WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A MORMON FOR PRESIDENT????
I'm hearing this question more and more and I want to let people know not to be afraid!!!! I want those of you wondering what we believe in to know the basics and to realize that even though we (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) live a different lifestyle does not mean that we don't believe in all of the things that this country stands for, being good citizens and quality people. Putting a mormon in office isn't going to force mormonism on the country or make you change your way of life.
So I wanted to start off by informing those of you who don't know what our beliefs are, by using our Articles of Faith. Background info: there are 13 Articles of Faith which describe what we believe in. "Two years before he died, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote them in a letter to a newspaper editor, John Wentworth, who had asked for information about the Church. Ever since the Articles of Faith were written, they’ve inspired and directed us in the basic principles of our gospel. They enhance our understanding of certain doctrines and help us commit to living them." -Mormon.org
Some of the wording may be difficult to understand so if you have questions you can either ask me... or if you want to remain anonymous research it on mormon.org. :) Thanks for stopping by and I hope that this gives you a better understanding and that you can accept our beliefs, just as we accept yours.
1. We believe in God, the eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly: we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ten tribes; that Zion (the new Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men: indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-- WE believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report we seek after these things.
