Gospel Principles and Topics Articles
Mormon Prayer and Fasting
What is prayer?
Our God, though all powerful and all knowing, the creator of all things, is also a personal God, who knows each of His children intimately and cares for their welfare. He desires us to approach Him in personal prayer and promises that those prayers are always heard and answered.
Prayer is perhaps the most important aspect of worship, both public and private. Many people pray, but some people find it difficult because they do not understand its purpose or who it is to whom they pray. When we realize that God is our Father, we will realize that prayer is way of talking to our Heavenly Father. In our prayers we can share our burdens with God, thank Him for His goodness to us, and seek answers or help from Him.
How should I pray?
Jesus taught us the basic outline for prayer. He said:
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.... Read the rest of this article »
Health and Morality in Mormonism
Mormons believe that spiritual and physical things are linked. If we abuse our bodies, we are abusing our spirit. You may have noticed that when you are physically ill, you tend to feel emotionally and spiritually ill as well, and when you are sad, you may feel its effects physically. In this way it is obvious that the spirit and the body affect each other. In a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created” (Doctrine & Covenants 29:34). Thus, Mormons believe that all commandments and everything we do affect both our spirit and our body, and whatever influences one, affects the other.
The Word of Wisdom
Mormons believe that the body is sacred and should be taken care... Read the rest of this article »
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Because searching out one’s ancestors and performing temple ordinances on their behalf is important to Mormons, many Mormon chapels have Family History Libraries open on certain days throughout the week to assist members and the local population in doing genealogical and family history research. These libraries have computers, microfilm, and microfiche which enable a person to examine census data, baptism, and death records, and many other types of records to help locate and organize one’s personal genealogy. The staff are all volunteers who donate their spare time each week to helping those who have run into problems or do not know how to begin their genealogical research. The Family History library and its resources are free to the public. The hours it is open should be posted on the door to the library.
Visit Familysearch.org, the Mormon Church premiere family history search site, to begin... Read the rest of this article »
The Godhead: God, [block]0[/block], and the Holy Ghost
The very first Article of Faith of the Mormon Church is very definitive and quite simple in stating our belief concerning God: We believe in God, the eternal Father, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
God our Heavenly Father
Mormons believe that God is all-powerful (Alma 26:35, pg. 275), all-knowing (Mosiah 4:9, pg 155), and that His Spirit can be felt by all people, everywhere (Psalms 139:7-12). He possesses an absolute perfection of all good attributes; He is merciful, loving, patient, truthful, and does not judge us by our outward appearance. While Mormon Church members look to the scriptures for instructive information about God, their primary knowledge concerning His nature comes from revelations given to modern prophets like Joseph Smith. In a vision, Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. They are separate personages, but are both united... Read the rest of this article »
