WHAT MORMONS BELIEVE

ABOUT GOVERNMENTS

The Mormons, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, believes in honoring and obeying the governments their members live under. 

Our Doctrine and Covenants, (which is revelation from God to our Living Prophets today), in Section 134 it has many things that the Lord expects of mankind.  This is a declaration of belief regarding governments and laws in general, adopted by unanimous vote at a general assembly of the Church held at Kirtland, Ohio, 17 August 1835 (see History of the Church, 2:247–49).

When anything happens in the church, a vote of acceptance will be called, as the Lord has directed His church to do.  Every action we do here on earth is recorded here on earth and also in Heaven.  Acceptance or Sustainings are done this way. 

This is because of our FREE AGENCY to Choose.  Acceptance means what it says, we accept it. 

Sustaining is when someone is called to a position in the church, we are asked to raise our right hand IF we Sustain the person, then again, we are asked to raise our hand IF we DO NOT SUSTAIN them.  This is because someone may know something about that person that no one else knows and may be a good reason that they should not get the position. 

Sustaining means, if you sustain them in their position, and they ask you to do something, you should do it if it's in your power to help him or her.  This revelation, as stated above, was accepted by a unanimous vote of the General Assembly of the church.

Let me lay out Section 134 for you.   

1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.  (Secure or Protect those rights given to the people from GOD, not from the government.  The government is to PROTECT those God-Given Rights.)

3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, (Like us in America.  Some think this is a Democracy, it is not, it is not a democratic form of government, NO, it is a REPUBLIC, or in other words, a REPRESENTATIVE form of government, where the people elect their Representatives and those elected LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.  If they don't listen, our CONSTITUTION gives us the right to CHANGE THAT GOVERNMENT by voting.) or the will of the sovereign.

4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; (Not by the State or Government)  and that men are amenable to Him, and to Him only, (Meaning God) for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.

5 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.

6 We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.

7 We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy.

8 We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.

9 We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.

10 We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and regulations of such societies; provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of property or life, to take from them this world’s goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship.

11 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.

12 We believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond-servants, neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will and wish of their masters, nor to meddle with or influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference we believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude.

In our Articles of Faith we say this: Article of Faith #12

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

We also believe that Christ will Reign upon the earth, but until He comes, He has told us, through His Prophet:  

Doctrine and Covenants 98: 9-10

9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. 

10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil. 

For more information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons), go to www.lds.org.

WHAT DO THE MORMONS BELIEVE ABOUT

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Mormons, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, believe that this is a choice land above all other lands.  Why?  Because the Book of Mormon states it:  Ether 2:10

10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he (meaning the citizens of the U.S.) that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; (two other civilizations who lived here were swept off before us) for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fullness of iniquity among the children of the land, (the citizens of the U.S.) that they are swept off.

The Lord protected this land and kept the knowledge of it from other nations until he should lead those he wanted to be here, to come here.

The Prophet Nephi recorded:  2 Nephi 1:  7-8    (between 588 and 570 b.c.)


7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.

8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.

Between 600 and 592 b.c. the Prophet Nephi saw and recorded the voyage of Columbus and those prisoners that were released to go with him. 

He recorded:  1 Nephi 13: 12-13 

12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, (Columbus) who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; (Nephi speaking of his seed in America separated from Columbus in Spain by the Atlantic Ocean) and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; (Columbus) and he went forth upon the many waters, (Atlantic Ocean) even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. (America)

13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, (they came with Columbus) upon the many waters.

(Remember, the Prophet Nephi is seeing and recording this in the Book of Mormon about 2100 years before it happened.)

Comment:  Then after Columbus RE-DISCOVERED this land (because Nephi's seed were already here, the INDIANS), many others came to posess the land and took over and put Nephi's seed onto Reservations.

See below:  1 Nephi 13: 14

14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; (Indians) and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.

We believe the United States was established as a Free Land of Freedom and Liberty so that the Latter Day Kingdom of God can be RESTORED to the earth with the RESTORED GOSPEL.

After Jesus Christ was crusified in Palastine, He appeared to God's sons and daughters on the American Continent. 

4 For it is wisdom in the Father that they (the Gentiles, among who were the Founders of this Nation) should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, (Not the government) that these things (the Book of Mormon) might come forth from them (the Gentiles)unto a remnant of your seed, (the indians and those living here) that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel;

5 Therefore, when these works (Book of Mormon) and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter (the words of the Mordern Prophets, and the Bible which the Gentiles will bring with them) shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;

6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;

7 And when these things come to pass that thy seed (the indians) shall begin to know these things  it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel.

As you remember, Ether 2:10 above says if those who possess this land, if they do not obey the decrees of God concerning this land, they will be swept off when the fullness of His wrath comes.  In other words, when He cannot stand it any longer.

The Prophet Nephi said that there should NEVER be a King on this land.  2 Nephi 5:18

18 And it came to pass that they would that I should be their king. But I, Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for them according to that which was in my power.

King Mosiah, a reighteous king, later between 145 and 122 b.c., said: 

16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.

17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!

But, the people chose to have kings.  Under good kings like Mosiah they prospered, under evil kings, they suffered much.

Where do we stand now?  Which way are we heading?

To read more of these scriptures and to find out more about the Mormons or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, go to www.lds.org and search out the site.  There is much to learn.

 

WHAT IS OUR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD.

Our message to the World is: 

When the Lord came in the Meridian of Time, He chose His original Twelve Apostles and organized His church.  After the Apostles died, the church no longer existed because of corruption from within and persecution from without.  Approximately 1800 years later, he Restored His church on the Earth, known now as:  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (nicknamed The Mormons).  The Latter Day Saints name is to distinguish us from the Former Day Saints.  The members then were called Saints. 

He chose a prophet to head the Restoration.  His name is Joseph Smith.  He ordained the Prophet Joseph Smith as He did with His original Apostles, and gave them Power and Authority):

John 15:16        Authority.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Mathew 10:1       Power.

1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Ephesians 4: 11-14

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

In Summary our message is:

1. Have FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2.  REPENT of all your sins.

3.  Be BAPTIZED for the Remission of all your sins by one with the Authority of God.

4.  Receive the HOLY GHOST by the Laying on of the Hands by one with the Authority of God.

(Every man in this church can show his Line of Authority back, person to person, to Jesus Christ Himself.) 

Divine Authority does not come from Seminaries and Institutions, but from those with Direct Line of Authority Restored in these last days with a Commission to Deliver the news of the Restoration to the World.

This is all available to EVERYONE on EARTH at this time.

For more information, go to:  www.lds.org or call your local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in your area.  Any other explanations contact me.

 

 

ARE MORMONS CHRISTIAN?

YES, YES, YES.  The name of our church is:  THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.  The Book of Mormon also has in it's title:  ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST.  That should say it all. 

Our nickname of Mormons, through people off.  Mormon is the prophet who compiled all the records of the prophets written from 600 BC to 400 AD into one set of Gold Plates. Because of what he did, the book was named after him and because we follow this book, along with the Bible, we are called Mormons.  It is a 2nd Witness and companion book to the Bible.  It does NOT take the place of the Bible.  We do not worship prophets, we honor them.

Faithful church members love Jesus Christ.  He is the divine Son of God.  He is the First Born of God the Father in the Spirit and the Only Begotten of God the Father in the Flesh.

We follow His teachings and rely on His saving grace, AFTER ALL WE CAN DO.  This means that we have to do all we can do to keep the commandments, in other words, by OUR WORKS.  We are not saved by grace alone.  NO ONE IS.  We must prove ourselves to Him by our works, and IF, after all is done and we have done our best, His Grace will take over. 

The Lord Jesus Christ testified to us that His church would be named after Him:

In the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27: 7-9

7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.

8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you;

Some have said we do not worship the same Jesus Christ.  THERE IS ONLY ONE JESUS CHRIST.  

Our Book of Mormon tells us in 2 Nephi 25: 26

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Our founding Prophet Joseph Smith said: 

"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, by Joseph Fielding Smith, page 121.

For information on the church and it's beliefs, see:  www.lds.org.

 

WHO ARE THE MORMONS SERIES?

WHAT MORMONS BELIEVE

INTRODUCTION

This will be a series of many, mostly short blogs, answering questions on who we are.  I said mostly, because some will take a little longer to answer, trying to give the references and quotes needed to explain the subject.

In the Table of Contents I will number them and give them each a title.  Words put in italics, underlined, put in bold or another color will place an importance on that word, quote or subject.  Anything placed in (  ) will be a side comment or explanation.

References will be identified for you to investigate or hopefully, in most cases, will be printed out in the blog so you will not have to hunt for the book or reference on line.  Scriptures will be printed, unless they are too long, in which case,  you can go to www.lds.org and view the entire scripture.  When you do, search the site.  You will find many other things pertaining to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons).

Any questions can be sent by e-mail to me at:  lightandtruth65@yahoo.com, or go to the END of any one of my blogs, click on Ldwarrior, then on email and you can email me.

Bashing, arguments or contention will not be acceptable. 

Honest questions wanting to know more are acceptable and will be answered as soon as possible. 

These blogs are more geared towards explanation and understanding.

If you like what you read, and you know someone who has a question about the church, direct them to the site and the number of the explaination that they need.  Pass this blog address to as many of your friends who have questions.  If their answer is not listed, have them email me.

I am known as Ldwarrior1, meaning Latter Day Warrior 1.

To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, go to:  www.lds.org

Hope you enjoy the series.  LDW1

 

DO NOT LET MOVIE RATINGS TRICK YOU

I have just been to the movies today.  I watched a PG-13 and I am sorry I did.  I am realizing that the standards of yesterday are not the same as today.  By biblical standards this was not the kind of movie to watch. 

LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT WARNING YOU.  It's a still small voice and feeling inside.

Each year it seems that the motion picture ratings become more and more relaxed.  It is like they are conditioning the public into seeing things that they would not have gone to see a year earlier.

The X ratings are now considered R, the R is now considered PG-13, the PG-13 is now PG, and what was PG is now a G.  Watch out.  Even some G movies are questionable.

Being a member of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with a more clear understanding of the Bible because of the Second Witness of Jesus Christ (The Book of Mormon), the Doctrine and Covenants (Revelations from God to all mankind today, through living prophets, even though people are told there are NO Revelations any more in these days, (influenced by guess who?)) and other scriptures, I can see the workings of Satan, who is also known as Lucifer or the Devil, in the affairs of man today.  He exists.  He tries to tell people that he don't exist so he can put them off guard.

Paul had talked about the restitution of all things (Acts 3: 21), in the last days and we are now there.  It has been 182 years since the Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoring of His church with prophets and apostles as He said he would do.  We are now guided by these men and are commanded by the Lord to take this glorious news to the world.  That is why we have over 50,000 missionaries all over the world and their numbers are on the increase.

The Lord has allowed Satan to have temporary control of Babylon (the world), to try and influence as many as he can to follow him.  This includes movies and the media among other things.  Satan knew each of us from the pre-existence and knows our weaknesses.  We came here to gain a body and to be tested for the last time in this Final Test.  We learned much from the pre-existence.  Our learning is in our mind and in our hearts. 

Remembrance of our life there is temporarily blocked so this test is like a university closed book test.  He wants to see what we retained in our heart from what we learned in the spirit world, and to learn more about ourselves and who we really are, Sons and Daughters of God.

If you believe in God, you must believe in Satan because we were all together in the pre-existence. 

He is working hard to get as many souls as he can to follow him because he knows time is growing short for him.

At this time, obscene material that can't be condemned under current law is not considered to be legally obscene.  The nature of the material has not changed, only the way the law records it.  The material is just as bad as it ever was.

All I can do right now is to tell you what I see and for you to talk it over with your families at home or in your Family Home Evenings. (learn more about that at www.lds.org.  Adjust your habits accordingly.  Pray together about it and follow the council given in your scriptures (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, etc) and by Living Prophets and Apostles.  Don't let Hollywood control your habits, thoughts and activities. 

Make new traditions in your life and the lives of your family members.  Stay close together.