There are things that I know, from personal experience and direct observation. There are things I believe, extrapolating from those things I know. But, the most important basis for anything I know or believe are the feelings in my mind and heart that come from The Spirit.
One of the foundational understandings of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is that, not only are the Heavens opened for communication with a Prophet of God, but those same lines of communication are open to each of us. We can each get spiritual promptings, inspirations, impressions and even revelations through the influence of the Holy Ghost. I have been blessed with incidents of spiritual communication which are undeniable.
I know, without question, the following:
God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ exist and live today.
God loves us more than mortal words can describe. Everything He does is based on His indescribable love for each of us.
There is a Spirit world. A world "beyond the veil".
Prayers are two way communication. God hears and answers our prayers.
I believe, without reservation, the following:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true Church of Jesus Christ on the Earth. It is the Church that Jesus organized and established, but that fell away through apostasy. The Lord restored it through Joseph Smith. Thus restoring Christ's doctrines and showing us the way that we can return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ is the true Head of this Church.
This Church was restored by a true Prophet of God, Joseph Smith; and is currently led by a true Prophet of God today; Dallin Oaks.
The Book of Mormon was translated and brought to the world just as Joseph Smith and the other witnesses described. It is a true testament of the Lord Jesus Christ and is a companion to and supporter of the Holy Bible. Other scriptures that have been provided are also the word of God, including the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants.
The principles, ordinances and doctrines practiced and taught by the Church are true and correct.
Families can be together Forever
Christ's Atonement and the resurrection are for everyone who has ever lived or will ever live on the earth.
We are literal Spirit Children of our Heavenly Father and we have existed for an untold eternity and will continue so to do. We were part of a Heavenly Council which devised the Plan of Happiness and we came to the earth to experience and learn from mortality. When we die, we return to the Spirit World where we rest, continue to learn and teach while we await the reuniting of our Spirit and our Body.
God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three distinct individuals. Although the Holy Ghost has just a Spirit body, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have glorified bodies of flesh and bone.
Here are links to a little more information
As an aside, it is interesting that current Biblical Scholars and archaeologists are finding that the earliest teachings of the Hebrew people were similar to these restored doctrines. Although in the 1830s and today, many of the things we know to be true are scorned by mainstream Christianity but are in line with what was taught by Adam, Abraham and their posterity until the destruction of the Temple of Solomon. I have an article about this at:
"Many of these restored truths were the very foundation of anti-Mormon criticism in the 1830s. Today, however, modern text-critical, linguistic, and archaeological research reveals that Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon brought forth authentic ancient Israelite concepts that had been obscured for millennia.
In 1830, when the Book of Mormon was published, there was no way Joseph Smith could have anticipated what would be unearthed at Qumran in 1947, in the Ugaritic tablets of Ras Shamra, or through modern biblical text criticism. Remarkably, much of the research validating this pre-exilic worldview comes from non-LDS scholars."
I have several other articles at my blogsite at http://cowboyentertainer.blogspot.com which examine the Church and it's doctrines.
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