Am I really writing about religion?
We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight, along with this sweet couple who have been taking lessons and learning about the restored gospel. We had dinner together, and then Sarah and Jade went to bed and the missionaries sang a hymn and led a beautiful discussion for the rest of us. It was so wonderful! I don’t think I’ve ever been with anyone as they were actually having lessons from the missionaries, but it is awesome and I hope I have many more opportunities! It is so wonderful how Christ’s gospel changes lives!
I know I don’t write a lot about religion on this blog–partially because I don’t want to incite any controversy, especially over something I hold so sacred, and partially because I don’t want to be all, “Hey, I’m Mormon, and you should be too,” but I do want to say that I love, love the Gospel and the happiness, perspective and peace it brings to my life.
There are some skewed and down-right CRAZY notions out there about the LDS church (especially if you ask Google or your local anti-Mormon preacher, instead of the Mormons themselves) and it is sad, and honestly, a little surprising, to me to find that there is so much animosity toward members of my church.
I wish there could be room for more understanding among the different religions. I know I have a tendency to be idealistic, but I really think if we could all have a real, respectful dialogue about some of the different topics, while we probably wouldn’t reach any agreements, we could at least start to see where the other sides are coming from and gain more respect for other viewpoints. (Wouldn’t it be wonderful to all join together and be united through the things we have in common, rather than focus on the disparity because of our differences?)
That is one of the things I am loving about living in Texas: The opportunity to learn about–and from–people of other faiths. I didn’t grow up in Utah, but I lived there from the time I graduated from high school until just two years ago, and so I haven’t had tons of experience, as an adult, with people of other religions.
Well! Is Texas the place for that or what? I love how spiritual everyone is here. Oh, the people here are wonderful. So friendly and happy and many of them striving so well to serve God, their family, and neighbors. It is truly inspiring! Random people invite me to their church, prayers are said at all kinds of non-church functions, and nobody is afraid to talk about their faith.
I feel a little hesitant to do the same, if only because I know there already tend to be strong feelings toward the Mormons, and I don’t want to find myself in the middle of a war or anything. But if we were all worried about this, no one would ever learn anything new, and the misconceptions about the church would just keep growing.
General Conference is coming up and I’m so excited! This only happens every six months, but we will be addressed by the Prophet and other leaders of the LDS church.
Relief Society Broadcast
Saturday night is the Relief Society broadcast, the portion that is addressed specifically to the women of the church. Anyone can watch it, and it would be a great way to learn a little bit about what we’re all about. It’s at 6pm Mountain (Utah) time (which is 7 here in Texas, but I don’t know where you live). You can find where to watch it on TV or the Internet–find the broadcast schedule here. Or you can just show up at any LDS church (well, at least any stake center) and watch it with a big group of women–likely even with yummy refreshments if you show up early.
Same goes for Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th, at 10am and 2pm (Utah time), except these sessions are for the whole family–not just the women. Anyone can go, or watch online, you don’t have to be a member or even considering investigating the church. But it’s a great way to see what we’re really all about, and from the comfort of your own home. We’ll hear from our Prophet, his councilors, and our other general church leaders.
As a child, conference wasn’t a huge thrill because it was So. Long. but as an adult, I look forward to it very much. The talks are always so uplifting and somehow just what I need to hear. I’ve been browsing through this great page that Stephanie linked to for ideas to help make conference memorable for my kiddos. My kids will love the “tent toward the temple” idea, and we’ve already stolen my aunt’s tradition of making cinnamon rolls! (Yes, you’re welcome to come to my house for conference! You just have to come to Texas first! But watch out, I’ll probably try to keep you.)
I better wrap this up before my blog goes into convulsions due to so much religion talk. It’s not used to this sort of thing! But I did want to put it out here.
I am religious. I am Christian. I am Mormon. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love my family. I kind-of love jello and crafts. (Though that’s not really required.) And I’m my husband’s only wife. Promise.
Filed in: spiritual | September 25, 2009
Sharon
I came across your blog and felt a need to comment. First the Bible says that our works are as filthy rags before Him. He does not want our works without a relationship with Him. That means that we have to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, not the worlds Savior but our own. We must know that he would have died just for us even if we were the only person on the earth. Then we must put him and his work first. That work is the great commission. We have to go out into the world and tell people the gospel.
The people you are calling anti Mormon are generally concerned Christians. They are worried for your salvation not trying to argue. They know a different gospel and they take seriously the verses in the Bible that says that even if an angel of light were to bring us another gospel we should reject it. The gospel is simple and Jesus didn’t leave us a huge list of things we have to do to be saved. He said believe and confess (see Roman’s 10:9) Grace is His gift to us we cannot earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Compare Jesus of the Bible to Jesus in 3 Nephi 8-10 + and see if you think it is the same man.
Jesus mission was to bring the gospel of salvation, it was not to bring judgement. This is being given to you in a spirit of love. Thanks for listening.
God bless you!
Sharon
Sharon
One more thing …. Jesus said that there were none righteous not even one. That’s because of the fall of man. No one can be good without the atonement. Trying to earn salvation is akin to running on a treadmill and never being able to stop. Man is incapable of being perfect and that is what it would take without Jesus to enter God’s kingdom.
Echo
Having grown up in the same city, I can say that we couldn’t help but learn the lessons that stem from diversity. We’re both idealistic, which I don’t see as a problem. lol.
I’m Episcopalian (grew up Lutheran) and I can tell you there is SO MUCH fighting between different religions where I live; it’s not just geared at people who may be Mormon or Jewish or Pagan (I don’t even know people who are openly pagan here!), it’s even geared at people who believe the same thing.
stephanie
Thanks for this post Kate. Well put.
Sharon, I’m a mormon as well, and very much appreciate people who are concerned for me and my family, as long as it’s done in the spirit of Christian love. I think that the “anti-mormons” that Kate are referring to are those who spread blatant and hurtful misinformation about our church.
While we’ll have to agree to disagree about the role of works in human salvation (although the atonement of Jesus Christ is THE central theme of mormon doctrine), I agree whole-heartedly with your comments that we must each accept Jesus as our own Savior, and that without the atonement salvation would be impossible.
Fellow Mormon
Sharon, I am sure your concern genuine and I appreciate it.
Mormons accept Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. Granted, Mormons do not have the same conception of Jesus as most Christians do. For instance, we believe Jesus, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings. They are one in purpose, but not one in entity. (This talk by one of the apostles clarifies our doctrine on this point. The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom Thou Hast Sent)
We believe Jesus died for each of us and that without His Atonement, we cannot be saved. It is by grace that we are saved. We cannot work our way to heaven.
However, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). So confessing a belief in Jesus alone is not enough. We must do God’s will (Matthew 7:21). God gave us commandments and ordinances (like baptism) and if we do not obey the commandments and receive the ordinances (by the proper authority–God’s Priesthood), then we cannot be saved
One of the commandments, as you mention, is to proclaim the gospel (missionary work). It is apparent that you believe that you should obey that commandment. Otherwise, you would not have felt a need to comment. I do missionary work for the same reason.
However, I believe that some Christians put a lot of emphasis on the Bible scriptures that discuss being saved by grace and very little emphasis on the very many versus in the Bible that talk about commandments and obedience to laws and ordinances.
I definitely agree with your statement that Jesus’ mission was to bring the gospel of salvation. But I must say that I very much disagree with your statement that His mission was not to bring judgment. The Bible is full of versus that discuss being judged and reaping the consequences of our decisions and actions. The Sermon on the Mount, alone, is full of them (Matthew 5:22, for instance). Revelations 20:12 says that we will be judged by what we do in this life, according to our works.
I agree that Jesus was the only perfect being to ever live on this earth. As 1 John 1:8 tells us, we are all sinners. But Jesus commanded us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48). He would not command us to do something that is impossible. It is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we are made perfect. His loving sacrifice cleanses us of our sins. We are commanded to repent. We are made white and clean through repentance. But the fact is He commanded us to do this (repent and become perfect through His Atonement). That means He expects something from us. It takes action.
Simply Mother
Sharon, it is hard to know exactly where you are coming from because none of your comments appear to be a response to anything I said in my post, but it is apparent you have been told some falsehoods about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (mixed with truth, but that is often the worst kind, if you know what I mean.)
This is exactly what I was writing about, and wishing there could be a more open dialogue so that at least the different beliefs of each religion would be clear.
From your comments, I believe we definitely have some differences (Fellow Mormon did a pretty good job explaining our view), but I don’t have a whole lot of contention with the main point you seem to be arguing–namely, that we cannot do anything–cannot be made perfect, cannot be resurrected, cannot attain salvation, cannot even be very good for very long–without relying on Jesus Christ. We need Him–not only to eventually attain salvation, but even to help us keep his commandments and do the many good things we want to do in this life.
See our Bible Dictionary definition of Grace here to know more specifically what we really believe about it: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/g/55