My thoughts, insights, and feelings about being an LDS woman. I will share information about my faith, as well as personal experiences and my testimony. This is where I will explore my spiritual journey as well as my questions and struggles. I do NOT allow comments on this blog as this is MY personal journey and is not open for discussion.
The basic beliefs of the LDS church are outlined in the Articles of Faith.
The Articles of Faith are not an exhaustive exploration of ALL LDS theology and doctrines, however, they do provide a succint summary of LDS beliefs. Additionally, the Articles of Faith are not a creed in the traditional Christian sense, but they do provide a useful authoritative summary of fundamental LDS beliefs.
The Articles of Faith were penned in a letter written by Joseph Smith, March 1, 1842, in response to frequent inquiries about the teachings and doctrines of the Church. They were originally published in the newspaper, "Times and Seasons", and then formally accepted as scripture October 10, 1880.
Additional information about the 13 Articles of Faith:
Sometimes, we LDS folks will casually throw around the phrase, "Families are Forever". It's become a trite platitude. However, it's deep spiritual truth that we LDS are fortunate to have and understand, and we would do well to remember its sacred and primary importance.
The family is the smallest, most basic unit of society. Additionally, it is the smallest, most basic unit of eternity. Furthermore, the relationship between a man and woman legally, lawfully, and spiritually joined in the bonds of marriage is the fundamental unit of the family.
When I was a kid and teenager, I was most interested in the romantic idea of being eternally bound to another person forever. I didn't really understand what a radical truth it is to know and understand this doctrine. Nor did I understand that it is completely foreign and unknown to most of the world.
The LDS Children's song "Families Can Be Together Forever" teaches this truth in a very simple and elegant way. It's so interesting to me how a simple song can so succinctly express what books, epistles, and sermons have difficulty communicating.
It reminds us of the sacred and eternal nature of families and provides us with guidelines for fulfilling our responsibilities to the most important people to us not just in this life but in eternity. Knowing that our relationships extend beyond this life into eternity is an additional motivation to foster, deepen, and strengthen marital and family relationships here on earth. It is also comforting for parents whose children die in infancy and childhood and for spouses who survive after the other dies. Or children who survive their parents.
The following video was popular (as a filmstrip presentation) when I was in high school.
And I know that for the 8-10 years between my husband's first wife's passing and our meeting, knowing that his children's mother and sweet wife still lived and that they would one day be reuinted gave him strength to keep going. And the knowledge that they will renew the loving relationship with their mother one day has helped our kids to live well today so that she will be proud of them.
Here is a sweet video done by 2 newly married LDS young people. They talk about why their wedding day was so special to them, and about how grateful they are to know that their marriage isn't just "Til death do you part" but "For all Eternity".
Having lived as a single (for most of my adult life), and now having the blessing to live as part of a married couple, I cannot imagine being alone for all of forever (eternity), and am even more grateful for the restored doctrine of eternal families.
Being raised LDS and being raised in Texas, the question I am asked MOST frequently, is "So, are you Christian?" Followed very closely by, "Are you saved?" I hope to address the first question in this post, and put to rest once and for all the question, "Your Mormon.....hm, so are you Christian?"
In October 2007, General Conference, Elder Jeffery R. Holland (one of the current 12 apostles) gave a talk titled, "The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent". In this talk he states there are 2 primary reasons why others sometimes suggest that Mormons are not Christians.
These are "our view of the Godhead and our belief in the principle of continuing revelation leading to an open scriptural canon". This talk specifically addresses the FIRST concern, the LDS view of the Godhead, and why we still can and indeed ought to be considered Christian even though we may have doctrinal differences. You can view talk HERE.
Then in April 2008, General Conference, Elder Holland addresses the second issue, continuing revelation and open scriptural canon, in a talk titled, "My Words...Never Cease". This talk is available for viewing HERE.
Both of these talks specifically address specific arguments that I have encountered from other people, and Elder Holland does an eloquent job of deconstructing the idea that members of the LDS church are not Christians. However, it's been my experience that a well thought out and delivered argument is insufficient to convince someone else that I am a Christian.
The best method I have found for delivering this message is the way I live. (Somedays I'm better at it than others.) But even then, there are some who are so hostile (and prejudiced) against my religion that nothing I do, and nothing I say, can persuade them to reconsider their hostile position. In these situations, I just shake my head and go on with my life.
The issue to me is NOT convincing anyone else that my faith/beliefs are right. Rather, I am interested in helping others to understand what I believe, and why, and helping to eliminate many of the misconceptions that exist about my religion.
Therefore, to give you some insight into my heart and mind, I ask that you read the following posts that I made previously on my old blog, and then judge for yourself whether or not I (an LDS/Mormon woman) am a Christian.
I have felt for a while like I needed a blog specifically dedicated to exploring my faith. And so, here it is.....
I will only be addressing issues related to my religion on this blog, and NOTHING else. You will have to visit my other blogs for just my normal ramblings and such.
I will address topics I'm studying, items of interest to me, and address issues as I see there is a need.
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the KJV Holy Bible
the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ
