So what is a Mormon? Maybe you've known some Mormons, maybe you haven't. Maybe you have a close friend who is a Mormon. If you do know a Mormon, you'll agree that they are pretty normal, as far as "normal" goes. If you met a Mormon at the store, you'd probably have no idea they were a Mormon. In fact, you've probably met several Mormons without knowing it.
Honestly, it's pretty easy to explain Mormons. If I were to sum everything up, and get right to the heart of everything we believe, I could describe us in these three words: We are Christians.
We believe in Jesus Christ, we love Jesus Christ, we worship Jesus Christ and God the Father. We believe that Jesus Christ was exactly who he said he was--the literal Son of God, and the Savior of the world. We believe that Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of all the world, so that every one of us can be forgiven through his grace, and return to live with God and Jesus Christ and our families after this life. We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, that he was killed, and that he rose again on the third day, Easter Morning. We believe that because Jesus Christ overcame death, every single person who lives on this earth will also rise and live again one day.
"Mormon" is not the name of our church. It's actually a nickname that was given to us by others. The name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe in Jesus Christ, and he is the center of our teachings and our worship, so it makes sense that our church is called by his name, and not the name of Mormon or some other name. I guess the nickname really stuck, because more people know us as Mormons (hence the name of this blog) than the official name.
Who was Mormon? Mormon was an ancient prophet from about 400AD. He lived in the Americas from about 300-400AD, and was one of the last prophets to write in a book of scripture that was being kept in that land starting around 600BC. Mormon actually abridged the record (which was quite large after so many years!) and because of that, the book has been called The Book of Mormon. And it's because of the Book of Mormon that people call us Mormons. More on the Book of Mormon later, just know that it is an ancient record of prophets living in the Americas. The Bible is a record of prophets who lived in the ancient Holy Lands, and the Book of Mormon is a record of prophets who lived in ancient America. Make sense? More here, if you're interested: http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon
Mormons believe in living their religion every day. We believe in actively living a Christian lifestyle, and trying our best to be good to our friends and families and neighbors.
We often attend church activities throughout the week (there are programs and activities for teens, kids, adults, singles, etc)
When people first meet me, and they haven't know Mormons before, they often ask what "rules" or standards I am asked to live by as a member of the church. So here it is, the list of all the things that make me "different" from my peers. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we live by a law of health, which means we don't consume anything that might become addicting. We don't drink, we don't do drugs, we don't smoke, and we don't drink coffee or tea. Honestly, this law of health often leads to exactly that...better health! So I don't mind at all. And besides, it's an outward way of displaying my inward commitment, and for me, that's powerful.
Another thing that makes us "different" as Mormons is that we live by a law of "chastity" which means we believe sexual relations are sacred, ordained of God, and we don't believe in sex outside of marriage. I know there are many other Christians who believe this in theory or in practice, but for alot of people, this is something they find very unusual about Mormons, because we actually believe in it, and for most of us, we live it. Is it hard? Hahah, obviously! But it's actually something we believe in, not just a restriction, so that makes it easier. Does that make sense? We believe that sexual relations are ordained of God, as a way to form deep emotional and spiritual bonds between a man and a woman, and that God has asked us to reserve such a powerful expressions of love for the person we are hoping to spend forever with. It's actually kind of romantic. When it feels hard to keep this standard, I try to not think about what I'm giving up, but what I'm working towards---and that's an eternal love, where I can give my eternal husband everything I have to give, with my whole heart, my whole soul. The old school thought of "saving" yourself for the one you truly love is actually a pretty good one.
Other than that, we believe in all the commandments Jesus Christ and his apostles and prophets gave in the Holy Bible. We believe in the Holy Bible--the Old Testament and the New Testament, we believe in modern day prophets, we believe in regular prayer and scripture study, we believe in eternal families, we believe that God still speaks to us today---individually, and also through prophets. We believe in personal revelation, we believe in families and making families a priority in our lives. We believe God is our Father, and that each of us can build a personal relationship with him. It's honestly that relationship that has brought me to create this blog. Everything that I know, everything I have learned, everything I have experienced....it all comes back to that relationship with a loving Heavenly Father, and loving Savior Jesus Christ, who want nothing more than to help us with the things we want and need in this life. I know they are real, I know they love us, and I know that as we seek their love and counsel in our lives, we will find it.
In Three Words
Honestly, it's pretty easy to explain Mormons. If I were to sum everything up, and get right to the heart of everything we believe, I could describe us in these three words: We are Christians.
We believe in Jesus Christ, we love Jesus Christ, we worship Jesus Christ and God the Father. We believe that Jesus Christ was exactly who he said he was--the literal Son of God, and the Savior of the world. We believe that Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of all the world, so that every one of us can be forgiven through his grace, and return to live with God and Jesus Christ and our families after this life. We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, that he was killed, and that he rose again on the third day, Easter Morning. We believe that because Jesus Christ overcame death, every single person who lives on this earth will also rise and live again one day.
What Does "Mormon" Mean?
"Mormon" is not the name of our church. It's actually a nickname that was given to us by others. The name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe in Jesus Christ, and he is the center of our teachings and our worship, so it makes sense that our church is called by his name, and not the name of Mormon or some other name. I guess the nickname really stuck, because more people know us as Mormons (hence the name of this blog) than the official name.
Who was Mormon? Mormon was an ancient prophet from about 400AD. He lived in the Americas from about 300-400AD, and was one of the last prophets to write in a book of scripture that was being kept in that land starting around 600BC. Mormon actually abridged the record (which was quite large after so many years!) and because of that, the book has been called The Book of Mormon. And it's because of the Book of Mormon that people call us Mormons. More on the Book of Mormon later, just know that it is an ancient record of prophets living in the Americas. The Bible is a record of prophets who lived in the ancient Holy Lands, and the Book of Mormon is a record of prophets who lived in ancient America. Make sense? More here, if you're interested: http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon
Mormon Lifestyle
Mormons believe in living their religion every day. We believe in actively living a Christian lifestyle, and trying our best to be good to our friends and families and neighbors.
We often attend church activities throughout the week (there are programs and activities for teens, kids, adults, singles, etc)
When people first meet me, and they haven't know Mormons before, they often ask what "rules" or standards I am asked to live by as a member of the church. So here it is, the list of all the things that make me "different" from my peers. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we live by a law of health, which means we don't consume anything that might become addicting. We don't drink, we don't do drugs, we don't smoke, and we don't drink coffee or tea. Honestly, this law of health often leads to exactly that...better health! So I don't mind at all. And besides, it's an outward way of displaying my inward commitment, and for me, that's powerful.
Another thing that makes us "different" as Mormons is that we live by a law of "chastity" which means we believe sexual relations are sacred, ordained of God, and we don't believe in sex outside of marriage. I know there are many other Christians who believe this in theory or in practice, but for alot of people, this is something they find very unusual about Mormons, because we actually believe in it, and for most of us, we live it. Is it hard? Hahah, obviously! But it's actually something we believe in, not just a restriction, so that makes it easier. Does that make sense? We believe that sexual relations are ordained of God, as a way to form deep emotional and spiritual bonds between a man and a woman, and that God has asked us to reserve such a powerful expressions of love for the person we are hoping to spend forever with. It's actually kind of romantic. When it feels hard to keep this standard, I try to not think about what I'm giving up, but what I'm working towards---and that's an eternal love, where I can give my eternal husband everything I have to give, with my whole heart, my whole soul. The old school thought of "saving" yourself for the one you truly love is actually a pretty good one.
Other Beliefs
Other than that, we believe in all the commandments Jesus Christ and his apostles and prophets gave in the Holy Bible. We believe in the Holy Bible--the Old Testament and the New Testament, we believe in modern day prophets, we believe in regular prayer and scripture study, we believe in eternal families, we believe that God still speaks to us today---individually, and also through prophets. We believe in personal revelation, we believe in families and making families a priority in our lives. We believe God is our Father, and that each of us can build a personal relationship with him. It's honestly that relationship that has brought me to create this blog. Everything that I know, everything I have learned, everything I have experienced....it all comes back to that relationship with a loving Heavenly Father, and loving Savior Jesus Christ, who want nothing more than to help us with the things we want and need in this life. I know they are real, I know they love us, and I know that as we seek their love and counsel in our lives, we will find it.
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