The Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days is allocated among all the religious cults and sects operating in the United States, its extremely amazing story, which it would be nice to know by all the American continent's religion.

Mormons, as they are most often called, are divided into two main groups - the church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days with the Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the reorganized church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints with the Center in Independence, Missouri. Today, more than a month and a half after the basis of this movement, the number of Mormons exceeded 5.3 million, they are large shares holders in the agricultural and industrial potential of America, they are vigorously engaged in many types of missionary ministry and rival with evangelical Christianity. The first group, which we mainly talk about this chapter, claims that by April 1983 there have been more than 5.1 million members.

The reorganized church has more than 200 thousand members around the world, and in some parts of the world, it even achieved recognition as "Sect Fundamentalism".

Reorganized (Missuria) Church, which denies the word "Mormon" itself, is only briefly described in this chapter, but it does not doubt that she won strong positions in recent decades and includes zealous ministers who are constantly annoying the church in Utah, pointing to Decisions of the courts that it is the true Mormon Church that is the Mormon Church, and the Church in Yut is simply a split.

Since its foundation, the Mormon Church was characterized by prosperity, zeal and an amazing missionary spirit. Before the beginning of World War II, more than two thousand of its missionaries have made efforts in the activities, multilateral ministry around the world. In the post-war, Mormons actively and everywhere expanded propaganda and today they have more than 26 thousand active missionaries in their ranks.

Joseph Smith - American False Urod, Founder of the Pseudochrystian Sect "Church of Jesus Christ of the Line Days" (Mormons)

However, the extreme missionary activity is explained by the interesting fact that the Mormon Church is focused on the most gifted young people, young men at the age of nineteen and girls aged twenty-one, calling them to devote two years of their lives to missionary service without material support of the Church. In some cases, parents help young people during these two years, but it is important to see that approximately once in a half months from seventy to the ninety-male men and women join the path of such activities. The number of Mormons increases with almost 200 thousand almost 200 thousand, and the birth rate among Mormons is about 28.1 people per thousand (while the average birth rate in the United States is 15.9 per thousand). Mormon's growth since 1900 is amazing. 1900 - 268.331; 1910 - 393.437; 1920 - 526.032; 1930 - 672.488; 1940 - 862.664; 1950 - 1.111.314; 1960 - 1.693.180; 1970 - 2.930.810; 1980 - 4.633.000.

In accordance with the teachings of Mormon, they should contain their body in the best condition, be careful in terms of tobacco use, alcohol, and even tea, coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages up to Coca-Cola. The Mormon Church strictly demands from all of its members to obey the Old Testament Command on Tith, with the result that in 1982, for example, donations of the church amounted to approximately $ 2 billion, which is completely grand for such a relatively small organization. For example, in April 1978 Reader "S Digest published an advertisement about church events on eight pages, the first of which, by 12 million dollars, was addressed to about fifty million readers of the journal. In 1975, Associated Press appreciated the income of this church at least in Three million per day, and 60% of this fee is not taxed.

The reader must remember that Mormons make prettily investing this money - to strengthen their church, becoming the owners of a rapidly growing amount of real estate used on commercial and church needs. "Saints" now have more than twenty active temples, which will soon be addressed about twenty under construction or designed on all continents of the Earth. Mormon University of Brigh Yanga is proud of the fact that 27 thousand students live in two university towns.

Based on the donations of his zealous, focused on the missionary activities of the members who profess the practical religion of "good deeds" and righteous life, Mormons spend millions of dollars every year to spread the teachings of their main prophets of Joseph Smith and Brigh Yang among any listeners, regardless of their church affiliation.

In addition to the regular tith, the Church of Mormons calls for the so-called "donations from the post." This unusual practice suggests that on the first Sunday of each month, the members of the church, instead of three times, eat only one, and the resulting amount gives churches as a voluntary contribution to the support of those in need and starving.

Since the formation is highly appreciated among Mormons, it is highly not surprising that they launched a system of introductory and theoretical courses for university students and colleges that covered more than 300 thousand people. The church has more than fifty schools outside the United States, most of which are located in Mexico or in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean.

Mormonism is thus not just a cult that appeals to the uneducated layers of the population, as the most part of Jehovah's Witnesses. The emphasis on education leads to an abundance of propaganda literature, which comes out from under printed machines to several millions of copies annually. Mormons are famous for the construction of chapels and temples. Temples are used for the weddings "in heaven", the baptism of dead and other rituals with the souls of the dead (only in 1982 about 4.5 million sacred rites were held over the dead). The temples are forbidden to enter the pagans (so Mormons are called nemmones), temples are unique structures, usually extremely refined in architecture and decoration.

Along with exacerbate attention to education, the sphere of religious activities of Mormons includes sports, hobbies, dramatic activities, music, home-generating courses for future wives, dances and theatrical festivals. The Mutual Improvement Association is a sponsor of a huge number of similar cases, literally thousands of thousands of dance and other events intended to attract and entertain young people. Mormons dances begin with prayer and ends with any hymn singing. Mormons use everything that a person in the desire to make the church is truly the second home for children and young people. The lack of child crime is an amazing feature of Mormons and testifies to their successes, in the center of which is church work.

However, the statistics of Utah, where at least 70% of Mormons live, shows that the level of divorces, ill-treatment of children, adolescent pregnancies and suicides there above the national level and tends to increase.

Being an example of how the missionary work is important, the "Choir of the Mormon" chorus has become known to all radio listeners. It has 350 choreists, in its repertoire 810 anthem.

He recently noted the fiftieth anniversary of the radio. Those who want to reset Mormons with accounts as a little influential in the United States, not bad it would be necessary to remember that among celebrities listed in the reference book "Who in America", Mormons have more followers than any other religion. The same refers to honorary scientific societies in our country. Mormons leaders have an impact of almost all the steps of American power. The most prominent of them is the former secretary of agriculture, Taft Benson, one of the twelve apostles, heading Mormon Church. Secretary-treasurer David Kennedy (using the employees of his office as a Plenipotentiary Representative of the Church), State Treasurers Angela Buchenan and Ivey Baker Priest, secretary for the formation of terrel Bell, former Governor Michigan George Romney, Marine Representative S. Ecchange, Three Ambassadors of the United States in Scandinavia, A dozen of American senators, not to mention others, disperse doubts about the influence of this organization. Mormons are indeed a considerable political and public strength with which it is necessary to be considered.

Historical Overview

Church organization

The organizational and general government of the Mormon Church is carried out by the Committee of the "General Authorities". He headed his first presidency, consisting of the 88-year-old "prophet" of Spencer V. Kimball (now I was changed by Gordon B. Hinckley - approx. Per.) And two assistants. The presidency helps the Council of the Twelve Apostles. The first quorum of the seventy and his presidency, as well as the "governing bishopath" and the Patriarch of the Church. All power is in the hands of Mormon's priesthood, which is divided into Aaronovo (younger) and Melchizedek (senior) and where every active male moron is among the age of twelve years.

Administratively, the Mormon Church consists of the territories divided into parishes and colas, and in the latter it comes from about five hundred and thousands of people.

At the head of each coming there is a bishop (Bishop) and two of his assistant. The parishes are united in cola, the Colat's president and two of his assistant, who, in turn, help the two assistants, who, in turn, help the twelve senior ministers, which are "Higher Cola Council." Today, as part of the Mormon Church, there are approximately 8,900 parishes, about 1.400 cocms, 2.000 branches and 180 missions. These structures form a powerful coalition that promotes mutual assistance among Mormons. It is worth mentioning that during the depression of 1929 "Joint-Stock Company" Mormon felt pretty confident, so few Mormons experienced a shortage of life benefits.

Mormons continue to treat their missionary activities with great zeal. Their missionaries know dogmatics well, they constantly quote the Bible, and many true Christians, unfortunately, have to be silent under the pressure of the survey and well-read students of Joseph Smith and Brigh Yang, who create the illusion of the ideal knowledge of the writings before the Christians who did not receive the wishes that are amazed and amazed by their arguments.

Like most of the cults, Mormonism survived the era of persecution and persecution, but, unlike many other cults that prefer the saying, "who will remember the old one," Mormons tried to protect their prophets, which put them not once in a predicising position.

Usually mormons are inherent in sound moral qualities. Basically, they are friendly, almost always hospitable, are extremely devoted to their family and the teachings of their church. But, unfortunately, the vast majority of Mormons almost nothing knows about the foggy historical and theological purposes of their religion. Sometimes they are clearly amazed when they open their eyes to the unattractive and completely non-Christian foundations of their church. This little-known face of Mormonism is the revolving side of the coin that numerous historians of Mormons either hid from people, or distorted in an attempt to reflect the indisputable and unpleasant evidence of history. It is these testimonies that the author will consider this for readers to have a complete picture of the religion of Joseph Smith.

The story of early Mormonov

The seeds who later brought the fruit in the form of Mormon religion, sprouted in the head of Joseph Smith Jr., "Prophet", which was more famous for the residents of Palmyra, New York, in 1816 just like Joe Smith.

He was born in Sharon, Vermont, December 23, 1805 and was the fourth child in Lucy and Joseph Smith. The entry of the future of the Mormon prophet into the world was marked by two historical "blows" on him in the form of his father and circumstances.

Joseph Smith-Sr. was a mysticism, he spent most of his life in search of imaginary treasures, having a special addiction to the legendary adventures of Captain Kidda. In addition, he was sometimes launched in cash frauds, which at least once introduced him to a conflict with local authorities. This fact, of course, is well known to any informed person who studies Mormons, and he emerged into the light in the testimony of the Honorary judge Daniel Watch from the court in the County Windsor, Vermont, the former neighbor of the Smith family. The judge of the puzzle later witnessed in Historical Magazine in 1870 that Smith-Sr. was clearly hunting for treasures and "also entered into conspiracy with some Jack Downing with a fake money," but managed to avoid punishment.

The mother of the future of the Prophet is to the same extent as her husband, became the product of his era and the environment, being extremely religious and believing in the most banal prejudices. Lucy Smith released a "authorized" book under the title "Biographical sketches of Joseph Smith and his ancestors in many generations."

However, the book published by the Church of Mormons in Liverpool, England, the book was exposed to the angry condemnation of Brigh Yang, the nearest comrades of Smith, who essentially banned it, pointing to "numerous errors clarifying that" if someone thinks to publish these sketches, then you must first carefully check ".

I could not have any speech so that Mrs. Smith was engaged in such work and instead of the author-the ghost became Mrs. Corey, who diligently recorded everything that became later known as the "History of Joseph Smith, told by his mother." In the course of the narration, we will concern this work, as well as personal memories of Joseph Smith Jr. Now we simply mention that the Mormon Church and the mother of Smith himself had differences against the family life of the prophet, its origin and religious habits.

Now I come back to the central figure, Joseph Smith Junior. 1820 was destined to be the year of the vocation of the Prophet to the ministry, since it was then that the wonderful vision was, in which God-Father and God-son materialized and turned to the young Smith when he was diligently prayed in the forest near the house.

The Prophet outlined in detail what happened in his book "Precious Pearl" (Joseph Smith, History 1: 1-25), where he said that two of these "personalities", not entirely approvingly by the Christian Church, and for this reason and about the world, They pointed out the need to revive true Christianity and allegedly elected him, Joseph Smith Jr. as a proclaimer of the new era.

It is interesting to notice that the vision did not enter into the life of Joseph Smith any noticeable changes, since he continued to search for treasures along with his father and brother, which was set asked to spread the treasures of Captain Kidd, following the instructions of the magic stones, magic wands or just his own desire.

Magic stones are, as expected, miraculous stones, which, if they put them in a hat and cover from light, depict the lost objects or sword treasures. And the magic rods are branches that themselves turn towards gold, water, etc.

History tells that Smith's family did not succeed in success in this painful and painstaking treasure pursuit, but numerous rsiva in the vicinity of Vermont and New York irrefutably testify to a disorderly attempt to dig something.

In the subsequent years, the "Prophet" was extremely regretted about these ridiculous expeditions of his youth and even writing in writing that he had ever rinsed the treasures.

Somehow Joseph Smith himself said: "In October 1825, I was hired to one old gentleman named Iosiya Stool, who lived in Chanango, New York. He glanced something about the silver sfs of the Spaniards in Harmony, the County of Sabryanna, Pennsylvania. Before working with me, he already tried to find this copy. When I moved to him, he turned me on the number of his workers engaged in search of silver kines. I worked about a month without achieving success, and in the end we decided to refuse Attempts. Here's from here, a very common story appeared about that I was engaged in treasure. "

This may be enough to explain the full failure of the prophet in search of treasures to those people who are true to him and nonstores in history, but those who know the facts immediately becomes clear that Joseph Smith has been able to play with the truth if not to say Worse, for in fact it often it turned out that there are no truths in his words. The main source of the skeptic attitude towards the seizures of the Prophet, however, there is no little, as in the records of Lucy Smith itself, his mother, which sets the course of the same events as follows: "Stole himself came to Joseph, hearing that he could see hidden for Human eye things "(Linn, The Story of the Mormons, p. 16).

Other evidence in addition to the words of Mrs. Smith (that is, the most reliable), undoubtedly prove that the Prophet suffered by Mania "Magic Stones" and personally engaged in excavations, holding countless treasure search expeditions, Joseph proclaimed that supernatural forces help him in these searches.

To remove any doubt of the reader regarding the chase of Smith for the treasures and the use of "magic stones", we will quote the three most reliable sources, which, in our opinion, will dispel any doubts that Smith considered a stamp all who knew him personally. It should also be remembered that Joseph Smith-senior in an interview published in Historical Magazine in May 1870, he clearly said that the Prophet in his youth was an enthusiast of magic stones, a cemetery and, moreover, he predicted fate and found lost objects with the help of these Magic stones using their supernatural power.

The testimony of Joseph's father about his rather strange activity is supported by the testimony of Rev. Dr. John Clark, who mentioned that Smith's family "carefully studied" all the surroundings.

"Long before their consciousness penetrated the idea of \u200b\u200bthe" Golden Bible ", Joe was usually the instigator in search of the money buried in the earth. He put a special stone in his hat, which showed him where to dig" (Gleanings by The Way, 1842, p. 225).

The materials of the trial of March 20, 1826 "New York against Joseph Smith" indicate that Smith had a "a certain species of the stone, which he had looked from time to time to determine where the treasures were buried in the bowels ... and several Once wanted Mr. Stool. " Therefore, the court ruled that the defendant is guilty of the masonry.

Joseph Smith Jr. in 1820 announced a heavenly vision in which he was named the Prophet, anointed Lord for serving in a new epoch, but the appearance of Angela Moroni, who shocked the bed Smith and putting the beginning of Joe's epopea with the ghostly "gold sheets", the text of which became Subsequently, the Book of Mormon, refers only by 1823.

In accordance with the story of Smith himself about this extraordinary revelation, which is recorded in the "precious pearl" (Joseph Smith, History 1: 29-54), Angel Moroni, the famous son of a kind of Mormon, a person named the famous book, appeared before the bed Joseph and three times repeated his revelation a shocked treasure hunter. Smith did not write anywhere on what happened for several years, but even this does not explain the contradictions that he made in the retelling of the words angel. This contradiction is mainly found in the early editions of the "precious pearls", where the former Moroni is already called the Messenger, and even later Joseph with an equal degree of prophetic confidence calls this Messenger Nephi, a completely different face from the Book of Mormon! This is an offensive discrepancy in the "Divine Revelation" system later was eliminated by therapy mormon correspondencers, which showed a great diligence in order to get rid of all historical and actual inaccuracies, difficult in the writings of Smith, Yang and other early Mormons.

In the modern editions, both "revelations" converge on what the Moroni is called the "Heavenly Bulletin", and the Mormons themselves do not see a special difference in Tom, Nephi or Moroni gave Smith Revelation.

In 1827, Smith proclaimed that he found gold sheets, on which, as he said, Mormon's book was recorded. Soon after this historic find on the Kumor Hill near Palmyra, New York, Smith began to translate the hieroglyphs of the "changed Egyptian language", on which this book was written using "Urim and Tummim", something like miraculous glasses, which Prudant Angel Moroni Supplied by the new Vodentza Smith. Later we will touch the work of Smith on the "translation" of these sheets and the difficulties that Martin Harris faced, his wife and Professor Charles Anton, a famous scientist. Now we will continue the story about the events, the essence of which is quite obvious to anyone who is well familiar with the qualities of the character of Joseph Smith. Transferring Egyptian language does not exist, according to all the leading Egyptologists and philologists, to which they appealed to this issue. However, Mormons themselves do not doubt its existence.

When Joseph was busy with the transfer of sheets (1827-1829), a certain Oliver Kauderi, a wonderful school teacher, met with Smith in the house of his father-in-law (Iosifa of Joseph for the sake of his daughter) and accepted the religion of the prophet, becoming soon one of the "scribes" recorded with The words of Joseph Translation from the sheets, although he never seen these sheets himself. Over time, Smith and Oliver became real friends, and the process of "translation" and spiritual zeal reached such heights that on May 15, 1829, heaven could no longer hold his joy and Peter, Jacob and John sent by John the Baptist to the inconspicuous state of Pennsylvania with an urgent order Anoint Joe and Oliver on Aaronovo Priesthood.

This is a wonderful event described in the "precious pearl" (Joseph Smith, History, 1: 68-73). It is not difficult to guess that then Oliver baptized Joe, and Joe Oliver. They blessed each other and predicted events that "soon are coming."

Prudant Smith did not extend to prophecies, since the prophecies of Mormons were usually not performed at the outlined time, and, apparently, this is explained by Smith's secrecy in the presentation of the details. From the blessed state of Pennsylvania, who found the immortality to the anointing of Smith to the priesthood of Aaron by the John the Baptist, Joe returned to the house of Peter Witmer to Fietht, New York, where he remained, until he finished "Translation" of sheets and the Book of Mormon was not published Under copyright protection in 1830. The sixth of April of the same year, the prophet in the company of Hyrum and Samuel's brothers, Oliver Kauderi, David and Peter Witmer Jr. officially registered the "New Religious Society" titled "Church of Christ" (later renamed the Church of the Latter Day and in the end of the church Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints). This is how Mormonism received the beginning, one of the most infectious cults of America.

After that, the "significant" event "Prophet" convened on June 1, 1830, a conference attended by 30 people. There were planned plans for missionary activities and ordained new elders who went to serve to the Indians. In August 1830, Mormonism has been facing an active preacher Parley Pratt, and in September Sidney Rigdon, a very strong Campbellite preacher from Ohio, "received enlightenment" and drew his congregation to the merit religion, which became the beginning of the release of Mormons outside the states of New York and Pennsylvania.

Sydney Rigdon and Pratt Pattern, it should be noticed since the very moment of their "appeal" were doomed to fame in the Mormon hierarchy, as well as Oron Pratt, and it is their essays along with the works of Yang, Orson Pratta, Charles Penrose and James Telmidge to this day are used Mormons as fundamental. The roles of Sydney Rigdon in the fate of Mormons we will touch later, now I just note that he was subsequently accused of apostasy and left Mormon's church mainly for the sermon read in 1833 in Jackson County, Missouri.

Reading the sermon, Rigdon in the attack of the incendiary eloquence fell against the inhabitants of the county, in fact giving the reason to the whole state to start the war with the "holy", which subsequently suffered cruel persecution and were expelled from the state in November 1833.

Of course, the incitement of the retail did not particularly contribute to the elevation of Sydney among his associates by faith, and the preaching of Sitney himself was called "Sidney's salted preaching" for the fact that her place was put on Matthew, where the salt would have lost strength. The crushing criticism of the "Prophet" Smith "from the inside" is a magnificent sample of explicit differences, which should be known about everyone who is inclined to deify the dubious qualities of the first Prophet of Mormon.

Shortly after communication to Fietht, Mormons made their center Kirtland, Ohio, where in 6 years their number reached 16 thousand. It is from Cyrtland Smith and Rigdon who tried to make a throw in Jackson county, Missouri. For Joseph and Sydney, the persecution was not new, however, here it came to attempt to pull them out in Natte and feathers, the punishment seemed that he would seem to have ever been in the summer. Missouri Smith bought a plot of 63 acres, the surroundings of his "sacred land", and outlined the exact place where, according to him, will eventually erected the temple of Zion, the earthly throne of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. It is curious to notice that one of the minor branches of Mormonism today owns this land and declares that one day it refused to supply the Church in Utah to buy this "holy place" for $ 5 million.

The first number of Zion appeared in the Kirtland, the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was chosen, led by the first presidency of three, headed by President Joseph Smith. The main reason for the move to Ohio was the extreme unpopularity of Smith and his revelations among the well-known people who considered his religion to fake and did not give hopes for "appeal." Smith, of course, enlisted the "revelation" of God to change the place where the center of the Church is located.

From 1831 to 1844, the "Prophet", as he claims, received more than 135 direct revelations from God, who helped build Kirtland, and later the capital of Mormons in Novu, Illinois. The infamous practice of Smith's polygamy was established in Kirtland and was confirmed later by "Divine Revelation". Sometimes, the unreleased people say that Smith was not a polygamy, but then they should get acquainted with the famous Veri collection in the Public Library of New York, the plump volumes of the primary sources of which claim to be reversed, and they were written by Mormons of both sexes who lived like a similar life and frankly He testified to the breakdown of Smith and the tops of the Mormon Church.

Gradually, of course, the polygamine relations were leaked to the entire Church of Mormons, so the government of the United States had to threaten the church with a complete deprivation of her property and the dissolution to stop a widely rooted practice.

In 1890, Vilford Woodraff officially abolished polygamy as the practice of Mormon's Church, thereby having sacrificed the religious beliefs of Mormons for their political and economic survival, and this fact becomes increasingly the subject of discussion among modern Mormons.

But the fact remains a fact. In Kirtland, Novu, Jackson County, Mormons used the opportunity to turn to the merracy of the lost people to the religion, to which rumors had not yet come about the qualities of the Prophet. In New York, Smith gave the most unattractive characteristics that partly had a consequence of acquaintance with the qualities of his character. Different tactker in his classic work "The emergence, formation and development of mormonism" (New York, 1867) collected a number of properly recorded evidence of the neighbors of the Smith family and especially familiar Joseph Smith Jr. According to the unanimous assessment of the witnesses of that time, Joseph Smith Jr. was known for the "habit of exaggeration and insincerity ... due to the extravagancy of his statements to his word, they treated with the less confidence, the more they knew him. He could express the most obvious fiction or fancy absurdity with The most serious expression of the face (p. 16). One of the most interesting evidence of the youth of Joseph Jr. was given by E. D. Khou, his contemporary, who conducted ambitious studies during the life of Joseph, which could not be evidenced by no one historian Mormonov. Smith did not dare to answer the arguments of Hou, although they were known to him, the power of the contemporary testimonies was so great. Khou filed a document signed by sixty-two Palmyra, New York, from which no serious researcher of Mormons could be dismissed:

We, below, were familiar with the Smith family for a number of years, when they lived nearby, and we declare without oscillations that we consider them deprived of moral qualities that could call them the confidence of society. They were especially famous for their illusory projects, a lot of time was spent on excavations of treasures, which, in their opinion, were buried in the ground, and to this day, next to their home, traces of their permanent searches for hidden treasures were preserved. Joseph Smith-Senior and His Son Joseph were particularly different from moral qualities and commitment to vicious habits.

Perhaps someone will say, reading it that dishonestly listen to only one side. It is necessary to know what people who relate to Mormons think. The answer is a curious fact that there are no reliable evidence of people who are personally acquainted with the family of Smith and Joseph, and there are only the wisdom of Mormon's chroniclers who cast their insightful gaze on events of centenary years and able to seriously challenge the evidence of the neighbors, the testa of Joseph and Many people who have broken with Mormonism who knew what was happening and imprinting facts that were not refuted by Mormonov's historians.

As Mormons grew and flourished in Novu, Illinois, and their practice of polygamy became known in the Mormon mill and beyond the distrust of the prophet Smith, especially after one of his former assistants, John Bennet, openly spoke Practice of polygamy in Novu. When the Prophet (or "General", as he loved to be called on this stage, his career was not able to tolerate all the growing criticism and tried to apply the strength against the AntiMonovsky publication called the "Observer Novu", intervened by Illinois. "Prophet" and his brother Khairuma were put in jail at Kartaga, Illinois, before the court over them for robbery in the editorial office of the Observer, however, on June 27, 1844, a crowd from two hundred people put a prison at Kartage and severely dealt with Smith and his brother Hyirum By visiting a clearly not wanting the prophet to premature a halo of a martyr, thereby providing him with the title of true "Providen" in the annals of the history of Mormon.

After the murder of Joseph Smith, the overwhelming majority of Mormons moved to Brayema \u200b\u200bYang, who was then 43 years old and who had already led Mormons to the time of the Mormon's safe place from the furious inhabitants of Missouri. In 1846, Young announced that the "saints" will remain and Novu. In 1847. After the painful transition through the deserts of the southwest, Young led the first group of Mormons in the valley of the Great Salt Lake and the exclamation "Here!" Sloped the fate of "saints". They were in the place, which later became the staff of Utah.

Brian Young led the Church of Mormons for more than thirty years and in the tradition of the preserved today, inherited the first prophet intended by God. And after him, every president of Mormonov enjoyed the same authority that Joseph Smith and Briem Young - according to the constant prophetic continuity. "Sign", which forced Mormons to feel himself owners of the valley of the Greater Salt Lake, was given to them in June 1848, when the first harvest of Mormons was saved from the invasion of the locust for clutching chasing. So, according to Mormon's teachings, God clearly witnessed its favor to the Church of the Latter Day.

We will not consider the life of Mormon in Briem Young in all details than noticeably reduce this book, but only note that Smith gave the initial impetus, while during Briem Yang it gained the necessary power to be considered a "decent" religion. Yang itself was a multifaceted person, and it is impossible to understand the theology of Mormonism, it is not knowing what the identity of the "prophet" of Yang and his teaching was huge. Smith and Young Chape, with subsequent presidents, formed modern theology of Mormonov, but it should not be properly learned, not knowing anything about Brayem Young.

Young was a man of indomitable courage, not deprived of tricks, subject to the attacks of cruelty, which Mormon historians do not intentionally remember. One of the manifestations of his zeal in the desire to subjugate the Utah was an order to destroy more than a hundred nemmonic immigrants, known now as a shameful "murder on mountain meadows." For reasons known only to Him, Young entrusted the bishop John Lee in 1857 to destroy the train with obviously helpless migrants that the bishop of Lee had devotedly and for twenty years later was taken into custody, judgment and executed by the government of the United States as a dirty manifestation of totalitarianism.

In his decent attention, the book "Recognition of John Lee", remaining Lesoma for the eye in the historical buildings of Mormon, whether he recognized his role in this atrocity, but he swore that he acted on the orders of Brayem Yang. The testimony of Himself and some of his assistants involved in mass murder, irrefutably indicate the leading role of Yang. As the theology of Mormons study, we will see what did not contradict the nature of Yang. He was a law in Utah, but, as wise saying says, "the government corrupts, and the full government corrupts completely."

Today's Mormonism is far from many principles and installations of its founders. But undoubtedly, he retains their major dogmas, although, as in the case of polygamy, when these norms came to a conflict with state regulations or political ambitions, the "Saints of the last days" wisely ignored (or, as they usually say, "rethought") Note two first prophets.

The history of Mormons is extensive and complicated. This is a truly labyrinth of the work, testimony, testimony under oath, photos, rumors, opinions, and the true picture is evaporated only after a long analysis of the evidence of contemporaries. To ordinary Mormons can not be referred without sympathy and attention. They are mostly sincere, generous and diligently both in confession and in the dissemination of their faith.

You can only regret that they accepted a carefully edited "history" of the origin and development of Mormonism, instead of paying attention to sources that do not simply contradict, but completely refute their historical reconstruction. It should be hoped that I get acquainted with how the drama of Mormonism was unfolded and what is his essence, the reader will follow the evolution of Mormonism and the mistake of the Gospel of Joseph Smith and Brigh Yang. The story carried a verdict, condemning "gospel" from Mormons, especially that the authors of which were Smith and Young. There is an extensive documentation that the majority of Mormons ignores, but the facts are even more stubborn than Mormons.

Theology of Mormamism

New Revelation - "Bible" Mormonov

Along with the English translation of the Bible "King Yakov", which Mormons admit part of the Word of God everywhere, where she is "correctly translated", they include in their canon "Teaching and Covenants", "precious pearl" and the Book of Mormon, calling all this "True Scripture ". In this chapter, the Book of Mormon will be considered, since it takes a stem position in theology of Mormons and their history.

A huge number of research on the Book of Mormon has already been published, and I tried to rely as much as possible on the documented information available to me. Define the authenticity of information is not the lungs, so I chose only the accuracy of which was not subject to question and which is available today in leading scientific institutions - in Stanford University, theological seminary of the Union, in the Department of Research of the Congress Library, in the New York Public Library and others). To give a complete overview of the complex structure of the Book of Mormon is difficult, and I urge readers to get acquainted with other studies on this issue if it interests them.

History of ancient people

The Book of Mormon claims to be a life-in-the-ancient peoples of the American continent. According to Mormonov, the first of these peoples left the construction of the Babylonian Tower (about 2.250 years to R. X. In the calculation of Mormons), crossed into Europe and then reached the eastern coast of modern Central America. The second people, according to Mormons, left Jerusalem around B00 to R. X. Before his fall and the Babylonian captivity of Israel. According to Mormon's ideas, this group crossed the Pacific Ocean and landed on the west coast of South America. As for the Book of Mormon, it is a videos of major events from the history of these peoples. The author of the book is considered to be a prophet named Mormon. The book is a translation of the abbreviated text of the history of these civilizations and the history of Jaenedians, abbreviated by Moroni, the son of Mormon, taken from the annals of the Jaedo found during the second people.

The Jesredians were destroyed for their atrocities and punishment for apostasy. The second people, who arrived in America about 600 to R.H., consisted of righteous Jews, whom the leader headed by Nephi. This people eventually suffered the fate of the Jesredians. He was divided into two warring camps - nonfilas and Lamanians (Indians).

Lamanians were cursed for their sins, and the sign of this curse was their dark skin.

Mormon's chronicle says that Christ appeared to the American continent, opened himself to the Nephites, preached to them the gospel and made the commandment of baptism and communion. Nephites, unfortunately, changed righteousness more than Lamanians who were broken by the first in the battle of Kumor in about 385 by R.Kh.

And almost in fourteen centuries, according to Mormons, Joseph Smith Jr. Dipped the brief chronicle of Mormons, engraved with "corrected Egyptian hieroglyphs" on gold sheets, and with the help of "Urim and Tummim" (supernatural points) translated text from "corrected Egyptian" into English . So the Book of Mormon appeared, published in 1830, which carries the name of Joseph Smith Jr. as the "author and owner." There are four categories of sheets, the opening of which is attributed to Smith: (1) Nephi's sheets, (2) Mormon sheets, (3) Epher's sheets, (4) a group of sheets mentioned in the Book of Mormon as "Copper Sheets" or Lavana Sheets. Nephi's sheets contain mainly a secular history, although "Nephi's small sheets are filled with sacred scriptures." The second category of sheets is a reduction in Nefi's sheets made by Mormon, with the explanations of Mormon and the historical additions to his son Moroni.

The third category of sheets is the history of the Jesredians, also abbreviated by the weather, which, however, added its notes to it. They are known now as the book of Epher. The fourth sheet of sheets is considered brought from Jerusalem and is included in the form of passages to the Nephi chronicle. They replete quotes from Jewish Scriptures and pedigree.

It is assumed that Joseph Smith got sheets from Moroni's hands, "Risen from the Dead" in 1827.

The purpose of the "Book of Mormon"

Usually Christian theologians, archaeologists and anthropologists can not be in a sense, what are the goals of the Book of Mormon. The reason for this is a lot of difficulties that it represents in the light of the generally accepted facts. Nevertheless, we will look at how the Mormons themselves put out its task:

"The principle of divine and civil law is the situation:" With the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will be firmly "(2 Cor. 13: 1). The Bible, the history of the acts and providence of God regarding people on the Eastern Continent, is one witness of the truth. Book Mormon is another witness of the same level. She points to the providence of God in the main and extremely important case of redemption, as well as in general on the laws of nature and indicates that his presenter was not limited to the eastern world. "Love the world" (John 3: 16), not part of it, and in the same way about the people on a huge Western continent. The throne of powerful peoples, he experienced the dedication and care of his father. Specified (in the introduction) The purpose of the Book of Mormon is universal: testify to the world about the truth and divinity of Jesus Christ And his salvation through the gospel teacher. He missed the Judea and the pagan. The house of Israel rejected the Messiah and due to the fact that it was disregarded, scattered, and Rabels are overthrown. The benefit of the news, not adopted by him, was preached by the pagans. Israel has since remained in disbelief in Christ and. Without the help of God-framed people. Bible prophecies often talk about the revival of Israel in the last days of God's glory, about the association of Israel and the final arrangement in the ancient Motherland Palestine. The appearance of an unknown Book of Mormon was predicted by biblical prophecies, and she herself convincingly provides us with an additional revelation from God about the Messianism of Jesus Christ and about the covenants with the forefathers. It repeatedly predicts restoration, connection and other blessings of Israel. God Israel was to conclude a "New Testament" with this people - not the Old Moses covenant, but the other, late, on which he will rise like a nation in his Holy Land (see also Ier. 31:34; Iz. 20: 33-38 and etc. - the Bible predicts the same). The Book of Mormon offers the Old Testament Prophecies of the same Plan, arising them with the mouth of the elected people. She declares itself as part of the New Testament with Israel.

She quotes the poems of the 29th Head of Isaiah and interprets their hidden meaning. It indicates that as a result of her revelations, Israel will suit the awareness of Christ to save that Israel will cease to be afraid, but will acquire the safety and greatest blessing of the Divine Grace; That the result of her revelation will be the physical blessing of Palestine, redeemed from infertility to fertility, which can provide people as in antiquity. There is no doubt that after the appearance of this book, Palestine experienced a blessing. The earth is fruit. Jews are allowed to return and establish cities, develop industry and agriculture. Many Jews, in accordance with the prediction of this book, take Christ. Supporters of this book argue that the execution of the prophecies of this book cannot be the performance of any other prophecies. The book also tells that the remnants of the people who were once in ancient times are peoples scattered in Northern, Central and South America - coming to the light of the revelations of their ancestors will turn into faith and will receive a part in the covenant concluded with their forefathers. She speaks of their transition from primitive life to enlightenment. She proclaims that the pagans who took their land will know the grace of exit from the state of degeneration. That's just part of the tasks of this book.

The Gospel of the Holy Apostle John 10:16 contains the assertion of Jesus Christ, which leads to believers in the divinity of the Book of Mormon. He said: "I have other sheep, who are not from the yard, and those will give me to give: and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd." Renting the words of Christ, announced: "I am sent only to the dead sheep at the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24), they believe that since Jesus was not to the pagans, but "Salvation from Jews", or Israel (John 4:22 ), the promise of "other sheep" came true in the phenomenon of Christ Nephites.

Thus, for Mormons, the Bible itself predicts the appearance of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon interprets the Old Testament prophecies and proclaims itself with a part of the New Testament with Israel. She is also considered a "one more witness" the truth of the Christian Gospel. Unfortunately for Mormons, this witness often contradicts the Bible Revelation, as we will see later. The book undecusively elevates itself, being deprived of any internal testimony, supports on science or history, so consider it "part of the New Testament", to put it mildly. not seriously.

Certificates of science against the "Book of Mormon"

In an attempt to consolidate and substantiate the claims of the Book of Mormon, the highest authority of Mormonism, Joseph Smith Jr. made an attempt, which in case of luck would give the considerable weight of the conversations of Mormons relative to their "Bible". Fortunately it turned out that thanks to this act Smith, we have an important evidence of the proceedings over Mormonism.

Smith told how it was, in the book "Precious Pearl" (Joseph Smith - History 1: 62-64, ed. 1982), and with his story it is useful to familiarize themselves: "I started copying the hieroglyphs from the sheets. I recharged a significant amount of their number and I transferred some of them through Urim and Tummim ... Dr. Martin Harris came to us, I took the rewritten and went with him to New York. What happened later, I will tell on His own words after returning: "I came to New York and showed hieroglyphs with their translation to Professor Charles Enton, Mr., known for his literary knowledge. Professor Anton said that the translation is correct, more correctly than any other Dotole translation from Egyptian. Then I showed him not yet translated hieroglyphs, and he said that it was Egyptian, Chaldean, Assyrian and Arabic writing and genuine hieroglyphs " (Part 2, Art. 62-64).

So, by Joseph Smith, Martin Harris, his colleague, enlisted the positive feedback from the scientist of Professor Charles Enton from Columbia University regarding the translation, which Smith allegedly did from the "changed Egyptian language" on the sheets granted to him by Moroni. The zaminka is that Professor Anton himself never said anything like that, moreover, he wrote a detailed letter to Mr. E. Khou, a contemporary Smith, who had the most careful study of the life of the Prophet Mormonov and the origin of their teachings. Nobody denied himself, for which he does not like the historians of Mormons and many Mormons. Having learned about the history of Smith with Professor Anton, Hou wrote to Colombia. The professor responded with a letter here as a classic sample of Mormon's debunations and as a testimony, from which Mormons themselves want to get rid as soon as possible.

Dear Sir!

This morning with mail, I received your message to which I immediately answer. The story for which I recognized Mormon writing for the "changed Egyptian hieroglyphs" is the fiction from beginning to end. A few years ago, the farmer was prompted, the farmer went to me with a letter from our city from Dr. Mitchell, now the deceased, and asked me to decipher, if possible, the records that he handed me and which Mitchell himself could not disassemble me. Having considered the text, I quickly concluded that it was a hoax or a hoax. Asking the person who brought them from where he has these papers, I, as I remember now, I learned that in the northern part of New York, the Golden Book, consisting of a set of gold sheets, refurbished from the same Material, and along with a book huge "golden glasses"! These glasses were so big that when a man tried to see in them, both of his eyes took only one of the eyepieces, and for the human face they were clearly great. Whoever watched on the sheets through glasses, he immediately could not only read them, but also to fully understand the meaning. And this find one belonged to one young man: the chest with a book and glasses was in his one-time order. This man, being behind the curtain in the attic of the farmhouse, hidden from the eyes, put his glasses or, more often, looked through one of the glasses, decrypt the hieroglyphs of the book and, writing a transfer on paper, passed a copy for the curtain standing outside. Not a word was said that the sheets were read with the help of the "Dara of God". Everything was done thanks to big points, the farmer added that he was asked to make money to publish the "Golden Book", the meaning of which, as he was assured, would lead to a change in the entire Earth and will save the world from destruction. He was so persuaded that he decided to sell a farm, and handing out the money to those who wanted to publish sheets. To finally be convinced, he went to New York, wanting to find out the opinion of the scientist about written in the paper brought with him, which he was given as a copy of the part of the book, although without the transfer of a young man with glasses.

After listening to this strange story, I changed the view of the document and, having ceased to consider it a hoax, suggested that someone tried to lure money from Fermer, what I warned him about, advised to get it from fraudsters. He asked me to give him a written testimony that I, of course refused to do, after which he took his papers and left. In fact, I call the unique scroll papers. It consisted of a variety of hooked signs located by columns, and was written by a clear man, before the eyes of which was a book with a variety of alphabets. Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses and curls, Latin letters, inverted or placed on the side, were located vertical columns, and under all of this there was a rough circle, divided into sectors marked with strange icons, and clearly copied from the Gumboldt Mexican calendar, but so In order not to issue a source where he was taken from. I clearly considered what was in the document, and often talked about him with friends after the start of the hype around Mormons. I remember well that in the document everything was anything other than the "Egyptian hieroglyphs". After some time, the same farmer struck me the second visit. He brought the printed "Golden Book" and offered to buy it. I refused. Then he suggested that I leave the book for the analysis. I refused to take it, although he behaved extremely persistently. I once again pointed to him the possibility of sculpture with him and asked what was with gold sheets. He replied that sheets with big glasses in the chest. I advised him to attribute the chest to the authorities so that they watched. He said that the "curse of God" will fall on him if he does so. When I tried to convince him to do this, he agreed to open a chest, if I take the "curse of God" on myself. I replied that I am ready to do it with great pleasure and go for any risk of such a kind, just to snatch it from the hands of the rogues. Then he left.

I fully described everything that I know about the emergence of Mormonism, and I ask me to make me a personal favor, immediately posing a letter as soon as these unfortunate fanatics will repeat my name again.

Yours faithfully,

Charles Anton, Dr. Philology

Columbia University

The letter of Professor Enton disperses any doubts and ruffles the construction of Smith and Harris. You can not think about how in the part shown by Professor Anton Martin Harris, who copied by Joseph Smith himself from the book of Mormon, were "Egyptian, Chaldean, Assyrian and Arab letters, whereas the Book of Mormon claims that it is written" changed " The Egyptian language on which the Nephites spoke. And if the Language of the Book of Mormon was not known "no other people," how this Professor Anton was able to appreciate the correctness of Smith's translation? To date, no one has yet managed to detect even the smallest signs of the language called "changed Egyptian", and all the respected linguists who studied certificates provided by Mormons, rejected them as fictional.

Archaeological evidence

The Book of Mormon reports allegedly about the emergence and development of two large nations. What was their life, properly paint some parts from the book itself: "The whole face of the earth was covered with buildings, and the people were almost so numerous as the sand of the sea" (Mormon 1: 7).

"... Rich with elegant products from wood, buildings, machines, as well as iron, copper, bronze and steel, producing all kinds of tools for agriculture ..." (Iarom 1: 8, 2 Nephi 5:15).

"... having grain, silk ... cattle: bulls, cows, sheep, pigs, goats ... also horses and donkeys ... elephants ..." (Efer 9: 17-19).

"They multiplied and spread ... that they began to cover the face of the entire Earth - from the southern sea to the northern and from the Western Sea to East" (Gelaman 3: 8). "Two million brave husbands were killed" (Jaenedians) (Efer 15: 2). "... about their shipping and shipbuilding, about the structure of their temples, synagogue, sacred shelters"(Gelaman 3:14, see also 2 Nephi 5: 15-16 and Alma 16:13). "... my ten thousands were beveled ... And they ... fell, each with her ten thousand" (Mormon 6: 10-15).

"... sabers ... swords ... breast armor and shields to protect hands ... Latvia helmets" (Alma 43: 18-19, Efer 15:15).

In verses 3 Nephi 8: 9-10, 14 and 9: 4-6, 8 is described as cities and residents plunged into the depths of the sea and the land. To top off to the previous narration from the Book of Mormon, which testifies to the enormous spread of the culture of both peoples, in the Book of Mormon, is listed about 38 cities, from which it follows that both of these civilizations under all the laws of archaeological science should have given many traces. But everything turned out to be just the opposite. Mormons are still unable to explain why archaeological studies not only do not confirm the Book of Mormon in terms of the existence of these peoples, but also provide a concern number of data talking about the impossibility of what is stated in their Scripture. The letter below was guided by prep. R. Brown, Pastor of the Methodist church Hillcrest, Friedriksburg, Virginia, a zealous researcher of Mormon and their views. Dr. Brown in the course of studies appealed to the Faculty of Anthropology of Columbia University in New York. The answer received is the greatest importance. He speaks of the lack of truth and accuracy in the Book of Mormon in terms of archeology and anthropology.

Dear Sir!

I apologize for the delay in response to your letter dated January 14, 1957. We often have to answer questions about the Book of Mormon ... I can say that I do not believe in the truth not one of the instructions on the history of American Indians from the Book of Mormon and believe that the vast majority of American archaeologists will agree with me. This book is false from a biblical, historical and scientific point of view. As for Dr. Charles Enton, I don't know who he is, and we will clearly disperse in our views, as they say "the Saints of the last days" (Mormons). I do not know anything about the influence of Egyptian writing both on the Book of Mormon and the history of American Indians.

Yours sincerely

W. Dancan Strong (signature)

The Smithsonian Institute in Washington also raises a voice against the "archaeological achievements" of the Book of Mormon, and this highly authoritative Mormon voice can hardly be ignored.

The Smithsonian Institute has never enjoyed the Book of Mormon as a scientific source under any kind. The archaeologists of the institute do not find the link between the archaeology of the new world and the subject of the book. The physical type of American Indians is based on the Mongoloid, it is closely connected with the peoples of East, Central and Northeast Asia. Archaeological certificates indicate that the ancestors of modern Indians moved into a new light (probably, on the variety, which was allegedly located on the place of Bering Strait in the era of the last glacial period) with small transitions, since 25-30 thousand years ago. We now know that the first on the continent from the east, the Vikings appeared in the northeastern part of North America about 1000 years per R.Kh. Nothing indicates that they reached Mexico or Central America. One of the main factors confirming the findings of scientists about the extremely small influence (if it was generally) the peoples of the old world on the development of the civilization of the American Indians, is that in the new world before 1492 there were no major agricultural cultures and pets of the Old World (with the exception of dogs ). The Indians did not have wheat, barley, oats, millet, rice, cows, pigs, chickens, horses, donkeys, camels, etc. The tamed dogs of the Indians came with their ancestors from North-West Asia. Sweet potatoes are common in both hemispheres, but, apparently, it took at the beginning in the new world and from there he got into the old through the Pacific Ocean. Iron, steel, glass and silk were not used in a new light until 1492 (with the exception of unburned iron from meteorites). Copper nuggets were used in different places to Columbus, but the smelting was limited to the south of Mexico and the Anda District, where gold, silver, copper and their alloys, but not iron were paid at the end of prehistoric times.

There is a chance of penetration of crops through the Pacific Ocean to Central America and the North-West Coast of South America in a few centuries to Christianization. However, any contacts between hemispheres are submitted by the result of random attempts undertaken from Eastern or South Asia. It is impossible to be confident that they were generally. It is quite certain that there were no contacts with the ancient Egyptians, Jews or other peoples of Western Asia or the Middle East.

No respected Egyptologist or other specialist in the archeology of old world and not one expert on the history of the new world did not find and never reported any connections between the archaeological remains of Mexico and Egypt.

Messages about the detection of the Egyptian, Hebrew or other writing of the old world in the new to the Columbovaya era often appear in newspapers, magazines and sensational publications. None of these messages were confirmed by well-known scientists. No written sources of origin until 1492, related to the form with the old light, was not detected in any part of the American continent.

From the text it is clear that the cities mentioned in the Book of Mormon are imagined that the elephants have never been on the continent, and these metals were not found in any place, where the civilization of the new light of that time lived.

There are no longer theologian here, and generally accepted experts archaeologists are trying to debunk Mormons, stating the contradiction of their books with the achievements of science. Mormon missionaries usually without much hunt discuss these facts, but the facts are not ceased to exist, and the facts from the most reliable sources.

Mongoloid factor

One of the main positions of the theology of Mormon is that American Indians are descendants of the Lamanians and that they are semitting origin, that is, from the Jews. As we have already seen, this situation is found in the entire literature of Mormons, and if there are evidence, refuting the kinship of Indians and Semites, the whole story with Nephi and his journey to America in 600 to R.X. becomes fiction.

Therefore, there are good grounds to listen to the conclusions of anthropologists and specialists in genetics. And they declare that the various physiological features of the Mediterranean peoples (to which the Jews or Semites include) are not found or almost not found among the Indians! They have no correlations in genotype, the Indians are considered to be mongoloids, and not Mediterranean Caucasoids.

So, if Lamanians, according to the Book of Mormon, were descendants of Nephi, who was the Jewish of the Mediterranean Caucasoid type, then his descendants, American Indians, must have genotypic blood relationship with him and inherit the features of the phenotype, that is, to have external similarities.

But everything is just the opposite. American Indians, in the conclusions of anthropologists, not semitting origin; According to the phenotype they are Mongoloids. Attentive study of anthropology and authors such as W. Boyd ("The Role of Genetics in Anthropology") and Bentley Glyow, Talented Geneticists of the University of John Hopkins, shows that the claims of the Book of Mormon are not consistent with the achievements of these sciences. It is simply no reason to argue that American Indians (Lamanians, the words of Mormons) at least somehow relate to the people, to which Nephi (seven) presumably belonged.

Corrections, contradictions and errors

There is a sea of \u200b\u200binformation based on the Book of Mormon, indicating various types of plagiarism, anachronism, false prophets and other unpleasant phenomena associated with it. We will try to bring the main, the most documented data.

Since the release of Mormon's books in 1830, its first edition has undergone a variety of "corrections". Some of them are worth mentioning. In the book of Mosia (21: 28) it is said that "Tsar Mosiah had a gift from God"And in the first edition, this king is called Veniamin - a missing, which is corrected by the forensic correspondencers of Mormonov. This is clearly not a typographical error, as there is nothing in common between the names of Mosia and Veniamin. That is, or God made a mistake when he shared his word, either Joseph, when he translated it. And Mormons do not want to recognize anything or the other and, so to speak, are pretty before contradiction.

1 Nephi 19:16 - 20: 1 contains more than fifty amendments compared to the publication of the "inspired Book of Mormon", somehow: removal of words, changing writing, adding words and reworking revolutions. Very strange methods of circulation with the Word of God!

In the book of Alma 28:14 - 29: 1-11 there are more than thirty discrepancies with the original, and on page 303 of the initial edition of the phrase "Yes, let them make commandments that are unchanged" Just crossed out. (Alma 29: 4).

On s. 25 Edition of 1830, the Book of Mormon proclaims: "And the angel told me: this is the Lamb of God, yes, even the Father Eternal." And in later editions we read: "And the angel told me: this is the Lamb of God, yes, the son of the Father Eternal!" The Roman Catholic Church read on with admiration. 25 of the original edition of Mormon's book One of his dogmas, that Maria is the mother of God: "Here, the Virgin that you see, there is a mother of God."

Noticing this annoying invasion of Catholic theology, tactful editors changed 1 Nephi 11:18 in this way: "Here, the Virgin that you see, there is a mother of the Son of God."Cases are only part of about 4,000 changes in words in the Book of Mormon, and some of them were made even in 1981, and the reader sees that it cannot be admitted for the Word of God. Scripture says: "The word Lord is in the age of" (1 Pet. 1:25), and our Savior asked: "To consecrate their truth: Your word is truth" (John 17:17). The word scriptures are truly. Mormon's book is clearly mistaken in so many cases that they cannot be considered a simple coincidence.

To top item to various "edits", the Book of Mormon also contains borrowing from the Bible of the King Yakov, Anachronism, false prophets and actual errors, from which you can not dismiss. It is worth saying about them, although many of them are already known to Mormonism researchers.

"Certificate of Three Witnesses" (Oliver Kauderi, David Vitmer and Martin Harris), placed at the beginning of the Book of Mormon, argues that "God's Angel, having taken from heaven, brought and put them before our eyes, so we watched and saw sheets and engraving on them... ".

Here it will be very appropriate to remember that Martin Harris in a conversation with Professor Anton regarding "translated" from those wonderful sheets denied that he had seen them at all. When he was "pressed", he stated that he saw them only "Ok Faith", and here he markedly spread with the revelation received from the prophetic messenger. Mormons extremely reluctantly remember that all three of these witnesses later renounced Mormonism, and Mormons contemporaries called them "thieves and fraudsters."

In the early literature of Mormons, we find three articles of Joseph Smith and his brother Khairum, implanting witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which in itself is doubtful in their honesty.

Borrowing from the Bible King Yakov

With a careful study of the book of Mormon, it turns out that it contains at least 25,000 words from the Bible King Yakov. And the borrowing of phrases, sometimes quite long, for many years there have been a bone in Mormon.

Comparison of the Moroni texts 10 and 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11, 2 Nephi 14 and Isaiah 4, 2 Nephi 12 and Isaiah 2 shows that Joseph Smith freely used the Bible to back up the so-called "revelation" with gold sheets. The Book of MOSI, Chapter 14, is the rewritten chapter 53 of the Prophet Isaiah, and Nephi 13: 1-18 copies the text Matthew 6: 1-23.

Mormons naively believe that if Christ came to the American continent after his resurrection and preached the Nephites. He would use the words that are written in the Bible. They are also confident that Nephi brought with them to America the lists of Jewish Scriptures and explain these quotes from the Old Testament. The incredibility here is that the wonderful sheets on which revelation was recorded contained the text that almost coincided with the translation of the King Yakov made in 1611, in a thousand years after their appearance. Similar to the argument of Mormons undermines any confidence in them, and they only believe in it themselves. There are other forms of borrowing from the Bible of 1611, including rephrase of poems. One of them (1 in. 5: 7) was reproduced in 1 Nephi 11: 27.36. A hint with this verse that scientists consider it a late insert, missing in the main lists of the New Testament, but introduced into the translation of the Bible, which Smith and redid, not knowing the details.

Another example of an error of this type we find in 3 Nephi 11: 33-34 - Almost direct quoting Mark 16:16, verse, which many researchers of the New Testament consider the addition of an excessive diligent correspondence to the Gospel. But Joseph Smith did not know about it, so he copied even translation mistakes, once again proving that God did not give any revelation on gold sheets. It is worth mentioning two more borrowings from the Bible King Yakov, who amazed Mormons from the rear.

In Chapter 3, Peter in his classic sermon paraphrases Deuteronomy 18: 15-19. Inventing the book of 3 Nephi, Smith has invested this paraphrased text in the mouth of Jesus, when Christ allegedly preached the Nephites. From the "Prophet" escaped that at the time of the instruction of Jesus, the preaching was not yet pronounced by Peter.

In addition, 3 Nephi gives Christ to a liar when in verse 23 chapter 20 Christ attribusates the words of Peter Moses as a direct quotation, and Peter actually handed over the Moses speech completely differently. Smith cared little about such discrepancies, making obvious mistakes.

Secondly, the Book of Mormon, followed by the Bible King Yakov, makes an erroneous translation of Isaiah 4: 5 "For all readings will be protected"(Wed 2 Nephi 14: 5). Modern translations of Isaiah give the correct translation of" cover ", and not" protection ". The Jewish word chuppah means not protection, but a protective curtain or a canopy. Smith, of course, this na knew how and Translators of King Yakov, whose labor he used. * In Russian translation in both cases - the Bible and the Book of Mormon - we see the word "cover" - approx. Ed.

There are a number of other errors. Revised Standard Bible (Revised Stanard Version) in IP. 5:25 gives a translation "and their corpses will be like trash on the streets," rightly passing the meaning of the Jewish word "suchah, a Bible of King Yakova writes:" And their bodies were confused in the middle of the streets. "Mormon's book (2 Nephi 15:25) repeats The text of the King Yakov Word is in the Word, and with him and a mistake in the translation of the words suchah, depriving himself with any opportunity to be an authority.

Anachronism and contradiction

The Book of Mormon not only constantly borrow the text of the Bible King Jacob, but distorts extremely many facts and issues of world history and history of Jews. Jarents obviously made glass windows in their amazing ships, on which the ocean crossed, and the "steel" and "compass" were known to the Nephites despite the fact that they were not yet invented by that time, what once again manifests the knowledge of Joseph Smith in History and Jewish customs. Lavevan, one of the characters of the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 4: 9), uses a steel sword, and Nephi says that he broke his steel onions (Mormons refer to the Psalm 17:35), but modern writings show that the controversial word Old Testament (since there were no steel) it was better to translate as "copper".

Mormons sometimes try to prove that Nephia had a compass (which was also not there), referring to the verse of Acts. 28:13, translated as "And there we took a compass ...", but modern translations, however, refute their dodge, giving the right translation "and from there we turned ..."

In addition to listed anchronism, the Book of Mormon contains NE only contradictions with the Bible, but also with other revelations of the same God, the word of which she allegedly is. The Bible says that the Israeli Messaria will be born in Bethlehem (Mich. 5: 2), and the gospel of Matthew (2: 1) tells about the execution of this prophecy. The Book of Mormon (Alma 7: 9-10) tells us: "... the Son of God descends on the face of the Earth. And so. He will be born from Mary in Jerusalem, in the earth of our foreheads ...". Under Jerusalem in the Book of Mormon, the city is meant (1 Nephi 1: 4), as under the Bethlehem, so that the contradiction is obvious.

There are a number of cases when God changes himself, if he is still considered an inspirer of the Book of Mormon, the "precious pearl", "teachings and covenants" and other writings of Joseph Smith.

For example, in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 12: 2 and Moroni 8:11) Release of sins is considered to be a consequence of baptism: "Blessed Those who ... will be baptized, for ... they will receive his abuse of their sins ... Here, the baptism is for repentance in the execution of the commandments for his reaches of sins."

And in the "teaching and covenants" (part 20, verse 37) the opposite is approved: "Everyone who is humble and the affairs of their truth shows that he received Christ from the Spirit for his vacation of sins, baptism will be accepted into his church."

This heavenly revelation sowed troubled in the Mormon Church, and Mormon's theologians emphasized evade any serious discussions of this contradiction. Joseph Smith did not limit himself alone with this contradiction.

The classic example of its throwing has become a polygamy.

"God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave him to the wife of Agar. Why did she do this? Such was the law. And many people happened to the agari ... So you also go and do the case of Abraham; Submit to my law and you will be saved"(Teaching and Covenants 132: 34.32).

And the book of Mormon, in turn, categorically declares: "And therefore, I, Lord God, will not allow the people to act as those in ancient times ... for no person among you do not have more than one wife; and not one of the concubine to have him; for I, Lord God , praise women's chastity " (Jacob 2: 26-28).

It seems that Joseph stamped revelations whenever he had a desire. In the latter case, the reputation and sent by Smith actions indicated that they were managed by sexual attraction.

The troubles in the content of his "inspirational" revelations endow the differences between the two parts of the "precious pearl" - the book of Moses and the Book of Abraham.

"I am the beginning and the end, Almighty God; My unanistic I created it; yes, at the beginning I created the sky, and the land on which you stand" (Moses 2: 1).

Abraham's book undermines monotheism, stating: "And then the Lord said: We will come down. And they came down in the beginning, and they. Gods, formed and enveloped the sky and land"(Abraham 4: 1).

The problems of the fare of Mormons concerned many excellent researchers, but it should be said here that Smith broadly borrowed data from various newspapers and magazines. And one of the most famous prophecies of the Civil War was made on materials published at the time in New York. In the "teaching and covenants" Smith proclaimed (part 87): "By the uprising of South Carolina ... The southern states will call other nations, even the people of Great Britain ... And then the war will cover all the peoples ... and ... slaves rise against their owners ... and that the remnants ... will be very annoying Gentiles. "

Although civil war really broke out shortly after Smith's death (1844), England did not go against the United States. "All nations" did not enter the war, as prophesy. Slaves did not undergo against the "own owners", but the "residues", under which the Indians were meant, they themselves were parangum themselves, defeated and enclosed in reservation.

In this case, the Prophet Smith revealed his extreme shortness, as in the "teaching and covenants" 124: 22,23,59, where he fired out that he would become the owner of the house, which was built in Novu, "forever."

In fact, neither Joseph nor the seed "after him" did not occupy "from generation to generation" a house in Novu, who was destroyed after the death of Smith, and Mormons moved to Utah.

These and other examples indicate that Smith was not only a bad scribe, but also a false prophet, and his prophecy about the restoration of Israel clearly says that he expected the Millennial Kingdom during his lifetime, while the Prophecy of Ezekiel 37 began to be executed in 1948, more than through 100 years after his death. When analyzing the Book of Mormon, a natural question arises. Where did she come from if she was clearly not from God? The response to him was given numerous researchers of Mormonism, among them E. Hou, Pomra Tucker and William Lynn.

All of them agree that the Book of Mormon is likely to have the arrangement of the works of Solomon Spelling, a former servant of the Church, who is known for his novels on biblical topics, in content similar to the Book of Mormon. Mormons with a smile object to them, referring to one of the originals of the spherling, entitled "The History of the Manuscript", which was found more than a century ago in Hawaii and is largely different from the Book of Mormon.

But in his excellent work "Book of Mormon?" (CC. 138-142) Dr. James Bales makes an important observation, which is also converged in all the details with the results of my work over the past decade:

It has long been argued that there is a link between the Book of Mormon and one of the historical works of Solomon Spolding. The Saints of the last days, of course, deny it.

What will happen if the Saints of the last days of the right, and the Book of Mormon and the compositions of Spolding really are not connected in any way? Even if so, then it still does not prove that the Book of Mormon has a divine origin. You can be mistaken in the author or authors of the Book of Mormon, but nevertheless it is considered that it is not written on the inspiration of God. You can easily prove its earthly origin. And this is, in the end, the main thing. The fundamental question is not the one who wrote it, but whether it was written under the guidance of God. We know that she was written by people, and the people were led by these people.

It was similar to "science and health", the textbook of churches of "Christian science". Mrs. Eddie said that she wrote this book inspired by God. Other people argue that she simply reworked and supplemented Kwimbi's manuscript, and everything says like in their favor. But what if the last will not be able to defend its point of view? Does it prove that "science and health" is inspired by God? Not at all. It will prove that she is in no way connected with QuiMby. And do not prove that its author is not anyone else, who wrote not from God. Regardless of which person or people composed "science and health", this is a book of human, and not divine origin. Similarly, the Book of Mormon - the human, not bewildered, although we are not able to find out what kind of man was its author.

No one claims that the whole book of Mormon is written by Spelling, like the fact that he invested his theology, which carries the imprint of the influence of Smith, Kauderi and Sidney Rigdon (see the proof in the book of Pike - Shook, The True Origin Of The Book of Mormon, PP. 126). However, there are reasons to argue that individual things, including a lot of borrowing from the Scriptures, were added to one of the Spolding manuscripts, and this work was already subsequently a Book of Mormon (see Certificate of John Spolding, Braga Solomon, and Martha Spolding, John's Wives). The fact is confirmed that the author of the historical part was Spolding (E. D. Howe, Mormonism Unveiled, 1834, PP. 278; SHOOK, THE TRUE ORIGIN OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, PP. 94).

Mormons declare that the detection of one of the books of Spolding proves that his manuscript was not based on the Book of Mormon.

"I am I declare. That the scraping of Spolding was found in 1884 and is now in the library of Oberlin College, Ohio. The study showed that it has no resemblance to the Book of Mormon. The theory, as if Solomon Spolding was the author of Mormon's book, from now on, one can relate Seriously just like a museum exhibit " (William Morton, Cyt. Pr., P. 6).

In the above paragraph there are three mistakes, namely: the first thing there was only one manuscript, the second that the manuscript found in 1884, someone considers the basis of the Book of Mormon, and the third that the manuscript in Oberlin is not at all similar to the book Mormon.

(a) Spolding wrote not one manuscript. D. Halbert and Clark Bradid talked about this before the detection of manuscripts in Honolulu (Charles Shuk, Cyt Ave., p. 77). The daughter of Spolding also stated that her father wrote "not one novel" (Elder George Reynolds, The Myth of the "Manuscript Found", Utah, 1833, p. 103). The resulting manuscript is a rough, incomplete sketch.

(b) An essay from Honolulu is named "History of the manuscript", and not "the manuscript found". It fell into the hands of Mormon opponents in 1834, but they did not claim to be the basis of the Book of Mormon. It was believed that the Book of Mormon was based on another essay of spolding.

(c) Although the "manuscript story" did not consider the "manuscript found", converted into

The Book of Mormon, between her and the Book of Mormon a lot in common. Their similarity is explained in such a way that the "story of the manuscript", apparently, was a draft of spolding, from which he created the "manuscript found".

Hou In 1834 published an accurate synopsis of Oberlin manuscript and gave the original witnesses who found a lot of Mormon's similar in it with the Book. Then they (in 1834) said that the manuscript found by Halbert, which is now in Oberlin, although he is written by Spelling, but not the one in which they found common with the Book of Mormon. Next, they stated that Spolding himself warned them that he changed the original idea, making the plot more ancient and starting the story in the style of dilapidated scriptures so that the whole story would appear more archaic. This testimony is supported by the fact of the similarity between the Oberlin manuscript and the Book of Mormon.

That is, it actually turns out that Mormons tried to use the manuscript obviously not the one she copied later to Smith and supplemented the Book of Mormon, so that the eyewitnesses were confused and did not find the source - "Found Manuscript", with which Smith and fabricated the text of the Mormon Bible.

Dr. Bayls correctly hits (p. 146-147):

Similarities so much that it cannot be noticed. Internal evidence in combination with the evidence of eyewitnesses presented in the book of Hou and Schuk. Open that Spolding redid the "manuscript story". And it is converted, known as the "manuscript found", became the basis of the Book of Mormon at least in its historical part. Similarly, theological materials of the source were used.

However, in everyday conversations and public speeches, it makes no sense to go into question about the author of the Book of Mormon. The main thing here - whether the Book of Mormon has a divine origin. Other Mormons seem to believe that if they prove the lack of communication between Spelling and the Book of Mormon, then thereby make a huge step towards the recognition of her divinity, but it is not. It should be shown, appealing to the materials of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, that the latter is not divine origin.

We will not forget that even the "History of the manuscript" contains 75 similar elements with the current Book of Mormon, and already from one you can not just dismiss. At the end of the analysis, it is necessary to compare the text of the Book of Mormon with the Bible, and as a result it will open that the first does not say as "law and revelation" (Is. 8:20), that it must be rejected as a fake to which a double curse is imposed (GAL.1 : 8-9).

Iosifa himself Smith, the author of "Revelations", is given a wonderful characteristic (reward for the deed) in the Word of God for almost thirty-three centuries before its appearance. Let Mormons do not forget these words: "If the prophet, or the dreams, will rise among you, and will present you a sign or a miracle. And then a sign or a miracle will come true, and will say, and let's see:" Let's go after the gods of others that you do not know, and will serve them " : That's not listen to the words of the Prophet of this, or the dream of this; for the Lord is tempting through this, God, to find out if you love the Lord, your God, from your heart and with your whole soul.

Lord, your God, follow and be afraid of him; Observe the commandments, and listen to it, and serve it, and you fly to him. And the prophet of that or a dream should be made to death for the fact that he persuaded you to retreat from the Lord, the God of Egyptian and having lost you from the house of slavery, wanting to seduce you from the path that I commanded the Lord, God ; And so destroy evil from the environment itself. If you persuade the hoping secret your brother, my mother's son, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife on your womb, or your friend, who is yours, like your soul, saying: "Let's go and will serve the gods other You did not know and your fathers. " The gods of those peoples that around you close to you or remote from you, from one edge of the earth to another: do not agree with him and do not listen to him; And yes, I will not spare his eyes, do not regret it and do not cover it; but kill him; Your hand must be on it before everyone to kill him, and then the hands of the whole people. By his stones to death; For he atheated to dismiss you from the Lord, your God. Who brought you out of the Egyptian land, from the house of slavery "(W. 13: 1-10).

The Book of Mormon challenges the Bible, picking himself to the word of God and his revelation, and the punishment for it does not only cut down, but also terrifies: "And I also testify to any hearing the words of the Prophecy of this book: If anyone attracts that, therefore the God of the ulcers, which is written in the book of this: And if someone takes out that from the words of the book of the prophecy of this, Tom takes God to participate in the book. Life and in the Holy Grad and in what is written in this book. Saying this says: she, I will soon! Amen. She, ridges. Lord Jesus! " (Rev. 22: 18-20).

The words should not be understood as a ban on communication with Mormons. Rather, they must determine our historical and theological positions so that we are with a tact and delicacy showing the depth of the differences between us. Even the famous witnesses of the "truth" Book of Mormon have a reputation with the Smith himself - he wrote two articles against them, and his brother Heirum one, which speaks of the dubiousness of their qualities and unreliability as witnesses.

It was Joseph Smith that went to the theological war to Christianity, when he puts the words in the mouth, we swamming all the currents as "wrong", their faith as "abomination", and Christians themselves as "The apostates, which by the type of God, but reject his power"(Smith - History 1:19).

The relationship of society to Mormons was far from loyal, the history of persecution on them (mainly due to the offensive speeches of Smith and the practice of polygamy) began simultaneously with their history. They, and not the Christian church, sowed troubles. We do not justify the persecution instigators, but early persecutions were provoked by Mormons (an example - the expulsion of Mormon from Jackson's county, Missouri).

So, we can quietly enter the "Bible" of Mormons to the court of history, and their theology is the word in the word of God. But this does not mean that we do not need to tell the truth about them. Let's firmly remember that the sincerity of the faith of Mormons is not yet a reason to abandon the criticism of their creed or its poisoned source - the book of Mormon and the "Revelations" of Joseph Smith. The truth should be told with love, it is to say!

Continued

Martin Walter

The kingdom of cults. St. Petersburg: ed. JV "Logos", 1992.

"Religious security of Russia"

President of the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Russia - Lokshin Alexander Germanovich. President of the Mission - Richard Chappil.

The World Center of the Church is located in the United States, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Centers are located in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Bern. The spiritual center of Mormon (Zollycophen), which is their "God's house", is located in Switzerland. In Russia, the Mormon Management Center is the Religious Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days (Mormons).

Mormon's teachings are found in three books that are considered no less important than the Bible itself: "Book of Mormon", "Teachings and Covenants", "Precious Pearl".

The "Book of Mormon" is the basis of Mormon's teachings. In those 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, only about 500 pages. Mormons view the "Book of Mormon" as a revelation, as it, in their opinion, contains that Jesus preached in his "American days." Most of the book "Teachings and Covenants" make up the revelations of Joseph Smith, which he received during its activities, as well as some revelations of his followers (1823-1890). In the book "Precious Pearl" also talks about revelations and translations from the Golden Plates of the Prophet I.Smit.

Mormons adhere to the traditional provisions of the Christian teaching about the Trinity, redemption, punishment, salvation and traditions of the Rannel Apostolic Church. Church issues are solved by voting. It is forbidden to use wine, tea (except green), drugs. Mormons oppose sober, lies, egoism, they argue the work as an eternal law. Missionary activities give great importance.

The symbol of the faith of Mormons consists of 13 points. He was compiled by I. Smith in 1841. In his teaching about God, Mormons proceed from the fact that a person is created on the likeness of God, and make it out of this that God has a material body, like a person. Consequently, the father is spically limited to its body. But he nevertheless all knows, because 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 for people there is an opportunity to become someday God. Since Mormon's motto is reading: "Optimism and faith - progress", then they are all in development. The man is on the way, leading up: He is "God in the bud." And therefore, Mormons pay special attention to its appearance: clean and carefully dressed, they bring up good manners in themselves, intelligent, polite, literate.

According to Mormon's teachings, a person is not born a sinner, i.e. He has no hereditary sin. Mormon's sin is considered to indignation of a person against the "bases of progress".

According to Mormon's teachings, the victim of Jesus Christ for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, a separate person can be justified from personal sins if he himself will make efforts to this. Atonement is a joint work of God and man. After death, a person becomes involved in various degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) Earth; 3) Heavenly.

The Center for World Events of the Future Mormon is considered to be America, since Mormons are the people of God's Last Time Testament - New Israel. Eternity in Mormonov is a continuation of progress.

In 1843 I. Smith received the "Revelation" on the eternal duration of the marital union with the inclusion of polygamy. The polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the American government Mormons abolished polygamy in 1890. Until today, they believe in the correctness of this teaching, but do not practice it.

Baptism means the forgiveness of sins and adoption in the members of the Church. Baptism can be accepted from an eight-year-old age, while taking baptism concludes a union with the Creator. He must give vow, which will keep God's commandments. Mormonov is made to take baptism instead of the dead. Indeed, it is necessary to save Mram only baptism. In addition to baptism for deceased ancestors, it is also possible to replace the laying of hands and imprinvention. For these acts, accurate data of the dead should be given. From here it is explained by the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree.

The evening can only take "worthy." Mormons believe that the evening has nothing to do with the victim of Christ, but serves to update the Union with God and to recognize membership. According to Mormon's teachings, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given. Priests make priests. The act of laying hands they call confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, purification and sanctification. Only the head of the Church possesses the powers of the capture. The captured marriage will not finish its existence of death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual kingdom. All representatives of unaffected marriages in eternity will be service perfumes and will not be able to marry.

History

The founder of this organization was American Joseph (in other transcription - Joseph) Smith, born in 1805 in Zhonon, Vermont, USA. At the age of 14, he received the first vision in which he was discovered so that he would in no case join the existing churches. In 1823 he received a second vision. The angel appeared to him by Moroni and called Joseph Smith to restore the "true church of Jesus Christ."

In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published by a circulation of 5,000 copies. On April 6, 1830, the Fairy (New York) was founded by the Mormon Church as part of six people. This society has spread relatively rapidly, since its followers led in some states active transplants.

A hostile attitude towards Mormons and their persecution led to what they had to change the place of residence. Mormons were founded by several cities, where, on the basis of revelation, Jesus Christ was to appear. Unfortunately, the Books of the Saints of the Last Days missed the court proceedings in the case of Smith, his failed banking scam in Kertland, Ohio, his polygamy before receving the revelation, organized by him in Missouri and Illinois of the army and the order to destroy the printing machines of those who opposed His bloody clashes of Mormons with settlers in the middle of the last century. In 1844, I. Smith got into a jail in the map, where Mobile city shot him.

The Smith receiver became Brare Yang. Its lessing it came to the "sacrificial procession" to a large salt lake. For 17 months (1846-1847) was passed exactly 1,700 km. There, they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or new Jerusalem). Negotiations of Mormons with the government about their admission to the United States failed due to the assumptions of polygamy. When this practice was officially prohibited, Mormons took in 1896 to Utah.

In 1838, Mormons were adopted by the "Divine Commandment" on the donation of the tithe. By actively recruiting about the world, Mormons quickly spread their teachings. Each missionary makes his job for free and voluntarily within 2-3 years. And if in 1850 the number of sect members amounted to 60,000 people, then in 1985 - 6 million people.

In 1843, the first Mormon Missionary Assembly was founded. In Switzerland and Austria, Mormons began their activities in 1850. Currently, Mormons have a great influence in Western countries. Their center is located in Frankfurt am Main, in Hamburg and Bern. Their spiritual center (Tsollycophen), which is their "God's home", is in Switzerland.

The organization of the sect of Mormon is based on a strict hierarchy. It is divided into "Cola" (districts) and "Wards" (meetings).

Since 1894, the family history library (Family History Library) in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, collects and processes data from metric books, population censuses and other documents containing the names of people before living on Earth. These names are needed by Mormons for mysterious people's dedications to the adepts of their cult in their temples, the entrance to which "stranger" (not mormon) is prohibited. Mormons include in absentia in the ranks of their cult of the dead, causing lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This hidden from the uninitiated work is accompanied by the large-scale activities of Mormons on the creation of a single "World Center for Genealogy", controlled by the Organization "Saints of Recent Days". Since 1992, Mormons have become actively working with archival departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia to copy (microfilming) of archival documents. By concluding a contract with the state archival service of Russia, Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many metric books (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. The copies received from Russian archives are already the property of the Mormon President's Corporation, which are then provided with researchers of genealogies through its own genealogical structure for a specific fee.

Mormons in Russia

The first Mormon missionaries arrived in the USSR (in Leningrad) in 1990. "Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Church" was registered in the country in May 1991. By the end of 2000, there were 11,000 Mormons in Russia (plus more than 6,000 in Ukraine). Russia has at least 500 foreign (mainly from the USA) of Mormon missionaries (in total on the space of the former USSR - 700-800). Interestingly, recently the detention of these "religious leaders" in the territory of closed Russian military bases has become more frequent. Mormons argue that they did not suspect that there is a secret zone, closed for foreigners.

Mormons attach great importance to Russia. At the end of 2000, they even postponed their headquarters of their East European mission from landscaped Germany to Moscow.

In 1998, there were 7 Mormon missions in Russia (two in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara and Yekaterinburg), two in Ukraine (in Kiev and in Donetsk), one in Vilnius for All the Baltic States and small groups of missionaries in Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and several other republics of the former USSR. There are also Mormon representations in cities such as Volgograd, Voronezh, Vyborg, Tver, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Saratov, Sochi, Tolyatti, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, etc.

Mormon literature is actively translated into Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian and Georgian languages. In Russian, they publish two richly illustrated, expensive magazines - "Liahona" and his children's application "Rostock". Mormons perform in Russian cities with concerts. There are their "seminars" (in terms of level - these are church-parish schools).

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Irkutsk Region and Buryatia

In Irkutsk there is a local religious organization Mormonov (Church of Jesus Christ of the Line Days). President - Suleimanov Arthur Rashidovich. The number of organization is about 100 people. Small groups exist in Angarsk and Bratsk. About 10 people are constantly in the regional center on the mission. The church is conducted permanent charitable activities. In Ulan-Ude, there is also a mormon community. Registered in 2000

Mormons work on the territory of Priangarya since 2003. Before starting missionary activity, they registered in the Justice bodies.

Since 2004, "Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days" began to conduct humanitarian projects. Over a few years in Irkutsk, five projects were implemented: the provision of multifunctional beds to the regional psychiatric hospital, medical equipment for the daytime hospital of disabled pensioners, equipping a laboratory for analyzes in the city clinical hospital N9, age beds for children to the regional children's tuberculosis hospital and equipment of the center Dikulus three medical diagnostic devices. The project has begun in 2008, but due to the fact that the Dikul Center is a non-state medical institution, then the gumanitarian aid has been taxed by a 19% tax. In 2009, it was possible to pay tax and in December the devices were transferred to the center. On February 1, 2010, a meeting of the leadership of the Center and Representatives of the Religious Organization "Church of Jesus Christ of the Line Days" took place in the center of Dikul. Church leaders were awarded letters. Religious organization develops new projects.

This denomination, which is usually referred to as Mormons, exists in Irkutsk since 2002, as of the beginning of 2012, about 180 people are members of the arrival. President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Irkutsk - Malashkovts Sergey Vladimirovich. Mormons in Irkutsk conduct active missionary activities, including with the participation of pastors from the United States.

Expert opinions

Chief Advisor to the Department of Ethno-Confessional Relations of the Governor of the Irkutsk Region and the Government of the Irkutsk Region for Public Relations and National Relations Mishin A.V.:

"For all the time of their work in Irkutsk, we received only one complaint. One woman asked to save her daughter. The girl got a job in a tourist company, which was established by local Mormons. She was gradually fascinated by the overseas religious teaching, which was frightened by the mother who was afraid, was afraid, That someday daughter will be sacrificed. But having learned that Mormons do not bring victims, calmed down and no longer came to us. The characteristic feature of Mormons is that they, opening missionary branches in different countries, attract young people with the opportunity for free English language. It usually works. Thousands of young people pass through their organization, some are interested in teachings and stay in sect. Portrait of a missionary for Mormons is quite typical. This is usually a man of 18-25 years old. When a boy is born in the Mormon family, parents begin to save money in order So that the son could devote two years to mission, without being distracted by work and study. Many young people send On missionary immediately after graduation, it is not surprising that many of them write with errors even in English. When Irkuts go to such courses, they should be prepared for the fact that Mormons have no language teaching system. Teaching is given at a very low level, but it is free. From the point of view of Christians, Mormons were and will be a pagan religious direction or a sect in which polytheism is preached. Mormons believe that every person can become God, and every God consists of blood and flesh. The only one in Irkutsk officially struggles with Mormons, the deputy of the city Duma remains. He even sent a request to the prosecutor's office about the legality of Mormon's activities in the area. The prosecutor's office did not find anything illegal in their activities, so they continue their missionary activities. "

The totalitarian sect organization calls a specialist in the seats A.I. Creech-Olinter.

Russian researcher of modern religious sectarianism, antisectant movement activist in Russia A.L. Dvorkin:

"... Mormons are not Christians, their organization has nothing to do with Christianity. This is a rough occult neo-language sect with very serious totalitarian trends, and, falling into it, a person leaves himself not only from his people, its history and culture, not only from the World Christian heritage, but also from Christ himself and his church. "

In determining the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church "On Pseudochrystian Sects, Neo-Owls and Occultis" (December 1994), Mormons are called "false christism and pseudoreligia".

"Despite the name and use of Christian terminology, Mormon's teachings, according to the unanimous opinion of all traditional Christian denominations, not only has nothing to do with Christianity, but also denies all the twentieth Christianity as a whole. This sect ... operates in Russia in the atmosphere Secrecy. Therefore, we least know about true purposes and forms of their activities in our country. In the documents recently submitted by the sect to the Council on cooperation with religious organizations under the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, it has been reported that Mormons have been imported from the beginning of the 1990s Humanitarian aid to Russia and spread humanitarian assistance in the amount of 14 million US dollars. It seems that humanitarian aid for such a huge amount could not pass unnoticed. Nevertheless, few people heard about Mormon assistance in Russia. Assimate to raise the question: if this figure is reliable, then where Did you go this money?

Requires high costs and causes great concern to the active work of Mormons in Russian archives. It should be noted that the secret temple rites of Mormons and their doctrine of salvation are closely related to the genealogical studies that CICSPD are engaged in. In Mormon temples, strictly secret "temples" for living and dead (baptism, marriage and other) are produced, after which they are becoming, for the teachings of sects, Mormons. The names of the departed are included in the lists for Mormon sacraments in absentia, without a request for the consent of the relatives of the deceased. I note that every living Mormon can have countless dead wives with whom he in absentia worsted in his temple. All sect members, in addition to the immediate "missionary work", are constantly engaged in the search for new archival names and data for absentee "omnomony" as much as possible people. Special teams of Mormons explore state archives, museum and university collections of documents, archives of urban government, records of civil status and church parishes around the world. All captured archival microfilms fall into the Mormonist repository for eternal content, becoming their property ... a convenient reason for the corresponding instances to become interested in the activities of Mormons, can serve as a direct violation of the fundamentals of legislation. We know that they rented schools and other educational institutions to hold their liturgical meetings. So, in Moscow they conducted worship services in high school number 36 (on the territory of the Zacchivsky Women's Monastery) and in the premises of the Music Technical School at the metro station "Street 1905". It seems that in the provincial cities of Mormons rent educational institutions much more widespread than in Moscow. "

Other names: "Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints", "Church of the Last Days".

Print editions: Liahona magazine.

Story sect: The founder of this sect is American Joseph Smith, born in 1805 in Sharon, Vermont, USA. His father, Joseph Smith-senior, was a mysticist, who spent most of his life in search of imaginary treasures and occasionally flushed into cash fraud.

In 1820 Smith-younger was a wonderful vision in which God-Father and God-son materialized during his prayer, discovered him that he was elected to revive true Christianity, and in no case should not be tortured to existing churches. However, the "high presense" did not prevent Joseph to continue together with his family search for lost treasures, and using the indication of the magic stones, magic wands and other similar attributes. This kind of passion to mysticism and played, apparently, a decisive role in the formation of Smith Jr. as the "new prophet".

In 1823 he had a second vision. The angel called him called himself Moroni. He spoke about the hidden "gold sheets" on the Kumor Hill, which are covered with hieroglyphs of the "changed Egyptian language" and contain important messages of the ancient history of America. Angel Moroni called on Joseph Smith to restore the "True Church of Jesus Christ." Only in 1827 he was allowed to take a caustic treasure. The documents were written by the "Stariagepet Writers", which could only read with the help of "prophetic points" lying in the same box as writing. His assistants were his future companions Harris and Oliver Kolvury. May 15, 1829 Joseph and Oliver were "anointed" on Aaronovo Priesthood "by the" John the Baptisteat".

In 1830, the "Book of Mormon" was published by a circulation of 5000 copies. On April 6, 1830, the Mormon Church was founded in the Fairy (New York) as part of six people. In the same 1830, well-known Protestant preachers of the time of Pattt Patt and Sidney Rigton, which led to a sharp increase in the number of the new organization were addressed to the new faith. This society has spread relatively quickly, because His followers conducted in some states active transplant activities (appeal to members of the sect of representatives of other denominations). A hostile attitude towards Mormons and their persecution forced them to often change their place of residence. Mormons were founded by several cities, where Jesus Christ was found on the basis of revelation.

The practice of polygamy practiced among Mormons on the immediate "divine revelation" is up to 1890, when, under the influence of the authorities, they were forced to abandon such an image of family life. In 1838, Mormons were adopted by the "Divine Commandment" on the donation of the tithe. It should be noted that in the period from 1831 to 1844. Smith, according to his testimony, received more than 135 revelations.

In 1844, the former Assistant Smith John Bennet openly spoke about the practice of polygamy in the church. When the wave of revelations became threatening, the outraged "Prophet" tried to apply the power towards the AntiMormian publication "Novu Owner". After the intervention of the administration of the state, Joseph Smith, together with Brother Hyirum, went to jail in the map, where the perturbed citizens assigned to the prison. During the shootout Smith died.

The successor to Smith became Brich Yang. Under his leadership, the "sacrificial procession" was organized to a large salt lake. For 17 months (1846-47), 1700 km was passed. There, they founded the city of Salt Lake City (or "New Jerusalem").

The history of Mormons keeps traces of a serious crime. In 1857 Young ordered his "bishop" to destroy the train with immigrants, which was exactly fulfilled. Twenty years later, this act was convicted and executed by the US government.

Mormon negotiations with the government about their legalization in the United States failed due to the assumptions of polygamy. When this practice was officially prohibited, Mormon's activities were permitted in 1896 in Utah.

Currently, the "Church of the Last Days" includes 8 million adepts and has an annual income of $ 3,000,000 (partially - by collecting "tithing" from their adepts). 40,000 of their missionaries work all over the world. Mormons constitute 75% of the population of Solt Lake City, the Utah State Administrative Center (USA).

Doctrine: In addition to the Bible, Mormons have three "sacred" books that they are considered no less important than the Bible itself:

a) "Book Mormon";
b) "teachings and unions";
c) "precious pearl";"Book Mormon". This book is the basis of Mormon's teachings. In those places where there are contradictions between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the true statements are considered true. This book consists of 15 small little books (only 500 pp). They tell the history of the ancient population of America. During the construction of the Babylonian tower, the knee of the Jaedes fell into America, divided and self-combed as a result of internal hostility and struggle. In 600 BC, with the Prophet Lehe, the representatives of the Knee of Manassea arrived in America. Their descendants were divided into two groups: Nephites and Lamanites. Nefit Christ appeared after the resurrection and told them to establish the church. By the fault of the Nephites, this true church disappeared, broke up. In 400 per R.Kh. The last battles between the nephites and the laminates near the Kumor Hill occurred. There, the Prophet Mormon and his son buried the above-mentioned plates with events recorded on them, (420-421.).Mormons view the Book of Mormon as Revelation, because She, in their opinion, contains that Jesus preached in his "American days." The data of this book contradicts historical, archaeological, ethnographic evidence. In addition, since its first edition, the book has undergone many changes relating to sometimes meaning, sometimes words, and sometimes acting characters, and the last changes were made even in 1981. Modern Mormons are often not aware of these details. Moreover, in many places it is a "revelation" contains borrowings from the Bible of the King Yakov, taken together with those errors that the authors of this translation of the Bible are allowed.The book "Teachings and Unions". Its part of it is the revelations of Joseph Smith, which he received during its activities, as well as some "revelations" of his followers (1823-1890).The book "Precious Pearl". There is also a speech about "revelations" and translations from the Gold Plates of the Prophet I. Smith.The symbol of the faith of Mormons consists of 13 points. He is compiled by I. Smith in 1841.In his teaching about God, Mormons proceed from the fact that a person is created by the likeness of God, and make out this conclusion that God has a material body, like a person. Consequently, God-Father is spically limited to his body. But he, nevertheless, the all-knowing, because 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 somewhere God. "What a person is now - such is God once, what God is now - this can ever be a person." Such is the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe teachings of Mormon.

Since Mormon's motto is reading: "Optimism and faith - progress", then they are all in development. The man is on the way, leading up, he is "God in the bud."

According to Mormon's teachings, a person is not born a sinner, i.e. He has no hereditary sin. A sin of Mormons is considered the indignation of a person against the "Fundamentals of Progress".

According to Mormon's teachings, the victim of Jesus Christ for sin gives all people life after death. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, a separate person can be justified from personal sins if he himself will make efforts to this. Atonement is a joint work of God and man. After death, a person becomes involved in various degrees of glory. There are three degrees of glory: 1) underground; 2) Earth; 3) Heavenly.

The Center for World Events of the Future Mormon is considered to be America, because Mormons allegedly are the "people of God's Last Time", "New Israel". Eternity in Mormonov is a continuation of progress.

In 1843 I. Smith received "Revelation" on the eternal duration of the marriage union with polygamy: "The captured marriage will not finish its existence of death, but will find its continuation in the spiritual kingdom. All representatives of unaffected marriages in eternity will be service perfumes and will not be able to marry. " The polygamy was introduced by Young in 1851, but under pressure from the US government, Mormons abolished him in 1890. Until today, they believe in the correctness of the polygamy, but officially declare that they do not practice it. However, it turns out, and now there are examples of polygamy in Mormon communities.

According to Mormon's teachings, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to the laying of the hands. The arrangement of hands perform "priests". The act of laying hands they call confirmation. The Holy Spirit is given for enlightenment, purification and sanctification. Only the head of the "Church" possesses the powers of the capture. Sureness means the forgiveness of sins and reception in the members of the Church. Baptism can be accepted from an eight-year-old age, while taking baptism concludes a union with the Creator. He must give vow, which will keep the commandments of God.

Mormonov is made to take baptism instead of the dead. Indeed, it is necessary to save Mram only baptism. In addition to baptism, for the dead ancestors it is also possible to replace the laying and imprinting. For these acts, accurate data of the dead should be given. From here it is explained by the diligence with which Mormons study their family tree. Since 1894, the family history library (Family History Library) in the American city of Salt Lake City, created by Mormons, collects and processes data from metric books, population censuses and other documents containing the names of people before living on Earth. These names are needed by Mormons for mysterious people's initiations in the adepts of their cult in their temples, the entrance to which "strangers" (not mormon) is prohibited. Mormons include in absentia in the ranks of their cult of the dead, causing lists of their organization with millions of deceased people of various nationalities, religions and beliefs (including atheists). This hidden from the uninitiated work is accompanied by the large-scale activities of Mormon on the creation of a single "World Center for Genealogy", controlled by the "Latter-day Saints" sect.

Since 1992, Mormons have become actively working with archival departments of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia to copy (microfilming) of archival documents. By concluding a contract with the state archival service of Russia, Mormons gained access to the archives of Astrakhan, Tula, Tver, Tobolsk, Kazan and copied many metric books (Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran) and other documents. The copies received from Russian archives are already the property of the Mormon President's Corporation, which are then provided with researchers of genealogies through its own genealogical structure for a specific fee. Mormons pay special attention to its appearance: clean and carefully dress up, they bring up good manners in themselves, intelligent, polite, literate. The diligence of Mormon representatives in improving these qualities proceeds from their teachings, which says that a person is "God in the bud" and the ultimate goal - by personal cultivation to move expensive progress and on the finish to become equal to God, i.e., gradually "grow up "To the Heavenly Kingdom.The secret is the fact that those from Mormons who have passed a special dedication ritual are obliged to wear underwear with the image of Masonic characters.

Structure and internal organization: The Mormon community is organized on a theocratic principle with elements of Western democracy. Heading it is worth "Prophet or Providez", receiving "revelations" over and having unlimited power in different fields of life sects. As an advisory body, the Supreme Council from three people helps him. Administrative power is largely a purely American character.

Mormon worship in Mormons strongly resembles Protestant and is based on preaching, reading and executing hymns. In Salt Lake City, the main Mormon region, topped with six towers and the gilded statue of Angela Moronia, which indicated the founder of the sect, where the Book of Mormon was hidden.

The number of followers: 1850g.-60000Hel.; 1900G.-230000Hel.; 1950s-1000000Hell.; 1961.-1800000Hel.; 1964.-2000000Hel.; 1970s.-2500000Hel.; 1985.-6000000Hel.; According to the president of Mormonov Gordon B. Hinckley at 2000-11000000.

Criminal actions: Includes a trial in the case of the founder of Smith sects of fortification on glass, its failed banking scam in Kertland, Ohio, its polygamy before receiving the revelation organized by him in Missouri and Illinois armed formations and an order to destroy printing machines of those who opposed him against him , as well as the case with the destruction of the Mormon's Mram Mramov - Brigham Young. Repeated lawsuits on facts of polygamy. Law enforcement agencies of Russia recorded cases of collectingessential data by members of the sect.

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If guests came to you with badges on your chest, in beautiful, strict costumes and, smiling from the threshold, tell you that you are steeper only eggs and Jackie Chan, then you fell on Mormons. After the assurance in your exclusivity, the sectarians will start telling you about yourself. To tell will be long, show your family photos. In the photos you will see a large family, everyone will smile in the photo "cloned smiles." Then you will tell you, and you will admire for a long time. After all these pleasures, you will give you the "Book of Mormon" and "Teaching and Covenants. Precious pearl. Further you will be asked "What do you feel?", Whatever how much you have heard about yourself, you will say that you feel good. You will tell you that this Holy Spirit calls you, and that you are vital to become Mormon.

The most interesting thing is that with Mormons it is almost impossible to argue, they agree to everyone and suggest to visit their community, where you quit smoking, start talking in English, embroider with a cross and knit socks, playing football and silent juice . All this you are mastered in two weeks. In parallel you will "penetrate the true faith"

1. You give the tenth of our income in the community. On Saturdays you eat once a day, saved money goes to the community over tithing. "Extra money" that you do not need to social needs go to the community over tithing.

2. Your new friends are constantly going to visit you, you also go to visit. Do you make sure that you are convincing each other in the truth of the teachings of the "Book of Mormon". Then the whole brigade you walk on apartments with your photoalbomas and sectarian literature.

3. If your family, unlike you, is "non-Mormons", then these are enemies. They are tempting you. You need to renounce them. Community is your family. You need a community. You must be educated, succeeding, polite, young and beautiful. And more prolific. The main mission of a woman in the sect to narrow the bunch of Marmont. Forced.

4. You can not smoke, drink coffee and tea, alcoholic beverages. Other stimulating products are also categorically prohibited.

5. You are taught by the English language American "Garny Funks", only teach on the "Book of Mormon" to later you went to the world to carry the word sect, naturally you are going for your money. Thus, you will ride two years. If after that you have money remained, and the community about it take care, you become a priest (boys), a fruit-minded uterus (girls).

6. You collect the names of your deceased relatives, friends, acquaintances, just different people of the deceased people and do the fact that the "baptize their souls", "crowned their souls", etc. Here is such an entertaining necrophilia.

7.Shm constantly put in wine what you are not rich enough and a little donor, are not smart enough and bring little converts, you work a little for the benefit of the community. You have few children, future priests and fruit-sized sects. For this you can drive out of the community and you will burn in hell.

8. In the end, you understand that you are a complete loser, you constantly remind you about it, and you go crazy. Crazy communities are not needed. They need psychiatras.

Priest's answer:

The so-called church of Jesus Christ, in reality, does not have the slightest relationship to the real church. This is a totalitarian sect founded in 1979 in Boston (USA) by Protestant Pastor Thomas (Kip) McKin. This sect found their branches in many countries outside America, including in Kyrgyzstan.

In his carriage doctrines, the Church of Christ is not much different from other Protestant directions, with the exception of one element: systems, so-called mentoring. Its essence lies in the fact that "Christ was obedient to God to his father to the godfather", it means that every Christian must absolutely obeyed his spiritual mentor. The mentoring system in the Church of Christ is built as follows. The man who draws you on the street and invites you to meet this church, is done from now on your mentor. Now you will be obliged under his leadership and supervision, not only to absorb the vigorious doctrines of the sect, but also to coordinate with him all aspects of your personal life: who are to be friends with how to spend free time (which will now, as a rule, will not), where to go to study With whom to marry, and so on. Your mentor is subject to more authoritative mentor, for example, the leader in the study of the Holy Scripture (lower level of organization). The leaders of the "conversations" are under the guidance of evangelists, and those under the leadership of the elders. And so - until the very end, to a small group of people who surround the Kipa McKina himself, and which he grabs himself. At the top of this pyramid there is McKin himself, which has no mentor. "Dead the mentor means to disobey Christ itself," says the fundamental principle of the sect. As a result, an authoritarian regime is created, in which the actions of each adept sect are rigidly controlled, and a single type of character and behavior is formed: everyone becomes small malline chambers. It happens, a kind, spiritual cloning. In this principle of mentoring and the totalitarianism of the Church of Christ is expressed.

The system of mentoring among the evangelical currents of the West in the middle of the 20th century appeared. But over time, most of the evangelical rejected it, for it began to bring appropriate fruits. So, in the article published in 1990 in the evangelical journal, said:

Movement quickly became elitist and exclusivist. The basis of the belief that every "sheep" should be a reporting "passer". Thus, all the "sheep" were attributed to "shepherds", many of whom were young, immature, often extremely self-confident and also fulfilled pride due to the newfound power. The result was multiple catastrophes and indescribable tragedies. In the whim of the "Shepherd" family should have moved from the city to the city. The churches were divided ... Critics brought numerous examples of "shepherds", who demanded their "sheep" to ask their permission to each meeting with a loved one, to change the work, and, however, for any act they were going to take.

In the same magazine Pastor, previously formerly one of the prominent mentors, wrote:

Mentoring was a mistake. I repent. I apologize ... The mentoring was an unhealthy submission that led to the perverted and non-biblical obedience to human leaders ... for wounds and humiliation, which I inflicted many, I repent of the deep sadness and I apologize ...

Indeed, in the real, historical church of Christ - Orthodoxy, before this day there is a practice of olderism. But only units can be real mentors, people who won their passions, experienced in the spiritual life, who received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As a rule, it is the monks, and novices who are completely out of their leadership, they have a lot of them. But the devil is a monkey of God, as said Saint Vasily Great. He is only a monkey, distorts the fact that the Lord has established in his church, and the damage and the death of the seduced.

The Church of Christ in Boston once allowed the well-known psychologist to Dr. Flavila Yikli to conduct psychological testing of his members, without suspecting that it would work out. The result came out that they were strongly regretted about this: 95 percent of the members of the sect were observed a sharp change in personality. The essence of these changes is what. There are congenital properties of character that do not change - for example, extrovertivity or intravertion, rationality, or intuitiveness, reasonableness or impulsivity. In itself, it is neither good nor bad. However, if these fundamental properties of the character suddenly begin to change, it turns out for a person with the most negative consequences: nervous disruptions, depressions, neurosis and, ultimately, suicide.

Starting its research, Dr. Yikli expected that the distribution of adepts on psychological types of personality would be more or less to comply with the percentage of society. To his surprise, he discovered that in the sect a very high percentage of personal changes, and with a tendency to one type of personality. And the longer the "experience" of the sectarian was, the more it was the likelihood that he would be in this personal group. The study irrefutably proved that the members of the Church of Christ are changing precisely congenital, stable qualities of the individual, which in principle cannot change (for example, Sanguins usually do not become melancholic, etc.). However, according to the results of the same testing, they changed from Scientologists, members of the Moon, Krishnayites and other sectarians. This gives strong personal mental shifts that often lead to serious illnesses and disorders, not to mention the fact that they create additional difficulties for rehabilitation of those members of the sects that are returned to normal life.

Jikley writes:

The results of a psychological examination ... irrefutably prove that some reasons forcing members of the Church of Christ to abandon their congenital psychological type and try to make copies of someone else ... There is something in the methodology of mentoring, which produces unhealthy development. Whatever it was, it should be eliminated ... They cannot deny the fact that all psychological types disappear and transformed into one particular type. They cannot deny the fact that members are altered in the image of a single group norm. They cannot deny the fact that it is violence against personality is derived from mentoring methodology.

You need to be prepared for assisting in the rehabilitation of many former sectarians, which because of their participation in motion will be very injured, both psychologically and spiritually. Most likely, these problems will develop when young people in this movement have reached the middle of life. Falsification of the psychological type (an attempt to change your personality and make you perceive the identity of another person) leads to a serious crisis in the middle of life. As a result, serious problems will arise: complete devastation, deep depression and a whole bouquet of other psychological and spiritual problems, which will be very difficult to resolve.

As you can see, Natalia's road, Church of Christ is a very dangerous sect, the entry into which a person can cause substantial psychological harm, not to mention the questions of the saving relationship with God and the compassion of the life of the eternal, who are in a sektex toward the True Church, cannot be implemented.

O. Y. Krivosheenko

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Line Days:

Meaning, Functions and Casual Practice

The work is represented by the Department of Religious Science of the RGPU. A. I. Herzen.

Scientific Director - Doctor of Philosophy, Professor A. Yu. Grigorenko

This article covers the importance of the importance of the church of the Church of the Line of the Last Days, the Office, the organization of the inner space of the temple, provides a brief description of the temple ceremonies, regulations and requirements for their participants.

Keywords: Mormon, Latter-day Saints, Sacrament, Endomulation, Sealing, Sacrifice, Consecration.

O. Krivosheyenko.

LDS Church Temples: Meaning, Functions and Everyday Practice

The article Touches of A LDS of Meaning and Functions of a LDS CHURCH TEMPLE, ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATION OF THE TEMPLE INNER AREA, DESCRIPTION OF THE TEMPLE ORDINAnceS, Instructions and Demands for their Participants.

Key Words: Mormon, Saints, Ordinance, Endowment, Sealing, Sacrifice, Dedications.

I get acquainted with the scientific and periodic literature on the church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days (CICSPD), the reader will definitely find a couple in it, sometimes more, paragraphs dedicated to the sacraments and rituals committed in the temples of the Saints, and these temples themselves in literature are clothed with some mysterious, sometimes An ominous halo of closedness, excellence from the traditional idea of \u200b\u200bthe Christian temple. And although in 1912, John E. Telmedzh was written a thorough work describing the external and internal device of four built by the state of Utah temples, the peripetics of their construction, sanctification, etc., and on the Internet today you can find official videos -Excursions on temples, as well as secretly removed or described by the participants of the temple ceremony, on the household level, in the press still persist, and sometimes the frightening image of the temple is cultivated, the domestic scientific literature on this topic is practically absent. Partially fill this gap and there is a task of this article.

According to the saints, we will use the term, which prefer the followers of CICSPD as self-calf, their temples are inherited by temples, starting from the ancient world, and directly to the Jerusalem temple. Several functions of the temple are distinguished: 1) the temple as a space model, the reflection of the principles of the Universum organization, as the "PUP" of the world, the expression of the idea through the architecture of an ancient temple (three-part membership - three worlds), the symbolic load of its elements, the device of the internal space, the symbolism of its parts; Modern example - Temple in Salt Lake City: Three levels, orientation to the East, Baptistery bowl with 12 horned bulls, like a bowl of Solomon Temple, symbolic elements of the facade of the building, etc.; 2) as a place of contact of a person with Divine; 3) as a place of ritual drama of creating a world that existed in one form or another for several millennia in various cultures on Earth; 4) dedication to pre-Christian times and baptism in

christianity as a symbolic act of death in one quality and birth in the new.

In the understanding of the holy temple there is a house of God, serving a close communication of the Lord with his people. The saints believe that they began to build temples not on their own will, but according to God's extension, since the sacraments conducted by them are possible only in the walls of the temple, and the father of them was promised to open many spiritual truths in the house built in the name and glory of him.

It should be noted that the restoration of the temple is of fundamental importance not only in the care of living, but also about the dead, since living since the date of the restored Gospel ("Book of Mormon") have the opportunity to hear him and join the Church of the Saints, adopting baptism, the soul of the dead Do not have such an opportunity, except for substitution baptism and only in the walls of the temple. Create as many souls as possible to save - the task of any Christian church, and the saints unequivocally belong to the Christianity of the apostolic times, and in such a context, their desire to save not only lively, but also have long been speaking ancestors.

Without a doubt, the temple of the saints, as an architectural structure, is distinguished from the Solomon temple, the sacraments held by the saints did not have places in the Hebrew Temple, and the special position of the priest of the Jewish temple does not have space in Mormon. All researchers of this issue are drawn to this, and the Mormon sources themselves do not deny these differences. For saints, continuity is seen in the essence of the main ceremony of the Solomon temple - sacrifice. The blood of the sacrificial animals of the Old Testament was spilled as the forerunner and the symbol of the greatest victim - the Blood of the Lamb - Jesus Christ. The Church of Christ is a new temple where the sacrifice no longer makes sense, it fulfilled its mission of proclaiming, but this is a place where a person recognizes the truth about his essence, the essence of the world and God, this is the start of its path to salvation and even greatness as Mormons They believe in existence in each man of God in the bud.

Therefore, Mormons, with all the external differences of the temple of the ancient Israel and the temple of the saints of our days, their inner essential continuity is no doubt.

To date, 124 saints are consecrated in the world, more than 60 of which are in the United States, that is, a little more than half, the rest are scattered around the world, but mainly in Africa, South America, Australia and Oceania.

Consecration of the temple for Mormon is an important ceremony, which is the sacred nature of the dedication of this temple to God. Traditionally, men, women, sometimes children who live in the district where the temple is built, and having temple recommendations, are invited to the service conducted inside or near the temple. This ceremony is repeated several times to take part in it all who came to her. The ceremony includes the singing of the sacred hymns and reading the messages from the highest church authorities. At some point, the ceremony is listed and, maneying with white scarves, pronounce three times: "Osanna, Osanna, Osanna, God and Lamb." This solemn expression of the feelings was first implemented by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple and is a remnissation of phrases of the followers of Christ (Mat. 21: 9) at its entrance to Jerusalem and the exclamation of many people in the land of abundance: "Osanna! Blessed is the name of the God of the Most High "(Z Nezv. 11:17), when they saw near the temple, about the coming of which the prophets were written. Ultimately sanctifying the temple, believe Mormons, there is nothing but the consecration of people who then take part in the sacraments in the temple

For several weeks after the completion of the construction of the temple and until its consecration, it is open to visit everyone regardless of the belonging to the church. After consecration, the entrance to the temple is possible only for Mormons and only with the Temple Recommendation.

Each temple has an individual schedule of temple ceremonies, which affects the

ascribed to the cokes assigned to him. Also, usually for a year ahead, the temple determines the dates when it is closed. The temple is not used for Sunday services, on Monday it is also closed for cleaning and preparation for the upcoming weekly work.

All temples are managed by the Supreme Presidency of the Church and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which the Temple Department is replaced. Special attention, the department pays to the implementation of the sacraments on established samples, preservation and safety of temples, their technical equipment, the relationships of temples, budget issues, etc.

The temple president is chosen by the Supreme Presidency of the Church for two or three years. Usually the wife of the temple president serves as a head of the church. Two advisors help the president, and the heads of two assistants. Each temple has a temple archival. The President of the Temple, his advisers, the temple hostess and the archivist form the Temple Executive Board. They are found weekly to plan what is needed to do this week. If necessary, other key figures can be invited to such a meeting.

A visit to the temple is permissible from 12 years. At this age, you can get a temporary recommendation to make baptism for the dead after an interview with the bishop. The passage of the endunement ceremony until 18 years happens extremely rarely. This is due to the need for certain spiritual preparedness. President Joseph F. Smith said that the children should not pass an endo-ration, as they should understand the purpose of their presence, they must be trained by the Gospel, to have faith in God, in the mission of Jesus Christ, grow in the evidence of faith before visiting the temple. However, before departing to the mission, a young man or a girl must be necessary to pass the ceremony of En-Dowve, that is, somewhere at the age of 19 for men and 21 for women. New members of the Church should wait at least a year from the dates of the Baptism before receiving permission to

endovement ceremony walking, although they can visit the temple to make baptism for the dead.

To visit the temple, it is necessary to undergo a confidential interview with the bishop, and then with the diocesan presidency, after which the temple recommendation is issued. It is signed as issuing it and those who are issued. Temple Recommendation is a form with a serial number of 77 x 103 mm in size, printed on paper with the calculation so that when folding in half to be the size of a regular business card. The recommendation for visiting the temple is valid one year.

Interviews for obtaining recommendations Standardized, the number of questions in it is determined by the leadership of the Church, today there are 14 such questions, some of them concern the doctrine, for example: "Whether the believers are in God's father, his son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit and whether you have a testimony Restored Gospel? " Others deal with family relationships ("Does your behavior in relation to family members mean something that does not correspond to the teachings of the church?"), Duties in front of the church ("Do you carry out your duties in the church, visit the participants and so on. ? ";" Do you pay completely tenth? "), Etc.

The temple visiting the first time is advised a few hours before this event to read themed literature with which the holy, of course, is familiar, however, first, such reading will never be superfluous, and, secondly, it will help to remember what Be sure to come in handy when the endunement ceremony passes: about creation (life. 1-4); Definitions from the biblical dictionary: Atonement, Christ, Testament, Drop Adam, Priesthood, Victim, Temple; Abstracts of Sunday School regarding preparations for visiting the temple, "Student Guide (preparation for the entrance to the Holy Church)", "Temples" dictionary in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, part of the head of the Holy Temple of Viktor L. Ludloou.

There is not a single official book of CICSPD explaining temple Tainst

va, their history or symbolism. Several books published edited by the leadership of the Church, affect these issues within themselves, there are a number of informal books, such as the "Holy Temple" of Brother Pak-RA, "Gate of Paradise" by Mat Brown. As part of this article, we will only briefly touch the topic of temple sacraments, which in itself is very extensive and requires separate lighting.

One of the main temple sacraments of the Cememonia of the endunement (from the English Endowment -Open). In the course of her holy, it is endowed with the secret name, according to which Jesus Christ will call him on the day of the Universal Resurrection, and is checked into special clothes, which from now on will serve him to protect him from everything that could harm his body.

In the temple, baptism is performed only for the dead. Alive congestion in prayer houses. With baptism in the temple, the minister says: "Brother ... (name), the power of Jesus Christ, I baptize you for. (Name), who died, in the name of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. " In the sacrament of baptism for the dead, young people aged 12 to 17 years old are oppressed. Dressed in white temple clothes, they spend two or three hours a day in Baptistery, participating in the ceremony several times.

The sacrament of the sealing of a marriage into eternity is performed in the temple in the presence of only the bride and groom, guests and relatives expect a couple outside the temple or in the lobby at the entrance, which is not considered the sacred part of the temple. In the course of the ceremony there is no music, reading poetry, photographing. The ceremony is short. The couple becomes knees in front of the altar, face to each other, connects his hands, exchanged oaths, and an official face of sealing, declares a couple of her husband and wife "for a while and eternity." The exchange of rings is not required and is not part of the ceremony.

Another form of sealing is sealing children and parents to eternity. If the child is born of marriage, perfect

in the temple, it is already considered "born in the covenant" and does not need sealing. If the couple entered into a secular marriage, after a while she can make a marriage sealing in the temple. If a couple already have children, they also lead to the temple for sealing. For children, in this case, it is not necessary to pass an interview, they are dressed in all white, directly spend into the sealing room.

When sealing for death, a group of Mormons is collected in the appropriate room. The conductive ceremony holds a sheet of paper with the names of the dead family members. He asks the number of men or women with the knees from the altar, and then quickly says words sealing families together, calling the names of each deceased family member and marking the family in a sheet as sealed, then refers to another family, and everything is repeated. Such a ceremony can last a few hours.

There is also a ceremony of the second endemment, which starting from the 1920s. It is rarely carried out that many Mormons do not even know about its existence. It is held by one of the apostles of the Church over the married couple invited by the President of the Church in the holy of the Holy Temple (one of the rooms of the temple). Such a pair is guaranteed salvation and stay at the highest levels in the Tse-Restal Kingdom. The part of the sacrament is performed by the pair of them at home, according to the instructions given during the endunement in the temple, and includes the leg ablution ceremony. One of the consequences of the second endemale - its participants can be given to visiting them by Christ.

The temples of the saints in their internal device and the interior are very far from traditional ideas about Christian temples. By the mean presence of sacred objects, the absence of an icon, a religious sculpture in the domestic decoration, they are close to Protestant temples, but the luxury and wealth of the wall decoration of Orthodox and Catholic temples switched to the luxury of furniture, lighting, flower arrangements in the temples of the saints.

The first temple of the saints was built in Kirtland, Ohio, and its external and internal device, according to Mormon conviction, was predetermined by the Lord. When in 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation on the construction of God's house, he asked at the nearest conference of its participants, how, in their opinion, should be this house. Opinions were divided. Then the word took Joseph Smith, informing those present that soon they would see the house, the architect of which the Lord himself will perform.

Externally, the temple looked like a typical prayer house in Novoangalian style. At the destruction of the Lord, there were two big rooms, one above the other: the bottom performed the chapel functions, the chapel, served to commit the sacraments, the top - to train the saints. Over time, temples ceased to use for training, however, there were zones, rather typical of public public institutions.

The modern temple of the saints has a hall for waiting, one or more rooms with theatrical chairs to view the video film - the composite part of the sacrament of the endowement, the room for baptism (baptistery), in which a large baptismal bowl rests on the backs of 12 horned bulls, the rooms are clerks and for the sacraments of sealing with Altars, office rooms, kitchen, cafeteria, laundry, clothing and chapel.

Until the mid-50s. XX century One of the parts of the endman, which is a theatrical formulation that tells about the creation of the world, the fall of Adam and Eve, the conclusion of the covenant with God, etc., in all temples passed live. The growth of foreign-speaking temples outside the United States led to the need to search for a new form of knowledge transfer. Since 1956, the endoiment ceremony, with the exception of the temple in Salt Lake City and several others, in which the action still performs live, includes viewing a video in the appropriate audience of the temple, reminiscent of the small cinema, the walls of which are decorated with the Eden Garden Panorama .

Hall for waiting, sealing rooms, celestial rooms are not decorated with objects that can cause spiritual experiences. They are usually decorated like a hall in the hotel: a lot of light, soft chairs or sofas, on which the endemage of one or small groups can spend some time in a calm awareness of those rituals that they just passed.

Of course, limited by the scope of this article, we only touched upon the issues of the temple value for the Church of the Saints, Management, Temple Organization, an internal device. Over the framework of the article, the history of the development of temple construction in the United States, Europe and other continents remained; An interesting topic for the development of the Architecture of the Mormon Temple and the religious symbolism of its decor,

which sources goes to Masonic symbolism. But even from such a brief review it becomes clear that one of the key roles in the dogmatics of saints is given: one of the key roles is given: the eternal knowledge is revealed in his walls, to whom and how to worship and how, leaving the earth's life, to gain the completeness of the Heavenly Father; This is the only building, which will open the saint after the death of the door of heaven for the purpose of the celestial kingdom - the highest habitat of the spiritual body; This is a place in which the work of the present generation of saints on the reunification of families, one of the main value categories of Mormons, in eternity. All this makes it clear the persistent desire of the saints to erect temples even in the most difficult times for the church as a source of salvation and eternal happy life in the kingdoms created by the Father for their "children."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2. Hugh W. Nibley. Meanings and Functions of Temples // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: Macmillan, 1992. V. 4. P.1458-1465.

3. Immo Luschin. Latter-Day Saints Temple Worship and Activity // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: MACMILLAN, 1992. V. 4. R. 1447-1450.

4. Robertl. Simpson. Administration of Temples // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: Macmillan, 1992. V. 4. R. 1456-1458.

Electronic resources

5. Road to the temple. Russian information and religious resource. URL: http: //www.religion. rin.ru/cgi-bin/religion Verified 09.12.2008.

6. Research resource for the study of Scriptures and churches of CICPD. URL: http: // www. MormonMonastery.org/temple-Preparation Verified 09.12.2008.

7. Mormonism and the Church of the Last Days. Research resource on CICPD. URL: http://www.lds-mormon.com/ veilworker / recommend.shtml Verified 09.12.2008.

8. The official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. URL: http://www.lds. ORG / TEMPLES. Verified 09.12.2008.

9. Temples of the Church of the Line Days. URL: http://www.ldschurchtemples.com Checked 09.12.2008.

10. Gordon B. Hinckley. Why these temples? URL: http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/temples Verified 09.12.2008.

11. Isaiah Bennett. Inside a Mormon Temple. URL: http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9506fea1.asp Verified 09.12.2008.

12. James E. Talmage. House of the Lord. URL: http://mormonhistory.org Checked 09.12.2008.

1. D. ARTHUR HAYCOCK. LDS Temple Dedications // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: Macmillan, 1992. V. 4. R. 1455-1456.

2. Hugh W. Nibley. Meanings and Functions of Temples // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: Macmillan, 1992. V. 4. P.1458-1465.

3. Immo Luschin. Latter-Day Saints Temple Worship and Activity // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: Macmillan, 1992. V. 4. P. 1447-1450.

4. Robert L. Simpson. Administration of Temples // Encyclopedia of Mormonism. NEW YORK: Macmillan, 1992. V. 4. P. 1456-1458.

Elektronnye Resursy.

5. Doroga K Khramu. Rossiyskiy Informatsionno-religiozny Resurs. URL: http: //www.religion. rin.ru/cgi-bin/religion provereno 09.12.2008.

6. Issledovatel "Skiy Resurs Po Izucheniyu Pisaniy I Khramov Tsikhspd. URL: http: // www. Mor-Monmonastery.org/temple-Preparation Provereno 09.12.2008.

7. MORMONIZM I TSERKOV "Svyatykh Poslednikh Dney. Issledovatel" Skiy Resurs Po Tsikhspd. URL: http://www.lds-mormon.com/ veilworker / recommend.shtml provereno 09.12.2008.

8. OFITSIAL "NY SAYT TSERKVI IISUSA KHRISTA SVYATYKH POSLENNIKH DNEY. URL: http://www.lds. Org / Temples. Provereno 09.12.2008.