There may be those who find what I am about to say so offensive, that they are compelled to try and take apart what I say word by word. So be it. The convictions are honest, sincere, and true. Others may judge for themselves.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We believe He and the Father are literally different individuals. When Christ was baptised, the Holgy Ghost descended upon Him (He did not descend on Himself) and God the Father spoke from Heaven (He did not speak to himself). This was witnessed by all who were there and handed down to us in the Gospels. The exact same type of thing happened on the mount of transfiguration where Peter and two other apsotles witnessed it. Later, when the martyr Stephen was killed, while Saul held the cloaks of those killing him, Stephen looked into Heaven and saw Christ sitting on the right hand of God. We believe these things litrally. We also believe Christ Himself explained what it meant to be "one" with the Father during His great intercessory prayer in John.
Therein He stated that He desired that His disciples be "one", even as He and the Father were one. He did not mean for them to meld together into one entity. He meant for them, thropugh the Holy Ghost and Christ's Gospel and atonement to be one in purpose and united.
We take these teaching to tell us that God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost are all members of the Godhead...but that they are seperate members thereof.
Others read it and interpret it differently...but that is what we believe.
So, Jesus Christ, the Son of God is my personal Savior. I am talking about Jesus, miraculously born of the virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Ghost. Whom Shepherds were informed of and whom they came to see in Bethlehem. The same babe who was taken by Jospeh, being warned by an angel, into Egypt to be saved from Herrod's murderous tiraid against the babies in Judea.
The same Christ who later taught in the Temple. Began His ministry, turned water to wine, healed the sick, miraculously fed the masses, raised the dead, and taught that He was the Son of God, the great Atoner...who was taken by wicked men, given a sham trial, and condemmed to death. He suffered in the Garden body and soul and then was killed on the cross...and through His atoning blood, for our sins, we are saved if we will confess and come unto Him as He asked.
I have done so. I cnonfess Him and His name to all. And I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I am not trying to "fool" anyone here. I am not mindlessly repeating things I have heard. This is my sincere and honest witness.
It is the essential nuggett of salvation besides which all other inmterpretations pale in consideration.
This is what I am taught in my church. What I have been taught since joining it over 40 years ago. What I taught on my mission in Southern Germany. What I have taught my kids and raised them to believe. It is what I have taugh in Sunday School, to children in primary classes at our church, what I shared as a member of Bishoprics, and in many other callings to serve within the church.
It is what I share with friend and try to share here.
I applaud all who profess Christ's name. The scriptures teach that none confess Christ except through the power of the Holy Ghost. I confess Him now to you all...despite whateve difference others may have.
I know I have been saved by my Savior and that He will judge me according to these, the steadfast, lifelong convictions of my heart and I look forward to that judgement.
If you have any questions about this, please refer to the page on my site where I make my profession for Christ, and try and answer some of the questions often posed.
HERE: MY WITNESS OF CHRIST
I will not contend or argue. I will not partake in efforts to run down my or other people's heart felt conviction that point towards Jesus Christ, the one and only path to salvation. No other ordinance or work we are involved with, however good, will save us in God's Kingdom outside of Christ.
At the same time, I believe that all good and sincere hearted people of virtue and honor will have the opportunity, before the judgement, to hear of Christ and His gospel and accept it or reject according to the desires of their hearts.
Thanks to all who seek to speak of these matters with respect and love in their hearts for all who believe in and seek Jesus Christ...as He himself did when teaching His disciples and the multitudes.
Thank you Jeff for sharing and I know that the Lord loves all of His children and longs for the day when
Isaiah 11
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
10 ¶And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart,
and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off:
Ephraim shall not envy Judah,
and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen
If you really believe all that, why are you Mormon?
After reading your post, I have some follow up questions to clarify what you meant by your words.
1. Do you believe God the Father has always been eternally God, or was He at one time was a created spirit being who became God?
2. Do you believe there is more than one God? Here, there or anywhere?
3. Do you believe Jesus Christ (the one you referenced) is eternally God, neither created, nor made?
4. Do you believe Jesus Christ (the one your referenced) started life as a created being and later became a God?
5. Do you believe there is a Mother God? More than one Mother God?
6. Do you believe the Holy Ghost is eternally God, or do you believe he started his existence as a created spirit being? D
Thank you in advance for clarifying what you meant in your post when you reference the names of God.
ampu
I respect your conservative work that you’ve done on these threads and in other areas of your life. You are a role model to be emulated.
However; I must ask you the same thing that I’ve asked countless others about MORMONism.
In reply #69, I posted some quotes from MORMON leaders.
Do you ACCEPT or REJECT those statements from your leaders?