There are a lot of misperceptions and misunderstandings about the Mormon Church.  The Mormon missionaries will correct those if you ask about them, but they will be most concerned with teaching you the basic beliefs of Mormonism and the basic principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Mormons see it. 

Here are some very basic summaries of a few principles the Mormon missionary might teach you.

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Mormon faith.  Mormons believe that He suffered and died for all men and women.  He is the Savior of the World and we must turn to Him to return to God and be saved.

The Book of Mormon is an ancient work written by a people in the Americas.  It is another testament of Christ, a second witness of Him to stand with the Bible.  Christian doctrines that had been lost through the passage of time are restored in the pages of the Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith Jr. was the founder of the Mormon Church and its first prophet.  Mormons believe that their church is God’s church, which was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith.  They believe their church is more than a sect – it is the one true gospel of Christ.

Mormons believe that God still reveals His will through prophets.  Joseph Smith was, again, the first, but there have been many Mormon prophets since.  Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet today.

The Word of Wisdom was a revelation given to Joseph Smith in the 1800s.  It teaches Mormons not to smoke or drink and avoid “hot beverages” such as tea or coffee.  It also teaches to eat grains, fruits, and vegetables over meat.

Mormons have a strict belief in chastity and the traditional family.  They are not to have sex outside of marriage.

The Mormon missionaries will go into much greater depth when they teach you than we can on this website.  Our section on Mormon beliefs is a little more detailed than this page of summaries.  It may clear up a few misconceptions and serve as a basic resource – but the missionaries are the better resource.