I Believe That the Mormon Church is the Church of Jesus Christ

First of all, I have to say that I love being able to post on this blog. Our whole purpose is to share our feelings and knowledge about what we believe is true. I am going to share how I came to know and believe that the Mormon church is the church of Christ.

I remember when I first wanted to be a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church). I was 21 years old and I wasn't happy. I had a good job, I had many friends, I had a roof over my head, and I had many things that people all over the world dream of, but I just wasn't happy. I remember one day, in particular, when I realized my life had no purpose. With all my heart I knelt down and asked God if he would show me how to be happy.

I got a distinct answer to read the Bible. I had never done it before. I grew up going to church, but I never took the time to read. In my teen years I stopped believing in God. This was mainly because of some bad examples of fellow Christians; however, I can't blame it on them because I was the one who got offended. On top of that, my father passed away, and I was having major communication/control problems with my mother. At first I just blamed God for all the bad things in my life, and then through time, I became blinded to the point that I didn't even believe. Step by step, year by year, I lost my zeal for life and my purpose, but now I had a solution. I knelt in faith and God had answered my prayers. I felt a peace and confidence that the Bible would teach what I was looking for.

I started that night to read and didn't stop for 12 days. I barely rested and I can't even remember if I ate or not. I will never forget the feelings I had as I read. I constantly felt that same feeling of peace and reassurance that I was doing what God wanted me to do. I constantly remembered the things I was taught in church as a child, and I would feel and know that they are true. After reading more than four fifths of the book I had a firm testimony that the Bible truly helped me to be more happy. It taught me that I need to trust in God, follow him, and everything will work out to my good.

Shortly after this mini conversion, I hit a peak in my spirituality and got sucked back into the world. I got really busy, and I didn't make time to continue my spiritual quest. It was like two steps forward, one step back; but deep down I knew there was more to life than what I had. I still read the Bible every once in a while, I attended several churches to see what they taught, and I never stopped praying that God would give me wisdom and understanding (you know, like Solomon:). It wasn't until six months later that I again prayed for help. This time God's answer was a bit different from the first. He told me to read the Book of Mormon. The feeling of peace and confidence was identical to the first answer I received, but this answer was a little harder for me to accept than the first.

Maybe your are asking how I knew about the Book of Mormon. You remember how I told you I grew up going to church? That was the Mormon church. You remember how I was offended by some fellow Christians? Well they were Mormons. The last thing I wanted to do was to be one of them. I had spent years avoiding them, hating them, and stewing over all the bad things that had happened to me because of them (so I thought). I still had anger in my heart and I thought they all were a bunch of hypocrites.

All I could ask myself is "why would God tell me to read their book?!" I was very hesitant, and yet, at the same time another part of me was curious. All those years of my childhood I had barely opened its cover. I started to wonder what would be inside. I started to entertain the idea because there was no way I could deny that God had given me an answer to my prayer. Looking back I have to praise the wisdom of God because had he told me to read the Book of Mormon first, I am sure that I would not have done it.

I started reading this time much slower than the time before, but I decided to give it a try. If nothing else, I would know what was in there. My second experience mimicked the first, and I could almost requote what I said above, "I will never forget the feelings I would have as I read. I ... felt [a] ... feeling of peace and reassurance that I was doing what God wanted me to do." Again I felt the truth of the things I had learned as a child. I found that this book also helped me feel the peace and happiness that the spirit brings, and the lessons I learned from the Book of Mormon were that prayers are always answered and that God is a God of revelation.

The next year was one of the best in my life. To this day I have never felt the spirit so strong and constant as I did then. I think that it was because that feeling was so new. It was like nothing I had felt for a very very long time.


God was with me every step of the way and he helped me gain an unshakable testimony of prayer. I would ask God how to over come this or that temptation and he would help me. I prayed that he would send me new friends. That same week my old old friend got home from his mission (a 2 year commitment to preach the gospel that many young Mormon men voluntarily serve and pay their own way). Interestingly enough, this was the same young man who offended me so many years before. He had grown up and he welcomed me into his circle of friends. I prayed that God would help me forgive him, and he helped me. I prayed that God would help me break up with my Girlfriend (I loved her a lot, but I knew she was not helping me with my change). That same week she did something that made it necessary even though it was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

This radical change was not easy, but I found streigth in living the teachings in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, which are taught by the Church. One example is keeping the sabbath day holy. In the Bible, God commanded the Israelites to dedicate the sabbath day to him. We believe that this means on Sunday we go to church and take the sacrament, we don't work, we don't participate in recreational activities (like boating, skiing, swimming), and we try to do things that uplift and edify us. Shortly after I changed my life, I found that the weeks that I would keep the sabbath day holy by going to church, I actually had more strength to withstand the temptations of the Devil, and in turn, was more happy.

Now I have been trying to live the teachings of Christ for over 6 years and I have tasted of the fruits of this gospel. I know it is true. I know that Jesus is the Christ and he atoned for our sins. I know that he called prophets in all ages, and he called a prophet in our day just as in days of old. This prophet, Joseph Smith, restored the gospel that has changed and blessed my life so immensely. I never imagined that God had so many blessings for me. I could list them here, but the list would be so long it would burst out of your computer screen, on to your keyboard, roll down to the ground, and hit the edge of the wall behind you.

I also know that the prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, received his authority to lead the church in an unbroken chain from Joseph Smith, and he received it from Christ. You can read more about Joseph Smith here.

I share this history with you only because I want more people to share in the happiness that I have found. Believe me, I have never been happier in my life than I am right now. I have tasted of this fruit and it is good. Why not give it a try? You can start by requesting your own Book of Mormon from the missionaries.

Faith in Jesus Christ

We believe that the first principle of the Gospel is faith in Jesus Christ. In other words this is the very first step that each person must take in order to prepare to return to God. In Helaman 5: 12 it states "...remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation...which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Why must we have faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ was sent down to this earth to save mankind from physical death and spiritual death. He conquered both types of death through what we call the Atonement of Jesus Christ which included his suffering on the cross. Through Christ's Atonement, we can receive a forgiveness of our sins so that we can be clean and enter into God's presence. Christ's atonement can also empower us to overcome the struggles and trials that we face in our every day lives. Alma 7:11-12 "...he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy...that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

How do we develop faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ comes in degrees. It is generally not something that is all or nothing. Some people have been blessed to easily accept Jesus Christ and to others it comes as a struggle. Alma 32: 26-30 gives us some insight on how to develop faith "Now, as I said concerning faith--that it is not a perfect knowledge...Ye cannot know of a surety at first...but behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiement upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work within you...Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold if it be a true seed...if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief...it will begin to swell within your breasts...for it beginneth to enlarge your soul, yea, it beginneth to enlighten your understanding..."

Eternal Families

One of the greatest joys man can experience here on this earth is family. We are all born into different circumstances, cultures, traditions, financial situations, and each have our strengths and weaknesses. However, I believe, that no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in there can be nothing more dear to each of our hearts, save our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, than our families. We know them better than most people. We have seen them at their weakest and at their strongest and through it all love them. We learn from them and whether we learn good habits and see good examples or see what we want to do differently when we "grow up," they are the people who influence our lives the most.

My life has been full of life changing experiences and my family has been their supporting me and loving me through them all. I have built bonds with my siblings that will never break and only get stronger with time. Today I have a family of my own; a wonderful loving husband who I couldn't live without, who makes me laugh when times are tough and makes me happier than I could ever imagine, and a beautiful little girl that brings joy to each of my days. Her smiles melt my heart.

I also know of my Father in Heaven and the great eternal heritage I have come from. What a blessing to know of His love and support. He knows me personally and will always be there to show me the way. He loves his job as Father of us all and proves it as we walk along side Him.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe in eternal families. This means that we can be sealed to our earthly families for time and all eternity. What a beautiful blessing from a loving Heavenly Father. Because of this we can have that bond forever. We can be with our spouses, children, mothers, father, sisters, brother, etc forever. There have been times in my life when a member of my family has passed away. The funerals are sad and tears are shed for our loss and yet we have a spirit of knowing and hope; knowledge that we will one day see them again. This life is not the end for families and it is not the beginning. It is time of learning together, growing closer and loving.

LDS Missionaries

Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are baptised into the church by mormon missionaries. However, many are born into LDS families and are baptized at the age of 8. I was baptised at 8 years old and was very excited to do so. I have always believed the teachings of the church. I have studied many faiths through out my life and have come to the conclusion that this organization contains the fullness of the gospel. I have a great appreciation for other faiths and for the infinite amount of good they do. Many of my friends are Pentacostal or Catholic or Greek Orthodox. We all recognize the good each other's faiths do in this world. I believe however, that the ordinances of the gospel are essential to salvation. They are outward expressions of inward commitments. Jesus emphasizes the ordiance of baptism by immersion and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through these ordinances, the grace of God, and one's faithfullness one can be saved. We believe we are saved by grace "after all we can do." I encourage anyone reading this who is inquiring as to the LDS beliefs to seek out our doctrines and pray for guidance to know whether these are true.

The Book of Mormon

View The Book of Mormon online.

The Book of Mormon is a volume of scripture written by some of the inhabitants of ancient America. It talks about God's dealings with the inhabitants of the American continents. It also speaks of a visit from the Savior, Jesus Christ, to these people shortly after his death in Jerusalem. As members of the Church we believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God spoken to these early Americans. We also believe the Bible to be the word of God given to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas.

I served as a missionionary for the Church in Hawaii a few years back and it was a great experience to teach people about The Book of Mormon. To some of our friends of other Christian denominations it was hard for them to accept that God had provided additional scripture and direction beyond what the Bible offered. To many others that I met however, it was very natural and comforting to know that God still speaks to us. I believe the best answers as to why the Book of Mormon is needed and why it is important are found in the Book of Mormon itself. On the Title Page, written by one of the Lord's prophets of the Book of Mormon, it says the purpose of this volume of scripture is "to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever - And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations". There is much confusion in the world of religion. The Book of Mormon provides us not only with knowledge of God's dealing with mankind, but also a second witness of Christ that, with the Bible, proves that Jesus is the Savior of mankind. If the Book of Mormon be true then the Bible must be true because the Book of Mormon testifies that the Bible is true. For any person concerned about the doctrines and or authenticity of the Bible, and there are many, the Lord has provided a second witness that is both clarifying and sustaining of the words in the Bible. I know the Book of Mormon to be true and it has been a great blessing in my life to study its words. I also believe the Bible to be the word of God and love the inspired words written there.

Mormon

I figure for my first post I ought to explain myself and share my testimony. I am a devout Mormon. I write "Mormon" only because many people know this name to be the title of the Church. This is actually not the case; it is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Nevertheless, many people have undertaken to defame the name "Mormon" with there own websites and blogs to get at the Church in a round about way. So partially the purpose of this blog is to provide those searching for answers about the Church another resource through our own testimonies and experiences. WE DO NOT REPRESENT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AS A WHOLE. We are members of the Church authoring a blog about our testimonies, faith, and experiences.

I believe in Jesus Christ, and what's more than that is I also believe Jesus Christ. I believe that just like in Old Testament and New Testament times the Lord calls prophets, authorized servants, to direct us today. Literally, a latter day Moses. The full church organization that Christ established during his mortal ministry and subsequent events is found on the Earth today in the "Mormon" Church, or as it is really named, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It has been a great comfort in my life to know since I was very young that the Lord has not left us alone to our own devices to get through the struggles we face today. He has not stopped speaking to us and providing us inspired scripture to help us with our daily needs. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and was translated by Joseph Smith by the power of God. Those who will read and study sincerely and pray and ask of God if it's true will gain a testimony of its truth through the power of the Holy Ghost.