Meet Mormons

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:22:36 PDT

And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye ^aturn away the ^bneedy, and the ^cnaked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and ^dimpart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your ^eprayer is ^fvain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as ^ghypocrites who do deny the faith. (Alma 34:28)

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:09:13 PDT

I am going through a divorce, shattered my foot a week ago--had surgery which resulted in a titanium plate and five screws--and just had my largest client let us go due to the economy. So in a matter of 30 days, I was alone, injured, and lost 70% of my income. And then the final straw after using every ounce of energy to keep myself together--my ex-wife called just to re-iterate how I have destroyed five peoples' lives.

And as I broke into a billion pieces wondering if I could endure all these trials, an angel called. Out of nowhere a true friend felt the promptings of the Spirit to call me for some reason. He built my soul back up and restored my walls of faith in overcoming trials. The last time we talked was over five months ago. I know God hears and answers prayers--especially pleas for help.

Then, amongst the pain of getting around--I mustered up the energy to go to church and exercise my faith. During the sacrament meeting, a speaker discussed Proverbs 3:5-6--an answer to my prayers.

God lives--He loves each and every one of us, and I bear witness to this.

-Brandon

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:14:50 PDT

I served my mission in Brazil where there are thousands of different churches. The hardest thing for people to understand is that baptism in any other church is not valid because of the lack of authority. God has once more restored His power, His authority to baptize, to the earth. I had the privilege of re-baptizing many people with the proper authority of God. They have felt more fully of His love for them. Baptism is good, but baptism with the proper authority is essential.

-Vince

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:16:36 PDT

Lately I have been reminded a lot about family history work. It has been something which hasn't interested me at all. One day I was talking about family history work with my grandmother, and she said something interesting: "Most people think they'll just wait to do research on their ancestors until they are old and have nothing better to do! But by they time they get old, they have not desire for it."

I liked what my grandma said because I can relate to it. Now, more than ever, I understand how important it is that we remember our ancestors.

-Keven

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:29:01 PDT

Prayer is a way for us to talk to our Father in Heaven. we are His children and He loves us. It may seem hard to believe that He exists because of the way the world is now. But I know He loves me.

I have prayed and talked to Him. I have told Him about my worries for my job and my family and my ability to care for them. After my prayer, I felt peace, I felt hope for my future. I know that Heavenly Father loves me.

-Jeremy

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:24:32 PDT

About a year ago my wife and I had been really strapped financially and were really stressed about what to do. We realized that we had gotten behind on paying tithing and decided that we needed to get caught up. To do so I began sending a majority of my paycheck until I got caught up. My wife and I haven't had such difficult financial times since. That's not to say that we won't, but we haven't felt more blessed than we did at that time.

-Ben

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:18:20 PDT

I learned how important it was for me to understand my purpose in life as I knelt at the bedside of a close friend who was in her final hours of life after having fought courageously against cancer. She had recently joined the Church and was able to articulate, notwithstanding the pain from her failing body, how she knew with complete conviction that after death she would be reunited with her Father in Heaven and her Savior Jesus Christ. She looked forward to when she would be reunited with her family as well.

I know, as she spoke to me, that what she was saying was true.

-Isaac.

Q: Do Mormons ever think for themselves? Don't they always blindly follow their leaders?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:34:30 PST

A: Some people do think that we Mormons are like sheep--mindlessly following our leaders. That is not the case for a number of reasons.

If I have strep throat and go to a doctor, she will prescribe the appropriate medicine. If I were to go to a different doctor, that doctor would prescribe the same medicine for my sickness. Are those two doctors "blindly obeying" the textbook or are they acting the same based on the knowledge they each personally gained?

Imagine an un-anchored sailboat on water. Now imagine a flock of sheep following a shepherd. Which is more free? Which has more power over what happens to them?
The sheep are walking along in a field. The shepherd leads them to food, to water, around the pasture. The sheep choose to follow the shepherd because they trust him.
Now picture that sailboat on the water, now caught in a violent storm. Waves crash against the boat. Wind pushes the boat this way, waves beat it back the other.
Which is more free--the sailboat or the sheep?

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are taught that they should study issues out on their own (see here, here, and here). Joseph Smith, the founder and first Prophet of the Church in modern days, taught that the Church teaches correct principles and lets its members govern themselves (quoted here). This is the real power of the Church. Members learn what the leaders teach, learn the consequences of actions, and then make their own decisions.

And that is why I am a member of the Church. I have decided that I want to follow the Shepherd. Turns out that He knows the way.

LDS Temples

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:15:43 PST

"The primary purpose of the temple is to “seal” or unite families together for eternity" . . . .

--Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares his feelings about LDS temples.

Q: I heard they were letting people take a tour in the new Mormon Temple in Utah. I thought only Mormons were allowed inside.

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:08:45 PST

A: The 129th temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will, in fact, be open to the public starting this week. Work on the temple was recently completed and, as is customary with every new LDS temple, there will be a period called an "open house" during which the public is invited to take a tour of the temple. The Draper Utah temple will be open to the public from the 15th of Jan. to the 14th of March, 2009. People of all ages and beliefs are welcomed to tour the beautiful facility. Free tickets are still available (click here for more information).

In these open house tours, visitors are able to see all there is to see in the temple. After the period of the open house, the temple is blessed, or dedicated, and put into full-time use. Church ordinances are then performed in the temple on a regular basis. These ordinances are very sacred to a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They represent private covenants with the Lord that are not usually talked about outside the temple. For more information on LDS temples, click here.

Click here for pictures of other Lds Temples.

Click here for a description of LDS temples and Mormon worship services.

Click here for a recent news segment about the Draper, UT temple open house.

Q: Do Mormons believe in the Trinity?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:24:15 PST

A: Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We worship a living God, one that speaks today through prophets just as He did in times past. We believe that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are one in purpose and goals and desires, but are separate and distinct beings with unique roles.

We understand the verse, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the ^aworld, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (John 17:11, see also 3 Nephi 19:23,29) to indicate that we can become one with Christ just as Christ is one with the Father.

There are many other verses in the Bible that support this understanding. Among those are the following: Matthew 3:13-17 ; John 14:6-12; John 17:6-23; Acts 7:55-56; 2 Nephi 31:18; Mormon 7:5-7; D&C 76:20-24.

In a recent conference of the Church, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained our doctrine plainly and understandably. He started with the following:

"We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings."

Click here for the rest of the talk: Text || Audio || Video

Merry Christmas!

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:25:54 PST

We wish you all happy holidays and a very Merry Christmas!

Here is a short Christmas message from the President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Click here for video
Click here for text

Q: What is the Mormon view on polygamy?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:00:47 PST

A: While there was a time when Mormons practiced polygamy, for over 100 years the practice has been outlawed by the church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is based on a few key principles, one of which is modern-day revelation. We believe that God reveals His will to chosen prophets, selected now as they were in Biblical times. God is an unchanging God (yesterday, today, and forever), but sometimes His will is different at different times to different children.

Picture an eleven year-old girl asking her father for the keys to the car. He refuses, telling her that she cannot, under any circumstances, drive the car.

Five years later that same girl asks her father the same question. He tosses her the keys, telling her to have fun with her friends.

Did the father change? Or did the circumstance change?

This principle of continuous revelation is evident in the Bible. We read that Noah was faced with a watery problem, about which the Lord counseled "Make thee an ark. . . ." Not too many pages later we read of another man faced with an issue of water. Moses and the Children of Israel met the Red Sea, and the Lord commanded "stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it."

Did God change? Or did the circumstances change?

This is the same principle that guides our church today. Even though in the Bible there were men authorized to practice polygamy (Jacob, Solomon, and David), and even though a few men in the day of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were directed to practice polygamy, we believe that God has since revealed that polygamy is not to be practiced.

And that is why in the rare case that a member of the LDS church is found practicing polygamy, that member promptly loses membership in the church.

A few helpful links:
*Explanation of practice and discontinuation of polygamy here.
*The Church's official beliefs regarding the family: The Family: A Proclamation to the World
*Video explanation here

Q: What do you have to "do" to get into Heaven

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:32:51 PST

A: We believe that no matter what we do, there is no way we would ever make it into Heaven without the help of Jesus Christ. Christ's suffering in the Garden and on the Cross make the impossible possible.

Our knowledge of Christ's suffering comes from the truth restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. We believe that through baptism (at age 8) we enter into a sort of "deal" with Christ. We promise to do our best at keeping His commandments and following His words, and he promises to make up the difference. Because of this deal we have a chance at Heaven. Without it, we'd all be toast.

I understand this doctrine best as it is illustrated by this short example:

A man is stumbling along in the desert. He is sunburned and his tongue is so dry it sticks to the roof of his mouth. He can barely see, his eyes bloodshot and blurred from lack of water.

He is about to collapse and give up when he sees a signpost on the next dune. It reads: "Water Here" with an arrow pointing just over the dune. The man summons all his strength and heads for the sign.

When he reaches the sign, a hair's breath away from fainting, he sees a water pump at the bottom of the dune. He smiles as wide as his chapped lips allow and hurries to get a drink. He cranks the handle and lets the water splash into his mouth and over his face.

What saved the man? Was it the sign? Was it the man's faith in the sign? Was it all the man's work getting over the dune to the pump? Was it the pump?

It was the water. Jesus Christ is the Living Water, the quencher of all eternal thirst, the only One who has the power to save us.

Q: Are most Mormons Republicans or Democrats?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:52:16 PST

A: Actually, most Mormons are not Republican or Democrat. Or Independent. Most Mormons, in fact, are not American. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide church, and more than half its membership comes from outside the United States. There are 27,000 church congregations in 177 countries, with worship services held in over 180 languages. (See here, here, and here for statistical and membership information.)

When it comes to the political party of Mormons in America, though, you'll have to ask them individually. Mormons choose their own political affiliation, and not all share the same political ideology.

Q: Why does your church support Proposition 8?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:52:51 PDT

A: Our church maintains strict political neutrality, and never forces us to vote for or against any measure or candidate. The church occasionally makes official statements regarding specific moral issues, and invites individual members to weigh the issues and vote according to their own conclusions. The church officially participates in the campaign to defend traditional marriage, as seen at an official church website: preservingmarriage.org.

The church's support of Prop 8 is based on moral principles. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, one of the modern day Twelve Apostles, summarized these principles in a recent interview:

"God loves all of His children. He has provided a plan for His children to enjoy the choicest blessings that He has to offer in eternity. Those choicest blessings are associated with marriage between a man and a woman by appropriate priesthood authority to bring together a family unit for creation and happiness in this life and in the life to come.

"We urge persons with same-gender attractions to control those and to refrain from acting upon them, which is a sin, just as we urge persons with heterosexual attractions to refrain from acting upon them until they have the opportunity for a marriage recognized by God as well as by the law of the land. That is the way to happiness and eternal life. God has given us no commandment that He will not give us the strength and power to observe. That is the Plan of Salvation for His children, and it is our duty to proclaim that plan, to teach its truth, and to praise God for the mission of His Son Jesus Christ. It is Christ’s atonement that makes it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and His resurrection that gives us the assurance of immortality and the life to come. It is that life to come that orients our views in mortality and reinforces our determination to live the laws of God so that we can qualify for His blessings in immortality." (links added)

For the entire interview, click here.

Q: So, why do you need the Book of Mormon if you already have the Bible?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:03:39 PDT

A: We believe that the Book of Mormon and the Bible support each other. Both are authored by God through His prophets, and the Book of Mormon clarifies the Bible and serves as a second witness to its truthfulness (Matthew 18:16, 2 Nephi 29:8-11). We love both books and believe that both help us follow our Savior and learn about Him.

When Joseph Smith was searching for the truth, he became frustrated with the different interpretations of the Bible--different religions would read the same verse and come to totally different conclusions (click here for his words on the matter). Another testament of Jesus Christ was needed, more words of guidance and clarification in order to clear up the confusion. God, because He loves us, gave us the Book of Mormon and cleared up the confusion.

We believe that the Bible and the Book of Mormon work together (Ezekiel 37:16-19) and confound false doctrines (2 Nephi 3:12). (Book that came forth from descendants of Judah=Bible, from descendants of Joseph/Ephraim=Book of Mormon)

The Book of Mormon literally changes lives. It has definitely changed mine. I read the book for myself, and wanted to know if it was true; I wanted to know if it was all it claimed to be. I mean, a book from God? Translated miraculously by a prophet of God?

At the end of the book there is a promise that if we read the book with honest intent and ask God if it is true, He will manifest the truth unto us (click here for the words themselves). I've done this. I can testify that God upholds His end of the promise if we uphold ours. Read it. Pray about it.

Do you have a copy of the Book of Mormon? Would you like one? (Yes--send me a Book of Mormon! Later--I'd like to learn more).

Q: Why do Mormons get married in those temples?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:17:40 PDT

A: Mormons get married in temples to follow the pattern the Lord has set. (See here, here, and here). The Lord intends for marriages to be eternal. Marriages performed by His authority and in His temple have the potential to last for time and eternity, if husband and wife are true to the covenants they made in the temple.

Joseph Smith revealed truths about marriage that had been lost from the earth. Because of the restoration, we now have the proper authority (priesthood) and location (temples) for eternal marriage to take place.

Want to have representatives stop by and chat with you about temples? Click here.

Q: Do you really think that God speaks to us today?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:14:40 PDT

A: We sure do. We believe He speaks to us through direct personal revelation (usually through prayer, scripture study, and church attendance) as well as through a living prophet. A person can receive revelation about personal issues--what to study in school, where to live, when/whom to marry, etc. God reveals to individuals things that help their personal lives.

Besides revealing things to individuals personally, God has followed a pattern throughout time of revealing important truths to prophets. Prophets preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and lead Christ's church through revelation. Just as Christ called prophets and apostles while on earth, He has called men to serve as prophets and apostles in our time.

One of the best ways to follow Christ is to listen to and follow His chosen prophets and apostles: This Saturday and Sunday is the 178th Semiannual General Conference of Christ's church. At this conference, the modern-day prophet, Thomas S. Monson, will address the world, as will the twelve apostles and other church leaders.

Their talks represent what the Lord wants to teach us at this time.

(Want to listen? click here. Want to watch? click here. Want to read what they said last conference? click here. Want to chat online with a church representative? click here)

Q: Can the Bible and Book of Mormon both be right?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:22:30 PDT

A: Absolutely. We believe that both are true, that both are the word of God: we believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (Click here for other articles of our faith.)

I have heard quite a few arguments against the Book of Mormon. Some people love to attack its authenticity, and there are respected scholars on both sides of the issue. I applaud those whose scholarly work seeks to determine the truth. But a truth as important as this only comes from the Source of all truth.

My answer to anyone wondering about the Book of Mormon is simple: read the Book of Mormon with an open mind, an open heart, and ask God. Give it a try--God will answer you, in a way only God can, that it is true. Don't take my word for it, take His.

I have done it. It works.

--

Q: What do Mormon missionaries do?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:13:24 PST

A: The activities in each mission location are different, but the general goal is the same: help other people come unto Jesus Christ. Missionaries go about this in different ways, such as meeting with interested individuals and families to teach the principles of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, going door-to-door to invite people to learn about the church, and engaging in any number of service and humanitarian efforts. They try, in everything they do, to live up to their title: official representatives of Jesus Christ.

Missionaries love to spend their time serving, teaching, reaching out, and learning. Often people invite missionaries into their homes to hear and learn about the church and its doctrines.

I served my mission in a small formerly communist country, and besides meeting with people who invited us into their homes, a lot of our time was spent on the street, handing out fliers and free copies of the Book of Mormon (click here for a free copy of your own), and talking with people who were interested in what we had to say. We did a lot of service--working in orphanages and soup kitchens, aiding the Red Cross, helping with neighborhood cleanups, teaching free English classes, helping with emergency natural disaster aid, and doing whatever else was needed.

Most missionaries love to talk about their missions. A mission is one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences in a young person's life. The service is completely voluntary, and the missionary pays his or her own way.

I focused full time, every day, on being a representative of Jesus Christ; teaching His gospel, loving all the people around me, serving people no matter their circumstances, helping people bear their burdens. I experienced great joy as we all grew closer to the Savior.

Q: Do Mormons Worship Joseph Smith?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:24:31 PDT

A: No. Mormons do not worship any human being. Mormons worship God, the Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that these two figures, with the Holy Ghost, make up the Godhead--three distinct beings who are one in purpose. (More on that later).

We believe that God reveals truths and gives guidance to His children through men called prophets. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is always revealed to and through prophets, who act as watchmen on the tower. Adam, Moses, Noah, and Abraham are among the many prophets described in the Bible.

For many years, there was no prophet on the earth. (This is called the Great Apostasy and spanned from the murder of Christ and the apostles to the early 19th century) Joseph Smith was called to fill the void. (See a video of his story here.)

Joseph was a young man during the religious renaissance of the 1800s. There were hundreds of competing denominations and religious factions, a result of thousands of years without God's prophet on the earth. Confused by the widely varying interpretations of the Bible held by the various churches, Joseph turned to God in sincere prayer. He asked God which church God wanted him to join. God answered that none of the churches was correct, and restored His church through Joseph Smith.

We hold Joseph Smith to be a great prophet, a great leader, and a man chosen by God to do a great work.

Next week's question: "What do Mormon missionaries do?"

Q: What is a "Latter-day Saint?"

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:17:59 PST

A: The official name of the church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The name comes from our understanding of Jesus Christ's ministry. We believe that while on earth, Christ organized His church the way He wanted it--He gave others authority to do the work of His church. We call this organization "The Church of Jesus Christ."

After the crucifixion, the saints (members of Christ's church), were still led by authorized leaders. Christ had left authority to do the work of His church with the Twelve Apostles and others. Eventually, though, they were killed and persecuted to the point that no one on earth had the authority to do the work of Christ's church. (For a better explanation, click here.) Essentially, the Church of Jesus Christ was no longer on the earth.

Enter Joseph Smith. In 1820 the young farm boy was confused by the many conflicting religions, faiths, and interpretations. In answer to sincere prayer, Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph. This initiated the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Today, the Church of Jesus Christ is again on the earth. In order to differentiate today's church from the church in the time of Christ, it is now called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." "Latter-day" meaning "not in Christ's time," and "saints" referring to believers of Christ.

Next week's question: "Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?"

Q: Why are you called Mormons?

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:14:18 PDT

Of course, the best way to learn more about Mormons is to talk to your Mormon friends or sit down with a Mormon missionary. But until then, ask, read, and enjoy!

A: The short answer is that our nickname "Mormons" comes from one of our books of scripture, The Book of Mormon. We believe that, like the Bible, The Book of Mormon contains the words of God given to ancient prophets. The Book of Mormon is a collection of such writings, compiled by a prophet/historian named Mormon, who lived on the American continent 400 years after Christ. The name Mormon has become a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members.

(There will be more about The Book of Mormon, as well as many other themes and topics about this religion. Please feel free to email us your questions at MormonQuestions@gmail.com)

Call for Stories

jswift8@gmail.com (Jeff Swift) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:37:04 PST

Welcome to our Blog of Mormon Stories. We are currently seeking stories from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on topics ranging from Faith and Family to Testiomony and Home Teaching. We will be sending out a new request every month, so please stay tuned.

Each story should be about you or someone who approves of their story being posted online. Each post will be about 500 words long and should include your first name and email address.