Yes....I'm a Mormon...so what does that mean?

I BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. ONE OF OUR APOSTLES, M. RUSSELL BALLARD, DESCRIBED OUR BELIEFS BEST IN HIS OCT. '07 CONFERENCE ADDRESS:

*“MORMON” IS A NICKNAME FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. MEMBERS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS “MORMONS,” “LATTER-DAY SAINTS,” OR “LDS.” THE TERM “SAINT” MEANS “MEMBER.” 

•THE CHURCH WAS RESTORED IN 1830 IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WITH JOSEPH SMITH AS ITS FIRST PROPHET AND PRESIDENT. TODAY IT IS HEADQUARTERED IN SALT LAKE CITY, WITH PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON AS THE PRESENT PROPHET. 

•THERE ARE NOW OVER 13 MILLION MEMBERS IN 176 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES. ABOUT 6 MILLION OF THESE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES, MAKING US THE FOURTH LARGEST CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION IN AMERICA. AS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CHRISTIAN FAITHS IN THE WORLD, WE COMPLETE A NEW CHAPEL EVERY WORKING DAY. MEMBERS PAY A TITHE, WHICH IS 10 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME, MAKING THIS AND OTHER PROGRAMS POSSIBLE.

•LOCAL CONGREGATIONS ARE LED BY VOLUNTEER, UNPAID MEMBERS. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SERVE IN ASSIGNED LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. 

•MORMONS ARE WELL REPRESENTED IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT. (IN THE UNITED STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE 16 MEMBERS IN CONGRESS, FROM BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.) MEMBERS ALSO SERVE IN HIGH AND TRUSTED POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN BUSINESS, MEDICINE, LAW, EDUCATION, MEDIA, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT. 

•WE BELIEVE IN THE ETERNITY OF THE SOUL, THAT GOD IS THE FATHER OF OUR SPIRITS, AND THAT WE CAN RETURN TO HIM AFTER DEATH. 

•WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR, AND WE TRY TO MODEL OUR LIVES AFTER HIM AND HIS TEACHINGS. WE COMMEMORATE CHRIST’S ATONING SACRIFICE IN OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES, SIMILAR TO TAKING COMMUNION IN OTHER CHURCHES. WE ACCEPT AS FELLOW CHRISTIANS ALL WHO BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST TO BE THE SON OF GOD AND THE SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND.  MANY CHRISTIANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE MUCH COMMON GROUND WITH THEM. JOSEPH SMITH TAUGHT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE CORE OF OUR BELIEF, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS AN APPENDAGE TO IT (SEE ELDERS’ JOURNAL, JULY 1838, 44). THE NAME OF THE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

•WE BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL CHURCH THAT JESUS ESTABLISHED WAS LOST AND HAS BEEN RESTORED AGAIN IN OUR DAY. THE PRIESTHOOD, THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO MAN TO ACT IN THE NAME OF GOD, WITH APOSTLES AND A PROPHET TO LEAD US, HAS BEEN RESTORED AS HAVE ALL NECESSARY ORDINANCES OF SALVATION. 

•WE BELIEVE IN AND WE USE THE HOLY BIBLE, BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 

•WE BELIEVE IN THE BOOK OF MORMON AND OTHER BOOKS OF SCRIPTURE WHICH SUPPORT AND AUTHENTICATE THE BIBLE AND TESTIFY OF THE MINISTRY AND DIVINITY OF CHRIST AND OF GOD’S ONGOING REVELATION TO MAN. INDEED, THE BOOK OF MORMON IS “ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST.” 

•MORMONS PLACE PARTICULARLY STRONG EMPHASIS ON FAMILY AS THE BASIC UNIT OF THE CHURCH AND OF SOCIETY. WE HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO MARRIAGE (DEFINED AS A UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN). POLYGAMY, A LIMITED PRACTICE IN THE EARLY PIONEER DAYS OF THE CHURCH, WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1890, SOME 120 YEARS AGO. 

•FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER MEMBERS OF OUR FAITH OR NOT, CAN ATTEND SUNDAY SERVICES IN OUR CHAPELS. HERE WE WORSHIP TOGETHER, INSTRUCTING ONE ANOTHER FROM THE SCRIPTURES.

•LATTER-DAY SAINT FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO HOLD FAMILY HOME EVENINGS WEEKLY, USUALLY ON MONDAY NIGHTS. THIS PROVIDES A REGULAR AND PREDICTABLE TIME FOR PARENTS TO TEACH VALUES TO THEIR CHILDREN AND TO HAVE FUN TOGETHER. WE INVITE THOSE NOT OF OUR FAITH TO ADOPT THIS PRACTICE WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

•THE CHURCH HAS AUXILIARY PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN, YOUTH, AND CHILDREN AS A SUPPORT TO THE FAMILY. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUCH THINGS AS RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE, SPORTS, DRAMA, MUSIC, AND SCOUTING.

•THERE IS ALSO MUCH FOCUS ON EXTENDED FAMILY, GENEALOGY, AND PERSONAL FAMILY HISTORY, PROVIDING YOUNG AND OLD WITH A STRONGER SENSE OF ROOTS, IDENTITY, AND BELONGING. THE HIGHEST AND MOST SACRED ORDINANCES OF OUR FAITH RELATE TO OUR FAMILIES, BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, AND SOME OF THESE ORDINANCES TAKE PLACE IN OUR TEMPLES. 

Have any questions?  Please let me know if you do!