Nrd church of jesus christ of the last days. Is the Church of Jesus Christ a sect, and how dangerous is it? The New Revelation - The "Bible" of Mormons

Other names: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, The Church of Latter Day Saints.

Printed editions: Liahona magazine.

History of the sect: The founder of this sect is the American Joseph Smith, who was born in 1805 in Sharon, Vermont, USA. His father, Joseph Smith Sr., was a mystic who spent most of his life in search of imaginary treasures and occasionally indulged in money scams.

In 1820 Smith Jr. had a miraculous vision in which God the Father and God the Son materialized during his prayer, revealed to him that he was chosen to revive true Christianity, and in no case should adjoin existing churches. However, the "high destiny" did not prevent Joseph from continuing with his family to search for lost treasures, moreover, using the indication of magic stones, magic wands and other similar attributes. This kind of passion for mysticism and played, apparently, a decisive role in the formation of Smith Jr. as a "new prophet."

In 1823 he had a second vision. The angel who appeared to him called himself Moroni. He spoke of the hidden "golden plates" on the Hill of Cumorah, which are covered with hieroglyphs of the "altered Egyptian language" and contain important messages. ancient history America. The angel Moroni called Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 was he allowed to take the buried treasure. The documents were written in "Old Egyptian script" that could only be read with the help of "prophetic glasses" in the same drawer as the script. His assistants were his future associates Harris and Oliver Codveri. May 15, 1829 Joseph and Oliver were "anointed" to the "Aaronic Priesthood" by "John the Baptist" appearing to them eat".

In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published in an edition of 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, a six-member Mormon church was founded in Fayeti, New York. In the same 1830, famous Protestant preachers of the time, Parley Pratt and Sidney Wrigton, were converted to the new faith, which led to a sharp increase in the number new organization. This society spread relatively quickly, because. his followers were actively proselytizing in some states (converting representatives of other faiths to membership in the sect). Hostility towards the Mormons and their persecution forced them to change their place of residence frequently. Several cities were founded by Mormons where Jesus Christ was to appear based on revelation.

The practice of polygamy is infamous, practiced among the Mormons by direct "divine revelation" until 1890, when, under the influence of the authorities, they were forced to abandon this way of family life. In 1838, Mormons adopted a "divine command" to give tithing. It should be noted that in the period from 1831 to 1844. Smith, according to his testimony, received more than 135 revelations.

In 1844, Smith's former assistant John Bennet spoke openly about the practice of plural marriage in the church. When the wave of revelations became threatening, the indignant "prophet" tried to use force against the anti-Mormon publication Novu Observer. After the intervention of the state administration, Joseph Smith, along with his brother Hyrum, ended up in a prison in Carthage, where the indignant townspeople stormed the prison. Smith was killed in the shootout.

Smith's successor was Brime Young. Under his leadership, a "sacrificial procession" was organized to the Great Salt Lake. For 17 months (1846-47) 1700 km were covered. There they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or "New Jerusalem").

The history of the Mormons bears traces of a serious crime. In 1857 Young ordered his "bishop" John Lee to destroy the train with settlers, which was exactly what he did. Twenty years later, Lee was tried and executed by the US government for this act.

Mormon negotiations with the government to legalize them in the United States failed due to the admission of polygamy. When this practice was officially banned, Mormon activity was allowed in 1896 in the state of Utah.

The Church of Latter-day Saints currently has 8 million adherents and has an annual income of $3,000,000 (partially through the collection of "tithes" from its adherents). 40,000 of their missionaries work all over the world. Mormons make up 75% of the population of Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah (USA).

Doctrine: In addition to the Bible, Mormons have three "sacred" books, which they consider to be no less important than the Bible itself:

a) The Book of Mormon
b) "Teachings and alliances";
c) "Precious Pearl";"Book of Mormon". This book is the foundation of Mormon doctrine. In places where there are contradictions between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the statements of the latter are considered true. This book consists of 15 small books (500 pages in total). They tell the story of the ancient population of America. During the construction of the Tower of Babel, the tribe of Jaredites came to America, divided and self-destructed as a result of internal enmity and struggle. In 600 BC, under the prophet Lech, representatives of the tribe of Manasseh arrived in America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: the Nephites and the Lamanites. Christ appeared to the Nephites after the Resurrection and commanded them to found a church. Through the fault of the Nephites, this true Church disappeared, disintegrated. In A.D. 400 the last battles between the Nephites and the Lamanites took place near the hill Cumorah. There, the prophet Mormon and his son buried the above-mentioned plates with the events recorded on them (420-421).Mormons view the Book of Mormon as a revelation because it, they believe, contains what Jesus preached in His "American days." The data of this book contradict historical, archaeological, ethnographic evidence. In addition, since its first edition, the book has undergone many changes, sometimes in meaning, sometimes in words, and sometimes in acting characters, with the latest changes being made as far back as 1981. Modern Mormons are often unaware of these details. Moreover, in many places this "revelation" contains borrowings from the "King James Bible", taken together with the mistakes that the authors of this translation of the Bible made.The book "Teachings and Unions". Most of it is the revelations of Joseph Smith, which he received during his work, as well as some of the "revelations" of his followers (1823-1890).Book "Pearl of Great Price". Here we are also talking about "revelations" and translations from the golden plates of the "prophet" I. Smith.The Mormon Creed consists of 13 points. It was compiled by I. Smith in 1841.In their doctrine of God, Mormons proceed from the fact that man is made in the likeness of God, and conclude from this that God has a material body, just like man. Therefore, God the Father is spatially limited by His body. But He is nonetheless the All-Knowing; angels inform Him about all the events taking place on earth. But the Father is not the only God. There are many other "gods". And people have the opportunity to become God someday. "What a man is now - such was God once, what is God now - such can one day be a man." This is the basic idea of ​​the Mormon doctrine.

Since the motto of the Mormons is: "optimism and faith - progress," then they are all about development. Man is on the upward path, he is "God in the bud."

According to the Mormons, a person is not born a sinner; he has no hereditary sin. The sin of the Mormons is the indignation of a person against the "foundations of progress."

Mormons believe that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, an individual can be justified from personal sins if he himself makes an effort to do so. Redemption is a joint work of God and man. After death, man becomes involved in varying degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) earthly; 3) heavenly.

Mormons consider America to be the center of world events of the future. Mormons are ostensibly "the people of God's end-time covenant"—the "new Israel." For Mormons, eternity is a continuation of progress.

In 1843, I. Smith received a “revelation” about the eternal duration of the marriage union with polygamy: “A sealed marriage will not end its existence with death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual realm. All representatives of unsealed marriages in eternity will be ministering spirits and will not be able to marry. Polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government, the Mormons abolished it in 1890. To this day, they believe in the correctness of polygamy, but officially declare that they do not practice it. However, it turns out that there are still examples of polygamy in Mormon communities.

According to Mormonism, the laying on of hands gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. The laying on of hands is performed by "priests". The act of the laying on of hands is what they call confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, purification and sanctification. Only the head of the “church” has the sealing authority. Baptism means the forgiveness of sins and admission to the church. Baptism can be received from the age of eight, while the recipient of baptism enters into an alliance with the Creator. He must make a vow that he will keep God's commandments.

It is customary for Mormons to be baptized instead of the dead. Only baptism is valid and necessary for the salvation of Mormons. In addition to baptism, a vicarious laying on of hands and sealing is also possible for deceased ancestors. To carry out these acts, the exact data of the dead must be given. This explains the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894, the Family History Library in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, has been collecting and processing data from parish registers, population censuses and other documents containing the names of people who previously lived on earth. These names are necessary for Mormons to mysteriously initiate people into their cult followers in their temples, where "outsiders" (non-Mormons) are not allowed to enter. Mormons in absentia include the dead in the ranks of their cult, replenishing the lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This work, hidden from the uninitiated, is accompanied by large-scale Mormon activities to create a single "World Genealogy Center", controlled by the Latter Day Saints sect.

Since 1992, the Mormons began to actively work with the Archival Administrations of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia in order to copy (microfilm) archival documents. Having entered into a contract with the State Archival Service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many metric books (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. Copies received from the Russian archives become the property of the Mormon President's Corporation, which are then provided to pedigree researchers through his own genealogical structure for a fee. Special attention Mormons turn to their appearance: dress neatly and neatly, cultivate good manners, intelligent, polite, literate. The zeal of Mormon representatives in improving these qualities comes from their teaching, which says that a person is “a god in the bud” and their ultimate goal is to move upward along the path of progress through personal improvement and become equal to God at the finish line, i.e., gradually “grow to the heavenly kingdom.The secret is the fact that those of the Mormons who have undergone a special initiation ritual are required to wear underwear with the image of Masonic symbols.

Structure and internal organization: The Mormon community is organized along theocratic lines with elements of Western democracy. It is headed by a "prophet or seer" who receives "revelations" from above and has unlimited power in various areas of the sect's life. As an advisory body, it is assisted by a three-member supreme council. Administrative power is largely of a purely American character.

Mormon worship strongly resembles Protestant worship and is based on preaching, reading, and singing hymns. In Salt Lake City, there is the main Mormon temple, crowned with six towers and a gilded statue of the "angel Moroni", who showed the founder of the sect the place where the Book of Mormon was hidden.

Number of followers: 1850 - 60000 people; 1900 - 230,000 people; 1950 - 1000000 people; 1961 - 1800000 people; 1964 - 2000000 people; 1970 - 2500000 people; 1985 - 6000000 people; According to Mormon President Gordon B. Hinckley, 2000 is 11,000,000.

Criminal activities: includes trial in the case of the founder of the Smith sect about fortune-telling by glass, his failed banking scam in Kirtland, Ohio, his polygamy before the revelation, his organized militias in Missouri and Illinois, and the order to destroy the printing presses of those who opposed him, as well as the case of the destruction of the train of immigrants by the "prophet" of the Mormons - Brigham Young. Repeated lawsuits on the facts of polygamy. Law enforcement agencies of Russia recorded cases of collection of intelligencefood data by members of the sect.

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If guests come to you with badges on their chests, in beautiful, strict suits and, smiling from the doorway, tell you that only eggs and Jackie Chan are cooler than you, then you have come across the Mormons. After assuring you of your exclusivity, the sectarians will begin to tell you about themselves. They will talk for a long time, show their family photos. In the photographs you will see a large family, in the photo everyone will smile with “cloned smiles”. Then you will tell about yourself, and you will be admired for a long time. After all these amenities, you will be presented with the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Precious pearl." Then you will be asked “How do you feel?”, due to how much good you have heard about yourself, you will say that you feel good. You will be told that it is the Holy Spirit who is calling you and that it is vital for you to become a Mormon.

The most interesting thing is that it is almost impossible to argue with Mormons, they agree with everything and ask to visit you again, or offer to visit their community where you quit smoking, start speaking English, cross-stitch and knit socks, playing football and drinking juice . All this you will master in two weeks. In parallel, you will be “penetrated with true faith”

1. You donate a tenth of your income to the community. On Saturdays you eat once a day, the money saved goes to the community in addition to the tithe. The “extra money” that you do not need for social needs goes to the community in excess of the tithe.

2. Your new friends constantly visit you, you also visit. What you are doing is convincing one another of the truth of the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Then, with the whole brigade, you walk around the apartments with your photo albums and sectarian literature.

3. If your family, unlike you, are "non-Mormons", then they are enemies. They tempt you. You need to renounce them. The community is your family. The community needs you. You must be educated, successful, polite, young and beautiful. And also prolific. The main mission of a woman in a sect is to give birth to a bunch of marmons. By force.

4. You can not smoke, drink coffee and tea, alcoholic drinks. Other stimulants are also strictly prohibited.

5. You are taught English language American "garny lads" only teach according to the "Book of Mormon", so that later you go around the world to carry the word of the sect, naturally you go with your own money. Thus, you will ride for two years. If after that you have money left, and the community takes care of it, you become a priest (boys), a fruit-bearing uterus (girls).

6. You collect from the archives the names of your deceased relatives, friends, acquaintances, just different now deceased people and are engaged in the fact that “baptize their souls”, “crown their souls”, etc. That's some interesting necrophilia.

7. You are constantly accused of not being rich enough and donating enough, not smart enough and bringing few converts, you are not working enough for the good of the community. You have few children, future priests and fruit-bearing wombs of the sect. For this you can be expelled from the community and you will burn in hell.

8. In the end, you realize that you are a complete loser, you are constantly reminded of this, and you go crazy. Crazy community is not needed. They need psychiatrists.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS ​​CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, the largest Mormon church. Its followers are often referred to simply as Mormons, although this concept has a broader meaning - there are over 40 different Mormon churches. In addition, the term "Mormons" is not officially accepted.

The founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the son of a poor and unlucky Vermont farmer, Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-44), who declared himself a prophet. Despite the fact that he was repeatedly accused of committing illegal acts, he managed to attract a significant number of supporters and create a new church organization in 1830 in the town of Fayette, New York. After J. Smith was killed in prison by an angry mob, the church was led by Briam Young (1801-77), who in 1847 organized the resettlement of persecuted Mormons to the West, to lands in the Great Salt Lake region now occupied by the state of Utah.

By accusing modern Christian church organizations of departing from the principles of early Christianity and declaring the restoration of the “primitive church” as their goal, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has in fact gone very far not only from the provisions of Protestantism, from the depths of which it emerged, but also from the basic doctrines of Christianity. generally.

The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is based on four books: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The Bible is regarded as the word of God, but is not considered a complete record of what God said and did. Of particular importance is the "Book of Mormon", which, according to J. Smith, he received from the angel Moroni in the form of golden plates and translated from some "reformed" Egyptian language. The compilation of this book is attributed to the prophet Mormon (the Bible does not know such a prophet), but some scholars consider it a plagiarism, a reproduction of the unpublished science fiction novel The Found Manuscript, written around 1812 by the writer and former priest Solomon Spaulding. The Book of Mormon tells of the Israelites who migrated around 600 BC. e. from Jerusalem to America. The Doctrine and Covenants (formerly called The Book of Commandments) contains selected revelations allegedly received by J. Smith from God, as well as one revelation to B. Young. The "Pearl of Great Price" includes revelations to J. Smith and translations of the papyri allegedly found by him, which he declared to be the "Book of Abraham" and the "Book of Moses."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints formally recognizes the Divine Trinity, but believes that God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit exist separately, and the Father and the Son created by him have a body of meat and bones, the same tangible as that of a person; The Holy Spirit is an impersonal energy emanating from the Father and the Son.

People are considered as spiritual children of God, who lived with him before the creation of the world. According to this doctrine of the pre-existence of souls, those of the spiritual beings who were not distinguished by loyalty and valor are born in a black body. Over time, people, having received eternal life, will be able to become gods. God Himself was once also a man, and through perfection became God. In fact, Mormonism, unlike traditional Christianity, preaches polytheism.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not recognize people's inheritance of original sin and believes that the vast majority of people, including non-Mormons, will be saved. After the second coming of Jesus Christ, the first resurrection of the dead and the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth will come. Moreover, the gathering place of all the tribes of Israel will not be Palestine, but America. After the millennial reign, the earth will turn into a heavenly sphere and all those justified after the second resurrection will fall into three eternal kingdoms of different categories (depending on their acceptance or rejection of the Mormon faith, as well as earthly behavior).

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in order to be saved, a person must first believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins. The sacraments established by the church are also required.

The first of these is baptism by immersion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not recognize infant baptism, but usually baptizes children of eight years of age, on the condition that they consciously accept the faith. It is believed that baptism cleanses a person from sins, and the believer, as it were, promises Christ to remember His atoning sacrifice on the cross and His commandments. The so-called vicarious baptism, which an already baptized person can accept for his deceased relative or close one, in order to save him, is very peculiar. Baptism is followed by confirmation (fixing in the faith), which means that the believer receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit and is performed by the laying on of hands by a priest of the highest rank (the rank of Melchizedek).

The sacrament of communion (bread and water) symbolizes the renewal by the believer of his contract with the Lord. It is celebrated every week in local meeting houses, and unbaptized children are also admitted to it.

While recognizing civil marriage "for a time" (i.e., until the death of a person), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places special emphasis on a temple wedding that "seals" the marriage for eternity (this marriage is considered valid even after death, which in this case will not interrupt family life). However, such a sacrament is performed only when the couple leads a virtuous life and does not allow extramarital affairs. A substitute marriage for the deceased is also possible. Divorce in the church is allowed. Polygamy, previously practiced by its prominent figures, is now rejected (in no small measure, the rejection of it was due to the fact that because of this practice, the Mormon territory of Utah was not granted state status for a long time).

In a very peculiar way, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the initiation into the priesthood takes place. The initiate undergoes a ritual bath, is anointed with oil, and puts on special temple clothes. He is also given secret passwords and a secret name.

However, for salvation, according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, faith and the ordinances associated with it are necessary but not sufficient. Mormons regard the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone as pernicious. They emphasize that a person is saved not only through faith, but even more so through good deeds, which, in particular, include vicarious baptism for the dead, participation in worship, and a virtuous life.

Church members meet every Sunday in special facilities for local meetings. These may include Sunday School and evening worship (available to all) and priesthood meetings (in which only men participate). In temples where religious ceremonies take place, only the most worthy members of the church are allowed.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are no sharp distinctions between the laity and the clergy. Mormons do not have professional clergy. All teenage boys who have positively proven themselves at the age of 12 become deacons according to the order of Aaron, at 14 years old - teachers and at 16 years old - priests according to the same order. They teach in church schools, baptize children, and perform other ordinances in local congregations (“wardes”). The highest category of the priesthood (according to the order of Melchizedek) is replenished by men who have reached the age of 20. It includes elders, "seventies" (members of large priestly quorums, numbering 70 people), high priests, members of the presidential college.

At the age of 18, young people can be called for one and a half to two years for unpaid missionary work. This work is also performed by women.

Dietary and ethical restrictions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not as strict as in some other Protestant fringe churches. Members of this church abstain from the use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, tea, coffee. At the same time, they are not obliged to lead an ascetic life, they can go in for sports, allow themselves various entertainments. There are no restrictions on secular education either, and getting good training is highly encouraged.

Most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pay tithing to their church organization.

The following persons and structures exercise authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the president of the church and his two counselors (presidential board), a council of 12 "apostles", a quorum of 70 (seven leaders and 69 ordinary members are primarily engaged in missionary work), a presiding bishop and two of his advisers (supervise the performance of duties by other bishops, supervise the lower priesthood according to the order of Aaronic, are responsible for building work and charitable activities). The president of the church and his two counselors are elected by 12 "apostles".

Every six months, a general conference is convened, in which every member of the church can participate. She decides on the approval of the activities of the power structures of the church.

The headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The local organizations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are "ward" (a kind of local branch), uniting several hundred people (on average 500-600) and headed by bishops. Larger regional associations "steaks" (dioceses) number from 2 to 10 thousand people (most often 4-5 thousand). They are led by presidents and patriarchs.

The total number of adherents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide exceeds 8 million, of which 4.5 million are

Caution: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sect (Mormons).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is a dangerous sect of American origin.

Unlike Christians who affirm the unity of God, Mormons practice polytheism(polytheism), although they do not like to admit it.

According to the teachings of the Mormons, it is permissible to kill people:“Will you love that man or woman enough to shed their blood? I can give you many examples where people were righteously slaughtered to atone for their sins ... the wickedness and neglect of the nations forbid this principle from being fully implemented, but the time will come when the law of God shall be in full operation" (Chairman Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 44, pp. 219, 220).

The sacred books of the Mormons are the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, the Bible. However, they trust the first three unquestioningly, while the Bible is often questioned. “I believe that the Bible that everyone reads, after it has come out from the pen of its real authors, ignorant translators, careless scribes, or malicious and corrupt priests, contains many errors” (Teachings of the Prophet J. Smith, p. 327).

The teachings of this sect are far from safe. Mormon preachers are taught to use deception when recruiting new members. "So you don't need to tell the truth first?" I asked the sisters who taught me. They smiled and nodded in the affirmative. This approach confused me. After all, the 13th creed of the Mormons seems to speak of the need to be honest" (Yulia DIDENKO, "Why I left the Marmon community"). The section, guided by which Mormon missionaries are rubbed into trust (according to the Mormon wording "establish trusting relationships"), includes includes 3 points:

Meet.

Build relationships based on common ground, which means emphasizing the concurring views of the interlocutor and hushing up differences.

Show empathy.

The Mormon sect is widely known for its archival data collection activities. which they lead in all countries where they preach their doctrine. Since 1992, the Mormons began to actively work with the archival departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia in order to copy archival documents. By signing a contract with the State Archival Service of Russia, the Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many parish registers and other documents. The goal of the Mormons is the mass copying of all archival information in Russia. The Legal Opinion of April 9, 2002 ends with the following conclusion: Providing the Genealogical Society of Utah (USA) (a religious association of Mormons) with Russian archival materials in any form, including through providing the organization with the opportunity to microfilm Russian archives, is unacceptable and illegally. However, Mormons continue to collect information, often in violation of the law. On numerous occasions, Mormon preachers were detained on the territory of closed military installations. According to the newspaper "Kaliningradskaya Pravda" dated September 23, 2000: " The Mormon sect is actively used by the US and German intelligence agencies as a cover for carrying out intelligence activities to collect classified information (socio-political, economic and military nature) on the territory of Russia, interfering in internal political processes taking place in the country, inciting inter-confessional hatred. Foreign missionaries pay special attention to reconnaissance penetration into special regime military facilities, establishing direct contacts with military personnel. A certain part of young Mormons returning to the United States after missionary work ... enters the service of the CIA and the US FBI. "The Mormons also need the names of dead people from the archives for their ritual -" posthumous baptism "of people. This is how they replenish the lists of members of their sect. Hardly whether a Russian person can calmly relate to the blasphemy committed against the memory of his ancestors.

In my time the Mormon sect was known for its plural marriage practiced in it.

After a series of scandals, most Mormons abandoned this practice, but they still believe that people who become gods (the goal of any Mormon's life) should have many wives. "Those Only Ones who became Gods, even Children of God, are those who were polygamists." (Chairman Brigham Young. Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269). Every Mormon man dreams of becoming a god after death, taking possession of the planet and living on it with a harem made up of women posthumously married to them in temple rites.

There are Mormon congregations and meeting houses in Saratov and the region. The doctrine is being actively promoted. Mormons use dishonest and unethical methods to attract young people. Now the Mormons intend to build a temple in the center of Saratov (Gorkogo St., 65) where religious ceremonies will be held, including "baptism of the dead" and "marriage with the dead." Such ritual use of the names of our dead is akin to satanic abuse of cemetery graves. To conduct these blasphemous ceremonies, sectarians from all over Russia will come to Saratov, they will buy more and more Saratov land and involve our fellow citizens in the sect. Especially offensive for representatives of traditional religions is the location of the future sectarian building in close proximity to Orthodox church Intercession of the Mother of God and a Muslim mosque. It is probably not without reason that the place for the future sectarian structure was chosen near the regional government.

In 1857, in the state of Utah, the Mormons who settled there, on the orders of their "prophet" Brigham Young, committed mass kill non-Mormon settlers. More than 120 people (mostly women and children) were brutally murdered ("Mormon prophet responsible for the worst massacre in US history").

We will not allow this story to be repeated in Saratov!

External Church Relations Service
Saratov diocesan administration

Russell Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made an important announcement Thursday. The statement said that Church leaders intend to make every effort to ensure that the full name of the Church is used instead of abbreviations and nicknames.

“The Lord has put into my mind the importance of the revealed name of His Church, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” President Nelson said in a statement. “We have a certain work to do—to bring ourselves into harmony with His will. Over the past few weeks, many Church leaders and heads of departments of the Church have taken the necessary steps in this regard.”

The updated style guide encourages the avoidance of abbreviations such as "LDS" and the nickname "Mormon" as alternatives to the name of the Church in phrases such as "Mormon Church", "LDS Church" or "Latter Day Saint Church".

The announcement and leadership changes have raised many questions about the future of prominent church organizations such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, LDS Business College, and the Mormon Canal. The new change also reflects a more dramatic cultural and linguistic shift than any previous effort to inspire members of the Church to avoid the term "Mormon," which has had a difficult reputation in Church history.

It is curious to note that the statement was made available through one of the official Church websites - mormonnewsroom.org ( Mormon News). This site, and others, possibly including the Church's main site, lds.org, will be given updated names, representing a challenging change for the Church.

Monumental change

Details are yet to be released, but the statement says that over the next few months, Church websites and materials will be changed in line with President Nelson's direction.

For many years, the term "Mormon" has been used in the official names of websites, media channels, and international brands. An example is the "I am a Mormon" campaign, during which members of the Church were encouraged to share their life stories, ending with "... and I am a Mormon."

In addition, the term is part Everyday life members of the Church.

Patrick Mason, chair of church research at Claremont University, says there are big changes coming within the Church.

He notes that members of the Church quickly adjusted to the new term "ministering ministry" introduced in April, but says that abandoning the term "Mormon" would require about more effort.

“There has always been some ambivalence about the term, and it seems to me that the problem lies in the practicality of how to get around the word Mormon. This word is over two hundred years old. It is better known than the term preferred by the Church."

According to Mason, the new terminology will take root among the members of the Church, but will find less response outside it. However, Mason states that focusing on the right name for the Church will resonate around the world.

Story

Ever since its restoration in 1830, the Church has had an uneasy relationship with the term Mormon. Church leaders have long reproached antagonists for referring to the Church as "Mormon," but in recent decades the nickname began to show more tolerance.

Joseph Smith received the full name of the Church by revelation in 1838. Prior to that, it was called the Church of Jesus Christ, and then the Church of Latter-day Saints.

At various times in the history of the Church, leaders have called for the use of the full, official name.

In 2001, Elder Dallin Oaks stated that he did not mind being called a Mormon, but did not want to be referred to as belonging to the "Mormon Church." At the same time, the First Presidency issued an official decree urging Church members to use the official name or abbreviations that included the name of Jesus Christ.

In 2011, Elder Boyd Packer said, "It's one thing for others to call this Church Mormon and us Mormons, and quite another for us to call it that."

Six months later, Elder Russell Ballard, who today serves as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, declared that the title "Mormon" was acceptable. At the same time, he urged that the term "Mormon Church" be avoided.

“It is by this name [(full name of the Church, approx. translator)] The Lord will call us on the last day. It is this name that will distinguish His Church from the rest,” stated Elder Ballard.

He revisited the topic in 2014, additionally urging the term "LDS Church" to be avoided.

Today, with President Nelson and President Oaks in the First Presidency, and President Ballard as the head of the Twelve, this topic is once again relevant. President Nelson emphasized that this time the Church would do its best to approve the use of an official name.

Updated style guide

The Mormon News website notes the following points:

• When first mentioning the Church, it is preferable to use its full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• When abbreviated reference is needed, the terms "Church" or "Church of Jesus Christ" are recommended. The term "restored Church of Jesus Christ" is also accurate and recommended.
• The term "Mormon Church" has long been applied to the Church by the media, but it is not an official name and the Church does not recommend its use. Therefore, the use of the abbreviation "LDS" and the epithet "Mormon" as an abbreviation for the Church should be avoided. The expressions "Mormon Church", "LDS Church", and "Church of the Latter Day Saints" are undesirable.
• When referring to members of the Church, the terms "members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and "Latter-day Saints" are preferred. We ask you not to use the term "Mormons".
• The word "Mormon" and its derivatives are appropriate in proper names, such as "Book of Mormon," or in historical expressions, such as "Mormon Road."
• The term "Mormonism" is a misnomer and should not be used. When describing the doctrine, culture, and lifestyle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the precise term “the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” should be preferred.
• When referring to individuals and organizations that practice plural marriage, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be identified as not affiliated with groups that practice polygamous marriages.

Priest's response:

The so-called Church of Jesus Christ, in reality, has nothing to do with the real Church. This is a totalitarian sect founded in 1979 in Boston (USA) by Protestant pastor Thomas (Kip) McKean. This sect founded its branches in many countries outside of America, including in Kyrgyzstan.

In its doctrinal doctrines, the church of Christ differs little from other Protestant movements, with the exception of one element: the system, the so-called mentorship. Its essence lies in the fact that "Christ was obedient to God the Father until death on the cross", which means that every Christian must be absolutely obedient to his spiritual mentor. The system of mentorship in the church of Christ is structured as follows. The person who converts you on the street and invites you to the meetings of this church becomes your mentor from that moment on. Now you will be obliged, under his guidance and supervision, not only to learn the doctrinal doctrines of the sect, but also to coordinate with him all aspects of your personal life: with whom to be friends, how to spend your free time (which now, as a rule, will not be), where to go to study who to marry, and so on. Your mentor reports to a more authoritative mentor, such as the leader of a Scripture study circle (the grassroots level of the organization). The leaders of the Conversations are under the direction of the evangelists, and those under the direction of the elders. And so - to the very end, to a small group of people who surround Kip McKean himself, and whom he grazes himself. At the top of this pyramid is McKean himself, who has no mentor. "To disobey a mentor means to disobey Christ himself" - says the fundamental principle of the sect. As a result, an authoritarian regime is created, in which the actions of each adherent of the sect are strictly controlled, and a single type of character and behavior is formed: everyone becomes little piles of makkins. There is a kind of spiritual cloning going on. It is in this principle of discipleship that the totalitarianism of the Church of Christ is expressed.

A mentoring system emerged among evangelical movements in the West in the middle of the 20th century. But over time, most evangelicals rejected it, for it began to bear the appropriate fruit. For example, an article published in 1990 in an evangelical magazine stated:

The movement quickly became elitist and exclusivist. At the core was the belief that every "sheep" should be accountable to a "shepherd." Thus, all the "sheep" were assigned to the "shepherds", many of whom were young, immature, often extremely self-confident and, moreover, filled with pride because of the newfound authority. The result was multiple catastrophes and indescribable tragedies. At the whim of the "shepherd" families had to move from city to city. Churches were divided... Critics cited numerous examples of "pastors" demanding their "sheep" to ask their permission for every meeting with a loved one, for changing jobs, and, indeed, for any act that they were about to undertake.

In the same magazine, the pastor, who had previously been one of the prominent mentors, wrote:

Mentoring was a mistake. I repent. I apologize... Discipling was an unhealthy submission that resulted in perverted and unbiblical obedience to human leaders... For the wounds and humiliations I have caused to many, I repent with deep sorrow and ask for forgiveness...

Indeed, in the real, historical Church of Christ - Orthodoxy, the practice of eldership exists to this day. But only a few can become real mentors, people who have conquered their passions, experienced in spiritual life, who have received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit from God. As a rule, these are monks, and there are very few novices who completely surrender to their leadership. But the devil is the ape of God, as Saint Basil the Great said. He only plays ape, distorts what the Lord has established in His Church, and thereby brings harm and death to the deceived.

The Church of Christ in Boston once allowed renowned psychologist Dr. Flavill Yeakley to psychologically test its members, unaware of what would come of it. The result was such that they greatly regretted it: 95 percent of the sect members experienced a sharp change in personality. The essence of these changes is this. There are innate character traits that do not change - for example, extraversion or introversion, rationality or intuition, prudence or impulsiveness. This in itself is neither good nor bad. However, if these fundamental properties of character suddenly begin to change, for a person this turns into the most negative consequences: nervous breakdowns, depressions, neuroses and, ultimately, suicide.

Starting his research, Dr. Yeakley expected that the distribution of adherents according to psychological personality types would more or less correspond to the percentage in society. To his surprise, he found that the sect had a very high percentage of personality changes, with a tendency towards one type of personality. And the longer the “experience” of the sectarian was, the more likely it was that he would be in this particular personality group. The study has irrefutably proved that it is the innate, stable personality traits that change in the members of the Church of Christ, which, in principle, cannot change (for example, sanguine people usually do not become melancholic, etc.). However, according to the results of the same testing, they changed among Scientologists, members of Moon's church, Hare Krishnas and other sectarians. This gives strong personal mental shifts, which often lead to serious illnesses and disorders, not to mention the fact that they create additional difficulties for the rehabilitation of those members of sects who return to normal life.

Yeakley writes:

The results of the psychological examination...conclusively prove that some reason causes the members of the church of Christ to give up their innate psychological type and trying to imitate someone else... There is something in the mentoring methodology that produces this unhealthy development. Whatever it is, it must be eliminated... They cannot deny that all psychological types disappear and are transformed into one specific type. They cannot deny that members are being reshaped in the image of a single group norm. They cannot deny that this personal abuse is derived from the mentoring methodology.

One must be ready to assist in the rehabilitation of many former sectarians who, due to their participation in the movement, will be severely traumatized, both psychologically and spiritually. It is most likely that these problems will develop when the young people in this movement reach the middle of life. Psychological type falsification (an attempt to change your personality and make you take on the personality of another person) leads to a major mid-life crisis. As a result, there will be serious problems: complete emptiness, deep depressions and a whole bunch of other psychological and spiritual problems, which will be very difficult to resolve.

As you can see, dear Natalya, the Church of Christ is a very dangerous sect, entry into which can cause significant psychological harm to a person, not to mention the issues of a saving relationship with God and the acquisition of eternal life, which in a sect divorced from the true Church, it is not possible to realize.