Every time I think about posting in this blog my confidence falters.
As maybe it should. I am, in fact, searching for Truth. Does it mean that it’s
absolute? Absolutely not! Haha, I know, hush. In ways though, they are
absolute, for we must have a foundation of something in order for order to take
place. What must a building have in order to withstand the elements? Under the
brick and cement and wood, a frame and under it, a foundation. Fiber in an
apple, strings in the celery, gravity and the ocean floor for the ocean- laws
and parts of life need foundation to keep everything together. And I’m going to
try and remember not to make assumptions that you know what I believe, but some
posts may do just that because I’ve grown up with being Christian, a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church.
That’s kind of what I’m really doing, though, becoming aware of what I believe
and taking my childhood and molding my own conscious decisions.
So I’ll start with my foundations. For your sake as much as
mine. I believe in God, an Eternal Father of our souls. I believe in Jesus
Christ, my Brother, Redeemer of our souls. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the
great Comforter. I believe our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to have
physical bodies like you and me, and that both of them visited a boy named
Joseph Smith and restored God’s church to its fullest. The Book of Mormon is an
account of the people of the Americas and Christ visiting the people there. I
believe it to be true and another testament of Christ and his life on earth.
Below are the Articles of Faith. Joseph Smith inspired these
and I know them to be true through personal revelation. I believe anyone can
receive personal revelation and talk to God today. If you are seeking, you will
find. This is a truth I very much believe in. Believe in so much, that I even
fear it. I won’t go into elaborate detail, but I’ve had this happen to me
recently. I felt like something was wrong and I knew if I prayed and studied, I
would get an answer. I was afraid of that answer, and still today I half wish I’d
never gotten the answer. It means doing hard things, but also means hidden and
worthwhile results. Of which I have not reaped yet, but I have faith that in
time, God’s time, and things will work out. It’s happened otherwise too, that I’ve
wanted the answer- maybe silly things to an outsider, but important to me. Mom
and I were on the way to somewhere, but turned around because she’d forgotten
something important. I don’t remember what the item was, but I remember the
slight desperation that my mother was feeling. I’d searched everywhere. She had
too, and was upstairs for the second time I think when I got on my knees and
prayed. Heavenly Father, I told him, my mother needs these items, they’re
important to her, please help me help her to find it. Still with eyes closed I
ran each room in our house through my mind: kitchen, no, hallway, no, living
room- warmness filled me. I stood; I was in the living room already. I looked
around, and my feet took me directly to the mantel, exactly to where my mother’s
item was that she needed. Had I not looked here before? Warmth filled me, a
couple tears and I fell to my knees and thanked my Heavenly Father.
Coincidence? No. No, it wasn’t, no because of the confidence and love that I
felt God had for me, just simply no. What does God loving you feel like? Kneel
down, talk to God, try it yourself- but with genuine curiosity and desire.
There’s no way to give the feeling much description, much like happiness and
bliss and pure joy- though these are exactly what God’s love is.
Take special note of the last one, it’s my favorite.
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in
His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their
own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ,
all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the
Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and
ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,
Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth,
Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by
prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to
preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed
in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers,
evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy,
revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as
far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the
word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that
He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and
important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel
and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be
built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the
earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty
God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same
privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings,
presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the
law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste,
benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we
follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we
have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is
anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after
these things.
