Megan – Page 2 – What Do Mormons Believe?

Programs of the Church: Sunday Meetings

chapel So, who’d like to know what a typical LDS church meeting is like? Anyone is welcome to attend their local LDS congregation and find out for themselves, but I’m sure there are plenty of people who would like to know what to expect before they enter the building.

First of all, what should you wear? Well, dress for success, my friends. While you’d be welcome regardless of your attire, you’d stick out if you showed up in, for example, jeans and a t-shirt. Mormons believe that wearing “Sunday best” shows respect to the Lord. For women, this means either a dress or a skirt and blouse. For men, a suit or nice slacks, white shirt and a tie is appropriate. I’ve personally found that the clothes I wear affect my behavior. Being a little more dressed up serves as a good reminder of a more reverent and respectful attitude. However, if your best clothes happen to be jeans and a T-shirt, don’t hesitate to come anyway: sometimes a financial situation may be keeping someone from having a semi-formal wardrobe. Remember “the lord looketh on the heart“.

Now that you look respectable, what else should you know? Be prepared: LDS church meetings are three hours long. Three awesome hours of uplifting gospel instruction, but three hours nonetheless. (If you can only attend for one of those hours, that’s fine – come anyway!) So, what exactly happens during those three hours?

Well, each hour is a separate meeting and sometimes the schedule is arranged differently but usually the first of the three meetings is the Sacrament meeting. The congregation gathers in the chapel, preferably a bit early so you can have some quiet time and enjoy the prelude music. Now, let me introduce some basic terminology. The congregation is known as a “ward”. The men who lead the ward consist of the bishop and his two counselors, also known as the “bishopric”. When church commences, the conducting member of the bishopric begins the meeting by welcoming everyone and announcing what’s coming up next: who will give the opening prayer, what hymn we’ll sing, and so on. (This information can also be found in the program that is usually handed out at the door to the chapel on your way in.) We’ll have ward business, which includes calling and releasing various members of the congregation.

Let me explain something here that I know has been mentioned in other articles. The LDS church does not have a paid clergy. The Bishop, his counselors, the brother or sister passing out the program, the organist, the conductor: everyone is “called” to a position and chooses to volunteer his or her time fulfilling that calling to support and contribute to the benefit of the entire ward (1 Corinthians 12:15-30). Everyone in the ward gets the opportunity to sustain the brothers and sisters to these callings and thank those who are released from a given position.

sacrament_pass After the ward business is concluded, we’ll sing a sacrament hymn and have the blessing and passing of the sacrament. You shouldn’t be alarmed to find that we use water instead of wine, since Mormons don’t drink wine. The bread and water are symbolic of Jesus Christ’s flesh and blood, and it makes no difference what medium is used for that symbolism. (see D&C 27:2)

After the sacrament, we’ll get to hear from a few members of the congregation who have been asked by the bishopric to speak on a given topic. After listening to their addresses, we’ll sing another hymn and have a concluding prayer. Then we’ll separate for the next hours’ meetings.

For most of the adults in the ward this second hour will be Sunday School. The lessons are taught from the book of scripture we’re studying for the year, which rotates between the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants. You can often find alternative Sunday School meetings which address more specialized topics, such as family history, marriage & family, temple preparation, etc. One class, Gospel Essentials, is for new members and investigators (i.e. people who are investigating the Church — perhaps someone like you). It covers all the basic principles of the gospel.

For the third hour the adults separate into the Priesthood (men) and Relief Society (women) meetings, where we study the teachings of the various presidents of our church. This year we are studying the teachings of Joseph Smith.

Children are usually plentiful in LDS meetings, so don’t be surprised to see a number of babies, toddlers, and assorted aged young ‘uns in Sacrament meeting. For the second and third hour, children and youth (18 months to 18 years of age) attend their own age appropriate classes.

So you see, we’ve got all the bases covered here. There’s something for everyone. I’d be willing to bet you’ll find many smiling, welcoming faces as well, so don’t be intimidated. Now go find out for yourself what the church meetings are like. The Spirit you’ll feel when you attend is special. I could try to describe it, but it’s one of those things that’s really best experienced first-hand.

To find an LDS meetinghouse in your area click here.

What if a married couple does not want children?

more-isaiah-linnea-bday-2008-078 Q.What if a married couple does not want children?

Before I get into that, I’d like to reiterate a bit why Mormons do have children and the importance that is placed on the family.

As is stated in The Family: A Proclamation to the World: “We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.” I think that speaks for itself: Mormons believe that it is God’s will that we have children.

Children are a blessing. They are such a source of joy. Parenting is, by no means an easy task. And when my toddlers are screaming and fighting each other while the baby’s crying to be fed and dinner’s on the stove and the phone is ringing, I would say that no high-powered CEO has higher stress levels! But it is a challenge with wondrously rich rewards. Children help teach us humility and selflessness. In teaching our children to come to Christ, we become more sure of our own testimonies. If you don’t have children of your own, I don’t think you can truly understand the profound depth of the emotion of looking into your newborn’s face and seeing that first smile or hearing your sweet, innocent toddler come tell you “I love you”. Seeing your children making good decisions and knowing that you’re doing an okay job raising them is so fulfilling and rewarding. I have to be honest, I don’t really understand why anyone wouldn’t want these blessings.

However, not everyone in the world is like me. Variety truly is the spice of life and there are those who don’t wish to have children. For some, it may be an issue of feeling inadequate and being intimidated by the idea of parenting. For others it may be balking at the sacrifice of time and money that raising children requires. I don’t know all the reasons why but I know that children will bless your life. I know that God will help those who feel inadequate rise to the task. I would never suggest that a couple have children when they’re not prepared for parenting to some degree, even if most of that preparation is simply the desire to be good parents. Remember that God can change a heart that is willing to submit to His will. He can prepare a couple for parenting and foster in them a desire to be good parents just as He can work other miracles.

A couple who doesn’t want children will not be scorned in the Church. Everyone is entitled to their choices. The choice to have children and how many to have are ultimately decisions solely between the couple and God. But remember, it is God’s will that we multiply and fill the earth. And those who, for selfish reasons, do not desire to have children would do well to remember the rich man who came to Christ and was told to sacrifice all his riches: Christ requires sacrifice and selflessness of those who would call themselves His followers. I would encourage couples to remember this, and pray for the Lord’s direction and guidance in this personal matter. He will help you sacrifice and come to Him.

Indeed, I think that part of the blessing parenting affords is a closer relationship with the Lord as we learn to rely on His guidance and direction to bring our children up in righteousness. We also come to understand to some minute degree His position as Father of us all.

Marriage: Between a man and a woman

If you’re anywhere near the state of California, and maybe even if you’re not, you probably recognize this hot topic: Proposition 8, establishing the legal definition of marriage.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made its position on this issue very clear. In fact, the Church has held a strong stance on this point for many years, even before it became an issue in the courts of our country. In 1995, the Church issued The Family: A Proclamation to the World as its official position emphasizing the importance of the family as the basic unit of society and its role in God’s plan.

God has ordained marriage between a man and a woman. This is a central part of God’s plan for his children. The First Presidency has explained how closely marriage and procreation go together: “Marriage is not primarily a contract between individuals to ratify their affections and provide for mutual obligations. Rather, marriage and family are vital instruments for rearing children and teaching them to become responsible adults.” (The Divine Institution of Marriage) Obviously, a couple does not have to be married to employ their procreative powers, but it is much more preferable that children be born to parents who have made a commitment to one another and are thus more likely to raise their children within the loving circle of a stable family. And of course, there are couples who marry who do not have children. But, it is the Lord’s will that children be born into families, with a mother and a father united in the bonds of matrimony.

The government traditionally recognizes marriages not because two people love each other but because, in most cases, they become a family (see article by Adam Kolasinski for more information). Were love the only issue, would we extend the same benefits to every boyfriend and girlfriend? The best environment for children to grow is one in which they have both a mother and a father, with their inherent differences that complement one another. Of course there are single parents out there, but I emphasize that a child’s emotional, physical, and psychological needs are best met when they are raised by a loving mother and a responsible father. As a society, we should not encourage or foster anything but the best environment possible for our posterity.

Church leadership encourages voters to be active in politics, but does not advocate one party above another. We believe strongly that everyone can and should make an informed decision for themselves. I believe the Church supports Proposition 8 for a number of reasons, one of which is the protection of freedom of religion for those churches that do not believe the legal definition should be expanded to included same-sex marriages.

If the government recognizes same-sex marriages, churches which believe such marriages are not ordained of God could well lose their tax-exempt status. Furthermore, if a church or its minister believes homosexual marriages are wrong and refuse on that basis to perform same-sex marriages, it is likely that they would be subject to lawsuits alleging discrimination. Isn’t it the right of every U.S. citizen to exercise their freedom of religion? We feel that it is our right to recognize marriage according to our doctrine, and don’t want the government to have power to interfere with that right. Legally, failing to pass Proposition 8 has huge consequences.

The social consequences would be even more widely felt, as it’s almost inevitable that homosexuality would be added to elementary school sexual education curricula, as has been done in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Many people believe such actions involve much more than just sexual education or teaching children about socially acceptable types of family relationships. These matters are also part of religious beliefs and, yes, family values. Are we really ready to allow our government to refuse to allow parents the right to decide what their children should learn about these issues, or when their children are mature enough and have the prior understanding necessary for such information to be presented to them?

For those who argue this is a hugely intolerant position to take, let me emphasize that Proposition 8 is not an offensive measure: it’s a defensive measure. It is not intended to root out an evil in our society, but to defend the divinely established institution of the family from being politically disenfranchised. Passing Proposition 8 is not going to strip away rights from homosexuals, who are still allowed the rights of civil unions and domestic partnerships. I’d also like to share a quote from dallin-h-oaks Elder Dallin H. Oaks, one of the twelve apostles, regarding tolerance. He says,

“Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination.”

You see, being tolerant and holding certain standards are not mutually exclusive of one another. We do not want to be misunderstood here: the gospel message is one of unconditional love. But we claim the right to remain a people who stand for values that we believe to be right and consistent with God’s will.

There are numerous economic, financial and legal reasons to support the traditional family, but I do not want to stray from the purpose of this blog (providing information about Mormonism to non-members) and turn it into a political arena. Rather, I feel that this is a strong stance taken by the Church because it pertains to our doctrine. The family and its inherent nature are a core part of our beliefs. I hope that this article clarifies our position and reasoning.

It is our duty as citizens to tell our government what our standards are and determine what our society accepts. We live in a republic where the will of the people is carried out by their elected representatives. If most people in California want to protect the definition of marriage in their state then it ought to be upheld. A handful of judges do not have that right. If you live in California, be sure to register to vote and protect the traditional family. Encourage friends and family in California to do the same.

Resources for this topic:
preservingmarriage.org
protectmarriage.com
The Divine Institution of Marriage
The Secular Case Against Gay Marriage

Testimony: How can you really know?

girlpraying I gained my first witness that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true at a very young age. I was about three or four years old and one night as I was lying in bed, my mind started wandering and speculating and the thought occurred to me, “What if my parents and church leaders are wrong? What if there really is no life after death? What then? What if they’re just mistaken?” The response was immediate. No sooner had I begun to mull over this possibility than I felt an overwhelming sense of peace engulf me. I felt the reassurance of the Holy Ghost testifying to me that I needn’t worry about such a possibility because such is simply not the case. My parents and teachers are correct, there is a life after death and Christ is the Savior of all mankind. Since that time, my testimony has gone through numerous fluctuations as it has grown and developed, but its essence remains the same. I know of the truthfulness of the restored gospel.

Some may find my story remarkable or unbelievable. How could a child think such adult thoughts? More importantly, how could a child come to such a conclusion as I did? Some may scoff in disbelief that one can really know such things. I’d like to share another story. This is told by Elder Boyd K. Packer, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He says:

“I will tell you of an experience I had before I was a General Authority which affected me profoundly. I sat on a plane next to a professed atheist who pressed his disbelief in God so urgently that I bore my testimony to him. “You are wrong,” I said, “there is a God. I know He lives!”

He protested, “You don’t know. Nobody knows that! You can’t know it!” When I would not yield, the atheist, who was an attorney, asked perhaps the ultimate question on the subject of testimony. “All right,” he said in a sneering, condescending way, “you say you know. Tell me how you know.”

When I attempted to answer, even though I held advanced academic degrees, I was helpless to communicate. . . .

When I used the words Spirit and witness, the atheist responded, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” The words prayer, discernment, and faith, were equally meaningless to him. “You see,” he said, “you don’t really know. If you did, you would be able to tell me how you know” . . . .

Such an idea came into my mind and I said to the atheist, “Let me ask if you know what salt tastes like.”

“Of course I do,” was his reply.

“When did you taste salt last?” Do you know what salt tastes like?

“I just had dinner on the plane.”

“You just think you know what salt tastes like,” I said.

He insisted, “I know what salt tastes like as well as I know anything.”

“If I gave you a cup of salt and a cup of sugar and let you taste them both, could you tell the salt from the sugar?”

“Now you are getting juvenile,” was his reply. “Of course I could tell the difference. I know what salt tastes like. It is an everyday experience—I know it as well as I know anything.”

“Then,” I said, “assuming that I have never tasted salt, explain to me just what it tastes like.”

After some thought, he ventured, “Well-I-uh, it is not sweet and it is not sour.”

“You’ve told me what it isn’t, not what it is.”

After several attempts, of course, he could not do it. He could not convey, in words alone, so ordinary an experience as tasting salt. I bore testimony to him once again and said, “I know there is a God. You ridiculed that testimony and said that if I did know, I would be able to tell you exactly how I know. My friend, spiritually speaking, I have tasted salt. I am no more able to convey to you in words how this knowledge has come than you are to tell me what salt tastes like. But I say to you again, there is a God! He does live! And just because you don’t know, don’t try to tell me that I don’t know, for I do!”

The Holy Ghost testifies of the truth of the gospel. The Holy Ghost can be recognized a number of ways, but let me highlight a few references from the Doctrine and Covenants.

Section 6: 22-23 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?”

8:2 reads, “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.”

And Section 9 verses 7-8 explain, “Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”

scriptures

Everyone can know these things. If you earnestly desire to gain a testimony, be it of the Book of Mormon, the Restoration or whether the current prophetic counsel really applies to you personally, take the matter to the Lord in prayer. I know from my own experiences that God answers prayers. The Holy Ghost does testify of Truth. If you truly want to know, then study, ponder, research and pray in faith; act on that faith; believe that you will receive an answer to your prayer. It may be immediate or it may take years for you to realize that you have received a confirmation and a testimony, but your answer will come.

Repentance Before Baptism

Q. I am a non member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but looking into it. What is the belief Mormons have on becoming a member of the church: do you have to repent before you are baptized?

Yes, you do. The fourth article of faith states, “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Note that repentance is listed before baptism, although repentance must also be an ongoing, life-long process. Baptism itself is a sign that we have repented. It is a covenant that signifies that we have turned our lives around to become disciples of Christ.

dietaufe Individuals investigating the Church are taught by full-time missionaries the commandments God sets forth for his people. With that knowledge, they can begin a life of obedience to these commandments, which begins with repentance. When investigators repent and make changes to their lives, they show that they are ready to enter into the baptismal covenant with the Lord.

In Doctrine & Covenants 20:37 we read,

“And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.”

For further reference, see also the conversion of people in the Book of Mormon as described in Moroni 6.

The missionaries play a very important role in this entire process. Not only are they teachers, but they are guides in helping people to repent. Repentance involves more than changing one’s actions: an individual must plead with God in prayer for forgiveness and strength. The missionaries help with that as well: by directing, encouraging and supporting.

I would like to encourage anyone who needs help with repentance to contact the missionaries serving in your area.