A
question that people ask me a lot here in Tennessee is, "What makes
your religion different than others?" So, I have decided that I am going
to explain some differences here on my blog.
1: We hold the Priesthood. The Priesthood is the power or authority to act in God's name. This power is how Heavenly Father created the Earth, and controls the Heavens and the Earth today. "The priesthood includes the authority to administer ordinances of salvation to all human beings who are willing and worthy to accept them." (http://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood/world-priesthood?lang=eng)
So..what does that mean? For me that means that my Dad (or any worthy Priesthood holder) can baptize with the same authority or power that Christ gave to His disciples, he can heal the sick, he can perform all the necessary ordinances needed for our salvation.
I know that Christ has restored his Priesthood through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that through the Priesthood, and Christ's grace, and our faithfulness to Him we can live with Heavenly Father and families forever. (http://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood/jesus-christ-restored?lang=eng)
1: We hold the Priesthood. The Priesthood is the power or authority to act in God's name. This power is how Heavenly Father created the Earth, and controls the Heavens and the Earth today. "The priesthood includes the authority to administer ordinances of salvation to all human beings who are willing and worthy to accept them." (http://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood/world-priesthood?lang=eng)
So..what does that mean? For me that means that my Dad (or any worthy Priesthood holder) can baptize with the same authority or power that Christ gave to His disciples, he can heal the sick, he can perform all the necessary ordinances needed for our salvation.
I know that Christ has restored his Priesthood through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that through the Priesthood, and Christ's grace, and our faithfulness to Him we can live with Heavenly Father and families forever. (http://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood/jesus-christ-restored?lang=eng)
2: We believe that Families are Forever. Or, in other words, those family relationships we have will last through the eternities.
In Matthew 16 we read: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Remember that power we talked about yesterday, the Priesthood? That power allows worthy Priesthood holders to seal families and marriages for time and all eternity, not just "till death do we part". These sealings take place in temples all over the world. Maybe you have passed the one here in Franklin, on your way downtown, or have seen the famous Salt Lake City temple. (http://www.lds.org/church/temples/why-we-build-temples?lang=eng)
I know that Heavenly Father has blessed us with very specific families, and that he intends for those relationships to last forever. It has been such a comfort to me to know that we will be with our families forever, and that we need not fear the life after this. This picture of my family is important to me because it was taken right out side of the Provo, Utah temple. Every time I see the temple I am reminded that my family will be with each other forever, if we keep Heavenly Father's commandments.
I know that the temple is the House of the Lord, and in the temples we can find peace and use the Priesthood power to be sealed to our families. (http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-121-the-sealing-power?lang=eng)
3: We belong to the same church that Christ established while he was on the Earth.
While Christ was on the Earth, he performed many miracles, and fulfilled prophecy. He also called 12 apostles and gave them the authority (The Priesthood) to baptize, and preach the Gospel, and he organized His church. (Matthew 10:1)
But, after Christ was crucified, and the apostles were also rejected and killed. Thus, the power that Christ had given them to teach, baptize, and govern His church was no longer found on the Earth. This left the Earth in a state of Apostasy, or without Heavenly Father’s authority to perform saving ordinances such as baptism. (http://mormon.org/beliefs/restoration)
Amos said," Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." (Amos 8: 11-12)
That authority was restored and Christ’s church is back on the Earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulfVPLpaggw#t=79
While Christ was on the Earth, he performed many miracles, and fulfilled prophecy. He also called 12 apostles and gave them the authority (The Priesthood) to baptize, and preach the Gospel, and he organized His church. (Matthew 10:1)
But, after Christ was crucified, and the apostles were also rejected and killed. Thus, the power that Christ had given them to teach, baptize, and govern His church was no longer found on the Earth. This left the Earth in a state of Apostasy, or without Heavenly Father’s authority to perform saving ordinances such as baptism. (http://mormon.org/beliefs/restoration)
Amos said," Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." (Amos 8: 11-12)
That authority was restored and Christ’s church is back on the Earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulfVPLpaggw#t=79
4: We believe in modern day prophets.
Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I change not" and in 2 Nephi 27:23, it says, "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever." Heavenly Father repeatedly tells us in the scriptures that he changes not. He has always used prophets to communicate to us, and through the prophet Joseph Smith, he has restored the very church that Christ established while he was on the Earth.
I know that Joseph Smith was called by God to restore His church. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and because he restored the Priesthood we can live with our families for all time and eternity. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the Earth today. I am so grateful for a prophet that can communicate with our Heavenly Father and receive revelation to help us through these difficult days.
Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I change not" and in 2 Nephi 27:23, it says, "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever." Heavenly Father repeatedly tells us in the scriptures that he changes not. He has always used prophets to communicate to us, and through the prophet Joseph Smith, he has restored the very church that Christ established while he was on the Earth.
I know that Joseph Smith was called by God to restore His church. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and because he restored the Priesthood we can live with our families for all time and eternity. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the Earth today. I am so grateful for a prophet that can communicate with our Heavenly Father and receive revelation to help us through these difficult days.
5: We believe in the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
I know the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it, pondered on it, and asked our Heavenly Father if it is true. And because I know the Book of Mormon is true, I know Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet. Through God's power, Joseph Smith was able to translate the Book of Mormon, and stands as a witness of the restoration of Christ's church.
The Book of Mormon has in reality changed my life. This book has brought me an assurance that God lives, and that He sent his son to atone for us, and through Christ we may live again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfc77nkm4Dw#t=12
The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
I know the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it, pondered on it, and asked our Heavenly Father if it is true. And because I know the Book of Mormon is true, I know Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet. Through God's power, Joseph Smith was able to translate the Book of Mormon, and stands as a witness of the restoration of Christ's church.
The Book of Mormon has in reality changed my life. This book has brought me an assurance that God lives, and that He sent his son to atone for us, and through Christ we may live again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfc77nkm4Dw#t=12
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