A look at Mormonism in Haywood County
Surely the longest name of any church in Haywood County is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” better known to us by their nickname, “Mormon.”
It all began in 1838 when Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was told in a revelation in upstate New York that the church should be called “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Attending a Mormon church service, one is struck by the similarities and differences between it and ones in other church services. The principal service on Sunday morning is called Sacrament Meeting, with communion -- bread and water — served every Sunday. The sacraments are brought to the pew by young men, 12 to 18.
These elements differ from the “wine” references in the Book of Mormon, said Brother Westerman, the ward’s missionary from Idaho, because of the Mormon belief in an alcohol-free life. He explained that wine was discontinued in the early years.
Mormons regard members of the Christian church in biblical times as saints or “former-day saints.” According to their official Web site, they believe that they are the “latter-day saints.” They also regard their Book of Mormon as sacred writing — believing it goes hand in hand with the Bible and is referred to as “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”
They bridge this gap between “former-day saints” and “latter-day saints” with the belief that following the death of Jesus and the Apostles, there was apostasy or “a falling away from the faith,” which happened gradually over the centuries. As a result, God took away “the priesthood authority and His church” from the earth. Ordinances were changed and many plain and simple truths were lost.
Mormons believe that Christ restored His priesthood and reorganized His church in the 19th century through His prophet, Joseph Smith, a restoration which continues through Smith’s successor prophets to this day.
Mormons use three distinct terms not found in other churches. A local church is called a ward and is presided over by a bishop, assisted by two counselors, who form the bishopric. There is no paid staff in the ward. The three speakers in their 70- to 80-minute Sacrament Meeting are chosen from the congregation by the Bishopric, who usually assign the topic they are to present.
During a January service, the leadoff speaker was 15-year-old James Wessling, a sophomore and member of the marching band at Tuscola High School. The other two speakers were a husband-and-wife team, Sister Lois Smith and Brother Richard Smith. The terms “brother” or “sister” are the usual address for all adult members.
Following the Sacrament Meeting, Wessling explained he was Mormon because he believes it is the true church of God.
“I believe this with every ounce of my heart and being,” he said fervently.
This conviction came through in his address, as well as through that of the Smith couple. Offerings are not received during the Sacrament Meeting. Instead, tithes and offerings are either mailed to the bishop or received by a member of the bishopric.
Smaller congregations, called branches, are presided over by a president; a group of wards is called a stake. For example, the Asheville stake consists of eight wards and three stakes across western North Carolina.
Over time, members have the opportunity serve in various callings and gain experience in the church. The stake president, through revelation, knows when it is time to call a new bishop. He and his counselors prayerfully select a male priesthood holder, elder, or high priest, from the local congregation. They then submit the new bishop’s name to the first presidency of the church, Gordon B. Hinckley and his two counselors, for approval. The congregation later confirms this action. Typically one serves as bishop for five to seven years, although he can serve longer. “One thing most non-Mormons do not know,” said Russell Brown, the current bishop of the local ward, “is that basically we believe in Jesus just like they do; however, we add to Jesus the revelations to Joseph Smith. Unique to our denomination is that we existed with Jesus in our pre-existent state; we also believe in a post-resurrection appearance by Jesus, in the flesh, to people in the Western Hemisphere.”
When members speak during a service, Brown said prayers are “spontaneous and heartfelt. Such prayers and testimonies — from different members of the congregation every Sunday — set them apart from most Christian bodies.”
Mormans view their religion as simply adding to the Judeo-Christian tradition.
“On practical and doctrinal matters, we defer to the authority of our Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, and his assistants, called the quorum of the twelve apostles,” Brown said.
Latter-day Saints accept a more extensive and more open canon of scripture than those accepted by other Christians and by Jews.
Latter-day Saints accept, in addition to the Bible, the Book of Mormon the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These four scriptural collections are called the Standard Works,” according to their Web site.
