Adieu, the final farewell, an exploration of death!
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Quick Links:
| Latter Day Saints | Endowment |
| Salt Lake City | Temple garment |
| Beliefs | Death |
| Polygamy | Funeral |
| Prosleytising missions | Coffin |
| Abstinence | Service |
| People of colour |
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Some 16.6m people, or 0.2% of global population, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Often referenced as the LDS Church, or Latter-Day Saints, we shall use the term Mormon.
The religion has a central authority based in Salt Lake City, Utah USA. It is based both upon The Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Mormons are Christians, but they have beliefs that are at odds with the Nicene Creed. They believe that all people are the spirit children of God.
Mormons initially believed in polygamy, but this was terminated in 1904.
Central to their mission are their proselytising missions.
Mormons abstain from alcohol, tobacco, caffeine drinks, and other addictive materials. They have a strict law of chastity believing only in heterosexual marriage.
Mormons, initially would, not admit people of colour into their community, but this was changed in 1978. Questions do still persist about its stance on race.
Mormonism has a two-part ceremony for the member to be endowed, a process that will give them status in the afterlife. The first part has them enact the creation and the fall of Adam and Eve, they are washed and anointed, then given a new name, that initially must remain secret.
They are then awarded their temple garment, a sort of one-piece under-garment, that must be worn under their clothes day and night for the rest of their life.
They are also taught symbolic gestures and passwords required to pass angels in the afterlife. A second anointing is given to Mormon couples to guarantee their exaltation in the afterlife. This is only accorded to a select group and remains secret.
On death Mormons believe the deceased will be judged on their life and sent either to spirit paradise or spirit prison. The latter is a temporary state because Jesus will judge them again at his second coming. They will be sent depending on that judgement to the Celestial Kingdom, The Terrestrial Kingdom or the Telestial Kingdom (the lowest level).
The funeral usually takes place a week after death. There is no custom as to the period of mourning, this is believed to be a personal choice.
If the deceased has been awarded an endowment, then the body will be dressed in the temple garment under white clothing.
The coffin is displayed open for mourners to view during the wake and at the place of funeral. Then the coffin is closed and attended by close family for a private prayer.
The funeral service is led by a bishop and features eulogies, readings, story-telling and hymns. The body is then buried or cremated. For a burial a priest makes a series of blessings and prayers.
This is usually followed by a cooked meal, where possible organised by the women’s Relief Society.
Mormon: Forward to Jehovah’s Witnesses – Famous Cemeteries
Back to Next tier of religions – Religions – Death
Back to Adieu Index - Back to Bob Denton home page
