A Pictorial History of Mormonism | Temples of the LDS Church | Part II

Hello, and welcome to the second installment of my temple series! My goal with this saga is to share the history of the Mormon church with members and non-members alike through pictures and interesting tidbits about each of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' many temples. (For other parts of this series, scroll to the bottom of this post)

21. Atlanta Georgia Temple
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Dedicated: June 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Many high-profile people were in attendance of this temple's open-house, among them Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves.

22. Apia Samoa Temple
Location: Apia, Tuamasaga, Samoa
Dedicated: August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: In 2003, the Apia Samoa Temple, while closed for maintenance, was destroyed when a fire broke out. About a week later, the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley announced plans to rebuild. The new temple was finished in 2005, still possessing most of the original architectural details of the original, though updated with a more practical floor plan. The statue of the Angel Moroni which stood atop the original temple's steeple survived the blaze, and was used on the new temple as well.

23. Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
Location: Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga
Dedicated: August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Nuku'alofa Temple was under construction around the same time as the Apia Samoa Temple, and the two shared an arhcitectural layout until the Apia Samoa Temple was redesigned.

24. Santiago Chile Temple
Location: Santiago, Chile
Dedicated: September 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: This was the first temple built in a Spanish-speaking nation.

25. Papeete Tahiti Temple
Location: Papeete, Tahiti
Dedicated: October 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Before this establishment of a Tahitian temple, members of the Church would have to travel 2,500 miles if they wished to attend the nearest temple (Hamilton, New Zealand).

26. Mexico City Mexico Temple
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Dedicated: December 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact:  The Mexico City Temple is the largest temple outside of the United States, and recieved an international award for its artistic use of precast concrete. The University of Mexico's school of architecture has praised the temple, and given it much study.

27. Boise Idaho Temple
Location: Boise, Idaho, USA
Dedicated: May 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: For the year following its dedication, the Boise Idaho Temple operated at 102 percent of its capacity, showcasing the local members' pride in temple work.

28. Sydney Australia Temple
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Dedicated: September 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: When the Temple was built, the Australian government originally ruled that it had to be without the statue of the Angel Moroni. Members of the Church gave the matter much prayer and fasting, and a year later, the decision was overturned and the statue found its place atop the spire of the temple.

29. Manila Phillipines Temple
Location: Manila, Metro Manila, The Phillippines
Dedicated: September 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: A typhoon was headed directly for Manila the day before the groundbreaking was to take place. Prayers were said by the members, and the next day, the storm changed course, allowing the groundbreaking to happen as scheduled.

30. Dallas Texas Temple
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
Dedicated: October 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Dallas Temple shares an architectural design with its counterparts in Boise, Idaho and Chicago, Illinois.

31. Taipei Taiwan Temple
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Dedicated: November 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Church officials made efforts to be respectful of the surrounding community in there design of this temple. The blue tile roof complements the nearby Chiang Kai-shek Memorial hall.

32.Guatemala City Guatemala Temple
Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala Department, Guatemala
Dedicated: November 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Some 3,700 free copies of the Book of Mormon were given to visitors of the temple open-house, and most of these books contained handwritten testimonies of Church members in Guatemala.

33. Freiberg Germany Temple
Location: Freiberg, Saxony, Germany
Dedicated: June 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: Having been built in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the temple in Freiberg holds the distinction of the first, and so far only, temple built in a communist nation.

34. Stockholm Sweden Temple
Location: Stockholm, Södermanland, Sweden
Dedicated: July 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: In 1995, King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visited the temple grounds, welcomed by the Prophet Thomas S. Monson.

35. Chicago Illinois Temple
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Dedicated: August 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Chicago Temple became the second to be built in the state of Illinois, the first being the Nauvoo Temple, which was destroyed by arson in 1848 and eventually rebuilt in 2002.

36. Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Dedicated: August 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: This was the first temple built on the continent of Africa.

37. Seoul Korea Temple
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Dedicated: December 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The Church and the people of Korea have a common passion for family history. It is an old tradition in Korea to remember and keep records of ones ancestors, and the LDS Church stresses family history to perform temple ordinances for ancestors that didn't have a chance in life to be exposed to the gospel, but would have accepted it had they been given the chance. Thanks to this shared interest, one Korean Mormon was able to offer his own ancestral records dating all the way back to 927 AD.

38. Lima Peru Temple
Location: Lima, Lima Province, Peru
Dedicated: January 1986 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Fun Fact: The temple in Lima is known for being extremely busy, crowds of Saint often waiting in lines that stretch outside the building.

39. Buenos Aires Argentina Temple
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dedicated: January 1986 by Thomas S. Monson
Fun Fact: Built with similar architecture to the Lima Peru Temple, the Buenos Aires Temple was dedicated just one week after its sister in Peru.

40. Denver Colorado Temple
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Dedicated: October 1986 by Ezra Taft Benson
Fun Fact: At first, residents of the neighboring community were opposed to the idea of the Temple being lit with floodlights all night, so the Church agreed to shut the the lights off at 11:00PM. Over time however, the community grew to enjoy the beauty of the Temple, and requested that the lights be left on all night.

Other parts in this series:

Part I
Part II
Part III
More to come...

Mormonism: Why is the temple so important?

Anyone familiar with Mormonism probably has had some sort of exposure to the concept of temples. But many people are somewhat mystified by these buildings. What is their purpose? What goes on in there? And why does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stress so much importance on the temple attendance of its members?
Everything that goes on in Mormon temples is centered around the family and their relationship with Jesus Christ. All things done inside are to ensure the salvation of all and to bind families together for eternity. Simply stated, members of the Church go to the temple to perform essential ordinances and to make covenants with the Lord. It is a place of peace, a House of the Lord. Members go there for clarity, to reflect, to be nearer to God, to pray.
Another key purpose of LDS Temples is the redemption of the dead. Ancestors who died without baptism or the other essential ordinances of the Temple can do so by proxy. A living member of the Church, worthy to enter the temple, may perform these ordinances on behalf of the deceased by being baptized, confirmed, etc. in their place. Some outside the Church take issue with this, as it seems to them that the Church is forcibly converting people after death. But this is not the case. Members can only submit the names of direct ancestors, and if they wish to submit someone else's ancestor, they need express permission from a living descendant. According to the teachings of the LDS Church, there is an element of choice inherent in these proxy ordinances. Those on the other side have the choice as to whether they accept the ordinances, just as a person would have a choice here on earth. Members serving in the temple are merely opening a door for their ancestors; whether they walk through it or not is their choice.
One question often leveled to the Church is "Why is there so much secrecy surrounding the temple?" Most of what happens inside remains a mystery to non-Mormons, and even to those Mormons who have not been through the temple yet. Those who do know, usually don't talk about it outside the temple. If it's such a great place, why can't everybody know the intricate details?
There are a few reasons for this, the first being the sacredness of the temple and the mysteries learned therein. The temple is a sacred place, and only members of the Church who are worthy--meaning they obey the teachings of the Church to the best of their ability--may enter inside. These individuals may enter because they have disciplined themselves, and have proven themselves in the eyes of God that they can respect and cherish the blessings and teachings they receive inside the temple. Those who go through the temple have usually learned enough that what happens in the temple makes sense on some level, and has context. This is another reason that the inner-workings of Mormon temples are not trumpeted from the rooftops. They lack context. Without an understanding of the background of these ordinances, and their symbolic and spiritual implications, it's easy to discount them, to make light of them, and disrespect their holiness. The perceived "secrecy" is to protect the holy covenants of the temple from ridicule, and also to protect those who might mock them from judgement, as they do not have the full picture.
This is not to say that one trip to the temple can give you all the knowledge you need or instantly make you perfect. Members often describe themselves as continually learning new things, gaining new insights on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and gaining personal revelation for their lives. Even prophets, the men who lead, and receive revelation for the whole Church, have said that they are still learning on each visit to one of these sacred houses of the Lord.

On other sacred ordinances of the LDS Church, read this article about the importance of the sacrament.

The Principle of Agency in Mormonism's Plan of Salvation

Often lumped together with other similar concepts, such as "free will", agency is a key component of not only Mormonism, but much of Christendom as well. But how does one define it, and what is the understanding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the subject?
A good place to start is to clarify the subtle but important difference between agency and freedom. Simply put, agency is our ability to choose our actions, and freedom describes our capability of carrying out those actions. We need both in order to think and act for ourselves, and they are both essential to our salvation.
Before we came to this earth, we lived with God. We noticed that He had a glorified and perfect body of flesh and blood, whereas we were only spirits. We asked our Father how we might obtain bodies of our own. The Lord taught us of a beautiful plan, whereby we could obtain bodies and be tested according to our personal  righteousness. If we consistently chose right, we would be able to return to live with God once more. But, being human, we are weak, and bound to slip up here and there. So God's plan included the divine help of a Savior, one who could allow us to be cleansed of our sins, and one to advocate with the Father on our behalf. Our elder Brother Jesus Christ, volunteered to perform this holy service for all mankind and to give glory unto God. But one other also volunteered. Lucifer asked to be sent as our savior, but had a different plan from that of the Father. He would have taken away our agency, and thereby give us no choice but to choose right. He claimed he could save everyone with this plan. It sounds tempting. Who doesn't want to be saved, right? Except our earthly life is meant to be a test. What is the point of testing someone if you force them to give all the right answers? It wouldn't be a test at all. Lucifer continued to rebel against God, and was cast out along with his followers, becoming Satan.
 This life is meant to be a time of learning and growing. This life prepares us for the next and allows us to choose between the freedom of righteousness and the bondage of sin. Without a knowledge of true pain and sorrow, we couldn't possibly know of happiness, love, or peace. This is why we need agency and freedom. We must be able to choose and act for ourselves, or we will never progress and become better. Without a choice, there is no law. Without law, there is no sin. Without sin there is no sorrow, and conversely there is no righteousness, happiness, blessings.
Simply put, if we have no choice cannot know true happiness. And we have a simple choice: Satan, evil, and the bondage of sin, or Jesus Christ, good, and the freedom of righteousness. Satan tries to muddy the waters and make the choice seem more complicated than it truly is, using confusion as a devastating weapon. But Jesus Christ will always shine through the darkness, and if we just look for it, we can choose and act upon it, drawing continually nearer. Thus, the wise use of agency can bring us salvation.

The pioneers: people who used their agency in a very bold way.

Principles of Mormonism: Learning by the Holy Ghost

In my mind, one of the most touching principles of Mormonism, and much of Christianity for that matter, is the influence of the Holy Ghost. As a member of the Godhead, and one who quite personally influences us, the Holy Ghost--or Holy Spirit--has much to teach us, and we have much to learn.
What other names does the Holy Ghost have?
The Holy Ghost has, over the eons, been called many different names by many different people. Each of these names testifies of His power, and can introduce many nuances of His roles and abilities. Here are just a few of His names:

• Holy Ghost
• Holy Spirit
• Spirit of Promise
• Spirit of Truth
• Spirit of Might
• Spirit of Counsel
• Spirit of Knowledge
• Comforter
• the Still, Small Voice
• Breath of God
• many other names

What does the Holy Ghost do?

The Holy Ghost does not have a physical body, whereas Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both have bodies of flesh and bone. The Holy Ghost, being a spirit, is able to speak directly to our spirits. When a person is humble, obedient to God's commandments, and desires to know the truth, the Holy Ghost can speak to them, and if they are ready to hear it, a person can be taught and uplifted by its message. The Holy Ghost exists to testify of sacred truths, to bear witness the greatness and divinity of God the Father and Jesus Christ. In times of sorrow we can be comforted and strengthened by the Holy Ghost, or in danger (be it spiritual or physical) we can be warned, prepared, and/or guided to safety. The Holy Ghost can do many things for us--and through us--if we righteously, humbly ask for His presence.

What is the difference between the Holy Ghost and the "Light of Christ"?

 Though sometimes referred to by the same names and used almost interchangeably by many, the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ are two separate and distinct concepts. The Light of Christ is not being, but a force. Its nature is much like the name implies. It is the radiating, ever-permeating influence of God. This is God's power and love spanning the universe, all things, and all people. Anyone who is humble and righteous can feel the Light of Christ and its warmth.

On the other hand, The Holy Ghost is one specific being, the third member of the Godhead, who is able to become our constant companion after baptism, confirmation, and continued righteousness. The Holy Ghost brings us peace, knowledge and comfort and can direct our hearts and attention to the Light of Christ.

How does the influence of the Holy Ghost feel?

This is a common question among those looking into Mormonism. Though pure and simple, it can often be difficult to explain. A common metaphor used is to pose another question; "Describe to me the taste of salt--and don't say 'salty'."

 Though it's really quite a simple thing, you might be surprised at how difficult it is to tell someone how salt tastes. "Well... it's not sweet," you might answer, "and its sort of like... I don't know."

The feeling one gets from the Holy Ghost is much the same, in that it is hard to describe to someone who doesn't know what it feels like. What's more is that it can be different for anyone. Some describe it as a sweet, warm sensation in the chest, others as a general feeling of lightness. Personally, I normally feel it by the presence of an inner peace that I know I don't have the ability to feel on my own. I've tried to replicate this peace through other means, but it never comes close to what the Holy Ghost has to offer. I know that it is a feeling that came from outside me. There are many different ways to experience it. We just have to be open to it, and recognize it when it comes.

Much of the time, the Holy Ghost is soft and gentle. It requires one's attention in that it can sadly be overlooked when one is distracted. Many influences vie for our time, attention, and energy, and try to overpower the Holy Ghost by shouting their messages to us, often quite literally. Though the Holy Ghost as much to offer, it will not force a person to pay attention. Each of us have the ability to choose for ourselves whether to listen to the voice of good, or to the voice of evil. But in order to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, we have to be listening for them.

Does the Holy Ghost literally "speak" to us?

It depends really. Though some describe physically hearing a soft voice of guidance at times, more often than not, the Holy Ghost "speaks" to us through feelings and promptings. He can lead our thoughts to what He would have us learn, and answer our questions gentle prods and careful nudges to the the truth. Though He can physically speak to us, He usually communicates to us by revelation and feelings of divine truth.

The Holy Ghost and Prayer

Simply by utilizing the power of the Holy Ghost, we can learn all the mysteries of God. When used in tandem with prayerful scripture study, the Holy Ghost can teach us nearly anything. But we must be willing to act. If we earnestly pray to our Heavenly Father, and exert our efforts to learn, think, and do what the Lord asks of us, the guidance of the Holy Ghost can solidify and confirm the truth of what we have learned, or teach us something more altogether. It is up to us to work for it, and on God's timetable, He can speak truth to us.

If you would like to learn a little more about Mormonism (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), the Holy Ghost, or other topics, please follow this link to chat live with real missionaries!

Mormonism, My Family, and Christmas

Though Mormonism is not unique for the mere act of celebrating the Christmas holiday, I feel that, throughout my life, the Christmas season  has always been a great bolster to my faith , as well as a blessing and uniting force over my entire family. Being conveniently located at the end of the calendar year, it provides a wonderful opportunity for reflection and personal growth. The family seems much closer, and the love is palpable.
One thing I am ever-thankful for is my father and mother's insistence that we keep the focus on the first syllable of the the word. "Christ". Like many children, we were also taught the magical, if silly, legend of Santa Claus, who lived up north, had a weight problem, and flew around the world to deliver presents to all the good little boys and girls. But my parents also stressed the Savior in all of our Christmas merriment. Being a family of history buffs, which may have been prompted by our father, we would often talk about the symbolic meanings and historic origins of the various decorations we were decking the halls with; how this or that pointed to Jesus Christ in some symbolically meaningful way, why people started doing it, etc.
At some point in the month, we schedule a time for what we call a "Back to Bethlehem" dinner. We discuss the Savior and His birth, and hold a feast, in which we put a large sheet on the family room floor, and have everyone sit in a big circle, while dining on finger foods, such as bread, meats, vegetables and fruits, somewhat like they would have eaten in the time of Christ, though we don't stress historical accuracy too much.
The festivities remind us of our roots, and make me thankful, not only for my Mormon upbringing, but for each of these opportunities to enrich my faith, and how often I am given the chance to testify of Christ, or have Him testified to me.
Every Christmas morning, before parading downstairs to see what "Santa" brought us, our parents would gather us all together in one room, and we'd kneel as a family and offer thanks to God for the ultimate gift that He had given us for Christmas: His Son. All in all, the Lord Jesus Christ features heavily throughout the whole affair, as well He should, and we try to use every opportunity to express our love for one another, and our gratitude for Jesus and His eternal sacrifice.

If you'd like to learn a bit more about Jesus or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please don't hesitate to follow this link to chat live with actual missionaries!

On the Christianity of Mormonism.

History of Mormonism: Who was John Rowe Moyle?

John Rowe Moyle (right) was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life, Moyle sacrificed much for the Church, even when it seemed like he had little left to give. He lived as an extreme example of Christian fortitude, and though a relatively minor figure in the history of Mormonism, Moyle left a powerful legacy behind.
Born in England in 1808, John Moyle was a convert to the Church, and left his homeland behind for the Americas, and traveled across the plains as part of a handcart company. With all the strength they had, he and his family made the grueling trek to what is now the state of Utah. The Moyles settled down and built a home about 22 miles from the Salt Lake Valley.
John had previously earned a living as a skilled stone-cutter. In 1854,  as construction on the historic Mormon Salt Lake Temple was underway, Moyle's skill set was needed in the construction of the granite building. Willingly doing his part, he began making the 22 mile walk every week, leaving his house at 2 AM every Monday morning to be at his post by 8:00, and then walking home on Friday evenings to be with his family. This continued for several years.
One day while milking his particularly headstrong cow, tragedy struck. The cow gave a devastating kick to John's leg, irreparably damaging it. His family and friends were forced to amputate his leg with a bucksaw, just a little below the knee.
Nobody would have said anything if John had decided not to continue as a temple stone-cutter. It was perfectly understandable; loss of limb tends to be a pretty legitimate excuse. But John wen above and beyond the call of duty. While he lay in bed, waiting for his leg to recover, John began carving a wooden prosthetic leg, with a cleverly designed ankle joint. Walking on this new leg was extremely painful, but as Moyle built up resistance, he would soon continue the long weekly treks to Salt Lake City and work day in and day out as the temple stone-cutter for several more years.
John Rowe Moyle's hands carved the famous gold plated inscription (left) on the east facade of the temple: "Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord".

If you would like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can click here to chat live with actual missionaries!

For more stories of early Latter-day Saints overcoming great trials, read this post about Joseph Smith and his being tarred and feathered.
How Christ knows of our pain and can empathize with us on a deeply personal level.

The History of Mormonism: Where did the Pearl of Great Price come from?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows four volumes of holy scripture. In no particular order, they are: The King James Version of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. It is this last book of scripture I wish to discuss today. In the history of Mormonism (more at http://www.mormontopics.org/eng/christ), this piece of scripture has a unique history of its own, and has a story worth telling. The book itself is split into a few different parts.
The Pearl of Great Price begins with:
Joseph Smith- History
This section chronicles some important events in the life of Joseph Smith Jr, the founder and first prophet of the LDS Church). Thee events include the "First Vision"--Smith's first encounter with God the Father and Jesus Christ--Smith's visitation from Angel Moroni, and the translation of the Book of Mormon. This autobiographical work is a great primary source for anyone researching Joseph Smith, or anyone wanting to know more about the Prophet.
The Articles of Faith
In 1842, "Long" John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat contacted Joseph Smith to ask him about his religion. Wentworth's questions were for the benefit of a friend who was writing a work on the history of New Hampshire. Smith happily replied with what is now referred to as the "Wentworth Letter". Within, the Prophet recounted the history of the Church up until that point and detailed some basic tenets of the beliefs of Mormonism. Part of the "Wentworth Letter" gave thirteen succinct bullet-point paragraphs which briefly described the core doctrines of the Church. These thirteen paragraphs would come to be known as the Articles of Faith and were included in the Pearl of Great Price. Being only about 400 words, they are an easy way to glean the basics of the LDS Church's beliefs and many members even try to memorize them.
Joseph Smith-Matthew
This excerpt from Joseph Smith's re-translation of the Gospel of Matthew contains many revelations pertaining to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Book of Moses
The Book of Moses are some selections of Joseph Smith's re-translation of the Old Testament. The book expounds on some key visions of Moses, and explains many doctrines concerning the meaning of life, our purpose on Earth, where we came from and where we're going, etc.
The Book of Abraham
The early nineteenth century saw a meteoric rise of interest in ancient Egypt, due in large part to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. Scads of explorers and excavators flocked to the historic desert ruins in search of ancient Egyptian artifacts. One of these was an Italian-born excavator named Antonio Lebolo.
Lebolo led a team of archaeologists in a dig near Thebes, which would yield several mummies. Some time before Lebolo's death in 1830, the mummies would be sold, and eventually find their way to New York and into the hands of a man named Michael Chandler. Found within the wrappings were several papyri, inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphics, which Chandler was told, no one could translate. Chandler displayed the sarcophagi and the mummies within in many venues throughout the area. Many people would tell Chandler, often jokingly, that he ought to take the papyri to the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, as Smith had a reputation for being able to translate ancient writings.
In 1835, Chandler decided to make contact with Joseph Smith, who was then with a large body of the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio. Traveling to Kirtland that summer, Chandler showed Smith the mummies and supposedly undecipherable writings. As Smith began to translate, he felt prompted by the Lord that he should purchase the mummies, sarcophagi, and papyri from Michael Chandler, although the Prophet was not yet entirely sure what these inscriptions said. Chandler agreed to Smith's terms, and the Church raised money and purchased the lot, gaining ownership of the finds. As the Prophet continued translating, he was ecstatic to learn that the inscriptions came from the hand of the Old Testament Prophet Abraham. The resultant manuscript was published as a serial in the Church's magazine at the time, Times and Seasons, in 1842, and officially canonized by the Church and included in the Pearl of Great Price in 1880

To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please click this link to chat live with actual Mormon missionaries!

Defending Mormonism Means Defending Others

We all have our own beliefs. That's a self-evident fact of life. It's one of the most beautiful examples of free will, or "agency", that two different people can observe the same things and draw different conclusions. While inherently, not every conclusion can be correct, it's still wonderful that we are allowed to draw them. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormonism"), I cherish this sacred right every day. Like a person of any viewpoint, there are naturally people who hold the opposite viewpoints of myself, and some (not all) of them mock me for it. While a good number of people are willing to talk civilly about it, should the matter come up, a small but loud faction of them can get downright hurtful sometimes. While I understand their points, that paradigms I have accepted are not compatible with their way of thinking, I still cringe a little whenever these discussions cross the line. I am equally disturbed when I see others in the same (or worse) situations.

It's a big, big world out there, full to the brim with people, over 7 billion of them in fact. Odds are that a great deal of those people don't share the same views and opinions as me. Can that be frustrating? Oh yeah! Borderline infuriating on occasion? You bet! But the way I see it, these people are all practicing their own agency, just like myself. They are obviously making different decisions with it, but its the same beautiful principle at work in my own life. When we cross paths, we can both exercise agency by sharing ideas, and maybe even convince each other to different viewpoints. This is wonderful; the movement of ideas is a vital part of keeping culture from stagnating.

I've come to learn that, even though I might disagree with another person's beliefs on a fundamental level, I still owe that person respect. I'm not perfect, and I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, but I've had a realization: What kind of man would I be if I told someone to stop undermining Mormonism, but then turned around and said, "Ew, X religion is so weird! Those people are crazy!" I would be a hypocrite! That's why, when discussing religion, I now try to avoid broad generalizations, statements calculated to draw on my sense of fear, and pretty much any criticisms made about a religion on the internet (unless it was written by that church itself).

As fellow human beings, its imperative that we learn to love one another. It's a perfectly sound argument that others might be wrong in their assumptions, or misguided in their beliefs. It's perfectly fine to change one's assumptions or beliefs, or to reasonably convince another to do so. But a person should never be viewed as inferior because of their faith.

If you would like to practice your own agency, and learn a little more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then click here to chat live with real missionaries!

Mormonism and the Sacrament

The Sacrament is a key element of worship practiced in Mormonism. Each Sunday, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will eat a small piece of bread, and drink a sip of water in a manner similar, yet not identical, to the "Communion" or "Eucharist" rites practiced by many other Christian faiths. What is the significance of this ceremony, and why do Mormons do it every week?

How the Sacrament is Performed
The LDS Church generally holds Sunday meetings in a three-hour block. The Sacrament most often takes place during a special one-hour meeting known informally as "Sacrament Meeting". The other two hours are set aside for Sunday School classes. Each Sunday in before the Sacrament Meeting, the men of the congregation who hold the Priesthood will break bread into bite-size pieces and place them on handled trays. They will then fill up many thimble-sized cups with water and place these also on handled trays. These trays are then covered with a white cloth on a table until it is time for the Sacrament. When the time comes, one Priesthood holder will uncover the bread and bless it. Other men will then take the trays and pass them around to the whole congregation. When the trays are returned, they are recovered with the cloth and the water is then uncovered. The water is blessed and passed to the congregation in a similar manner. The trays are returned and both the bread and water are recovered.

Why water instead of wine?

The early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually did use wine to signify the blood of Christ in the Sacrament. So why the change? In 1833, Joseph Smith received a revelation known as the "Word of Wisdom". The Word of Wisdom details how members can be freed from addiction and habit by obeying a simple health code. This is the reason that Mormons are asked to not smoke, drink coffee or tea, drink alcohol, or partake of any addictive substance or activity. For many years however, when the Word of Wisdom was introduced, it was seen more as a guideline than a rule, and many members partook every now and then anyway, and wine was still used in the Sacrament. The Saints were cautioned  not to by alcohol from their enemies however, to avoid the threat of poisoning. This was remedied for a while by the Church producing its own wine. Over time, the Word of Wisdom became more emphasized, and review of the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 27:2 ("It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.") prompted the substitution of water in the ordinance of the Sacrament, becoming the standard in 1912.

What does it all mean? Purposes and Origins of the Sacrament
The night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His disciples in the upper room for what was known as "The Last Supper". It was at this time that Christ instituted a very sacred tradition. Breaking some bread, He passed it around to each of His disciples and told them to eat in remembrance of His body. He then passed wine to His disciples, telling them to drink in remembrance of His blood which would later be shed on their behalf.
After this, the Savior went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He offered a prayer to God, His Father. In the Garden, Christ suffered immensely, experiencing the weight of every sin, every pain, every illness, and every affliction that mankind had ever, did ever, and would ever experience. The pain caused Him to bleed from every pore. He was then betrayed, beaten, wrongly sentenced, and crucified by a mob of wicked angry men. This great sacrifice which the Lord Jesus performed on our behalf is known as the "Atonement". He did so that He might more fully understand our pain, and that He could cleanse us of our sins if we repent and use the Atonement in our lives. We activate the Atonement by following the model laid down by Jesus Christ  in the Last Supper.
If you'll notice, the events of the Last Supper are similar in many ways to the Mormon Sacrament.
Baptism in the LDS Church serves multiple purposes. One of these purposes is gain membership into the Church, signifying the convert's willingness to emulate Christ. Baptism also serves to wash clean the sins of the penitent. But everyone sins. When a person makes a mistake after baptism, it is necessary to renew the covenants they made with the Lord at baptism. This is done by sincerely repenting of the mistakes that we make, and activating the power of the Atonement in our lives once more through the sacrament. In the Sacrament, as well as in baptism, we acknowledge the Savior and the sacrifices He made for us. We humble ourselves to the point of understanding our total dependence on the power of Jesus Christ, and our personal duty to obey His commandments.

For other sacred ordinances of the Mormon Church, read here about the temple and its importance.

Jesus Christ and the LDS Church; Is Mormonism Christian?

As an ardent believer in, and an intense lover of Jesus Christ, it can be a bit disheartening to hear certain people categorize my religion (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known by its nickname, "Mormonism") as "non-Christian", or imply that there is an inherent difference between it and Christianity. I've always viewed the term "Christian" (one who does their best to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ) as a personal choice. As mortal beings, we are not always able to know the thoughts and feelings of others. So it would seem to me that determining another Christian's level of devotion to Christ would be a matter of guesswork. Completely arbitrary.

As Jesus Himself told us in His Sermon on the Mount, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." I don't write this to call to repentance those who question my Christianity, as that is not my place. I merely write to ask for brotherhood in the beliefs and values we do have in common, and give some insight as to how this church--while not quite mainstream-- is an excellent example of a Christian church.

• The Savior's name is referenced the official title of the Church. The Church's name is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints".
• The Book of Mormon, a volume of holy scripture at the cornerstone of the Church's beliefs--and also where the Church gets it nickname-- mentions Jesus Christ over 482 times, not including when He is referred to by other titles, such as "Savior", "Redeemer", "Son of God", etc. The Book of Mormon has 531 pages, which puts a very conservative estimate at Christ being mentioned, on average, at least once every 1.2 pages of the book.
• The Book of Mormon is subtitled as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ"
• Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. 
• Every Sunday, they renew their covenants made at baptism by partaking in the sacrament (similar to communion). Members are counseled to remain reverent at this time, and humble themselves by pondering on the Savior's ultimate sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.
• Mormons believe that if they follow the Lord's commandments, and repent of all sins, they can be forgiven and washed clean by Christ's atoning sacrifice.
• The Church believes that after the death of Christ, their was a great apostasy among the believers, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ (in its fullness) was lost from the Earth. The Church considers itself a restoration of the Church Jesus Christ started, a divinely inspired renewal of the original Gospel of Christ in its fullness. This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not trace its roots back to any Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox faith, as it arose independent of any of these lineages.

I love the Savior Jesus Christ, and do my best to follow His divine example. I am in awe that He would put up with me and my rebellious ways, and I would like to express a humble gratitude for Him and His condescension towards me--towards all of us. The perfect, sinless, Son of God was made to bear and overcome unthinkable agony and the deepest sorrow, all that we might be happy. I am proud to have Him as my guide, my example, and my Savior. I will close this article now in His sweet name, Jesus Christ--Amen.

Any more questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Please don't hesitate to click here, and chat live with actual missionaries who can answer you directly!

For more on the divine love of Jesus Christ read this post.
On Christmas, and how my family and I celebrate.