What Do Mormons Believe? – Page 26 – "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

Service and Spiritual Eyes

I recently gave birth to my second child, a girl. I was and am feeling extremely blessed. Not only for her presence in my life, but because I was the recipient of so much service from others. I am getting gifts and free babysitting from neighbors and friends and family and starting to feel a little to spoiled. I prayed for opportunities to serve others, but with a newborn and a two year old, I knew I couldn’t go out and clean someone’s house or bring them dinner or anything. I felt that all I could do was sit and wait for the Lord to send me people to help or tasks to fulfill for others.

Then a few weeks ago, sitting in Sunday School, feeling selfish again, the spirit was strong in the meeting and it gave me a deeper insight into my prayer: I had been serving people for the past 2 weeks. I thought of at least 3 instances where I had helped people, (even getting someone a job!), and the important service that I was giving my own children. Without even thinking about serving, or making sacrifices, I had helped plenty of people. It felt so good to have the spirit open my eyes to that realization, I can’t explain it, but it solidified my testimony that the Lord will answer prayers and that He is aware of us in our circumstances. It wasn’t answered the way I thought it would be, but when are they?

If I were a Mormon, I would have to stop . . .

In nearly every conversation I have with people about my beliefs, they say something to the effect, “If I were a Mormon, I would have to stop drinking coffee, I just can’t live without coffee.” Or, “I couldn’t drink alcohol anymore.” Or, “I would have to get married to my girlfriend.”

Of course people have things that they love and enjoy. I do too. But recently, I have started to think about all of the the blessings that are in my life because I am a Mormon and it has caused me to think about what people say they would have to give up to become a Mormon. To me the things people say they would have to give up are a couple of pennies in comparison to the millions they could receive.

Lets talk about what blessings are in my life because I am a Mormon and do my best to practice what believe:

I have a beautiful wife who loves me and has given me three beautiful children. She is the best thing that ever has, or ever will happen to me. Our marriage is strong and we have complete trust and faith in each other. I know that she and I will be together forever and ever if we remain faithful to each other and to God.

My wife and I have had to make sacrifices so that she can stay home with the children, but they are growing up happy. They feel safe and secure in my home and they know that I and their mother love them. They trust us, their parents. They like to spend time together and laugh and play with each other.
I was able to perform two years of missionary work for my church. This experience has blessed my life in ways I can’t count. I grew up and gained experience and perspective that would have taken me 10-15 years to acquire in other ways. I learned a second language. I learned how to interact with people. I learned how to be an effective teacher. I found out what true happiness is all about. I went out a boy and came home a man.

I am able to run 3-4 miles without difficulty. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables which keep me feeling good. I don’t need coffee to wake me up in the morning, or a cigarette to calm my nerves, and I don’t need alcohol to have a good time on Friday night. What’s more, I have been promised if I will live the Word of Wisdom, I will be given knowledge and understanding and have strength above and beyond what I would be capable of on my own.

I know who I am, I know where I have come from, I know why I am on earth, and I know where I am going.

These are just a few of the things that I can think of at the moment, but when I start to really think about it, the things that I have given up to be a Mormon pale in comparison to what I have gained. I urge you to think about what I have written about. These blessings are as available to you as they are to me. Yes, you will have to make sacrifices initially, but believe me, when you start to see the way God will work in your life, you will realize that they aren’t sacrifices at all.

It’s not on my calendar…

Q. What scripture tells us that no one knows the final coming of the Lord not even the angels in heaven? – jim

Jim, I believe you’re referring to Matthew 24:36

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Even today, we still don’t know the day and hour, but Jesus did instruct us to be watchful and ready. He compared the signs of the second coming to the leaves of a fig tree that signal the coming of summer. Those who prepare themselves spiritually will be able to recognize the events leading up to His coming. Others will be caught off guard as when a thief breaks into a home. Even if we aren’t counting down the days, we can prepare ourselves for it. We can be ready.

My Favorite Book of Mormon Story

My favorite Book of Mormon Story begins in Helaman, chapter 7. I just started reading it again tonight, it is the story of a lone prophet among an influx of unrighteous, proud, and dangerous people. Nephi (the son of Helaman) was praying aloud in his garden about the deplorable state of the people when a crowd noticed and gathered around him. He called them to repentance, warning them that they will be destroyed unless they heed the word of the Lord.

At the end of his preaching, he told the people to go to the judgment seat and there they would find the Chief Judge dead by the hand of his brother. He reveals that these brothers were both members of the infamous Gadianton Robbers.

Immediately, 5 men run from where Nephi is preaching to the judgment seat to verify Nephi’s words, they agreed that if it were true, they would then believe in Nephi as a prophet. Sure enough, when they arrived, they found the Chief Judge lying in a pool of blood.

Meanwhile, the servants who discovered the murdered Chief Judge had gone out and told others about the murder. When a crowd of onlookers arrived, they found these 5 men and assumed they were the ones who had killed him and they were thrown into prison.

Later, at the burial of the Chief Judge, those who had been gathered at Nephi’s garden wondered what happened to the 5 who went to check – when it was discovered that they were the same 5, they were set free. But the people were now suspicious of Nephi, claiming that he was in league with the murderers and Nephi was a false prophet trying to gain power. So they brought him in for questioning. But Nephi was firm, and testified to his accusers that the Lord will destroy this people if they will not repent. Then Nephi gives them further proof, he tells them that if they go to the brother of the Chief Judge and accuse him, they will find blood on his cloak and he would confess.

And they did.

And he did.

And many believed that Nephi was a prophet of God.

I love how dramatic this story is, it reads just as shocking as any blockbuster movie or thriller novel. It shows how powerful prophets can be, when the situation demands it and the trust God gives his prophets. It shows how fickle groups of people can be and warns against governments run by evil and corrupt men/women.

Family Proclamation

Question: What is so special to you about The Family A Proclamation to the World? I would like to hear some ideas from you, to help me understand.

Picture of a Family Smiling Together I’d like to start with a brief summary of our relationship to God. Because in my opinion, that relationship is the key to understanding the purpose of life. One of our basic beliefs is that we are children of God. Before life began on the earth, we all lived with God as His spirit children. Our Heavenly Father presented a plan to us there. This plan was an opportunity to help all of us, His children, to learn, grow, and eventually become like Him. To quote a church article written several years ago, “We were given laws. We were commanded to walk in paths of truth and light and of virtue and integrity so that we could advance and progress. The ultimate goal held out to us was that if we were obedient in all things, eventually we would become like him. We would live in the eternal family unit as he lives in it, and we would have might, power, glory, and the omnipotent creative ability that he possesses. The name of the kind of life he lives is eternal life.” (“Households of Faith”, Ensign, April 1971, 4).

If our purpose in life is to eventually live as families as God does, then the need of the Proclamation to the World is clear. Families are the fundamental units of society. They are what children look to, to understand what is ‘normal’. They are what God has given us to understand what life will be like after we die. Since the definition of families in our world is becoming more obscure and confused, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made a statement clarifying the definition of family. In my opinion, The Family: A Proclamation to The World provides an answer to a lot of the confusion children are growing up with now. Below are nine issues in the world today that I think the Proclamation addresses. You may click here to read The Family: A Proclamation to The World in its entirety.

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life…The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave.” (3rd Paragraph) “The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” (1st Paragraph)
- Are families important? Yes. We lived as part of God’s family before we were born. We live in families here. We can live in families in the next life. If we lose focus of what constitutes a family, then we lose focus of what we are aiming for in the next life.
“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents…Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. (2nd Paragraph)
- Did God mess up? Was I supposed to be male/female instead of female/male? No. We were either a son or a daughter (male or female) when we lived as part of God’s family before we were born. We were born on earth with that same gender, and that gender is essential in our family. I want to point out that we’ve also been given varying talents and abilities. We are not limited in what we can do. There are men who love music, art, dancing, etc. Good. There are women who love science, math, sports, etc. That’s fine too. Talents don’t constitute gender.
“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife…We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.” (4th Paragraph)
- Do I need to be married? I want to have a child. Can’t I just make arrangements on my own? No. The very first commandment that God gave on earth was to have families. In my opinion that shows just how important families are.
- A man and a woman should be married before having intercourse or starting a family. I’ve unfortunately seen two different shows in the past year or two where successful women have good careers and decided that they now want to have a child. So they ‘shop’ around for good genes. Then they raise the child on their own. What kind of family is that? Poor kid.
“We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.” (5th Paragraph)
- I’m not ready for a child. Can I get an abortion? Getting an abortion is a serious matter. Please read the Church’s official statement below (found here).
  - “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions. The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:
    - Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or
    - A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or
    - A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.
    The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct. The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion.”
“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children…Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.” (6th Paragraph)
- What does being a good mother/father mean? Children look up to their parents’ example. Parents are the most influential teachers children have.
- Families are important to God. He sends us innocent children who look to us for guidance. He will hold us responsible for how well we fulfilled that trust.
“Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.” (7th Paragraph)
- Children don’t get to pick their families. But they deserve good ones.
“Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.” (7th Paragraph)
- While fathers are given the responsibility to provide for their families and mothers to nuture their children, we adjust to make things work.
“We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.” (8th Paragraph)
- Once again, families are really important to God. If we abuse or neglect family members, He will hold us accountable.
“Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.” (8th Paragraph)
- Families are what God has given us to teach us about what kind of life we can have after we die. If we destroy that perspective, our children will have a much harder time finding their way back to God. Should we be surprised that calamities will come as a result?

There are many different questions and answers that can be found by reading the Family Proclamation, but these are the ones that stood out to me the most. I hope they help. Our Father in Heaven loves us and wants to help us return to live with Him. He has given us the Family Proclamation to clarify the importance of families in His plan for us, and the role they play in our lives and on into eternity.