A Comparative Study of Factors of the Formation of Mormon and Sheikhiyyah Sects in Islam and Christianity

The term "Last Days" is mentioned in the teachings of all great religions of the world and one of its most important features is the appearance of the deliverer of the Last Days. The doctrine of the appearance of the Promised deliverer at the end of the world has special significance in Islam and Christianity. Due to the great importance of this issue for the followers of religions and their ever-eagerness and longing for understanding the appearance of the deliverer, there have always been some individuals who have abused this public eagerness and formed some sects in the name of the Promised Deliverer over the history. During the last two centuries, several sects were, for certain purposes, formed in Islam and Christianity based on presupposed belief about the appearance of the Promised Deliverer. The leaders of these sects have abused factors shared by these two religions. The present paper investigates the factor of the claim of receiving divine vision in the appearance of the Promised Deliverer, which has led to the formation of Sheikhiyyah sect in Islam and Mormons in Christianity.