BELIEFS AND STORIES FROM MEMBERS OF
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Personal Response by Rachel

I have summed up the most significant lesson I learned on my mission in six words: “Come unto Christ and be happy.” This phrase has become a personal motto for the rest of my life. Each morning of my mission we had an hour to do personal study of the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. The more I studied the words of Jesus Christ through His ancient and modern prophets and apostles, the more I came to love Him and believe in Him. My growing belief and faith in Christ led me to follow His teachings, develop Christlike attributes, and testify of Jesus Christ’s restored gospel. As I obeyed the commandments of the gospel and became more like Christ, I felt the Holy Ghost’s influence more abundantly in my life. I felt the fruits of the Holy Ghost, which include “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). I learned that “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17). Every day of my mission was an opportunity to do the things Jesus Christ has asked of us. When I chose to follow Christ, I was blessed with happiness, joy, love, and peace. My dad has often told me that he can always tell when I am happy and acting in a way that is pleasing to the Savior. “You have a sparkle in your eyes,” my dad has said. “So, I know that you are on the right path.” (more…)

Personal Response by Natalie

A Glimpse Into a Mormon Student’s Values & Lifestyle

Attending Brigham Young University, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), has helped me realize that the key aspects of my religion–repentance, revelation, prayer, and coming closer to Jesus Christ- are applicable to all areas of my life. My religion has become more than a Sunday trip to church, or an occasional reading of scriptures. The gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is my life. As I study the bones in the human skull or the process of embryo development in my anatomy class, I am reminded that God is the creator of all men and women and that He created us in His image, and that the body is a sacred gift from God. As I study American History, I am reminded that the Lord’s hand was in the making of our country and the unfolding of our Constitution so that the gospel could later be restored on this earth. As I study the behavior of atoms and molecules in my chemistry class I am reminded that God is the creator of the universe, and that everything he does is ordered. The more I learn and study science, history, and humanities, the more my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ grows and my testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior is strengthened. As my knowledge of physics, civilization, and health expands, so does my knowledge of who I am, who God is, and what my purpose on earth is. (more…)

Personal Response by Nathaniel

Being at BYU has allowed me to associate with students and faculty who share similar values. I do not have to worry about being pressured to do things that I am morally opposed to. Being at BYU has also allowed me to integrate my secular education with my religious beliefs. As a private university, BYU offers religion classes, together with regular college classes. There was a semester in which I had a class on the divinity of Christ, immediately followed by Calculus 1. Mormons believe all truth is related and part of one whole. The more we learn in each sphere, the better people we can become.

I have also developed associations with faculty which will continue after my graduation, and influence the course and direction that my life will take. Being at BYU has also given me a vision of how I can be a part of the world, but not “of the world.” By this, I mean that I can interact with people from all walks of life, without compromising the moral standards that I believe have been given by God.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe in the sacredness of the body. We consider it a gift necessary to experience mortality and to live a worthy life preparatory to eternal glory. We believe with Paul that we “are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in [us],” and that defiling our body is inappropriate and offensive to God (1 Corinthians 3:16–17). As a result, Mormons do not pierce their body for cosmetic purposes, and are encouraged to pierce only one ear, to accommodate modest earrings.

Tattooing mars the body and is discouraged as a whimsical way of imprinting an identity or showing allegiance to a particular gang. President Hinckley 15th President of the Church, remarked: (more…)

Personal Response by Karen R. Merkley

By divine will, there is an order of leadership that the Lord has laid out for us in modern revelation. That pattern means that the one called as Prophet and President of the Church, Stake President (leader of a large congregation of members), Bishop (leader of a smaller unit of members), Relief Society President (leader of women in a designated area), Young Women or Young Men’s President (leader of youth), Primary President (leader of children) and other leaders will prayerfully select two counselors to serve with them in their respective calls. Together these presidencies seek specific inspiration for the needs of those they serve. They counsel together, review matters at hand and move forward with decisions and activities to lift, inspire and encourage individuals and families only after they have come to a unity of mind and heart on those matters. This is the way the Lord prescribed. It is a safeguard, a help, and a blessing to those who serve and are served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Additional Resources:

General Conference broadcast transcript, forthcoming, April, 2008 at www.lds.org.

Personal Response by Tom Tyler

An article of faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) states, “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” (Articles of Faith 1:9). Latter-day Saints (LDS) believe that just as God continued to reveal his will throughout the Old and New Testament periods he continues to reveal his will today. Nevertheless, the core principles of truth are eternal and unchanging. These principles are revealed to humankind through prophets and apostles and often recorded in scripture and in the official statements of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles. (more…)

Personal Response by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons or Latter-day Saints) accept the traditional Christian Sabbath, which is held on the first day of the week, Sunday, for worship. Additionally, members of the Mormon Church gather on other days of the week to study, pray, and participate in church meeting and activities. (more…)

Personal Response by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons or Latter-day Saints), like other Christians, accept both the Old and New Testaments as Holy Scripture. Additionally, they accept the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price as part of their standard works (canonized scripture). The Doctrine and Covenants, first published in 1835, contains one hundred thirty-eight sections or individual documents generally arranged in chronological order beginning in 1823 through 1918 and two “Official Declarations” announcing new policies in 1890 and 1978. These documents are a selection from the revelations and other inspired writings given through Joseph Smith (1805-44) and his successors as president of the Mormon Church. (more…)

To Mormons, gambling is considered unwise, potentially addictive, and a misuse of agency and time. Gambling includes playing poker for money, heading to a resort on a spree to get ahead, betting, engaging in games of chance, participating in government-sponsored lotteries, and anything along those lines. Similarly, unwise investing or inordinate focus on building portfolios at great financial risk, is discouraged and considered inappropriate and destructive.

A modern Mormon apostle, Dallin H. Oaks, draws the line between the claims and actual by-products of the lottery: (more…)

Personal Response by Karen R. Merkley

Mormons believe that true followers of Jesus Christ are counted as “saints”–those who have followed Him into baptism by immersion through His priesthood power as held by ordained members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and who continue in the path of righteousness. Members of Christ’s Church established when he was on the earth are the early saints, and members of His Church today are referred to as “Latter-day Saints” or Mormons. Many of all faiths live a Christ-like life and are saintly and good. The literal term, “saint,” or “latter-day saint,” however, in our theology is reserved for those who qualify as described above.

Mormons do not beatify (call blessed in a formal sense) or canonize (declare a higher state of sainthood) anyone who is a member of the Church. (more…)