This article was recently submitted to all-encompassingly for publication. It is one of a series of informational posts intended to address common misconceptions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. –Admin
In 1833 Joseph Smith Jr., the first Prophet of the Mormon Church in the latter-days, received a revelation from the Lord that stated that “every man shall hear the fullness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (D&C 90:11) Mormon missionaries are the tool the Church uses to fulfill this revelation.
During New Testament times, the apostle Matthew wrote “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Even before Christ walked on the earth, missionaries were given specific gospel topics to teach the people. Today, Mormon missionaries have the same guidelines and teach about the same things that were taught in Biblical times.
In 2004 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints developed a book called Preach My Gospel. Missionaries use this book as their guide when they teach people about Mormon beliefs. The book states that a missionaryÃs objective is to “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.” These topics cover the basic beliefs of the Mormon Church and give missionaries areas they can focus on when teaching people.
As missionaries teach and get more-in depth about gospel topics, they focus on six areas. They are:
1. The Plan of our Heavenly Father
God the Father has a plan for our happiness. The plan of salvation.
Jesus Christ has a central mission in the plan.
God reveals the truth about his plan through prophets.
The Prophet Joseph Smith is a modern witness of Jesus Christ. Through him, God has restored knowledge about the divine plan.
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ that clearly explains the plan.
Through the Holy Ghost, each person can know that this message is true.
2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Through the Resurrection, we will be saved from physical death.
Through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can also be saved from sin.
In order to make the Atonement effective in our lives, we must have faith in Christ.
We must repent of our sins.
We must be baptized by immersion to enter into a covenant with God.
We must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and be spiritually reborn.
We must strive to obey all the commandments of God.
Divine truth does not come from human sources. It comes from God, who reveals it through his apostles and prophets.
Because of the Apostasy, the gift of revelation was lost for centuries.
God has again revealed the truth in our day through apostles and prophets of his restored church.
Through Joseph Smith, God restored the priesthood and reestablished the church of Jesus Christ.
We must come unto Christ by joining his Church.
The members of the Church receive great blessings by attending Church meetings and partaking of the sacrament.
Before this mortal life, we lived with our Heavenly Father.
The purpose of this mortal life is for us to prepare to become more like our Heavenly Father and return to him.
When we die, our spirits go to the spirit world.
The gospel is taught to the deceased in the spirit world, and the necessary ordinances are performed for them in temples by members of the Church.
The family can be an eternal unit.
The law of chastity teaches us how to govern the sacred power of procreation.
The Word of Wisdom is a divine law of health.
5. Living a Christ-like Life
We should love God and our fellow men.
Sacrifice, fasting, and fast offerings bring us spiritual blessings.
The law of tithing helps us develop selflessness.
6. Membership in the kingdom
Jesus Christ is our Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Judge.
Exaltation comes through Christ. His Church helps us progress towards perfection.
The Church and its members have a responsibility for perfecting its members, proclaiming the gospel, and redeeming the dead.
We can follow the straight and narrow path to perfection.
Mormon Missionaries
Missionary Training Center
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Mormon Missionaries
Posted by admin in mormons, travis |
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