(Disclaimer: These views are all based on my knowledge and interpretation as an active Latter Day Saint, or “Mormon”, only the actual article of faith I list should be considered “official”. Still, I try to be accurate and do my homework ;-)
I’ve decided that over the next several days, I’m going to elaborate a bit on what Mormons believe, using the Articles of Faith as my guide. This series of posts is meant to both assist in setting the record straight about Mormonism (if you’re not LDS, and have seen the plethora of false information online), and to helping those of us that are LDS appreciate the simple beauty behind our most basic beliefs.
(For context, the Articles of Faith were written by Joseph Smith and published in March of 1842 in an effort to provide a brief view of Mormon teachings… see here).
The first article of faith states:
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Yes, that means we’re Christian. We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that He lives, that He was resurrected after having been crucified on the cross. We believe that He is our savior, and that through His atoning sacrifice, our sins might be forgiven that we might be made clean through His mercy.
We believe that he is the literal Son of God, and that God is a real being of flesh and bone, who created the earth, and that we are all His children (see we are of royal birth). Mormons believe that God is not some vague, cosmic energy, but is a real person that we can see, feel, and speak to.
What a beautiful thing that is, to know that we are made in the image of God. Knowledge of such a divine heritage should fill us with hope, fortify our confidence, and alter the perspective we have on ourselves, and others.
And how wonderful it is to know that God is a literal, tangible being. Somehow that makes him approachable, being able to see him as a kind and gentle Father who is concerned at all times for our eternal welfare (see God is Omnicaring).
We also believe in the Holy Ghost, that He is a personage of spirit, and as such, is able to dwell within us. Think upon that for a moment. Through living a righteous life, we are able to have the Holy Ghost actually dwell within us. What a marvelous gift. A measure of divinity placed within each of us providing a direct conduit straight to our Father in Heaven.
While it’s so easy to take the first article of faith for granted, being so basic, I find it to be of remarkable substance and encouragement. I am a child of God, who sent His Son to atone for my sins, and provided me the Holy Ghost as a companion to show the way during dark times. Armed with such knowledge, we should all feel a little bolder, a little more confident, and a little more determined.
Rusty
See also Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
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Filed under: Docterine | Tagged: Articles of Faith, Christianity, Docterine, God, Holy Ghost, Jesus, Joseph Smith, lds, mormon, religion, theology
“Yes, that means we’re Christian. We believe in Jesus Christ.” Sorry, that does not mean you are Christian. Belief in Jesus Christ is not enough. Isalm believes in Jesus Christ. That does not make them Christian. Unfortunately, just because the LDS believe that they are Christians does not make them so. The Apostles and Nicene Creed are more determinative. There is one God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit … one being … not 3. And God is not flesh and bone until the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, you and many other LDS followers have been misled by your leadership to believe that LDS is either compatible with, or is a “purer” form of Christianity. It is simply not true. LDS have made Jesus something he is not.
I think this massages is so true, and He’s the father we are the children we should always lift up his name with praise.
Yes, you do believe in god the father, and his son Jesus, but the things you don’t say is that you also believe that god father and god mother (also omitted in your article) produced all of the offspring of this earth. That Jesus and lucifer were brothers, god father was a mortal and good enough at his judgment to get a planet of his own with his wife(s).
So the Jesus you have is NOT the Jesus of mainstream Christianity. But keep writing, so we can continue to tell the truth.
You are a brave man to put your beliefs out in the open for others to attack at will. I admire and appreciate your post.
Those who chose to attack you, I can only assume, have never attended a Mormon service… with pure intent of heart, asking God for the Spirit to know whether or not the truth is being spoken.
I have attended many different churches around the world. Some have left me feeling uncomfortable, some have given me strength.
It is easy to feel the spirit and a love of God in the Mormon people as is true for many religions.
I feel that if one opens their heart to God, prays, and lives a good life… They will be able to feel the spirit of and know the truth that is given to them.
I wish people would concentrate their energies into seeking God rather than tearing down other religions.
Thanks again for sharing your beliefs. I look forward to reading more.
You are a brave man, Rusty, for even keeping such a blog. But like some of your other commenters and with all due respect, I too am disappointed by your unwillingness to tell the whole truth about the Mormon program. The boys who call themseves “elders,” unfortunately, do the same thing. That’s how they get so many (if many temporary) converts. If you (and the young men on bicycles) would tell folks upfront about your denial of the trinity, essential denial of the incarnation, refusal to use wine (you use water) in the Mormon version of the Lord’s Supper, your converts would be fewer. While that might hurt your numbers, isn’t telling the truth about what you believe just the right thing to do?
In any case, I pray Christ’s peace for you, Rusty.
betme, some of us have been mormons for years, and finally got truth and left. The temple is a form of masonry, even my die-hard brother had to admit that, and my aunt who was in eastern star. Missionaries do not tell the whole story, they never mention mother god. And Jesus said that he had no secrets. So how com the Mormons do?
I thought you should have a comment from a member. I was raised as an American Baptist. The people in that Church were wonderful (and still are), but I was always so confused by their teachings. I investigated many churches, and while the people were good people, their teachings were equally confusing. While I read the Book of Mormon, I had aha! moment after aha! moment. No one can understand the Gospel all at once, but little by little over the past 40+ years I have been able to accept everything I have learned so far. Some things I have struggled with a little, but with study and prayer the answer always has come. The important thing is to be open to what the Holy Ghost is trying to teacn.
I admire what you are doing and will continue to read with interest.
Margaret
I also think you’re brave for what you’re trying to do - I think it’s sad when people are so convinced that they already know everything about our faith that they can’t listen to someone trying to explain, in a respectful manner, what we truly do believe. All I can say is, I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father with all my heart.
With so many replies, I decided to add my replies to each quote above, to better address each comment in it’s turn. Thanks. I’d love to hear from more of you.
Kwamboka said:
“And Jesus said that he had no secrets. So how com the Mormons do?”
Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)
There is a time and a place for all things. Secrecy isn’t bad. Secret things are open to all who would learn them, but only when they are ready to learn.
http://lehislibrary.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/list-secrecy-in-the-new-testament/
ponderingpastor notes that “Islam believes in Jesus Christ.” I know little of Islam. But I do not believe its adherents accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. They do not accept the atonement or the resurrection. Mormons do.
As a lawyer, I’ve often thought the question about whether “Mormons are Christians” is just a trademark dispute. Some traditional Christians claim the right to exclusive use of the name Christian. They want to exclude others who fail to meet a doctrinal test. Some of them say Catholics are not Christians for example.
Mormons claim the right to use the name Christian because they believe Christ is their Savior, without whom there would be no resurrection and no salvation.
As a legal matter, of course, anyone can call themselves a Christian. But are they truly? This presents a purely definitional question.
As a practicing Mormon, this used to bother me. I remember when I was in college, a member of CARE told me I wasn’t Christian. I thought it was awfully presumptuous of her to tell me what I believed. Now, I’ve come to believe that labels don’t matter much. I know Christ died for me. I know He took upon Himself my sins. I have felt His comfort. I would like traditional Christians to accept me as a fellow Christian. I think it makes Mormons and traditional Christians to emphasize what unites us rather than what divides us. But, in the end, if someone wants to tell me I don’t believe in their Christ, so be it.
To megshoeman; while I was investigating the Church, I was told of the Godhead and how they are 3 separate and distinct beings. God the Father and God the Son each have a body of flesh and bones, but the Holy Ghost does not. He is the testifier. I also attended a sacrament meeting, as most investigators do. I learned about the bread and water. I learned many things after my baptism, and am still learning. I don’t feel like things were kept from me. I could only learn so much at a time. I can pray about each thing as I learn it and get an answer.