Mormonism For Dummies

by Jana Riess, Christopher Kimball Bigelow

Overview

Get the facts on temples, tithing, missions, and caffeine

Mormon doctrines, rituals, and history, demystified at last!

Mormonism, or the LDS Church, is one of the world's fastest growing religions. But unless you were raised a Mormon, you probably don't have a clear picture of LDS beliefs and practices. Covering everything from Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to tithing and family home evening, this friendly guide will get you up to speed in no time.

Discover:
* How the LDS Church differs from other Christian churches
* What Mormons believe
* What happens in Mormon temples and meetinghouses
* The history of the LDS Church
* LDS debates on race, women, and polygamy

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764571954
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	02/25/2005
Series:	For Dummies Books
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	676,485
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jana Riess, PhD, has a doctorate in American religious history and is religion book review editor at Publishers Weekly. Christopher Kimball Bigelow is a writer and editor. Both are Mormons.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: What the Mormon Faith Is All About 7

Chapter 1: A New World Religion 9

Chapter 2: The Mormon Plan of Salvation 21

Chapter 3: Heavenly Parents, Savior, and Holy Ghost 41

Chapter 4: Restoring the Priesthood and the Church 59

Chapter 5: Together Forever: The Eternal Importance of Family 73

Part II: Eternal Rituals and Endless Meetings 89

Chapter 6: Welcome to the Meetinghouse! 91

Chapter 7: Sacred, Not Secret: Inside Mormon Temples 113

Chapter 8: In and around Church Headquarters 131

Part III: Holy Books and Sacred History 149

Chapter 9: The Bible and the Book of Mormon 151

Chapter 10: Mormonism’s Other Scriptures 171

Chapter 11: Searching for a Home 185

Chapter 12: Moving on to Utah with Brigham Young 199

Chapter 13: Building the Kingdom in Utah 213

Part IV: Mormonism Today 229

Chapter 14: Called to Serve: Missionaries and International Growth 231

Chapter 15: Hot-Button Issues for Mormons 251

Chapter 16: Sacrificing on Earth to Receive Blessings in Heaven 271

Chapter 17: Connecting with God and Each Other 291

Chapter 18: In the World but Not of the World 307

Part V: The Part of Tens 325

Chapter 19: Ten Famous Mormons 327

Chapter 20: Quick Answers to Ten Common Questions About Mormonism 333

Chapter 21: Ten Mormon Places to Visit 341

Index 349