I live in a picturesque town in the mountains of Idaho. It’s easy to see the goodness of God in the beauty of nature. It can be more difficult to see His kindness in our lives—especially when the storms of adversities come. The Psalmist wrote, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalms 14:1). It is a foolish man, indeed, who doubts the power of God and refuses His help in a time of need. The knowledge I have of God, His nature and His plan are essential when the storms of life are raging.

The Nature of God is Love

 When the storms of life, rage, it’s easy to ask, “Where is God? How could He let this happen?” God, by His very nature, will never abandon us. Elder Henry B. Eyring, the first counselor in the First Presidency—with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ—answers this question:

That aching for an answer to “How could this happen?” becomes even more painful when those struggling include those we love. And it is especially hard for us to accept when those afflicted seem to us to be blameless. Then the distress can shake faith in the reality of a loving and all-powerful God. …

My purpose today is to assure you that our Heavenly Father and the Savior live and that They love all humanity. The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life. [1]  

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, the second counselor in the First Presidency and an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, explains the depth of Their love:

Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.… Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. …He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. [2]  

When adversity seems to pile up around us—and around those we love—it is comforting to know that God is our Father in Heaven, and He loves us. He will always be there for us. In times of distress, we can turn to Him in prayer. We find answers to those prayers as we study the scriptures and serve others, becoming in tune with His Spirit.

Heavenly Father Has a Plan for Us

The other comforting thought in times of trial is that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. As the Father of our spirits, God did not send us to earth by accident. Heavenly Father created a plan that is large enough in scope for the entire human family and yet personally designed for each individual. Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said:

From the limited perspective of those who do not have knowledge, understanding, or faith in the Father’s plan—who look at the world only through the lens of mortality with its wars, violence, disease, and evil—this life can seem depressing, chaotic, unfair, and meaningless. Church leaders have compared this perspective with someone walking into the middle of a three-act play. Those without knowledge of the Father’s plan do not understand what happened in the first act, or the premortal existence, and the purposes established there; nor do they understand the clarification and resolution that come in the third act, which is the glorious fulfillment of the Father’s plan. [3]  

In the first act, we lived in a pre-mortal realm as spirit children of our Father. He outlined His plan for us, explaining His part and our part. In the second act, He would send us to earth to gain mortal bodies—with all of the joys and sorrows and everything in between—as a test to see if we would obey His commandments in all things, no matter what. He knew we would commit sin, and no unclean thing can dwell in His presence (1 Nephi 10:21 in the Book of Mormon: Another testament of Jesus Christ and a companion scripture to the Bible). So He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to set the example for us to follow and to perform the Atonement, whereby we can be forgiven of our sins after we repent. The third act is the resolution of all things. If we have passed the test of mortality and proven ourselves faithful to God in all things, we can live with Him again.

But included in our Heavenly Father’s plan for us were trials and tribulations to test us, purify us and teach us the things that God wants us to learn. Elder Cook said:

There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God. [3]

In the midst of trials and hard times, it is helpful to understand that there is purpose in all things. Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us, custom tailored to our personality and needs. That plan includes heartache and suffering as well as joy and gladness.

Several years ago, I hiked to a beautiful spot called Goose Creek Falls with the teenage girls in our ward (or congregation). As I was sitting there, looking at the beautiful scenery, I saw a large tree growing out of the rock at the side of the cliff. Not growing through a couple of boulders, but out of the bedrock. I was amazed at the resilience of the tree, and it brought to my mind some lines from a poem called “Good Timber,” by Douglas Malloch:

The tree that never had to fight

For sun and sky and air and light,

But stood out on the open plain

And always got its share of rain

Never became a forest king

But lived and died a scrubby thing. [4]

The beauty of the tree was not just in its leaves and certainly not in its gnarled trunk, but in its sheer determination to fight through the bedrock of the cliff and grow into a forest king. That is the purpose of trials in our lives. They are refining fires that build our character and solidify our faith in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, if we allow them to do so.

What Mormons know about God is this: He is real, He loves us and He has a plan for us. When we are in the midst of sore trials, and we can see Satan’s hand upon us, we just need to look up. Up to our Father in Heaven. He will always be there, and He will never leave us comfortless. He loves us with a perfect, pure love. His plan for us is perfect and pure. As we have faith in that knowledge, we can withstand the storms of life.

Cub Scouts—A Time for Preparation

In The Church of Jesus Christ, boys enter the Scouting program as Cubs at 8—the age at which they become accountable to God for their actions and are baptized. Cub Scouts is a time of preparation, a time to prepare to enter the Boy Scouts and to receive the priesthood (if they are worthy), both of which will happen when boys turn 12. Cub Scouts memorize the Scout Oath and Scout Law. They also learn why and how to follow the guidelines. In The Church of Jesus Christ, “Primary” is the program for children ages 3 to 11. Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary General President, said:

Primary is a time for preparation — and the time of preparation is as critical as the time of performance. [1]

Thus, preparation for receiving the priesthood begins in Cub Scouts, where the boys are taught a higher code of ethical and moral conduct. Each boy learns the Scout Oath, which is:

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight. [2]

The Scout Law outlines the desired characteristics of participants: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. [2] Each trait is vital for one to honor the oath and covenant he will make when he receives the priesthood of God. But the preparation does not end with teaching values. In a world of ever-increasing permissiveness, Sister Wixom said even Cub Scouts need the frank discussions once reserved for older boys. She said the average age a boy is first exposed to pornography is 9. [1] The Cub Scout program helps to warn both parents and children of the potential dangers. I still remember my surprise when I opened my then-8-year-old son’s Cub Scout book and discovered that we had to discuss sexual predators and Internet pornography. But I realized that safety comes in knowledge; danger lurks in ignorance. From the beginning of the program, boys are taught how to make correct decisions and avoid potential pitfalls. As they advance through the Cub Scout program, they are well-prepared for the greater responsibilities and challenges that lie ahead. The values taught in Scouting reinforce those taught in the home and at Church.

Boy Scouts—Leadership in Action

The Cub Scout program in The Church of Jesus Christ teaches boys the leadership skills necessary to progress not only in Scouts, but also in the priesthood. But the training doesn’t end in Cub Scouts. Boys Scouts is leadership in action—especially for the young men of The Church of Jesus Christ who are holders of the Aaronic—or preparatory—priesthood. From the time young men enter the Boy Scouts, they have six short years to prepare for full-time missionary service and the responsibilities of the higher, or Melchizedek, priesthood. Speaking of Scouting and the Young Men program in the Church, Elder Robert D. Hales, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with the First Presidency, the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ), said:

Some of the great blessings of these programs that have been developed are that as the youth of the Church, you will have a clear understanding of who you are, you will be accountable for your actions, you will take responsibility for the conduct of your life, and you will be able to set goals so that you might achieve what you were sent to earth to achieve. Our plea is that you strive to do your very best. [3]

hat is the first line of the Scout oath: Do your best. And as you do your best, the Lord will help you. Elder Hales continued:

During the preparatory period of your lives it is so important that you cultivate spiritual growth, physical growth, education, personal development, career preparation, citizenship, and social skills. These qualities are all part of your priesthood duties and will help in the decisions that lie ahead for the next decades of your life.  [3]

All of these are part of the Scouting program.

Duty to God—The Tie That Binds Mormons and Scouts

The strong ethical and moral values taught in the Boy Scout program are an excellent companion to the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church of Jesus Christ has been loyal to the Scouting program because Scout leaders have stayed true to their ethical and moral roots. Bishop Gary E. Stevenson, the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ, said:

Boy Scouts of today face issues not faced by generations before them:  declining morals, technology, addictive behavior and declining academic performance to name a few. I believe that the key to solving these issues lies in family and duty to God. If boys truly understood what their duty to God entails and lived it, they would grow safely into manhood.

…It is this common belief in duty to God that has forged the iron-strong connection with Boy Scouts of America we (i.e. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have shared over the last 100 years. One hundred years of evidence has shown that this impact-proof, non-rusting core principle works better than whatever has been, historically, the next-best idea. Duty to God is where the power lies. Duty to God is what changes lives. [4]

Teaching young men their Duty to God is the focus of the Boy Scouts of America. And that is the focus of The Church of Jesus Christ. Neither organization has an agenda, concerning youth, other than teaching the next generation how to be the best they can be. Both organizations’ strong commitment to their core values—which have stood for a hundred years—allows them to work together on their common goal.

Immortality and Eternal Life

Immortality means to live forever as a resurrected being. Immortality is a beautiful gift that will be given to every single one of Heavenly Father’s children; everyone who lives on earth, or who has lived on earth, will receive immortality. Jesus Christ overcame physical death and was the first person ever resurrected. Through the Atonement, we all will be resurrected and have immortality.

Eternal life, sometimes called “exaltation” in scripture, means to not only be immortal, but to live in God’s presence and have families eternally. The kingdoms of heaven do not share equally in the glory of God.  Exalted people enjoy a fulness of His glory.  The Doctrine and Covenants states that eternal life is “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Those who gain eternal life will live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever. They will also be with their families—children, spouses—forever. This amazing gift is also possible through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, but also requires us to obey the God’s laws and ordinances while on earth.

Receiving Eternal Life

Nephi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, explains what is required of us in order to receive eternal life. Nephi states that the first step is following the example of Jesus Christ to be baptized and receive “a remission of [our] sins.” Nephi teaches that after baptism, we have entered the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:17-18). However, after entering the path, we must continue to walk down it. We must “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” We must “press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end,” and then, “thus saith the father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).

In addition to being baptized, there are other covenants, or promises, we must make here on earth in order to receive eternal life. We must also make sacred covenants in holy temples, including the covenant of marriage. These covenants are very important; without them, we cannot receive eternal life. Our covenants are also eternal, meaning they can last forever, as can the marriage and family that are bound within the covenant.

Endure to the End

We can’t receive eternal life in an instant. Gaining a testimony isn’t enough; being baptized isn’t enough. As Nephi said, we must “endure to the end.” Qualifying for eternal life is done every day, with the good desires of our hearts, and the small acts of love, service, and obedience we give to our Father in Heaven and to His children. We can’t have a marathon of obedience, followed by an absolute disregard for His commandments, and expect to gain eternal life. We must continually strive to follow the counsel of Nephi to feast on the word of God, or the scriptures, and to love God and all people.

Eternal life is the gift we all are striving for. It’s the reason we are here on earth—to gain a body, be tested, and eventually return to God’s presence, which is eternal life. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the Mormon Church, we strive each day to qualify for eternal life. We make sacred covenants with God, at baptism and in the holy temple to help us reach our goal of eternal life. We proclaim the gospel to the world in order to bring others to eternal life.  We mostly strive to become more like God and to do His will.  In so doing, we become better and kinder.  At the judgment seat of God, it will be more important who we’ve become and not what we’ve done.

Sometimes it can seem daunting to endure to the end. The word “endure” makes it sound really hard. But that’s the way life is supposed to be—if it weren’t, our faith and testimonies would never grow. We have many tools and guides to help us endure to the end and gain eternal life, including scriptures, prayer, living prophets, and the temple. Heavenly Father loves us all, and wants us to have eternal life.

Mormon is a nickname sometimes used to describe members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People sometimes inadvertently refer to this faith as the Mormon Church, but Mormons teach that a church belongs to the person for whom it is named, and so they never use the term “Mormon Church.” The long name is a mouthful, but it clarifies whose church it is. When shortening it, they call it The Church of Jesus Christ.

Mormons believe wholeheartedly in the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon teaches that grace and salvation come only through Jesus Christ and that had He not been willing to atone for our sins and to die on our behalf, we would have had no eternal future.

What Does the Bible Say About Grace and Works?

The Bible speaks of grace, atonement, salvation, and exaltation in many seemingly contradictory terms. To fully understand what the New Testament really says about the subject, we have to look at all the scriptures involved, not just the one or two that reinforce the way we want it to work. So, while the Bible says we are saved by grace and not by works, in other places it says that a person who does not keep the commandments will not get into Heaven.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, KJV of the Bible)

Titus 3:3-7 says we are not justified by works, but James 2:17-26 says that we are. How can both those ideas be true at once?

One way to understand this complication is to look at a few basic facts most Christians would agree on and then to see how they fit into a larger picture. Most Christians, for instance, agree that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and that this is something we could not do for ourselves. Most also agree that a wicked person can’t go to Heaven and that good Christians should act like good Christians, although they may disagree about what type of behavior constitutes good Christianity.

What Do I Have to Do to Be a Christian?

Most Christian religions state that we are saved entirely by grace and nothing else. However, most also require a person to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior in order to be saved—and this, of course, is an act. Most also require baptism, again an act. The question is really, then, not whether acts are required, but how many and what they are.

It is clear from the Bible that how we live our lives matters. Mormons believe that the atonement was performed for everyone, even those who are evil or who reject it, and that it was a free gift. Some portions are unconditional—everyone gets them, whether or not they believe in Christ, or whether or not they want them. For example, we all rise from the dead and live forever, and we all have the ability to repent of our sins. That is the result of grace.

However, other aspects of the atonement, while present and available, have to be activated. For example, the ability to repent is of no value unless we actually do repent. Repenting activates additional aspects of the atonement.

Mormons believe that being saved is a lifetime effort. We don’t believe that once we accept Jesus as our Savior that our responsibility to Him comes to an end and we can go on with our lives with no spiritual responsibilities. Jesus made that clear when He told us that if we love Him we must keep the commandments. Accepting Jesus as our Savior is only the first step, not the last. It is then that we can really begin to fulfill our mission on earth.

While grace at its most basic level allows all of us to live forever, the full measure of the atonement allows us to live in God’s presence forever, and for most of us, that is a greater goal. Not everyone will receive exaltation in God’s kingdom. For that, we have to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and then we have to act like Christians. This does not mean we put on a meaningless show as did the Pharisees, who felt that exact obedience to very detailed laws would save them and nothing else was required. (See Matthew 6:5). Jesus made it clear that this was not enough. He criticized those who fasted and prayed, but who did so only when people were looking and only by making a big show of the process. That would be the definition of being saved by your works and that is not what Mormons are taught to do. Rather, they follow what the Bible and the Book of Mormon says on the subject. Here is what the Book of Mormon teaches on this subject:

For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.

For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.

For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.

For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.

And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.

Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift. (Moroni 7:5-10 in the Book of Mormon.)

In other words, obedience to the commandments isn’t something a Mormon does to “earn points.” The commandments aren’t kept lightly or out of a need to “earn” heaven. Rather, they are kept because we love Jesus Christ and we made a promise to Him that we would keep His commandments and honor His name. It would be extraordinarily disrespectful to say, “Sure, I’ll accept you as my Savior, but I’m not going to change my life for you, no matter how great your sacrifices were. I’m not really interested in making any sacrifices of my own.” Mormons consider the willingness to sacrifice worldly things for Jesus Christ to be a measure of our love for Him and a way of thanking Him for what He has done for us. In addition, we promised to do so and our behavior is a measure of just how much we meant our promises and how much commitment we’ve really made to Him.

When we study the teachings of Jesus in the Bible, we note He spent more time on how to live than on actual doctrine. Clearly, how we live our lives matters or Jesus wouldn’t have spent so much time telling us how to do it. Nor would the Bible in general be so filled with commandments. Actions matter.

When we get to Heaven, we will be ourselves. Everything we’ve chosen to become in our hearts and minds will still be there. In Heaven, in God’s presence, we will be happier than we’ve ever been before. Part of that happiness will come from being with God again. Part of it will come from not being with those who choose not to live by God’s standards. Another part will come from having become the person God wanted us to be. No unclean thing can dwell in God’s kingdom and so we need to work on cleansing ourselves so we are worthy to be in His presence. We can’t get there without Jesus’ atonement, but we do need to get ourselves ready for eternity, just as we prepare for anything else that really matters. You have probably worked very hard to prepare yourself for important events or to make yourself worthy and ready for important goals on earth—isn’t getting back home to God even more important than getting into college or achieving the leading role in a play? Why would we refuse to put time and effort into achieving Heaven?

Mormons aren’t earning their way into Heaven. They are merely putting God first and are demonstrating their happiness at being able to put the world aside as much as possible to focus on things of eternal value.

Additional Resource:

Read more on whether we are saved by grace or works at LDS.org.

The scriptures teach us that “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:17). In other words, pure religion is charity. Religion isn’t just a belief in a higher, divine power but also the expression of that belief. Spirituality, according to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, is “spiritual character, quality, or nature” and “religious devotion.” Romans 8:6 says, “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Our spiritual character is a function of how we practice our religion, or our belief in God.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church, I have been taught the value of serving others. Pure religion isn’t a belief, it is action based on belief. In an April 1998 address titled “Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart,” President James E. Faust, then second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ, quoted a story from a newspaper that illustrates this:

A group of religion instructors [were] taking a summer course on the life of the Savior and focusing particularly on the parables. When the final exam time came, … the students arrived at the classroom to find a note that the exam would be given in another building across campus. Moreover, the note said, it must be finished within the two-hour time period that was starting almost at that moment. The students hurried across campus. On the way they passed a little girl crying over a flat tire on her new bike. An old man hobbled painfully toward the library with a cane in one hand, spilling books from a stack he was trying to manage with the other. On a bench by the union building sat a shabbily dressed, bearded man [in obvious distress].

“Rushing into the other classroom, the students were met by the professor, who announced they had all flunked the final exam. The only true test of whether they understood the Savior’s life and teaching, he said, was how they treated people in need. Their weeks of study at the feet of a capable professor had taught them a great deal of what Christ had said and done” (“Viewpoint: Too Hurried to Serve?” [LDS] Church News, 1 Oct. 1988, 16).

President Faust continued:

In their haste to finish the technicalities of the course, … they failed to recognize the application represented by the three scenes that had been deliberately staged. They learned the letter but not the spirit [of the law]. Their neglect of the little girl and the two men showed that the profound message of the course had not entered into their inward parts.”

I can relate to the religion students who were so focused on finishing their test on time that they missed—or figured someone else would help— those in need around them. It probably would not have taken that long to stop and help either the little girl or the men. How often do I get so caught up in what I’m doing that I miss opportunities for little acts of service all around me?

Service makes us spiritual

Several years ago, I was in a store parking lot and a man came up to my car and asked for money, saying he had run out of gas. My first thought was, “Yeah, right.” So I told him no. But immediately the thought came to me that I should help him. I tried to go back and help him, but he was long gone. I have always felt bad about that. I had some cash in my wallet, but I didn’t listen to the prompting from the Holy Spirit to help. I did not practice pure religion, and spiritually I suffered, because I knew I should have helped.

A few weeks ago, I drove to the gas station about 11 at night. As I was filling up, a woman approached me and asked where a certain hotel was. I live in a small town, but there are several hotels, and I wasn’t sure where this particular hotel was. So I looked it up and told her the address. I asked if she wanted a ride because it was cold outside and she wasn’t wearing a coat. She declined. I finished pumping my gas and then left. As I drove down the street, I saw her walking, and she looked cold. I called my husband and asked where the hotel was. He told me, and it was a lot further than I thought. So I turned around and stopped and asked the woman again if she wanted a ride. I told her the hotel was further down the road than I had thought, and I was headed that direction. This time, she accepted the invitation. We chatted during the few-minute drive, and then I dropped her off at the hotel. I don’t know why she was out alone so late at night with no coat, but I felt good knowing that this time, I didn’t ignore the prompting to help. That is the essence of pure religion—helping people when they need it, not when it’s convenient for us.

President Faust said:

“We must at times search our own souls and discover what we really are. Our real character, much as we would wish, cannot be hidden. It shines from within us transparently. Attempts to deceive others only deceive ourselves. We are often like the emperor in the fairy tale who thought he was arrayed in beautiful garments when he was in fact unclothed.”

I love the title of President Faust’s address: Search me, O God, and know my heart. For those who are true followers of Christ, who want to practice pure religion with the right spirit, that is the litmus test. Honest, true seekers of Jesus Christ will want the sweet assurance that God has seen their hearts and knows their intents are sincere.

There were times, of course, when there was no prophet. Those times were called apostasies and they happened when people rejected and endangered the prophets. God would take away prophecy for a while before allowing us to try again. When Jesus Christ began his ministry, He served as the prophet as well as the Lord. There was no need for another prophet when the Lord Himself was here. However, when he was killed, we again needed a prophet. Peter, as head of the apostles, received that responsibility. He received revelations such as the one that took the gospel out beyond the Jews to all the world. His revelations changed practices, even practices in place while Jesus was alive. The same revelation that made it acceptable to preach the gospel to the world was also used to end required circumcision, for instance.

Apostasy in ancient times

Most of the apostles were killed, however, and after a while, no one was appointed to take their places as they died. The world had largely rejected the prophets and so they lost the privilege of having one. Now the few valiant Saints who remained faithful were left on their own to decide what was true.

Even while the apostles remained, Saints were wandering off course. The apostles spent much of their time writing letters or preaching in an effort to stem incorrect interpretations of gospel doctrine. Fortunately, there was a source of official information, someone authorized to interpret scripture correctly. When the apostles were gone, there was no one to ask when disagreements arose. Each group of Saints made its own interpretations. If they disagreed, they simply broke off to form a new denomination.

Various councils in places like Nicaea codified the most popular doctrines, but they were chosen by ordinary people, not prophets and were made long after the apostles were gone. The Protestant reformers tried to codify doctrine as well, but they never considered themselves prophets and were simply doing the best they could, often under dangerous conditions. They, and their later followers, helped to bring about freedom of religion, a condition essential for a restoration to occur.

Any time God brought prophets back into the world, it was necessary to restore anything that had been lost while there were none. By the 1800s, so many truths taught in the Bible were lost or altered that small adjustments weren’t enough. There were millions of denominations, all teaching conflicting ideas even when they were part of the same larger faith group. Not only were there many variations of Protestantism, but there were even variations in groups within that division—for instance, there are many different flavors of Baptist faith.

Joseph Smith was baffled by all these choices. He understood instinctively that they could not all be true since they disagreed with each other on very critical subjects. He found that James 1:5 in the Bible instructed Christians to pray if they wanted to know what was true. Since that was obviously the only way he could really learn the truth, he did just that. He was told in a vision by God and Jesus Christ personally that none had the complete truth, so he wasn’t to join any of them. When he was grown God sent an angel to help prepare him to lead the restoration as a prophet.

Restored Knowledge

The Church he helped to organize is known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some people call it the Mormon Church, but Mormons ask that that name not be used. The Book of Mormon quote Jesus Christ in saying that the Church belongs to the person for whom it is named, and so it needs to be named after Jesus, not Mormon, who was a prophet. The word Mormon can be used to describe the Church’s members, however.

Mormon doctrine is restored knowledge, not new ideas. Many of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles have been lost or altered. Many take small portions of the Bible out of context, giving them a meaning never intended. Of course, there are also many translations of the Bible, all of which can alter a meaning based on the word choices the translator makes. It is impossible to simply translate word for word without making choices. Over time, occasional verses were added or subtracted to meet a specific goal. Finally, of course, the Bible was not compiled until long after the apostles were gone and there were many documents. Compilers made choices about which to include and there is not, today, a single canon. Various faiths use different combinations of books in their Bibles and some books are lost completely. (See Mormonism and the Bible/Lost Scripture at FAIRLDS.org.)

Without a prophet, it is impossible for the gospel to travel on a correct path. Although the Bible is an essential resource revered by Mormons, we know it has been interpreted in many different ways, as evidenced by the many churches in existence today that interpret it differently. The gospel requires a prophet to clarify that which is not always clear.

Mormonism provides that prophet. The Bible says the Church must be built on a foundation of prophets and apostles and that God will do nothing except through prophets. He understood the essentialness of the prophet’s role, which is why He created prophets to begin with. Only with a prophet can a true restoration occur.

So, what is a father? The dictionary defines the word “father” as “a man in relation to his natural child or children.” The word is derived from the Latin word “pater.” The actual word “pater” is used in English when referring to a person’s legal father. Another derivative of the Latin root “pater” is “paternal.” Therefore, when referring to a person’s “paternal” kindred, the reference is being made to those persons of whom his legal father (pater) is a direct offspring.

Fatherhood – A Wonderful, Eternal Principle

In a June 2002 message to fathers, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest presiding group within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church by the media and others) exhorted.” The Lord’s plan of salvation requires that you pass through trials in this mortal life. Those trials seem to be greatest when you reach fatherhood, but be assured—fatherhood, in a sense, is an apprenticeship to godhood” (Father, Consider Your Ways, Ensign, June 2002, 12.)

Latter-day Saint fathers have been taught from their youth by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ, as well as, through the lessons that they are continuously taught in their priesthood quorums, that they have a solemn sacred duty and responsibility, and an extremely important role to play as the patriarch of their homes. Ezra Taft Benson, the 13^th President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ reminded fathers:

The sacred title of ‘father’ is shared with the Almighty. In the Church men are called and released. Did you ever hear of a mortal father being released?

“…Fatherhood is not a matter of station or wealth; it is a matter of desire, diligence, and determination to see one’s family exalted in the celestial kingdom. If that prize is lost, nothing else really matters” (Great Things Required of Their Fathers, Ensign, May 1981, 36)

In another address to fathers titled To the Fathers in Israel, President Benson further taught,

Fathers, yours is an eternal calling from which you are never released. Callings in the Church, as important as they are, by their very nature are only for a period of time, and then an appropriate release takes place. But a father’s calling is eternal, and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity” (To the Fathers in Israel, Ensign, Nov 1987, 48.)

And so, Latter-day Saint fathers are taught that being a father is not just a moral obligation that lasts until the end of mortality, but rather, they will continue to be fathers throughout eternity.

Mormon Fathers are “Normal” Fathers

The question may arise, “Are Mormon fathers different from “normal” fathers?” The short and long of that answer is that Mormon fathers are normal fathers.

A Mormon father loves his wife and children and does everything within his capability to ensure the well-being of his family. He goes to work every day and earns a paycheck that he uses to provide for his family’s temporal needs. He works in such vocations as construction worker, electrician, plumber, musician, actor, banker, lawyer, school teacher, and grocery store clerk, to name but a few. There are Mormon fathers who work on Wall Street and in prestigious offices in Washington, D.C., and there are those who work in small towns, inner cities, and suburbs. Nothing any different than a “normal” father does on a daily routine basis.

At the end of his day, a Mormon father is tired and sweaty and looks forward to going home to be with his family. His day does not end when he reaches the threshold of his home. Once at home, he assumes his responsibilities as husband and father by perhaps helping his wife to finish preparing dinner, or taking care of the children until dinner is ready. He helps with homework, bath time, makes sure that teeth are brushed, helps get pajamas on, reads bedtime stories, and presides over the family evening prayer.

Mormon Fathers strive to be Righteous Examples

In addition, a Mormon father is the priesthood leader of his home – the patriarch of his family. As such, he is the spiritual leader of the home, and realizes that he has an awesome responsibility, with the help of his companion, to ensure that the feet of his progeny are firmly grounded on gospel principles.

As the priesthood leader of the home, he may also be called upon at various times to administer priesthood blessings to his family. A Mormon father realizes that his is a sacred
responsibility – in which he has been given a charge, a stewardship from Heavenly Father – and that the proper way to execute that charge, to guard and protect that stewardship, is through righteous example. His ultimate goal is not so much to leave his progeny with material things when he departs his earthly life, but rather, a spiritual legacy that they will be able to continue to build upon as they build and strengthen their own testimonies of gospel truths, and strive for exaltation.

Kim Crenshaw Sorensen, a member of the Northridge Eighth Ward, Orem Utah Northridge Stake in a February 1995 article in the Ensign magazine titled A Latter-day Father’s Guidebook compared fathers in the Book of Mormon (which Latter-day Saints testify is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a volume of scripture comparable to the Holy Bible) to the fathers of today:

We live in a day when many fathers are working at a fevered pace to build material legacies of homes, boats, and bank accounts for their children. Exemplary Book of Mormon fathers, on the other hand, show us the importance of leaving legacies that cannot be cankered by rust.

What more could we hope for than to leave our children the spiritual tools, the self-control, and the faith to become witnesses and disciples of Jesus Christ? Lehi and his sons Nephi and Jacob, Jacob and his son Enos, King Benjamin and his three sons, Mosiah and his four sons, Alma and his sons, Helaman and his sons Lehi and Nephi, and Mormon and his son Moroni all came to know the joys of discipleship and discipline.

The sons of righteous Book of Mormon fathers were grateful they had been taught in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Enos 1:1), which led them to Jesus Christ” (A Latter-day Father’s Guidebook, Ensign, Feb 1995, 15.)

A Humble Prayer for All Fathers

The remarks given by Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15^th President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, brings a fitting close to this treatise in the form of a humble prayer for all fathers. He once said,

God bless you, dear fathers. May He bless you with wisdom and judgment, with understanding, with self-discipline and self-control, with faith and kindness and love. And may He bless the sons and daughters who have come into your homes, that yours may be a fortifying, strengthening, guiding hand as they walk the treacherous path of life. As the years pass—and they will pass ever so quickly—may you know that “peace… which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) as you look upon your sons and daughters, who likewise have known that sacred and wonderful peace. Such is my humble prayer, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen (Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children, Ensign, Nov 2000, 50.)

Additional Resources:

The Fundamental Beliefs of Mormonism

The Importance of Marriage and Family to Mormons

In Acts 27 we learn of Paul’s dangerous journey when he headed toward Rome. Verse twenty narrates their desperate situation: “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” There will be times in our lives when there is a huge trial or storm upon us and we might not have any hope of it clearing. Dark clouds will gather all around us, and we might think that it will never get better, but the storms in life usually pass.

As the travelers were on this journey to Rome and were caught in the storm, they could turn to a prophet (Paul) for guidance. As we are in the storms of our lives we need to turn to our present-day prophet, who receives revelation from our Heavenly Father for us. We should always listen and obey the prophet. He can give us guidance and hope in the future when those dark clouds gather round us (and even when the sun is shining)! I haven’t been at a point in my life where I have experienced a complete loss of hope. I am grateful that my trials have consisted only of gray clouds. I don’t necessarily see the sun, but I still receive light. I sincerely hope that when a trial of completely black clouds comes my way, I will have the strength, courage, and testimony to push away the black clouds surrounding me to give way to the sunlight, and the Son!

The scriptures are an amazing way to bring light into our lives and come closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. They aren’t just black words on a white page. They are words for us! We need to read the stories and apply them in our lives. We should walk away from studying the scriptures saying, “This is my story!” I need to be more diligent in this kind of study. I will find the words the prophets have written for me. The Word of God is for you and for me, it is our story! Anyone can read the scriptures, but you have to search them and ponder them to make them your story!

BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.”  As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America.  (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names.  We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

I Stand All Amazed

Dear Sammy,

Today my Book of Mormon class was amazing!! We learned about the difference between the Church of Christ and the Gospel of Christ, because they are two different things. I mostly want to tell you about the Gospel of Christ though, because it might be of help to you and bring you good feelings. In talking about the Gospel of Christ we were in 3 Nephi 27:13-21. Verses 13-15 tell of Jesus’ role in the

Gospel. These verses talk about how before Jesus could lift us up, He had to be lifted up (on the cross). And before He could judge us, He had to be judged by men. Jesus was judged according to man’s works, not His works. But when Jesus was suffering for us in the Garden, He wasn’t judged on His own merits.

He was judged on my, Kelsey Rasband’s merits, and on Sammy Shelley’s merits. He was punished based on our actions, not His. He didn’t want the punishment to be on any of us, any of His brother’s and sisters. He took it all on Him. It is so amazing to me that Jesus loves me enough to do that. He loves me, imperfect, flawed Kelsey, and He loved me so much he was willing to pay the ultimate price. Jesus was all alone that night, and He was alone because of you and me. But He still suffered for us. I can’t even fathom this. I love my Savior so much, and I am so grateful for what He did. I find it difficult to even express in words how I feel.

I hope you understand what the Savior did for you, and I hope you know that He loves you. He paid the ultimate price for you, because he loves you unconditionally, no matter what you have done. He wants you to come unto Him. Sammy, I know He is real and loves us. Next time you sing “I Stand all Amazed”, think of this and think of Him.

If you are reading this post and have any questions or comments, I would be happy to hear from you.

History

The patriarch Jacob gave a blessing to each of his sons before he died: “And Jacob called unto his sons and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days” (Genesis 49:1). The Prophet Joseph Smith, the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ, taught that “wherever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a Patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons, etc.”1

Patriarchs

The Church of Jesus Christ is organized into wards and stakes. Thinking of the Church as a big tent, stakes support the weight of the tent and help it perform its function to protect the people inside. A stake is organized into several thousand members of the Church, depending upon the number of members living in a geographical area.  A stake patriarch is called to serve in each stake. They are chosen by the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ. They are ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood and are specially appointed to give patriarchal blessings.

What Is a Patriarchal Blessing?

Similar to the blessings Jacob gave to his sons, a patriarchal blessing in the Church of Jesus Christ is a priesthood blessing that includes a “declaration of a person’s lineage, stating that the person is of the house of Israel—a descendant of Abraham, belonging to a specific tribe of Jacob.” Mormons believe that it doesn’t matter if “a person’s lineage in the house of Israel is through bloodlines or by adoption. Church members are counted as descendants of Abraham and heirs to all the promises and blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant.”2

The blessing also contains “personal counsel from the Lord” to guide the recipient throughout his or her entire life.3

How to Obtain a Patriarchal Blessing

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ who would like to receive a patriarchal blessing talk to their ward bishop to obtain a recommend that they will give to the stake patriarch. (A stake is made up of several smaller congregations called wards. A bishop is the presiding high priest in his ward.) The bishop will ask a few questions in his interview to make sure the member is ready for a patriarchal blessing. He will also answer any questions the member may have.

After the member has received a recommend, he or she calls the patriarch to schedule an appointment. Most members of the Church prepare themselves spiritually to receive this priesthood blessing by fasting—not eating a meal or drinking water—prior to the appointment (if physically possible).

The patriarch prays for divine guidance before he pronounces each blessing. He speaks to the member briefly before he begins giving the blessing. The blessing is recorded and transcribed, and a printed copy of the blessing is given to the member and archived at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Purpose of the Printed Copy of the Blessing

Receiving the blessing is a spiritual experience. Members feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and feel close to their Heavenly Father while the patriarch speaks words of inspired comfort and counsel, and prophesy of their life mission. Members are often told the fulfillment of the blessing is dependent upon their faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments.

Once a member receives a printed copy of the blessing, he or she is encouraged to read it often.

Church of Jesus Christ President and Prophet Thomas S. Monson said:

“Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers. . . . Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal [compass] to chart your course and guide your way.”4

Most Mormons regularly read their blessings. Many connect their life experiences with the promises, admonitions, and cautions found in their blessings and write in their journals about them. Many members of the Church have memorized at least part of their blessings. They consider them as sacred and prayerfully consider if or when to share the contents.

Notes:

1. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1973), 151.

2. Patriarchal Blessings

3. Patriarchal Blessings

4. “Your Patriarchal Blessing: a Liahona of Light,” Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, November 1986.

Reference:

Living as a Latter-day Saint: Your Patriarchal Blessing

This article was written by Paula Hicken, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Paula Hicken was an editor with the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship from 2000 to 2013. She earned her BA degree in English from Brigham Young University. She edited Insights, the Maxwell Institute newsletter, and was the production editor for Faith, Philosophy, Scripture, Hebrew Law in Biblical Times (2nd ed.), Third Nephi: An Incomparable Scripture, and was one of the copy editors for Analysis of the Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon. She also helped manage the Maxwell Institute intellectual property and oversaw rights and permissions. She has published in the Ensign, the Liahona, the LDS Church News, and the FARMS Review.

Additional Resource:

Patriarchal Blessings

http://youtu.be/-9pbAch6cMw