Mormon Church

BYU Students Share Letters & Reflections on Scripture

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

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

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

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

Individual Love Taught by an Infinite Being

This week I have been studying, further, Jesus’ teachings to the Nephites and Lamanites while visiting them in the America’s (approximately 1 year after Christ’s death in Jerusalem). Having examined this body of scripture a little more, this section may be my favorite account of Jesus in the Book of Mormon. The section to which I am referring is found in 3 Nephi chapter 17. My intention is to share what I have learned about the nature of Christ and the one-on-one nature of His atonement.

At this point, Christ has just finished teaching about the lost sheep of Israel and how the gospel will be spread to the House of Israel by the Gentiles in the last days. This topic was merely the most recent in a long line of other topics such as the Doctrine of Christ, including the proper mode of baptism, the Beatitudes, the calling of the twelve apostles, and the fulfilling of the Law of Moses. These are some heavy topics. I have been to conferences where I have had to take in a lot of information in a short period of time, so I can relate. These people would most certainly be tired. In 3 Nephi 17:2, Christ displays a characteristic that we should all heed. He says to the multitude, “I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.”

As teachers, missionaries, parents, and friends, we often spend more time concentrating on the “what” and the “how” of Christ’s teachings instead of focusing on the “why” or, better yet, the “who”. This simple interaction of Christ with the people demonstrates the Savior’s ability to empathize. We learn here that Christ is not only focused on delivering His message, but, more importantly, He is concerned for the individual who is receiving the message. He then instructs the people to return to their homes, ponder what he has taught, and return the next day prepared to receive and understand what further he has to say.  At this point, Christ gives us yet another lesson in compassion and Priesthood service. He, looking around at the multitude and sensing that they wished he would stay with them a little longer, said unto them “Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. Have ye any sick among you? Bring them hither…and I will heal them.”

The lessons that I learn from this are that the Savior wants us to be mindful of the individual needs of those around us. He wants us to set aside our wants and desires to do His bidding and attend to the needs of others even when we may be tired ourselves. Now, I know Jesus, as a resurrected being, probably wasn’t tired, but I know I would be tired if I had been preaching to a group of people all day. I remember being a missionary and nearing extreme exhaustion towards the close of each day, having ridden my bike many miles, knocked on countless doors, taught several lessons, and shrugged off the many rejections along the way. Being a missionary is tough! Then, at the end of the day as you are about to head home, you are invited into nearly the last home on the street. In moments like this, we are required to do as the Savior did and give them our full attention. We must allow the spirit to flow through us to bless the life of the one who owns the couch upon which we sit, regardless of the exhaustion plaguing our bodies.

The Savior then healed each person one-by-one, thus reflecting the individuality of the scope of His atonement. Later, calling the little children to “come unto” Him and ministering unto them, we see the incredible, infinite love of a God in caring for those who are most dear to us. I can only imagine the joy I would experience for me to witness my son in the presence of the Savior. Oh how my heart aches for that day. Not only did the Savior take time to speak with the children, but he also blessed them and prayed unto the Father for them. And then, the most powerful emphasis of the love of the Savior is expressed with two simple words, “he wept”. Jesus, giving unto us the perfect example of empathy, He being a God himself, wept for joy.

I love the lessons the Savior teaches, but I love Him more for who He is. I wish to be like Him. I long to love as He loves. And it is in His name that I testify, He lives! It is my prayer that we strive this week to be a little better and do a little more to be like the Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
.

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

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

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

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

Jesus, My Brother, I Will Fall
Letter to her father

Dearest Father,
I had the best lesson today in my Book of Mormon class! Brother Griffin is my teacher and he is awesome. We spent all of our time talking about Chapter 11 in 3 Nephi which is basically all a Temple text, which means Christ taught at the temple when He showed himself to the people of Nephi.
So right before chapter 11, the sign was given that the voice of Christ was coming upon them so a great multitude of people were all gathered around the temple waiting. In verse 3 it says,
“And if came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.”
I thought it was really interesting that these people began to look around horizontally rather than looking up vertically to Heavenly Father. They didn’t recognize that the voice came from Heaven. Finally, the third time that the voice was heard, they opened “their ears to hear it;” but Brother Griffen pointed out that they didn’t just open their ears but rather their H*E*A*R*T. And then they looked “steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came” because they opened their hearts and were able to recognize what was happening because they were looking vertically.
Then the absolute best testimony of Jesus Christ that has ever been said came from our Heavenly Father. Verse 7, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.” That’s all He needed to say is that Jesus truly is His Beloved Son and he sacrificed him for us. The second best testimony is the words Jesus says to the people of Nephi. Verse 11,
“And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.”
I can’t even imagine the wonder and gratitude that would have been in my heart after hearing Jesus say these things. It said the entire multitude fell to the earth when they heard him. Brother Griffin pointed out that when the prophet comes into the room, out of respect we stand, but in Jesus’ case, our reaction is to fall because of the reverence and overwhelming spirit that comes into our hearts. After Jesus proclaims himself as the light of the world, he tells the multitude to “arise and come forth” and to “thrust” our hands into his side and if you remember, the spear wound Jesus has went straight through his heart so symbolically, he is telling us to thrust ourselves into his heart and  become as he is.
This chapter is amazing! Brother Griffin also said that once we go through the temple and are endowed, this chapter is so symbolic and includes the exact reasons why it’s so important we go to the temple. I can only imagine the amazing spirit and testimony that comes from the Celestial Room. The temple magnifies our infinite and intimate relationships with our loved ones and the Savior.
I LOVE THE TEMPLE! I can’t wait to be endowed for my mission here in just a few short months. I sure love you Dad and just thought you would enjoy this thought. Thank you for all you do and for the sacrifice you’ve made for me.
Love your Daughter Always and Forever,
Sadie Leigh

BYU Students Share Letters & Reflections on Scripture

Brigham Young University (BYU) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.”   BYU students take nearly a semester of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Mormon Church: “Focusing on What Really Matters”

Paul’s epistle to the church members in Galatia is his effort to get them to see that the Law of Moses no longer holds any significance now that Christ has come. Anytime the  “law” is mentioned, it is referring to a framework of very literal, checkmark-oriented guidelines given to the Jews because of their transgressions while in the wilderness. This law was an outwardly-measured way to come closer to Christ. What the Jews did not understand, however, was that when Christ came, the higher law was established, and the Law of Moses was obsolete. The purpose for which it was introduced was fulfilled. This was SO HARD for the Jews to accept. In Galatia, there were Judaizers, or church members, who were of the opinion that one must become a member of Judaism first and live the Law of Moses, and then convert to Christianity when sufficiently ready.

In class we discussed situations that can occur today. It is easy for us to get into the same pitfall of looking beyond the mark.  Contending over such things as pinpointing the location of God or or the whereabouts of ancient civilizations mentioned in scripture are appendages to our salvation and can divert us from focusing on the Savior and applying the doctrine.

Sometimes in Mormon culture, a person will focus on the current organization of the Church or a particular leader in their area. Taking issue with a certain individual can lead to doubting the validity of the gospel, which is as pointless as declaring math to be wrong merely because a person solved a problem inaccurately using the methods. The Church is the vehicle by which the gospel is spread. The people within it are not perfect. This simple reality is often lost on people who choose to dwell on a particular component of the Church.

The issue that the Galatian members had with letting go of the Law of Moses is a lesson we can apply to current times as members of the Church. Treating membership like a checklist defeats the pure purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is a habit that anyone can get caught up in. Reading these ancient stories is so useful in these modern times!

If these reflections helped you, or if you have any questions, I would be happy to hear from you.

Mormon Beliefs

Free Bible

Family

I am a Jewish convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the Mormon Church.  I have found that deepening one’s understanding of the Jewish Passover can deepen one’s appreciation for the symbolism of Easter.

Passover is really just a one-day holiday, ordained by God just before the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.  It is the day of sacrifice of the paschal lamb, itself representing the Savior.  The lamb was to be under one year old, a first-born male without blemish.  No bones were to be broken when it was sacrificed and roasted and partaken of during the Passover meal.  Little lambs are innocent and precious, as is Christ.  Each Israelite family was to take a chosen lamb into their household on the tenth of Nisan and keep it until the sacrifice on the fourteenth.  By then, the sacrifice would be made in sorrow, because everyone in the family would love the lamb so much.

The sacrifice of the lamb was to take place between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, the hours Christ would hang on the cross, and the very date.  The blood of the lamb was painted onto the lintels of the exterior doorway of the house with hyssop, a healing herb later used to offer vinegar to the dying Christ.  The blood of the lamb was a sign unto the destroying angels that the household were faithful followers of God.  Mormonism teaches that God pays special attention to family salvation.  Exaltation into His very presence in the afterlife can be a family affair.

Passover leads into the Feast of Unleavened Bread, lasting one week.  Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are observed each year in Jewish homes to remember their redemption from slavery in Egypt, and therefore, the message of the entire holiday is redemption and deliverance.

The Passover meal, honored the night before the 14th of Nisan, is full of imagery of Christ and redemption.  The story of the deliverance from Egypt is recounted.  Five cups of wine are partaken of, representing covenants between God and Israel.  The final cup, which is now a toast to Jerusalem rebuilt, was the covenant Christ could not fulfill at the Last Supper — the restoration of Israel to its homeland as an inheritance forever.  The other cups represent deliverance from slavery, deliverance from Egypt, becoming God’s people, and physical and spiritual redemption.

The unleavened bread represents Messiah, and it is pierced and striped, as was Christ.  It is blessed and broken, wrapped in white linen and “buried” or hidden and then resurrected.  This, Christ used to represent Himself and the body He yielded up to save us.

When we participate in a Passover ritual meal in our home in the spring, we now do so to celebrate Easter.  The ritual foods on the Passover Seder Plate are maror, the bitter herbs, to remind us of the bitterness of slavery (sin); the charoseth, a mash of sweet fruit, to represent the sweetness of hope (in Christ); the lamb shank bone to remind us of the paschal lamb; the sweet herbs to remind us of the earth’s rebirth in the spring (and Christ’s, and our own); and a roasted egg, symbol of birth, but which has translated into an Easter symbol in many Christian nations.

The Passover was celebrated for hundreds of years looking forward to Messiah.  Christ used it to testify of Himself to His apostles at the Last Supper, and bid them do these things as a sacrament in remembrance of Him from then on.

Additional Resources:

The Lord Jesus Christ in Mormonism

The Holy Bible in Mormonism

Worship with Mormons

BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.”  BYU students take nearly a semester of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

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

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

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

Christ’s Church: To Be Like Moroni

Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men. (Alma 48:17)

Wow…what a recommendation. So how can we be like Moroni? First we’ll have to look at who Moroni was.

First, he was the Chief Captain, or Commander in Chief, of all the Nephite armies. He was also very young, being only twenty-five years old when he was made Chief Captain. He was also described as “a strong and mighty man,” with a “perfect understanding,” who “did not delight in bloodshed,” but “whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country” (Alma 48:11). He was also grateful to God, and “firm in the faith of Christ” (Alma 48:12-13).

Being young and the commander of a large fighting force are a bit out of our control, and possibly even being strong and mighty, but the rest we can emulate. I do not claim to be an expert, but in my own personal experience I have found that as I make an effort to read the scriptures, discuss gospel principles, and pray to my Heavenly Father, my understanding of His plan for me increases. My understanding is not perfect, but I am certainly not confused.

As for delighting in bloodshed, I don’t think many of us struggle with that problem. However, to a lesser degree, how many of us find satisfaction in occasionally causing pain? For example, when I feel someone has wronged me, I enjoy seeing them punished. The thing is, we need to delight in mercy, not justice. Justice is something we all have to bear, and which will come in its own due time; mercy, though, is our gift to extend.

Gratitude, interestingly enough, has been strongly correlated with happiness. Gratitude is also something that can be achieved through simple steps, which will allow it to become deeper and stronger as time goes by. For me, simply reflecting on my day before I go to bed helps me to feel gratitude for my Savior. I have also found that as I express gratitude to those people around me, it becomes easier for me to remember and express gratitude to God. This is not to say I am perfect in my gratitude, but I try.

Lastly, Moroni was described as “firm in the faith of Christ.” This is something we all must come to achieve on our own, but I think the previous attributes all help to establish this firm faith. As for me, I am firm in my faith in Christ. I do not understand everything, but I know that my Savior lives. I know that He came to this earth, and accomplished the Atonement that I may have the opportunity return to live with my Heavenly Father. I know that I must be held accountable to justice, but that Christ delights in mercy, and has extended it to me.

My hope is that we all may come to know this as well, and that one day, perhaps, we all can be described as “like unto Moroni.” Then, together, we can shake the very powers of hell. Now that would be cool.

Additional Resources:

Mormons and Christ

I Believe: Expressions of Faith

Meet with Mormon missionaries

Hartman Rector, Jr. and his wife Connie were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February of 1952. Seventeen years later, he was called as a General Authority into the First Council of the Seventy for the Church. He has spent his life in devotion to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and wrote a book compiling many conversion stories. Each story is unique and compelling. One story he recounts is Don Vincenzo Di Francesca:

Early one cold morning Vincenzo received a note about a sick friend. While he was on his way down Broadway toward the ailing friend’s home, a strong breeze from the open sea rustled the pages of a book, which had been thrown upon a barrel full of ashes ready for the city trash truck. The form and the binding of the pages gave him the idea that it was a discarded religious book, and curiosity pushed him to retrieve it. He plucked it from the ashes and beat it against the trunk of the trash barrel. He looked at the frontispiece and found it torn; the cover was completely missing. The fury of the wind turned the pages in his hand, and he saw names that he had never in his life seen before. In his haste to go on to his destination, he wrapped the soiled book in the newspaper he had just bought and continued toward his colleague’s house, where he visited with him and consoled and advised him.

After Vincenzo’s return home, as soon as he could get his coat off and warm himself, he opened the book and began to read. He came across some of the writings of Isaiah—a name he recognized—and was convinced that it was a fine religious book he had found. But he could not detect the name of it since the cover and some pages were missing, and other pages were too soiled to be legible. He went out to the drug store and bought 20 cents’ worth of denatured alcohol, and with this and a cotton-pad he washed the remainder of the pages. Then he read them.

“I felt as though I was receiving fresh revelation and much new light and knowledge,” he recalls. “I was also charmed to think of the source by which I had obtained the book. Many of the lectures in the book left in my memory a strong magnetic attraction, and I felt urged to re-read it several times, always satisfied that it fit very well with other scripture, as though it were a fifth Gospel of the Redeemer.

“The next day I locked my door and knelt with the book in my hands. First, I reviewed the 10th chapter of Moroni, and then I prayed to know if the book were of God. I also asked if I could mix the words of it with the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in my public preaching.

“While I was in that pose, awaiting a positive answer, I first felt my body become cold and my heart palpitate as if it would speak, and then I felt a gladness as if I had found something of extraordinary preciousness. It left in my memory sweet consolation and supreme joy that human language finds no words to describe.

“The book was easy to understand without effort. The more I read it and thought about it, the more I was impressed that I had received the assurance that God had answered my prayer and I knew that the book was of great benefit to me and to all who would heed its words.

“Within a few days my preaching was strung with the new words of the book, and the listeners became amazed and enthralled with the new power in these sermons, at the same time becoming indifferent to some of my fellow preachers. Thus while the esteem towards me grew, so did professional anger and envy and suspicion. One day I was interrupted in a meeting by the Vice Venerable, when he heard me talking of Mary the Virgin and substituting the vision of 1 Ne. 11:15-36. This arrogant authority encouraged my colleagues to sit in all my meetings and contradict any new doctrine! These contradictions and indignities made me rebel, and I became disobedient to the warnings for me to observe the strict methods of the sect.

“Next I was denounced to the Committee of Censure who, with fatherly words, counseled me to burn the book of the devil that had brought so much trouble to the harmony of the brothers who loved me.

Francesca then left his church and set out to preach the teachings of this mysterious book and find the source by which it came.

“In May, 1930, I stumbled onto the source of my precious book. It happened while I was looking in my French dictionary for the significance of a pulley invented by a Frenchman. As I was thumbing through the M’s, my eyes fell upon the words “Mormon sect.” I quickly wrote to the president of the ‘University of Provo,’ which was mentioned in the article, and asked for information about the remainder of the book that talks of Nephi, Alma, Mosiah, Mormon, Isaiah, Lamanites, etc. He passed my letter to the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in another month I heard from President Heber J. Grant. He sent me a copy of the Book of Mormon in Italian and said that he had informed the president of European Missions in Liverpool, England, Elder John A. Widtsoe, to arrange baptism.

“On June 5, 1932, Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Council of the Twelve came to Naples intending to baptize me, but a revolution between Fascists and anti-Fascists on the Island of Sicily caused the police of Palermo to prevent me from going to Naples, and I had to wait for another chance, like Moses in anticipation of the promised land.

“I was called to arms during the Italian-Ethiopian war in 1934, and this further prevented anyone with authority from reaching me for baptism.

“On January 14, 1937, I started correspondence with Elder Richard R. Lyman, European Missions President, and later with the president of the British Mission. President Hugh B. Brown of that mission eventually came to Rome intending to baptize me, but his letter of invitation for me to go to Rome was delayed until the day in which he and his family left Rome for America because of the outbreak of World War II, when the missionaries in Europe returned to America. Thus I was deprived of baptism, and cut off from any news of the Church.

“I remained a faithful follower and fervent preacher of the gospel of this dispensation, being in possession of the standard works of the Church. I translated those works in my idiom and sent the important chapters to persons of my acquaintance.

“On February 13, 1949, I started again the correspondence with Elder John A. Widtsoe and I asked him to help me to be baptized soon. He answered that he had written asking President Samuel Bringhurst of the Swiss-Austrian Mission to come down to Sicily and baptize me.

“On January 18, 1951, I was baptized by President Bringhurst in the Thermal Waters of Termini Irnerese, Sicily, in the South of Italy.

“In 1954 I made a trip to the Swiss Temple for my own endowments, and this first step was quickly followed by other trips to do temple work for my ancestors.

“You can see that I have toiled hard to find the salvation in the kingdom of God which was spoken of in the remainder of the pages of the book without title page or cover. I pray earnestly that my story will be copied into the historical record of the Italian District [now Mission] so that future converts can learn clearly that man does not live by bread alone but lives also by the word of God. To all the saints in Zion I clasp hands across the ocean in true brotherhood.”

This story touches the very depths of my soul as it testifies of the power of the Book of Mormon. I have a very special testimony of the Book of Mormon. My testimony has hinged on the truth that I have of the reality of the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true and it reveals that the Lord’s Church has been restored upon the earth and that it is functioning after the Holy Order of God, His priesthood. I invite you to request a copy of the Book of Mormon from Mormon.org as I know you will find the answer to your questions in life.

This article was written by Mady Clawson, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mady Clawson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon” single adult), with a zest for the gospel. She currently studies English, with an emphasis in Professional Writing and Communications at BYU-Idaho.

Additional Resources:

The Bible in Mormonism

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Mormon Worship

By Rebecca

An exciting event occurred far away from where I live that shows the Mormons’ global mission outreach. Although Mormon congregations have been organized worldwide since 1830, it was only 10 years ago when the first meetinghouse was built in India and dedicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed Mormons by the media). On May 27, 2012, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle of Jesus Christ, formed the first stake (group of local congregations) in India called the Hyderabad India Stake. (“Apostle Creates First Stake in India,” Mormon Newsroom, June 1, 2012). I may never get the chance to visit India, but I know that God loves all of His children and will send the truth throughout all nations in the world. I myself was called by a prophet of God to serve as a missionary in Spain and taught people of all faiths and from many nations including Africa, South America, and Asia. Although The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) was established by the Lord in 1830, in the United States, there are now “more members outside the United States than inside.” [1]

Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? (See 2 Nephi 29:7 as recorded by ancient prophets in the Americas in The Book of Mormon.)

Christ’s Church Restored

Missionaries worldwide share the wonderful message that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. The apostle Luke taught that God “spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began” (Luke 1: 70). We know that God still speaks to prophets today and began the true restoration of Christ’s Primitive Church in 1820 when he called Joseph Smith to be a prophet. This prophet translated the scriptures (known as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ) which contain the writings of ancient prophets in the Americas:

The prophet Nephi taught, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

History of Christ’s Church in India

Since the restored gospel of Jesus Christ was first introduced in India (1850), missionaries struggled learning the native language and taught their important message in English. Then, in 1981, The Book of Mormon had been translated into the Telugu language and more missionaries began teaching in the native language Telugu. However, many converts emigrated and India lacked strong local leadership. Fortunately, in the 1990’s missionary work was successful and there are presently about 10,000 members living in India. [1] For more information, read the below timeline of missionary work in India: [2]

1850 First messages of restored gospel shared by British sailors visiting Calcutta, India.

1851 First baptisms and converts called as missionaries by Elder Joseph Richards & small branch established and small meetinghouse built but most members emigrated.

1853 First messages of restored gospel shared by missionaries in Madras, Bombay, Rongoon, Karachi, Poona, and other areas.

1858 Missionaries returned to Utah and several converts emigrated.

1903 India Mission has not been successful and at least one branch existed.

1981 The Book of Mormon translated into Telugu & the government allowed a missionary couple to establish a branch.

1993 Bangalore Mission created & native of India (Gucharan Singh Gill) served as President. India had 1,150 members in 13 branches.

1998 India had 2,000 members in 18 branches.

2002 First meetinghouse dedicated in India for the Rajahmundry Branch (small local congregation).

2012 First LDS stake in India organized & named the Hyderabad India Stake (a stake is a group of “wards,” or congregations with over 200 members and good leadership).

Watch a short video about the LDS Mormon church global growth by stake:

Why Visit Christ’s Church?

Everyone is invited to attend services in local wards or branches (areas where there are fewer Church members [3]). These congregations are organized into stakes and there are currently 2,946 stakes worldwide. “A stake is an administrative unit composed of numerous congregations (called wards and branches) within a geographic area (similar to what other faiths might call a diocese).” [1] In the Mormon book, the missionary Ammon taught, “God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth…”(Alma 26:37). The modern prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said:

This Church is true. It will weather every storm that beats against it. It will outlast every critic who rises to mock it. It was established by God our Eternal Father for the blessing of His sons and daughters of all generations. It carries the name of Him who stands as its head, even the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. It is governed and moves by the power of the priesthood. It sends forth to the world another witness of the divinity of the Lord. Be faithful, my friends. Be true. Be loyal to the great things of God which have been revealed in this dispensation (“Keep the Faith,” Ensign, September 1985, 6).

I invite you to prayerfully consider this message and ask God of the veracity for yourself. I know that the current prophet (Thomas S. Monson) is led by God to guide the Church of Jesus Christ today. (See Prophets and Apostles Speak Today: Special Witnesses of Christ.) Everyone is invited to listen to him when he addresses the world during General Conference (broadcast biannually via satellite, LDS.org, and Ensign magazine publications).

Additional Resources:

What do Mormons believe? The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored

Visit the LDS Church to attend local services

See the LDS website about LDS Facts and Statistics: India

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

As technology continues to advance, making more and more tools and applications available for personal, as well as business use, the technology department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to keep pace, always introducing new and innovative ways to help members gain a better knowledge and understanding of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which in turn better equips them to share the message of the restored gospel with non-member family members, friends, and associates. The advances in technology also provides easier access to accurate, dependable, and reliable information about what the Church teaches and believes, for those who may be curious and want to do research on their own.

New Enhancements to Church Websites

Members and non-members who visit the Church websites LDS.org, Mormon.org, Newsroom, and the Mormon Channel, will notice the addition of a new tab called “Church Websites.” Fernando Camillo at LDS Tech explained that the new tab opens to showcase “some of the major church websites in one single place. The link briefly explains the purpose of each website and has quick links from each page for faster navigation” (Emily W. Jensen, for the Deseret News; “Brand new LDS Church tech tools“; 24 April 2012.)

The LDS Maps website has just been upgraded to LDS Maps 3.0 and includes a plethora of new features for easier use. LDS Tech writers Keri Marler and Tom Johnson explain that the  following new features have been added: [1]

• Single line search
• Household verifications
• “Maps 101″ overlay help
• “What’s Nearby” feature
• Improved print options
• Numerous map display options

To discover the other new features that have been added, go to LDS Maps 3.0.

New Software Updates

Latter-day Saints who have leadership positions in the Church will be pleased to know that the Member and Leader Services (MLS) software has been updated to version 3.4.3. Among other things, this new version includes: (1) updates to various Seminary and Institute reports, (2) Ward/Branch and Stake/District Organization Application forms, (3) the Bishopric Action and Interview List, (4) Home/Visiting Teaching Reporting, and (5) Membership Audit. [1] Follow this link to learn more about what has been added to the new MLS Version 3.4.3.

Technology Geared Towards the Youth

The youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are precious sons and daughters of Heavenly Father that need to be nourished by the good Word of God. There are many resources available to help teach, train, and encourage the youth of the Church. One of those resources is the new “Bedtime Stories from The Friend“, a new podcast found at iTunes consisting of audio recordings of stories from The Friend magazine.

A New Website for Those Who “Just Want to Serve”

A new website has been developed called JustServe. So far the site is only geared towards service opportunities in the Silicon Valley, California, area, but will eventually expand to other areas.

JustServe was designed as an initiative from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to bring together people who need help with those who are willing to give service. “By partnering with churches, civic organizations, non-profits and government agencies, JustServe links a person to service opportunities in his community so he can make a difference wherever he is and however he wants to do it.” [1] The organizations that are utilized are responsible for ensuring the quantity, as well as the quality of the service opportunities provided.

Once the specific needs are known, they are disseminated on JustServe or through Facebook and the individuals providing the service can go and get the job done. A person can search for current projects and quickly set up his profile to then sign up as a volunteer. The site makes it easy for anyone who is willing to just go and serve.

Technology can be a wonderful instrument when placed in the right hands and used for the right purposes. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actively engaged in making information about the Church more accessible, as well as providing the necessary tools and resources for Church members to magnify their callings, strengthen their families, and teach and preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources:

LDS Tech

Just “GO” and “SERVE“

Basic Mormon Beliefs and Real Mormons

The Mormon Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland spoke on March 20, 2012 to students of the Harvard University Law School as part of the school’s annual “Mormonism 101″ series. Elder Holland (Mormon leaders are traditionally addressed by the title, “Elder”) explained about the history and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often called “Mormons.” He then engaged in a question-and-answer session with members of the audience. Elder Holland’s remarks helped shed some light on the Church, which has received a lot of media attention lately due to the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney.

Elder Holland began his remarks by congratulating the students on their openness to discussions of religious belief. ”In the western world religion has historically been the basis of civil society as we have known it, and if I am not mistaken, men and women of the law are committed to the best—that is, the most just—civil society possible,” Elder Holland pointed out. “So thank you for taking religion seriously. You will not only be better attorneys but you will be closer to the truth in your own personal lives.”

Mormonism: The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

The origins of Mormonism were the first topic addresses by Elder Holland. Mormonism is a restoration of the original gospel established by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. Following Christ’s ascension into heaven and the deaths of the original twelve apostles, the primitive Christian Church entered a long period of confusion:

So what ensued was a millennium and a half of destroying Paul’s hope that there would be a “unity of the faith, and [a] knowledge of the Son of God, . . . that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” It is commonplace to note that in the Christian world we now see anything but “a unity of faith” or any real Christian cohesiveness that could remotely be called “the building fitly framed together”that would reaffirm “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

The Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith

By the time of Joseph Smith, who was a young man during the time of religious contention and revival during the early 1800s in the United States known as the second “Great Awakening,” huge divides of doctrine separated the different Christian sects from one another. According to Elder Holland,

This young boy-prophet lamented that his region was “a scene of great confusion and bad feeling . . . priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that [any] good feelings . . . were entirely lost in a . . . war of words and tumult of opinions.” “A war of words and tumult of opinions.” That says so much about post-New Testament Christianity.

Mormonism: Basic Beliefs

Mormons are Christians

We are not fourth-century Christians, we are not Nicene Christians, we are not creedal Christians of the brand that arose hundreds of years after Christ. No, when we speak of “restored Christianity” we speak of the Church as it was in its New Testament purity, not as it became when great councils were called to debate and anguish over what it was they really believed. So if one means Greek-influenced, council-convening, philosophy-flavored Christianity of post-apostolic times, we are not that kind of Christian. Peter we know, and Paul we know, but Constantine and Athanasius, Athens and Alexandria we do not know. (Actually, we know them, we just don’t follow them.)

Doctrinal Differences Between Mormons and More Recent Christianity

A few doctrinal differences between Mormon doctrines and post-fourth-century traditions were pointed out:

• God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are separate and distinct beings with glorified bodies of flesh and bone. As such, we stand with the historical position that “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the [New Testament].”…However, having affirmed the point of Their separate and distinct physical nature, we declare unequivocally that [God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ] were indeed “one” in every other conceivable way—in mind and deed, in will and wish and hope, in faith and purpose and intent and love. They are most assuredly much more alike than They are different in all the ways I have just said, but They are separate and distinct beings as all fathers and sons are. In this matter we differ from traditional creedal Christianity but agree with the New Testament.
• We also differ with fourth and fifth century Christianity by declaring that the scriptural canon is not closed, that the heavens are open with revelatory experience, and that God meant what He said when He promised Moses, “My works are without end, and . . . my words . . . never cease.” We believe that God loves all His children and that He would never leave them for long without the instrumentality of prophets and apostles, authorized agents of His guidance and direction.
• …we are unique in the modern Christian world regarding one matter which a prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called our “most distinguishing feature.” That is, divine priesthood authority to provide the saving sacraments—the ordinances—of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The holy priesthood, which has been restored to the earth by those who held it anciently, signals the return of divine authorization. It is different from all other man-made powers and authorities on the face of the earth. Without it there could be a church in name only, and it would be a church lacking in authority to administer in the things of God. This restoration of priesthood authority eases centuries of anguish among those who knew certain ordinances and sacraments were essential but lived with the doubt as to who had the right to administer them. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we can answer the question of “who laid hands on him” all the way back to Christ Himself. The return of such authority is truly “the most distinguishing feature” of our faith.

Of all the numbers in the Pew Research Center’s recently released survey of “Mormons in America,” the highest, most overwhelming numbers are these: 98 percent of respondents said they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 97 percent say their church is a Christian religion.

This comes on the heels of earlier surveys indicating that 32 percent of non-LDS U.S. adults say the LDS Church is not a Christian religion, and an additional 17 percent are unsure of LDS Christianity. The theological and semantic reasons for this can be complex, but for the 1,019 self-identified Mormons who participated in the Pew survey, their theological position is clear: Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, and they consider themselves to be Christian.

“Certainly in Latter-day Saint theology is this idea that if you understand who you are, you understand that there’s a purpose in life, you understand your connection to God, that certainly has an impact on how you live your life and what you do, but also how you feel about your life and what you are doing,” said Michael Purdy of the LDS Church Public Affairs office. (more…)