by dwhite | Jul 10, 2013 | Mormon Beliefs: Christian Values
Christianity and China
The gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading, if very slowly, in China, and people are seeking information. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the Mormon Church, has recently announced its plan to create a website for Chinese Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”). The laws governing different religions in China are very strict, and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ have always been, and continue to be, very careful to observe all of those laws.
It is currently illegal for Mormons to proselyte in the People’s Republic of China, but, according to officials of The Church of Jesus Christ, thousands of Chinese people have been baptized while they were in other countries. This is in no way illegal, but many of them have had a hard time living their religion when they return to China. In addition, there are many Chinese members of The Church of Jesus Christ who continue to live in countries other than China whose needs are not currently being sufficiently met.
New Mormon Website for Chinese Members
The Church of Jesus Christ is launching a new website, mormonsandchina.org, to reach out to Chinese members. According to the official news release from the Church… (more…)
by Keith L. Brown | Jun 14, 2013 | About Mormons
Edward Dube was born on 12 May 1962 in Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe to Clement Dube and his wife, Rosemary.
He has been a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 9inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others) since April 2013. He is the first Zimbabwean and the second Black African to serve as a General Authority.
The Influential Power of the Book of Mormon
Elder Dube was a young man working as a servant in the home of Leaster Heath when he was given a copy of the Book of Mormon. Two years passed before he gained an interest in reading the Book of Mormon, but once he did, it made a tremendous impact on his life.
I remember sitting in a railway station and reading the book. I read it for a very long time that day. To me, what was touching was the Prophet Joseph Smith’s testimony, when he related his experience with Moroni’s visitation to him. I would be reading in the middle of the book and go back to the introduction and just read that part. [1] (more…)
by Keith L. Brown | Jun 12, 2013 | About Mormons
For a period of time in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others), male members of African descent were denied the privilege of bearing the priesthood. There has never been given any direct reasons as to why the restriction occurred, or how, or when, it became a policy of The Church of Jesus Christ. What some empirical research has shown, however, is that the lineage of an individual was more of a significant criteria for denying a person the priesthood, than his race, or the color of his skin.
Of monumental interest is that during the time of the priesthood restriction, by faith, and believing that one day every worthy male would be able to hold the priesthood, Blacks continued to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ. Male members of African descent served in various callings and magnified those callings, however, they could not administer priesthood blessings, or participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ Does Not Condone Racism
The fact that a priesthood restriction existed at one time in The Church of Jesus Christ that excluded male members of African descent, may cause some people to infer that the Church is racist, however, nothing could be further from the truth. The Church of Jesus Christ has always opened its doors and has always been accepting of any person, regardless of race, who is willing to embrace the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and who is willing to strive to live his life in accordance to the doctrines and principles found therein. (more…)
by Charlotte Wilson | Jun 3, 2013 | About Mormons
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) is well known for its worldwide missionary work. Many people recognize the young missionaries by their nametags and Sunday-best dress. For decades the age for men to enter full-time missionary service was 19, with the women able to serve at 21. Last year, the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ changed the policy so that now young men can leave at 18 and young women at 19. This age change has had a 
swift and significant impact on Mormon missionary service throughout the world. One of those changes is that more Mormon women are opting to serve missions, and that change has had an impact on the Church’s entire missionary program.
Women Now Account for Half of Full-time Mormon Missionary Applications
In October 2012, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, President Thomas S. Monson, announced the missionary age change, a change that sent ripples of excitement throughout church membership. Now that women are permitted to serve missions two full years before they otherwise would have been, applications from Mormon women have been flooding the Church’s missionary department. Where a year ago, applications from women constituted only about 15 percent of all incoming applications, today 50 percent of missionary papers are submitted by women. (more…)
by Lisa M. | May 23, 2013 | Mormons in the News
Delegates from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church—encouraged participants to find common ground with those of different cultures and religions during a recent worldwide conference on religious and cultural dialogue in Skopje, Macedonia. “We are all the children of God. We are all brothers and sisters,” said Manfred Schütze, the head of the 4-member delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ. [1]
The gathering—sponsored by the government of the Republic of Macedonia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)—brought together government officials, religious representatives and scholars. The world conference, which takes place every three years, focused on three topics: pluralistic societies and religious tolerance, living together by respecting diversity, and the contribution of media to the interreligious and intercultural dialogue. [1]
In addition, delegates from The Church of Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of freedom of worship and fair and accurate news reporting on religion at the World Conference on Dialogue Among Religions and Civilizations. Representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ were active participants at the 2010 and 2007 gatherings as well. [1] (more…)
