You Are Osmond Fan
Okay. So I'm not LDS. I'm Catholic. But I am interested in LDS, mainly because it is associated with the Osmonds, and I like the Osmonds. Therefore, I put together a little LDS page of my own, with some basic info on the church. There are other links below, so if you want more info, please go check them out! Thanks!
WHAT DOES LDS STAND FOR?
LDS stands for Latter Day Saints, which is short for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That's what this page is about. The Osmonds are all members of the LDS Church, which was founded in the 1830's by a man named Joseph Smith. To learn more about Joseph Smith and how the Church was founded, go to the official LDS website.
SOME BASIC INFO:
Here is some very basic information about LDS, which I've broken down into a type of question and answer session to make it easier to understand.
IS LDS CHRISTIAN?
LDS is Christian, but it is not Catholic or Protestant. Instead, it is a restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ as originally established by the Savior.
WHAT IS THE GODHEAD OF THE LDS CHURCH?
The Godhead is God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. These three are one in purpose but separate in being.
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES AND ORDINANCES OF LDS?
There are four principles and ordinances. Number 1: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Number 2: Repentance. Number 3: Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Number 4: Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Thanks to my bud Dana, who knows more about this stuff than I do, I now know what #4 means. It means Conformation.)
DOES BAPTISM OCCUR IN INFANCY LIKE IN OTHER CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS?
No, it does not. Infants are not able to commit sins, therefore there is no point to baptising them for the remission of sins. Children of the LDS faith are baptised at age 8, which is when they are considered to be accountable for their actions.
WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF THE GOSPEL?
Family unity in this life and the potential for eternal family relationships are at the core of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Marriages performed in the Church's temples do not dissolve at death. Marriage and family relationships may continue through eternity contingent upon individual worthiness.
WHAT DOES THE CHURCH TEACH?
LDS teaches honesty, integrity, obedience to law, chastity outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage. It opposes abortion, pornography, gambling and other evils.
WHAT IS THE WORD OF WISDOM?
It is a health plan of sorts that was revealed to Joseph Smith in 1833. It cautions against using tobacco, alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea and emphasizes the positive benefits of wise eating habits and physical and spiritual fitnes. The Church interprets the misuse and abuse of all drugs--illegal, legal, prescriptive or controlled--as a violation of the Word of Wisdom.
WHAT ARE CHURCH MEMBERS COMMANDED TO DO/BE?
The Lord commands LDS members to be self-reliant and independent to the extent of their ability.
WHAT ARE THE TOP TEN LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY LDS MEMBERS?
The languages are: English, Spanish, Portugese, Tagalog, Japanese, Samoan, Cebuano, Ilokano, Korean and Tongan.
WHAT DO THE LDS MISSIONARIES DO?
They teach the restored gospel and it's ordinances and engage in community service.
HOW MANY MISSIONARIES ARE THERE RIGHT NOW?
There are roughly 50 000 missionaries serving around the world at this time.
WHO ARE THE MISSIONARIES?
75% of the Church's proselytizing missionaries are young men between 19-26. However, 18% are young single women and 7% are retired couples. The young men are given the priesthood office of "elder" but the others don't. The Elders serve at their mission for 2 years, the women and couples serve for 18 months. They all work very long hours, 7 days a week.
WHAT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY'RE CALLED TO BE MISSIONARIES?
They go to one of the 15 training centers around the world for an 8 week training period. If they do not have to learn a new language before they go on their mission, they go to the training centers for 2-3 weeks of basic orientation.
WHERE ARE THE TRAINING CENTERS LOCATED?
The fifteen centers are located in: Provo, Utah (USA), Guatemala City, Santiago, London, Hamilton (New Zealand), Lima, Buenos Aires, Manila, Bogata, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Apia (Western Samoa), Mexico City, Seoul, Nuku'alofa (Tonga).
WHAT DO THE MISSIONARIES DO WHEN THEY COME HOME?
The missionaries return to schooling, vocations or family.