While each religion has its own beliefs, traditions and customs, which seem somewhat unbelievable to outsiders and unbelievers, Mormons have their unique values. In essence, Mormons are Christians, members of “the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”. The Mormon Church was founded or formally organized by Joseph Smith in 1830. The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States, and has has over 14 million followers (called Mormons) all over the world.
Smith, considered a prophet of God by Mormons, claimed to have had a visitation from God and Jesus Christ in 1820, in which they ordered him not to adhere to any church, as they are all imperfect and incomplete; moreover, they promised Smith that one day the only true and living church would be reintroduced through him. Members of the new church have endured social and political opposition, and so have traveled for many years in search of a suitable home.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints states that it’s the only true and living church on earth. Mormons believe that an apostasy occurred throughout the first church after the death of the apostles in the first century AD.
The true authority of the church could not be rebuilt by studying the scriptures or the work of the theologians, but by revelations given by God. Mormons consider themselves to be Christians, but they do not see themselves as part of the Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant traditions. One of the most obvious differences between Mormons and Christianity is that Mormon doctrine states that God once was an ordinary man who lived on earth.
Here are some strange less known Mormon beliefs:
1) The existence of multiple worlds with multiple gods
Mormons have a unique view on cosmology and they believe that god created several planets and each planet has its own god. The religion of Mormon goes even further, claiming that if you are a good person you will be rewarded by becoming a god on your planet.
2) Tithing
Tithing is seldom compulsory in this religion, but the theology of Mormonism claims that you are required to pay 10% of the gross income (tithing) to the church in order to be in the Kingdom of Heaven.
3) More heavens
Speaking of heaven, while Christianity believes there is only one heaven, the Mormon beliefs say there are three heavens that rely hierarchically on how good you are as a human being.
4) Children shouldn’t play with their friends on Sundays
If you go to a Catholic country such as Spain, you will notice there are very few places open on a Sunday. Mormon theology is similar to that of Catholicism, in the sense that it’s proclaimed that Sunday must be a day of rest dedicated to God and family. You can’t even watch TV on Sundays and children are not allowed to play with their friends on a “day of rest.”
5) Spouses in Heaven
The Mormon Doctrine says that if you want to be with your partner in the afterlife, the marriage ceremony must take place in the temple of the Mormon church. All marriages taking place outside the temple are considered to be inferior.
6) Coffee and tea are forbidden
If you are a tea or coffee lover, then you should know being a mormon is not for you. This sect totally prohibits coffee and tea consumption.
7) Dinosaur bones come from another planet
Mormons believe that fossilized dinosaur bones came from other creatures who lived on other planets that were destroyed when Earth was created.
