People throw the label “Mormon” around a lot. Most people know a few facts about the religion. For example: They can’t date until a certain age and don’t drink coffee or Red Bull, but do people really know why? The stereotypes are well-known and widespread among teens, but understanding the Mormon religion is much more complicated than one might think.

Beliefs

Mormons believe in not only the Bible, but also other Holy Scriptures such as the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is very similar to the Bible. Both are writings of God’s religious guidance, histories, and civilizations. Unlike the Bible, which is from the point of view of people from Israel, The Book of Mormon is based on the history and God’s encounters with those who lived in the Americas between 600 BC and 400 AD.

While Mormonism is commonly mistaken to be the same as the Christian religion, there is one main difference.

Christians believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all are one being, known as the trinity. In the Mormon religion, they still worship the different parts of the trinity, but they believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three separate and distinct entities who each have their own purpose.

History

Mormonism is a religion derived from Christianity in New York, beginning in 1830 by Joseph Smith, who is thought to have been a prophet sent by God to restore Christ’s church. The Mormons moved around under the leadership of Brigham Young, seeking religious freedom and eventually settled in Utah. Mormonism became widely popular in Utah, where isolation in this area helped create a new culture. Their beliefs are easily confused with being the same as Catholics and other religions.

Mormonism is different in several ways, beginning with the main concept that a person’s life does not begin at their time of birth. Mormons believe that before birth, a person’s spirit lived with God, who created you. This time before birth is a time where someone’s spirit was taught God’s plan of happiness and the path for our lives. Once one’s spirit was taught these lessons and values,

God allowed them to come to Earth and be born into a physical body.

Lifestyle

Believing in the encouragement of consuming herbs, grains and fruits while refraining from alcohol, coffee, tea and tobacco, the Mormon lifestyle is thought by others to be rather strict. This health law or code is known as the Word of Wisdom, also dissuades addictive substances and activities such as illegal drugs, gambling, and pornography.

Also relating to lifestyle, especially teenagers, Mormonism has strict beliefs on dating and marriage with three main principle guidelines. First off, generally all who are able to, should marry. However, Mormons support the idea that formal dating should not begin until the age of 16.

Most importantly, Mormons strongly believe in the spiritual and social importance of sexual relations waiting until one is married.