I grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Commonly referred to as Mormons. I had very little contact with any other denomination until I was in middle school. I guess I thought the LDS Church was the State Church of Idaho. In my younger world, there really were just Active and Inactive members of THE Church. "Mormons" and "Jack-Mormons".
As I got older and we lived full time in West Yellowstone, the Church was still the center of my social existence but I was also getting more contact with other religions and with people who had no real solid opinion on religion or spirituality. I learned something of other peoples beliefs and how they viewed God, spirituality or the lack of same.
My infatuation with the history and culture of the Mountain Men influenced me to study the beliefs and customs of the American Indians. I had good friends who were atheists, Baptists, Lutherans and many other "protestant" religions. We also had a pretty significant Catholic population in West Yellowstone. In my deliberate contact and investigation of all these (slightly) different sects, I learned of their teachings about Heaven, Hell, the Godhead, Grace, prophecy and the scriptures.
At the same time, I studied the New Testament as well as the restored gospel of the Book of Mormon and the revelations given to men whom I believed had been, were and are current living Prophets of God. I regret to say that I have only a passing familiarity with the Old Testament. In the last few years, I've taken the time to read some of the Koran and try to get a grasp on the Muslim beliefs.
When I came home from the U.S. Air Force and began building a real family, got married and settled down, I again began looking into religion. I thought a lot about what I had learned over a relatively active and diverse life. I said all this to give some background to my conclusions.
I found that the differences between Catholicism and all the Protestant religions were minor. These religions all seem to believe the same things but have focused on one or two items of doctrine that they find significant enough to pull away from other sects. And I found most of the doctrines taught to be over-complicated and somewhat hard to understand. George Carlin really expressed the overwhelming teachings that I found: "Well, it's a mystery".
At the same time, the principles of the Gospel that I had learned as a child still seemed to be the most logical, uncomplicated and easy to understand. I compared that to the natural world around me. The world God built for us is, essentially, logical and easy to understand. It's not hard for modern science to explain how nature works. Why then would God make our spirituality and eternal progression any more complicated? He didn't. I logically concluded that the Book of Mormon and the resulting restored Church were true, long before I spiritually learned that it IS true. I no longer travel strictly on faith. I have received spiritual confirmation of the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the truth of the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'll say it another way. I don't just BELIEVE these things to be true. I KNOW them to be true!
First, let me provide the basics of the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (The Church), as enumerated by Joseph Smith in 1842. We call these the Articles of Faith:
"1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience
to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth,
Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by
those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles,
prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the
Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet
reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own
conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men;
indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
So, what Is the Book of Mormon?
"The Book of Mormon contains sacred writings from followers of Jesus. Just like God spoke to Moses and Noah in the Bible, He also spoke to people in the Americas. These men, called prophets, wrote down God’s word. Their writings were eventually gathered into one book by a prophet named Mormon."
"God’s people have always been taught by living prophets. Like us today, the women and men of those times struggled with temptation, searched for wisdom, and led happier lives when they followed the teachings of Jesus Christ. We can recognize ourselves in their stories; inspired and inspiring spiritual records. The Book of Mormon is evidence that God loves all His children and is involved in their lives. It serves as a witness to the truths in the Bible and to the divinity and teachings of Jesus Christ." https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/book-of-mormon/what-is-the-book-of-mormon https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/book-of-mormon/what-is-the-book-of-mormon
It's not hard to find evidence of the good fruits of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Just get to know a few members. Attend a Sacrament Meeting. Talk with a couple of the Missionaries. No commitment is required. You are welcome in the Church.
Read the Book of Mormon. If you are really trying to learn of the truth, there is a simple method. Read the book and pray about it. Here's the pertinent scripture, from the Book of Mormon:
Moroni 10: 4. "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
I'll tell you now some of the things I know to be true;
God lives. Jesus Christ lives and is the true Son of God. He came to this earth to show and teach us how to live and, most importantly, He came to atone for the sins of all men who will believe in Him and follow His commandments.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. Christs Church had fallen away and was not present until, through the direction of Jesus Christ, it was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith and has continued to this day since 1830.
I tell you these things in the sacred name of our Savior, Jesus Christ; amen
Official Church Website
Meet with Missionaries
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe/restoration
No comments:
Post a Comment