renowned and influential spokesmen and writers in all the major wings of Christendom--and
they are not on the periphery but at the center--who are defending and teaching what, a
century ago, Joseph Smith almost alone taught. For teaching it he, and his immediate
heirs, gave their lives. No one of these spokesmen has pulled it all together, but there
are pieces and fragments everywhere." Truman G. Madsen
Clergy
"Some Latter-day Saints have ambivalent feelings about the clergy of
other Christian traditions, in part because some professional ministers participated in
the early persecution of the Saints and others in current times continue to produce
anti-Mormon publications (See anti-Mormon
Publications)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Creeds
"From the beginning of the Church until the present, its view has
always been that such formulas are incompatible with the gospel's inclusive commitment to
truth and continual revelation." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Communion
"Communion refers to partaking of the Lord's Supper. The more common
term among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Sacrament
(D&C 59:9)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Predestination
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints rejects the belief in predestination—that God predetermines the salvation or
the damnation of every individual." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Great
and Abominable Church
"Though many Protestants, following the
lead of Martin Luther, have linked this evil force described in Revelation 17 with the
Roman Catholic church, the particular focus of these LDS and New Testament scriptures
seems rather to be on earlier agents of apostasy in the Jewish and Christian traditions." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
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