You’ve probably seen them. Two young men in white shirts and ties, riding bikes through a neighborhood, or perhaps you’ve caught a glimpse of that massive, castle-like temple sitting right off the highway. Most people have a vague idea of what they’re looking at, but if you ask the average person what is a Mormon, you get a wildly different set of answers depending on who is talking. Some might mention polygamy (which ended over a century ago). Others might think of the Broadway musical. Some just think of "nice people" who don't drink coffee.
Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that now. Even the name is a point of contention. Back in 2018, Russell M. Nelson, the president of the Church, made it very clear that he wanted people to stop using the term "Mormon" altogether. He insisted on the full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But habits die hard. For nearly two centuries, the world has used that six-letter word to describe a culture, a people, and a theology that is uniquely American in its origin but global in its reach.
Where Did the Word Even Come From?
It’s not a slur, though some members feel it sidelines Jesus. The name comes from the Book of Mormon. According to the faith's history, Mormon was an ancient prophet and historian who lived on the American continent around 400 AD. He was the one who supposedly abridged the records of his people onto gold plates.
Joseph Smith, the founder of the movement, claimed he was led to these plates by an angel named Moroni in upstate New York in the 1820s. He "translated" them by the gift and power of God, and the result was a book that looks and feels a lot like the Old Testament but takes place in the Americas.
So, when people asked Smith's followers what they believed, they pointed to this new book. "Mormon's book." Eventually, the followers became "Mormons." It stuck. It stuck so well that the church itself used it for branding for decades—think of the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaigns from the early 2010s. Then, the shift happened. Now, if you want to be technically correct and polite, you call them Latter-day Saints or LDS.
Are They Actually Christians?
This is the big one. If you ask a Latter-day Saint, they’ll look at you like you’re crazy for even asking. "Of course," they'll say. "His name is literally in the title of the church." They believe in the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the atonement.
But if you ask a traditional Catholic or a Southern Baptist, they might hesitate. Why? Because the theology is different. Very different.
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Latter-day Saints don’t hold to the Nicene Creed. They don't believe in the Trinity as one substance. To them, the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three physically distinct beings who are "one in purpose." They also believe the canon of scripture isn't closed. While a traditional Christian holds the Bible as the final word, a Latter-day Saint adds the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price to the shelf.
They believe in "continuing revelation." This means they have a living prophet today—currently Russell M. Nelson—who they believe receives direct instruction from God for the entire world. It’s a bold claim. It’s also what keeps the organization so tightly knit.
The Lifestyle: More Than Just No Coffee
Living as a Latter-day Saint is a high-demand lifestyle. It’s not just a Sunday thing. It’s a "what do I put in my body and how do I spend my Tuesday night" thing.
You’ve likely heard of the Word of Wisdom. It’s a health code from 1833. Basically, no alcohol, no tobacco, and no "hot drinks," which has been interpreted for generations as tea and coffee. Interestingly, soda is fine. You’ll find "dirty soda" shops all over Utah where people get 44-ounce Diet Cokes spiked with coconut syrup and lime because, hey, it’s not coffee.
Then there’s tithing. Members are expected to give 10% of their income to the church. This has made the institution incredibly wealthy—some estimates place their investment fund, Ensign Peak Advisors, at over $100 billion. They use it for disaster relief, building temples, and maintaining a massive infrastructure of meetinghouses, but the sheer scale of the wealth has drawn significant scrutiny from the IRS and the media lately.
- Missionary Work: Most 18-year-old men and many young women leave home for 18 to 24 months. They don't choose where they go. They pay their own way. They wake up at 6:30 AM, study, and talk to strangers all day. It’s a brutal, transformative rite of passage.
- Temples: These aren't regular chapels. You can't just walk in to see a wedding unless you're a member in "good standing" with a "temple recommend." Inside, they perform "ordinances" like celestial marriage, which they believe lasts for eternity, not just "until death do us part."
- Family History: They are obsessed with genealogy. Why? Because they believe they can perform baptisms for their ancestors who died without hearing the gospel. This is why the church runs FamilySearch, one of the biggest genealogical databases on the planet.
The Great Polygamy Misconception
We have to talk about it. When you hear "Mormon," a lot of people still think of Sister Wives or Big Love.
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Here is the reality: The mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially banned polygamy in 1890. If a member tries to take a second wife today, they are excommunicated. Period.
The people you see on TV in the long dresses and braids belong to "fundamentalist" breakaway groups like the FLDS. They aren't part of the main church. In fact, the main church finds the association deeply frustrating. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young certainly practiced plural marriage—Young had 55 wives—and that history is messy and uncomfortable for many modern members. But for the 17 million members today, polygamy is a relic of the 19th century, not a part of daily life.
Why Does It Still Matter?
The church is at a crossroads. In the United States, growth has slowed down. Like many religions, they are losing young people who struggle with the church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues or who find the history of the priesthood ban (which prevented Black men from holding the priesthood until 1978) difficult to reconcile.
Yet, they are exploding in places like Africa and the Philippines.
What makes a Mormon? It’s a sense of belonging. It’s a "ward" (their word for a local congregation) that brings you a casserole when you’re sick and helps you move your couch on a Saturday morning. It is a highly organized, deeply committed community that offers a clear map of the universe: where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going after you die.
How to Engage with the Culture
If you're looking to understand this group better, or if you're traveling through the "Mormon Corridor" (Utah, Idaho, Arizona), here are a few practical ways to navigate the interaction:
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Don't assume they're all the same. You’ll find "Progressive Mormons" who listen to podcasts about church history and "Orthodox Mormons" who follow every rule to the letter. It’s not a monolith.
Understand the "Covenant Path." If you're talking to a member, they'll likely use this phrase. It refers to the series of steps—baptism, receiving the priesthood, temple marriage—that they believe leads back to God. Understanding this helps you see why they're so driven.
Check the sources. If you're researching the history, look at both church-sanctioned sources like Saints and independent scholarly works like Fawn Brodie’s No Man Knows My History or the Gospel Topics Essays published by the church itself. The truth usually sits somewhere in the middle of the friction.
Visit a Visitor’s Center. If you're genuinely curious, the Temple Square in Salt Lake City (currently under massive renovation) or any local temple visitor center will give you the "official" version of the story for free. Just be prepared—they will definitely ask for your phone number.
The "Mormon" identity is shifting into something more global and, perhaps, more standardized. But at its core, it remains one of the most successful and fascinating homegrown American religions. Whether you view it as a miracle of the 19th century or a complex social organization, its influence on politics, business, and family life isn't going anywhere soon.
Next Steps for Further Understanding:
- Read the Gospel Topics Essays: These are found on the official church website. They represent the church's effort to be more transparent about difficult historical issues like DNA and the Book of Mormon or the translation process.
- Explore FamilySearch: Even if you have zero interest in the religion, their genealogy tools are world-class and free to use for anyone wanting to trace their own roots.
- Visit a Local Meetinghouse: Visitors are always welcome at Sunday services. There is no dress code, though most people will be in "Sunday best." It is the fastest way to see the community in action without the filters of the internet.