Incline Your Heart To God
Strive each day to find Him. Learn to love Him. And then let that love inspire you to learn, understand, and follow His teachings and learn to keep Gods commandments.
If you hesitate in this adventure because you doubt your ability, remember that discipleship is not about doing things perfectly its about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities.
Even when you fail, you can choose not to give up, but rather discover your courage, press forward, and rise up. That is the great test of the journey.
by Lisa M. | Oct 1, 2018 | AAAA Mormon Beliefs Website, Mormon Thoughts |
Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, Juliet Capulet famously asked in William Shakespeares play. Many nowadays are probably wondering the same thing about the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its other abbreviations and nicknames. Why does it matter if you use The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church or the LDS Church? They are all the sameand the Church by any other name is still the same organization, right?
But President Russell M. Nelson and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who are the governing body of said Church, feel the need to clarify. President Nelson said in a statement,
Are All Mormons Latter
Avoid using the abbreviation LDS or the nickname Mormon as substitutes for the churchs name, as in Mormon Church, LDS Church or Church of the Latter day Saints. Refer to members as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints or Latter day Saints, not Mormons.
How Do Members Practise Their Faith
There are two main types of ordinances performed in the church. Those necessary for exaltation , also called saving ordinances. These include:
- Conferral of the Melchizedek priesthood
- Temple endowment
There are also ordinances for guidance and comfort, including:
- Naming and blessing of children
- Administering to the sick
- Various types of blessings
- The dedication of graves
Temple endowment and marriage are the most significant ordinances, necessary for eternal life. Endowment is an initiation ceremony in which members make pledges called covenants affirming those made in baptism. The ceremony is preceded with washing and anointing, and afterwards, members receive their white temple undergarments.
Temple marriage is a ritual that seals in heaven relationships formed on earth, principally a man and a woman in marriage, all children born and unborn, and any they adopt, for eternity.
Proxy ordinances can also be performed on behalf of members dead ancestors, thus offering them the chance of salvation and the opportunity to be sealed in the family unit in the spirit world. The church provides genealogy services for this reason but also for the public.
Sunday is the Sabbath day for the church and members attend the sacrament meeting. Baptised members receive bread and water in remembrance of the Last Supper. Sunday services take place in churches, not temples. The services and churches are open to the public temples are not.
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What Is The Difference Between The Mormons And The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints
What Is the difference between the Mormons and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
Heres the best part. There isnt! How you ask? They are the same people. The name Mormon is only a nickname and was given to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when it was restored in the 1830s. This nickname was used, until recently, to refer to our church and its members, by non-members and members alike.
In both biblical and modern times, Jesus Christ has organized and established his church. Given that Christ is the head of the church and his sacrifice is central to its teachings, he himself commanded:
6) And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
7) Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name therefore ye shall call the church in my name and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.
8) And how be it mychurch save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses name then it be Moses church or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.1
If Jesus revealed how his church should be called, then where does the nickname Mormon come from?
What Is The Book Of Mormon
The Book of Mormon tells the history of an ancient Hebrew tribe led by a man named Lehi who, the text claims, traveled to North America with his large family some 600 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
Lehi bequeathed the tribe to his youngest son Nephi, much to his brother Laman’s disapproval, and upon their father’s death the two formed rival clans: the Nephites and the Lamanites.
The Book of Mormon claims that following his resurrection, Jesus Christ traveled to North America to visit the two clans to share his new gospel, and urged them to work together.
According to Krakauer, the two clans worked together for several hundred years but then a rift led to a full-blown war between them in which the Lamanites slaughtered the 230,000 Nephites, including their leader Mormon.
The Book of Mormon claimed the Lamanites were ancestors of Native Americans, who lost memory of their heritage. Krakauer explained that modern DNA analysis has since disproven this claim.
Mormon’s son Moroni recounted the last chapter of The Book of Mormon, and later became the same angel to visit Smith and tell him of the location of the ancient gold plate text.
Under the Banner of Heaven airs Thursdays on Hulu.
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Whats In A Name Why We Are The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
by Lisa M. | Oct 1, 2018 | AAAA Mormon Beliefs Website, Mormon Thoughts |
Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, Juliet Capulet famously asked in William Shakespeares play. Many nowadays are probably wondering the same thing about the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its other abbreviations and nicknames. Why does it matter if you use The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church or the LDS Church? They are all the sameand the Church by any other name is still the same organization, right?
But President Russell M. Nelson and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who are the governing body of said Church, feel the need to clarify. President Nelson said in a statement,
The Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have work before us to bring ourselves in harmony with His will. In recent weeks, various Church leaders and departments have initiated the necessary steps to do so.
Thus, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is launching a major effort to use the full and proper names of the Church rather than nicknames or abbreviations. This will be no small task, especially given the popular Im a Mormon campaign, the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the sites mormon.org and mormonnewsroom.org. How will the Church enact these changes? I dont know. Well have to wait and see.
Myth : Mormons Can’t Drink Caffeinated Beverages
Faithful Mormons do their best to live by a set of health and lifestyle rules known as the Word of Wisdom. The original Word of Wisdom was a revelation given to Joseph Smithin 1833 after he prayed about the use of tobacco among church members. The answer Smith received was that men and women should not only avoid tobacco, but also alcohol and “hot drinks,” which were interpreted as coffee and tea. Meat was also to be eaten “sparingly,” only in times of winter and famine, and then always with thanksgiving.
In the original revelation, the Word of Wisdom was less a rule than a “principle with promise” the promise being physical health, wisdom and knowledge to those who follow its guidelines.
“For much of the first decades of the church, the Word of Wisdom was considered good advice, something that good saints might do who wanted the promises in the revelation,” says Bowman. “But there are instances of members not following it, in part because it wasn’t seen as a formal commandment or injunction. The first wagon train that left for Salt Lake City carried coffee with it.”
In the early 20th century, as polygamy ended, Bowman says that the Word of Wisdom took on a new significance as a way of maintaining social boundaries between the Latter-day Saints and outsiders. Eventually, adherence to the Word of Wisdom’s injunctions against alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea became a prerequisite for full activity in the Church.
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The Modern Format: The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
By the beginning of the 20th century, many Latter-day Saints self-identified using the terms âMormonâ and âLDS.â The terms âMormon Churchâ and âLDS Churchâ subsequently came into vogue and were frequently used by both leaders, members, and nonmembers. In the 1960s and 1970s, Church leaders began to emphasize the use of the Churchâs revealed name or the short title âChurch of Jesus Christâ over these other nicknames.14 In 2001, the First Presidency reiterated the importance of using the Churchâs revealed name as a part of âour responsibility to proclaim the name of the Savior throughout all the world.â15 In 2018, President Russell M. Nelson led a review of the use and format of the name across all Church organizations and departments and invited Latter-day Saints and the general public to remember the correct name when referencing the Church and its members.16
Church Resources
Do Latter Day Saints Believe In Polygamy
Polygamy or more correctly polygyny, the marriage of more than one woman to the same man was an important part of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a half-century. … Today, the practice of polygamy is strictly prohibited in the Church, as it has been for over 120 years.
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Here Are 6 Reasons To Call The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
The Salt Lake Temple reflects in the reflection pool in Salt Lake City on Jan. 3, 2018.
The Salt Lake Temple reflects in the reflection pool in Salt Lake City on Jan. 3, 2018.
President Russell M. Nelson salutes conferencegoers following the Saturday morning session of the LDS Churchs 188th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
President Russell M. Nelson speaks during the General Priesthood session of the 188th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
President Gordon B. Hinckley was president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 to 2008.
The Foundation Of The Gospel
The name of the Church lays the foundation for talking about what the gospel isthe doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson said,
Jesus Himself defined that doctrine in these words recorded in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ:
This is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
And whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them .
This is our message, the rock upon which we build, the foundation of everything else in the Church. Like all that comes from God, this doctrine is pure, it is clear, it is easy to understandeven for a child. With glad hearts, we invite all to receive it.
Thus, it is The Church of Jesus Christ.
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Mormons On The Margins
Steve Evans, a 46-year-old attorney who helps run the Mormon website By Common Consent, said many fellow Latter-day Saints are energized by Nelsons revelations.
People feel like this is very dynamic time in the church, he said, and when you have a president who speaks openly about being led by God, that is very exciting. You feel like you have a purpose and that things are going in a positive direction.
But Evans also said that Nelsons revelations raise certain tensions in the church. When a president calls his decision Gods will, that essentially ends any argument. Other Mormons revelations are often, if not always, expected to align with his priorities.
That top-down style can lead to polarization within the church, particularly among millennials who take a more DIY approach to spirituality, said Mica McGriggs, a psychologist and community activist in New York City.
You see more and more young people saying, You cant just tell me the answers. I have to figure them out for myself, said McGriggs.
Whats more, its hard to be a prophet in the age of the iPhone, when any statement can be fact-checked in real time.
And while orthodox Mormons feel blessed to have a strong figure heading the church, McGriggs said, Mormons on the margins are more wary.
Theres this middle ground where less orthodox members are living, McGriggs said. And its like the church is drawing a line in the sand, youre either on the Lords side or you are not.
What Are The Main Mormon Beliefs
These key elements of the faith include belief in God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit belief in modern prophets and continuing revelation belief that through Christ’s atonement all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of Christ’s Gospel belief in the importance of …
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Mormonism Came Out Of A Movement From Joseph Smith
Reports indicate that at 14 years old, Joseph Smith was confused about religion and went to the woods to pray. In 1823, Joseph Smith said the angel Moroni visited him. The angel told him about an ancient record that detailed Gods work with the former inhabitants of America. Smith said he found those records and translated them into what would become the Book of Mormon. In 1830, he organized the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became its first president. He is believed by the church to be a prophet.
He is credited with establishing thriving cities in Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri, and also with growing the church from just six members to some 26,000. He also helped organize the building of church temples. However, he was persecuted by those who opposed him and was killed by a mob in 1844.
The Rise Of The Liberal Latter
correction
An earlier version of this article misstated the number of Latter-day Saints in the United States and around the world. The article has been corrected.
correction
Also, an anonymous quote about views on gay rights among Latter-day Saints was transcribed incorrectly.
In August, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the religion colloquially known as Mormonism, issued a statement to its 16.6 million adherents around the globe: We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses, wrote Russell M. Nelson, the churchs president, along with the two most senior apostles. e urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated.
To Lisa Mosman, a 59-year-old Latter-day Saint who drives a Subaru covered in anti-Trump bumper stickers around her neighborhood in Orem, Utah, the statement was a welcome surprise. Its actually kind of brave, because its going to p— off a bunch of people that they normally dont p— off, she told me.
In terms of its handling of social issues, the Idaho campus is often described as 20 to 30 years behind Utah. And yet even here, there are members who are asking big, tough questions about identity, belonging and faith both of their church and of themselves.
Emily Kaplan is a writer in New York.
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