The Book of Mormon and Freedom

This is a great video that a friend of mine recently posted on Facebook. I thought that the video was very fitting given what is going on in our great country at this time. I know that there are many references to the Book of Mormon that one may not follow if you are not familiar with the book. I think that the basic truths that are touched upon in this video stand out and witness what we need to do to preserve our freedoms in this great country that we have been blessed to live in. I hope you enjoy the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOOonUiGOjs

Book of Mormon Made Simple Video

This is a video that explains what the Book of Mormon is, where is came from, and what it is about. The video does a good job explaining the Book of Mormon. You can feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

What is the difference between a Mormon Temple and a Mormon Church?

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Many people have this common question asking why Mormons have both Temples and Churches and what is the difference between the two?
Both building are special and are intended for worship and for people to come closer to the Lord through instruction, prayer, and meditation. Mormon temples as seen in the top picture are buildings that only church members in good moral standings with the church are allowed to enter. In temples members receive saving ordinances and are taught more about the nature of God and of our purpose on earth and how we fit into the eternal plan of our Heavenly Father. Members of the church are also married or "sealed" for time and all eternity inside the temples.
Mormon churches or chapels are used for normal weekly services and for activities throughout the week. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings at a Mormon church and are encouraged to visit as often as they would like. Most church buildings have a chapel, several class rooms, offices, a kitchen, and often a basketball court and a stage for performing arts. There is a link on the side page of this blog that explains what you can expect to see at a typical Mormon church.
Church members are expected to attend weekly church services at a chapel each Sunday and members that are able to attend the temple are encouraged to visit a temple as often as possible and a common recommendation is to visit the temple once a month.

What is with that gold statue on top of the Mormon temples?

The gold statue that is found on most Mormon temples if of the Angel Moroni (Mor-o-nye). As I will explain in further blog entries, the Angel Moroni is the resurrected prophet Moroni from the Book of Mormon who also played a major role in bringing back the gold plates to Joseph Smith that later were translated into the Book of Mormon.
Moroni was the last prophet to write in the Book of Mormon before he buried the record for future generations as his people were killed off. He then became instrumental in restoring the record of the Book of Mormon to us in our day.
Because of the role that Moroni played in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ we believe that he is the same angel that John speaks of in the New Testament in Revelation 14:6 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,".

Basic Beliefs

Probably the most important belief that we have is that we believe in God the Eternal Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ is the foundation for our faith and the only way that we can return back to our Heavenly Father (yes, return to him). We also believe that we existed as spirit children of our Heavenly Father and dwelt with him before we came to this world to gain a body.
In the Church we refer to some or our basic beliefs as Articles of Faith which comes from a letter that Joseph Smith wrote to the Chicago Democrat newspaper in 1842 to explain the basic beliefs of the church as he found that many people had interest in the church and questions about it. Here are the 13 Articles of Faith:

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. 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.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I will attempt to expand on each Article of Faith in future blog postings but this should give a good start to this new blog.