Tag Archives: Latter Day Saint beliefs

Mormon Temples: Indestructable Spirit of Elijah

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mormon templeThis is the house of the Prince of Peace, and would you profane it thus with violent deeds and hearts overflowing with hatred? Lo! where the crucified Christ from His cross is gazing upon you! See! in those sorrowful eyes what meekness and holy compassion! Hark! how those lips still repeat the prayer, “O Father, forgive them!” Let us repeat it now, and say, “O Father, forgive them!”—Longfellow.

Temples, sacred Houses of the Lord, have been destroyed by those venomous towards members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for insensible reasons. Cecil McGavin shared this poignant capturing of Anti-Mormon forces aimed at destroying the work of the Lord. Destroy edifices they may, but destroy the work of God, they will never do:

As Caesar burned his bridges lest his legions would dream of returning home, the torchbearers in Hancock County were anxious to wrap the temple in flame lest pilgrim feet from beyond Rockies should be tempted to return to the City of Joseph. As long as that beautiful temple crowned the hill beside the majestic Mississippi, it might entice a return to the once holy city.

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Mormon Beliefs: Jesus Christ is Omnipotent

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Jesus Christ MormonMembers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormons and/or the Mormon Church, inadvertently, by the media) believe that Jesus Christ is omnipotent, has all-power, as many other Christian denominations profess. When some of other faiths ask us if we believe in and worship Jesus Christ, we speak clearly a resounding yes–as the name of the Church and as our lives and hearts reflect. We love Him. We worship Him. We recognize His atoning sacrifice on our behalf and His lasting and continued grace.  We also believe in His omnipotence.

Let me illustrate from an example of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  Ammon, a great missionary whose words were recorded in the Book of Mormon, said in Alma 26:35-36:

My joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who repent and believe in his name…. This is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting woe. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people.

Are Mormons Christians:  Can you read from the Book of Mormon this and many other passages and observe our desires to be His disciples and live His teachings and answer anything but yes?

Mormon Beliefs: Jesus Christ is Mediator

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Atonement Jesus Praying Gethsemane MormonJesus Christ serves as an Advocate, and has become our Mediator by virtue of His unparalleled atoning sacrifice for our sins, which “overpowered” and satisfied justice and brought mercy to each of us, a way out of darkness into light. In this sense, He intercedes on our behalf, as indicated in these words from the prophet, Lehi, in The Book of Mormon:

Wherefore, he is the first-fruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercessions for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved….

In teaching his sons, Lehi also records his admonition, later in the chapter:

I would look unto the Great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of His Holy Spirit.”

Other Biblical and Modern Scriptural References that affirm Mormon doctrine and belief in Jesus Christ as the Mediator include the following:

  • No man cometh unto the Father, but by me, John 14:6
  • One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim. 2:5
  • He is the mediator of a better covenant, Heb. 8:6
  • The mediator of the New Testament, Heb. 9:15
  • Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, Heb. 12:24 (D&C 107:19).
  • Ye should look to the great Mediator, 2 Ne. 2:28
  • Made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, D&C 76:69

D&C refers to a book of modern revelation, The Doctrine and Covenants, received by Joseph Smith after his call to become a prophet in our day and facilitate the Lord’s re-establishment of His original Church and kingdom upon the earth today.

We invite you to receive a free copy of the Book of Mormon or other scriptures to learn for yourself about God’s restored Church and authority on earth.

Mormon Beliefs: Becoming God or Christ-Like

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Jesus Christ MormonWhen asked, “Do you believe that men and women can one day become a god or goddess,” this response by a Mormon educator was given regarding the Plan of Salvation or Purpose of Life, as revealed by the Savior and taught in His true and living Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called the “Mormon Church” by the media).

We come to the earth to take a physical body, be schooled and gain experiences, and develop sweet and lasting relationships. We strive to keep the commandments and grow in faith and spiritual graces until we are prepared to go where God and Christ are. For Latter-day Saints, eternal life consists in being with God; in addition, it entails being like God. A study of Christian history reveals that the doctrine of the deification of man, the idea that human beings can, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and through the divine transformation of human nature–become a joint heir or co-inheritor with Christ to all the Father has–was taught in the early Christian church, at least into the fifth century by such thinkers as Irenaus, Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, and Augustine. Orthodox Christianity still holds to a doctrine of deification today. While these individuals and groups may not believe the same way Latter-day Saints do, it is clear that the idea was not foreign to the people of the early church.

All men and women, like Jesus Christ, are made in the image and likeness of God, and so we feel it is neither robbery nor heresy for the children of God to aspire to be like God; like any parent, our Heavenly Father would want his children to become and be all that he is. We believe such biblical phrases as “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) or “becoming joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), or “partaking of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), or having “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) or “when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1John 3:2) all point toward this grand ideal. Continue reading →

Mormonism vs Mainstream Christianity

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Mormon Beliefs: Mormonism vs Mainstream Christianity

Jesus Christ MormonSomeone was once asked if we, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons”, actually known as “Latter-day Saints”) desire to “build up our public image or slip into mainstream Christianity.”  This came as a sincere question, but it amazes me that one outside the faith–particularly some in the media–might jump to the conclusion that our speaking about Christ, His atonement and grace, would seem to be ‘about image’ rather than conviction. The Church bears His very name. We claim He stands at the helm.  Well, without further comment here, may I share what Bob, the Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University responded to this sincere question:

First of all, I would state categorically (and I mean no offense by this statement), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [whose body of beliefs is referred to by some as Mormonism, Mormon Doctrine--really it's Christ's] has no desire to move into the mainstream of Christianity. We are what we are and we believe what we believe. We profess to be ‘Christian but different.’ Those differences–such as our belief in an apostasy or falling away; the need for a restoration through a modern prophet, Joseph Smith; the fact that priesthood or divine authority was restored by heavenly messengers; the historical veracity and doctrinal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and other modern scripture; the doctrine of the premortal existence of man; the place of temples (Mormon temples), eternal marriage and family (see Mormon Weddings), etc–these ideas set us apart from many other Christians. But we feel strongly that our strength lies in our distinctiveness, in what we have to offer the world. People are not joining The Church of Jesus Christ ["Mormon Church" is a misnomer] in ever-increasing numbers nowadays because we are just like the Catholics or Methodists or Lutherans down the street. There’s definitely something different about the Mormons. Continue reading →

Mormonism: Doctrines of Jesus Christ

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Mormon MissionaryThere are times when members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints defend their faith aggressively and times when they are silent; much depends on the issue, the proponents of falsehood, the type of misunderstanding or misrepresentation, and the workings of the Spirit. Truth stands independent of who believes it. The honest will recognize it; the dishonest will eschew it; the disenfranchised will attempt to destroy the indestructable. In general, and speaking from a lay point of view, Mormons defend when the lies perpetuated do sufficient damage to honest seekers’ search for truth or when they make of Christ’s teachings a sham and a confusing mockery that may impact generations, or when the blatant falsehoods are deliberate and retractable.

One late Mormon writer commented on the slanders and misperceptions about Mormons that have been promulgated by critics who reap and seek to gain from their investments in opposing truth:

While the public are overwhelmed with lying slanders of every description, concerning the Church of Latter Day Saints, the inquiry often arises, why do the elders of the church hold their peace, instead of contradicting the various falsehoods, which are published concerning them and their principles? The answer is, it would require a standing army of writers, and printers in constant employ; for no sooner are our enemies detected in one falsehood than a thousand more are put in circulation by them: and there are many who love a lie so much more than the truth, that we are quite willing they should enjoy their strong delusion; because they believe not the truth, but have pleasures in unrighteousness; and we know, that those who are seeking for truth, will judge for themselves, by an examination of our books, and not allow our opponents to judge for them. What ideas would be formed of the Bible, by one who had never read the book himself, but who trusted altogether to the statements of Thomas Paine, and other infidel writers concerning it? We propose in this work, to prove to every candid mind, that whether our principles be true or false, Mr. Sunderland is guilty of the most glaring falsehoods, misrepresentations and lying slanders, that ever disgraced humanity; and that he has palmed upon his deluded readers such wilful and barefaced impositions, that he is justly ranked among dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, and idolaters; and no longer fit to fill any place in civilized society; much less to stand at the head of a paper, under the sacred title of “Zion’s Watchman.” If his readers do not dismiss his paper immediately, after coming to a knowledge of his wickedness, they will be set down as partakers of his evil deeds; and if they hold him any longer in fellowship either as a christian or a member of society, the proverb will be fulfilled upon them, “that a man is known by the company he keeps.”

“And all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”—Rev. xxi;8.

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.”—Rev. xxi;27

 

If you are trying to discern the truth from the error when it comes to Christ’s pure teachings and the claim that His actual Church exists on earth today–it was re-established in our day–we invite you to read the Book of Mormon and/or ask questions here. If you would rather learn in person, we can arrange for you speak directly with a Latter-day Saint or representative missionary–Mormon missionary, missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ–who is called by Jesus Christ to teach those seeking to know Him and His purpose for your life.