Theodemocracy
This page covers Theodemocracy, not Mormonism. For a page on Mormon philosophy and theology, see the
Philosophyball Page
"The standard of truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." - Moroni 10:3-5
Theodemocracy, also known as Mormon Democracy, is an ideology invented by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church. It combines Mormon values with Christian Democracy, where religious leaders and their decisions are sustained by votes from their congregation. The end goal of Theodemocracy was to lay the groundwork for the Kingdom of God before the second coming of Christ.
After the death of Smith, Theodemocracy was brought to Utah by Brigham Young, where it played a small role in the government of the state of Deseret until Utah became a territory in 1850.
History
Mormonism, also known as The 'Latter-Day Saints movement' is a restorationist non-trinitarian Christian denomination that follows the teachings of an ancient archive referencing a lost Native American Hebrew society, the archives are collectively known as 'The Book of Mormon', which Mormons believe is another book of Christian cannon alongside The Bible.
Joseph Smith founded 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' based on ideology presented by The Book of Mormon
Mormonism and Freemasonry
Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, and his father Joseph Smith Sr. were Freemasons. Smith founded a Masonic lodge in 1842 in Nauvoo, and remained a Freemason until his death. Endowment ceremonies in Mormonism have been pointed out to be very similar to elements of Freemasonry.
Brigham Young prohibited Mormons from joining The Freemasons, though the reasons are unclear. In 1925, The LDS Church banned members from joining The Freemasons, this ban was lifted in 1984.
The Golden Plates
The Golden Plates, which Joseph Smith translated and published into The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon was originally written in 'Reformed Egyptian
Eight people, known as "The Eight Witnesses" have testified to seeing Smith's Golden Plates. Three of the witnesses - Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris - testified they were shown the plates by an angel and held them. All three of the Witnesses maintained their testimony throughout their lives, even after leaving the LDS church. All Witnesses, except Martin Harris were related to The Smiths or Whitmers.
Adam-God Doctrine
In The mid 19th century, Brigham Young proposed that Adam wasn't just the first man, but also the father of our spirits, physical bodies, and the literal father of Jesus. This theory today is widely rejected by Latter-Day Saints theologians.
Lost 116 pages
During The writing of The Book of Mormon, Martin Harris—the then transcriber for Joseph Smith—was going home on leave and wished to bring their current work (the first 116 pages which were presumably the Book of Lehi) with him to show his family. Joseph Smith prayed to God to ask if it was okay, and God refused two times. After asking a third time, God accepted under the condition that Martin Harris not show the pages to anyone but his family. When he returned several days later, Martin Harris admitted that he had shown more people the pages and had, thus, lost them. God told Joseph Smith not to re-translate those pages due to the potential risk of them being edited to accuse him of contradiction in the future.
Although it was once suggested that Martin Harris' wife—Lucy Harris—hid the pages to test Joseph Smith, there is no conclusive evidence that this was the case.
Polygamy
"The introduction of Polygamy is The First time In my life I desired The Grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. And when I saw a funeral, I felt to envy the corpse its situation."
Joseph Smith was ordered by an Angle with a flaming sword visited him three times between 1834 and 1842, and told him to construct polygamy into Mormon teachings. The Unnamed Angle told Smith the goal of Polygamy was to increase the population of The Church and replenish Earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints eventually banned polygamy in 1890 and ex-communicated polygamists which led to the creation of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which still practices Polygamy to this day.
Polygamy is still a polarizing and controversial topic in modern Latter-Day Saints teachings.
Beliefs
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death." - Doctrine and Covenants 121:39-44
In Theodemocracy, all political authority is derived from divine revelation, particularly the direction given through prophets. The Prophet in Mormonism is seen as God's spokesperson on Earth. The Prophet's authority extends beyond spiritual matters into temporal governance. In a Theodemocratic system, the Prophet would be the central political leader, receiving guidance on matters of governance. The Prophet would not be an elected figure but a divinely called individual, whose position is validated by personal revelation. High-ranking priesthood holders may serve as leaders in various aspects of the government, with authority based on their spiritual calling and ordination, not on democratic election. This ensures that political decisions are aligned with the divine will, as understood by those in positions of religious authority. This divine guidance supersedes all human laws and is viewed as the final arbiter in any political, moral, or societal decision.
Governmental Structure
Hierarchy
- The Prophet-President: The Prophet would also serve as the head of state. This person would act as both the spiritual and political leader, potentially overseeing the administration of government affairs and guiding the country in accordance with divine revelation.
- The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: The Twelve Apostles, the second-highest governing body in the LDS Church, would likely hold significant governmental authority. They might serve as counselors or advisors to the Prophet-President, helping to implement divine instructions in the public sphere.
- Priesthood Leaders in Government: Other priesthood leaders, such as bishops, high council members, and stake presidents, could hold roles in government administration or act as regional leaders. Their political influence would stem from their religious authority and experience in spiritual governance.
Legislative Body
While LDS doctrine emphasizes the importance of free agency and moral choice, a Mormon Theodemocracy might incorporate a representative body that works in harmony with religious principles. The legislative process could involve both elected and divinely appointed individuals, with elected officials (in more practical terms) expected to legislate in accordance with moral laws derived from scripture. Laws would be evaluated and approved with the guidance of the Prophet and the Twelve Apostles, who could be viewed as the final decision-makers.
Elections
In a traditional democracy, the people elect their leaders. In Mormon Theodemocracy, elections might occur for certain positions, but candidates would be heavily vetted by the priesthood to ensure their alignment with divine principles. This could resemble a form of 'priesthood approval,' where individuals' worthiness to hold office is assessed based on both their spiritual standing and their ability to uphold the teachings of the Church. The electors (the general populace) would vote for these candidates under the supervision of the church hierarchy.
Role of the People
In a Mormon Theodemocracy, the people are not entirely passive. While ultimate political authority rests with the Prophet and priesthood leaders, the general populace plays an important role in moral governance. The public is expected to uphold high standards of personal righteousness, family values, and community well-being. Civic duties, such as voting, charity, and community participation, are seen as vital responsibilities for LDS members.
Variants
Fundamentalist Mormonism
After The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints banned polygamy and child marriage in 1890, some Mormons were split on whether or not to continue the traditions or abandon them entirely. Fundamentalist Mormons abandoned The LDS and established The FLDS: The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints which still promotes the usage of polygamy and child marriage. Fundamentalist Mormons have strict dress code rules and still follow Brigham Young's controversial teachings of prohibiting Blacks from The Church, Blood atonement, limited education for women, and prohibiting forms of Entertainment like The Internet, Toys, pets.
Progressive Mormonism
Joseph Smith III founded The 'Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, later renamed to 'The Community of Christ'. The Church holds more Progressive and Liberal views than mainstream Mormonism, and was founded off rejecting polygamy, The Adam-God Theory, and many of Brigham Young's teachings.
Bickertonite
Bickertonites believe Sidney Ridgeon was the rightful successor to Joseph Smith after his assassination.
Personality and Behaviour
- Theodemocracy will generally act like a stereotypical devout Mormon missionary.
- He will typically have an upbeat and positive attitude and will refrain from sinful activities such as performing abortions, drinking alcohol, doing drugs, pre-marital sex, etc.
- He supports, and is a member of, the
Republican Party.
- He is
homophobic, advocating for laws that discriminate against LGBT people. However, he is open to supporting bills that are designed to balance religious freedom with LGBT rights such as the proposed Fairness for All Act. In recent times, however, the support for bills which transparently and directly oppress LGBT peoples is more divisive in Mormonism.
- He believes in traditional gender roles but is afraid of being seen as
sexist.
- He fights with
Protestant Theocracy. (They always start it.)
- He believes that the main objective of the government is to enforce morality.
- He will be enthusiastic about serving his church, helping others, and spreading the word of God.
- He will try his best to be politically correct, despite being
socially conservative.
- He tends to be passive-aggressive with people he disagrees with, and believes in the adage "love the sinner, hate the sin."
- He has a stereotypical Utahan accent.
How to Draw
- Make a ball
- Draw 7 blue stripes horizontally along the ball
- Draw a yellow parabola, with the interior filled in
- Mark thin black stripes across the parabola
- Put a little black arc for the hole in the hive
- Add eyes to the ball
Now you're done!
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | #002D6A | rgb(0, 45, 106) | |
White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) | |
Yellow | #FCC21D | rgb(252, 194, 29) |
Relationships
Brothers and Sisters
Traditionalism - We both agree that society is better off when it is socially conservative and follows the word of God.
American Republicanism - The Republican Party is the political party that best represents us. It is pro-life, pro-family, and pro-religious freedom. We voted for you since the late 1890s.
What? You wanted us dead?! I don't believe it!Rockefeller Republicanism - I love Ike!
Jacksonian Democracy - Although we mostly support the GOP now, most of us were originally Jacksonian Democrats.
Christian Democracy - Our Heavenly Father has called on us to run for public office and make our moral policies the law of the land with the end goal of making them Federal Law.
Christian Theocracy - "Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, … and love. God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his. grace sufficient for you.” —Moroni 10:31
Christian Feminism -
Sister WifeA feminist who follows the word of God. I love it!Conservative Feminism - Yes, a feminist who supports traditional gender roles and despises abortion. Thumbs up!
Paternalistic Conservatism - Heavenly Father wants us to help the sick, the needy, the poor, and those with disabilities.
Zionism - Israel is very important to Mormons, it's where The Nephites, Lamanites, Jaredites, and Mulekites lived before they settled in Ancient America.
Welfarism - “And now behold, my beloved brethren, … do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.” - Alma 34:28
Jewish Theocracy - "Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel; for behold, the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn." - 3 Nephi 29:8
Fiscal Conservatism - We always should live within our means.
Liberal Conservatism - I'll vote for Romney.
Eco-Conservatism - "And there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when they shall be full, then shall the first curse come upon them, and they shall be smitten with a sore curse, and the land shall become desolate." -Helaman 13:14
American Model - "Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written." - Esther 2:12
Kakistocracy - Children are pure, naïve, innocent, and incapable of sin.
Reconsider your sins
Jeffersonian Democracy - I admire your principles, but you should let there be more religion in public life.
Christian Socialism - Kinda based but goes too far with socialism.
Libertarian Conservatism - I appreciate the fact that you are socially conservative, but please be less libertarian and more moralistic.
Protestant Theocracy - We have some beef, they think we preach a different gospel, we think they pervert the gospel. But we have the same enemies. I also take heavy inspiration from Evangelical Protestantism and Adventism.
Catholic Theocracy - Even more beef than above, but our leaders usually respect each other[2].
Please ignore those who call you the great and abominable church[3].Paleolibertarianism and
Paleoconservatism - Thank you for agreeing with me on how to view
these people, but seriously, you need to cut it out with the political incorrectness.
Trumpism - Trump is a very immoral person. Think about what he has done throughout his life! Also, like
them
, he and his followers need to stop being politically incorrect. I am still going to vote for him, though.
DezNatism - Right idea, bad execution. The Gospel should be spread with love and kindness, not with hatred and violence.
Black Nationalism -
God changed his opinions of black people in 1978Racism has no place in our Church anymore, 2 Nephi 5:21 doesn't say what you think it does.
Sinners
Satanic Theocracy - "And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil..." - 1 Nephi 14:10
Secular Satanism - He is just like
him, but secular. This doesn't change the fact they're is my biggest enemies.
Pagan Theocracy - Indians are the descendants of the Lamanites! Why have you misled them with fairy tales?
Queer Anarchism - They want to defame us and act sinfully!
LGBT - Sinner alert! Time to take you to therapy right away!
Homoconservatism - You can't be a conservative and a sinner. We're withdrawing your membership.
Pink Capitalism - Time to pass a law to regulate you!
Pornography - This filth must be banned as soon as possible.
Revolutionary Progressivism - Oh my goodness! How dare you threaten to kill us! That's it, your membership is withdrawn!
Democratism - The Democratic Party is too pro-abortion and anti-family for our vote. Order 44 never forget!
State Atheism - "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."-3 Nephi 12:48
Esoteric Fascism - We strongly disapprove of your hateful design.
Illuminatism - A modern-day Gadianton robber! Secret combinations are ungodly and sinful.
Indigenism - Why doesn't he want a free Book of Mormon? I thought he'd want to learn about his Lamanite ancestors.
White Nationalism - Racism has no place in our church!…Anymore…[4]
Illegalism - "And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men"- Helaman 7:4
Further Information
Wikipedia
Literature
- Book of Mormon: Another Teastament of Jesus Christ by Joseph Smith
- Doctrine and Covenants by Joseph Smith
- Articles of Faith by Joseph Smith
- Joseph Smith Translation of The Bible
- Pearl of Great Price
- Book of Moses
- They Knew The Prophet
- The Joseph Smith Papers
Other
State of Deseret
Deseret Industries
Deseret News
Welfare Square
- 𐐔𐐯𐑅𐐨𐑉𐐯𐐻 𐐈𐑊𐑁𐐰𐐺𐐯𐐻 - Deseret Alphabet
Limited Geography Model
Faithful Answers, Reformed Response
Notes
- ↑ Many Latter Day Saints are
AuthRights.
- ↑ Joseph Smith was elected and crowned King of Israel by the council of fifty.
- ↑ https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/prophet-meets-pope-francis-vatican
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_and_abominable_church#Interpretation_of_the_term_as_referring_to_the_Catholic_Church
- ↑ [1]