The Mormon Way (an LDS perspective)

Why Mormon Temples

2009-03-13T14:39:00.001-07:00

The Book of Mormon Part II

2008-10-16T14:53:00.004-07:00

So now everyone should have a pretty good idea about the origins of the Book of Mormon and roughly what the book contains. So, how did we get it today?

Good Question. In the Spring of 1820 in Upstate New York, a 14 year old farm boy prayed to God to ask which church he should join. In response to that prayer God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the boy and called him by name to be a prophet. That young 14 year old boy was Joseph Smith. Three years later a heavenly messenger appeared to Joseph in response to one of his prayers. The messenger introduced himself as Moroni, and informed Joseph Smith about an ancient record that was deposited in the earth on the side of a nearby hill.

The following day, Joseph went to the location and was again greeted by this heavenly messenger Moroni. There Joseph was informed that Moroni was the last prophet to personally write in the record and that the day would soon come when Joseph would be given possession of the plates in order to translate them, but that time was not now. Joseph was to return to the same spot each year for more instruction. Finally after four years of meetings it was time for Joseph to take the plates. On September 22, 1827, Joseph Smith retrieved the plates from Moroni (the same ancient prophet who deposited them in the earth).

According to Smith the plates were six inches wide and eight inches long. He also stated that each individual plate was roughly the thickness of common tin. Joseph Smith stated that the plates had “the appearance of gold”. He was wise in his choice of words as it was never meant to suggest that the plates were made of pure gold. Many critics have argued that a book of plates made of pure gold, with the given dimensions would have weighed upward of 140 lbs. This would have made it very unlikely that Joseph, or almost anyone else for that matter, could have lifted the plates under one arm and ran through the woods as Joseph claimed to do when he retrieved them and first brought them home. Since the plates had the “appearance of gold” it is very possible and quite likely that the plates were made of some mixture of metals. According to the testimonies of Joseph’s close friends and family the plates weighed an estimated 30-60 lbs. This weight would pose little trouble for a young man of large stature, as Joseph Smith was, to carry under one arm and run with.

So far we have talked about what the Book of Mormon is, it’s origins, and how Joseph Smith came into possession of it. Next time I will discuss the translation of the plates and where the plates are now. As you can tell, I am merely scratching the surface on this topic and for more in depth analysis I encourage you to read the accounts of Joseph Smith, his family and his friends. Links to excerpts and titles of books written about this subject can be found at lds.org and deseretbook.com.

What is the Book of Mormon?

2008-09-08T16:08:00.004-07:00

On the surface this appears to be an easy and relatively straight forward question. The simple answer is – The Book of Mormon is a record of God’s dealings with a group of people in ancient days. In that respect the Book of Mormon is similar to the Bible. The Bible is also a record of God’s dealings with a group of people in ancient days. Perhaps it is that similarity that leads some people to falsely believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the Book of Mormon to replace the Bible. Let it be said here and now, as clear as I have the capabilities to be, there is NO replacement for the Bible.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members regard both the Bible and the Book of Mormon as the word of God. I will attempt to cover this topic well but in no way proceed to claim this as all inclusive or complete. I will use multiple posts to cover this topic and hopefully inspire questions from the readers that I can address along the way. This first post is an effort only to establish the subject as a topic to cover. I invite all contributors to post their comments, thoughts, and references in conjunction with my own. While I will use quotations and scriptures throughout my argument, my best efforts will be made to present the material in my own words using my personal understanding and beliefs.

So back to the original question; what is the Book of Mormon? Since we know that it is a record, where did the record come from? How did we get the book today? Where is the original record? And what proof is supplied to verify the validity of the record? I will go into detail about all of these questions for they all play a part in answering what the Book of Mormon is.

The Book begins with the writings of a man named Nephi, who lived in Jerusalem around 600b.c. He starts by telling the abridged story of his father Lehi, who was called of God to be a prophet. Remember that prophets are men who have been called by and speak for God. They lead and guide God's children here on the earth. They denounce sin and teach righteousness. They are a witness of Jesus Christ. They bear testimony of the truth of Christ's teachings. (see earlier post “Who is a Prophet 23 July 2008) The record was kept on thin plates of metal. Due to the difficulty in etching the writings and the limited space on the thin metal plates, the contributors kept the record written using a reformed Egyptian set of hieroglyphics. This should not be alarming as nations who were once captives of another adopt many things from their captors and then change them to better fit their culture.
So Nephi begins the record and sets the precedent by writing down and relaying the commandment given him that the record should be past down from generation to generation. The original plates that Nephi fashioned with his own hands were not enough to contain all the writings of this people. So other plates were made, as needed, by the prophets who received the records handed down from generation to generation. All in all, there were piles of records made and past down through the generations. One of the last prophets to be entrusted with the set of records was named Mormon. It was his charge to search all the records in his possession and to compile only the most important parts, as deemed through the Spirit of God, into one record. This compilation he made was on thin plates of gold. Gold was used so as not to deteriorate over time. Because Mormon did the work of compiling the record together, the name of this compilation is justly titled, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

The Word of Wisdom Part II

2008-08-15T06:51:00.002-07:00

The Word of Wisdom can be difficult to follow at times. At some time or another, we have all probably fallen short in living the Word of Wisdom. This post will address a few of the common areas where many fall short.

Two common areas where people fall short are using tobacco and alcohol. These are addictive drugs which harm the body. This is one perfect example of the evils and designs of men that the Word of Wisdom talks about. These drugs are harmful to the body, but once used for any reason, including curiosity, can lead to devastating effects. These are not for us; they are addictive and destructive and that is by design of evil conspiring men. This part of the Word of Wisdom may be difficult to live because of the addictive nature of these drugs.

Another area that many find difficult is avoiding “hot drinks.” In the church as a whole, this is commonly understood to mean coffee, black tea, and green tea. These drinks can be addictive and many find them necessary to get through the day. Because of addiction, these drinks can be a problem.

Another area that many have problems in living the Word of Wisdom is eating healthy in general. This might include not enough grains, fruits, or vegetables. It may also mean too much meat and other unhealthy habits.

Grains, fruits, and vegetables should be eaten often, regularly, and as a majority of one’s diet. Meat should be eaten sparingly and only in times of winter, famine, or excess hunger. Sometimes these are difficult guidelines to follow. In our American society, meals have been planned around and treat meat as the staple of the meal. This is cultural. Meat is easily obtained and satisfies hunger. I would venture to say that most who have difficulty following these guidelines find it difficult because of their culture. Meat is not addictive like some other substances. It is even stated in the Word of Wisdom that we can eat meat. However, a change of understanding and attitude is needed to follow these guidelines more completely.

Many find these guidelines difficult to follow due to lack of understanding and societal acceptance. Unlike smoking and drinking, which the rest of the world understands to be unhealthy, eating meat and fewer grains and vegetables is the norm and is accepted. There are often diets that even put an emphasis on eating more meat and fewer grains, vegetables, and fruits. Such diets are in direct contradiction to the Word of Wisdom. Because eating this way is so accepted, it is often given less thought by those trying to live by the Word of Wisdom. What is needed to more closely follow the Word of Wisdom is understanding and a willingness to live by its precepts more closely; a realization that there is more to the Word of Wisdom than abstaining from tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.

If we try to understand the Word of Wisdom and live by all of its guidelines, we will find more health and increased blessings. Like all teachings, there are different levels of understanding in the Word of Wisdom. Understanding comes line upon line and precept upon precept.

As we more fully understand the Word of Wisdom, our habits will change and we will follow it more closely. For some the next step is to quit tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. For others the next step is eating more grains, fruits, and vegetables and eating meat only in times of winter, famine, or excess hunger. We can each grow in our adherence to the Word of Wisdom and as we do so, we will each be blessed.

The Word of Wisdom Part I

2008-08-05T08:13:00.004-07:00

The Word of Wisdom is a revelation which was given by the Lord to Joseph Smith in February of 1833. The Word of Wisdom is a health law given by the Lord for the health and benefit of His children and is found in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This revelation can be broken into four distinct parts.

The first part, verses 1-4, introduces the Word of Wisdom and why it was given. The Lord tells us that it was given to all saints and on a level that all saints could obey it. The Lord has told us that He has given us the Word of Wisdom by way of warning “In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:4).

The second part, verses 5-9, is warning or direction on what to avoid. Generally speaking, the Word of Wisdom teaches us to avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, tobacco, and drugs.

The third part, verses 10-17, is direction on what we should eat. Grains, fruits, and vegetables are to be eaten regularly and in thanksgiving. Meat, in all its varieties, is to be eaten sparingly and only in times of famine, winter, or “excess hunger” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:15).

The fourth part, verses 18-21, is a promise. The Lord promises us that if we live the Word of Wisdom we will be blessed with health, wisdom, and knowledge. The Lord also promises us that by living the Word of Wisdom “the destroying angel shall pass by them [us], as the children of Israel, and not slay them” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:21).

President Hinckley, the 15th president of the church, stated in October of 1990, “The Word of Wisdom came to us from the God of Heaven, for our blessing.” In October of 1993 he said, “I thank the Lord for a testimony of the Word of Wisdom. . . The promise is before us that if we will do so [live the Word of Wisdom], we shall receive health in the navel and marrow in the bones and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures, and shall run and not be weary and shall walk and not faint, and the destroying angel shall pass by us as the children of Israel and not slay us.”

While most saints try to live the Word of Wisdom, many of us fall short. The Word of Wisdom is truly of the Lord. How amazing it is that the Lord taught the saints in 1833 what the world has come to know years later. How loving our Father is who wants us to be healthy and happy. I know that by living the precepts taught in the Word of Wisdom, that we will be blessed as the Lord has promised.

Who is a Prophet

2008-07-23T11:58:00.003-07:00

"A Prophet is a man who has been called by and speaks for God." He leads and guides God's children here on the earth. He denounces sin and teaches rightousness. He is a witness of Jesus Christ. He bears testimony of the truth of Christ's teachings.

As there were prophets of old as found in the Bible like, Moses, Abraham, and Noah. Today there are Prophets and Apostles. They have been called by the Lord to be such.

In Amos 3:7 it reads, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

The Lord has actually called prophets in these days and has given them authority to act in his name. The current prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is President Thomas S. Monson. To learn more go to www.mormons.org.

LDS News

2008-07-22T09:21:00.002-07:00

Are Mormon's Christian?

2008-07-21T14:14:00.005-07:00

The short answer is yes. Below is a description of Christianity as provided by the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Christianity

Religion stemming from the teachings of Jesus in the 1st century AD. Its sacred scripture is the Bible, particularly the New Testament. Its principal tenets are that Jesus is the Son of God, that God's love for the world is the essential component of his being, and that Jesus died to redeem humankind. Christianity was originally a movement of Jews who accepted Jesus as the messiah, but the movement quickly became predominantly Gentile. The early church was shaped by St. Paul and other Christian missionaries and theologians; it was persecuted under the Roman Empire but supported by Constantine I, the first Christian emperor. In medieval and early modern Europe, Christian thinkers such as St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther contributed to the growth of Christian theology, and beginning in the 15th century missionaries spread the faith throughout much of the world. The major divisions of Christianity are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Nearly all Christian churches have an ordained clergy, members of which are typically though not universally male. Members of the clergy lead group worship services and are viewed as intermediaries between the laity and the divine in some churches. Most Christian churches administer two sacraments, baptism and the Eucharist. In the early 21st century there were more than two billion adherents of Christianity throughout the world, found on all continents.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as 'Mormons', follow a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the holy scriptures. Mormons' believe and accept Christ as their Savior. They believe that Christ lived in Jerusalem, taught his gospel and called prophets and apostles to preach his message to the world, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. Mormons' attest to the fact that Jesus atoned for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, died on the cross at Calvary, was laid to rest in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and on the third day rose again, He being the first fruits of the resurrection. Christ overcame death and as the scriptures say "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22.

Mormons' worship God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. To them these three are distinct and separate personages. There are no other Gods to which the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints worship.
There exist prophets and apostles in the LDS church. The organization is patterned in the manner Jesus set during his mortal ministry consisting of Twelve Apostles, Quorums of 70, Bishops, Priests, High Priests, Elders, Teachers, and Deacons. See Mark 3:14, Luke 6:13, Luke 11: 49, John 15:16, Acts 1:22, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 2:20, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 2:7

Just as God led his church anciently through revelation to a prophet, the same is done today. The scriptures make clear that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Hebrews 13:8
Mormons' are indeed Christians in the truest sense of the word. They love, follow, worship, and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, their Redeemer, their Mediator to the Father. He is Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God; He is the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, Lord of the New Testament, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He is the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. He is the Lamb of God.

If you would like more information or have a question you would like answered about the Mormon faith please post a comment or send an email to themormonway@gmail.com