Mormon Folk Doctrines

While folklore of various regions may be a valid study for anthropologists, there is a field that I do not think has come under the scrutiny of folklorists. It is a shame really as folk doctrines, which probably take place in many churches would provide a fascinating field of study. As someone who was raised in a Mormon family, my focus will be on the ones that take place in Mormonism.

If you read my article, the Mormon view of the afterlife I made the mistake of including at least one folk doctrine as actual fact. I would ask forgiveness on this, but many Mormons will remember it being taught in Sunday school, whether or not it is official church doctrine. Since many members of the faith will believe it perhaps it was acceptable to report it as something that members believe, but the idea that those in the lower levels of the celestial kingdom will be servants of those in the higher kingdom are not found anywhere in the standard works which comprise the Mormon canon.

I may have made a mistake in stating that it is official Mormon doctrine when it is not, but it will fit in perfectly well here which is why I included the correction. While Kolob, the planet God supposedly lives on is mentioned in the Pearl of Great Price, there are various items of speculation about what happens here. Mormons do in fact believe in eternal marriage, with the potential of one husband having several or more wives if he attains eventual godhood. (Technically, the godhood bit is not found in the Mormon scriptures either but in a sermon giving by Joseph Smith, Jr. called the King Follett discourse.)