Contributing Author – Page 6 – What Do Mormons Believe?

The Testimonies of Witnesses

If you take a close look at the Book of Mormon (and I hope you will), you will inevitably uncover a controversy: its origin.

It was published in 1829 by Joseph Smith, but he did not claim authorship; his claims were a bit more extraordinary. He said an angel led him to the buried book, written on metal sheets the color of gold. The text was a form of hieroglyphics, and he was able to translate it into English over the course of a few months using “the gift and power of God” residing in a pair of special interpretive stones, the Urim and Thummim. When the translation was finished, the angel came and collected the gold plates and then the manuscript was taken to the printer.

Joseph kept the gold plates hidden from the public at the Lord’s command; many find the story that the angel Moroni took them back to be suspiciously convenient. Since the plates are not available today for examination, skeptics have contended that there were no plates to begin with.

Does his story hold water?

Some dismiss the question too easily before examining any evidence. The story’s supernatural elements (an angel and a pair of interpreting stones) provide convenient rationale to attribute it to fiction. Even those who believe in the power of God may feel more comfortable disregarding the story because it doesn’t jive with their current conception of God or simply because it is something of which they’ve never heard. In essence they say, “Surely something so powerful and interesting, if true, would have been brought to my attention already.”

Joseph’s story is, admittedly, somewhat fantastical. It stretches one’s worldview. Fortunately, the Lord provided aid to the incredulous: eyewitnesses.

Were there actual gold plates?

In the summer of 1829 in Manchester, New York, just after completing the translation, Joseph met with eight close associates and (with the Lord’s permission) showed them the gold plates. They were permitted to see, feel, and hold the record and examine closely the inscriptions on each leaf. They each signed the following testimonial, published with the Book of Mormon ever since (my emphasis):

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

Christian Whitmer
Jacob Whitmer
Peter Whitmer, Jun
John Whitmer
Hiram Page
Joseph Smith, Sen
Hyrum Smith
Samuel H. Smith

This was not some idle piece of writing for them. It implicated them. They were interviewed, accused, and mocked. From that day on, they each stood firm in their eyewitness testimony of these plates. Five of the eight remained in good standing with the Church, enduring mobs, extermination orders, and repeated forced expulsion from their homes. Jacob Whitmer and Hiram Page stopped practicing, but still believed; and John Whitmer was excommunicated in a later Church incident, but not one of them (not even John who had ample reason and opportunity to expose the prophet) rescinded his testimony. If there were no plates, the reason for their steadfastness becomes a mystery.

Others had experiences that confirm the existence of the plates. For instance, Joseph’s wife Emma described the following concerning the period of translation:

The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book.

These testimonies, among others, corroborate the young prophet’s story of the gold plates. It is strong evidence that they existed.

Was there an actual angel?

A few days prior to the eight witnesses’ encounter with the plates, three of Joseph’s closest friends were given a more miraculous manifestation. The gold plates were revealed at the hands of the angel Moroni and the voice of the Lord declared the record to be true. Their testimony accompanies each copy of the Book of Mormon as well:

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.

Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris

As you can see, these witnesses had a different type of encounter with the gold plates. They saw an angel and heard the voice of God. They were commanded to “bear record of it,” or tell people about it.

Now, just the testimony of these three alone would be solid ground for a case in a court of law, but there is another even juicier part of this tale. Several years later, all three of these men struggled with Joseph Smith’s leadership and were excommunicated from the Church. For some time they were among Joseph’s strongest critics, yet every time they were interviewed (and there were hundreds of interviews, usually with very skeptical interrogators), they would each enthusiastically stand by their commitment to bear record of the plates and the angel who revealed them.

Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris eventually made amends with the Church leadership and returned to full fellowship. David Whitmer remained separate from the Church, but committed to believing in the Book of Mormon and the angel Moroni. Every one of them testified of the plates on their death beds.

Is Joseph’s story true?

That is a question you must decide for yourself. Eight eyewitnesses claimed to have seen and hefted the plates and committed their testimony to writing. Emma felt them through a cloth on the table. Three eyewitnesses had them presented by an angel and lived up to the command to testify. Even when they most wanted to see the prophet fail and could have recanted and exposed him, they didn’t. Even at death’s door, with nothing left to gain, they stood by their words. And these are just a few examples among many more.

These things may be enough to convince you or not; I don’t know. I only hope to illustrate that there are good, rational reasons to believe Joseph Smith’s story.

The witnesses weren’t what made me believe it, but learning about them helped solidify my belief. Really what convinced me was reading the book that came from these gold plates. Near the end of the book, Moroni (the angel) writes, “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” Read it yourself and take the chance to ask God in prayer if it is true.

The power of God is not a fairy tale. When He brings forth scripture, He provides witnesses; when He calls a prophet, He gives reason to believe. His actions make tangible marks on the world. When you pray to Him, He will give distinct answers to your heart and mind.

What does Baptism Entail?

Q. I’m christened Roman Catholic, my son has just joined a Mormon group, he said that he is to be baptized in 14 days. What does this entail and what are their views on me being a Catholic?

Guest author Jared responds:

What a great question! My grandpa is also a christened Roman Catholic, and several years ago he was in the exact same situation as you when a few of his children (my mother included) decided to be baptized. Before I go into that, though, let me first focus on the preparation leading up to baptism, and what is to be expected concerning the baptism itself.

Preparing for Baptism

Before someone can be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (“The LDS Church” or “The Mormon Church”) there are some common events that occur: meeting with the missionaries, praying for guidance, worshiping with the local church, and a baptismal interview.

From the time the missionaries are introduced to someone who expresses interest in the Church, the missionaries will usually meet with the person a few times per week, sharing lessons about our beliefs concerning God, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the history and organization of the church, God’s plan for us, the commandments, and what we must do to return to our Father in Heaven after this life. During each lesson the missionaries stress the importance of prayer and continually challenge the person receiving the lessons to ask our Heavenly Father in earnest, personal prayer if the things they’re being taught are true. The person receiving the lessons will be invited to attend church on Sundays where they’ll have the opportunity to meet the local church leaders and worship with us in our Sunday services. Once someone decides to be baptized into the LDS church, they continue to meet with the missionaries to help them continue to gain knowledge, grow in their faith, repent, and prepare to become a member of the Church.

Just before a person gets baptized, they have a baptismal interview. This is a one-on-one meeting with someone who has been ordained to give these interviews (for your son it will likely be a full-time missionary other than those who taught him the lessons). This isn’t like a job interview or an interrogation looking for faults. The purpose of this interview is simply to ensure that the person is really ready to be baptized – that they have prayed and received personal confirmation from the spirit that the things taught to them by the missionaries are true, that they understand and are obeying the commandments, and that they have repented of past transgressions.

What to Expect at the Baptism Service

The baptism service will begin with a prayer. A few people may have been asked beforehand to say a few words or share their musical talents by singing a religious song or playing an instrument. Then the actual baptism will take place.

The baptism itself will be very simple. Clad entirely in white to represent the cleansing through repentance and baptism, your son and the person performing the baptism (probably one of the missionaries who taught your son, or a local church leader or friend) will enter the baptismal font (a small pool of water usually around 3 feet deep). The person who baptizes your son will take him by the wrist and raise his right hand while he says the following prayer: “<Your son’s name>, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Your son will then lean back and be fully submerged in the water for a moment, then brought back out of the water. This act symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the beginning of a new life, and the washing away of past sins.

There will then be a few minutes of waiting and quiet conversation while your son changes into dry clothes before he comes back and rejoins everyone. Someone (probably a local church leader and possibly even your son) may say a few final remarks, then there will most likely be a song and prayer to close the service.

The final step of baptism is to receive a blessing by the laying on of hands (those giving the blessing put their hands on the head of the person receiving it), confirming the individual a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and commanding him/her to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This “confirmation” often takes place during Sunday worship services soon after the baptism, but it’s not uncommon for it to be performed immediately after the baptism as part of the baptism service.

The Baptism Service and You

Anyone (regardless of religious affiliation) who would come to witness and support those in their decision to be baptized are heartily welcomed! This is especially true for family and close friends of the individuals being baptized. As I mentioned, My grandfather, like yourself, is a christened Catholic and he’s attended the baptisms of several of his children and grandchildren into our faith; additionally, whenever he comes to town to visit he always attends Sunday worship services with us. He is not interested at this time in being baptized himself, but he enjoys attending church with us and always feels welcome.

I sincerely hope that if you are able to attend your son’s baptism, that you do! It would give you an opportunity to support your son in this important event in his life, to witness for yourself what he’s embarking on, and to meet his church leaders and friends. If you are able to attend, I challenge you to keep an open mind and be conscious of your feelings during the service; you may be surprised at the peace you feel as your son begins this new chapter in his life.

If you have any further questions about your son’s decision, don’t hesitate to ask. If you would prefer a more direct question and answer opportunity, feel free to contact the full-time missionaries in your area; when I served as a full-time missionary I loved the opportunity to answer questions of the family and friends of those whom I taught, and I’m confident those in your area would feel the same.

What Mormons Are About

Jesus Christ organized a Church; men changed it, and it has been re-established.

The Book of Mormon: The Mormons’ Bible?

You know that book the Mormons read?

> Twilight?

No. Try again.

> The Book of Mormon?

Yes, that’s the one. How much do you know about it?

> It’s the Mormon version of the Bible.

Um, okay. We need to talk. This article is for you.

First, it’d be good to understand what the Bible is. The Bible comes in two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. I’ll use bullets to summarize as quickly as I can:

Old Testament

Begin date: “In the beginning…”
Moses writes about creation, Eden, the flood, the tower of Babel, Abraham, the establishment and exodus of Israel.
Law of Moses instituted for Israel.
Other prophets and historians write about Israelite conquests and generally the lineage history of the house of Israel.
Stories of the Lord’s intervention, prophets foretell Israel’s captivity in Babylon.
Israel is taken captive by Babylon (around 600 BC), then eventually set free to rebuild; prophets foretell the coming of the Messiah.
End date: About 400 BC.

New Testament

Begin date: About 1 BC.
Jesus is born and hailed as the Messiah, he grows up and starts teaching and performing miracles.
Jesus is crucified for the world’s sins and is resurrected (33 AD); he establishes a Church on the shoulders of his Apostles.
An important Jew (Saul) hates this upstart Church and tries to destroy it; he is later visited by Jesus and becomes Paul, an important missionary.
Paul travels all over Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome teaching about Jesus; many NT books are letters to his followers.
Some writings from other Apostles (Peter, James, John, etc.).
Prophesies of the eventual return of the Messiah, Jesus.
End date: About 70 AD.

Mormons believe the teachings, visions, and prophecies in the Bible (both testaments) to be the word of God breathed to the prophets who served as scribes and mouthpieces for the Almighty.

> You’re kidding me. Mormons read the Bible? The same one I read?

Yup. We English-speaking Mormons prefer the King James Version.

> So, how is the Book of Mormon any different?

Well, let’s examine the Book of Mormon. It actually has two major sections, too. The first one is the main story:

Lehites

Begin date: About 600 BC.
Israel is about to be taken captive by the Babylonians (see Old Testament, above); the Lord tells a prophet named Lehi to get his family out before it happens.
They travel away from Jerusalem, through the desert, to the sea and build a ship.
The Lord brings them across oceans to the American continent (they probably land in Mexico or Guatemala).
Lehi’s family breaks apart into Nephites and Lamanites.
A lineage history of the Nephites, their kings and the wars with the Lamanites.
Prophesies of their future and of the coming Messiah.
Signs testify when the Messiah is born (a new star, 1 BC), and when he dies (earthquakes, tempests, volcanoes, 33 AD).
The resurrected Jesus arrives and shows crucifixion nail prints in his hands and feet, teaches the gospel, performs miracles, and sets up a Church.
Peace reigns for centuries.
Wickedness returns. The Nephite dynasty is destroyed.
Mormon summarizes everything by inscribing this whole story on thin sheets of gold, bound in book form (about 400 AD).
Mormon gives the gold plates to his son, Moroni, who adds the Jaredite history, journeys to a hill in New York, and buries them in a stone box.
End date: About AD 421.

Jaredites

Begin date: about 3,000 BC
Jared and family are led by the Lord to leave the tower of Babel; they move out and build barges to float to the American continent (probably Mexico).
Jared’s brother sees visions of the future and foretells the coming of a Messiah.
Lineage history of Jared’s descendants; wars, kings, important events.
Jaredites turn wicked and destroy themselves.
Ether summarizes the account on metal plates, they are recovered by the Nephites, and added to the gold plates by Moroni.
End date: about 600 BC.

> So, wait. That’s not even the Bible stories or anything. Instead of Moses and Paul you’ve got Nephi and Jared and Moroni.

Yes. It’s vital to see the distinction between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. They are about two completely separate groups of peoples on opposite sides of the globe. That’s the main difference. To put it simply:

Bible = Middle East

Book of Mormon = America

> But you mentioned Jesus. Is that the same Jesus as in the Bible? How does he show up in America?

Same Jesus, born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth: the Son of God. After he died and was resurrected, he appeared to the peoples of the Book of Mormon.

> I heard that the Book of Mormon replaces the Bible, and I’m not comfortable with that idea.

They are two very different accounts of separate peoples. They’re like cake and ice cream. Neither one is meant to replace the other. In fact, they are enhanced when used together. Give me both!

> Okay, but wouldn’t the Bible have mentioned something about the Book of Mormon?

It does! The Lord told the Bible prophet Ezekiel that the stick of Judah (the Bible) and the stick of Joseph (the Book of Mormon) will be joined together “and they shall become one in thine hand” (Ezekiel 37:16-17). Also, Jesus Christ taught the disciples that he had other sheep, “which are not of this fold” whom he intended to visit (John 10:16).

In the Book of Mormon, an angel explained to Nephi that “These last records [the Book of Mormon] . . . shall establish the truth of the first [the Bible] . . . and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved” (1 Nephi 13:40).

What they have in common is their devotion to the Savior of all men. Jesus is the long-foretold Messiah. We may be saved from our sins and crimes and from death itself through His holy name. These books of scripture tell us how we can receive this precious gift. I recommend you read both. You may order a free copy of each from mormon.org (the official Church website).

> Alright. I’m clicking on that link right now!

The Standard of God

I have often found in this wide world, that many people don’t understand the Mormon way of living. This is evident based just on the question, “what can’t Mormons do?” as if restrictions on behavior is something strange. Well, first off, it isn’t to me. Not very much. It isn’t strange to me that I don’t smoke, drink, gamble, cheat, or steal and that I do go to church, pay tithing, read scriptures, stay chaste and so forth. That is the standard by which I live. Everybody has a standard, or guidelines by which they make their decisions. So then, why did I choose my standard? Let me explain it to you.

First and foremost, God has a standard. He has a way of living that He wants for us. He has revealed, and continues to reveal, that way of living to prophets throughout the ages. Through Moses, He instructed the children of Israel to obey a strict set of laws. Jesus Christ instructed the Jews a different (and better) way of living that relied more on developing a good heart that dictates good actions. I don’t doubt that that same Being inspired Buddha, Mohammad or Confucius to teach their respective peoples a better way of living.

Here’s the important part: God does this so that His own children might be happy. That’s right; God gives rules for you to be happy. If He can persuade His children to lift their way of living to a higher level, even on just a single point, it brings Him joy because they are living up to a standard that is naturally better. It isn’t so much that God will punish those who break commandments; the commandments are there to prevent actions that cause damage. If I do action “A” then “B” will be a result. If “B” is good, then God wishes us to do “A,” otherwise He must forbid it.

There are several problems people see with this standard. First, they don’t see beneficial results from supposedly good actions, nor do they see bad results from bad actions. Then they wonder why the standards are there in the first place. Patience. That’s why we believe in personal revelation. We can ask our Heavenly Father if such a thing is for us. After receiving an answer, we trust in that answer and believe that someday, somehow, that trust will be for our good.

Second, many people find themselves not living in harmony with their beliefs. That is, everybody eventually finds themselves where their actions don’t line up with what they know they should be doing. They then have a choice. They could change their actions, or change their beliefs. Either will relieve the situation and not doing either will always result in misery. You would be the most wretched person if you constantly wish to be unchaste while acting in celibacy. Or you could be miserable believing that you ought not to drink alcohol while sitting at the bar getting drunk. The key is to alter the action that is keeping us from God instead giving up His standard.

Third, when we make a poor decision, we naturally are loathe to accept the consequences for that action. We would like to get the benefit of something we didn’t do and avoid the penalty for something we did do. It is true that Christ’s atonement allows us to repent and avoid the dire consequences of our actions, most especially being separated from God, but it is definitely easier to prevent making a mess of our lives than to work through the repentance process. The time spent destroying spirituality could be spent building it up instead. God’s standard helps us reap blessings with the time we have and not to spend it in trials and pain.

So in light of all this, it is imperative that each of us keep to the standard of God and stick to it. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is there for us in our moments of weakness and to pick us up at our worst moments, if we are just willing to accept help. It will be uncomfortable, there is no doubt there, but growth means growing pains. The path of least resistance is quite comfortable, but doesn’t lead to the desired end. We desire a better end, a more excellent way and one that brings a life of real joy and satisfaction. That is why we do the things we do and try our best to live according to God’s standard.