Mormonism For Dummies

"Mormons are a bit puzzled by the hullabaloo. . ." These are the words of authors Jana Riess and Christopher Kimball Bigelow, on page 79 of their book, "Mormonism for Dummies." Apparently, the authors have trouble understanding the opposition, especially from Jewish groups, to the Mormon practice of "proxy baptism." The authors do admit that in 1995, Mormon Church leaders told members to refrain from baptizing Jewish Holocaust victims; but, according to the authors, some "Mormons apparently didn't get the memo." The authors further admit that Church members continued the practice despite the official Church position. In more recent years, Mormon Church officials once again agreed to refrain from performing proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims by those not related to the victims and to remove the names of victims, from its "ordinance database," when evidence is produced that an unauthorized baptism had been performed.A word of explanation about "proxy baptism." Mormons perform, what they call "crucial gospel ordinances," such as baptism, on behalf of dead people. According to Mormon theology, this practice gives the dead person's spirit the opportunity to accept the Christian Gospel (The New Testament) in order to enter the middle or highest level of their multi-tiered heaven, called the "Terrestrial kingdom and Celestial kingdom," respectively. The lowest level of their heaven is called the "Telestial kingdom." According to the book, this kingdom is reserved for repentant adulterers, liars, murderers, rapists, and those who "received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus, not even in the spirit world."Therefore, "Mormon theology teaches that good people of many different religious traditions will live in paradise forever; they may even dwell in the highest of the three kingdoms, if they accept the gospel in the spirit world and so qualify." Since Mormons want everyone to make it into the highest levels of heaven, they perform proxy baptisms (and the other ordinances or sacraments) on behalf of the souls of the dead, which provides the deceased person's soul a choice: either accept the Christian Gospel and enter the upper levels of heaven or reject the Christian Gospel and stay in the Telestial kingdom, with the fine next door neighbors mentioned above, or even worse yet, be sent to Outer darkness (hell) with Satan and his followers.In other words, if you don't accept Christianity, either as a mortal or as a spirit, you get to spend eternity with the likes of repentant "adulterers, liars, murderers and rapists" and others who likewise didn't accept the Christian Gospel. How's that for a pleasant concept?Therefore, there is no entry into the highest levels of heaven if you are Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Baha'i, Atheist, Agnostic etc., unless you reject your own faith or beliefs in death and accept Christianity. There is one exception: if you have never heard of the Christian Gospel before your death and accept it as a spirit, you're in. If you reject it, you're out. Is there someone on this planet, within the last 1,500 years, who hasn't heard of Christianity or The New Testament?Why do Jews object to the proxy baptism of Holocaust victims? The Second World War was the most destructive conflict in human history. During the war, six million Jews (all civilian, non-combatants) were rounded up by the Nazis: their property was confiscated; they were herded into ghettos under deplorable conditions; they were starved and beaten; and, then shipped off to slave labor camps to be worked to death or to extermination centers to be gassed to death--men, women and children. No exceptions! The Nazis named their genocidal program: "The Final Solution to the Jewish Problem." What was the problem? The problem was that Jews existed. According to Nazi ideology, Jews didn't deserve to live; so, the Nazis systematically murdered them because they were Jewish. Of course, not all victims of the Holocaust were Jewish; but all Jews were victims.Mormons want to convert the souls of these dead Jews, murdered in the Holocaust, to Christianity, so they can enter heaven. These victims were stripped of their human dignity in life and are now being stripped of their human dignity in death. In other words, being Jewish wasn't good enough to live on earth; and, now it is not good enough to enter heaven. To say that the tortured and murdered victims of the Holocaust must first reject their own religion for which they murdered and then convert to another religion before being allowed admittance into heaven is nothing short of appalling.Here is the twisted irony in all of this: if the spirit of a Holocaust victim refuses to renounce his or her Judaism, by accepting the Christian Gospel, his or her soul (if they qualify) will be relegated to the Telestial kingdom, very possibly alongside the repentant Nazis that murdered them. In fact, Mormons have posthumously baptized not only Anne Frank, but Adolf Hitler as well. There is something quite perverted about this outcome.One would think that nothing could rehabilitate these Nazi mass murderers and their despicable leaders, and that Outer darkness would be their place in Mormon cosmology, without exception.For example, Adolf Eichman was the SS Officer assigned to run Hitler's concentration camps. It was his job to make sure that enough Zyklon B was available to carryout mass gassings and that the trains had enough fuel to carry their victims to their deaths. It was reported that, while awaiting execution for his crimes, he accepted Jesus Christ as his lord and savior. Is he now in the Telestial kingdom with the Jewish people he murdered?Of course, the proxy baptisms continue for non-Holocaust Jews and people of all other faiths, all of which is objectionable. The authors and other Mormons might argue that other mainstream Christian groups (Catholics and Protestants) also believe that heaven is denied to those who haven't accepted the Gospel and it is only the Mormons who give these souls a chance through their proxy baptisms. If so, this Christian belief of heaven for Christians only is the epitome of chauvinism and ethnocentrism. No religion has a monopoly on eternal truth.I can not image God or Jesus (or whatever name you call the Supreme deity) limiting entry to heaven to Christians, only. Rather, human souls are judged on the content of their characters and the goodness of their hearts; not the particular religion they were born into. We were all created in God's image--all of us, not just some of us!And, yet the authors are puzzled by the hullabaloo!

Since the 2012 Presidential election featured a candidates of the Mormon faith, some may want an introduction to this belief system. The study of American history often omits the driving force of various religious denominations that defined and divided the inheritors of the American Revolution. I enjoy studying faith systems; religious traditions entwine with and shape history. The settlement of the inter-mountain West often leaves Latter-day Saints out of the picture, focusing on Frederick Jackson Turner's secular Frontier Theory. The development and tribulations of early Mormonism, from upstate New York, to Governor Bogg's 1838 extermination order in Missouri, and the pioneer period, are fascinating. Unique in American history, Mormonism was singled out for persecution, yet survived the difficult exodus West.This book is an accessible introduction, though when Bigelow and Riess attempt to be topical, they become glib. When the humor works, it's fun, but bloopers abound: they describe writer and Mormon convert Anne Perry in Peter Jackson's film  Heavenly Creatures , stating the film "is based on a girlhood experience of Perry's" (Bigelow and Riess 2005:320). A girlhood experience? Riess and Bigelow make it sound like the gal just went on a picnic, or tried out for cheer-leading. Perry was convicted of brutally murdering her girlfriend's mother, which Jackson's film portrays. As well, there is a constant mocking of conservative Mormon culture, decrying that "Mormonism hasn't yet given rise to a Phillip Roth or a Woody Allen" (2005:317). Stereotypes, anyone? Mormons can be thankful not to have produced such dated, overblown, wretched misogynists and pretentious pseudo-literati as Roth or Allen.Though the historic Mormon experience has been extremely well researched and documented by many, Riess and Bigelow seriously err with their lite portrayal of Joseph Smith's life and death. Smith repeatedly relocated early Latter-day Saints in the face of overwhelming obstacles, from upstate New York to the creation of the bustling city Nauvoo. Try the vivid biography by eminent historian and National Book Award winner Robert Vincent Remini instead:  Joseph Smith (Penguin Lives) .A surprising error perpetuates prejudices, when the authors describe Joseph Smith's death from the point of view of the mob. Bigelow and Riess write that when Joseph Smith ran to the window to escape the assassins, who had already killed his brother and were shooting at him, Smith was: "reportedly lifting his arms in the MASONIC signal of distress" (Bigelow and Riess 2005:197). Caps mine. Why repeat balderdash created by the perpetrators? The man was fleeing shooters, not making superfluous Masonic gestures. You don't have to be a Mormon to figure that out. Many accurate accounts exist, none of them ascribe Masonic movements to Smith's death. The characterization of the historic Missouri Danites simply as a "gang," when they formed to defend fellow Mormons against persecution, is controversial, whatever they may have morphed into. "For Mormons, history is theology, so they can't take it lightly" (2005:185). Thus, get it right. The slim history portion of the book, however flawed, should have been placed at the forefront, to provide context for the faith. However, Bigelow and Riess describe many unique aspects of Mormonism. Regarding the Mormon pioneer experience, they humorously describe food-storage and desire to never go hungry again, with substantial portions of tater casseroles. For historic accounts of Mormon pioneers, try  Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail  and  Nauvoo: KINGDOM ON THE MISSISSIPPI .

Pros: well written, really funny at times, easy to read and through.Cons: Paints a pretty rosy picture of the polygamy period.This is a really well written overview of the Mormon Church, Very through and honest, it gives non-Mormons a clear picture of what today's LDS practice and believe. I have family member who are Mormon and the book is a valuable tool to help understand how they live their lives. The authors don't shy away from controversy, explaining in more detail than I expected the differences between Mormon faith and other Christian churches. I was a little surprised at the detail provided regarding Temple ordinances, while not explaining exactly what is done, the authors explain what the services are and why they are done. Any differences between Mormon and traditional Christianity are explained away by continuing Revelation and that in their view, the LDS church is the one true faith. Not a problem for me, the book is written by Mormons to explain their church to non Mormons.Given the level of honesty in the book I was a little surprised at the coverage of polygamy. If the authors are correct, most women were very happy being one of several wives. There is a page that tells how many sister wives were doctors, teachers, and other professionals. They do admit that while polygamy is now forbidden by the church the revelation that encouraged it has never been withdrawn, and that many in the church expect that polygamy will be the norm in the 3 levels of Heaven (read the book). In their favor they do admit that during the time of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young girls as young as 14 were taken as wives.If you are looking for a layman's guide to the Mormon faith, I highly recommend Mormonism For Dummies..

A good insight into Mormonism although you can tell it been written by a Mormon who been brainwashed. Doesn't give a complete true image of this dangerous cult. Mormonism totally contradicts Christianity and the bible. Ask people who had there daughters interviewed by Bishops about sex when there only 12 and the 10% income they expect even if your struggling to put food on the table. Not to mention the fact they believe they will become gods rulling over there own plannet. None of this was mentioned in the book of course!!

I bought this book when I was exploring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I found it easy to read and it covered topics not mentioned by the missionaries. After I joined the church I continued to use it to help explain things I didn't always understand at first. I would highly recommend.

Populist approach is rather allusive and I don’t think a reader would really get a true impression of LDS life and thought.

Very easy to understand and informative introduction to Mormonism. A interesting read for someone who wants a basic understanding of what Mormons believe and practice.

Clearly explains and demystifies what "Mormonism" really is, and with humour!