List of Mormon folk beliefs

In the largest group of the Latter Day Saint movement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), folklore is usually distinguished from church doctrine, but there is no universally accepted method of determining where doctrine ends and folklore begins. Most Latter-day Saints consider material in the church's scriptures and joint statements of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to constitute church doctrine.[1] Any other part of the expressive cultural aspects of Mormonism may be legitimately classified as Mormon folklore.[2][3]

The Seagull Monument located in front of the Salt Lake Assembly Hall on Temple Square.

Leaders of the LDS Church have preached against the propagation of folklore and other rumors. In a 1972 general conference address, church president Harold B. Lee encouraged members to verify incredible stories with church authorities before passing them on.[4]

On scriptural themes

• that Cain, the killer of Abel, is alive and wanders the earth, wearing no clothing but being covered by hair, and that apostle David W. Patten encountered him once,[5][6][7] and that reported sightings of Bigfoot can be explained by this story[8]
• that the global flood of Noah constituted the baptism of the Earth[9]
• that Jesus was married, possibly to Mary Magdalene, Mary, sister of Lazarus, and/or Martha, and that Jesus may have been a polygamist and had children[10][11][12][13]
• that Jesus was born on 6 April[14][15][16]
• modern encounters and assistance from one or more of "The Three Nephites", three Nephite disciples chosen by Jesus in the Book of Mormon, who were blessed by Jesus to "never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men".[17][18]^:209

In church history

Tāwhiao

• that the writings of the early Church Fathers conform better with Mormonism than with modern Christianity[19]
• that in 1739 a Roman Catholic monk predicted that within 100 years an angel would be sent by God to restore the lost gospel to the earth and that the true church would be established in "a valley that lies towards a great lake"[20][21]
• that the "great and abominable church" described in the Book of Mormon can be identified as the Roman Catholic Church.[22]
• the miracle of the gulls, in which the crops of early Mormon settlers in Utah Territory were saved from destruction by a vast flock of seagulls that ate swarms of Mormon crickets that were devouring the crops[23][24][25]
• that a flash of lightning or other divine manifestation protected the body of Joseph Smith from being mutilated by a mob after he had been killed at Carthage Jail[26]
• that those who persecuted the early Latter Day Saints and killed Joseph Smith suffered physically and mentally later in their lives, with some meeting gruesome or particularly painful deaths[27]
• that Orson Hyde, an early apostle of the church, was of Jewish ancestry and that for this reason it was he in 1841 that dedicated Palestine for the return of the Jews[28]
• that when speaking to the Latter Day Saints after the death of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young took on the appearance, voice, and mannerisms of Smith and that this was a sign from God that Young was to be Smith's successor[29][30]
• that Albert Einstein said that geologist and LDS Church apostle James E. Talmage was the smartest man he had ever met[31]
• that Māori prophets or chieftains, including Paora Te Potangaroa and Tāwhiao, predicted the coming of Mormon missionaries to New Zealand[32][33][34]
• that Del Parson's painting "Christ in Red Robe" was produced under the direction of church general authorities, who suggested how to make it more accurate, until it was deemed the closest resemblance of Jesus Christ[35][36][37]
• that a geological feature in Millard County, Utah, known as the "Great Stone Face" resembles a profile of Joseph Smith's face[38]
• that various theories explain reasons for the priesthood ban on black people holding the priesthood before the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood,[39]^:66[40] even when these reasons are repudiated by LDS Church leaders and scholars[39]^:132–135[41][42][43][44]
  • that the curse of Cain[45] or the curse of Ham[46]^:125 justified the racial restriction policy
  • that they were neutral in the War in Heaven[47]
  • that it was done in order to protect them from the lowest rung of hell, since one of few damnable sins is to abuse the exercise of the priesthood[48][49]

On temples

Laie Hawaii Temple

• that in designing the Salt Lake Temple, Brigham Young had the foresight to make space accommodation for future technological advancements such as elevators, air conditioning, and electrical wiring[50][51]
• that on December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft pilots attempted to bomb or strafe the church's Hawaiian Temple just prior to or just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but were prevented from doing so by mechanical failures or an unseen protective force,[52] and that the Japanese pilot who attempted to bomb or strafe the Hawaiian Temple was converted to the LDS Church after he saw a picture of the temple in the possession of Mormon missionaries in Japan[52]
• that Tāwhiao accurately predicted the site of the 1958 Hamilton New Zealand Temple before his death in 1894;[53][54]
• that officials of the Roman Catholic Church supported the LDS Church's efforts to build the Rome Italy Temple and that this support was forthcoming because of the church's support of Proposition 8 in California in 2008[55]
• that wearing temple garments affords physical protection, and that some wearers have survived car wrecks, floods, and other calamities unscathed thanks to the protective power of the garments[56]

About the preexistence

• that today's youth were "generals" in the War in Heaven and that when they return to heaven they will be revered[57]

Predictions

The Great Stone Face and a portrait of Joseph Smith, Jr.

The following are examples of predictions or prophecies that are part of Mormon folklore:

• that the church will reinstitute the practice of plural marriage before the second coming.[58]
• that the day will come that the United States Constitution will "hang by a thread" and that members of the church will be central in rescuing it and the United States from destruction.[59][60][61][62][63] (See also: White Horse Prophecy)
• that after the Ten Lost Tribes return, they will assist in building the Temple of the New Jerusalem on the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri. The tenth Article of Faith of the Latter Day Saint movement states that members believe in the "literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes" (see House of Joseph (LDS Church));
• that God will restore the Adamic language.[64]
• that the Dream Mine will provide financial relief for believers in Utah after the disasters leading up to the Second Coming.[65]

See also

• Culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Symbolism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Notes

1. However, some Latter-day Saints have a more expansive conception of doctrine. For example, some believe that any statement made by the President of the Church constitutes doctrine. Others may extend this belief to statements made by an apostle or other general authority in a church general conference.
2. Wilson, William A. (1992). "Folklore". In Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.). Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan Publishing. pp. 518–520. ISBN 0-02-879602-0. OCLC 24502140.
3. The designation "folklore" does not imply that the tale or belief is necessarily "untrue".
4. Lee, Harold B. (January 1973), "Admonitions for the Priesthood of God", Ensign.
5. Letter by Abraham O. Smoot, quoted in: Wilson, Lycurgus Arnold (1904) [1900], Life of David W. Patten, the First Apostolic Martyr, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News, pp. 46–47, OCLC 4922706
6. Whiting, Linda Shelley (2003), David W. Patten: Apostle and Martyr, Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, p. 85, ISBN 1555176828, OCLC 51293310
7. Kimball, Spencer W. (1969), The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, pp. 127–128, ISBN 0-88494-444-1, OCLC 20950
8. Arave, Lynn; Genessy, Jody (2003-07-24), "Living in Utah: A guide to separate reality from myths", Deseret Morning News, p. A1
9. Pratt 1880, p. 323 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFPratt1880 (help)
10. Hyde 1854, pp. 81–82, 210
11. Hyde 1858, pp. 259–260 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHyde1858 (help)
12. Pratt, Orson (October 1853), "Celestial Marriage", The Seer, 1, p. 159
13. Wilford Woodruff, Journal Entry July 22, 1883, reporting on a sermon given by Joseph F. Smith.
14. Jeffrey R. Chadwick, "Dating the Birth of Christ", BYU Studies 49:4 (2010).
15. John P. Pratt, "Passover—Was It Symbolic of His Coming?", Ensign, January 1994.
16. James E. Talmage, "Chapter 8: The Babe of Bethlehem", Jesus the Christ (2006 ed., Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church).
17. Wilson, William A. (1996). "Mormon Folklore". In Brunvand, Jan Harold (ed.). American folklore: an encyclopedia. New York: Garland Publ. ISBN 978-0-8153-0751-8.
18. Wilson, William A. Wilson (2013). "Freeways, Parking Lots, and Ice Cream Stands: The Three Nephites in Contemporary Society". In Eliason, Eric A.; Mould, Tom (eds.). Latter-day lore: Mormon folklore studies. ISBN 978-1-60781-285-2. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
19. Michael T. Griffith (1996). One Lord, One Faith: Writings of the Early Christian Fathers as Evidences of the Restoration (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon) ISBN 0-88290-575-9
20. Jacob Spori, "True and False Theosophy", Juvenile Instructor, 28:672–74 (1893-11-01).
21. Paul B. Pixton, "'Play It Again, Sam': The Remarkable 'Prophesy' of Samuel Lutz, Alias Christophilus Gratianus, Reconsidered" Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine, BYU Studies, 25:3 (1985) pp 27–46.
22. Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, "Book of Mormon/Great and abominable church".
23. Pratt 1880, pp. 276–277 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFPratt1880 (help)
24. Smith 1869, p. 83
25. William G. Hartley, "Mormons, Crickets, and Gulls, A New Look at an Old Story", in D. Michael Quinn (ed.) (1992). The New Mormon History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books).
26. N.B. Lundwall (ed.) (1952). The Fate of the Persecutors of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) pp. 226–33.
27. N. B. Lundwall (ed.) (1952). The Fate of the Persecutors of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) pp. 292–352.
28. Hyde did dedicate Palestine for the return of the Jews, but "careful investigation has uncovered no evidence" of Hyde's reported Jewish ancestry. See: Hilton, Lynn M.; Hilton, Hope A. (1994), "Hyde, Orson", in Powell, Allan Kent (ed.), Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, ISBN 0874804256, OCLC 30473917, archived from the original on 2013-11-01, retrieved 2017-05-24
29. Hyde 1877, p. 58
30. Lynne Watkins Jorgensen, "The Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Passes to Brother Brigham: One Hundred Twenty-one Testimonies of a Collective Spiritual Witness", in John W. Welch (ed.) (2005). Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestations, 1820–1844 (Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah: BYU Press and Deseret Book) ISBN 0-8425-2607-2 pp. 373–480.
31. James P. Harris, "A Place for Every Truth: The Einstein Rumor", Sunstone, April 2008, p. 33.
32. Matthew Cowley, ""Maori Chief Predicts Coming of L.D.S. Missionaries", Improvement Era 53:696–98, 754–56 (September 1950), reprinted in Matthew Cowley (1954, Glen L. Rudd ed.). Matthew Cowley Speaks: Discourses of Elder Matthew Cowley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book) p. 200–05.
33. Grant Underwood, "Mormonism and the Shaping of Maori Religious Identity", in Grant Underwood (ed.) (2000). Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University) pp. 107–26.
34. R. Lanier Britsch, "Maori Traditions and the Mormon Church," New Era, June 1981, p. 38.
35. Jackson, Dave (April 2005). "The Artist: Del Parson" (PDF). Desert Saints Magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada: Ellis Ink, Inc. 5 (4): 12–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
36. "LDS Hoaxes and Myths". Scholarly & Historical Information Exchange for Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
37. "ID#: 46490". 100 Hour Board. BYU NewsNet. July 21, 2008. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
38. Arave, Lynn (May 9, 2010), "Does the Great Stone Face really resemble the Prophet Joseph?", Deseret News
39. Harris, Matthew L.; Bringhurst, Newell G. (2015). The Mormon Church and Blacks. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-08121-7.
40. Smith, Darron (March 2003). "The Persistence of Racialized Discourse in Mormonism" (PDF). Sunstone.
41. Dallin H. Oaks (June 5, 1988), Interview with Associated Press, Daily Herald (Utah)
42. Jeffrey R. Holland (March 4, 2006), The Mormons, PBS
43. Sterling M. McMurrin affidavit, March 6, 1979. See David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Greg Prince and William Robert Wright. Quoted by Genesis Group Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
44. Peggy Fletcher Stack (January 12, 2015). "Black Mormons Lament that Race is Taboo Topic at Church". The Salt Lake Tribune.
45. Bush, Lester E., Jr.; Mauss, Armand L., eds. (1984). Neither White Nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church. Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books. ISBN 0-941214-22-2.
46. Reeve, W. Paul (2015). Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-975407-6.
47. Stewart, John J. Mormonism and the Negro Salt Lake City, Utah: 1960, Bookmark (This book discusses and then dismisses this belief).
48. Horowitz, Jason (28 February 2012). "The Genesis of a church's stand on race". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
49. Nelson, Kimberly (February 28, 2012), BYU Professor makes controversial statements about Blacks & LDS Church, KTVX, retrieved March 8, 2013
50. Paul C. Richards, "The Salt Lake Temple Infrastructure: Studying It Out in Their Minds", BYU Studies (1996–1997).
51. BYU NewsNet 100 Hour Board: Submission 10093, 2004-11-12.
52. Baldridge, Kenneth W.; Chase, Lance D. (2000), "The Purported December 7, 1941, Attack on the Hawai'i Temple"", in Underwood, Grant (ed.), Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, pp. 165–90, ISBN 0-8425-2480-0.
53. LDS Church (1958), The Mormon Temple, Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand: Bureau of Information, Zealand Temple, LDS Church, p. 13, OCLC 367545393, alt. OCLC 156001909
54. Kezerian, Sandra L. (March 31, 2012), "Visiting our Family History Missionaries at the Archives", wellingtonnewzealandmission.blogspot.com
55. Memorandum to Personnel of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, "Circulation of Inaccurate Information on Rome Italy Temple", LDS Church, 2009-12-07.
56. Hank Stuever, "Unmentionable No Longer: What Do Mormons Wear? A Polite Smile, if Asked About 'the Garment'", Washington Post, 2002-02-26, p. C1.
57. "Pres. Packer refutes quote", Church News, 2001-04-28
58. Bruce R. McConkie (1966, 2d ed.). Mormon Doctrine. (Salt Lake CIty, Utah: Bookcraft) p. 410.
59. Young 1854, p. 15
60. Kimball 1856, p. 216
61. Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1942, p. 87.
62. Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1950, p. 159.
63. Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1963, p. 113.
64. Robertson, John S. (1992). "Adamic Language". In Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.). Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-879602-0. OCLC 24502140.
65. Papanikolas, Zeese (1995). "Dream Mining". Trickster in the Land of Dreams. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. pp. 64–5. ISBN 0803237030.

References

• Allred, David A. Representing Culture: Reflexivity and Mormon Folklore Scholarship. Thesis. Brigham Young University, March 2000.
• Fife, Austin E. and Alta S. (1956), Saints of Sage and Saddle: Folklore Among the Mormons, Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, OCLC 387682
• Hyde, Orson (October 6, 1854), "The Marriage Relations", in Watt, G.D. (ed.), Journal of Discourses Delivered by President Brigham Young, His Two Counsellors, and the Twelve Apostles, and Others, 2, Liverpool: F. D. Richards, pp. 75–87.
• Hyde, Orson (1857), "Man the Head of Woman—Kingdom of God—The Seed of Christ—Polygamy—Society in Utah", in Watt, G.D. (ed.), Journal of Discourses Delivered by President Brigham Young, His Two Counsellors, and the Twelve Apostles, and Others, 4, Liverpool: S. W. Richards, pp. 257–263.
• Hyde, Orson (April 5, 1877), "Prayer the Medium for Blessing—Practical Morality Establishes Confidence—The Prophet Joseph Manifest in Brigham—Age Prevents Effort, but when Behind the Vail, Freedom from Obstruction is our Opportunity", Journal of Discourses Delivered by President Brigham Young, His Two Counsellors, and the Twelve Apostles, and Others, 19, Liverpool: William Budge, pp. 57–60.
• Kimball, Heber C. (September 6, 1856), "Union of the Priesthood—Salvation of the American Nation—Punishment of the Saints' Enemies, etc.", Journal of Discourses, Delivered by President Brigham Young, His Two Counsellors, The Twelve Apostles, and Others, 5, Liverpool: Asa Calkin, pp. 213–220.
• Pratt, Orson (June 20, 1880), "The Gathering of the Saints—Their Sufferings—Ancient Predictions Fulfilled—Crickets and Their Miraculous Destruction—Crops Saved—Desert Made Fruitful—God's Kingdom in the Mountains—Its Future Destiny—The Coming of the Lord", Journal of Discourses By President John Taylor, His Counselors, The Twelve Apostles and Others, 21, Liverpool: Albert Carrington, pp. 272–280.
• Pratt, Orson (August 1, 1880), "Introductory Remarks—Heaven and Earth to Pass Away—Not Annihilated—Heaven and Earth not Created from Nothing—Materials—Eternal Materials Under the Dominion of Laws—Central and Orbital Forces—Compound and Elementary Substances—Earth in the Beginning—No Mortality, then Known, on This Creation—The Fall—The Earth's Baptism in Water—Its Baptism in Fire—Its Baptism by the Spirit..Its Justification—Its Sanctification—Its Purification—Its Thousand Years' Rest, etc.", Journal of Discourses By President John Taylor, His Counselors and Others, 21, Liverpool: Albert Carrington, pp. 319–331.
• Smith, George A. (June 20, 1869), "Historical Discourse by President George A. Smith", Journal of Discourses, Delivered by President Brigham Young, His Two Counsellors, The Twelve Apostles, and Others, 13, Isleton, London: Horace S. Eldredge, pp. 77–87.
• Rudy, Jill Terry (2004), "Mormon Folklore Studies", in Stanley, David (ed.), Folklore in Utah: A History and Guide to Resources, Logan: Utah State University Press, pp. 142–52, ISBN 978-0-87421-588-5
• Wilson, William A. (2006), Rudy, Jill Terry (ed.), The Marrow of Human Experience: Essays on Folklore, Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, ISBN 0-87421-653-2, OCLC 70251152
• Wilson, William A. (January 1995), "Folklore, a Mirror for What? Reflections of a Mormon Folklorist", Western Folklore, 54: 13–21, JSTOR 1499908.
• Wilson, William A. (1995), "Mormon Folklore", in Whittaker, David J (ed.), Mormon Americana: A Guide to Sources and Collections in the United States, BYU Studies monographs, Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, pp. 437–454, ISBN 0842523154, OCLC 30892941.
• Wilson, William A. (Winter 1989), "The Study of Mormon Folklore: An Uncertain Mirror for Truth", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 22 (4): 95–110
• Young, Brigham (July 4, 1854), "Celebration of the Fourth of July", Journal of Discourses, Delivered by President Brigham Young, His Two Counsellors, The Twelve Apostles, and Others, 7, Liverpool: Amasa Lyman, pp. 9–15.