The first thing you should know is that every Mormon is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's the exact same thing. Look how fast you learn! Mormonism has many beliefs, but there are five main ones:
- Accept Joseph Smith as a prophet. This is a really big one for Mormons since the whole religion is founded upon his teachings. The book jacket version: at the age of 14, Joseph Smith saw a vision in which God, the Father and Jesus Christ, appeared to him and instructed him to restore the true church of God. To convert to Mormonism, it is essential that you accept this vision as truth and accept Joseph Smith as a true prophet of God.
- Thirteen Articles of Faith. Pretty much everything Mormons believe can be found in the Thirteen Articles of Faith, written by Joseph Smith. While any convert under the age of 18 will most likely never have to recite these from memory, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with these principles.
- Pay a tithing. In a Mormon ward, most members have give a tithing, that is, a sum of money a member pays that goes to help in the running of the Church. A general rule of thumb is that 10% of everything earned should be paid in tithing. While there isn't a specific area the money is allotted to, much of it goes into a fund used for members who have fallen upon hard times.
- Baptism. Mormons believe in baptism by immersion, which is just a fancy way of saying you'll be dunked from head to toe. Also, a person has to be at least 8 years old before he/she is eligible to be baptized.
- Body as a temple. Mormons believe that the physical body is sacred and shouldn't be contaminated. This means no alcohol, no tobacco in any form, no use of recreational drugs and no caffeine (e.g. tea or coffee). While Mormons don't have to be vegetarians, they are encouraged to eat meat sparingly. Another way Mormons show respect for their bodies is through conservative dress.
SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW convert to Mormonism?
