Fundemantal to Our Faith

^{Some times our faith is misunderstood, our faith is in Jesus Christ, our standards are high, and we strive to love all mankind. These principles were taught by Christ himself. This article is a great source of information for those who do not understand our basic beliefs.}   

Fundemantal to Our Faith
By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

We Latter-day Saints know that our doctrines and values are not widely understood by those not of our faith. This was demonstrated by Gary C. Lawrence’s nationwide study published in his recent book, How Americans View Mormonism. Three-quarters of those surveyed associated our Church with high moral standards, but about half thought we were secretive and mysterious and had “weird beliefs.”¹ When asked to select various words they thought described Latter-day Saints in general, 87 percent checked “strong family values,” 78 percent checked “honest,” and 45 percent checked “blind followers.”²

When Lawrence’s interviewers asked, “To the best of your understanding, what is the main claim of Mormonism?” only 14 percent could describe anything close to the idea of restoration or reestablishment of the original Christian faith. Similarly, when another national survey asked respondents what one word best described their impression of the Mormon religion, not one person suggested the words or ideas of original or restoration Christianity.^3more

Five Browns Play "Flight of the Bumblebee"

You Can't Change The Past...

I like this video because it shows us two things about life. First, we can't change the past, no matter how hard we try, no matter how much we want to do things differently, we can't. So often in my life I look back and wonder what I could have done differently, or the infamous "what if" comes to my mind. Its hard to look at the past and not get discouraged when we see all the bad or poor decisions we have made. But in my life, and in so many others, there has been something that has changed who we were into who we are. The second thing is Jesus Christ. It is also Jesus Christ that has changed my life, He has changed me from who I was, to who I am now, and He continues to strengthen me in who I can become. We may not be able to change the past but we can choose to change the direction in which we are going. Faith, it begins with faith, as we put our trust in God and ask for His help, we can change who we are or where we are going. It is God's plan for us to be happy, He loves us, He will strengthen us to go forward looking ahead.

Prayer

"I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I ^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My ^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!" Joseph Smith History.


This is the account of Joseph Smith. In this wonderful vision, Joseph saw God the Father, and His Son, the Beloved, Jesus Christ. This visitation was brought on by Joseph's sincere desire to know more. He desired Gods direction in which religious group he should join. In life we all come across time in which we need guidance, either from parents, friends, or even God. I am so grateful for the power of prayer, and the knowledge that my Father in heaven loves me, I have grown closer to God as I have turned to Him for guidance and help. My relationship with Him has become more than just speaking to an unknown being, as I have earnestly looked for Him in everything in this world, I have found His beautiful signature. It is my testimony that God lives, he loves each of us, and He speaks to all. It all begins with a humble prayer.

3rd article of Faith

 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe as it says in the 2Nephi 2:6,7;
  6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

  7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

 I have a firm testimony of this, that it is only in and through Jesus Christ that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ, through the atonement, not only can I be cleansed of my sins, but I will be ressurected along with everyone else. I will have an immortal body. Although we have this blessing to be saved, it does not come without something on our part. We have to be obedient to the laws  and ordinances of the gospel. We have the Ten Commandments, tithing, the word of wisdom, but what are the ordinances? The first and ordinance of the gospel is baptism, it is also requisite to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Through following Gods laws, and recieving the necessary ordinances, we can through Jesus Christ be saved, and recieve eternal life.