A Deseret News article from August 5, 2013, reports that the U.S. Justice Department will begin tracking hate crimes against Sikhs, Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Buddhists, Hindus, Arabs, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Orthodox Christians in the wake of a deadly shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin in August of 2012[1].

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released a blog post on August 2 announcing the new policy. He said, “Having accurate information allows law enforcement leaders and policymakers to make informed decisions about the allocation of resources and priorities—decisions that impact real people, and affect public safety in every neighborhood and community. Today, I am proud to report that we have taken steps to collect this information.”

Members of the Sikh community have wanted Sikhs added to the list of groups against whom the Justice Department tracks hate crimes. However, as Amardeep Singh, program director of the Sikh Coalition, said, “It will take more than tracking hate crime statistics to stem the tide” of violence against Sikhs.

Hate Crimes Often Stem From Ignorance

In August of 2012, Wade Michael Page walked into a Sikh temple in the Milwaukee area and began shooting, killing six priests and worshippers and wounding five others before taking his own life. The shooting is only one incident in a string of violence against Sikhs since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City. Since September 11, Holder reported that the Justice Department “has investigated more than 800 incidents . . . targeting Arabs, Muslims, Sikhs, South Asians, and those perceived to be members of these groups”[1].

The Justice Department’s announcement that it will record statistics of hate crimes against Sikhs, Mormons, and other religious groups is but one step towards greater religious freedom and equality in a country where no one should be afraid to practice his or her beliefs.

One of the biggest enemies is ignorance. When people misunderstand a religion and judge an entire population by the behavior of a small percentage of radicals, it becomes easier to target anyone belonging to that group, or even seeming to belong to that group. As a society, we need to make fewer snap judgments and to be more accepting of other people’s beliefs.

My friend was a Mormon. I’d known Mormon kids before and always liked them, but I’d never spent extended time with them. When I came home after the campout, my mother asked what we’d done. I said, “Prayed. Every time I turned around we were praying as a group or people were praying on their own or they were saying they felt inspired to do something. I’ve never seen such a praying people.”

Praying All Day

This was a whole new concept of prayer for me. I’d grown up saying bedtime prayers but not attending church much. Prayers were really more of a tradition for me than a central feature of life, but for these Mormons, prayer was something very different. They didn’t always get on their knees to pray. They had formal prayers in the morning and evening, before meals, before we went canoeing, before we drove to or from the campsite, and when some teens got lost for a short time. However, they also prayed informally for guidance, comfort, or wisdom.

Over the years, since becoming a Mormon, I’ve realized I can keep the lines of communication open all day long. I can talk to God just as if He was standing right here beside me as I do the dishes, write, or shop. Just as importantly, He can talk to me while I do all those things. It has led to a much more personal relationship than anything I’d ever imagined in my pre-Mormon days.

My early prayers hadn’t included waiting for answers. I got answers to action-based requests such as, “Please help me do well on my test,” but I didn’t know how to get answers that required God to send me information. I don’t think I even realized God could give me information.

Praying for Information

It made a huge difference to me to find out God could help me with anything at all if it was righteous and important. Prayer was a conversation, not a monologue. While I have formal prayers, those informal chats are essential to my spiritual growth. Often as I’m doing something that requires no thought, I talk informally about something that is on my mind. Somehow, those prayers, rather than the formal ones, are more productive. I don’t think about the formula for a formal prayer and I’m not in a hurry to get on with my day or to go to sleep.

When my children were young, car rides and housework were great times to get them talking and to share my ideas with them. It seems God uses that technique as well and so during those times of mindless work, I can talk quietly, openly, and in-depth with God about anything that is on my mind that day—my business, my family, my church work, or even just me. God is never too busy to stop and listen to me while I talk, no matter how long it takes. He never gives me pointless advice and He always knows just what I need.

How do I know when God is talking to me?

At first it was hard, simply because I’d never listened to Him before. I knew that during spiritual situations, I’d often felt my heart leap or feel full and I’d come to recognize it was the Holy Ghost confirming the correctness of something. When I asked a yes or no question, I frequently discovered I had that same feeling if the answer was yes and a negative feeling in my heart for a no. I was able to confirm that by keeping track in my journal of how things turned out. If I followed the warmth that I interpreted as a yes, things always went well. When I ignored it, or when I went ahead and did what I suspected I had been told not to do, things did not. It was a personal science experiment.

From time to time, thoughts came into my mind. It’s very difficult to explain how a thought placed there by the Holy Ghost, who delivers God’s answers, is different from my own, but again, I recorded my ideas about the source in my journals and then monitored the results until I could tell the difference. I suspect the way they come differs with each person—the method of idea delivery is one that is comfortable for me.

Waiting for Answers to Prayers

Sometimes God makes me wait. I have to pray for a long time in order to get an answer. I have realized that when those things happen, there is always a good reason. Often I already knew the answer but was hoping God would give me a pass on doing what I knew was the right thing. He sometimes didn’t answer in those situations because I needed to learn personal responsibility for my knowledge. Other times, I feel He wanted to know if I really wanted an answer. If I was willing to keep asking, I was also more likely to act on the answer. Other times, the timing simply wasn’t right or I was asking the wrong question. Often, I needed to ask a smaller question first. Sometimes, I hadn’t studied the issue enough to come to a decision on my own that I could confirm with God.

Over the years, I’ve come to trust God. He promised He would hear and answer prayers, and so He does. He is able to make sure I know the source of those answers. Whether I’m on my knees or elbow-deep in dishwater, God is ready to have a serious conversation.

“Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.”

From this verse, it would appear that we believe in the Trinity. However, Christ is not saying that He is Heavenly Father. Rather, because He is to perform the Atonement, He becomes our Father. This is because to be father is to give new life. Through that Atonement, Christ becomes our Father because it is only through Him that we can have eternal life. We are also spiritually begotten of Him through repentance, which is also called a rebirth.

The second thing that has helped me feel closer to Heavenly Father is from Ether 6:5. This is after the Jaredites have entered their boats and are ready to travel to the promised land. It says, “It came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters.” The question is why did the wind need to be furious? Couldn’t it have been a strong wind, or even a light breeze? The answer to this second question is no, because when the winds of life are furious, that is when we grow the most. If we were never to go through trials, we would never grow to become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. When life is all smooth, and we don’t have any problems, how often do we forget our Lord? Note these words from the wonderful hymn “Come Thou Fount,” “Prone to wander Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.” When we are going through trials, we more readily accept Christ as our Savior, and our Redeemer, and not just as another good man who lived on the earth.

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.

Mormon Thoughts: “Letter to my Husband”

Hi Sweetheart!

I love when I find scriptures that apply directly to our marriage. One scripture that made me think of us lately is in 3 Nephi 10:9-10. It’s when all the terrible destruction of the wicked is coming to a close, and the three days of darkness is starting to disperse. It says:

“…And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away. And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood.”

Christ visited the Nephites after His resurrection.

So how does this apply to us you ask? Well I was thinking how the darkness, the trembling, the fallingrocks, and tumultuous noises could all represent the trials and challenges that we might face in our marriage or family in the future. I’m not trying to be a downer, but I would bet that at some time or another, we will face a trial together that will physically or spiritually shake us. When that time comes, I want to remember these verses in 3 Nephi.

My favorite phrase in these scriptures is when it says “and the earth did cleave together again, that it STOOD.” I am a firm believer that we can overcome any trial or challenge we will face if we will hold to each other and to the Lord. Just like all the physical devastation, our trials won’t last forever. Eventually they will end, and if we have remained faithful we will be able to cleave together and stand. I know that trials—even though they may be extremely difficult or frustrating—can bind people close together if they choose to let them. I know this because I have watched my family grow together as we have gone through difficult trials. I remember when my dad’s dad, Grandpa Mike, was slowly dying in the hospital. I have never seen my dad so emotional and sad. But I noticed how supportive, caring and loving my mom was toward my dad. I watched them grow together even though they were going through a difficult trial. I know that we can continue to grow closer to each other as a couple as we travel through life together, whether in good or hard times. Thank you for choosing to stand by me forever.

I love you,

Jenica

If any who might be reading this letter have questions or comments, I would be happy to hear from you.

Who Are Christians?

The name Christian was first given to believers in Jesus Christ: “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The name may have been a slur initially, but followers of Jesus Christ accepted it (see 1 Peter 4:16). Earlier, however, it appears that those who followed Jesus Christ were called Saints (see Acts 9:32, 41).

Christians, then, are those who follow and believe in Jesus Christ. They generally believe that He is the Son of God, that He was born of the Virgin Mary, that He performed miracles, that He atoned for the sins of the world, and that He was crucified and then resurrected.

 At the heart of the Christian faith are the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ. But the Christian world is vast, with great variations of doctrine. Despite their universal acceptance of Jesus Christ, Christian churches (there are over 30,000 sects) do not always accept each other as Christian if their doctrinal beliefs are different. It is common for many Christians to reject members of The Church of Jesus Christ as Christians. However, members of The Church of Jesus Christ consider themselves devout Christians and call themselves Latter-day Saints.

What Is Pure Christianity?

Webster’s dictionary has several definitions for the word “pure,” some of which seem pertinent to this discussion: “being thus and no other,” “containing nothing that does not properly belong,” “free from  . . . taint.”

Christianity, in general, is divided by variations of doctrine. Consequently, Christians are divided in what defines Pure Christianity. What properly belongs? Has it been tainted?

What Happened to Change Pure Christianity?

In March 2012, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ, was invited to speak at Harvard Law School during the Latter-day Saint Student Association’s annual Mormonism 101 series. His remarks explain some of the doctrine variations that occurred after the death of Jesus Christ.

“There was a true church once in the meridian of time, in which Jesus Christ was the chief cornerstone and the personification of its divinity, with mortal men called as prophets and apostles to form a foundational footing around Him. These apostles, with other teachers and priests, pastors, and members in general constituted a figurative building, a church, which Paul described as being ‘fitly framed together  . . . for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, [and] for the edifying of the body of Christ.’ . . .

“So what ensued was a millennium and a half of destroying Paul’s hope that there would be a ‘unity of the faith, and [a] knowledge of the Son of God, . . . that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.’ [Ephesians 4:13–14.] It is commonplace to note that in the Christian world we now see anything but ‘a unity of faith’ or any real Christian cohesiveness that could remotely be called ‘the building fitly framed together’ that would reaffirm ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism’ [Ephesians 4:5].”¹

Elder Holland also explained the Christian doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ and how it varies from other churches:

 “We are not considered Christian by some because we are not fourth-century Christians, we are not Nicene Christians, we are not creedal Christians of the brand that arose hundreds of years after Christ. No, when we speak of ‘restored Christianity’ we speak of the Church as it was in its New Testament purity, not as it became when great councils were called to debate and anguish over what it was they really believed. So if one means Greek-influenced, council-convening, philosophy-flavored Christianity of post-apostolic times, we are not that kind of Christian. Peter we know, and Paul we know, but Constantine and Athanasius, Athens and Alexandria we do not know. (Actually, we know them, we just don’t follow them.)”²

 Elder Gary J. Coleman, of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ, grew up as a devout member of another Christian faith. He had thought he would enter the full-time ministry of that church. When he was 21 years old, however, he learned about The Church of Jesus Christ. He said that “he began to learn about the doctrine of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days” and learned truths that he had not known before that changed his life and how he viewed the gospel. “After much studying, prayer, and faith,” he “chose to embrace beautiful restored truths found only in this Church.”³

The Pure Doctrine in The Church of Jesus Christ

The Church of Jesus Christ teaches and believes that restored truths from Christ’s church include:

• · “God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are separate and distinct beings with glorified bodies of flesh and bone.”

• · “The scriptural canon is not closed, . . . the heavens are open with revelatory experience.”

• · “Divine priesthood authority to provide the saving sacraments—the ordinances—of the gospel of Jesus Christ . . . has been restored to the earth by those who held it anciently.”⁴ “Everypriesthood holder in this Church can trace his priesthood authority directly to Jesus Christ.”⁵

Other Christians usually disagree with Latter-day Saints, but “Mormons” believe that they are devout Christians ho believe that the pure gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and can be found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

1. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/harvard-elder-holland-mormonism-remarks.
2. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/harvard-elder-holland-mormonism-remarks.
3. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/mom-are-we-christians?lang=eng.
4. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/harvard-elder-holland-mormonism-remarks; see http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/mom-are-we-christians?lang=eng.
5. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/mom-are-we-christians?lang=eng.

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

“People fell in love with this little boy, who had first been diagnosed with this ravaging disease when he was only a three-year-old toddler.”

Despite legitimate assessments by many people that social media, such as Facebook, create a false sense of intimacy, the chronicles of Mitchell’s journey testified of his parents’ faith in their Heavenly Father’s plan and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

His parents, Chris and Natalie Jones, are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the Mormon Church. They “believed the burden would be lightened if they shared their anguish—and so they did in photos, videos that include doctor’s reports and their vivid reactions, and journal entries.” Their experiences resonated with readers and comments on their Facebook page “reflect that those thousands who followed this heartbreaking story learned something more about faith, enduring tragedy with grace, and how to love their children with more intensity.”

Chris Jones’s entries are compelling:

I’ll never forget the look of bewilderment on Natalie’s face upon hearing the diagnosis. I remained stoic and collected, but after leaving the doors of he hospital I stayed behind and sat on a bench that looked over the valley and wept.

Today, knowing what we know (after seeing the doctor), we see some of the things he does with a different perspective—and we are now recognizing what were before silent indications that this disease was already taking grasp on his little body.

He also shares his faith and trust in our loving Father in Heaven—a closeness with God that helps Latter-day Saints through the trials of life:

Something happened a few years ago and I don’t completely understand why  . . . and I suppose in time that it will be revealed; but, since the day Mitchell was born, I have had a recurring and persistent impression that his life on this earth would be short. This feeling came long before this devastating news about his disease–and when we had no reason to believe such a thing. Over time I told only a few people about this impression . . . . But for reasons I don’t completely understand at this point—I had this persistent uneasiness about him. I now see (at least) that our loving Heavenly Father wanted me to know something was wrong. And indeed—something is. He warned us . . . in effect prepared us to some degree. And if He did that, He will also carry us places we don’t have the strength to go ourselves.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ understand that Jesus Christ’s Atonement provided resurrection and redemption for all of God’s children. Through life’s painful experiences, they grow to understand the enabling and healing power of the Atonement. Chris Jones wrote:

“I am grateful to have learned something of the Atonement—and while I have much to learn about that sacred topic, I know enough about the hope it provides to keep from sinking.”

The funeral address given by Mitchell’s father appears on the Facebook page. He shares six tender mercies that were “extended to our family during this journey” and he thanks Heavenly Father for them. His concluding words reflect his continued trust and faith in God and his belief that he will be reunited with Mitchell:

As our little boy approached death, I began to sense that Mitchell was much older than I realized. Beneath the veneer of a little 10-year-old’s broken body was a spirit that was older and wiser than I appreciated. And while I miss his tender face, his soft voice, and his beautiful soul . . . so very much . . . every-so-often I am beginning to get a sense of things as they really are. His spirit existed long before he came to this earth—as did all of ours. . . .

But as painful as this separation is, I know that my redeemer lives. And because He lives, so also, does my son.

And I will spend the rest of my days chasing after them—so that I might enjoy that sacred reunion and all that Heavenly Father would offer.

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.

Reference:

Thousands followed Mitchell’s Journey on Facebook

Additional Resource:

Mitchell’s Journey

And with the protruding belly, the backaches and the lack of balance, I’ve also recently remembered that part of being pregnant with my fifth child means that I get asked, “Are you done yet?” and “Do you really think you can handle another one?”  And I feel the unspoken question is passed through a glance, “Why don’t you use birth control?”

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often mistakenly called the Mormon Church), we Mormons are often known for having large families.  What many people don’t know is that we have these large families mindfully.  Every single one of my children was intentional. We believe that before we came to earth we lived with God, as his children, and that we awaited the opportunity to receive a body and progress to become more like Him.

Because we have a belief in a life before birth, members of the Church of Jesus Christ have a unique desire to invite those spirits, who have yet to be born, into our homes as our children.   We believe that this offers them the greatest opportunity for their continued growth in a household of faith.  We also feel a personal responsibility to fulfill God’s commandment to “multiply and replenish the earth.”

Sometimes I am asked by close friends who practice other religions why we don’t use birth control and I jokingly answer, “We do!  Imagine what my family would look like if we didn’t!”  In all seriousness, in such private matters the husband and wife use the guidance of the Holy Ghost to direct them in the number and spacing of their children.  Birth control is not expressly endorsed or forbidden except in one instance—abortion.

From True to the Faith, a manual for those seeking Mormonism’s basic tenets:

“Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must not submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for an abortion…Some exceptional circumstances may justify an abortion, such as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is judged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy, or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.  But even these circumstances do not automatically justify an abortion.”

We believe that the giving and taking of life are two powers that should not be handled lightly.  Failure to be cautious in the giving of life does not justify the taking of that life, or the promise of that life, after the fact.

Although procreation is undoubtedly an essential part of God’s plan for our happiness here on earth, sexuality between a husband and wife is not meant solely to create life.  It’s meant to be a unifying experience for married couples.   Modern scripture elaborates on the Adam and Eve story.  In it, God expressly commands, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh“ (Moses 3:24).

The sacred powers of sexuality and creation are revered and honored in LDS culture and as such, are guarded by our strict adherence to modesty— including the wearing of the temple garment under our clothing— and our commitment to being sexually abstinent before marriage and completely loyal to our spouse after it.

In many religions, there is an altar, a sacred place where hearts are given to God in complete offering.  For us, altars are found in churches where the sacrament is broken and blessed and in temples where we kneel across from each other and are married. It is here that promises are made and God extends His grace to His children.  Kneeling before an altar shows complete submission to the will of God and His timing.

In our home, we have another special place—our bed.  We kneel before it and offer our hearts to God and accept His will for our family.  We promise to care for each of the children He sees fit to give us—His children, not ours really.  And we share a sacrament as husband and wife that unites us in passion and joy and selflessness.

We may be done having children, we’ll see.  We always try to take them one at a time.   But whatever the future holds, I know we can handle what God has given us through His grace.  Bound together in spiritual, emotional, mental and physical unity, my husband and I pledge our hearts to each other, to God and His children.

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

Miranda H. Lotz is a military wife, mother and avid reader.  She loves composing music and currently resides in Colorado Springs.

Strengthening Families

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Actions speak louder than words

A Thought
In class on tuesday my Professor said, “You are the epistle of Christ.” This statement, while simple, hit me with a profound depth.

The statement originates out of 2 Corinthians chapter 3. At the time, the people of Corinth, like many others, were caught up in the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. Verse 3 says, “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” Christ is using us, trusting us, to write and preach his word through our actions.

I love watching people interact and often note how you can tell when people are taking the necessary actions in their life to stay in tune with the spirit. The way they think, act, and react to situations is often grounded, mature, and typically does not result in hurt feelings but rather clear and productive communications. It is quiet and they just do it. It is apart of their nature. It is how they live.

It made me think about how I have the responsibility to be Christ’s message through my actions. I teach by being me. I may not always have the in depth conversations, but by aligning my actions with Christ and living in the good ways I know how may provide a greater force for good than I could ever realize or understand. People’s hearts are sensitive. I love the imagery in this verse, ink on stone and spirit in flesh. People’s hearts can be written on, changed by our actions and by following the small promptings of the spirit. It is the kind of writing that will not erode over time as stone does, rather it impacts the people our lives collide with.

Often small actions can speak and teach so much louder than any words can.

There is much good I can do just by being me and letting Christ work through that medium. I, through my actions, am the epistle of Christ.