7 - The American Way: Mormonism

•Read LoH pg 135 (halfway down) to pg 137 (halfway down).
As we continue our study of religion during the early 1800s, we will briefly examine the rise of Mormonism (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) — a movement that began during the same era as the Second Great Awakening.
This topic is important for several reasons. Mormonism is not simply another denomination of Christianity; it is a distinct religious system that originated entirely in America, born out of the culture, hopes, and spiritual restlessness of its time. As historically orthodox Protestants, we approach this material not to entertain falsehood, but to understand how falsehood can imitate truth. By reading a few short passages (upload provided) from the Book of Mormon, we will see how this movement:
-Reflected American ideals and longings — freedom, expansion, revelation, and self-determination in 2 Nephi 1:6-8.
-Spoke to the emotional and spiritual hunger of ordinary people during a season of revivals and new religious experiments in 3 Nephi 11:28-30.
-Departed sharply from the biblical and orthodox Christian faith, replacing divine revelation with human imagination in Teachings of the Prophet 345.
•Discuss:
-What needs or desires in early America made such a message appealing?
-How does Mormon teaching differ from the message of Scripture?
-What does this show us about the human tendency to exchange divine revelation for human invention?
•By encountering Mormonism firsthand, rather than only hearing about it secondhand, we can see clearly how it was an American-made religion, fabricated from the beliefs, ideals, and imagination of its time, and why the gospel of Christ alone stands firm across every age and culture.
•OPTIONAL: If you would like to learn a bit more about Mormonism (and why it is preposterous), watch the YouTube video provided.