FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE
CHURCH
OF
JESUS
CHRIST
OF
LATTER-DAY
SAINTS
You are listening to Our Savior's Love from the LDS Hymnbook.
For more midi hymns, click here.
Links to other sites
What is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Although I can answer this question, I would recommend that you visit the official website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Are you Christians?
Click here to hear I Believe in Christ © 1972,1985 LDS
At a meeting with Religion Newswriters Association in Albuquerque, New Mexico, our Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley stated the following.
"Are we Christians? Of course we are! No one can honestly deny that. We may be somewhat different from the traditional pattern of Christianity. But no one believes more literally in the redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ. No one believes more fundamentally that He was the Son of God, that He died for the sins of mankind, that He rose from the grave, and that He is the living resurrected Son of the living Father.
"All of our doctrine, all of our religious practice stems from that one basic doctrinal position: 'We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.' This is the first article of our faith, and all else flows therefrom"(The Ensign, February 1998, page 73).
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Why are you called Mormons?
The nickname of the mormons was given to us, for much the same reason the United States was given the nickname yankees. It was given to us by our early enemies, as a derogatory name. Mormon was an actual person whose life is documented in the Book of Mormon.
At the age of ten, Mormon was perceived as a "sober child," and "quick to observe," so he was given the location of the sacred records of his people. He was told to take them unto himself at the age of twenty-four, and write in them everything that he had observed during the fourteen years in between.
At the age of fifteen, Mormon was visited by the Lord, and learned of the goodness of Jesus. He desired to preach of this unto his people, the Nephites, but was forbidden to since they had wilfully rebelled against God. Even though he was young, Mormon was large in stature and was appointed to be the leader of the Nephite armies at age sixteen. During this time, the land was completely overrun by thieves, robbers, murderers, and the practice of witchcraft. Blood and carnage spread across the entire land. The wars between the Nephites and Lamanites continued for many years, and finally the time came when Mormon could take the plates and make a record of all that had happened during the wars of the past fourteen years.
The Nephites were being chased from the land, and were continually fleeing for their lives. Mormon urged them to stop running, and start fighting for their wives, children, and homes. His words encouraged them somewhat, and they were able to hold on to some of their land for a little while longer. Mormon's people finally had a large victory, and began to boast and swear by the heavens, and the throne of God, that they would go to battle again, and kill all of their enemies.
Click here to hear Who's on the Lord's Side?
Although Mormon had been leading the Nephites all of this time, despite their wickedness, after they had sworn these oaths, he would no longer lead them. All this time, he had prayed for them and led them to safety, and they still swore to avenge themselves. Now they were on their own.
After an extremely bloody battle, where many of the Nephites were killed, Mormon once again took pity on them and led the armies in battle. Due to the large number of the Lamanites and the small number of Nephites, again they were forced to flee for their lives. Finally, Mormon wrote a letter to the king of the Lamanites, asking for a chance to gather all of his people together, at a hill called Cumorah, for a final battle. The Lamanite king agreed.
By this time, Mormon was quite old and he knew that this would be the final battle for his people. He did not want the sacred records to fall into the hands of his enemies, so he hid them in the hill Cumorah, except for a few plates which he gave to his son, Moroni. As he watched the slaughter of his people, his heart was "rent with anguish," and he cried:
O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!
Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and
wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!
But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return"(Mormon 6:16,17-20).
Mormon was a wonderful leader, and a very caring, concerned person. Despite the wickedness of the Nephites, he loved them very deeply and prayed for them continually.
The enemies of the LDS church gave us the nickname of mormon out of spite and malice. After considering the character and life of Mormon and all of the many wonderful things that he did, I think their intent backfired, don't you?
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What Do You Believe?
There are 13 basic principles, or Articles of Faith, which comprise much of our beliefs. They were written by Joseph Smith to explain our faith to a newspaper editor. They were later adopted by the body of the Church and are as follows:
- We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
- We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions.
- We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
- We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
- We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
- We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
- We Believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
- We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
- We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the
restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
- We claim the privilege of worshiping the Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
- We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
- We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
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What is a temple? What do you do inside?
Click here to listen to the hymn How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord © 1948 LDS
Many people wonder what makes our temples different from our normal meetinghouses. If you've never even heard of a temple, let me explain. A temple is a building, much more sacred to us than our chapels, where worthy members of the church are encouraged to attend. Entrance is by recommend only, and these recommends are obtained only after a worthiness interview with a member of the bishopric and stake presidency. Since it is so sacred to us, a worthiness interview is necessary prior to entry to protect the sacredness of the Lord's House. Some questions asked refer to the law of chastity, others refer to the word of wisdom, among other things. We are asked to answer all questions truthfully. After the interviews, we should have three signatures on our recommend, attesting to our worthiness: the member of the bishopric's, the member of the stake presidency's, and our own. Without all of the three, the
recommend isn't valid.
Many sacred ordinances take place in the temple. Marriages and sealing together of families, for time and all eternity, are among these. We believe that the family life extends beyond the grave, and that families can be together forever if they are sealed together in the Holy Temples.
The threefold mission of the church is to perfect the saints,
redeem the dead, and preach the Gospel. The temple directly
incorporates two of the three. Much of the work that goes on in the temple is vicarious work for the dead, because members only go through the temple for themselves one time. However, the temple is a house of instruction, and members benefit each time they attend. Many people wonder what happens to the people who die without hearing the Gospel, or being baptized. Worthy members of the church go to the temple, and perform the work on behalf of those who died. This work includes baptisms for the dead, and sealings for time and all eternity, by proxy. In the April 1996 General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard said that "all adult members of the Church should strive to become worthy to receive the ordinances of the temple. They should
identify their ancestors and perform the sacred temple ordinances for them."
The temple is a sacred place where worthy members of the Church can go to learn more about earth life. There we participate in holy ordinances and are able to reflect on our lives and feel the Spirit as we can nowhere else. Elder Ballard also said, comparing the temple experience to a feast,
"Making and keeping sacred covenants in the house of the Lord is the most delicious course at the Lord's table. It is the ultimate, satisfying spiritual feast of the gospel of Jesus Christ in mortality."
In reference to doing a better job of keeping temple covenants and serving more regularly in the Lord's house, President Hinckley said:
"We would be a better people. There would be little or no infidelity among us. Divorce would almost entirely disappear. So much of heartache and heartbreak would be avoided. There would be a greater measure of peace and love and happiness in our homes. There would be fewer weeping wives and weeping children. There would be a greater measure of appreciation and of mutual respect among us. And I am confident the Lord would smile with greater favor upon us."
More information on the temple, written by our Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. I highly recommend that you visit this site.
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Who was Joseph Smith, really?
(For this section of my page, I will be quoting extensively from Joseph Smith-History, in the Pearl of Great Price.)
Here is Joseph Smith's story. I feel the information is more powerful when presented in his own words.
"Owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil-disposed and designing persons, in relation to the rise and progress of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a Church and its progress in the world--I have been induced to write this history, to disabuse the public mind, and put all inquirers after truth in possession of the facts, as they have transpired, in relation both to myself and the church, so far as I have such facts in my possession....
"Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the prople, some crying, 'Lo, here!' and others, 'Lo, there!' Some were contending to the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist.
"For, notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued--priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for
another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of
words and a contest about opinions.
"I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father's family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.
"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confustion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and as unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.
"My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in thier turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenents and disprove all others.
"In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I
often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?
"While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads:
If any of you lack wisdom. let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom that I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.
"At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to 'ask of God,' concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
"So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
Click here to hear Joseph Smith's First Prayer
"After I had retired to the place were I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
"But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction--not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being--just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the
enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)--and which I should join.
"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that:
they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.
"He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other
things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degreee, I went home...."
There is much more to this story, but in the interest of time and space, I will only add a few more comments.
Joseph Smith was the first Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation of times. He had the huge responsibility of translating the Book of Mormon, through the aid of the Urim and Thummim. He also was responsible for moving the Saints west, and for building two temples.
Click here to hear Praise to the Man, written about Joseph Smith.
Loved by the Saints, and hated by his enemies, Joseph Smith died the death of a martyr at Carthage, Illinois on June 27, 1844. The following is an account of his death, quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, section 135.
"To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o'clock p.m., by an armed mob--painted black--of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls....
"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and had been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions
for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!"
More
information on Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, at another
site.
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What are wards and stakes?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 10,070,524 members as of December 31, 1997. Members of the church are grouped into wards, according to where they live. A ward is simply a group of members who live within certain pre-set boundries. They attend church together, and worship together. Often, three or four wards will meet at the same church, but at different times. This keeps the congregation from becoming too large, and allows the
bishops to get to know all of the ward members more easily. A smaller form of the ward is the branch, which means that there aren't enough members in the area to form a ward.
Just as members of the church are grouped into wards, so are wards grouped into stakes. There were 24,670 wards and branches in the world, and 2,424 stakes, as of Dec. 31, 1997. These wards and branches are in 143 nations and 19 territories and possessions.
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What are Bishops and Stake Presidents?
The Bishop is nicknamed the father of the ward. He is called of God to serve in a capacity much like that of Ministers and Reverends. This calling is an unpaid position, as all positions in the Church are, that he takes on in addition to his full-time job. He spends many hours each week in interviews with members of his congregation, and in doing everything in his power to further the Gospel cause. He gives temple recommend interviews, and counsels with ward members that are in need of counsel. He will spend anywhere from 15 to 35+ hours each week, serving the Lord in his calling. The Bishop has two counselors to help him in his duties. Together, the three of them form the bishopric.
The Stake President is the president of the stake. This calling is not of man, but of God, and no election takes place. The Stake President oversees the individual wards and meets in regular counsel with the individual Bishops. His job is to make sure the stake runs smoothly according to the guidelines set forth by the Church. His position is also unpaid. He calls two counselors to help him in his duties. Together, the three of them are called the stake presidency.