We also have a lay ministry, which means that the common members teach each other, give talks, teach classes, officiate in the Priesthood, do all things that are required, that other churches hire out or pay for. It's very hands on, for all members.
In fact, just today my lovely wife gave a talk during the Christmas program in our Sacrament meeting. (the main Sunday meeting) She was one of 2 speakers, besides the choir numbers for the Christmas program. SHe was given a topic, "The divinity of the Christ" for this Christmas program.
I'll post her talk here. Hopefully it will help you understand the obvious misunderstanding you have of my faith and it's adherents.
Merry Christmas.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David… to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke chapter 2.
When asked to think of the divinity of Jesus Christ, his divine birth immediately spring to mind. President Ezra Taft Benson tells us “The paternity of Jesus Christ is one of the mysteries of godliness. It may only be comprehended by the spiritually minded.” The Bible and the Book of Mormon are full of testimonies of appointed witnesses that leave no question as to the paternity of Jesus Christ: our Heavenly Father was the Father of His earthly body, and Mary, a mortal woman, was His mother. He is the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father.
His ministry on earth tells, again, of his divinity. In 3rd Nephi, Jesus tells the people his divine purpose: “And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil – And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.”
It was prophesied before His birth that He should perform many might miracles, as part of his ministry. In Mosiah chapter 3 verse 5 we read, “ For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.”
Today there are many who would seek to explain away the miracles of Jesus Christ, or to even proclaim that they never happened. President Benson bears his testimony this way, “ I say, Jesus’ entire ministry was a mark of his divinity. He spoke as God, He acted as God, and performed works which only God himself can do. His works bear testimony of His divinity.”
Other marks of His divinity are the Atonement, his Resurrection and the promise of his second coming. Put all together, these points, and many more testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ. May I put my testimony with that of the leaders of our Church,
“He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.
We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.”
Close with personal testimony of the Savior
Hey, Rip...now that you've accused the thread poster of "misunderstanding" -- are you actually going to answer my Q here (for once)? Here it is: When your wife -- and now you by posting -- say that Jesus' life "neither began in Bethlehem..." -- from a Mormon perspective, tell us, what's so unique about the Mormon jesus in this regard compared to every other human being? (I mean, didn't your wife make a false claim that Jesus taught about our "premortal existence"? In fact, can you show me ANY verse from the Book of Mormon that teaches about you or me being in a "pre-existence?")
(Shall I prophesy crickets as answers to these Q?)
Or since you tend not to address any of my other comments on other threads, perhaps I should just treat my Q as a rhetorical & proceed to answer it from a "Mormon perspective."
You see, Lds believe we ALL joined Jesus as having origins before "our Bethlehems." (Gee, Rip, and here you're wife was making this out to be something so unique of the Mormon jesus) I mean, from a "Christian" perspective, Rip, your wife is right on the $...indeed, Jesus didn't "begin" in Bethlethem).
Beyond that, the only difference 'tween the Mormon jesus and the Biblical one is:
(a) mere spiritual birth order--having been first;
(b) was twice made a son of God via Mary; and
(c) died for Adam's sin so folks could be resurrected (his role as Savior).
The true Messiah was born in Bethlehem as the Bible foretold and affirmed post-birth--not like the Mormon jesus of Mormon "scriptures" supposedly born in Jerusalem. (Hey, your wife was 2-for-3 there from a Christian perspective -- just not very faithful to the Lds version of jesus' "Jerusalem" birth)
Other than that, the lds jesus is not the Son of God from eternity past. He worked his way up to godhood status. He's not an exalted God-become-man, but an exalted man-become-God. He was an elder spirit bro of Lucipher. Had you or your brother been "first" in that pre-existent spirit world birth order, he could have been Christ!!!
This "jesus" is foreign to the Bible. The Messiah of the Bible shared the glory with the Father in the beginning (John 17:5). This Jesus is THE Son of God, not just a son of God. And THE Son of God did not consider equality with His Father something he couldn't let go of while becoming a man (see Philippians 2). Phil. 2 makes it clear He was already divine, not just a "wannabe" God like Dear Ole Dad.
The True Jesus Christ: Savior, not a Saved Being
In contrast, the Mormon christ is but a "saved being"--a mere creature like dear ole Dad: "Christ is a saved being” (lds apostle McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol. 3, p 257) “Modern revelation speaks of our Lord as he that ‘ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth ‘ (D&C 88:6). Christ's rise to the throne of exaltation was preceded by his descent below all things. Only by submitting to the powers of demons and death and hell could he, in the resurrection, serve as our exemplar of a saved being...” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 234) (Please also see McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 238 where he said the Mormon "jesus" "Needs salvation...Came to earth to work out His own salvation”)
Your wife's message: ...the Redeemer of the world.”
Wow, Rip, your wife was 3-for-4 here representing the "Christian" perspective. But -- was she faithful to the Mormon "prophets" of old? Oh, sure they recognized Jesus as "Redeemer." No doubt about that. The real distinctive Q boils down to that little word, "THE":
SAVIOR (Singular) or SAVIORS (Plural)?:
SINGULAR SAVIOR a la Christianity: And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be THE Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14; cf. John 4:42).
PLURAL SAVIORS a la Mormonism: (In contrast, IMA, to your wife's presentation of Jesus as THE Redeemer): "...we are the only people that know how to save our progenitors, how to save ourselves, and how to save our posterity in the celestial kingdom of God;...we in fact are the saviours of the world..." (lds "prophet" John Taylor; Journal of Discourses, vol.6, p.163).
(And here all this while so many "Gentiles" just thought all that...
...genealogical research
...& database entries
...& "family centers"
...& ritualistic temple proxy baptisms involving teen-agers...
...was alll simply innocent behavior...
...and now we "Gentitles" realize that Mormons think by this process that they join Jesus as "co-'saviours of the world'!!!)
If you don't "sustain" John Taylor as a "prophet" in those words
-- if your wife doesn't by maintaining her words that Jesus is "THE" Redeemer and is joined by none other...
...then I dare you, call John Taylor -- at least in those words -- a false prophet.
Nah, no spiritually mindedness required at all - just basic knowledge about the pagan god-human female sex mythologies.
“He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New.
Interesting quote - we are taught from mormonism that Heavenly Father began as a spirit child, came to a planet somewhere to gain a body and eventually through precise obedience to eternal principles became 'God'.
Yet, in your quote, Jesus/Jehovah had not in the OT been a man yet to gain a body, hadn't been married in a temple, performed all the necessary ordinances and rituals to meet all of the ETERNAL principles necessary to become a 'God'. Yet you teach Jesus was already a God without doing all of the mandatory works, achieving what Heavenly Father was incapable of accomplishing. But wait, it isn't finished there! There is another God called the Holy Spirit/Ghost, who is without body and never come to earth to become a man, etc. My, two mormon 'gods' become gods without accomplishing the Eternal Principles and testing of this life.
As long as you accept JOSEPH SMITH as well!