The two largest Christian denominations in the world are Roman Catholicism with 1.2 billion members (“How Many Roman Catholics Are There in the World?”) and Protestantism with 900 million members (Kiprop). The Roman Catholic religion traces its history back nearly 2,000 years and believes that Jesus Christ founded it in the year 33 AD (“History of the Catholic Church”). The Protestant religion was founded by German monk Martin Luther and others after protesting and separating from the Roman Catholic Church in 1517 (“Ericksen”). On April 16, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) was founded by Joseph Smith in Fayette Township, New York. Today, 16 million people are members of the LDS church (“2017 Statistical Report for 2018 April General Conference”). Because of the young age and relatively small size of the denomination, since the founding of the church, it has endured many jokes and lies and is often times discredited. Members do not openly try to combat these myths to prevent arguments and bringing negativity into their church.

Myth #1: Latter-Day Saints aren't Christians and have their own bible.

        Christianity is the belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Unlike other Christian denominations who believe in the Holy Trinity, LDS believe in the Godhead as three separate beings: God the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Because of the LDS’ belief in the Godhead, many people believe that LDS are not Christians. This is simply not the case. Because they believe in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, they are technically Christians. Stemming from this fallacy is another claim that LDS have their own bible. Just like other Christian denominations, they believe in the Old Testament and the New Testament. However, they also believe in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants which touches many significant aspects of the faith, and Pearl of Great Price which tells about Heaven (Rafferty).

Myth #2: Latter-Day Saints worship Joseph Smith.

        Many people believe that the LDS worship and pray to the man that founded their religion, Joseph Smith. At the age of 14, Smith had an experience with God which initiated the creation process of the religion. Lost among the countless varying religions of the time, he went to the woods and prayed to God asking what church to attend, believing that not all of them could be true. In response, God declared that none of the churches were completely accurate and sent the angel Moroni to deliver and translate the “golden plates” to Joseph after years of abiding by set rules. These translations were then written in English by Smith and published in Palmyra, New York as “Book of Mormon” (Rafferty). As discussed previously, the LDS praise only the bible, their own three books, Jesus Christ. They do recognize Joseph Smith as the founder of their religion, however, they do not worship him because he’s a messenger from God, not a holy figure (Rafferty).

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Myth #3: Latter-Day Saints believe in and practice polygamy.

        Throughout his 38 years, Joseph Smith married between 30 and 40 women. Because of a commandment that was given to him by God, he preached that polygamy was “divinely sanctioned” (Brooks). Though it was practiced for a long time and in other religions and cultures throughout history, in 1890, pressured by societal politics, over 40 years after Joseph Smith’s mob-assassination, the LDS church discontinued the acceptance of the practice (“Plural Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”). Groups of Mormon Fundamentalists, a different type of Mormonism that is not LDS, in Utah still practice polygamy today. Though polygamy is no longer allowed in the LDS church, in special circumstances such as divorcees and widows, men are allowed to be sealed to more than one woman in his lifetime.

        The LDS religion is fundamentally different in their beliefs than other Christian denominations. Whether they’re right or wrong, they’re the target of hurtful jokes, lies, and slander. Though most of it is not meant to be truly harmful to the religion or its members anymore, at one point it was and it is still disrespectful to the culture of 16 million LDS members worldwide. As people, we should be more understanding of the fact that people are different naturally, socially, and culturally and should be more willing to accept and embrace our differences.