Author: Ben

Why don’t Mormon Churches have the Cross?

This was a question I saw recently, about if Mormon church buildings have crosses or not. When you come and visit our church buildings, you won’t see a cross at the front of the chapel or at the top of the steeple. Many Christian churches use the cross as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s death and Resurrection. We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also remember the suffering of our Savior, but because Christ lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith.

When the church’s prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley was asked, “If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?” He replied, “that the lives of our people must become the most meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship.”

When we are baptized and confirmed, we promise to take the name of Jesus Christ upon ourselves. The manner that we live our lives should show our love for Christ and his gospel.

The Christ Child: A Nativity Story

This new depiction of the Nativity story recounts in beautiful detail the sacred events found in the Bible about Jesus’s birth over 2,000 years ago. Journey with Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Witness the awe of the shepherds in the plains of Judea. Feel the joy of the wise men as they kneel before the Light of the World – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Mormons Believe in the Freedom to Choose

Mormons believe that agency is eternal principle.  Agency is the right to choose between good and evil and to act for ourselves.  We believe that this was very important even before we were born. In the premortal life we had the ability to choose and we chose that we would follow Christ.

“What is the purpose of life?”  Life on earth is a period of testing to see if we will follow Christ and do the things that our Heavenly Father has commanded us.  Because we are able to choose, we are responsible for our actions. (see Helaman 14:30-31) 

One verse that I really like is 2 Nephi 2:27.

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

The choices that we make here on earth are important.  When we choose to follow Christ, it will lead us to happiness and eternal life.  When we follow the temptations of the devil, we will find that we become captive in sin and miserable.   Though his temptations may seem fun and will make you happy, the consequences will be further separation from God and captivity to the devil.  

Heavenly Father has told us in the scriptures how to escape the captivity of Satan.   We must watch and pray always, asking God to help us withstand the temptations that we face. (3 Nephi 18:15)   We will never be allowed to be tempted beyond our powers to resist, our Heavenly Father won’t allow it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

As we choose to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ, we will be happy and have eternal life.

What do Mormons Believe about Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.  His birth, life and death were prophesied by prophets in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon.   They knew, as we know now, that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can repent and receive forgiveness of our sins.  It’s only because of Jesus Christ that we can be resurrected and live again after we die.

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced the birth of Christ,

“The angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30–33).

 

Jesus Christ had a humble birth in stable in Bethlehem.   When He was born he inherited mortality from his mother, and power over death from his Father.  He became the only begotten Son of God in the flesh.

When he was thirty years old, he began his ministry.  He taught the gospel and preformed many miracles as noted in the New Testament.  He was a great teacher and loved the people.  The most important thing that he did during his mortal life was near the end of it at the garden of Gethsemane.  It was here where he Atoned for the sins of all mankind.  He suffered in Gethsemane for all the sins of the world.  Shortly after this, he was seized and taken to Pontius Pilate to be crucified on Calvary.

He was perfect and sinless.  All these sins he suffered for were not His, but mine and yours; all of humanity’s sins.   He was the only one who could have paid the price, to meet the demands of justice and become our Savior and Redeemer.  Without Him, we would be lost and hopeless.  Christ said,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  (John 14:6)

On the third day after His death, Jesus Christ was resurrected.  He showed His physical body to Mary and to His disciples. They were able to feel the nail prints in his hands and feet and knew it was the Lord.   Jesus Christ had conquered death and made it possible that everyone can and will be resurrected again. (Alma 11:42-44)

I know that Jesus is the Christ.  He is our hope and our salvation.  He knows you and I personally, the things that we have gone through, the mistakes that we have made.  He paid the price for us, and I’m sure he thought of you and I during his suffering, knowing that he could save us.  He did this because of the love that he has for us.  I am eternally grateful for Him, his life, his atonement, his death and resurrection.

God is our Heavenly Father

Happy Father’s Day today!    It is important to realize and recognize that we are Children of our Heavenly Father.  God is not only our Creator and our Ruler, but he is our Father in Heaven.  He is the Father of our spirits.  All men and women are literally the sons and daughters of God.   And we, every person on earth, all who were born before now and all who will be born, are our spiritual brothers and sisters.  Because we are the spirit children of God, we have inherited the potential to develop His divine qualities.  God wants us to be happy and to have joy.  He has created a way that through Jesus Christ, that we can be resurrected and live happily with God again.

Seven years ago I wrote a post on Father’s Day, you can read it in its fullness here:

I want to quote myself from that article.  Speaking of watching my children,

“As I watch my two toddlers, I often think about our Heavenly Father watching over us.  I think of the love that He has for us.  When my son works on a puzzle, gets stuck and asks for help, I’m willing to help him out with it.  I also think about God being eager to help us if we come to him with our problems.  The scripture in Matthew 7:9-11 fits well:

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask of him?”

I know that there are so many times when we struggle, that we can pray and ask God for help and he will help us.  He will answer our prayers.   The way he answers isn’t always the way we expect or hope.  He may not remove the trials and challenges that we are facing, but will give us the strength and ability to work our way through them.  When we pray for assistance, he will help us in the way which will best help and benefit us to grow and to learn.  Our Heavenly Father truly does love and care for us.

So when you call and talk to your Dad this evening on the phone, don’t forget to call upon your Heavenly Father too.