Abstract
Generally, in Africa and Uyo, Nigeria in particular, religion is not only a social phenomenon but an overriding force to reckon with. Therefore, when religious devotees of different religions do not comprehend the subject, their actions breed social misunderstanding and conflict among religions in society. Phenomenological study of religions is aimed at bringing the essence of religion to the doorpost of its practitioners. The methodology adopted in this chapter was historical and analytical. The methods exposed the researcher to both primary and secondary information about the work. Findings show that there is a misunderstanding of the essence of religion by some adherents of both the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Christianity; each believes that his/her religion is the best in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The work concludes that when religious culture vis-à-vis the essence of religion is properly understood, love for each other will be realized.
TopBiography The Founder (Joseph Smith Jr.)
Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, the fifth of eleven children born to Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith. By 1817, Smith's family had moved to the “burned-over district” of western New York, an area repeatedly swept by religious revivals during the Second Great Awakening. Smith’s family members held divergent views about organized religion, believed in visions and prophecies, and engaged in certain folk religious practices typical of the era. Smith briefly investigated Methodism, but he was generally disillusioned with the churches of his day. His grandfather, Asael Smith, lost most of his property in Topsfield, Massachusetts, during the economic downturn of the 1780s and eventually moved to Vermont, where Smith’s father, Joseph Smith Sr., established himself as a farmer. After the birth of Joseph Smith Jr., a series of crop failures forced the family to move to Palmyra, New York. His mother, Lucy Mack, came from a Connecticut family that had disengaged from conventional Congregationalism, a movement that looked for a new revelation to restore true Christianity. Although privately religious, the family rarely attended church, and after they moved to Palmyra they became involved in magic and treasure-seeking. Lucy Smith attended Presbyterian meetings, but her husband refused to accompany her, and Joseph, Jr., remained at home with his father.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Moroni: Moroni in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an angel stated by Prophet Joseph Smith to have visited him on numerous occasions beginning in September 1823. The plate of Gold which contains the Mormon’s scriptures were received from Angel Moroni as the last of ancient prophets buried them in the hill near Palmyra, New York.
Phenomenology of Religion: This concerns the experiential aspect of religion describing religious phenomena consistent with the orientation of the religious worshipers. It studies the components across religious traditions in order to gain some understanding of them.
Plate of Gold: A miraculous Plate of Gold was once found in a Banaras Temple by Prophet Smith. It was written on the plate. He believed it to be a gift from heaven which was meant for great lovers of humankind and to him who loves best. The words inscribed on the plate were “A Gift from Heaven to Whom Who Loves Best”.
Millennium: This is described as a period of the reign of Jesus Christ on earth. Christianity has it that the church or believers in Christ will reign with Christ on earth. At the same time Satan will be bound. The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints accept or Mormons accept the Bible’s position of Christianity on millennium. They believed that Jesus will physically reign on earth during the millennium period. During this period, Satan will be bound and have no power over due to their righteousness.
Kingdom of Glory: In this work, the kingdom of glory refers to eternal abode for every human being that is everyone will be resurrected. There are three kingdoms associated with the kingdom of glory, namely, celestial kingdom, terrestrial kingdom and telestial kingdom. Celestial Kingdom accepts that the composure of this kingdom are those dwell forever in the presence of God, the Father and his son, Jesus Christ. They are who received the testimony of Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. Terrestrial Kingdom will compose of those who received the presence of the son of God but not of the fullness of the Father. They will dwell in the kingdom with their terrestrial bodies. Telestial Kingdom is reserved for individuals who did not receive the gospel of the son of God and his testimony. After being redeemed from hell called spirit prison, they can now come to telestial kingdom.
Mormonism: This is a religious group that began by Prophet Joseph Smith in 1830 in Upstate New York. This religious group is also known as the latter-day Saints (LDS) Church. Their official name is The Church of Jesus Crist of Latter-day Saints which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.
Christianity: This is the religion founded on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Based on this, both Christianity and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim to be Christians but they are different on their beliefs and teachings respecting the Trinity and humanity as a whole.
Trinity: A reference to the doctrine of God is one and yet exist eternally in three persons is known as Trinity. The Christianity affirms the mystery that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one God but distinctively shown in three persons in terms of their distinct roles. Only the Son incarnated into human flesh. The Mormons affirm that the father and son have physical body. The Holy Spirit is without the physical body.
Book of Mormon: This is the official authority or the scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. It consists of the revelations of that Prophet Joseph Smith have received. Among its doctrines are that God the Father has a physical body and that humans are destined to evolve in deity.