Faith in God

While living in France in 2011-2012 a French friend asked about my beliefs and why I am a "Mormon" (the nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). I penned the following response to him, knowing that he was an honest seeker of truth and, like me, an imperfect being trying to draw closer to God our Heavenly Father, and his son, Jesus Christ. (For additional information re: Mormonism, see also www.mormon.org and www.lds.org or Encyclopedia of Mormonism at eom.byu.edu)

Dear Friend (name omitted),

I have been thinking about you a great deal as I am grateful for my friendship with you. You have asked questions about my religious beliefs. I thought that perhaps one thing I could share with you during this holiday season is something not commercial but it has even greater value to me. It is my testimony. Here are some things I appreciate about my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

·        The restored gospel gives me a proper understanding of the nature of God and his son, Jesus Christ. When I pray to God, in the name of Christ, I know that I am praying to someone in whose image I have been created. He is not just a cloud or an invisible essence, but a God with body, parts and passions. This helps me to understand not only who He is but who I am—a child of God, our loving Heavenly Father. While there is much about the heavens that I do not understand, I feel that God, our Heavenly Father, and his son are not a huge mystery. Therefore, my daily prayers and practices take on much more meaning. John 17:3 says: And this is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent. We also read in Matthew 22:37-39 that the two great commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor or fellowman. I can help and serve people I don’t know, but to truly love someone, I want to know that person. When it comes to loving God, I feel closer to Him and find it easier to love Him, when I realize that I am created in His image and thus I know him better. But I would find it very challenging to love a mysterious essence.

·        The Holy Ghost is a comforter and friend who can bring peace to my soul. As a member of the Godhead he can comfort me. He can warn me of imminent danger and teach me truth, and he can bring spiritual understanding to my mind that can help me hold fast to true doctrines and principles.

·        The Bible is a wonderful book and I am eternally grateful for it. I love reading it and learning about Christ and the original twelve apostles and their followers and accusers. I am also very grateful for the first men who risked their very lives to translate the Bible so that the common man could read and understand it.  I cannot imagine my life without the Bible. However, I am also persuaded there are parts missing accidentally due to its various translations. I also believe that in some cases some original truths in the Bible are missing due to conspiring people who decided to remove plain and precious parts of it to hide them from the world at-large.

·        I also love the Book of Mormon and am grateful to have it in my life. The messages are clear and significant. This great book complements the Bible, fills in some gaps and offers truths on the subjects of Christ’s atonement, baptism, baptism of children, repentance, forgiveness, life after death and many other important truths in a manner very powerful and important for my spiritual progress. It is the keystone of our religion and helps me to draw nearer to God, more than any other book.

·        I cannot imagine living life without my having access to the words of a living prophet. There are so many things about modern society and changing times that make it imperative, in my opinion, that there be a prophet. The prophet helps us understand how to cope and how to view societal issues and problems from God’s perspective. I thank God that He has put his mouthpiece on the earth once again to lead and guide his children. I worship God, not prophets, but I am grateful that  God above has called latter-day prophets.

·        I am grateful for the institutional church that has no paid ministry or clergy in its congregations all over the world. I love how the church allows me to apply the teachings of the scriptures and prophets by giving me the opportunity to work side-by-side with people who are different from me in personality and abilities, but who have the same objective. That objective is to serve my fellowman and to learn to love and serve God in a way that will allow me to one day return and live with Him. I consider it a privilege and blessing to contribute tithing, as taught in the Bible, to my church.

·        I am grateful for temples that exist on the earth where husband and wife can be sealed to each other for this life and the next, if they live worthy of that blessing. In the temples their children can be linked to their specific parents in an eternal family unit. The authority to seal/connect/bind/link spouses to each other, and parents to children, exists because there is a prophet on the earth with the proper priesthood authority to delegate that authority to those who officiate and perform such “sealings” or, in other words, eternal connections. By similar means, the proper authority to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost exists on the earth. I am thankful to be alive in a time where priesthood power has been restored to man on earth once again.

·        I am grateful for my church’s focus on the family. Our family was not perfect by any means and I was definitely not a perfect father or husband. But I shudder to think where I and we might have been if we did not have the teachings of the church and the guidance of a prophet and scriptures to help me and my family stay on the proper path in life. By having a vision of the existence of the family unit in the next life our family has been given something very valuable to strengthen our desire to cherish that which is good. The church encourages families to hold a weekly Monday evening family time together called Family Home Evening. I know that Family Home Evening has helped many families, including ours. To me, families are (or can be) forever.

·        Christ’s atonement, including his love for us, as evidenced by his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, offers me solace and a reason to keep going during tough times in my life. He suffered not just for my sins but also for other afflictions, pains or hard times that I may have. Partaking of the sacramental emblems (bread and water) each Sunday helps me remember my covenants of baptism (i.e. to always remember Christ in word and deed and to take upon me His name). The sacrament also reminds me of what Christ did for me. The emblems of bread and water are taken in remembrance of Him. They are not truly his body and blood but they are an important means provided to me to stay close to God, who gave his “only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” While I feel that good deeds (i.e. good “works”) in this life are vital, I also know that no amount of good deeds on my part will save me spiritually and eternally. That gift is only possible because of the love of God and the love, sacrifice and grace of his son, Jesus Christ.The Book of Mormon teaches that notwithstanding all that we can do in the form of good deeds, ultimately we would have NO hope in being "saved" were it not for the grace of Jesus Christ. 

·        I am grateful for the power of the priesthood on the earth, which authority I hold to help bless my family and others. The priesthood is to be used for serving and loving and not for any means of personal aggrandizement or for selfish motives. I have been able to baptize my children and confirm them to receive the Holy Ghost. I have the authority to give them priesthood blessings when they are sick so that, according to their faith and God’s will, they may be healed by the power of the priesthood. When my family members have had special challenges in life I have been able to give them a priesthood blessing to help them through their trying times. And when I have special challenges that seem overwhelming I am able to call upon a church member or family member who holds the priesthood to give me a blessing of comfort and inspired counsel. I did not assign myself to hold a priesthood office. I was asked by those with greater authority and administrative keys to assume this responsibility. Many of us imperfect men in my faith hold similar authority as part of the unpaid clergy that seeks to bless the lives of others.

Again, the priesthood is not for me to use in any selfish way but it is a blessing to have ready access to it for the reasons mentioned above. It is a blessing that carries with it a responsibility to use it wisely. My wife does not covet the fact that I have the priesthood any more than I covet the special bond a mother can have with her children. I envied that bond with our children, and am awed by it, but I did not covet her special relationship with our children, especially when they were young. Modern day prophets have also taught that men who hold the priesthood should never use it to exercise unrighteous influence. The powers of the priesthood are to be used through love, gentle persuasion, meekness and patience. The same scriptures tell me that if I misuse the priesthood its privileges will be taken away from me.

·        I love my church because it exists to help the “whole man,” which is to say it helps me spiritually and also in temporal ways. Its practices, such as fasting and the law of tithing, help me to overcome selfishness. I am grateful for the wise manner in which the church uses the tithing money it receives from members worldwide. Church buildings, temples, missionary work, institutions of higher learning and other programs supported by church finances are marvelous works and wonders in my eyes. I happily and cheerfully contribute, for I know that my meager offerings help others. I know too that by our mutual efforts church members are blessed in return many times more than the small sacrifice they make.  It comforts me to know that a portion of my offerings are directly and quickly sent to help people all over the world when disaster strikes.  My church works directly with the Red Cross, Catholic charities and other such organizations to accomplish these humanitarian efforts.

·        I thank God for the inspired Word of Wisdom that helps me to know that my body is a temple in God’s eyes and I am taught how to care for it properly by abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and drugs. I am also taught what things are good for my body. By adhering to this unique church principle I feel that I gain self-mastery which, in turn, helps me in other aspects of my life.

·        I am grateful that the church to which I belong is not just a Sunday church. I have respect for other religious denominations but I know of none that could offer to me the grand opportunities I have in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the church I can grow my talents or acquire new abilities by doing such things as:

•  gain experience in leadership, music, teaching other people and conducting meetings
•  work on service projects and gain respect for other people by working with them to serve others. I can also see that these people (my fellow church members) are willing to help me through my difficulties in life and I can feel their love and concern. They are willing to work with me even though I have weaknesses and am not perfect.
•   being taught regularly about my relationship to God, Christ, my fellowman and my family through weekly Sunday School and other Sunday classes. Repetition helps me learn because I forget things and because I understand a little better each time I am taught a principle or commandment or doctrinal truth.
•  I am also taught practical things such as how to set aside food and clothing for future calamities or other times of great need (i.e. unemployment, worker strikes, transportation shut-downs), and I am encouraged and taught how to live within my means and use a budget.

·        I love the church’s missionary program and efforts and I know of none like it in the world.  There are more than 75,000 missionaries throughout the world, at their own cost, preaching the doctrines of the gospel or helping in humanitarian ways.

These missionaries return to their homes after 18 months or two years with renewed faith, determination and leadership abilities, not to mention foreign language ability and respect for other cultures in many instances. The growth experiences and enhanced abilities they take back to their homes in France, Switzerland, Africa, New Zeland, Haiti or the U.S.A. become an essential part of the lifeblood of the Church. Their fortified faith and increased abilities allow them to strengthen the Church from generation to generation. To me it is a marvelous work and a wonder. Mostly they go on missions to help bring people to Christ through conversion or to render humanitarian aid. But they learn so much on their missions that the Church is naturally helped by their increased service within the Church in other ways after they complete their missionary assignment and become reintegrated into life back home. The wonderful joy that missionaries feel as they perform their missionary labors is a great blessing that is difficult to explain to someone who has not experienced it firsthand. It is also very hard work and they often meet rejection.

·        I appreciate that the scriptures made available through modern prophets, along with the Bible, help me to have a clearer picture of what the next life after this life will be like. By having that understanding I have a greater incentive to stay on the right path in this life. I can live each day in a more calm and understanding fashion because I have a high degree of certainty about what comes after my life on this earth. I believe that individuals lived in a spirit realm, as spirits, with God before coming to this earth. I also believe and find comfort in knowing that death is but a birth into another realm—kind of like going from one room to another. Though being separated from loves ones who die is seldom easy, there is no lasting sting in death when we understand that it is simply a birth that we call death.

·        I love the fact that at least twice a year I can hear the words of living apostles and prophets in conferences. Because I am human and have weaknesses, I need frequent reminders to help me stay on the right path. When the prophet and apostles and other leaders speak they are not loud and overly dramatic, nor do they speak in mysterious ways that are difficult to understand. Their messages are calm, reassuring and penetrating. The Holy Ghost has testified to me many times that what they is true and valid when they talk about how a man should treat his wife and children, that we should avoid pornography that denigrates women, that we are to look for ways to serve our fellowman, and how we can receive answers to our prayers. The messages are down-to-earth and understandable, as well as inspiring.

My friend, I just wanted you to know what I personally believe. I would be perhaps remiss if I did not share this with you. .............This understanding brings great peace to my mind and heart. I do not expect that everyone will believe in it.

I know that many people don’t believe there were prophets or miracles or angels 2,000 or 4,000 years ago and so why should they believe in such things now? In fact, we read in the Old Testament in Amos and Isaiah that people were annoyed by prophets and seers and demanded that they stop prophesying or seeing into the future. It is the same today unfortunately.

I also know that religion to some people is a nuisance that gets in the way of things they want to do with their bodies, mind and life in general. I realize that not everyone wants to be bothered with the thoughts of going to church meetings. Some people don’t believe in God and so they see religion as a crutch. Some people feel that there is so much misery on earth that there must not be a God. In my heart I feel that if God stopped all bad things from happening and intervened on every occasion we would not need to walk by faith and there would be little personal growth. We would be like marionettes with someone pulling the strings and denying us an opportunity to grow spiritually by learning how to use our agency . I am very grateful that I have scriptures and prophets and answers to my prayers to help me better understand why bad things happen to good people and what we can learn from our trials in life. 

Sincerely,

David L. Harris

December 28, 2011  

P.S.  I realize you may not believe what I believe but I know you well enough to know that you will not laugh at me or belittle me because of what I believe.

Note: My friend (age 34)to whom the above letter was addressed, and his mother, were subsequently baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not because of this letter but because of their own study and inspiration.  (A “saint” as used above, is simply a member of the church who is trying to improve and become more and more Christ-like. The word saint is used in our church the same way the Apostle Paul used the term in writing to church members [i.e. saints] in his apostolic letters that we find in the New Testament. [e.g. Ephesians 1:1;  Ephesians 2:19; 2 Cor. 1:1 ])

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Note: Being Christian in no way precludes my appreciation and respect for friends and acquaintances who are Jewish, Muslim or non-believers. 

Note: I am aware of most or all the attacks on my church and faith. I think I have read the pros and cons associated with all of them over the years. When I speak of attacks I am not talking about honest disagreement over doctrinal issues. While I don't have responses that would totally satisfy every critic or attacker, I have not been dissuaded from my core beliefs. In the New Testament the followers of Christ were referred to as a "peculiar people." (I Peter 2:9; Psalms 135:4) There are those who (often for reasons of self interest) refer to Mormonism (nickname due to belief in the Book of Mormon) as a cult or non Christian. Nothing could be further from the truth. Quite often (but not always) the critics have never attended an LDS church meeting and have not read a substantial portion of the Book of Mormon. It's like the old game of Gossip or the notion that if you whisper something people will believe it. Most of the criticisms are a combination of misinformation, disinformation, lack of information, etc. As stated earlier, I don't expect that everyone will automatically believe in the tenets of my faith, but I hope they will see us as followers of Christ who are trying to make the world a better place for all.

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There are thirteen Articles of Faith indicating some core beliefs of the LDS faith. While these do not constitute a credo per se, they spell out in brief form some of the salient beliefs of "Mormonism" (i.e. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

  

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

 2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

 3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

 4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,  Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

 6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

 7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

 8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

 9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

 10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

 11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

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

 13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith.

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My Declaration

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.” (author unknown--has been attributed to at least two different people)


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Being Christian does not in any way preclude me from having a great appreciation for my friends and acquaintances who are Jewish, Muslim or athiests.