Guest Blogger by New York Times Bestselling Author VICTORINE LIESKE: "What Do Mormons Believe?"

Chris Rice Cooper 

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***Christal Rice Cooper is looking for anyone who would like to share his/her own story of faith on the blog.  Please contact Christal Rice Cooper at caccoop@aol.com or her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/christalann.ricecooper

Guest Blogger 

Victorine 

Lieske 

http://www.

victorine

lieske.com

What do Mormons believe?

Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng), share many beliefs with the Christian world. 

                           Salt Lake City Mormon Temple 
We believe in the Bible, and in our Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe in grace, in the resurrection, and in heaven. But we also have some beliefs that differ from other Christian religions, and these are what I’d like to talk about today.

                                              Mormon Jesus 

We believe in God, the Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. In the Mormon religion, they are three separate beings who are one in purpose. We believe we are the literal spirit children of God, and we lived in heaven with Him before we came to earth. God and Jesus have a body made of flesh and bone, and when the bible says Moses spoke with God face to face, we take this literally. (Exodus 33:11) The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

Book of Mormon painting depicting Jesus and God witnessing the stoning of Stephen. 

We believe men and women can receive personal revelation from our Father in Heaven. God still speaks to His children today, and we can all pray and receive answer to prayer through the Holy Ghost. (James 1:5) We also believe in a living prophet on the earth today. In our church, we have a prophet and twelve apostles, just like Jesus set up when He was on the earth.

1st Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith receive the revelation of the Book of Mormon

Mormon prophet from 1844 - 1877 Brigham Young

Living Prophet & 16th President of the Church of Latter Day Saints Thomas Munson

We believe Jesus’ atonement is infinite. Everyone who has ever lived on the earth will have a chance to learn about Jesus Christ and accept him as their Lord and Savior. Those who have died without learning about Christ can be taught about Jesus in the spirit world. When we go to the temple, we can perform ordinances, like baptism, for our ancestors who have died without this done on the earth. We stand in proxy for them, and we believe they can either accept or reject this of their own free will. Our hearts are turned to our fathers, and we believe this is what Malachi prophesied about. Otherwise, so many people who lived and died before Jesus came to the earth, or those in other countries, would be lost.

Baptismal font in the Salt Lake Temple, circa 1912, where baptisms for the dead are performed

by proxy. The font rests on the backs of twelve oxen representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel

And finally, we believe the Book of Mormon is a record of an ancient people who lived in Jerusalem in 600 BC, and who had to leave because of persecution. They traveled on a boat to the American continent. The Book of Mormon tells of their struggles, both spiritual and physical. And after Jesus died, was resurrected, and rose up, he came down to the people on the American continent and showed himself to them. He ordained apostles, like he did in Jerusalem. We believe the Book of Mormon to be a record written by prophets of God, like the Bible. It is another testament of Jesus Christ.

In closing, I want to say how thankful I am for my religion in my life. It has taught me to be kinder to others, to be more forgiving, and loving toward my family. I’m a better person because of it. I’m so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed everything for me. I have read the Book of Mormon many times, and I have felt the Holy Spirit testify to me that it is true. I’m happy to share my beliefs with anyone who is interested. You can learn more at www.mormon.org

Latter-day Saints believe in the resurrection of Jesus, as depicted in this replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue located in the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.