Blessings for the Sick and the Afflicted

If you or someone you know is sick, injured, or otherwise unwell, you can get a blessing for that person. If you don't know any Mormons who can help you get one, you can contact the local missionaries or a local Mormon leader by using these tools on Mormon.org:
http://mormon.org/missionaries   http://mormon.org/meetinghouse

If using the meetinghouse locator, you can find the bishop's phone number if you click on a meetinghouse, click on a congregation that meets there, and click on the Leadership tab beside the Schedule tab.

If you just want the blessing and are worried about someone starting a discussion on beliefs, make your intentions clear. Mormons (missionaries especially) are happy to help random people just because. It's one of the main purposes of the church we belong to.

Members would not expect or wish to be paid for giving a blessing. Mormons consider it their responsibility to give freely of their time to help others, so to suggest to pay them for their service would probably make them uncomfortable. But you could probably get away with buying them a hamburger or something as a way of saying thank you if you felt it necessary.

2013 Christmas Devotional

Gotta love the lights at Temple Square and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Church has held a First Presidency Christmas Devotional for many years now, but starting this year it will simply be called the Christmas Devotional. The name change suggests that more leaders will be given the opportunity to speak at the devotional, instead of just the First Presidency (the President of the Church and his two counselors).

What is family home evening?

Family home evening (FHE) is ideally a meeting held once a week by a family in their own home. It's a time when the family can study the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have fun together. The details of FHE planning, such as when to hold the meeting, what activities to do, and who is responsible for what, are left up to the family to decide. The parents or guardians in the home are encouraged to seek heavenly inspiration to know what their family needs out of FHE each week.

Here's an example of what FHE might look like: After dinner Andrea loads the dishes into the dishwasher while her brother Mike puts away the leftover food. Mom is changing Joey's diaper, and Dad has just emerged from the bathroom. He sees that it's 5 minutes to 7:00pm, the time when family home evening is to begin. He checks to see if Mom needs help with Joey and lets her know that FHE is about to start in the family room. He then checks on Mike and Andrea and reminds them as well. They all gather in the family room, although Andrea arrives a little late after checking her email first. Dad makes sure that they all have prepared for their part of the meeting, and then they begin. They sing a favorite song, then they pray, and then Dad, whose role this week is to conduct the meeting, turns the time over to Mike for the lesson. He gives a short lesson about how God made the earth for us, and then Dad turns the time over to Mom for the activity. Mom has chosen three possible winter activities for the family to do, Christmas caroling, driving around looking at Christmas lights, or sledding, and she puts it to a vote. The family picks the sledding activity, so the family goes out sledding for a while. Then they come back inside and Dad turns the time over to Andrea for the treat. Mom had previously suggested to her that hot chocolate or apple cider might go along well with the activity, and Andrea had decided to pick hot chocolate. Andrea now announces that hot chocolate is the treat, and the family ends the meeting with prayer and enjoys the treat together.

Family home evening doesn't have to be as formal or structured as the one in this example was, and it doesn't have to have so many parts to it or be so long. Some families might like to invite friends to participate, and some might want to keep it family only. It all depends on what the family wants to do and what their needs are.

With all kinds of work, school, and community obligations to fulfill, it can be hard to get the whole family together each week at the same time. Some families can maintain regularly planned FHEs from month to month while others need to pick a different day or time each week. But scheduling is not the only challenge. Sometimes families struggle with participation apathy, discord between members, poor planning, or lack of resources and ideas. As a result, holding weekly FHEs is a hard goal to achieve for many families.

When families put forth their best efforts to make family home evenings a success, they can feel richly blessed. Over time, family members learn more about each other, can become more comfortable sharing their testimonies or teaching gospel principles to each other, and will probably have some fond memories of playing games, decorating cookies, or doing other fun activities with their family. The children might also have some ideas of what they would like to change or keep doing for FHE when they have their own families. Holding family home evening on a regular basis can really help a family grow spiritually and grow together.

Mormons believe that families are meant to be forever, so we believe it's important for families to have some time to spend together each week. To help families find time for family home evening, the Church doesn't schedule any activities on Monday evenings.

Overview of Mormon Culture and Beliefs

Mormons gathered to watch and listen to the General Conference of the Church last weekend. This talk (sermon) gives an excellent overview of Mormon culture and beliefs.

Source: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng

Come, Join with Us

BY PRESIDENT DIETER F. UCHTDORF

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

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Regardless of your circumstances, your personal history, or the strength of your testimony, there is room for you in this Church.

Play

Once there was a man who dreamed that he was in a great hall where all the religions of the world were gathered. He realized that each religion had much that seemed desirable and worthy.

He met a nice couple who represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and asked, “What do you require of your members?”

“We do not require anything,” they replied. “But the Lord asks that we consecrate all.”

The couple went on to explain about Church callings, home and visiting teaching, full-time missions, weekly family home evenings, temple work, welfare and humanitarian service, and assignments to teach.

“Do you pay your people for all the work they do?” the man asked.

“Oh, no,” the couple explained. “They offer their time freely.”

“Also,” the couple continued, “every six months our Church members spend a weekend attending or watching 10 hours of general conference.”

“Ten hours of people giving talks?” the man wondered.

“What about your weekly church services? How long are they?”

“Three hours, every Sunday!”

“Oh, my,” the man said. “Do members of your church actually do what you have said?”

“That and more. We haven’t even mentioned family history, youth camps, devotionals, scripture study, leadership training, youth activities, early-morning seminary, maintaining Church buildings, and of course there is the Lord’s law of health, the monthly fast to help the poor, and tithing.”

The man said, “Now I’m confused. Why would anyone want to join such a church?”

The couple smiled and said, “We thought you would never ask.”

Why Would Anyone Join Such a Church?

At a time when many churches throughout the world are experiencing significant decreases in numbers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—though small in comparison with many others—is one of the fastest growing churches in the world. As of September 2013 the Church has more than 15 million members around the world.

There are many reasons for this, but may I offer a few?

The Savior’s Church

First, this Church was restored in our day by Jesus Christ Himself. Here you will find the authority to act in His name—to baptize for the remission of sins, to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to seal on earth and in heaven.¹

Those who join this Church love the Savior Jesus Christ and they wish to follow Him. They rejoice in the knowledge that God speaks to mankind again. When they receive sacred priesthood ordinances and make covenants with God, they can feel His power in their lives.² When they enter the holy temple, they sense they are in His presence. When they read the holy scriptures³ and live the teachings of His prophets, they grow closer to the Savior they love so much.

An Active Faith

Another reason is because the Church provides opportunities for doing good.

Believing in God is commendable, but most people want to do more than listen to inspirational sermons or dream of their mansions above.⁴ They want to put their faith into practice. They want to roll up their sleeves and become engaged in this great cause.

And that is what happens when they join with us—they have many opportunities to transform their talents, compassion, and time into good works. Because we have no paid local clergy in our worldwide congregations, our members perform the work of ministry themselves. They are called by inspiration. Sometimes we volunteer; sometimes we are“volunteered.” We see assignments not as burdens but as opportunities to fulfill covenants we gladly make to serve God and His children.

Treasured Blessings

A third reason why people join the Church is because walking the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings.

We see baptism as the starting point in our journey of discipleship. Our daily walk with Jesus Christ leads to peace and purpose in this life and profound joy and eternal salvation in the world to come.

Those who follow this path faithfully avoid many of the pitfalls, sorrows, and regrets of life.

The poor in spirit and honest of heart find great treasures of knowledge here.

Those who suffer or grieve find healing here.

Those burdened with sin find forgiveness, liberty, and rest.

To Those Who Leave

The search for truth has led millions of people to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, there are some who leave the Church they once loved.

One might ask, “If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”

Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.

Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church.

In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly, that was restored by a young man who asked questions and sought answers, we respect those who honestly search for truth. It may break our hearts when their journey takes them away from the Church we love and the truth we have found, but we honor their right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim that privilege for ourselves.⁵

Unanswered Questions

Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. We openly acknowledge that in nearly 200 years of Church history—along with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine events—there have been some things said and done that could cause people to question.

Sometimes questions arise because we simply don’t have all the information and we just need a bit more patience. When the entire truth is eventually known, things that didn’t make sense to us before will be resolved to our satisfaction.

Sometimes there is a difference of opinion as to what the “facts” really mean. A question that creates doubt in some can, after careful investigation, build faith in others.

Mistakes of Imperfect People

And, to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.

I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes.

In the title page of the Book of Mormon we read, “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”⁶

This is the way it has always been and will be until the perfect day when Christ Himself reigns personally upon the earth.

It is unfortunate that some have stumbled because of mistakes made by men. But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and as one who has seen firsthand the councils and workings of this Church, I bear solemn witness that no decision of significance affecting this Church or its members is ever made without earnestly seeking the inspiration, guidance, and approbation of our Eternal Father. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. God will not allow His Church to drift from its appointed course or fail to fulfill its divine destiny.

There Is Room for You

To those who have separated themselves from the Church, I say, my dear friends, there is yet a place for you here.

Come and add your talents, gifts, and energies to ours. We will all become better as a result.

Some might ask, “But what about my doubts?”

It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.⁷

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.⁸ We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some might say, “I just don’t fit in with you people in the Church.”

If you could see into our hearts, you would probably find that you fit in better than you suppose. You might be surprised to find that we have yearnings and struggles and hopes similar to yours. Your background or upbringing might seem different from what you perceive in many Latter-day Saints, but that could be a blessing. Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we need your unique talents and perspectives. The diversity of persons and peoples all around the globe is a strength of this Church.

Some might say, “I don’t think I could live up to your standards.”

All the more reason to come! The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the struggling, and the exhausted. It is filled with people whodesire with all their heart to keep the commandments, even if they haven’tmastered them yet.

Some might say, “I know a member of your Church who is a hypocrite. I could never join a church that had someone like him as a member.”

If you define hypocrite as someone who fails to live up perfectly to what he or she believes, then we are all hypocrites. None of us is quite as Christlike as we know we should be. But we earnestly desire to overcome our faults and the tendency to sin. With our heart and soul we yearn to become better with the help of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

If these are your desires, then regardless of your circumstances, your personal history, or the strength of your testimony, there is room for you in this Church. Come, join with us!

Come, Join with Us!

In spite of our human imperfections, I am confident that you will find among the members of this Church many of the finest souls this world has to offer. The Church of Jesus Christ seems to attract the kind and the caring, the honest and the industrious.

If you expect to find perfect people here, you will be disappointed. But if you seek the pure doctrine of Christ, the word of God “which healeth the wounded soul,”⁹ and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost, then here you will find them. In this age of waning faith—in this age when so many feel distanced from heaven’s embrace—here you will find a people who yearn to know and draw closer to their Savior by serving God and fellowmen, just like you. Come, join with us!

Will Ye Also Go Away?

I am reminded of a time in the Savior’s life when many abandoned Him.¹⁰Jesus asked His twelve disciples:

“Will ye also go away?

“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”¹¹

There are times when we have to answer the same question. Will we also go away? Or will we, like Peter, hold fast to the words of eternal life?

If you seek truth, meaning, and a way to transform faith into action; if you are looking for a place of belonging: Come, join with us!

If you have left the faith you once embraced: Come back again. Join with us!

If you are tempted to give up: Stay yet a little longer. There is room for you here.

I plead with all who hear or read these words: Come, join with us. Come heed the call of the gentle Christ. Take up your cross and follow Him.¹²

Come, join with us! For here you will find what is precious beyond price.

I testify that here you will find the words of eternal life, the promise of blessed redemption, and the pathway to peace and happiness.

I earnestly pray that your own search for truth will impress upon your heart the desire to come and join with us. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Why is it called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

The Church is so named because:

1. Mormons believe that this church is the same church that Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth, same organization and everything. It's his church and his doctrine. Therefore, the Church should bear his name.
2. Mormons believe that after Jesus died, the Church began to lose the purity of the teachings of Jesus Christ (the Gospel). The Church started teaching the philosophies of men mixed with the Gospel, and so it stopped being God's true church. Christianity became divided and corrupt, and it remained in this confused state until the world was ready to receive the pure Gospel again. In New York in 1830, Jesus Christ restored his church through the prophet Joseph Smith. (See Joseph Smith (mormon.org)) Joseph received a revelation that God wanted the name of the church to be the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So that's what he called it. 
3. Members of the Church are called saints because that's what members of the ancient church were called. Members today are called latter-day saints because we are living in the Latter Days, the period of time that takes place just before Jesus' second coming.
4. The Church is often referred to as the Mormon Church, and members are commonly called Mormons, because they believe in the Book of Mormon as well as in the Holy Bible. The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ. It recounts the history of two ancient-American nations, the Nephites and the Lamanites. The Book testifies of Jesus Christ and teaches his Gospel. (See The Book of Mormon (mormon.org))

The Church could have been given this name: The Church That's the Same as Christ's Ancient Church Whose Members Are Living in the Time Just before the Savior Comes Again. After that, the actual name of the church doesn't seem too long, now does it?

See also these Mormon.org articles: The Restoration of Jesus Christ's Church, Christ's Church

Why do Mormons serve missions?

Why do Mormons do missionary work? If you had the cure for cancer, you would want to share it, right? Mormons believe we have something even better than that - the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The Gospel has the power to bring us so much peace, joy, and help in our lives. We believe that God has commanded us to share His Gospel and the blessings that come from it with the world. Our faith in Jesus Christ helps us to improve ourselves and to be happy, and we want those things for our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

In other words, we serve you because God loves you and because we love you! It's amazing how deeply the missionaries can come to love the people in the area in which they serve. Missions are hard, but missionaries often say that their mission was the best two years of their lives.

See also: What does it take to become a missionary?

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

This document is central to the Mormon faith. It is often referenced in church meetings, and members are encouraged to use it as a guide for their lives and for their families.
"This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

THE FAMILY

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A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."

(To go to the proclamation on LDS.org, click here.)

What is the Sacrament ordinance?

Mormons take the Sacrament each Sunday during Sacrament Meeting. The Sacrament is an ordinance that helps us remember the Savior's sacrifice for each one of us. Pieces of bread are blessed and passed to the congregation, and then little cups of water are blessed and passed. The bread and water represent Jesus's body and blood which were torn and shed for us during the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane and his crucifixion. During the Sacrament, the chapel gets pretty quiet as we try to think about the Savior and all that He has done for us. ("Ye saints, partake and testify ye do remember him." ~Hymn 182, v.4)

Mormonism 101

How are speakers for Sacrament Meeting chosen?

A Mormon ward (local congregation) is run by a lay ministry rather than paid clergy, so there are different members of the ward speaking each week. Usually there are 2-4 speakers, and the addresses that they give are called "talks" (Mormon Terminology, Part 1). How are those speakers chosen?

One or all of the three members of the bishopric (the three leaders of the ward) will pray about what topic the ward needs to learn more about, and they will also pray about which member of the congregation should give the talk on that subject. When they feel they have their answer, they call up the person in mind and ask him or her to give the talk. Sometimes they will also provide the person with a General Conference talk or a scripture to use as a reference. The bishopric should try to notify the speakers at least a week early so that the speakers have time to prepare their talks, and sometimes they will make follow-up calls to see how the talk preparation is going.

Once the speaker accepts the request to give a talk, he should start to think about his topic and research it. He should also make sure that he prays that God will guide him in his preparation. The given topic is often very broad, so it helps for the speaker to consider what life experiences he has had that have to do with the topic. Choosing personal experiences to share in the talk helps to narrow down the topic a little, and it might just be why God chose that person to speak on the given topic. Someone, or several people in the ward, might need to hear about what the speaker learned from a life experience. Many Mormons will tell you that they have heard talks before that have completely changed their lives. When the speaker prepares and gives his talk with God's help, it's highly likely that many people who hear the talk will receive significant help for their own lives.

There isn't a prescribed style for giving a talk, but most people start by introducing themselves, and as they get into their topic, they try to teach doctrine using the scriptures, quotes from General Authorities (well-known church leaders), and personal experiences. Each talk should last about 5-20 minutes, depending on how many speakers there are in the program and whether there is an intermediate musical number or not. The speaker will often end with his testimony and close in the name of Jesus Christ. Mormons typically close in Jesus' name as a way to affirm that in all they have said, they have tried to convey a message that the Lord would approve of.

Using a lay ministry to supply speakers has its advantages and disadvantages. Speakers will make mistakes every now and then, so you might hear some false doctrine. But Mormons believe that we shouldn't automatically take everything speakers say at face value anyway, so you want to make sure that as you're listening, you pay attention to whether the Spirit is confirming to your heart or not that what the speaker is saying is true. Another disadvantage is that you might find some speakers' styles very tedious, over-your-head, or otherwise hard to follow. However, it's a new set of speakers each week, and some people are very hilarious and entertaining. Other people have inspiring stories or musical voices that you could spend all day listening to. Probably one of the most beneficial aspects of having different speakers each Sunday is the variety of personal experiences that are shared. When one speaker tells about how God helped him to overcome an addiction, or when another tells of how she came to know that God was actually real, the congregation have yet another reason to believe that their own testimonies about God are legitimate.

The system also serves to benefit the speakers themselves. They will probably be the ones to learn the most from their topic. Speakers also get the chance to practice leadership and public speaking skills in a supportive environment. Speakers might also feel compelled to draw closer to God as they seek to know what God wants them to say. When it becomes your turn to give a talk, you can't deny that it would be nice to have some divine inspiration to help you out. When people start drawing closer to God, lives start changing in wonderful ways.

If you would like to read more about how the church uses a lay ministry, see this related article on Mormon.org: Why don't Mormons have paid clergy?

Why so many tears?

It's true. We Mormons are criers. If you attend a Mormon church service for the full three hours in a ward where there are lots of members (at least 20 in each classroom), chances are high that you will hear at least one person start to choke up while sharing a comment or giving a talk, and it's pretty much guaranteed if you attend Sacrament Meeting on Fast Sunday (usually the first Sunday of the month).

Why so many tears and thick voices? Mormons believe in the Holy Ghost. He is a member of the godhead, but unlike Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who have perfected bodies of flesh and bones, the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. Because he's a spirit, he can literally come and dwell within us. The mission of the Holy Ghost is to comfort, guide, counsel, and teach us. Anyone can be visited by the Holy Ghost. When Mormons say that they can feel that something is true, it could be that they have been visited by the Holy Ghost, and he testified to them that whatever they were thinking or wondering about was true. That's most often how he teaches us, when we're wondering if something is true or not.

When the Holy Ghost comes to be with us, we can feel it. It's a sweet, peaceful, warm feeling of power, sometimes barely noticeable and sometimes like a fire burning in our hearts, and it makes us feel loved and happy. The way the Holy Ghost feels is so wonderful that it alone can make a person cry just from sheer joy. It's pretty cool. When the feeling that the Holy Ghost gives us is accompanied with a reassuring feeling that whatever we were thinking about is true, that new knowledge can produce strong emotion. For example, if you were praying to God about whether the Bible is true or not, and you suddenly felt the Holy Ghost reassuring you that yes, it is true, then you would know that you no longer have to worry about believing in something that isn't actually true. You could then move forward with confidence that to read the Bible would put you on the right path. That new knowledge would make you feel relieved, confident, and maybe a little less stressed out.

Mormons are truth-seekers. We believe that each of us needs to find out if God is real, and if he is, what he wants us to believe and to do. Most Mormons have investigated the possibility of there being a God and have felt the Holy Ghost confirming to them that yes, God is real. We have also made it priority to find out what it is that God wants us to believe and to do. That's why when you go to church and hear Mormons talk about their beliefs, they will get emotional as they remember the times when the Holy Ghost came to them and testified of specific truths. They may also get emotional because they are feeling the Holy Ghost again as they are talking, reinforcing their testimonies of the truth.

The feelings inspired by the Holy Ghost are beautiful and can make us cry, but sometimes we cry out of emotion alone and not because of the influence of the Holy Ghost. Our church services tend to get very personal as we share stories from our own lives. We all experience really painful challenges, and many Mormons feel comfortable enough to share them and to share the lessons God taught them because of those experiences. Some of us will cry as we remember pain, and some of us because we're particularly passionate about something, and some of us just because we have trouble regulating our emotions. Keep in mind that strong emotion doesn't necessarily indicate the influence of the Holy Ghost or that whatever is said is true.

The Uplifted Hand

"All in favor, please make it manifest by the uplifted hand......Any opposed by the same sign......." 

For help understanding Mormon words and phrases used in this post, see Mormon Terminology, Pt. 1.

During the first part of Sacrament Meeting, the member of the bishopric conducting the meeting will conduct the ward business. Items of ward business include welcoming new members to the ward (congregation), releasing individuals from callings and extending new callings, and approving changes in ward boundaries. All of these items request the ward's unanimous vote. When the member of the bishopric proposes one of these changes, he says something like, "We would like to release Sister Anderson from her calling as Ward Pianist with a vote of thanks. All in favor, please make it manifest by the uplifted hand." This is the part where all the members of the ward will raise their right arms to a right angle with the elbow bent and palm facing forward (as shown in the picture below), to show their support for the proposed change.

One who isn't used to this custom might think it unusual to see all those arms raised, again and again with each item of business, but Mormons are used to it. Mormon practices often make use of outward symbols, just as the Law of Moses did. Mormons not only use the uplifted hand to show support for people and changes in the ward, but also when baptizing (as pictured) and performing other sacred rituals. Mormons might use the "uplifted hand" every Sunday, but it's still a sacred gesture.

Why do Mormons dress up for church?

If you have ever been to a church service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you probably noticed that the men wear suits and ties, typically with white shirts, and that the women wear dresses or skirts with nice tops. The children are also dressed up. You will hardly see men wearing colored shirts or anyone in jeans. Why do Mormons dress up like that on Sundays?

Mormons believe in outward symbols. In the Old Testament in the Holy Bible, we read that God had Israel follow the Law of Moses, which included many symbolic rituals and sacrifices that served to remind Israel of the Messiah who was to come save them. We believe that God still wants his children to learn from outward symbols. Therefore, on Sundays we dress up to help us remember that Sunday is a special day, a day to rest from our labors and to do God's work. We especially make sure that we dress up for church services to remind ourselves and our children that church attendance is extremely important and should not be observed casually.

The "Sunday best" dress code mentioned above isn't exactly a rule. The Church of Jesus Christ is a world-wide church, and you will find some variation in the definition of "Sunday best." But above all, remember that the way you dress is a personal matter and should be decided between you and God.

You may have also noticed that Mormon women typically don't wear dress pants to church. There is no theological objection to it, but Mormon culture doesn't exactly encourage it. My *guess* is that Mormons want to preserve the gender distinctions. Mormons believe that a person's gender is an important and eternal trait, meaning that we were either male or female before we were born and will be ever after. Considering that society doesn't exactly share our beliefs, we want to keep ourselves somewhat aloof from society's influence. Like I said, Mormons believe in symbolism. When the only ones who wear skirts and dresses are women and the only ones who wear suits and dress pants are men, a visual symbol of the distinction between the sexes is created.

It could also be that historically the women of the church have been wary of associating themselves too much with women who don't know and follow God's plan for us (the women "of the world"). When the women's rights movement made it socially acceptable for women to wear pants, but also did some more extreme things like burning bras, it might have been hard for everyone to sort out what changes were wonderful, good, and maybe not so good.

Ultimately, it's a good idea to wear something to church that is nicer than you would normally wear the rest of the week. That way you and your children can more easily remember to worship God and to honor his holy Sabbath Day.

The "Seminary Answers"

Education is an important principle to Mormons. That's why church is 3 hours long, and the Church publishes all kinds of books and materials to help teachers teach and students learn. There are also many classes that the Church provides (such as Sunday S\chool, financial seminars, leadership training, etc.), and seminary is one of them. Seminary is a four-year class for high school students. Each year the class focuses on either the Book of Mormon, the Old Testament and the Pearl of Great Price, the New Testament, or the Doctrine and Covenants and church history. The class is typically held five days a week during the regular school year, which can get pretty tedious for a busy, stressed-out teen. (I would know. I lived it.)

The terms "Seminary answers" and "Sunday School answers" have come to mean the answers to a question that pretty much everyone in the room knows but will not say because it's so obvious. For example, a Sunday School teacher might ask, "How can we come closer to God? Any thoughts?" The Seminary answers are: 1) Pray. 2) Read your scriptures. 3) Go to church. 4) Repent. 5) Develop your faith in Jesus Christ (by doing what he says and such).

Those four answers are the answers to SO MANY QUESTIONS that teachers will ask, probably because they are pretty much the answers to life. Because these answers are so universal, and because the concepts in the answers are taught day after day, after day, after day, after day.....in seminary, and week after week in Sunday School, they are called the "Seminary answers" or the "Sunday School answers."

Or at least that how I would explain it.

Why don't Mormons smoke or drink?

The prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation from God known as the Word of Wisdom. It was basically some guidelines for keeping our bodies healthy. What happens when your lifestyle involves smoking and eating junk food all day? You not only put yourself at higher risk for lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious medical issues, but you also won't function at your best from day to day. You're more likely to be crabby and ill-disposed to pray or make other good choices. And how about that hangover? I'm pretty sure it's hard to look and feel your best during a hangover.

The Word of Wisdom is just what it implies: a revelation containing some sensible guidelines for our health. 

It teaches that we should exercise, eat healthy foods, and go to bed and wake up early. It also warns us that we shouldn't use or consume harmful substances, specifically coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol. (We can still use alcohol and tobacco for cuts and bruises or other skin injuries though.)

God promises us that if we live by the Word of Wisdom, we will find "treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" and that we will "run and not be weary, walk and not faint." 

Interpretation issues:

Caffeine

There is nothing about caffeine in the Word of Wisdom. People may consume it if they wish to. Some people have supposed that the reason why coffee and tea are discouraged is because of caffeine, but that's just a matter of opinion. Yes, caffeine can be an addictive substance and therefore probably isn't very good for you. It would probably be wiser not to give yourself the chance to get addicted to it. But it would also be good to never try chocolate for that reason. I guess you just have to choose your battles.

Meat

The Word of Wisdom says to "eat meat sparingly." Most Mormons nowadays eat meat all the time, maybe because the revelation was received at a time when refrigeration was really poor and people got sick all the time from eating meat, but who knows. Some Mormons have taken a vegetarian or vegan interpretation of the revelation. When it comes down to it, the way you interpret and apply it to your life should be between you and the Lord. You should decide for yourself what you think it means and then ask God if your interpretation is correct. 

Mormons tend to have big families because...

Who is Thomas S. Monson?

Mormons believe that Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet on the earth today. He is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One fundamental Mormon belief is that God still talks to us today through living prophets. These are the last days that the Bible talks about, and God wants to give us all the help he can to live through them joyfully and to get ready for when he comes again. A modern-day prophet can give us counsel on specific modern topics, such as how to use technology wisely, that might be more difficult to glean from the scriptures. That's why God has given us modern-day prophets.

Joseph Smith was the first modern prophet, and Thomas S. Monson makes the 16th. You can read President Monson's biography and some of his talks at his official website, http://www.thomassmonson.org/.
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Obedience Brings Blessings - Thomas S. Monson - April 2013 General Conference

This is one of the talks President Monson gave at the last General Conference of the Church.

Mormon Terminology, Pt. 3: Acronyms

Mormons use these acronyms a lot! Here's what they mean. (Definitions coming soon.)
* Commonly spoken. In some cases, the acronym is always used in place of the full term.

BoM or BOM  (the Book of Mormon)
BYC* ( Bishop's Youth Council or Committee)
BYU* (Brigham Young University)
BYU-Hawaii*
BYU-I*  (Brigham Young University - Idaho)

CES* (Church Educational System)

D&C* (Doctrine and Covenants)

EFY* (Especially for Youth)

EQP (Elder's Quorum President)

FHE* (Family Home Evening)
LDS* (Latter-day Saint)

PPI (Personal Priesthood Interview)

RS (Relief Society)

YSA (Young Single Adult)

YM (Young Men)

YW (Young Women)

See also Mormon Terminology, Pt. 1 and Mormon Terminology, Pt. 2.

A Correct Understanding of the Godhead

The First Vision (J. Smith - Hist., vv.14-20)

          The First Article of Faith says, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." (Articles of Faith.) This fundamental truth not only establishes that we believe that there is a god, but also that Mormons are Christians. We Mormons believe that it's important to have a correct understanding of the similarities and differences to roles and natures of  each member of the Godhead.

         Mormons believe that God the Father is our literal father, and we are his spirit children. Jesus Christ is also Heavenly Father's son and our brother, but unlike us he is Heavenly Father's only begotten in the flesh, which is probably why he and his father look so alike. Both of them have physical, glorified bodies. Together they, with the Holy Ghost, are united in purpose and love.

         The Holy Ghost does not have a body, but is a spirit. He knows all things, and one of his key roles is to give us testimonies of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and of truth. Communication from the Holy Ghost feels something like warmth, fire, and purity in your chest that fills you with joy. Feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost is a beautiful, sacred thing, and it is available to everyone who wants to know God and actively looks for the truth. (A good way to begin to invite the Spirit into your life and into your home would be to invite the missionaries over, or to start reading the Book of Mormon, or to sincerely ask God if something is true. Those are perfect opportunities for the Spirit to bear witness to you of the truth of the matter in question.)

        God the Father is the one who's in charge. He is the one to whom we direct our prayers. Jesus always does whatever Heavenly Father asks him to do. Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament and directs the affairs of God's church. He also came to earth to show us how to live by being an example, and he and the Holy Ghost are our greatest teachers.

This video from the April 2013 General Conference of the Church is of a member of the Quorum of the 70 explaining the doctrine of the Godhead a little further.

        One of the most important things for us to know is that Jesus is our Savior. Heavenly Father designed for us a plan whereby we could become like him, but the plan would require a savior for us. Jesus is that savior - he made our redemption possible, and we are indebted to him for that and for several other reasons. See What did Jesus Christ do for us, and what do we need to do about it? for more info about Jesus Christ, or go to http://mormon.org/jesus-christ.