Motherhood: Perfectly Imperfect

Me, my grandma, and my children

Admit there's nothing quite like motherhood to reveal all of your imperfections. Add to that the Lord's commandment: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), and suddenly Mother's Day might just feel like a bad reminder of all the times you've yelled at, cried with, bribed, or otherwise imperfectly parented your children.

For myself, Mother's Day itself has never been anything other than a nice Sunday filled with church, family, and a meal cooked by the men. But every other day of the year — now there's something to talk about! Every day brings some trial administered through my children, in addition to life's normal ups and downs. Sometimes, I start to feel really bad about myself and my imperfections, like somehow I should be able to wake up tomorrow and have all my crap together. And then I feel even worse because I just know I can't!

That's when I have to take a step back and remind myself: that's just not how it works! So while I think it's good to be aware of my less-than fabulous moments in life, for the sole purpose of improving upon my imperfections, I should not and cannot waste time belittling myself. It does no one any good, least of all myself, to bemoan my mistakes and demean my self worth.

The fact of the matter is, God in his all-knowing wisdom, knows us better than we know ourselves. He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. If a being as powerful and omniscient as our Heavenly Father can love us with all our quirks and off-days, then why can't we love ourselves too?

I think what it comes down to is whether or not we understand the meaning of the word perfect as used in scripture. The Greek word for "perfect," as written in Matthew, is interpreted as: "complete, finished, fully developed." So what that really means is that I get to be a work in progress! We all get to be works in progress! That's the point of this life. Commanding us to be perfect is reminding us of our potential. It's a goal for us to work towards, one day at a time.

As I researched the word perfect in the scriptures, I found these three points reassuring:

1. Jesus Christ, the only truly perfect person to walk this earth, had to progress day by day. He came into this world as an infant, knowing nothing. But as he grew, he "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52).

2. There are two mortal men who, though not perfect the same way as Christ, were nonetheless described as "perfect" men: One was Noah, "a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). The Hebrew word for "perfect" in this instance translates as: "complete, whole, having integrity."
The other man was Job: "That man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil" (Job 1:1) How did they do it?! This next scripture helped me answer that question:

3. "Let your hearts be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day" (1 Kings 8:61)

These scriptures teach me something deeper and more meaningful about the word perfect. First, perfection really means progressing towards a complete or whole state of being. This was not, even for Jesus Christ, an instantaneous moment but a day to day progression. Noah and Job were "perfect" examples (sorry, pun intended) of becoming perfect with the Lord by keeping his commandments. It's clear that we can't do it on our own. Noah's and Job's stories show, despite experiencing intense moments of "bad things happening to good people," how diligently trusting in the Lord and keeping his commandments is part of the process in becoming perfect.

Christ is not trying to discourage us when he tells us to be perfect. He's encouraging us to be better tomorrow than we are today; He's reminding us that it is our divine right to become like our Heavenly Father; and He's confident in our ability to reach our whole, completed, and perfected state.

I wish a truly Happy Mother's Day to all! To all mothers, future mothers, and mothers at heart: You're beautiful and wonderful! To my mothers and grandmothers: I love you! I think you're amazing! I'm grateful for your amazing examples of diligent parenting, patient loving, and Christlike attributes. I have many "perfect" women to look up to and learn from!

Unity is not Conformity

I have heard, many times, that the "rules" of our church are too strict, too confining, too cookie-cutter. Some view the commandments and guidelines we're encouraged to follow as a means of making us all conform and thus, in some way, lose our personal identities. (Refer to my previous post "Commandments: Restricting? Or Liberating?" to learn more about the commandments.) That is not the intent or purpose of commandments though. They are given to us, from God, to teach us and guide us, so that we can be more unified with Him and with each other, while also allowing us to develop our own personality, traits, talents, abilities, etc . . . "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man" (Ephesians 4:13).

It is not commandments that breed conformity; it is the popular media and social networking that demand conformity. No wonder people struggle to find their own individual identity?! I submit that the solution is actually much easier than we may think: resist the pressure to conform, and find ways to be unified.

When we feel compelled to conform to any particular status quo in society, in school, at work, etc, it can definitely create feelings of restlessness and rebelliousness. There's a natural tendency for each of us to want to be unique, to feel like we're individually separate from anyone else. Why? Because we are! It goes against nature to make any one person be exactly like someone else when we are all innately and beautifully different! The moment we feel our individuality is being threatened we want to resist. Good! Go with that instinct. But don't confuse resisting conformity, with alienating yourself from those around you. We don't have to forfeit our individual worth, in order to be unified.

It is my belief that God did not intend for us to be exactly like anyone else. Consider the diversity of the Godhead. God is the Ruler and Creator. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and Savior. The Holy Ghost is the Testifier and Comforter. God could easily do it all himself because He is God. But that's not how He operates. It really is brilliant (of course) how He has set this all up: we all need to be our individual selves, so that when unified in Christ we become a more effective whole. Each person has their own abilities and gifts that God has given them to be used for the benefit of serving and loving those around them.

Paul does a wonderful job of explaining how the individual members are necessary for the whole body to function:

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ . . . For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? . . . And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you . . . there should be no schism in the body; but that the member should have the same care one for another."

(1 Corinthians 12:12-25)

Paul is helping us understand that all the different members (i.e. all different kinds of people) are needed and wanted. Yet with all the unique people, the complete whole, or the whole body, is one. Not only are the differences and uniqueness recognized, it is a necessary component of making the whole body function. Example: The ear can't be an eye, nor does it want to be, because it would then cease to be an ear. All parts of the body need the other parts to work, and the same is true for us within our community, churches, neighborhoods, school, etc.

Ironically, we live in a world that is screaming at us to conform! Gender roles are becoming meshed, women want to be just like men, popular media sets the standards, heaven forbid we discuss religion, political correctness is the law . . . and the list is endless. We all say we want to be different, and then we all try to be different in the same ways because we see an ideal of something or someone else that we feel pressured to become.

Conformity is not unity! Unity is not conformity! Own the fact that we're all different, with different roles, gifts, and passions. Love who we are. Embrace those around us for who they are. Because we are each, individually, special. Paul tells us that there is not any member of the body that is not needed, there is not any part of the body that is less than or more important than any other. They should be, and can be, all a part of the whole, unified in working together.

Don't Grudge

No—the title of this post is not a mistype. The concepts of judging and hypocrisy are topics I've been considering and thinking about a lot lately. It has resulted in a phrase Austin coined, and that I've adopted: "Don't Grudge."

In one of my previous posts, "We're All Hypocrites", I commented on how people tend to judge those closest to them. The reason judging is so toxic for relationships is because it quickly leads to holding a grudge. We frequently associate "a grudge" with the act someone else commits against us, where we become offended and then hold onto those feelings of hurt and resentment, thus "holding a grudge." I personally believe that a far more common example of acquiring said "grudge" is through passing judgment. It happens in just 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Judgment. We look at someone who is: doing something we'd never do; or that we don't approve of; or that we're ironically struggling with in our own life; or that we think they shouldn't be doing; and so on. We make an observation and then pass judgment. On someone else's life. Because somewhere in our brain we think we get to. It's all about us, right?

Step 2: Rationalization. Consciously or subconsciously, we naturally feel bad about passing that judgment. So we spend even more time rationalizing to ourselves, why we get to judge them and why our judgment is correct. We may not always do it in so many words, but consciously or subconsciously we analyze the scenario until we're sure of our rightness. That way, we can feel good about judging.

Step 3: "Grudgment". This rationalizing consumes our perspective of that person until we haven't just judged them, we've formed a grudge against them. Not only do we have negative feelings from judging them, but that negativity has transferred to the actual person! We can't see them as they really are, only as we perceive them to be through our own lens of judgment.

Who does it hurt? Everyone! The grudge instantaneously taints our relationship with that person, influencing the way we talk to them and act around them. Whether or not they know why we've become distant, or abrupt, or whatever, they will feel it. On top of that, we're carrying around these negative feelings like rocks in a backpack and it's weighing us down.

What we should each realize first, is that what works for me, in my life, is not a "one fits all" formula. Secondly, the majority of people do not make their life decisions with the question in mind: How can I really tick other people off today? No. In fact they are only asking themselves: What do I want to do in my life, for me? This isn't selfishness. It's individual agency.

We are born with a God-given right to act of our own free will, to choose any course we want. We have not been given the right to butt into other people's lives and tell them how to live. We can love, support, and understand others, even if we don't condone their actions or want to participate in their activities. Just as we want to be allowed to make our own triumphs or mistakes without public commentary, so should we respect any other person's rights to do so as well.

In the end, can we choose to judge and grudge? Absolutely! But why would we want to? Don't judge, don't grudge! Try harder to view people through a lens of pure love, unclouded by personal judgments, and see what a difference it can make in your own life and the lives of others.

Mormons believe in—Doing Good to All Men

This is it, the last article of faith! After 12 articles of faith, hours of writing, and almost 2 months of continuous blog posts, we have arrived! Why did I spend all that time and study? Frankly, because I know and understand how my beliefs are not always a welcome topic. The supposed strangeness of these beliefs sometimes makes people feel awkward or uncertain because they do not understand them, and definitely don't agree with them.

My intention is not to make anyone uncomfortable. In fact it's just the opposite: to share information, through asking questions and exploring the answers, in the hope that the unknown surrounding my church will be dispelled and greater understanding can be attained.

We do not have to agree. We do not have to believe the same things. But we can't let our differences be used to separate and divide us. We are reminded of this when the Lord said, " I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine" (D&C 38:27).

If we cannot agree on doctrine, we can at least agree on our individual desires to become better people, bit by bit, here a little and there a little. We seek after anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy.

"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

Philippians 4:8

I would encourage everyone, to distinguish between describing an individual, and describing a Mormon (this should of course be applied to any other labeling that exists). Mormonism is a nickname for our religious affiliation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is the doctrine of our faith, and within that there are the goals we each, at varying degrees, are seeking to reach. The point of our beliefs, our faith, our actions, and our true desires, is in doing good to all men. Not just other Mormons, not just our friends and family, but to all men, everywhere, of any nationality, faith, or circumstance. It is because of our firm beliefs and desires to live our faith, that has caused many to hold Mormons to a higher standard of righteousness and at times criticize us when we inevitably fall short. We welcome that standard and strive every day to reach it, but the reality is that we make mistakes just like everyone else. I think each of us wishes we could all be "perfect" at our religion, so that we could be the perfect examples of our beliefs. But there is only one man to have walked this earth who can claim that right: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. To Him can all people look for an example and eternal salvation. 

I repeat these words, as if they were my own: "Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel" (Alma 26:16).

Mormons believe in—Patriotism

In {Article of Faith #11} we reviewed the importance of all men, everywhere, being free to worship according to the dictates of their own conscious. It is not up to anyone, not even the government, to tell someone how or where or when or who they can worship. That said, we recognize and understand how incredibly important it is to have a government and to be good citizens in whatever country we live.

A very important moment in history illustrates how the Mormon saints were true patriots to their country. After years of persecution and false accusations, upheld by state governors and ignored by the United States government, the saints decided to make the trek west to find refuge in the unknown wilderness, which continued from the mid to late 1840s. Regardless of countless requests for their protection in accordance with the Constitution's protection of religious freedom, they were forced to escape or stay and risk extermination (there were multiple orders for such an atrocity).

And yet, in July 1846 when United States President James K. Polk asked for 500-1,000 Mormon volunteers to march to California to aid in the Mexican-American War, Mormon recruits came willingly and quickly. It did not matter that their government had not been loyal to them; they were loyal to their country. The only religious military unity in American history, this battalion completed the 2,000 mile trek from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego, California, making the journey both the longest religious march and infantry march in U.S. history.

Now that is true patriotism and heroism. It is showing loyalty and dedication to one's country, despite the government's actions, or lack thereof. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is no ill-will towards the government or anyone else who deprived the early saints of their religious freedoms and civil rights. We are not a perfect people, and this is not a perfect country or government. People are not always going to agree with one another on political agendas, personal beliefs, or the actions of political leaders, but that does not make government inherently faulty. It is left to the people themselves to choose how to act, how to use power, and thus how to uphold the government.

"Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land" (D&C 58:21). Government is a tool for enacting and keeping order. Order is an eternal principle. God is a God of order: His Kingdom has order and his Gospel has order.

"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. 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. 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, or the will of the sovereign" (D&C 134:1-3).

It is our responsibility then, to use our individual voices to uphold equity and justice within whatever country we live. In a republic like the United States, we can do so by voting for civil officers who we feel best represent our interests and the overall welfare of this country. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is not just my personal beliefs or a patriotic gesture: this is my moral and religious responsibility, and one that I'm grateful for.

Coming Soon (the last one!): {Article of Faith #13} What words would you use to describe Mormons?

Mormons believe in—Freedom of Religion

Consider the history of the Jewish nation: held captive multiple times by different nations, persecuted for their faith and beliefs, and scorned for generations. Now there is a people who truly understand what it means to seek after religious freedom. {Article of Faith #10} refers to the prophecy, when they will be safely gathered back together. Referencing the Jews, Christ uses the analogy of a hen gathering in her chicks to explain His longings towards them. Envisioning a mother hen with her chicks evokes feelings of safety, love, peace, comfort, welcome, and family. Shouldn't everyone, regardless of their religion or beliefs, feel as safe as those chicks when worshiping how, where, or what they may?

"We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, 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" (Doctrine and Covenants 134:4).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints always has been and always will be a defender of religious freedom for all men, where ever they are, and whatever their religion or beliefs may be. We should all be able to worship in the ways we each choose to do so, without judgment of others and without fear of government.

The very history of our church is rife with religious persecution that eventually forced the early saints to leave their homes. Fearing for their very lives, they risked the western wilderness, searching for a sanctuary of peace in which to worship the Almighty God. Thankfully, this time of physical conflict passed long ago. Nowadays, most people are tolerant and even appreciative of Mormons. Sadly, there are some who still revile and demean Mormons, whether through words or actions. I heard a story this weekend about a sister missionary: A stranger came up to her,swung his arm to punch her (she ducked), spit his food in her face and when she walked away without responding in any way to his aggression, threw his mashed potatoes at the back of her head. First, let's applaud this sister missionary for not retaliating, because my normal human impulse would be to punch anyone who swung a fist at me. Second, I feel sad for someone who feels such hate and spite against a young person he doesn't even know, but who he recognized as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It is, sadly, one example of the many acts of hatred and distrust against another person because of their beliefs or religion. Such a demonstration of dislike is not unique to members of this church, nor are all Mormons as Christlike as they should be when engaging with a person of different faith. The universality of such callousness does not make it right. It is wrong. We should, and can, love all our neighbors, meaning everyone we come in contact with, whether at home, or church, or school, or work, or the grocery store (Matthew 22:36-40, 3 Nephi 12:43-45).

Why should a person's beliefs and/or religion be so carefully defended? Because what we believe is an integral part of each of us. Belief dictates our actions and our perspectives. My entire reason for writing this blog is to inform others about my personal beliefs, so they can get to know me and understand me better. My belief system reveals the paradigm in which I live. It is the glass through which I view life and thus influences my decisions, directing my life down certain paths. The moment we restrict or limit anyone's ability to believe and/or worship, is the moment we take away part of who they are. We do not have to agree with or even condone another's choice of beliefs, but we can always respect who they are and love them regardless.

Coming Soon: {Article of Faith #12} How is "government" part of our beliefs?

Mormons believe in—the Gathering of Israel

Who are the people that God sent prophets to throughout the Bible? Who received and recorded the revelations? {Article of Faith #9}. Quite simply: They were the Israelites, more commonly known as the Jews.

The House of Israel (Jews) are an important nation who God led and blessed through Old Testament times. Yet so many Christians know so little about them. Let's start with a baseline of background information about their history and how they were scattered:

• Abraham's son, Jacob, was given the name of Israel by God (Genesis 32:38). Israel can refer to Jacob himself, his descendants or to the kingdom of Israel in the Old Testament.
• Jacob, or Israel, had twelve sons. Their descendants became known as the twelve tribes of Israel. 
• Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3-14). Judges governed their nation for the first few hundred years; then came the reign of kings.
• When King Solomon died, ten tribes revolted to form a separate nation. They became the northern kingdom of Israel (the remaining two tribes are known as Judah) and were carried away captive into Assyria in 721 B.C. They have become lost to all known records.
• The last two tribes, who became known as Judah, were taken into captivity by Babylon just a short time later. They were eventually allowed to return to their homeland.

God made a covenant with Abraham. What's a covenant? It's a two way promise between God and us. God sets the conditions and then promises to bless us if we obey. Abraham promised that he and his household would forever serve God and keep His commandments. In return, God promised Abraham would "be a father of many nations" and that his descendants would be blessed with the Gospel (Gen. 17:1-22). That is why the House of Israel is also called: God's covenant people.

Remember Jesus Christ's lineage? He was a Jew. As prophesied, He was born into the House of David. The New Testament is a record of Jesus Christ teaching his fellowmen, the Jews. When Christ and the apostles taught and baptized Gentiles as well, many of the Jews were confused and offended by such a drastic change from their traditions. In response to these concerns, Paul (a Jew and a Pharisee) answered, "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved Jews and gentiles, that they are all under sin . . . Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God" (Romans 3:9, 29-30).

Before Christ came, an Israelite was someone born into that lineage. The change that occurred, that many of the Jews did not fully comprehend, was Christ's Atonement. Part of His purpose was to fulfill the law of Moses and establish a new covenant. Jesus is the "mediator of the new covenant" part of which allows for the adoption of other nations (the gentiles) into the House of Israel (Hebrews 12:24, 8, 9). How is that possible? The House of Israel is also called God's covenant people. It is not just a declaration of lineage or nation, but of a person's belief in God.

Israel is more than just a man, a nation, or a location; it has a deeper meaning: a true believer in Christ (Ephesians 2:12). When we make and keep God's covenants, we become God's covenant people. Part of the gathering of Israel is inviting all men to come unto Christ and follow His example by becoming a covenant keeping people. 

The other part of the gathering is literally bringing the lost ten tribes of Israel back to a knowledge of who they are and back to their God. The ten tribes may be lost to mankind, but they are not lost to God. He loves and remembers His covenant people, and will uphold His promises to them. Even as they were scattered in fulfillment of prophecy, they will again be gathered as prophecied (Deuteronomy 4:27-31). "I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion" (3 Nephi 21:1). 

We believe this is a key component of Christ's Second Coming. While Jews do not believe it will be the Messiah's second coming, one of their own 13 Articles of Faith mirrors our belief that the Messiah will come and reign in power and glory, claiming the earth as His kingdom. We embrace our commonalities with the Jewish faith and look forward to the day when all will be united in truth and love under our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Luke 13:34 "How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!"

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #11} Should all men be free to worship and believe as they wish?

Mormons believe in—Continuing Revelation

You may not have noticed, but I'm a bit of a thinker (wink, wink). Sometimes I like to just sit and try to imagine eternity. It only takes a few seconds before my brain starts to hurt because eternity is simply not a concept my feeble, mortal mind can fathom. It's moments like those that I feel the absence of the knowledge and truth that exists all around us. Just think of how much less we'd know without the Bible and the prophets of God to teach the Gospel and guide His children?! I'm so glad to have the records of those prophets and God's revealed word in the scriptures {Article of Faith #8}.

Personally, I don't think I know much more than any of the people who lived in the Bible. Sure, as far as technology is concerned, we're more advanced. But when it comes to God and religion, we're the same. I read their stories and I see the similarities: they had families, jobs, trials, daily ups and downs. I also read the influence the prophets had on those people and the way they were blessed and protected. The prophet was there to bridge the gap between man and God, and pass on God's revelations to help people see through that "dark glass" of life a little more clearly.

Why is revelation so wonderful and helpful? As Paul has said:

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" 

(1 Corinthians 13:9-12).

Mankind, as advanced and knowledgeable as we have become, has not evolved to a point where we no longer need God's guidance. That is why He calls prophets, and why He reveals His will and knowledge to His children, bit by bit, as we show our faith in Him. That's why I believe God has revealed knowledge before, that He reveals knowledge now through a prophet, and that He will continue to reveal further knowledge of His Kingdom.

This may sound too incredible to believe, and yet I do. I find it no more incredible that He would call a prophet to communicate God's will, through revelation, now, than it was for the people throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon. God is still God, and we are still mortal and human and full of fallacies. While God does not change, we humans change at a rapid pace. We need His continuing guidance, through revelation, to help us navigate an ever changing world.

Moses—receiving revelation from God.

Joseph Smith, in an address to the House of Representatives, stated:

“That the most prominent difference in sentiment between the Latter-day Saints and sectarians was, that the latter were all circumscribed to some peculiar creed, which deprived its members the privilege of believing anything not contained therein, whereas the Latter-day Saints have no creed, but are ready to believe all true principles that exist, as they are made manifest from time to time" (History of the Church, 5:215).

It is my belief and knowledge, through study and experience, that God who knows all, reveals His will in His time and in His way. His words and revealed will are just as relevant today as they were 2,000+ years ago. He does not reveal it all at once; otherwise our poor feeble minds would probably collapse under the weight. But he gives "unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that say, we have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have" (2 Nephi 28:30).

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #10} Who are God's Covenant People?

Mormons believe in—Scripture

In the {Article of Faith #7} we learn about Gifts of the Spirit, as described to us by the prophets and apostles in the scriptures. Scripture is so important! It is a sacred record of God's dealings with His people since the days of Adam and His revelations and commandments. I revere and love the Bible and the Book of Mormon for just those reasons.

Our church uses the King James version of the Bible. The translation began in 1604 and took 7 years to complete. This was the third translation into English to be approved by the English Church authorities. King James gave the translators instructions, with the intent to guarantee the new version would conform to the ecclesiology and episcopal structure of the Church of England. This translation took 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England. Like most other translations of that period, the New Testament was translated from Greek; the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew.

While we believe the Bible to be the word of God, we also realize that there are bound to be errors as a result of translating from one language to another, personal agendas, and imperfect understanding. This is not a critique on those who worked so hard to give us the Bible in the English language; merely a reasonable conclusion based on what we know of the situation.

The prophets and apostles who recorded the stories and revelations did so under the direction and guidance of God. Of that I have no doubt. Scripture is holy because it is the word of God. When it was first recorded by the prophets and apostles it was undiluted truth. But what was lost through the imperfect translations of many men? What if the scriptures could have been translated into English and retained their full power and meaning as God intended?

The Book of Mormon is just such a book of scripture: translated by the power of God through a prophet of God. I know such a statement may be met with skepticism and possibly even downright derision. I'm ok with that. Bear with me just long enough to ask: Could such a book of scripture exist? 

Let me tell you a little bit about this translation: Joseph Smith, at the age of 24, spent 65 working days translating the Book of Mormon (between April 7 and June 30, 1829). It took him only 65 days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long. That's 8 pages a day! (Ensign, Jan. 1988). Ok let's postulate that he wasn't translating, but he was really just writing this book himself with the intent to pass it off as scripture. Compare that with how long it took for the Bible to be translated: The Bible is about 1600 pages long. I'll be generous and say it took the 47 scholars only 2 years to translate 530 pages of that. I throw that information out there just as something to think about, not as proof that the Book of Mormon is scripture.

What could it mean if Joseph Smith's story is true, and the Book of Mormon is pure scripture? The only way to truly know if any book is scripture is to read it and ask God if it's not true. This is a promise made in James 1:5-6 and it is made again at the end of the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:3-5. In my limited experience, God always keeps His end of the deal. And when it comes right down to it, learning more about God is between you and God. No one knows us better, and no one can answer our questions with more authority than Him. Never be afraid to ask, and always have faith that He will answer.

Continue Reading: {Article of Faith #9} God communicates with us through revelation.

Mormons believe in—Gifts of the Spirit

{Article of Faith #6} proclaims our belief in the Primitive Church as it was organized and maintained by Christ and the apostles. Linked inseparably to Christ and His church are the many miracles recorded throughout the New Testament.

The question I want to ask is: How did Christ perform miracles? Was it just because He was the Son of God? While there's no denying that He was perfect, and thus the perfect example of all things, He was not the only person given power to do miracles such as healing the sick and casting out devils. The prophets throughout the Old Testament performed miracles, as did the prophets and apostles during the time of Christ. What they all had in common was the authority, given them by God, to preach the Gospel {Article of Faith 6}. A result of that authority is receiving gifts of the Spirit. As in all things, Christ was the perfect example: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;`for God was with him" (Acts 10:38).

The abilities to prophecy, heal, see visions, and so on are manifestations of gifts of the Spirit. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit . . . covet earnestly the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:4, 31). Different gifts may be given to different people, but we are all encouraged to attain more. This cannot be for worldly power or personal gain. It must be in pursuit of serving God, for that is the only way God will allow us to use His power, through the Holy Ghost, to bless His children.

Are gifts of the Spirit just for prophets and apostles? Nope! Seeking after these gifts is a righteous desire. Consider this story from the days of Moses: There were two regular, ordinary men in the camp, "and the spirit rested upon them . . . and they prophesied" (Numbers 11:26). One of Moses' servants, when he heard, told Moses to make them stop. "And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:29).

So can miracles still happen today? Are gifts of the spirit available to us, now? I cannot say it with enough emphasis: DEFINITELY! The prophets and apostles did mighty miracles; Jesus Christ did mighty miracles; God is a God of miracles—So why not now? God is unchanging, thus, He is and always will be a God of miracles.

While God does not change, we must admit that man does change. Frequently. On a daily, even hourly, basis. We doubt. We fear. We worry. We second guess ourselves. You get the gist.

"The reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.

Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth" (Mormon 9:20-21).

Belief leads to action. Faith leads to baptism. And then the Lord has promised: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17-18).

When I read a promise like that in the scriptures, I believe it. The stories in the Bible and the Book of Mormon are examples that I can use and apply in my life. Scripture is not meant to tell us of things that once were and never will be again. They are meant to help us better understand God, the Gospel, and how to live now so that we can someday return to live with Him. Despite the span of generations separating us from the authors, the principles are still true, the Gospel is still true. That will never change, and it is my testimony that when we follow the prescribed steps, partaking of the ordinances by those with authority, then the gifts of the Spirit are made manifest as promised.

Keep reading: {Article of Faith #8} The Bible—Is something lost in translation?

Mormons believe in—Christ's Church

{Article of Faith #5} discusses our belief in authority, and why authority is a necessary component in the Kingdom of God. Correct authority upholds the organization of The Church, as shown throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. Without it, there would be chaos and confusion, and neither of those are characteristics of God.

Since the days of Adam, there has been an order, given to man through prophets of God. When Christ came to earth He became The Prophet and continued in building and organizing the Church. Because He fulfilled the Mosaic Law, some aspects of the Jewish faith were no longer required and new direction was given. So how was Christ's church organized? Here's what we learn from the scriptures:

1. I believe this is the most important one to understand and believe in—"Christ is the head of the Church" (Ephesians 5:23). He is called "the Chief Cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20). A cornerstone is the first point set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. 



A representation of a cornerstone.

2. The church is also "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets" (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation is built outward from the cornerstone and provides the structural integrity for the rest of the building. As we all know, without a foundation the building will be incredibly unstable. This is a principle Christ taught in the parable of the wise man and the foolish man. The wise man build his house upon the rock and the foolish man built his house upon the sand. When the rains came, the floods rose, and the winds beat upon their respective houses, it is easy to guess whose stood still and strong, and whose was washed away (Matthew 7:24-27). I believe that prophets and apostles were not just needed in the Bible, but are needed always! We want our church and our faith to be built upon a strong foundation. Christ is at the head, the cornerstone. The prophets and apostles provide that much needed direct connection with Heaven so we can build our faith on a firm foundation and have confidence in the path we tread. 
3. Christ is the ultimate delegator. He could do it all . . . but He doesn't. He gives assignments, for how else would we learn and grow? The apostles and prophets couldn't do it all on their own either. For the Lord's work to really progress and be taught to all people, there had to be more: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith" (Ephesians 4:11-13). God and Jesus Christ are unified. They want us to be unified with them. How can we become unified with them and with each other if there are so many different denominations?
4. The scriptures tell us the answer is simple: There is only one Church. "There is one body, and one Spirit . . . One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). There was only one church in the Old Testament. There was only one church in the New Testament. There was only one church in the Book of Mormon. 

It's easy to understand how Christ was at the head of the Church when He was on the earth, because He was there in the flesh. But what about when He left? Nothing changed—it was, and still is, His Church. He has always had prophets, and eventually apostles, to carry out His work as He directs, whether or not He is physically present. They in turn delegate responsibility and authority to evangelists, teachers, and pastors to continue teaching the Gospel. This is how the Church functioned after Christ died, this is how it has been structured since the days of Adam, and it is my sincere belief that this is how His Church is organized today.

"Now ye are the body of Christ [i.e. Church of Christ], and members . . . And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"

(1 Corinthians 12:27-30)

Read more: {Article of Faith #7} Miracles and gifts of the Spirit are an integral part of Christ's Church.

Mormons believe in—Priesthood Authority

{Article of Faith #4} teaches the importance of the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. But we have to ask: Who performs those ordinances? If we are trying to follow Christ's example, we must consider the manner in which Christ was baptized:

Jesus sought out John the Baptist to baptize Him. Why couldn't just anyone baptize Jesus? John the Baptist himself asked the Lord why He came to him. Christ answered him, "for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). If Jesus Christ, the Son of God knew it was important to be baptized by someone who had the proper authority—and John had the authority to baptize—then we must seek after the same!

Where does this authority come from?
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit" (John 15:16) Christ chose and then ordained his apostles to His priesthood, through the laying on of hands as depicted in this picture. The authority, or permission, to preach the Gospel and administer the ordinances come from God, through His son Jesus Christ, who is also known as The High Priest (Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 3:1-6). Jesus in turn gave authority to His twelve apostles (Luke 9:1-2). This is why they were able to heal the sick, cast out devils, perform miracles, preach the gospel, administer ordinances, and so on.

Why is the correct authority an important aspect of the Gospel? 
This short anecdote helps illustrate the necessity of proper authority:
Let's say that I'm driving down the high way at 100 miles per hour and my neighbor Jo pulls up alongside me, waves me down, and gets me to pull over on the side of the road. He then begins to write me a ticket for speeding and asks me to pay a fine. Jo is not a policeman. He's just my neighbor. He doesn't have the authority to penalize me for breaking the law. He doesn't know the proper procedures. And why doesn't he have the authority? Because he has not been trained and educated, and then given the proper permission by people with the authority to do so, to be a police officer. If just anyone could say, "I'm a police officer!" think of the chaos and confusion that would inevitably ensue.

Our country, even with imperfect people, uses laws and correct authority to govern its people and create order. The Kingdom of God is led by God. "Mine house is a house of Order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:8). He is perfect, His laws are perfect, and His authority is perfect. He gives us laws, and then chooses men to use the proper authority, in the building of His Kingdom.

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #6} How is Christ's Church organized?

Mormons believe in—Baptism by Immersion

If we have faith in Jesus Christ, and we believe in His Atonement (discussed in {Article of Faith #3}), then we understand how repentance frees us from the bonds of sin. Our faith and desire to overcome our mistakes increases our desire to keep His commandments and follow His example. There's a great story in Acts that illustrates how faith compels us to take action: A group of people were listening to Peter teach about Jesus Christ. After listening to him and experiencing the feelings of the Spirit, "they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:37-38).

These people showed their willingness to repent by acting upon their faith and doing all that Peter instructed:

Baptism
The first ordinance they needed was baptism. I think the important question to ask here is how were they baptized? If we desire to follow Christ's example, then we desire to do as he did: "Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3:16). We learn from this and other scriptures (Acts 8:38, Romans 6:4, Mark 1:5) that baptism is done by going into the water and coming up out of the water, or in other words, through immersion. In fact, the word "baptize" in Hebrew means: "to dip" or "immerse."

Gift of the Holy Ghost
Peter said that after they were baptized, they would "receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Again, we have been given the perfect example in all things: Jesus Christ, after he was baptized, saw "the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him" (Matthew 3:15). So we know this is an important step. Now let us ask: How does one receive this gift? This question is answered in a few passages of scripture, two of which I've documented here:
1. "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them" (Acts 19:4)
2. "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:17)
What we can learn from the examples of the apostles is that the gift of the Holy Ghost is given through the laying on of hands.






Jesus taught: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Christ left us His example, so that we could follow in His steps and do as He did (1 Peter 2:21):

"And now if, the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!" 

(2 Nephi 31:5)

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #5} Who has the authority to administer these ordinances?

Mormons believe in—Christ's Atonement

As referenced in the {Article of Faith #2}, the result of Adam and Eve's choice was The Fall, placing them and all their children (and the rest of mankind) in a fallen, or imperfect, state. At first consideration this sounds like a tragedy.

But if not for an imperfect state filled with opposition, how else could we learn and grow? Watching my children I see how Konrad and Fray have developed: they learn to sit, then crawl, then walk, and even run! Sure, there was falling, crying, and even some bruises—gravity isn't always kind. But look where they are now! I could have coddled them and protected them from all harm, but that would have confined them to the abilities of a baby, unable to move and completely reliant on me for their every need. God, our Eternal Father, has given us this time on earth to learn, allowing the consequences of our actions to teach us so we can increase in knowledge and understanding.

Not only are we allowed to learn, by exercising our agency, but we are given a way to overcome our fallen state through Christ's Atonement.

Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by [him]" (John 14:6). Through the most selfless act in earth's history, he sacrificed himself willingly to pay the price for all mankind's sins. "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me . . . I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."  (John 10:17-18)

We begin to overcome our fallen state when we access the power of the atonement in our lives through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. Or in other words, by keeping the commandments. Christ obeyed the Father's commandments because he loves Him—"But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do" (John 14:31). Let us continue to follow his perfect example and show our love for Heavenly Father by keeping His commandments.

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #4} begins to help us understand how we can follow Jesus Christ's example.

Mormons believe in—Personal Agency

So if we believe that there is a God as the {Article of Faith #1} proclaims, then what is His plan for us here on Earth? Let's begin to answer that question by starting at the beginning:

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, God gave them 2 commandments:

1. "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28) (meaning, have a family)
2. "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17)

The key to understanding the story of Adam and Eve is understanding personal agency. Agency, a gift that Heavenly Father has given all of his children, is the ability to choose for ourselves. In order to choose, though, there must be two or more options for us to choose from.

Consider that God never forces us to do anything. He entreats us, He teaches us, and He waits for us. But He never ever does anything that infringes upon our agency, or our personal ability to make our own choices. This is true now and it was true in the beginning with Adam and Eve.

In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were in a perfect, innocent, and unchanging state. God could not force them to leave the Garden of Eden because that would have taken away their agency. When He first gave them the commandment to not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge, there was no other option. It was simply live in the Garden, eat all the other fruit, but don't eat that fruit. End of discussion.

At that point there was no choice, and yet "the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16). That's why there "is opposition in all things"—we are given at least 2 options (2 Nephi 2:11). Here's where Satan's temptation was a necessary part of the plan. He enticed Eve to eat of the fruit and suddenly she had a choice, a way to use her agency: Eat the fruit? OR Don't eat the fruit? As we know, Eve used her agency to eat the fruit, and Adam also made a choice by joining her in her decision to eat of the fruit as well.

I rejoice in Adam and Eve's actions because it enabled them to enter this fallen state of mortality and fulfill the first commandment God gave them: to bare children. The alternative was that they didn't eat the fruit, they didn't transgress, and as a result they would have remained in their unchanging state in the Garden. "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25) We exist because of Adam and Eve's choice. Yes, there is misery and sorrow in this world. But how else could we know and appreciate joy and happiness!

Personal agency means personal responsibility for our own actions. Just as Adam and Eve's choice effects all of us, our personal choices have an effect on those around us as well. For good or bad, our choices have consequences.

The good news is that despite our imperfections and sins, we are not forsaken or forgotten! "For as in Adam all men die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). An integral part of God's plan was sending Jesus Christ to atone for everyone's sins, thus making it possible for everyone to repent and draw closer to our Heavenly Father so that we can someday return to live with Him.

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #3}Christ's Atonement is for all men!

Mormons believe in—The Godhead

In my experience, one of the most common misconceptions about Mormons is this: that we're not Christians. Not true! We believe in God, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We are Christians because "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ!" (2 Nephi 25:26)

We believe that "the Godhead" consists of three individual beings: 1) God, our Father in Heaven; 2) Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and 3) the Holy Ghost. They are separate individuals, but are perfectly united in purpose and effort. President Gordon B Hinckley explained: "It is that perfect unity among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that binds these three into the oneness of the divine Godhead" (The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost).

God, Our Father
We believe that God is a personage with a body of flesh and bones, a perfected, exalted being. He the Creator and the Father of our spirits. I don't view Him as some distant unknowable being, but rather as a father who is carefully watching over all His children here on Earth. How do we know this? Because the scriptures tell us we are "the children of God" (Romans 8:16). My personal experiences as a parent have helped me better understand the true nature of God, and I believe Him to be a kind, loving, and intensely concerned father who knows me personally. He is the perfect example in all things, so it makes sense to me that He is perfect at parenthood. I enjoy spending time each day talking to my Father in Heaven through prayer, praying to Him in the name of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be able to communicate with Him who knows all things!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Jesus Christ is The Son of God. He was born of Mary under miraculous circumstances, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). The only man to live a perfect life, he served, he taught, he was The Example, and he sacrificed his life to atone for everyone's sins. And then, he took up his life again and was resurrected. He is our living Lord, with a body as tangible as mine and as perfected and glorified as His Father's.

Jesus Christ is my Redeemer, and your Redeemer. What does that mean? It means that when Christ said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), that's do-able! I can't become perfect on my own. I'm too mortal, too imperfect, too prone to making mistakes... all the time! But with Christ's atonement I can repent of my mistakes and change for the better. That knowledge fills me with so much hope and peace and joy.

Holy Ghost
The third member of the Godhead is the Holy Ghost. As the name implies, he is a personage of spirit, meaning he does not have a body of flesh and bones. His other names are: the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, or the Spirit of the Lord. So what is his role?
1. He testifies of Jesus Christ: "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth . . . he shall testify of me" (John 15:26)
2. He guides us to the truth: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
3. He helps us become more Christ-like: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, / Meekness, temperance . . . " (Galatians 5:22-23)

For more information about the Godhead, visit: LDS.org, The Godhead.

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #2} Personal agency is the key to understanding The Fall .

What do Mormons believe?

So... What do Mormons believe? 

This is definitely the most common question I get asked about my faith, and honestly I'm always excited when someone actually asks me. There's so much stuff on the internet about Mormons that it can be confusing as to what's true and what's not. I've found that when researching any topic, going to the source and finding primary resources whenever possible is always the best way to find the truth.

So where to start... I could jump in by myself and try to muddle my way through, but fortunately I don't have to. We have what is called the Articles of Faith. They consists of 13 principles that outline the basics of Mormon beliefs. I could simply recite them off and leave it at that, but I'm much too talkative for that. So my plan is to introduce what the Articles of Faith are in this post, and then give one post to each article so I can get into more detail with each one.

I've found that understanding the background story of anything is always a good place to start, so here's a short history lesson:

It all began in 1842 with a man named George Barstow and his editor friend, John Wentworth, who asked the same question: "What do Mormons believe?" Mr. Wentworth wrote a letter to the Prophet Joseph Smith, asking him about the beliefs and history of the Latter-Day Saints. Joseph answered with a letter where he talked about the First Vision, how he received and translated the gold plates, the organization of the Church, as well as the persecution and history of the Saints. In the conclusion Joseph created a list of the basic beliefs of the Church. This list became known as the Articles of Faith.

"Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith to help people who are not members of the Church understand how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is different from other churches. The Articles of Faith do not contain all of the teachings and beliefs of the Church, but they do explain some of our most important beliefs." 

(Primary Lesson #5)

So get ready for 13 future posts (spread out through the weeks, of course) that will hopefully explain, clearly and in just enough detail, more about what I believe as a Mormon!

For quick reference:
{Article of Faith #1} Mormons believe in—The Godhead

{Article of Faith #2} Mormons believe in—Personal Agency

{Article of Faith #3} Mormons believe in—Christ's Atonement

{Article of Faith #4} Mormons believe in—Baptism by Immersion

{Article of Faith #5} Mormons believe in—Priesthood Authority

{Article of Faith #6} Mormons believe in—Christ's Church

{Article of Faith #7} Mormons believe in—Gifts of the Spirit

{Article of Faith #8} Mormons believe in—Scripture

{Article of Faith #9} Mormons believe in—Continuing Revelation

{Article of Faith #10} Mormons believe in—The Gathering of Israel
{Article of Faith #11} Mormons believe in—Freedom of Religion
{Article of Faith #12} Mormons believe in—Patriotism
{Article of Faith #13} Mormons believe in—Doing Good to All Men