I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. At approximately the time of the prophet Jeremiah, another prophet named Lehi was commanded by God to take his family and leave Jerusalem. They journeyed across the ocean and came to the American continent. The Book of Mormon is the record of the prophets among Lehi's posterity. It records prophecies of the coming of Jesus Christ, his birth, life, death and Atonement. It records the visit of the resurrected Lord to these people. It is called the Book of Mormon because Mormon was the prophet who compiled and abridged into one record all the separate records made by prophets through the years. Because I have studied it and prayed about it, I know it to be true.
So I'm grateful to be able to identify with a nickname derived from this book of scripture along with approximately 15 million other people. And that is 'Mormon'. Being a Mormon, or more correctly, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is everything to me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is why I am who I am, and why I continue to become a better version of that continually. It is why I have purpose in my life. It is why I have made it through the struggles and difficulties I have faced. And I love when people are able to recognize that part of me, whether it's through the nickname or the full name of the church.
However, I can't be the only 'Mormon' to cringe when things like 'Mormon faith', 'Mormon church', and 'Mormonism' get tossed around in a thread 700 comments long on some news article having to do with the church or church members. Or when they get tossed around in church, or in a casual conversation. I don't know if it bothers me more when members use those terms or when others do. But somewhere along the way, people both within and without the church are confusing something fundamental when we speak of our beliefs as 'Mormon beliefs'.
They are not Mormon beliefs. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, not the Mormon Church. And therefore the doctrine, the leadership, the processes, the everything required by 'the church' is a product or requirement of Jesus Christ; not some random, abstract entity called 'Mormonism'. When people say 'Mormon church' or 'Mormon anything' they are taking Jesus Christ completely out of the picture and they are forgetting who it is we follow. And when that happens, everything loses meaning. All of a sudden people think doctrine can be changed by the whim of the members. All of a sudden people think doctrine is something we can pick and choose to fit our wants. All of a sudden people start to think that we are not a Christ centered people. And this couldn't be farther from the truth.
Joseph Smith said of the church: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 121 emphasis added)
An appendage is something that you can live without. Like a finger or a leg. But Jesus Christ is the heart of this church, and that is why the church was called after Him. It is fine that we use the nickname 'Mormon' when trying to explain our religious identification. Many people will recognize what a 'Mormon' is before they recognize the whole name of the church. But we should be careful not to let the doctrines, teachings, and covenants we hold dear become attributed to Mormon instead of Christ. It detracts from the truth of who's church this is. Nothing matters without Jesus Christ. With our language, please, let's not forget that!
I am a follower of Jesus Christ; not a follower of Mormon. I believe in the gospel and doctrine of Jesus Christ; not Mormonism.
'Mormonism' is not real.
Jesus Christ is.
So I'm grateful to be able to identify with a nickname derived from this book of scripture along with approximately 15 million other people. And that is 'Mormon'. Being a Mormon, or more correctly, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is everything to me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is why I am who I am, and why I continue to become a better version of that continually. It is why I have purpose in my life. It is why I have made it through the struggles and difficulties I have faced. And I love when people are able to recognize that part of me, whether it's through the nickname or the full name of the church.
However, I can't be the only 'Mormon' to cringe when things like 'Mormon faith', 'Mormon church', and 'Mormonism' get tossed around in a thread 700 comments long on some news article having to do with the church or church members. Or when they get tossed around in church, or in a casual conversation. I don't know if it bothers me more when members use those terms or when others do. But somewhere along the way, people both within and without the church are confusing something fundamental when we speak of our beliefs as 'Mormon beliefs'.
They are not Mormon beliefs. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, not the Mormon Church. And therefore the doctrine, the leadership, the processes, the everything required by 'the church' is a product or requirement of Jesus Christ; not some random, abstract entity called 'Mormonism'. When people say 'Mormon church' or 'Mormon anything' they are taking Jesus Christ completely out of the picture and they are forgetting who it is we follow. And when that happens, everything loses meaning. All of a sudden people think doctrine can be changed by the whim of the members. All of a sudden people think doctrine is something we can pick and choose to fit our wants. All of a sudden people start to think that we are not a Christ centered people. And this couldn't be farther from the truth.
Joseph Smith said of the church: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 121 emphasis added)
An appendage is something that you can live without. Like a finger or a leg. But Jesus Christ is the heart of this church, and that is why the church was called after Him. It is fine that we use the nickname 'Mormon' when trying to explain our religious identification. Many people will recognize what a 'Mormon' is before they recognize the whole name of the church. But we should be careful not to let the doctrines, teachings, and covenants we hold dear become attributed to Mormon instead of Christ. It detracts from the truth of who's church this is. Nothing matters without Jesus Christ. With our language, please, let's not forget that!
I am a follower of Jesus Christ; not a follower of Mormon. I believe in the gospel and doctrine of Jesus Christ; not Mormonism.
'Mormonism' is not real.
Jesus Christ is.
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