Mormonism is the Re-established Original Christian Church

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have zero confusion when it comes to knowing what they believe about Jesus Christ. Ask any Mormon if they are a Christian - and they will tell you without any hesitation whatsoever, that they are in FACT a Christian! And trust me, no one will convince them otherwise. I know. I am a Mormon.

When it comes to the missionary efforts of the Church, to teach those of other faiths that Mormons are Christian - well, that's a completely different issue. I'm not suggesting that many people do not accept that Mormons are good people, and that their acts are certainly Christian-like, but the concerns go much deeper.

The LDS Church recently hired a few professional firms to help us understand with better clarity, our "true" image around the world. Elder L. Tom Perry shared some of what they discovered while speaking at a Women's Conference, held at Brigham Young University, in Utah - He shared that there are some "significant misperceptions that shape the LDS Church's image and standing in America".

He went on to say that...

"Recent studies, found that "51 percent of people have no awareness of Mormon practices and beliefs," that "47 percent of people do not have a favorable view of Mormons," and "that 31 percent of people believe that Mormons are not Christian."

"These statistics clearly show the imperfect way we have communicated who we are and what we believe," said Elder Perry.

Further, he said, one-word impressions of the Church include: polygamy, family, cult, different, and dedicated. Three wrong impressions out of five "is not a good batting average for us," he said.

It is evident, he said, that significant misperceptions exist about the church and its members.

Elder Perry said that although 84 percent of Americans have seen Latter-day Saint ads, been given LDS literature, and/or had missionaries approach them, less than 30 percent can identify the church's main claim -- "that we follow Jesus Christ, and are the re-established original Christian church--"

You can read more of Elder L. Tom Perry's comments on MormonTimes.com

Setting the Record Straight About WHY Mormons Understand their Own Christianity

Now, I was not in attendance at that conference, but as an active provider of what I believe to be credible information about Mormonism and what we believe - it looks like we all need to do a better job of sharing what we as Mormons believe, in particular, about the re-established original Christian church, in these latter-days.

I'd like to take this opportunity to now share with you WHY I know I am a Christian - not that I am a Christian. I've expressed multiple times in various articles that I have posted here on Hubpages, that Mormons are indeed Christians. However, although I have eluded to the Mormon teachings of a complete restoration of the early Christian church - I have never taken the time to give more information about what members of the LDS Church refer to as "The Restoration".

I understand the boldness in proclaiming such a thing to many other good Christians of different denominations. Nevertheless, the belief that we as Mormons declare is that the LDS Church is the literal re-established Christian Church here upon the earth -- today formally referred to as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Once this "main claim" of the teaching of Mormonism is clearly set forth - it becomes much easier to understand with "better clarity" many more of the beliefs, teachings and practices of those who are members of the Mormon Church. And certainly, a clear understanding of the position of our Christianity, can more readily be understood from the LDS perspective.

My intentions here are not to debate or to defend the LDS teachings of a restoration, but to share with those who are interested in learning what the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims, in these regards; and of which I have a firm personal testimony.

LDS Teachings About the Re-established Original Christian Church that Has Come to Be Known Today as, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President James E. Faust, a former member of The First Presidency of The Church, taught this...

"As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we care about all of God’s children who now live or who have ever lived upon the earth. “Our message,” as stated by the First Presidency in 1978, “is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.”

As Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated a few years ago:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has many beliefs in common with other Christian churches. But we have differences, and those differences explain why we send missionaries to other Christians, why we build temples in addition to churches, and why our beliefs bring us such happiness and strength to deal with the challenges of life and death.”

President Faust continues...

"I wish to testify today of the fulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, which adds to the religious beliefs of other denominations, both Christian and non-Christian. This fulness was originally established by the Savior in His earthly ministry. But then there was a falling away.

Some of the early Apostles knew that an apostasy would occur before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the Thessalonians, Paul wrote concerning this event,

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first. ( 2 Thes 2:3)

With this falling away, priesthood keys were lost, and some precious doctrines of the Church organized by the Savior were changed. Among these were baptism by immersion;

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him" (Mark 1:9-10)

receiving the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands;

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:14-17)

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.(Acts 19:3-6)

the nature of the Godhead—that They are three distinct personages;

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mat 3:17)

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (Acts 7:55)

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22)

all mankind will be resurrected through the Atonement of Christ, “both … the just and the unjust”;

And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15)

continuous revelation—that the heavens are not closed;

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (2 Dan v. 28)

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now; (D&C 121:26)

and temple work for the living and the dead.

And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. (Obad 1:21)

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Mal 4:6)

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? (1 Cor 15:29)

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Rev 7:15)

The period that followed came to be known as the Dark Ages. This falling away was foreseen by the Apostle Peter, who declared that “heaven must receive [Jesus Christ] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:20-21)

Restitution would only be necessary if these precious things had been lost."

"The Restoration of All Things" By President James E. Faust

The Church of Jesus Christ has Been Restored in these Latter-days, Through the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.

Perhaps you are somewhat familiar with the story of Joseph Smith Jr. - who, as a 14-year-old boy, did not know which of all the churches was right. Because of his great confusion and deep desire to know that answer for himself, and after reading the Bible - Joseph decided to go into a grove of trees near his home, to pray and ask God for the answer to his sincere question.

Joseph had a beautiful vision, wherein both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ - appeared to the boy. Joseph was told that he was not to join any of the modern Christian churches, that none of them were right, or His. God eventually would make Joseph an instrument in re-establishing the original Church of Jesus Christ, upon the earth.... This account, is known by members of the Church, as "The First Vision".

Read more about "The First Vision", in a beautiful sermon, (one of my personal favorites) delivered by former President Gordon B. HInckley, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in an address entitled "The Stone Cut Out of The Mountain".

The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of Our Religion

There are many reasons that The Book of Mormon is equally regarded as The Holy Bible, by members of the LDS Church. We believe that both of these sacred books are evidence that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Each of these holy books, confirms the truth of the other, and adds a second witness.

Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon was brought forth as the keystone of our religion, for the re-establishment of the original Christian Church, today. The truthfulness of The Book of Mormon, as a true witness of Jesus Christ -- establishes Joseph Smith as the Lord's true prophet. It confirms that God has called Joseph Smith, and given him authority, as a modern-day prophet - to organize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One of the hallmarks of membership in the Mormon Church, is the very personal testimony that each and every person is encouraged to seek and develop for themselves, through the power of the Holy Ghost - to know that these things, are true.

There is a beautiful promise from God in The Book of Mormon where every person who desires to know for themselves, if the book is true - will be shown...

“I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Moroni 10:4)

Gordon B. Hinckley had this to say about the promise:

"The Book of Mormon is the only book ever published, of which I know, that carries in it a promise that one who reads it prayerfully and asks concerning it in prayer will have revealed to him by the power of the Holy Ghost a knowledge that it is true."

Read more about The Book of Mormon as the Keystone of our Religion.

I have briefly introduced the teachings of Mormonism regarding our belief in a restoration or re-establishment of the original Christian Church. Mormons proclaim that the Lord's Church here upon the earth today is -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

tDMg

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