Mormon Church

The Mormon Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland spoke on March 20, 2012 to students of the Harvard University Law School as part of the school’s annual “Mormonism 101″ series. Elder Holland (Mormon leaders are traditionally addressed by the title, “Elder”) explained about the history and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often called “Mormons.” He then engaged in a question-and-answer session with members of the audience. Elder Holland’s remarks helped shed some light on the Church, which has received a lot of media attention lately due to the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney.

Elder Holland began his remarks by congratulating the students on their openness to discussions of religious belief. ”In the western world religion has historically been the basis of civil society as we have known it, and if I am not mistaken, men and women of the law are committed to the best—that is, the most just—civil society possible,” Elder Holland pointed out. “So thank you for taking religion seriously. You will not only be better attorneys but you will be closer to the truth in your own personal lives.”

Mormonism: The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

The origins of Mormonism were the first topic addresses by Elder Holland. Mormonism is a restoration of the original gospel established by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. Following Christ’s ascension into heaven and the deaths of the original twelve apostles, the primitive Christian Church entered a long period of confusion:

So what ensued was a millennium and a half of destroying Paul’s hope that there would be a “unity of the faith, and [a] knowledge of the Son of God, . . . that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” It is commonplace to note that in the Christian world we now see anything but “a unity of faith” or any real Christian cohesiveness that could remotely be called “the building fitly framed together”that would reaffirm “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

The Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith

By the time of Joseph Smith, who was a young man during the time of religious contention and revival during the early 1800s in the United States known as the second “Great Awakening,” huge divides of doctrine separated the different Christian sects from one another. According to Elder Holland,

This young boy-prophet lamented that his region was “a scene of great confusion and bad feeling . . . priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that [any] good feelings . . . were entirely lost in a . . . war of words and tumult of opinions.” “A war of words and tumult of opinions.” That says so much about post-New Testament Christianity.

Mormonism: Basic Beliefs

Mormons are Christians

We are not fourth-century Christians, we are not Nicene Christians, we are not creedal Christians of the brand that arose hundreds of years after Christ. No, when we speak of “restored Christianity” we speak of the Church as it was in its New Testament purity, not as it became when great councils were called to debate and anguish over what it was they really believed. So if one means Greek-influenced, council-convening, philosophy-flavored Christianity of post-apostolic times, we are not that kind of Christian. Peter we know, and Paul we know, but Constantine and Athanasius, Athens and Alexandria we do not know. (Actually, we know them, we just don’t follow them.)

Doctrinal Differences Between Mormons and More Recent Christianity

A few doctrinal differences between Mormon doctrines and post-fourth-century traditions were pointed out:

• God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are separate and distinct beings with glorified bodies of flesh and bone. As such, we stand with the historical position that “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the [New Testament].”…However, having affirmed the point of Their separate and distinct physical nature, we declare unequivocally that [God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ] were indeed “one” in every other conceivable way—in mind and deed, in will and wish and hope, in faith and purpose and intent and love. They are most assuredly much more alike than They are different in all the ways I have just said, but They are separate and distinct beings as all fathers and sons are. In this matter we differ from traditional creedal Christianity but agree with the New Testament.
• We also differ with fourth and fifth century Christianity by declaring that the scriptural canon is not closed, that the heavens are open with revelatory experience, and that God meant what He said when He promised Moses, “My works are without end, and . . . my words . . . never cease.” We believe that God loves all His children and that He would never leave them for long without the instrumentality of prophets and apostles, authorized agents of His guidance and direction.
• …we are unique in the modern Christian world regarding one matter which a prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called our “most distinguishing feature.” That is, divine priesthood authority to provide the saving sacraments—the ordinances—of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The holy priesthood, which has been restored to the earth by those who held it anciently, signals the return of divine authorization. It is different from all other man-made powers and authorities on the face of the earth. Without it there could be a church in name only, and it would be a church lacking in authority to administer in the things of God. This restoration of priesthood authority eases centuries of anguish among those who knew certain ordinances and sacraments were essential but lived with the doubt as to who had the right to administer them. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we can answer the question of “who laid hands on him” all the way back to Christ Himself. The return of such authority is truly “the most distinguishing feature” of our faith.

A recent study done out of the University of Pennsylvania found that Mormons (a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) do more volunteer work than any other segment of society. Previous studies have shown that 30-50 percent of people in the United States volunteer and the average time of service is about three to four hours per month. Mormons, on the other hand, donate about 430 hours a year. 242 hours a year were devoted to religious activities. 96 hours were spent on volunteer work done to meet social needs of Mormons. They spent 56 hours a year helping people who were not Mormon but working through their church. An additional 34 hours per year were spent volunteering outside the church completely. This averaged to 8.2 hours per week, meaning Mormons did twice as much volunteer work in a week than most people do in a month.

This far exceeds the level of volunteerism found in other religions or in other groups. The researcher, Ram Canaan, stated that Mormons were the most pro-social people in America.

Mormons, at baptism, take on the name of Jesus Christ. They feel this means they must keep Jesus Christ’s commandments and follow His example. He taught that we must love our neighbors as ourselves and serve them. This motivates Mormons to serve others. They know it makes them more Christ-like and their goal is to become as much like Him as possible.

Some of the volunteer work, as shown, is done within the Church for other Mormons. Mormons operate a lay church, which means that everyone volunteers. Nearly every member of the church has a “calling.” This is a volunteer position serving the church. Generally, people do not select their own callings, however. The bishop—a lay pastor overseeing the congregation—offers them a specific position. Normally, the president of an organization will prayerfully select those they want in the position and then give their choice to the bishop. He and those who assist him pray and make a final decision. This is done because the bishop sometimes knows something about the person the other leaders does not, such as a family situation that limits the person’s time or that he or she is already in line for another calling. A member of the bishopric (a bishop and two assistants who are called counselors) offers the calling to the member. The member is free to refuse the calling—although few do—or to offer additional information that might affect the ability to do the calling.

After a person accepts a calling, he or she is sustained by the membership. To sustain the person means to promise to support and help them in any way the members can, which provides a powerful support network for each person.

While it may seem odd to some—the conference in which the volunteerism was discussed mentioned that it was a system largely unparalleled in other religions—the idea of callings is actually very inspired and reveals the wisdom in even the smallest aspects of God’s plan. If a member was to choose a calling, he or she would always choose within his or her own comfort zone. However, Mormons often find themselves called to do something they’ve never done before or that they think they aren’t good at. They are “set apart,” which means they are given a special priesthood blessing through the laying on of hands. Through this blessing, God gives them what they need to do it. Mormons find they can do things they never thought they could do, which improves their self-confidence. Through their callings, they learn new skills or overcome weaknesses. A disorganized person might find herself being a secretary and a shy person may find herself leading a large organization. Someone who always thought she wasn’t good with children finds herself teaching preschoolers. Some of the skills learned through callings are jobs members can take into their employment.

In addition to the skills learned, callings help to build a sense of community and belonging. A person who moves into a congregation meets people quickly through her calling and has a sense of ownership in her congregation. Her contributions make a difference to the success of the congregation, the Church, and God’s kingdom on earth.

Mormons also work through church programs to help those not of their faith. The Mormon Helping Hands program is an example of Mormon-organized community service. Many congregations do a large-scale community service project at least once a year in addition to smaller ones throughout the year. They also step in during a crisis, such as a hurricane, to help people in their community, regardless of faith, clean up after the storm. Teenagers attending their annual conference do projects and most do regular projects during the year as well. The children also perform community service through their Scouting and Activities Day programs. The Relief Society—the auxiliary for the women—runs literacy programs that are open to the public at no cost.

The Church’s Humanitarian Aid program also allows Mormons to help people who are not Mormon. The program runs a number of ongoing initiatives as well as emergency disaster assistance or short-term projects. The long-running initiatives include clean water, neonatal resuscitation training, wheelchair funding, efficient food production, and vaccinations. Mormons donate to this program and some retired Mormons volunteer to spend a year or two in a developing nation doing humanitarian work. These humanitarian projects do not involve missionary work and many of the recipients do not know the Mormons provided their help.

Of course, Mormons also serve in programs not run by the church. They are taught by their leaders to be involved in their communities, so many select worthwhile programs in their own towns to assist in. Mormon parents frequently volunteer in their schools and others serve in libraries, food pantries, community leadership and other programs.

All these projects, whether they help their own members or others, strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ. Service is a critical part of the Mormon experience.

Read the transcript of the conference on Mormon volunteerism that discusses the study.

Learn more about the Humanitarian Aid program.

Learn more about Mormon Helping Hands.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the “Mormon Church” by the media, has been in the news a lot lately. Topics ranging from Mitt Romney’s payment of tithes to the Church (he is a practicing Mormon) to Mormons‘ practice of baptisms for the dead have prompted some to call this the “Mormon Moment.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian church in America, and even more Mormons live abroad than in the United States. Yet many people throughout the world still have little understanding of how Latter-day Saints (Mormons) live and what they believe.

Mormonism 101

To help people understand more about Latter-day Saints, the Church recently published an article entitled “Mormonism 101: FAQ.” This article outlines Mormons’ basic beliefs, and answers some of the most common questions non-Mormons may have about the Church. It also addresses some of the more controversial topics related to the Mormon faith, hoping that accurate information can dispel some of the misconceptions and distortions about the Church that sometimes appear in the media. Questions addressed include:

• Introduction
• Are Mormons Christian?
• What do Mormons believe about God?
• Do Mormons believe in the Trinity?
• What is the Mormon View of the purpose of life?
• Do Mormons believe in the Bible?
• What is the Book of Mormon?
• What is a Mormon temple?
• Do Latter-day Saints believe in modern-day prophets?
• Do Latter-day Saints believe that the apostles receive revelations from God?
• Do Mormon women lead in the Church?
• Do Latter-day Saints believe they can become “gods”?
• Do Latter-day Saints believe that they will “get their own planet”?
• Do some Latter-day Saints wear temple garments?
• Do Latter-day Saints practice polygamy?
• What is the position of the Church regarding race relations?
• Do Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden is in Missouri?
• Why do you “baptize for the dead”?
• Why does the Church send out missionaries?
• Why don’t Mormons smoke or drink alcohol?

The Core Beliefs of Mormonism

The most important information contained in the “Mormonism 101″ article is a concise outline of the core beliefs of the Church. Since media attention often focuses on controversial issues, sometimes the picture painted of Mormons’ beliefs can be warped, dwelling on less important doctrines while leaving out the beliefs that Mormons themselves consider to be the most important. The article, “Mormonism 101,” states the following:

The founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, wrote, “The fundamental principles of our religion are … concerning Jesus Christ that He died was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

It further states that “Latter-day Saints believe unequivocally that:”

1.    Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of our loving Heavenly Father.

2.    Christ’s Atonement allows mankind to be saved from their sins and return to live with God and their families forever.

3.    Christ’s original Church as described in the New Testament has been restored in modern times.

It isn’t popular these days to say that you know the truth. Feel-good philosophies say that truth is relative to the individual, and that it isn’t important what you believe as long as you live a good life. In our desire to be tolerant, we may be ashamed to claim that any doctrine is true or false, or especially that any single church has the answers.

Yet the answers to some questions really do matter. They are basic:

Is there a God or not? What is He like? Does He care about individuals? Does He care what we do? Can we communicate with Him?

Why are we here on earth? What happens after we die? Did we live before we were born?

Was Jesus Christ really the literal Son of God in the flesh? Do we need His atonement? Was He literally resurrected, and will we be resurrected? Do we need to keep His commandments?

Are there prophets on the earth today? Can we receive personal revelation from God?

Will we be with our families after we die? How important are marriage and families?

Knowing the Truth is Important

Different religions throughout the world answer these questions differently. The answers are important to us because they govern how we live from day to day, how we choose to spend our time, and especially how we relate to other people. It is the small daily choices we make over time determine who we are. A person who believes they will continue to live as an individual after this life will be likely to make different choices than one who believes their existence ends at death. Those who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as their ideal treat others differently than those who do not. If we believe that family relationships continue after death, we treat our families differently. Our beliefs color everything we do, and our choices affect the world around us.

Truth Can Be Found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently referred to as “The Mormon Church” by the media, teaches many essential truths about the life and mission of Jesus Christ, the purpose of life, man’s role in God’s creation, the importance of families, and other doctrines. Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the Mormonism, lived during a time of religious revival, when many different preachers actively sought converts to their different Christian faiths. Joseph, who was only 14 years old at the time, was so confused about their conflicting answers to his questions that he sought the answers directly from God through prayer. What God revealed to Joseph Smith in answer to his questions forms the basis of the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormon Doctrine: The Nature of God

Mormon doctrine answers the questions above in the following ways.

There is a living God, who is the Father of our spirits. We lived with Him before we came to earth. The Godhead consists of three separate and distinct individuals: God the Father; God the Son, who is Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. Both the Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit so that He can dwell in our hearts (see Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). God loves us beyond our capacity to understand, and is aware of the minute details of our lives. He desires us to communicate with Him through prayer, and will respond to us in our minds and hearts through the Holy Ghost. We are His greatest work:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39).

Mormon Doctrine: Our Purpose on Earth

We lived with our Heavenly Father in a loving family relationship before we were born. Jesus Christ, as the firstborn of God in the spirit, was our eldest brother there. God planned for us to come to the earth to obtain bodies of flesh like His, and to learn to choose between good and evil in an environment where we could be completely free to choose and to experience the consequences of our choices. This earth life is both a schooling and a test to see what we desire most. God’s ultimate desire is that we choose good, learn to be like Him, and return to live with Him after this life. Eternal life is God’s life, and is a life of ultimate joy and peace.

Mormon Doctrine: Jesus Christ

Because all of us sin, none of us is able to return to God on our own. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh.  He alone lived a perfect life. Before His mortal birth, He created the earth and all things in it. He came to earth to teach us and to show us by example how we must live to be like God. In Gethsemane and on the cross, Jesus Christ paid for all of our sins on condition of repentance. He also bore the burdens of our sufferings in mortality, so that through His atonement He is able to succor and sustain us through any mortal trial. He was literally resurrected from the dead, thus breaking the bands of death for all mankind. We will all be resurrected one day, and every human being will spend eternity in an immortal, perfected physical body like the bodies of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. If we choose to follow Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, striving daily to keep His commandments, the atonement of Jesus Christ will pay for our sins, and we can grow to be like Him and live with God eternally.

Mormon Doctrine: Prophets and Personal Revelation

Because God cares for us so profoundly, He will never leave us alone. Throughout the history of the world, God has called prophets to teach us His word and His commandments. From Adam until the present day, God has spoken to prophets to teach His children how they should live. He loves all His children equally, and has called prophets in every age and clime. When men have lost the truth through apostasy, God has called new prophets to bring the truth back again. Prophets lead His Church on the earth today, and continually reveal God’s will for us. The Church of Jesus Christ today teaches the same truths that were made known by Jesus Christ to His prophets throughout Old Testament times and to His apostles at the time of His earthly ministry.

In addition to the guidance of prophets, God has provided the opportunity for each individual to receive personal revelation through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost helps us with personal problems, answers to questions, comfort, and peace. The Holy Ghost speaks to our minds and our hearts, giving us ideas accompanied by feelings of light and joy. We can feel the depth of God’s love for us through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is often referred to as the “still, small voice.” In order to hear Him, we must first remove the darkness of sin and the distractions of the world from our lives. We must pray diligently

…to God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, …with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, [and] He will manifest  the truth …unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things (The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Moroni 10:4-5).

Mormon Doctrine: The Importance of the Family

Family life is central to our lives on earth. In families we learn love and compassion for others, and receive love in return. Mormon doctrine teaches that families are central to God’s plan in the eternities as well. We lived as brothers and sisters, members of God’s family, before we were born. We are meant to live as families here on earth. After this life, those who have been sealed together in families through the ordinances of the holy temple, a place where members of The Church of Jesus Christ go to marry and make other sacred promises with the Lord, will continue to enjoy family life throughout all eternity. Our most important relationships do not end at death. It is God’s desire that they continue forever.

Oh Say, What Is Truth?

True doctrine matters. Mormon doctrine contains truths that change lives. It is important to know that there are true answers to basic questions. We should not let our desire to be tolerant of others’ beliefs keep us from finding and speaking the truth ourselves, because the truth is precious:

Oh Say, What is Truth?

Oh say, what is truth? ‘Tis the last and the first,

For the limits of time it steps o’er.

Though the heavens depart and the earth’s fountains burst,

Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,

Eternal, unchanged, evermore.

(“Oh Say, What is Truth?“ Hymns #272, verse 4)

Additional Resources:

Our Eternal Life

 The Family: A Proclamation to the World

God’s Commandments

The Book of Mormon and Other Mormon Scripture

keywords: truth, LDS Church, Mormons, Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ, Mormon doctrine, prophets

Of all the numbers in the Pew Research Center’s recently released survey of “Mormons in America,” the highest, most overwhelming numbers are these: 98 percent of respondents said they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 97 percent say their church is a Christian religion.

This comes on the heels of earlier surveys indicating that 32 percent of non-LDS U.S. adults say the LDS Church is not a Christian religion, and an additional 17 percent are unsure of LDS Christianity. The theological and semantic reasons for this can be complex, but for the 1,019 self-identified Mormons who participated in the Pew survey, their theological position is clear: Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, and they consider themselves to be Christian.

“Certainly in Latter-day Saint theology is this idea that if you understand who you are, you understand that there’s a purpose in life, you understand your connection to God, that certainly has an impact on how you live your life and what you do, but also how you feel about your life and what you are doing,” said Michael Purdy of the LDS Church Public Affairs office. (more…)

By Amy Choate-Nielsen

Deseret News
Published: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 7:00 p.m. MST

David Letterman knows how to get a laugh.Like most comics, he riffs on the day’s news, deadpans the camera and revels in audacity.”Oh, did you hear about this?” the host of CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman asked his audience recently. “A campaign staffer on the Newt Gingrich campaign was fired because he was making negative comments about Mormons. I thought, now, wait a minute — isn’t Newt in favor of multiple wives?”
Laughter rumbled from the audience followed by applause. The polygamy punch line is a familiar one when it comes to poking fun at Mormons — as though Mormons and polygamy are synonymous in mainstream media. Ironically, the practice that’s most linked to Mormons is a practice most Mormons oppose, according to a groundbreaking new study of Mormons in America released Thursday by the Pew Research Center‘s Forum on Religion and Public Life.

According to the study, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unequivocally reject polygamy — only 2 percent said the practice is morally acceptable — evidence of a yawning gap in what Mormons believe and how they are perceived. Mormons’ opinions are overwhelmingly conservative, the study shows, but in many ways, their views are also surprising — especially when it comes to opinions on moral issues, divorce, homosexuality and polygamy. (more…)

The Pew Foundation survey of Mormons released this past week confirms that U.S. Mormons are more conservative (66 percent) compared to the general public (37 percent), and on most issues, they closely track white evangelicals. But immigration is one issue that sets Mormons apart from their evangelical counterparts.

Asked whether immigrants are a strength or a burden, 59 percent of white evangelicals said they were a burden, while only 41 percent of Mormons felt the same, compared to 44 percent of the general public. The result is surprising given how staunchly conservative Mormons are on nearly every measure. Interestingly, 50 percent of white mainline Protestants and 49 percent of white Catholics also tilt against immigration, though neither group is as uniformly conservative as evangelicals or Mormons on other measures.

Dan Cox, Research Director at the Public Religion Research Institute in Washington, D.C. sees several reasons for the surprising result. He points first to demographics to explain why Mormons are more open to immigrants than are white evangelicals. “White evangelicals are significantly lower on the socioeconomic scale than most other religious groups. Those who are more economically vulnerable are more likely to see newcomers as threats,” he says.

The Pew results validate the socioeconomic explanation. The key is a strong link between Mormon religious commitment and socioeconomic status. Eighty-four percent of Mormon college graduates are highly committed to the Church, but just 50 percent of those with high school education share that same level of commitment. This socioeconomic gap also translates to immigration: 50 percent of less committed Mormons see immigrants as a burden, against 36 percent of highly committed Mormons. (more…)

On December 5,2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, announced a new website devoted to free online videos about Jesus Christ. The first videos are now available and teach the Christmas story in the exact words of the King James Bible.

The project is the first of many films to be produced on a film set near Goshen, Utah. 830 acres have been turned into a replica of ancient Jerusalem and other New Testament locations. It is not a re-creation of the city of Jerusalem. It is a collection of settings that can be used and re-used for the needed scenes. Digital imaging will create some aspects of the city, such as the temple, that are not being built. Researchers went to Jerusalem, studied it, and photographed it. They also studied the scriptures to understand how things needed to look. The goal was to create as authentic a set as possible. Months of searching finally led them to a large piece of land that included sand dunes, desert, and even a river. The mountains in the background looked appropriately Biblical.

The set was designed to be highly efficient. Columns and windows are interchangeable so they can be altered to fit the time period needed, since future films may cover other scriptural times. Draining the pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a man who was lame, and covering it, allows them to use the same space to film the wedding at Cana.

The project will create thirty brief scenes from the New Testament to be used in classes, at church visitor’s centers, and online. The initial project focuses on the life of Jesus Christ and of His apostles.

Currently on the site are videos about Mary learning from an angel that she is to become the mother of Jesus Christ, a scene of Mary and Elisabeth talking about their miracles, the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the shepherds coming to worship the baby, the presentation of Jesus at the temple, and the later arrival of the Wise Men, who did not arrive until Jesus was a toddler. A mobile app is available, and one for I-Phone is coming soon.

Mormons worship Jesus Christ as their Savior. The Book of Mormon, which the Mormons use along with the Bible, says, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Ne. 25:26). Mormons teach that only through Jesus Christ can we be saved and receive the gift of eternal life.

Mormon beliefs teach that Jesus Christ was born the son of Mary, who was a virgin at the time of His birth, and of God. They do not claim any understanding of how the conception occurred, despite gossip to the contrary. They do believe it was done in a way that was respectful of Mary and that God, not the Holy Ghost, is the Father of Jesus Christ.

Mormon beliefs teach that Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of Jesus Christ and that He was baptized despite having no sin of which to repent. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ voluntarily took on Himself the sins of the world, a very personal and individual gift to all of us, one that brought powerful suffering and yet is often overlooked by the Christian world. He died on the cross and was resurrected in three days. Through this act, He broke the bonds of death.

Jesus’ atoning sacrifice allowed all mankind to be resurrected, to live forever, and to repent of their sins. It also allowed them to activate the gift of eternal salvation if they chose to do so, by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, being baptized, and keeping the commandments. However, everyone receives the great gift of grace, since all are resurrected regardless of their acts. Eternal life, however, is a choice each person must make. The Bible tells us that just saying we believe in Jesus Christ is not enough; to be saved we must keep the commandments.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).”

Mormons worship Jesus Christ in their weekly worship services, in their Mormon temples, and in their everyday lives. Little children are taught a song called, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” and in their classes, they learn how Jesus lived and are taught to emulate Him. This continues into adulthood and is an eternal goal for Mormons.

The new website is part of a continuing effort of the Mormons to help the world come to know Jesus Christ.

Visit the website: The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos. There is no charge and you do not need to register to view them.

Watch a sample video:

Mormons (a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) believe that God knows everything and sees the future. Mormons also believe we have free will—the right to choose for ourselves. To some people, these seem to be contradictory ideas. If God knows everything that will happen, doesn’t that mean it is all predestined and out of our control?

To understand how we can have free will and still have a God who knows the future, we need to have a clear understanding of our relationship with God. Let’s begin with what Mormonism teaches about our life as God’s children and then learn why He gave us free will.

Mormon beliefs tell us that God created our spirits and we lived with Him before our births. We didn’t have bodies, but we were ourselves. We spent time with God, getting to know Him. He also got to know us and this is important to understanding the answer to the question.

When it was time to come to earth, God promised we would still have the free will we’d had since the moment our spirits were created. We could choose to do right or wrong, but we couldn’t choose the consequences of our actions, either to ourselves or to others.

This tells us free will is very important to God. As much as He loves us, He knows we need to make our own choices, in the same way all parents must eventually let their children make choices, even if they are bad ones.

And yet, God sees the future. How does that affect our agency? There is an excellent discussion of this topic in an official Mormon lesson manual for college students. You can read the discussion here—scroll to the heading “Moses 1:6—All Things are Present in Me.”

In this discussion we learn that God isn’t bound by time in the same way we are. He can see the past, present, and future as easily and as clearly as we see the present moment—and with a perspective impossible for us to achieve.

Pick up a book of history or a biography. As you are reading this book, you know what choices the people in the biography or history made. You didn’t cause them to happen. The participants in the events made choices of their own free will. You know what those choices were and what the consequences were because you read about them after they happened.

In this same way, God can actually see the future, as if he were visiting it or reading about it from a future perspective. He is not just guessing or predicting what will happen. But this also means He can see the results of the choices we make. He knows that if we make Choice A, Result A will happen. If we make Choice B, Result B will happen.

We are free, as we go through our lives, to make our own choices. God isn’t sitting in Heaven controlling us like puppets. He knows what we are going to choose because He knows us so well from His time with us both before and during mortality. He also sees further down the road to know the results of our choices—but we are making the choices, not God. He is only seeing what we choose.

Because He is able to see what we are going to choose, He is able to make plans for us. If he sees we are going to make a mistake, but also sees that we will eventually realize we did make a mistake and decide to repent, He can plan to bring some good out of the errors we made. If He knows we are going to ask Him for advice before deciding, and that we are actually going to take the advice He gives, He can look ahead and decide what He should advise us to do.

James E. Talmadge is quoted in the discussion referenced above. He was, at the time of this quote, an apostle. He said:

“Many people have been led to regard this foreknowledge of God as a predestination whereby souls are designated for glory or condemnation even before their birth in the flesh, and irrespective of individual merit or demerit. This heretical doctrine seeks to rob Deity of mercy, justice, and love; it would make God appear capricious and selfish, directing and creating all things solely for His own glory, caring not for the suffering of His victims. How dreadful, how inconsistent is such an idea of God! It leads to the absurd conclusion that the mere knowledge of coming events must act as a determining influence in bringing about those occurrences. God’s knowledge of spiritual and of human nature enables Him to conclude with certainty as to the actions of any of His children under given conditions; yet that knowledge is not of compelling force upon the creature” ( The Articles of Faith, 12th ed., [1924], 191).

This time, instead of reading a history book, let’s imagine time travel were possible. Suppose you were able to travel to the future to see what your life will be like in twenty years. The life you see will be the result of all the choices you have made to that moment you are visiting. You’ll also see how twenty years of decisions have affected others. When you return home, you can choose to follow the path you saw on your time travel journey or you can choose to avoid what you saw by making other decisions. The fact that you saw the future doesn’t mean it has to happen. It means it would happen if you made those same choices throughout life, but of course, you would be free to do otherwise, even though your future had already been seen.

God knows you so well He knows what you are going to choose, but He is not doing the choosing. You are. He is simply seeing what you are going to choose so He can plan for you. When you use a GPS system to navigate a winding road, you can use the machine to see the road ahead. You didn’t build the road or choose the path, but you know what is coming. God is doing the same—looking ahead to see what is coming, but not building the road. Although God knows everything, you are potentially able to prove Him wrong; however, he knows you so well, He knows when you will decide to go a different direction. However, the choice is always yours.

God is strongly involved in our lives. He has a plan for each of us, a plan we are free to choose or reject. Some things that happen to us are part of the plan, but other things just happen, the result of our choices or the choices of others, or even just chance. We are asked to pray to Him for guidance so that when there are crossroads, we can decide which ones to take. This gives us the best chance of navigating life successfully. Doing so doesn’t guarantee a life without trials, because that is impossible, and keeps us from growing. It does promise that we will be in God’s hands as we travel through life and that those things that happen won’t interfere with God’s plan for us. The things He needs to have happen to us will if we seek His help in our choices.

Having agency is a wonderful and powerful gift, one that comes with great responsibility, since our choices affect our own lives and the lives of others. However, it is reassuring to know God can see ahead and help us successfully make the choices we need to make—if we take the time to ask for help.