Q. Christian here, what do you guys actually believe? A.1. outline. A.2. some specific details with backing links

This type of question comes up quite often, most recently here. I answered quickly with this response which links to other outlines. A lot of the faithful thought the response was harsh and unflattering about mormonism. I decided to answer in more detail. The links document a lot of the work I've done reading about mormonism, finding things which have illuminated it during the various eras of its existence. The faithful like to think of their church as the font of all knowledge and they carry around an idealized picture of Smith's perfect restoration which nothing can mar. As always, I will go with the unvarnished truth and let the chips fall where they may.

A.1. Mormonism is a huge topic. Mormon beliefs differ quite a bit from standard evangelical Christianity or Catholicism. Mormons believe they have the one-true-church and a direct conduit to deity. That the minor god over this planet can whisper anything into their prophet's ear and when he repeats it for everyone, it trumps all science and reason.

Here is another attempt at a broad outline in answer to your question.

• The movement is splintered into three main factions:

• Brighamites led by Monson claim 15 million members. Membership is not externally audited and is highly inflated.

• Other fundamentalist Brighamites led by various people who claim to be god's mouthpiece on earth. Membership likely 50k-100k. They keep getting arrested and thrown into jail and prison for their tendency to traffic in underage girls to use among themselves as plural wives. more

• Left of center, non-Brighamites, led by Veazey claims 250,000 members. They did an AMA this week.

• similar overview

• The beliefs evolved from 1829-1844:

• It transformed from a simply being part of the protestant movement into a new Abrahamic religion with a different deity and moral relativism based on Genesis 22 at the core.

• Mormonism is a new form of Calvinism

• At the end, Smith had evolved into a typical cult leader in the mode of David Koresh, Jim Jones, or Wayne Bent. When sex, money, and power is on the table, the alpha personalities find a way to get more for themselves.

• Most members are "cafeteria believers." With eternal polygamy hanging over their heads, many are scared of the afterlife and what sort of heaven awaits them.

• D&C 132 Smith is deified in verse 49. He is the author of the scripture, but writing in the "voice of god."

• King Follett Sermon more basis for exaltation to godhood.

Anyway, mormonism is a huge topic. I've written some outlines and answered similar questions here. Also, here are some conference speeches that I think are relevant. And I am working on a poll to quiz mormons whether (or where it is) that they'll jump off of the belief train, draft.

Wikipedia is also a good resource, but the faithful would like to whitewash their history as much as possible and have people to revert changes and wording they find unflattering.

A.2: In response to this comment

I think I touched on those topics, but I'll take a swing at a few more...I think I said mormonism is a "huge topic."

• Salvation, Atonement mormonism is a new form of Calvinism, except with a different, non-trinitarian deity.
• faith, the definition becomes truly Orwellian.
• preexistence
• grace and works
• McKeever on the street in Manti
• chapter and verse
• more
• rejection of an immaterial deity, Mormonism evolved over the first 15 years. The Lectures on Faith (the doctrine part of the doctrine and covenants) was eventually discarded because it contradicted Smith's later work, especially Lecture V.
• revelation the well has dried up; priesthood change by "negative confirmation." Jesus stopped showing up after the Smith era. Could it be Smith lied and god never shows up on this planet, at all?
• passivity of god. I don't know what you mean. God is "passive" in the sense that if he exists he hasn't made his presence known. Those prone to believe the words of a nineteenth century grifter are in for trouble.
• self-surpassing nature of God. Mormonism's basic goal is to become a god in one's own right. It's a hubris at the minimum, and a blasphemy for some Christians. Isaiah 45:5
• the divine feminine fodder for excommunication. Also, September Six
• postmortem evangelization. Hitler and Braun are baptized and married into mormonism. Some white supremacist had the Third Reich's temple work done. Come one, come all, everyone qualifies.
• The similarities with most other Christians: skip it. Refer to comparison with Calvinism.
• The differences
• A Time for Burning
• Do other churches own malls?
• McKeever's analysis of the official essays
• more
• priesthood authority, usually means blind and total obedience
• Obedience first
• [Even if wrong](https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/6d2vd9/gen_conf_oct_1960_mario* n_g_romney_the_lord_will/)
• Mountains Meadows Massacre
• Amy Malouf
• sacrament,
• how covenants and ordinances work: burden of proof on the faithful
• the prioritization of orthopraxy over orthodoxy bishops gauge everyone's belief and conduct in these interviews. The difference between thought and action is subtle at best in mormonism. A bit more about this litmus test: the bishop is given wide latitude to "probe as the spirit directs." Some New Order Mormons want to slide away on roller skates and pretend that the test is not about orthodoxy. They usually end up not telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There is some randomness in these interviews, but my sense is that the hardliners are more common than liberal. Paying a lot of tithing may obviate other questions in a bastardization of D&C 18:16.
• the atheological nature of mormonism: Mormonism has added new books to its official canon. They would prefer not to be tied down in major ways that the founder built the religion, i.e. with new D&C sections. Community of Christ continues to add to their canon; most recently adding D&C 165. Members in the Brighamite tradition can look to the Journal of Discourses, the various periodicals including The Improvement Era and Ensign. They are also directed to lds.org and mormon.org in a lame attempt to keep up with the information age.
• the arguments for social trinitarian views of Mormonism: I'll leave that one for someone's esoteric master's degree thesis.
• rejection of absolutist models of God
• the Book of Mormon: burden of proof on the faithful
• seer stone
• 1826 trial
• Smith's father-in-law
• D&C 17
• D&C 25
• 2 Nephi 1
• racism
• usurp's another continent's culture with a false narrative
• podcasts
• Doctrine and Covenant: too broad of topic
• Pearl of Great Price
• Moses
• Abraham
• History
• The Faithful deal with the Fraud
• view on the Bible: subordinate to other scripture, per AoF 8
• the metaphysics of Mormonism: mormonism is posited in a steady state universe. The god of mormonism is in a tiered hierarchy of father-son relationships. Physics now says the universe has not always existed and mormonism does not have an answer to who is the prime mover in creation. The faithful have the burden of proof for any paranormal or extra-sensory experiences. The Amazing Randi will offer prizes for proof using tests that are designed to prove the results were not merely by chance alone.
• how free will is viewed in Mormonism: free will is given lip service
• children are forced to attend at the Brighamite ward
• the mormon god has shown a penchant for being a bad parent by discarding a third of the host of heaven over a disagreement
• the test in Moroni 10 is no test at all; there is only one correct answer in mormon families
• how good and evil is viewed in mormonism:
• mormonism is a new Abrahamic Religion with moral relativism at the core.
• 1 Nephi 4
• the second anointing is a catch-all indulgence
• Mormon views on science and religion and how the two should be viewed, scripture trumps science
• view of government
• oath of vengeance
• members must ask permission to run for office
• Young's treasonous speech
• Young answers to a higher law
• 2016 Oregon Wildlife Refuge Takeover adds to Bundy's not paying their grazing fees in Nevada.
• Lots of elected officials remain in the GAs pocket, despite Reed Smoot saying he wouldn't be calling back to Salt Lake City on matters of how he should vote.
• trust in fallible prophets
• Wrong to criticize General Authorities, even if the criticism is true.

That was pretty hard. I feel like I've been on a marathon, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. Here is one more lap to cool down.

• Ties to Freemasonry
• Morgan's 1827 expose
• Nude Bathing Ritual
• 1984 recording of a temple ceremony with penalties intact