Mormonism, Visualized.

2 | Before you were born.

Mormonism, Visualized. — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:24:23 +0000

The idea that we existed before we were born, is an intuitive and basic Mormon belief. It puts our lives into context–we existed before, we exist now, and we’ll continue to exist after we die. Everybody that we meet also existed before they were born, and will continue to exist after they die. Walking down the street can become a very different experience when you view people this way.

Understanding our longevity helps us make wise use of our time. Our mortal life isn’t meant to be frittered away, or spent seeking solely our own pleasure, but instead our decisions and relationships with others should be carefully considered, as they can and will extend past this life.

Additional reading:

Jeremiah 1:4-6 God knew us before we were born.

Abraham 3:22-25 We made decisions before we were born, our time on Earth is a “test” of sorts.

1 Peter 1:18-20 Christ’s Atonement was planned before the “foundation of the world”.

Also, more information on www.mormon.org

3 | The Atonement

Mormonism, Visualized. — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 03:53:29 +0000

The Atonement is the most important doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a correct understanding of it is the most important knowledge anyone can gain in their life. Many people have a belief in Christ, but don’t fully understand the extent of Christ’s sacrifice, Christ died so that everybody on earth could live again, and not suffer the consequences of their sins. Christ offers us help in making correct decisions that we would never have the power to make otherwise. As this is such important knowledge, it really should be studied additionally.

Please see below for additional reading:

Isaiah 53 A prophecy of Christ and his character.

2 Nephi 9:6-12 What would happen without Christ’s sacrifice.

Alma 7:11-12 Christ suffered not only the consequences of our sins, but he also experienced our weaknesses and pains. He knows how to comfort us when our lives and our plans start to fall apart.

Alma 40:20-23 1 Corinthians 15:15-22 An important component of the Atonement is the doctrine of Resurrection. Christ died, and came back to life 3 days later. When people die, their body is buried, and their soul is separated from their body for a period of time. Eventually, all people will be Resurrected-meaning their soul and their body will be together again, like they are now. With this Resurrection, our bodies will be perfect and incorruptible, like God’s. This gift happens to everyone, good or bad, through Christ’s atonement. If we’ve made wise choices, we’ll live with God again, with a resurrected, perfect body. If we’ve made bad choices, we’ll still having a resurrected, perfect, body but will be separated from God’s presence, which is a significant punishment, but fundamentally unlike popular depictions of Hell as a place of eternal torment.

Also, more information on www.mormon.org

4 | Prophets

Mormonism, Visualized. — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:35:05 +0000

Prophets play an important role in God’s communication with his children. We are all individually expected to communicate personally with God. We should pray, ask God questions, receive answers, and act on the answers we receive. A prophet, however, communicates with God on the behalf of a large group of people.

A Prophet’s first responsibility to is teach people about Jesus Christ, Nephi, a prophet from the Book of Mormon said this:

“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).”

Prophets also communicate recommendations from God about adopting behaviors, or avoiding negative behaviors in order to better follow Christ. Thomas S. Monson, the current prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offered this recommendation about being grateful for our blessings in October of 2010:

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”

Ezra Taft Benson, the prophet of the Church from 1985 to 1994, had this to say about avoiding pride:

“The proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not. Their self-esteem is determined by where they are judged to be on the ladders of worldly success. They feel worthwhile as individuals if the numbers beneath them in achievement, talent, beauty, or intellect are large enough. Pride is ugly. It says, “If you succeed, I am a failure.”

If we love God, do His will, and fear His judgment more than men’s, we will have self-esteem.

Pride is a damning sin in the true sense of that word. It limits or stops progression. (See Alma 12:10–11.) The proud are not easily taught. (See 1 Ne. 15:3, 7–11.) They won’t change their minds to accept truths, because to do so implies they have been wrong.

Pride adversely affects all our relationships—our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher and student, and all mankind. Our degree of pride determines how we treat our God and our brothers and sisters. Christ wants to lift us to where He is. Do we desire to do the same for others?

Pride fades our feelings of sonship to God and brotherhood to man. It separates and divides us by “ranks,” according to our “riches” and our “chances for learning.” (3 Ne. 6:12.) Unity is impossible for a proud people, and unless we are one we are not the Lord’s. (See Mosiah 18:21;D&C 38:27; D&C 105:2–4; Moses 7:18.)”

The prophet might also be asked by God to warn the church about temporal pitfalls, like this address given in 1998 by Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet of the Church from 1995-2008:

“I recognize that it may be necessary to borrow to get a home, of course. But let us buy a home that we can afford and thus ease the payments which will constantly hang over our heads without mercy or respite for as long as 30 years. . . I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can. . . That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable.”

Another important function of the Prophet is the administration of Jesus Christ’s church–The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet serves as the president of the Church, and has two appointed counselors and a group (quorum) of twelve Apostles that together lead the church. They oversee the administration of ordinances (religious rituals like baptisms), the construction and maintenance of Church buildings, and the operations of the Church. The Prophet and the Apostles of the church are very important, as they provide a way for Christ to continually communicate with his church. This continual communication allows Christ’s church to adapt to any changes or challenges it faces.

Additional reading:

Amos 3:7 God reveals information to his Prophets

Ephesians 4:11-12 Christ called people to different offices in His church. Apostles, prophets, teachers, etc.

Matthew 16:19 An example of Christ giving his authority, the Priesthood, to a person.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Prophecy of the apostasy, a “falling away” from truth.

Also, more information: www.mormon.org

5 | Joseph Smith

Mormonism, Visualized. — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:36:26 +0000

Joseph Smith’s personal history and account of his vision.

Joseph Smith wrote several accounts of his vision and his experiences. The full account is here:

A few excerpts below:

“In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?

While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.

At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.”

Joesph Smith then was visited by God and Jesus Christ as explained in the graphic above. After his vision he shared what he had been told with others, often with limited success:

I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me.

It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.

However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.

So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.

I had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was concerned—that it was not my duty to join with any of them, but to continue as I was until further directed. I had found the testimony of James to be true—that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided.

Joseph Smith was asked by God to be a prophet. Using Joseph Smith as a messenger, Christ proceeded to restore his church on the earth. Joseph Smith related his experiences, and under Christ’s direction organized a church. The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name was divinely chosen to emphasize several things:

1. The “Church of Jesus Christ” portion of the name indicates that the church is divinely directed by Jesus Christ.

2. The “Latter-day Saints” portion of the name indicates that it is the same church that Christ set up thousands of years ago, but restored currently, in these “latter-days.”

3. The term “Saints” refers to those that follow Christ, or all the members of the Church.

The name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could be recast as: “Jesus Christ’s Church from roughly 2000 years ago, restored to earth, today, filled with people willing to follow Christ’s example and teachings.”

If this kind of church, personally led by Jesus Christ exists, then it would be very important to know about it. The next graphic, The Book of Mormon, explains how we can know if Joseph Smith really was called to be a prophet and restore Christ’s church.

Also, more information on: www.mormon.org

6 | The Book of Mormon

Mormonism, Visualized. — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:38:27 +0000

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If the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet. If Joseph Smith was a prophet, the Church that he helped organize (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), is actually led by Jesus Christ. If The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actually led by Jesus Christ, you would want to consider joining it.

All of this hinges on the legitimacy of the Book of Mormon, whether or not it is “true”. Is it actually scripture? Did the accounts in it actually happen? The only way to really know is to read it, and ask God about it.

A long excerpt, taken from the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi, Chapter 11), when Jesus Christ visits a group of his followers living in the ancient Americas:

1 And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.

2 And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.

3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.

18 And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth.

19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet.

20 And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And he arose and stood before him.

21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you.

23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.

24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:

25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

26 And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.

27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.

28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.

29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.

32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.

35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

Hundreds of years after Christ’s visit, the last prophet writes in the Book of Mormon. He gives a promise that if anyone will, one, read the Book of Mormon with real intent to see if it is true or not, and two, ask God about it, that God will answer their prayer, letting them know it is scripture.

The source of that promise is here, from the Book of Mormon (Moroni, chapter 10):

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

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.

Again, obtaining a copy of the Book of Mormon is easy. You can ask a Mormon friend or colleague if they have an extra copy. You can visit the church’s website to have missionaries deliver one to you (free, mormon.org). Alternatively, you can get a digital version on your smartphone/tablet through an app called Gospel Library (published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, free).

I’d recommend getting a copy from one of your colleagues or delivered through the church’s website, as you’ll then have someone to answer questions you may have. Which, after all, is kind of the point. We all have questions about life, and religion, and the restored teachings of Jesus Christ can provide a lot of the answers.