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Answering Your Questions Articles
Conversion is the process of being born of God. “Born of God” or “born again” refers to the personal spiritual experience through which we receive a forgiveness of sins and a witness from God that if we continue to live the commandments and endure to the end, we will inherit eternal life. The scriptures teach that just as each of us is “born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit,” so must we be “born again” of water and the Spirit and be cleansed by the blood of Christ (John 3:5; Moses 6:59).
To be born of God implies a sanctifying process by which the old or natural man is supplanted by the new spiritual man who enjoys the companionship of the Holy Ghost and hence is no longer disposed to commit sin (Colossians 3:9-10; Mosiah 3:19; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 51). When we are born again we are spiritually begotten sons and daughters of God and more specifically of Jesus Christ (Mosiah 5:7; 27:25). The Book of... Read the rest of this article »
I heard that Mormons …
Answering Your Concerns about Mormonism
Since Joseph Smith first began telling others about his Vision of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, persecution and misinformation have followed Mormons. You may have heard things from friends and family, or from ministers vilifying the Prophet Joseph Smith or claiming that the Book of Mormon is false or unnecessary. Members of the Mormon Church know that they must live surrounded by such false information all their lives, but they have learned the truth about these matters. Below are several questions that converts to the Mormon Church and others often have. This list does not include everything, but does include links to other excellent websites that can give you fuller answers.
Scriptures:
Isn’t the Bible the only word of God?
Why do we need the Book of Mormon?
Doesn’t the Book of Mormon contradict the Bible?
Didn’t the Three Witnesses deny their testimonies about... Read the rest of this article »
Mormon Temples and Temple Work
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Mormon Church is its temples. Mormon Temples are sacred buildings, set apart from the world. They are not ordinary church buildings like chapels. Mormons have both churches and temples. In temples, Mormons perform sacred ordinances that strengthen us in this life and prepare us for the life to come. Also in temples, families can be sealed together for all eternity and faithful Mormons can perform ordinances like baptism for those who died without the opportunity. The Holy Endowment One of the most sacred and defining moments in the life of a member of the Mormon Church comes when he or she receives his or her endowment. An endowment is a gift; in this case it is a gift of knowledge and spiritual power from God. Jesus referred to an endowment of power when he commanded his disciples to “tarry [...] in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with... Read the rest of this article »
Do Mormons really pay 10 percent of their income to the Church? (Tithing)
Yes, and with joy, and often they give much more than that. In addition that ten percent, called tithing, there are fast offerings, and other donations made to charitable causes to help sustain the Mormon Church’s missionary program and its humanitarian work throughout the world. That does not even take into consideration the countless hours that Mormons donate to the Church through service projects and Church assignments. Unlike most churches, the Mormon Church has no paid clergy for its congregations, so every job from being a bishop, who presides over each congregation, to Sunday School teacher, to vacuuming the chapel on Saturday is done by the members.
Tithing is a free-will offering made to help support the Church. Since no clergy is paid, the money goes to help build chapels and temples and other places like visitors’ centers. Tithing money also goes to help... Read the rest of this article »
Do Mormons Practice Polygamy?
Mormons practiced polygamy from the 1840s to the year 1890, when a revelation from the God commanded them to stop. This is one of the most controversial practices in Mormon history and continues to trouble people nearly 120 years later. President Gordon B. Hinckley, late prophet, seer, and revelator to the Mormon Church said:
I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church. Most of them have never been members. They are in violation of the civil law. They know they are in violation of the law. They are subject to its penalties. The Church, of course, has no jurisdiction whatever in this matter.
If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the... Read the rest of this article »
Did Mormons forbid African Americans from joining their Church?
From the 1850s until 1978, persons of African descent could (and many did) join the Mormon Church, but Blacks were not allowed to hold the priesthood or certain positions within the Church. This has led to charges of racism and prejudice by the Mormon Church and its leaders. Never at any time have Blacks been denied membership in the Church and there were black Mormons in the early days of the Church, many of whom crossed the plains with the other Mormon pioneers and settled Utah. Also, Blacks have never been segregated from the white membership of the Church. Still, this practice continues to draw criticism. To understand why this practice came about, it is important to understand a little about the Mormon Church.
In Mormonism, Priesthood represents God’s power and authority which He delegates to men on earth in order to lead God’s Church and perform ordinances like baptism. ... Read the rest of this article »
What’s this about no sex before marriage?
(Mormon Chastity)
Mormons believe that it is important to be clean physically and mentally. Part of this cleanliness is the Law of Chastity. In today’s world, teaching absolute abstinence before marriage and fidelity in marriage is considered by many to be out of date or unrealistic. However, Mormons believe that this is God’s standard and that it will never change.
The Law of chastity is really very simple and straightforward, though people are always trying to find loopholes and excuses. The Law of Chastity simpy states that sexual relations are allowed only within the legal bonds of matrimony. Jesus put it very simply in his Sermon on the Mount when He said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). We must strive to avoid lust and becoming preoccupied with sex. Within marriage, sexual... Read the rest of this article »
Mountain Meadows Massacre
In attempting to discredit both the members and leaders of the Mormon Church, critics and opponents frequently refer to a tragic, isolated incident in the history of Mormonism which they claim proves that Mormons are violent and ready to kill any who oppose them. This incident, the Mountain Meadows Massacre occurred in early September, 1857, in Southern Utah. Contrary to the sensationalist and angry words that have been thrown at the Mormon Church and at Brigham Young, second Prophet and President of the Church in particular, this heartbreaking massacre of a wagon train had little to do with Mormonism or even with religion. Instead, it was the tragic and inexcusable act by a handful of frightened settlers who believed, right or wrong, that their lives were danger. They acted independently and rashly, but sadly their deeds remain in our memories.
To understand why this massacre happened, a little background is necessary. ... Read the rest of this article »
Find the Truth
It can be difficult to know what is true. In this age of satellite TV and broadband Internet, we are bombarded with more information than we can really process. Our senses are overloaded with information. There seems to be no more room for faith or for God. So, how does one begin to believe? There is no scientific method that leads a person to faith in God, but the scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon give us some hints.
Paul said, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Sometimes, to gain faith, we must begin by hoping that something is true. In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Alma gave a sermon on how to develop faith. Faith, Alma said, is to “hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Alma 32:21, pg 289). To begin to have faith, we must first be humble. To be humble means to recognize that we are imperfect or that we have made some... Read the rest of this article »
Anti-Mormonism and ExMormons, why all the fuss?
When you begin learning about the Mormons and the Mormon Church, no doubt your friends, relatives, and neighbors will be shocked or amazed. They may tell you rumors they have heard about the terrible things Mormons do, or else try to convince that Mormons really aren’t Christians. From the very beginning, Mormons have been followed by rumors, misinformation, and even lies. Joseph Smith said that when the angel Moroni first appeared to him, the angel informed Joseph Smith, “that [his] name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people” (Joseph Smith-History 1:33).
That prophecy has come true, and faithful Mormons know that they must always confront such misinformation. Fortunately, persecution today does not include the mobbings and murders of the nineteenth century, but many people face huge obstacles... Read the rest of this article »
