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Death Is Not the End: a Study of the Cultural Beliefs and Rituals Surrounding Death and Dying in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

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Death Is Not the End: a Study of the Cultural Beliefs and Rituals Surrounding Death and Dying in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Death is Not The End: A study of the cultural beliefs and rituals surrounding death and dying in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Teresa Woodside
University of New England
Death Is Not The End: A study of the cultural beliefs and rituals surrounding death and dying in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Since the beginning of recorded history nothing has cast more fear, sadness, or uncertainty as death or dying. The Egyptians viewed death as a passageway to the next life. The ancient Jews had set rituals regarding the dead and the handling of the deceased prior to and during burial according to the Law of Moses. Early Christians viewed death with great fear and trepidation mostly because of a belief that God was a punishing or angry God not a loving God. The one theme each of these groups has in common is their belief in an afterlife. It is precisely because of this belief in the afterlife that these cultural groups perform certain rituals at death to prepare the body for burial. The same thing can be said about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in regards to rituals at death to prepare the body for burial. The difference for Latter-Day Saints is their belief in a loving not an angry God, and because of this belief the preparation, care, and treatment of the body begins well before birth, and does not end at death. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is represented in the Greater Portland area by nearly 4,000 members. Organized in upper-state New York on April 6, 1830 with six original members, the church has grown into a world-wide church with a membership of over 13 million most of who live outside the United States. When one understands some of the core beliefs of the LDS church, then one will understand the basis for their life, death and burial rituals. One of their core beliefs is that family and human relationships are eternal. To a member of the LDS church, life is eternal. Because


References: Abraham (Translated by Joseph Smith Jr. 1842) The Book of Abraham. The Pearl of Great Price, (pp. 35-38). Faust, J.E., (2004) Where do I make my stand? Liahona, Nov (pp. 18-21). King James, (1979) The gospel according to St. Matthew, The acts of the apostles. King James version of the Holy Bible (pp. 1215-1216, 1397) Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Packer, B.K. (1980) The power to seal. In B. Packer The holy temple (pp. 84-85) Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company. Packer, B.K. (1984) The premortal existence. In B. Packer Our father’s plan (pp. 14-23, 24-40) Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company. Smith, J., (1835) Doctrine and covenants, Section 89, 132, 93. (pp. 175-176, 266-273)
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