A “catechism” is a summary of religious beliefs, usually in question-and-answer format, used to teach children or other new Christians the basics of the faith. Catechisms are often memorized and recited orally.

We don’t use formal catechisms, unless, perhaps, teaching youths to memorize and recite the Articles of Faith counts (but that, of course, is not in the typical question-and-answer format), or perhaps the use of Scriptural/Doctrinal Mastery drills in Seminary where young people learn to draw on a specific set of scriptures to respond to questions (although that, too, is not a classic catechism because the recitations do not come from a fixed statement of beliefs). Can you think of anything else in the Church today that resembles a catechism?

In the 19th century, though, catechisms were in common use in the Church in children’s instruction. Quite a few collections of questions and answers were printed in the Juvenile Instructor for use in Sunday School classes. Even earlier, in England – likely drawing on the English and Scottish Sunday School tradition – Latter-day Saints produced lists of questions and answers that were sometimes frankly identified as catechisms. What follows is one such compilation published in the Millennial Star in the summer of 1848.

This catechism was prepared by Thomas Smith. He is difficult to identify – there are two Thomas Smiths of England active in the mission at the time, both born in the 18-teens, both converted in 1840 or 1841, both emigrating to the U.S. in the early 1850s (one in 1850, who reached Utah in 1852; the other in 1851, who died at St. Joseph, Missouri en route to Utah in 1852). It is possible that specialists in this era know who wrote this catechism; I don’t. I can only suggest what is common to both men: they responded to the gospel as soon as they heard it, they became teachers of the gospel as missionaries (and one, at least, through the use of his pen), and both were willing to gather with the Saints at a time when they knew they would be trekking through the wilderness to reach a new colony in the desert.

Questions and Answers for the Children of the Latter-day Saints’ School

Ques. What Sunday school do you attend? – Ans. The Latter-day Saints’.

Why are they called Saints?– It is the name by which the people of God were known in all ages of the world (meaning all the holy persons).

Is the name of the Saints mentioned in the Bible? – Yes, above ninety times.

Can you refer me to any place in Scripture where the name of Saint is mentioned? – Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied that Jesus should come with ten thousand of his Saints; also, Jude, v, 14; Daniel, c. 33, v. 3; Psalm 50, v. 5; Daniel, c. 7, v. 21, 22, 27; Revelation, c. 5, v. 8.

Why are they called Latter-day Saints? – Because these are the latter days.

When was the church of Jesus Christ formed, or organized?– On the sixth day of April, 1830.

Who was the first elder? – Joseph Smith.

Who was Joseph Smith?– A man called of God to be a prophet.

How did God call him? – By present revelation, and the ministration of a holy angel.

What is a prophet? – A man whom God sends to do his work on the earth.

You said Joseph Smith was called by present revelation? – Yes.

What do you mean by revelation? – It means the communication of God’s will to man.

How does God do this? – Sometimes in an audible voice; like as God spoke to Adam, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and many others.

Is there no other way? – Yes, by the ministration of angels; namely, to Lot, to Mary and Elizabeth, and also to Peter, Paul, and John.

Do you read of any other means of communication? – Yes, Job tells us that God speaks to man in dreams and visions of the night. See c. 33, v. 14, 16.

Can you refer me to any one to whom God spoke in this manner? – To Joseph in Canaan, to Jacob his father, to Daniel, and Joseph the father of Jesus, Peter and John the revelator; we likewise read of the Urim and Thummim.

Where was the church of Latter-day Saints first organized? – In North America.

What is a church? – The church of Jesus Christ is the kingdom of God.

What does it require to constitute a kingdom? – Four things: 1st, a king; 2nd, a code of laws; 3rd, officers, or men having authority to execute the laws; 4th, subjects or citizens to be governed by those laws.

Who is the king? – Jesus Christ.

What are the laws? – The revelations given by God to man, from time to time.

Who are the officers? – Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. See Eph., c. 4, v. 11; Cor., c. 12, v. 28.

Who are the subjects of this kingdom?– All who obey the gospel.

What is the gospel? – That message God sends to any nation or people.

Is not the gospel sometimes called glad tidings? – Yes, because it is the power of God unto salvation.

What is required of them who wish to become subjects of this kingdom?– To believe in Jesus Christ, to repent and forsake their sins, and be baptized by immersion for the remission of their sins, and receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, to receive the Sacrament, to believe in the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

How do you prove that these are the requirements of the gospel? – From the fact that these were the doctrines that Jesus taught, and his apostles preached.

Is there any other proof? – Yes, it has been revealed from heaven in these last days, as the plan of salvation.

How do you prove that Jesus and his apostles taught and preached those principles? – I prove it from the Bible.

Can you refer me to any Scripture to prove this? – The following passages prove that all men must believe in Jesus Christ: John, c. 3, v. 18, 23, 36; and I find the following prove that all men must repent: Luke, c. 13, v. 3; c. 26, v. 47; Acts, c. 17, v. 30; Acts, c. 11, v. 38; and baptism, spoken of about forty-eight times – I will refer you to a few: Matt., c. 3, v. 13, 17; Matt., c. 28, v. 18, 19; Luke, c. 3, v. 21, 22; Mark, c. 16, v. 15; John, c. 3, v. 5.

Can you prove that baptism is for the remission of sins? – Yes; Mark, c. 1, v. 3; Acts, c. 11, v. 37, 40; Acts, c. 22, v. 16.

Prove to me that baptism is by immersion. – Rom., c. 6, v. 4; Col. c. 2, 4, 11; Matt., c. 3, v. 13, 17; John, c. 3, v. 5.

How do you prove that the laying on of hands was for the gift of the Holy Ghost? – From Acts, c. 8, v. 17; Acts, c. 19, v.1, 6; Heb., c. 6, v. 2; Daniel, c. 34, v. 9.

What is to follow the laying on of hands?– The gifts of the spirit, as we read of them in Mark, c. 16, v. 17, 18; Acts, c. 19, v. 1, 6; Rom., c. 2, v. 65, 8; Cor., c. 12, 13, 14.

How are the sick healed? – By the laying on of hands, and anointing of oil.

Can you prove this? – Yes, Mark, c. 6, v. 13; Mark, c. 16, v. 18; James, c. 5, v. 30.

Who are to do these things? – Those who have authority from God, being called by revelation.

Dear Brother Spencer, – The above questions and answers were written as an assistant to those parents and teachers who wish to instil into the minds of the children under their care the first principles of the gospel of Jesus. Many of the Saints who read this, expressed a wish that it might be printed, if you thought well; and, should this be worthy of your notice, a second and a third part is in contemplation. I was in hopes that some more able person would have taken this in hand, as I have seen the want of something of the kind for sometime past; the question being often put – what books can I give my children? how am I to teach them? Should you deem it worthy of a place in the Star, and it can in any way add to the glory of God, and the Redeemer’s cause, my object will be accomplished.

I am your brother in the gospel, THOMAS SMITH.

What do you think of the form of a catechism for as a tool of instruction? What do you think of this specific list of questions as a primer for children in the Church?