User:Pahoran513/sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sprung up around the basic beliefs and traditions of the Church. The culture is concentrated in the Jello Belt in the United States, but is, in a lesser extent, lived by active church members throughout the rest of the United States and the world.
Practices more or less distinctive to Latter-day Saints include following the Word of Wisdom (a health code which forbids alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee, and illicit drugs; and encourages caring for one's body by eating healthy foods and eating meat sparingly), tithing, chastity, modesty in dress and behavior, lay leadership (including service without pay), family home evenings (families are encouraged to meet weekly for prayer and other activities - typically on Monday), and home and visiting teaching (members regularly visit one another in their homes for prayer and study). Tattoos and body piercings (except for one pair of earrings for women) are strongly discouraged. Church members are encouraged to marry and have children, and as a result, Latter-day Saint families tend to be larger than average. All sexual activity, both heterosexual and homosexual, outside of the marriage covenant is considered a serious sin. Same-sex marriages are not performed or supported by the LDS church. Latter-day Saints are counseled not to partake of any form of media that is obscene or pornographic in any way, including media that depicts graphic representations of sex or violence.
The Church emphasizes the moral standards taught by Jesus Christ, including personal honesty, integrity, obedience to law, chastity outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage. The Church puts notable emphasis on the family, and the distinctive concept of a united family which lives and progresses forever is at the core of Latter-day Saint doctrine. The Church opposes abortion except under limited circumstances, such as in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother. It also opposes pornography and gambling.[1]
Latter-day Saint fathers who hold the priesthood typically bless their babies shortly after birth to formally give the child a name and a blessing and generate a Church record for them.
The LDS Church does not formally support any one political party or ideal, leaving such matters of state for individual consideration.