Being LDS

Being a member of the LDS church in Utah is pretty easy. However, outside of our little world, it's more difficult. I experienced this first hand when I moved to the Azores (I'll save that for another post). People are misled about what they believe. There was a documentary several years ago that gave false information about the Mormons. Here, I'll lay down the basics for my non-LDS friends:
Joseph Smith had a very religious family, but they were split into the Presbyterians and the Methodists. He felt very confused about which he should join. He turned to the scriptures for help. In the spring of 1820, Joseph Smith read James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." As he reflected on these words, he decided to pray to obtain an answer. He went into a small grove of trees near his home, and knelt down to pray. As he was praying, Satan ,(or the Devil), tried to get him to stop, racking his body with endless pain. Joseph prayed harder, and all of a sudden- "When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (See Joseph Smith History 1:17) Joseph asked which church to join. Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son, told him that none of the churches had the full truth. Years later, Joseph Smith was called as the first prophet of this dispensation. We do not worship Joseph Smith. We do not think he was a god. We believe that he was an instrument in the Lord's hands to restore His church upon the earth.

The rest of our beliefs can be answered in 13 simple sentences called the Articles of Faith:
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 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 worshiping 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 be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Please, reflect on these, all non-LDS members, and try to accept, if not understand, our beliefs.
Ciao, Rebekah