by Keith L. Brown | Dec 13, 2013 | Mormon Beliefs: Christian Values
There are people who purport that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the “Mormon” Church by the media and others) are not Christians. One of the main arguments that they use to substantiate their claim is that Latter-day Saints use another volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon, instead of the Holy Bible. In fact, Mormons use both the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon in their teaching, as well as for personal study, and revere both volumes as the Word of God. The 8th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ states,
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.
The National Bible Association Recognizes Mormons as Bible Believers
The National Bible Association, a New York based group, is a Judeo-Christian association which was established in 1940 to “encourage everyone to read the Bible … in every sector of society regardless of religious or political distinction.” [1] Some may question whether or not Mormons should be included in that group of Bible believers. To answer this question, Richard Glickstein, the group’s president, replied, “Do Mormons read the Bible? Then they are part of the tribe.” [1] In fact, the Association chose Salt Lake City, Utah, headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ, as the 2013 National Bible City. (more…)
by Lisa M. | Aug 26, 2013 | Mormon Beliefs: Christian Values
The digital age gives new meaning to the phrase “power to the people.” No longer do people have to wait for the nightly newscast or the newspaper to find information. All of this is available any time, day or night, through the Internet—on smart phones, handheld devices and computers. And no longer are the news media the only source of information. Anyone who has access to the Internet has a voice to broadcast his or her beliefs and opinions in picture, video and the written word. Knowledge is power, and so is the ability to disseminate it. And the power is in the hands of the people.
For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church—this is presenting both opportunities and challenges. The opportunities to share the gospel online are vast. The challenges arise in how to handle misinformation and outright lies—and sometimes in trying to figure out which information is true, which is misleading and which is just plain false. This has led to what some people are calling “shaken faith syndrome,” where faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ are voicing doubts after reading something online. The problem and the answer are the same: more knowledge. The difference lies in where you seek it. (more…)
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 Delisa Hargrove | Jun 11, 2013 | Mormon Beliefs: Christian Values
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the “Mormon Church,” advocates abstinence and virtue as basic principles of a moral life. To comprehend why Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”) willingly save sexual relations for marriage, one must understand eternal truths.
Why Choose Abstinence and Virtue?
One of life’s great questions is, “Where did we come from”? Mormons believe that mankind existed before this lifetime in the presence of God as His children. “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and … has a divine nature and destiny” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).
Instead of physical bodies, each soul lived as a spirit. God the Eternal Father prepared this earth for His children to receive a body, experience mortality, and hopefully choose to return to live with Him again. He chose His Son Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world, for He knew mankind would sin and need a way to repent and return to Him. Part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation and happiness includes life after death. A soul determines its eternal destination based on life choices, which includes correctly accepting Jesus Christ’s Grace and Atonement. (more…)
by megan | May 8, 2013 | Mormon Beliefs: Christian Values
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the central doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as the Mormon Church. The Book of Mormon, a book of ancient scripture that testifies of Jesus Christ, explains that the Savior’s Atonement is “an infinite atonement,” a “great and last sacrifice” to redeem the souls of all mankind (Alma 34:12-13, see also 2 Nephi 9:7). Jesus Christ did not just save those people who were alive when He was alive, nor does He save only those people who are baptized in mortality. Through baptisms for the dead, salvation is extended to all of God’s children.
Baptism: A Saving Ordinance
Latter-day Saints believe that baptism is a saving ordinance, one of several ordinances, or religious ceremonies, that must be performed in this life in order for an individual to be exalted in heaven. (See Doctrine and Covenants 128:12). Latter-day Saints also believe that baptism is by immersion in water, symbolizing the person dying and being reborn pure and free from sin. A person becomes a Latter-day Saint, or Mormon, by being baptized and then confirmed, another ordinance, a member of the Church. Being baptized is the first step on the path that leads back to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ someday. (more…)
by megan | May 7, 2013 | Mormon Beliefs: Christian Values
Center. Anchor. Foundation. These terms describe the Savior and where He fits in my testimony, and in the testimony of other Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as Mormons. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is the center of my beliefs, everything our faith, and the Church, is rightly called after His name.
Prophets’ Words About Christ
The Bible clearly testifies of Christ, recording His earthly ministry and Atonement for all mankind. In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he instructs the church members to look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus Christ is the one who authored the Plan of Salvation, as well as the one who completed the Atonement. His doctrine of repentance and baptism is at the center of our faith. (See 3 Nephi 11:32).
In The Book of Mormon, a book of scripture written by ancient prophets on the American continent, Nephi, one of the authors, describes his and his family’s religion: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ” (2 Nephi 25:26). Nephi lived 600 years before Jesus was born, yet he and his family had faith in Christ. Throughout the Book of Mormon, other prophets do exactly what Nephi describes, rejoicing in and testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ. (more…)
