"Mormonism"

Ah, the ever heatedly debated subject. Is there a more controversial issue out there? Because if there is, I’d like to know about it.

This article was in this morning’s newspaper. When I went to read the comics, my eyes lit on this and I read it instead. Now, those of you who know me, know that I'm not that much into contention. I'll argue something if I feel I'm right, but only to a point. When I find that I can't convince someone, I generally just give up and move on.

There is, however, one point in which I will never do this. There is one thing that I will argue to the last, not in contention, but in fact, because it's the very basis of what I believe. And that is the LDS church's stand on who Jesus Christ is. on whether or not we are Christian.

I tell you right now, blatantly and bluntly that we ARE! The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We would not name our church after a man we didn't believe was the most important man ever to walk this planet or any other.

He is our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. But more than that. He is MY Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. Without Him, I would be lost, and I know everyone else in this world would be as well. I cannot think of Him without feeling an overwhelming degree of gratitude, love, and joy.

So don't tell me I'm not Christian.

We do not "consider" ourselves to be Christian, as the man in this article states. We ARE Christian. After all, what makes a Christian a Christian? Dictionary.com defines it as "a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity, a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ". 

I assure you that "Mormons" fall under that category.

I love hearing about other religions. I find it interesting to learn exactly what other people believe from their perspective. As far as I'm concerned, it's the only way TO learn what other faiths teach. What better way to learn what someone believes than to ask them and have them tell you?

In other words, I would never ask a Jew what a Buddhist believes. That just seems silly. So when trying to find out what a "Mormon" believes, I suggest you ask a "Mormon". Mormon.org, for instance is a fantastic website for just such a pursuit, because you'll actually get a true answer, not something from someone who has either been sadly misinformed, as I believe most people out there are, or are actively trying to bring the "Mormon" church down.

You want to know what we believe? Read our book. If that isn't proof of our devotion and love for our Savior, I don't know what is. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. How many out there know the full name of the book? It stands along side the Bible in proclaiming to the world that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Redeemer. It's purpose is to "the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations". The book is true. I know it is.

The biggest controversy in the article I linked to was about Joseph Smith. For those who don't know who that is, he was the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can hear of his experience in how that came about, from his own words, here. If the Book of Mormon is true, and I know it is, then Joseph Smith was a true prophet, because he brought forth a book from God. One cannot be true without the other being true also.

I believe the best way to put this is how President Gordon B. Hinckley, former President of the LDS church put it. I'll only summarize his talk, but the full talk can be found here.

"Joseph’s story of the gold plates was fantastic. It was hard to believe and easy to challenge. Could he have written it of his own capacity? It is here, my brothers and sisters, for everyone to see, to handle, to read. Every attempt to explain its origin, other than that which he gave, has fallen of its own weight. He was largely unschooled; and yet, in a very brief time, he brought forth the translation which in published form comes to more than 500 pages. . . Through all of these years critics have tried to explain it. They have spoken against it. They have ridiculed it. But it has outlived them all, and its influence today is greater than at any time in its history. . . To you, this day, I affirm my witness of the calling of the Prophet Joseph, of his works, of the sealing of his testimony with his blood as a martyr to the eternal truth. Each of you can bear witness of the same thing."

That's powerful. It's amazing. And if it wasn't true, who would dare make such a fantastic story up?

If you want to know what we believe, there you have it. That's my testimony. For the world to see. Ridicule it, admire it, I don't care. It's what I know to be true. And nothing anyone says or argues will EVER change that fact.