What is Mormonism? It is a Christian belief set that centers on the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Mormonism is an unofficial name people sometimes use when referring to the religious beliefs held by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This very long name is the official name of the Church and the ones Mormons would like others to use, rather than Mormon Church. The Book of Mormon, which Mormons use with the Bible, teaches that the Savior told a group of people that a church belongs to the person for whom it is named. Since Mormon was a real person, it is important not to leave the incorrect impression that the church belongs to him. It belongs to Jesus Christ, and therefore, must have His name in it. Calling the members of the church Mormons is acceptable, even though it is a nickname.

Mormonism is Christianity

Mormonism is Christianity that is centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Contrary to popular gossip, Mormons do believe in Jesus Christ and do believe that the atonement is essential to a person’s salvation. The Book of Mormon says:

And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also (Alma 42:15)

Mormonism is founded on what is commonly called the Plan of Salvation or the Great Plan of Happiness. This is the foundational story upon which all other teachings of Mormonism rest. It begins even before birth, when our spirits were created by God, making us His literal children. We stayed with Him for a while in the manner of childhood, learning what is true, deciding whether or not we cared what was true, and choosing what sort of person we were going to be. We had agency and could choose for ourselves, but not without consequences. There is no such thing as a consequence-free life.

Mormonism and the Purpose of Life

When we’d learned all we could there, Jesus Christ, under the direction of God, created the earth for us. Then we had to make the most important choice we’d ever make. God had created a beautiful plan for us. He would send us to Earth to live. We would be born into a family, take with us our agency, and forget our lovely beginnings. It would be our responsibility to find and accept the truth when God wasn’t standing right there with us. Could we develop faith, which is an extraordinary talent? When we found what was true, would we care enough to act on that knowledge?

God knew we’d need help and so He planned for helpers. We could access the Holy Ghost, who would testify of truth to our hearts if we were willing to listen. That way we would have the opportunity to make the right choice without guessing. God also knew we’d need a Savior. Justice required a perfect life, but none of us, in mortal form, could be perfect. Mercy allowed for a Savior to come to earth entirely voluntarily and to be the child of a mortal mother (Mary) and a divine Father (God). Jesus volunteered for this task and was the only one who could carry it out. For that reason, we owe our entire eternity to Him. He did not need to come to earth at all, being God’s only begotten Son, but He was willing to do so. He didn’t need to suffer for sins, since He would be perfect, but He was willing to do this also. He would suffer for our sins. He didn’t even need to die, but He knew that if He did not, we could not be resurrected, and so He was willing to die for us.

God also knew we’d need Heavenly guidance. He planned a way for us to remain in communication with God through prayer and He promised to answer our prayers in the way that was best for us, if we asked in faith.

Mormonism and Life on Earth

With all that in place, we were ready to come to earth. Lucifer tried to convince us the plan was too risky and we should reject it and let him take charge. He’d control our lives and make sure no one failed the test, but we’d have to worship him instead of God. Oddly, a third of the spirits in Heaven chose Lucifer, but Lucifer’s proposal was not an option. Those who rejected God’s plan simply didn’t get to come to Earth and were destined to follow Satan forever, unable to partake of the atonement they had rejected.

The rest of us came here. If you are here, you chose wisely. You are here on Earth and have the Holy Spirit to help you find the truth, the ability to prayer to know what is true, and the blessings of the atonement to help you get safely back home to God.

This is the foundation on which everything else in Mormonism is built. Mormons accept both the Bible and the Book of Mormon as scripture and believe in an open canon. We believe that God loves us too much to give us the silent treatment about truth and so He continues to provide prophets to show us what He wants us to know and to do as we prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is based on New Testament Christianity and rejects the non-scriptural canons that emerged in later centuries.

Learn more about Mormonism—it isn’t what you think

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Mormon Church, teaches youth the importance of work and self-reliance. For the Strength of Youth, a pamphlet instructing youth about standards and values, teaches: “When you are self-reliant, you use the blessings and abilities God had given you to care for yourself and your family and to find solutions for your own problems” (“Work and Self-Reliance,” For the Strength of Youth). Mormons believe it is very important to work and be self-reliant, and teach children from an early age to be active and work hard. Because Mormons believe in the importance and necessity of work, they have provided employment services for members to assist them in finding work or changing jobs.

When I was in high school, and had a good summer job, I always thought that an employment service was the last place to go, the last resort, in a job search. I was optimistic that I would always be employed if I wanted to be, and didn’t foresee any troubles ever finding a job.

Then I graduated from college. And the economy wasn’t good.

For me, just like for many other recent college grads, the job market outlook wasn’t that great. I quickly came to the conclusion that employment services aren’t a last resort; they’re a valuable resource I need to use.

What LDS Employment Services Offers

Searching for work or suddenly being out of a job can be really stressful and scary. It can be easy to become discouraged and frustrated when job leads don’t work out, or interviews are unsuccessful. It can also be hard to go to others for help. But turning to others for help gives them the opportunity to serve, and provides job seekers with important skills to enable them to have success.

LDS Employment Services has services for job seekers, students, small business owners, professionals, and employers. They offer career workshops for job seekers, helping them to write effective resumes and cover letters, hone their interviewing skills, and increase their professional network. LDS Employment Services has qualified volunteers waiting to assist members in securing employment.  The full-time senior Mormon missionaries and part-time Church-service missionaries are professionals, and know what to teach job seekers to they can be successful.

Career Workshops

Of the many services offered by LDS Employment Services, the Career Workshop is one that has helped hundreds of people gain the skills and confidence they needed to land a job. At the Career Workshop, trained volunteers teach patrons how to set professional goals based on their talents and skills; how to identify the resources available to help them reach their goals; how to best use those resources to have success with networking, applying, and interviewing; and how to have continued professional success. Patrons all over the world have participated in the Career Workshop, which has given them the skills and confidence to reach their goals. One patron from Magna, Utah, stated after completing the workshop: “I now have an arsenal of pre-decided power statements I can use. It gives me confidence to look at a broader range of jobs.” Another patron from Nairobi, Kenya, relates: “I went to the interview and applied the things that I was taught in the Career Workshop . . . out of 30 people I was the only one who was offered a job” (see www.ldsjobs.org).

LDS Employment Services are not just for people who are entering the workforce or have recently lost a job. The professionals at LDS Employment Services can also assist patrons who are underemployed, wish to change careers or advance professionally, or desire to start their own business. They have helped thousands of people worldwide to have success in their education and careers.

Self-Reliance

I realized that being self-reliant “does not mean that you must be able to do all things on your own. To be truly self-reliant, you must learn how to work with others and turn to the Lord for His help and strength” (“Work and Self-Reliance,” For the Strength of Youth). Being self-reliant and independent didn’t mean I was an island, and completely on my own as I searched for work; self-reliance also includes turning to the Lord, and being willing to receive guidance and counsel from others.

The resources available through LDS Employment Services are there to be used, not looked at or talked about. Volunteers are eager, able, and willing to help. Turning to them doesn’t mean I am not self-reliant; it means I am more self-reliant because I recognize there are many things I can still learn and improve on, and I am following the guidance and counsel of those who are smarter and more experienced than I.

To learn more about LDS Employment Services or to find a center near you, please visit www.ldsjobs.org.

Meet Some Mormons

We’ve all seen those Mormon missionaries: white shirt, tie, nametag, backpack, sometimes a bike. Especially after the debut of the Book of Mormon Broadway musical, these young men, always in pairs, are more visible and recognizable than ever. And they’re becoming increasingly more visible as the number of full-time Mormon missionaries serving is projected to grow to over 85,000 by fall of 2013 [1]. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ leadership announced in April that it would be creating 58 new missions, or geographic areas where missionaries are assigned to serve, in July of 2013, bringing the total of missions to 405 [2].

As a BYU-Idaho student, President Monson’s October announcement changing the age at which missionaries are able to serve had an immediate and direct impact on me. (The qualifying age for young men was lowered from 19 to 18, and for young women from 21 to 19.)  I watched as dozens of my friends, co-workers, and acquaintances altered their life plans and prepared for Mormon missionary service. During my final semester in Rexburg, Winter of 2013, there were noticeably fewer 18- and 19-year-olds on campus, as many had left for missionary service. In each of my classes, there were two or three students preparing for missions or working on their missionary papers. Many had already received assignments and were simply waiting for the semester to end so they could depart. Campus-wide, there are now fewer younger students, as well as fewer females, as many have left on Mormon missions.

Why do Mormons Serve Missions?

What would prompt a young 18- or 19-year-old to leave home, postpone college, friends, and relationships and travel to a foreign country or distant state for 18 months to two years? After all, this is the prime time of life, when there are adventures to be had and careers to be established. For many young people, this is the time of life to be carefree and even a bit reckless. Instead, Mormon youth are putting it all on hold to serve their church. Why?

The answer is simple: Love. Young Latter-day Saints have an incredible capacity for love. They love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and want to share it with others. They understand that everyone is a child of God. Their love for God and the Savior and desire to serve Them is more powerful and important than any selfish desires they have. They believe that “when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:19), and that the best way for them to be happy is to love and serve others.

I could see in my friends and fellow students at BYU-Idaho a sincere desire to serve the Lord. They weren’t going on missions just because it was “the cool thing to do,” or because their parents were bribing or forcing them. No. They really love the gospel, and have strong faith. Because of this love, they want to serve.

How Can Mormon Missionaries Help Me?

Elder Russell M. Nelson, an apostle and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ, spoke about this very question in an address titled, “Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” In this talk, he identifies eight problems or concerns with which Mormon missionaries can help both members and non-members:

• “You might want to know more about your ancestors.”
• “You love the Lord and often think of returning to His fold. But you don’t know how to start.”
• “You may want to know how to conquer an addiction or live longer and enjoy better health.”
• “You may feel that life is busy and frenetic, yet down deep in your heart you feel a gnawing emptiness, without direction or purpose.”
• “You have concerns about your family.”
• “You desire for greater knowledge.”
• “You have a deep desire to help people in need.”
• “You want to know more about life after death, about heaven, about God’s plan for you.”

Elder Nelson’s solution to all of these problems is: “Ask the missionaries! They can help you!” Mormon missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ and His Church, and can help both members and non-members with many problems and concerns they may have. Missionaries really love and care about the people they serve, and will do their best to help solve these problems and alleviate these concerns.

Representatives of Jesus Christ

Some may wonder how missionaries are able to help people with such a wide variety of problems and concerns. Missionaries are, for the most part, young people whose world experience is relatively limited. However, the thing that sets missionaries apart is that they are official representatives of Jesus Christ.

All missionaries receive their “call,” or assignment directly from the president and apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ. Their nametags prominently display the name “Jesus Christ” along with the missionary’s own name. They have literally taken the Savior’s name upon them, and are committed to doing what He would do. They will pray and seek guidance from the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, about how best to help the people they are serving. They might not have all the answers, but they will search the scriptures and pray in order to serve and help the best way they can. The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that knowledge of the gospel can bring us the greatest happiness, and so missionaries teach this gospel in an effort to help people at the root of their concerns, rather than the branches.

Mormon missionaries are more than just travelling preachers. They are representatives of Jesus Christ, serving in love, with a strong and true desire to help those they are serving. They have made vows consecrating themselves to the Lord’s service in holy Mormon temples.  The young male missionaries hold the priesthood of God, giving them power and authority to receive revelation and perform miracles.  Each missionary receives personal revelation through the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as he or she serves.  They strive to bring souls unto Jesus Christ, blessing the lives of many. Having the missionaries knock on your door or stop you in the street isn’t a terrible thing; it’s a great opportunity to learn what Mormons believe from young men and women whose faith and belief is strong and bright.

Joseph Smith’s Role in the Restoration of Christ’s Church

The word “morals” is derived from the Latin word “moribus” which is translated as our English word “behavior.” The Latin phrase socialis moribus is then translated as social behavior. Morality is thus defined as the principles that govern the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Therefore, when we speak of a person having morals, we are generally referring to that person’s standards of behavior or belief system which is governed by principles that enable him to determine what is or is not socially acceptable.

Our Morals Determine the Magnetic North of Our Compass

A compass is an instrument containing a magnetized pointer that shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it. A traveler who may be lost and is desperately seeking the direction that he should go in order to reach his desired destination finds a simple instrument such as a compass to be indispensable. However, the instrument which he holds in his hands will only serve its purpose of directing him if he is willing to adhere to the direction that its needle points for him to go. If he chooses not to trust the guidance of the instrument, then the instrument will be rendered useless, and he is left to his own means of finding his way.

Our life is a journey, and in order to find our way to our desired destination, which is back home to our loving Heavenly Father who awaits us, we need guidance and direction. Within each of us is a moral compass that is designed to guide our decisions based on morals and virtues. It is our morals or behaviors that determine the magnetic north of our compass. Choosing wrong or bad behaviors will cause our compass to be off by even the slightest of degrees, and we will find ourselves traveling down paths that often lead to destruction, misery, and woe. However, if we choose right or good behaviors, our moral compass will guide us along the paths that we should follow, and if we endure the journey to the end, we will reach our desired destination.

Thomas S. Monson, President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others), in his address titled Examples of Righteousness delivered during the Priesthood Session of the April 2008 General Conference, made the following remarks concerning having a clear conscience, following our moral compass, and always doing what we know to be right:

You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. The character of transgression remains the same. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness — and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so.

Charting Our Path with a Clear and Consistent Moral Compass

Following counsel such as that given by President Monson is may not always seem easy especially when we live in a world where our societies are too often plagued with violence, hatred, and immorality. Things that were once considered taboo by society are rapidly becoming accepted as the norm in many circles, and those things which have always been accepted by society as the norm, are slowly being downgraded to a matter of individual choice or suitability.

According to a new Gallop Values and Beliefs poll which is conducted each May, “Some 72 percent of Americans said moral values in America are “getting worse,” compared with 20 percent who said they are “getting better” and 6 percent who said they are “the same,” [1] The results of the poll further revealed,

But the discontent is palpable — only 19 percent say U.S. moral values are “excellent or good,” while 44 percent say they are “poor” and 36 percent say “only fair.”

“The net result of these two trends is that seven in 10 Americans have a negative view of moral values” in the nation, said Alyssa Brown, author of the Gallup report, issued Wednesday. [1]

A separate Gallup Poll report, issued on Monday, 20 May 2013, indicates an increase in the social acceptability regarding the issues of same-sex relationships, use of birth control, getting divorced, sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman, having a baby outside of marriage, and using human embryos for medical stem-cell research. Interesting enough, according to the poll, Americans rated adultery as being highly taboo.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to young Timothy must have looked forward to our day when he recorded the words found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin once stated,

We cannot cope with the confusions and the challenges of this world unless we use a clear and consistent moral compass that will unerringly take us through our own personal trials and the tugs and pulls of our own temptations—a compass that will chart our way to peace of mind, self-worth, and joy. [2]

Four Eternal and Absolute Truths

In his address given during the Saturday morning session of the 167^th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ titled Four Absolute Truths Provide an Unfailing Moral Compass, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated that our moral compass is built around four absolute truths:

The first absolute truth is that there is a loving Father in Heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ, is our personal Savior—a more certain truth than any worldly fact. This concept is expressed with unmatched eloquence in 1 John: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16.) Nothing could provide a truer “north” for every person’s own moral compass.

. The second absolute truth is that there is an adversary, Satan, the tempter, who would lead us away from God and His infinite peace. Note that the Hebrew translation for devil is the “spoiler.” Satan is the spoiler because he would confound our moral compass and spoil our journey back to a loving Father in Heaven.

The third absolute truth is that all of us choose our own course, endowed by agency. This truth is clearly expressed in the Book of Mormon: “Wherefore, men are free … free to choose liberty and eternal life, … or to choose captivity and death, … for [the devil] seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27.) Yes, who we are is the sum of all the choices we make. We should always remember that our choices do not begin with the act, but in the mind with the idea. As a poet stated, “Sow a thought, and you reap an act; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.”

The fourth absolute truth is that the temptations of the devil can always be overcome by renewed faith in God and by repentance. Yes, when we stray from that narrow and straight way, marked by our moral compass, our footing can be restored on the road that surely leads to salvation and eternal life. When Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane, clearly knowing of His impending Crucifixion, He prayed to His Father for His Apostles as well as for each of us. In that prayer, He commands us to avoid evil, but in His infinite compassion He also asks the Father to “keep [us] from the evil” (John 17:15.)

Elder Wirthlin further remarked, “Yes, we can experience wisdom, peace of mind, self-worth, and joy not only in the life to follow but in the life each of us lives today by walking in the Savior’s footsteps, guided by an unfailing compass calibrated on these four eternal and absolute truths.” [2]

Let us take heart and be encouraged from these words of the Apostle Paul:

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:6-9.)

Additional Resources:

Some Basic Mormon Beliefs about Meaning, Jesus Christ, and Families

Who is Jesus Christ

Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a church often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) were raised in the faith. Some church members even have ancestry dating back to the Mormon pioneers who crossed the Great Plains in wagons and handcarts. Mormons place great value on the faith continuingdown through generations; being able to see progeny accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed a great blessing.

Mormons who joined The Church of Jesus Christ in their adulthood certainly have different experiences of coming to learn the gospel from those members who grew up in Mormon families. We, as adults, can learn many wonderful principles of the gospel by observing how Mormon children learn the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mormon Children Learn Basic Doctrines

I am a child of God,I am a child of God,
and He has sent me here,
has given me an earthly home
with parents kind and dear.

and so my needs are great;
help me to understand His words
before it grows too late.

I am a child of God,
rich blessings are in store;
if I but learn to do His will,
I’ll live with Him once more.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
to live with Him someday.

Those are the words to an oft-sung children’s hymn “I Am a Child of God.” This song is a perfect example of how Mormon children learn core doctrine in a simple way. The Church of Jesus Christ has an entire hymnal devoted to children’s songs. Mormon children learn these songs at home and during church on Sundays. The children’s Sunday school segment is called Primary, and part of Primary each Sunday is dedicated to singing songs and learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ through music.

Primary songs teach children about many principles of the gospel: the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Plan of Salvation, Joseph Smith, stories in the Book of Mormon, service, kindness, prayer, Christ’s Second Coming, the creation of the earth, and eternal families. Primary songs are a great example of how children learn the gospel of Jesus Christ—they learn essential doctrine in simple ways. Just because a child is young and lacks worldly understanding does not exclude them from being able to reach important spiritual understanding.

Mormon Children Learn by the Holy Ghost

Mormon children aren’t so different from you or me. They learn the gospel perhaps through different, more juvenile methods, but they learn by the same power: the power of the Holy Ghost. Parents and teachers may present the gospel tenets to them through object lessons, games, and songs, but children ultimately come to an understanding of those doctrines and principles through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the ultimate teacher.

Mormon children are capable of developing their own testimonies, or witnesses, of gospel truth, and those testimonies are a direct result of their interactions with the Holy Ghost. Children are more open to spiritual experiences than adults often are, and they are also less susceptible to temptation and sin. Learning the gospel is easier for children because they are inherently more in tune with the Spirit (a term interchangeable with the Holy Ghost). We learn the gospel of Jesus Christ by the same power that children do. Our witnesses can be just as pure and just as clear as they are for children.

We Can Learn Much about Gospel Learning through Mormon Children

Jesus Christ taught His people that “except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3–4). Why do we need to become like children?

Children see first with spiritual eyes rather than worldly ones. Children have a much purer sense of right and wrong than adults do; they believe in goodness. Likewise we must return to a state wherein we can believe in good and stand up for right. We must seek Jesus Christ in our learning and go to Him with our questions. When we humble ourselves before Him, we allow ourselves to be taught more effectively by Him.

Mormon children also aren’t so different from children of other faiths, they just have greater access to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. All children are more spiritually in tune with the Holy Ghost than adults are, and Mormon children simply have parents who open up spiritual communication further and actively teach them the doctrine of Christ. As we move forward, we need to seek the humility and spiritual confidence inherent in children’s nature. We can learn so much from them about truth and living a Christ-centered life.

Additional Resources:

Strengthen Families

For the Strength of Youth

To the “Youth of the Noble Birthright”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others) convenes a General Conference twice a year. The Conference is normally held during the first weekend in April, and then again during the first weekend in October. It is broadcast to members of the Church worldwide and consists of uplifting and inspiring messages from the First Presidency of the Church and other General Authorities and auxiliary leaders.

As a person prayerfully listens to the messages that are delivered, as well as the beautiful music that is sung, he may begin to reflect on his own personal life, and how a particular message, or messages, may apply directly to his station in life at that particular moment in time. Such was the case as I listened to the discourses that were delivered during the 183^rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was held in April 2013.

Having Faith for the Journey

There is no doubt that this life is a test. It is a test of our obedience and our faithfulness to endure to the end. On our life’s journey we will travel down some roads that are as smooth as glass, but there will also be other roads that are filled with potholes and other obstructions which we must, by faith, learn to maneuver around in order to continue to press forward. But, what is faith?

In Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews we learn, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1.) And, in the Book of Mormon, which Latter-day Saints testify is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, recorded in Ether 12:6 are these words, “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” [Emphasis added]

Therefore, we must never allow the obstacles that we face to deter us from reaching the finishing line – enduring to the end. Said J.R.R. Tolkein, an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the highly acclaimed classic works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”

Life Consists of Mountain Top and Valley Experiences

When I think of faith, and how having faith has strengthened my own life, I often reflect on the blessings of the mountain top experiences that I have had in my young life, as well as, what I call, the down in the valley experiences that I have endured. Life consists of both. I believe that it is quite natural to want to spend our lives atop the high and lofty mountains, but when the winds of adversity begin to blow, and we find ourselves in the depths of the valley, we oftentimes find ourselves crying out in desperation, “Why is this happening to me?” As Dr. Seuss, the famous author of such classic children’s book as Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat once said concerning life, “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

If I encounter a person who has been blessed to only experience thus far the mountain top experiences, I would say to him, just keep living. None of us were ever promised a ride through life on a bed of roses. Those roses come from bushes that have thorns, and those thorns tend to prick us from time to time.

On the other hand, when I encounter a person that feels that his life is full of down in the valley experiences, I would say to him, never give up hope. Never give up trusting and believing in God. I testify that God will never let us down, but rather it is we who so often let Him down. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Therefore, none of us are ever truly alone on our journey through life.

I believe that God, our Heavenly Father, gives us certain mountain top experiences in our lives in response to our faithfulness and obedience. However, it is those experiences that should keep us ever reaching for what the Apostle Paul described as “the prize of the high calling.” Although we may reach the pinnacle of a mountain, Our Heavenly Father gently reminds us that we need not become boastful nor proud of our accomplishment. Instead we should humbly thank Him in awe and reverence for allowing us to have such experiences, realizing that He may need us to go even higher. Therefore, reaching the top of a mountain in our life is not the time to relax and put our faith on hold, for it may only be a beginning, but not necessarily an end. There may be even more mountains in life yet to conquer.

Likewise, I believe that God, our Heavenly Father, gives us down in the valley experiences, not to punish us per se, but to teach us humility. It is often when a man is at his lowest point or lying flat on his back that he tends to look up the most. Knowing this, our Heavenly Father often places us in situations that help us to return our focus upon the One from whence truly comes our help – He whom the Psalmist declares is a “very present help in time of trouble.” As we look up from the depths of the valley we may be able to gain a magnificent glimpse of the splendor of the mountains above, and perhaps just a small glimpse of what being on top of those mountains would be like. Therefore, being in the bowels of the valley is not necessarily an end to all things, but rather a beginning of new things that are yet to come.

The Lord never promised any of us that we would journey through this life riding upon a bed of comfort. However, He did promise us that if we will be faithful and endure until the end of the journey, it will be worth it all.

Regardless of the size of the mountains we must conquer in this life, or the depths of the valleys that we may sometimes find ourselves having to endure, it is our measure of faith that will allow us to overcome every obstacle that we face. For we are told that if we have faith, even as the grain of a mustard seed, we will be able to say unto the mountain before us, “Be thou removed and cast into the sea” and it shall be moved.

Until After the Trial of Your Faith

I know that the things that I have shared thus far are true from personal experiences that I have had. I will share just one example to help emphasize what has been said to this point.

My mother passed away at the young age of 59 years after a battle with breast cancer in June 1997. In July 2004, my father remarried. I will only say that things did not go well from the start. As his son, I was left to continually pray and have faith that things would work out for him. I must also admit that there were times when my heart was filled with fear for him, and sometimes I would find myself even doubting my own faith and thinking about what his end would be if things did not take a turn for the better. On 20 November 2006, those fears became a reality when I received a telephone call at work from the older of my two sisters informing me that our father had not come home the night before, and that a missing person’s report had been filed. I earnestly prayed, and wanted more than anything for this to just be a bad dream, but by 6:00 PM that evening, I had received another telephone call and now found myself talking with a detective who informed me that my father had been found dead in a landfill area. My father was only 71 years of age.

In the days following my father’s death, I would say for almost a year afterwards, I literally became consumed with wanting to have some answers to what might have happened. I desperately tried to have faith to know that whatever happened God knew all about it, but I admit that there were times when just having faith seemed to not be enough. I spent many nights trying to sleep, and wetting my pillow with tears just wanting answers that never came. As a result of worrying so much over the matter, I began to have constant headaches, feel sick, and even had a few anxiety attacks.

Now, I ask that you, the reader, not be too critical or judgmental of me. I humbly submit that it is extremely easy to give counsel to someone who is going through a difficult time in their life and to say things like, “Hang in there!”, “Stay Strong”, or “Keep the faith.” I submit that it is easy to do that when we are not the ones walking in their shoes at that time, or the ones feeling the hurt, the pain, the grief, the sorrow, and even often times, the anguish that gets mixed in with all of that. It is real easy to make rash judgments about a person when we are the ones on the outside looking in.

May I offer a word of counsel to each of us? Instead of ever being critical or judgmental of a person who is going through a tough time, let us learn to be more patient, more loving, kinder, and more understanding, just as our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself would be. I also humbly submit that during those difficult moments that a person is experiencing, he does not necessarily need to hear one more sermon. What he does need is for someone to be his friend. What he does not necessarily need is someone who knows how to use their voice, but rather what he does need is someone who has ears that will listen, and a heart that is full of compassion.

For approximately a year I found myself on a real emotional rollercoaster ride. At times I kept myself purposefully busy in order to be able to focus on other things. It was not until one night alone in my apartment as I cried out to my Father in Heaven once again for peace that I received the answer that the reason that I had not been at peace the entire time was because of my own worry and my own anxiety that got in the way of receiving the peace that had already been given. It was not until then, there alone in my apartment, in the lowest depths of the valley that I finally came to terms with the matter. It was then that I decided to put it all in the hands of the Lord and leave it there. I did have faith all along, but it was my refusal to “let go” that was standing in the way of my faith. I was doing exactly what Moroni warned us not to do. I was disputing the entire matter simply because I did not have anything tangible that I could hold on to that would reasonably explain my father’s death. It was only when I finally decided to let go; only after the trial of my faith, did the witness of true and lasting peace return to my life.

I boldly testify that although there may be seemingly insurmountable mountains that we must climb, or down in the valley experiences that we must endure in this life, the Lord also understands that there must be a period of rest from our journeying. It is during those times that He safely leads us beside the still waters and causes us to lay down in green pastures as He restores our souls, thus giving us the necessary strength to press forward and endure to the end of our journey.

Life is full of tests and trials with many obstacles which we will face along the way. But, let us take heart that at no time on our journey are we ever alone. He is always right there beside us. Our part is to remain faithful and obedient to His will, and endure to the end. I testify that I do not know about tomorrow, but I do KNOW the One who holds all of my tomorrows in the palms of His hands, and I am determined to continue to press forward by faith.

I leave you that witness and testimony in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Additional Resources:

What Mormons Believe

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

During the 2012 U.S. presidential election much was written in the press about Mormons and government, but these press releases barely touched the surface of this subject.  Of all religions in the world, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the “Mormon Church,” has perhaps the most to say about good government.

The Book of Mormon and Government

The Book of Mormon, like the Holy Bible, is a record containing the writings of many prophets.  These collected writings encompass the religious and secular doings of peoples who lived during 1,000 years in the Americas, most of them descendents of Jacob, whom the Lord called Israel.  They were covenant people led out of Jerusalem before the Babylonian captivity, so that the Lord could raise up to Himself a protected branch in a far part of His vineyard.  Although they kept the Law of Moses, their prophets ever prophesied of the Messiah to come, and this by name—Jesus Christ.  They taught that salvation only could come through Christ.  Christ Himself visited the Book of Mormon peoples after His resurrection, making the Book of Mormon a second witness of Him, and a support to the biblical account.

There is a great deal in the Book of Mormon about the wars and contentions among the people.  There is also much regarding how they governed themselves during certain periods.  There were periods when organized crime destroyed whole societies, and the accounts of these situations yield important warnings for our day.  There were periods when the people enjoyed real freedom, and periods when there were dictators and absolute monarchies.  There are accounts of assassinations and coups, righteous and unrighteous wars, intrigue, and genocide.  In fact, the Book of Mormon is the record of a fallen people.  God guided Mormon, a warrior-prophet who lived around 400 A.D., in abridging ancient scriptures to deliver to us in modern times what would best help us navigate the tumult and confusion of the Last Days.  Mormons would probably universally agree that in these modern, unstable times, reading the Book of Mormon can be like reading today’s newspaper.

Through this lens we can see the importance of freedom, and the selection of good leaders.  By good, we mean not only capable, but moral.  One reoccurring theme is that the leader of all is the servant of all.  Some Book of Mormon kings took nothing for their service and labored for their own support.  Another theme is what happens when a fallen people create laws—the law becomes corrupt and upholds wickedness.  Good people making good laws are important in the Book of Mormon.

American exceptionalism is also taught in the Book of Mormon.  Its prophets made a point of teaching that God would allow no people to prosper in America, unless they would be righteous.  If righteous, they would always be free, but if wicked, they would be subjected and eventually swept off.

A few quotes from the Book of Mormon regarding government:

• For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up [secret combinations] seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.

Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved (Ether 8:25, 26).

• For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted (Helaman 5:2).
• For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off (Ether 2:10).
• Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written (Ether 2:12).

Prophecy and Government (The Doctrine and Covenants and the U.S. Constitution)

The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of modern revelations received by prophets in our day, mostly by the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith.  Among these revelations are several which directly refer to American government.

• The Mormons, who had been ruthlessly set upon on numerous occasions by mobs, should seek redress from local, state, and federal governments.  (This was attempted, but was usually fruitless.) (See
• The Founding Fathers were raised up by the Lord for the purpose of creating the Constitution of the United States, which the Lord calls an inspired document.
• If the people of America are righteous, they will always be free.
• Latter-day Saints should seek capable, righteous people to govern them.
• A New Jerusalem will be founded in America with its center point in Independence, Missouri.  It will follow the governing philosophies of the Constitution of the United States.

Some quotes from the Doctrine and Covenants:

• We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience (D&C 134:5).
• We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded (D&C 134:11).  (See the rest of Section 134, which deals with government.)
• Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood (D&C 101:79, 80).

The Articles of Faith

The thirteen Articles of Faith are a concise explanation of the basic doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ.  They were written by Prophet Joseph Smith in response to a request for an outline of Mormon belief from journalist William Wentworth.  The Articles of Faith were canonized by the Church and can be found in The Pearl of Great Price, a book of Mormon scripture.  The 12th Article of Faith explains that Mormons strive to be good citizens wherever they reside.  It says,. . .

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

There is an understood caveat.  Tyranny and oppression need not be upheld.  Although a soldier cannot be guilty of murder if he kills during war, the Doctrine and Covenants and Book of Mormon only uphold defensive wars as moral—in defense of family, property, and freedom—and only after a great deal of provocation and forgiveness rebuffed. (See Joseph Smith’s prophecy on war, Section 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants.)

This Article of Faith also means that Mormons will not do missionary work where they are not invited or recognized.  Most countries are anxious for Mormons to establish themselves within their borders because of their good citizenship and charitable outreach.

Temporal and Spiritual are combined in God’s True Church

A starving man is in no condition to hear and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, and part of Christ’s commandment to His children is to serve one another.  The two great commandments, to love God and to love one’s neighbor, mean that we are bound to help one another in times of need.  The Church of Jesus Christ has always been involved with both the spiritual and temporal welfare of its own members and neighbors no matter what their faith.   The Church of Jesus Christ works with governments and all sorts of charity organizations worldwide to bring disaster relief and welfare assistance wherever it is needed.

What All This Means on the Ground and in Everyday Life

Having just concluded a year and half’s service for The Church of Jesus Christ in Southeast Asia, I have witnessed some of these principles in action.  In respect for one country’s desire NOT to have its Moslem population proselytized, the Church will not teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to Moslem citizens or allow them on church property to attend Christian meetings.  The Church of Jesus Christ has performed numerous acts of charity for this same population, providing access to clean water, providing wheelchairs and training for needy citizens, and other worthy and well-received projects.

Read more: A Welfare System That Works

Heavenly Father Watches Over His Kingdom on Earth

How involved is God in the workings of our lives?  How involved is He in the affairs of men, and in the spread of His gospel on the earth?  Does He care enough to open the doors of heaven and send angels to make sure we have the truth?  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the Mormon Church, declare that He is involved in our affairs, and He has and does open the heavens to enlighten and save His children.  The heavens are open, and the revealed gospel in its fullness is available to us today.

For our Father in Heaven, it was not enough that wise, brave, and devoted men should risk their lives to try to recapture lost aspects of Christ’s original church.  He had promised the original disciples of Christ that His kingdom would never fail, and though it splintered and drifted for hundreds of years after the original apostles were martyred, Heavenly Father was already sowing the seeds of a complete restoration of Christ’s church.

Some scholars have marveled that the ancient Church of Jesus Christ thought it could succeed.  With the distances the apostles and seventies had to travel, the variety of pagan teachings and philosophies abounding in the Holy Roman Empire, and the inability to communicate except by epistle and personal visit, modern scholars see no way the gospel could remain pure, undefiled, and perfectly organized in the ancient world.  God knew this, too.  He was already preparing men with ideas of freedom of choice, respect for self-volition and personal reason, and toleration for new thoughts in order to create an environment wherein His Church could be restored.  By the time America was founded, these movements and ideas converged to create a country with freedom of religion, and a Great Awakening of personal spiritual sense and expectation of personal inspiration from God.  Not only that, but every person could have his- or her own scriptures, and through personal prayer, find the Savior.

The Church of Christ on Earth Joins the Church of Christ in Heaven

It is proof of God’s love for us and the absolute order of His kingdom, that he opened the doors of His Church in heaven to share authority and power with His Church on earth and restore completely the parts which had been lost.

Twice each year, The Church of Jesus Christ holds a “general conference” in which prophets, seers, and revelators deliver pertinent and poignant messages to Latter-day Saints and friends of other faiths.  Through modern technology, the proceedings are carried across the world in a multitude of languages and media.  Latter-day Saints, now numbering nearly 15 million, and others interested in truth, may all witness the proceedings of general conference.  In the April 2013 general conference, Russell M. Nelson, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, exclaimed how miraculous and stunning was (and is) the restoration of lost gospel truth and authority.  The power to perform miracles and administer the affairs of the kingdom had been lost when the original apostles were martyred.  God sent the angels Peter, James, and John to restore this authority.  Thus, every man who holds the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ, can trace his priesthood authority back to Christ.  Other heavenly messengers restored lost keys, powers, and authority.  All things were done in perfect order.

The Stunning Restoration of Christ’s True Church

Said Elder Nelson:

This wave of truth and righteousness is wondrous! It is not man-made! It comes from the Lord, who said, “I will hasten my work in its time.” This wave is empowered by a divine announcement made 193 years ago. It consisted of only seven words: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”⁸ Uttered by Almighty God, that announcement introduced a young Joseph Smith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those seven words launched the Restoration of His gospel. Why? Because our living God is a loving God! He wants His children to know Him and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent!⁹ And He wants His children to gain immortality and eternal life.

“…some 2,000 years ago, the Lord established His Church. After His Crucifixion and the death of His Apostles, men changed the Church and its doctrine. Then, after generations of spiritual darkness, and as predicted by previous prophets,¹¹ Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored the Church, its doctrine, and its priesthood authority. Because of that Restoration, knowledge and essential ordinances for salvation and exaltation are again available to all people. Ultimately, that exaltation allows each of us to dwell with our families in the presence of God and Jesus Christ forever!

I cannot speak of the Restoration in tempered tones. This fact of history is absolutely stunning! It is incredible! It is breathtaking! How amazing is it that messengers from heaven came to give authority and power to this work?

Our Eternal Father and Jesus Christ made multiple appearances to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Under Their direction, other heavenly messengers came, each with a specific purpose. For example:

1. The angel Moroni revealed the Book of Mormon.
2. John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood.
3. Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek Priesthood.
4. Moses bestowed keys for the gathering of Israel.
5. Elias conferred keys of knowledge about Abraham.
6. Elijah restored keys of the sealing authority.

In addition, the Restoration added knowledge that Saints had anciently. The Lord provided a new book of scripture. To the Holy Bible, He added the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is a record of prophecies and the ministry of the resurrected Lord to the people of ancient America. It explains God’s great plan of happiness—the plan of salvation. The Book of Mormon is in full harmony with the Bible. Both sacred records affirm the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of His Atonement….

Together, members and missionaries invite all to learn of God, of Jesus Christ, and of His gospel. Each inquiring individual should seek earnestly and pray fervently for the assurance that these things are true. The truth will be manifest by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I thank God and His Son, Jesus Christ, for the Restoration and its power to propel a magnificent wave of truth and righteousness across the earth. May we catch this wave and fulfill the Lord’s command to take the gospel “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Recently, I read an article in the Ensign Magazine, a publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often inadvertently called the “Mormon Church.”  The article was called “Raising Resilient Children,” and it struck me in many ways.  Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back after encountering a setback or obstacle.  No one gets through life without facing trials, no matter how righteous he might be.  Bad things do happen to good people, even people of faith.  Their resilience is the result of a combination of inborn traits, training, and trust in the Lord.

The article was written by Lyle J. Burrup, and he had experience counseling young Mormon missionaries while they were in the first weeks of their missions, at a Missionary Training Center (MTC).  Mormon missions are very challenging for the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ.  Missionaries keep a rigorous schedule, face many daunting circumstances, and often must learn a new language and adjust to a new culture far away from home.  Missionaries are young! The qualifying age to serve has just been lowered from 19 to 18 for young men, and from 21 to 19 for young women.  Some of the young men might end up as leaders of congregations in places where there are few Mormons.  In an age when young people are taking longer to mature, Mormon youth are stepping it up.  They must learn resilience even as they increase their faith.  It is hoped that this process began when they were very young.

In America, where the birth rate is declining, many people who have children have very few, maybe only one or two, and they tend to coddle them.  A new philosophy wherein everyone wins is meant to protect children from feeling inferior.  Children have little work to do that is very meaningful.  In prior generations on the farm, if anyone neglected chores, the family faced loss of crops, livestock, income, even their lives.  No one dies nowadays in America if Johnny doesn’t take out the trash.  Kids can grow up lazy and entitled, having faced few real obstacles in their lives.

As children become resilient, they understand and accept these two facts. They see life as challenging and ever changing, but they believe they can cope with those challenges and changes. They view mistakes and weaknesses as opportunities to learn, and they accept that losing may precede winning.

As children develop resilience, they believe they can influence and even control outcomes in their lives through effort, imagination, knowledge, and skill. With this attitude, they focus on what they can do rather than on what is outside their control.

Another mark of resilience is to see great purpose and meaning in life and people. A sense of purpose will help our children avoid giving up, in spite of setbacks and pressure to do so. If our children are becoming more resilient, they will develop deep values that guide them: charity, virtue, integrity, honesty, work ethic, and faith in God. They will involve themselves in what is happening around them and opt for commitment to values rather than feel alienated and avoid struggle.

Living according to the true gospel of Jesus Christ fosters resilience, and it’s much easier to be faithful to Christ, to have faith in Christ, if one is resilient.  Remember the parable of the sower.  For our faith to sink deep and take root, it must not be wilted by the parching wind or beating sun.

The following relate both to resilience and faith:

• Perfectionism undermines resilience.  We may want to be perfect out of love for God, but when He speaks of being perfect, He means becoming whole.  This is a process that is meant to stretch into the eternities and depends upon the grace of Christ.  God loves us when we are trying.  He knows we are imperfect.  He gives us weakness to encourage us to have faith in His grace.
• Children learn resilience when parents use natural consequences as discipline.  Standing in the way of natural consequences does not serve children well.  We all need to learn to see mistakes as opportunities to learn.  The doctrine of repentance is God’s way of doing this.  To repent, we need to become aware of our mistakes, desire to change, confess, make restitution if possible, forsake the sin, and return to righteous living.
• Everybody doesn’t win when we are dealing with earthly matters.  We all need to learn to deal with loss by developing an eternal perspective.  Losing the game, even if it’s our fault, is insignificant from that eternal perspective.  We need to learn to accept our losses and move on.
• The world is a competitive place.  Should we hinge our self-image on success in any worldly thing? Probably not.  We might not be the best in anything, but we still can become co-heirs with Christ in eternity.  An eternal perspective helps us to see everything in mortality as temporary.  Loss is part of our experience here on earth.  Both children and adults should be allowed to lose.
• God values our effort most of all, and parents should focus on effort, rather than achievement, as well.
• Nothing is free.  For every blessing, someone pays, whether in effort, time, or money.  If children learn to pay their own way, they learn to value all they have.  If they see others’ sacrifice in order to provide for them, they develop reverence and respect for those who aid them.

A person who is trained to be resilient from childhood (read the article to see how parents can train children to be resilient), will have an easier time developing deep faith in God.  In Hebrew, the word for faith means “trust.”  Even in the face of great trial, a resilient person will keep returning to God.  If this is true, it’s no wonder that in these modern times, people are becoming less religious.  Laziness, entitlement, the “everybody wins” idea, cradle to grave care, are all enemies to real faith.  The reality of the gospel is that “in the world we will have tribulation, but Christ has overcome the world.” (See Online Bible, John 16:33).

Additional Resource:

Come to Know Jesus Christ

BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.”  As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America.  (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names.  We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Beliefs: One Piece of Bread at a Time

I just wanted to take a minute and share something with you that I learned in my Book of Mormon class this week that completely changed the way I look at the Sacrament (or Communion). And, hopefully this gives you something to think about during Sacrament meeting this Sunday.

In the first verse of 3 Nephi 18 in the Book of Mormon, we find Jesus Christ, who has just finished teaching and praying with the people of the Americas, commanding His disciples to bring bread and wine to Him. If you’re like me, you’ve never thought about this before, but why didn’t Jesus just make the bread and wine Himself? I mean, there is no question that the bread and wine Jesus creates is going to be better than anything His disciples can bring Him. So, why not just make it Himself?

Well, as is the case with the majority of the Gospel’s ordinances, the Sacrament is given to us because WE need it, not because God needs it. So, in a very real sense, Christ is telling His disciples: “Because you are in need of it, you go get the bread and wine, and I will plead with the Father so that he might sanctify it for you.” Isn’t that cool? When looking at it this way, it is very easy to see how the Sacrament is a covenant between yourself and God; you give Him the bread and water, and promise to be part of His people, and He will sanctify it for you and promise to be your God.

Another cool thing I learned can be found in 3 Nephi 18:7. In this verse Jesus (speaking about the broken bread), says: “And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you.” From reading this verse, there is no question that Christ is referring to his resurrected, perfect body.

Now, I am going to be completely honest and say, whenever I took the Sacrament, I thought I had a pretty good idea of the covenant I was making. I mean, I had made that covenant when I was 8, now all I was doing was renewing it, right? Well, it turns out that I was merely going through the ceremonial steps of the Sacrament, and was not realizing that the act of taking the Sacrament goes much, MUCH, deeper than merely eating a piece of bread and drinking a cup of water.

Think about this: rather than viewing the bread as a mere reminder of Christ’s body, view it as a seed; a seed of Jesus Christ that, symbolically, becomes a part of you when you partake of the Sacrament. The same can be said of the water. When you drink that small cup of water, it is as if Christ’s blood is entering your body and becoming a part of you. Kind of weird isn’t it? But, by letting Him in, He helps us to become more like Him; one piece of bread and cup of water at a time.