Should Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Try to Convert People?

Go Ye Therefore (Go Ye Therefore, and Teach All Nations), by Harry Anderson      Matthew 28:16–20; Mark 16:14–20

If you believe that churches are just groups of people who agree on how they see God and how they interpret the scriptures, then I would say that it would be arrogant to try to convert others to your way of thinking. Since the religious revivals in the early 1800's when Protestant preachers strove to win people over to their sect, there has even been an unspoken agreement that Christians should confine their proselyting efforts to the "heathen" nations.

Now, let's look at another perspective from another time. When our Savior ministered on the earth, He set up an organization to help the early converts to Christianity maintain their faith and serve each other. He gave power to teach, heal, and lead to his twelve Apostles. The Lord did not

How are Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Trying to Make the World Better?

https://www.ldscharities.org/videos/haiti-raising-chickens

 A friend of mine commented that though members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are providing good emergency help, that is not enough to really solve the problems the people are experiencing. She gave the Caribbean area as an example. This is my response to her:

I agree that the Caribbean area is a shambles and it has been for a long, long time. The hurricanes have just made it worse. Yes, it is necessary to give emergency aide, but that is just a temporary band-aid approach. You need to do things that make long term changes in  peoples lives and hearts. Around the world, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provide immunizations, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, educational loans, loans and training for small home businesses, dig wells and build houses, demonstrate how to grow crops, give sanitation and nutrition education, health and disease training, provide elementary and secondary schools in Mexico and the Pacific Islands and assistance for higher education, give self-reliance training (managing finances, preserving food, job training), maternal and newborn care, refugee help, job training, provide employment centers which not only help to find jobs but help in learning how to write resumes and interview, communication skills, education on family relationships and problem solving, teach English, family counseling, and more.

How Could I Believe in Prophets?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-04-15-we-need-living-prophets?lang=eng&_r=1

When I was in my mid-teens, I met a girl who was a a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was something different about her and her family; a sense of strength, peace, and love. After asking her many questions about her faith, she suggested that I talk to the missionaries. I did and had many, many questions for them.

One thing that I believed was that God must speak with someone. I had always assumed that at least the Pope talked with God. I was very surprised and disappointed to learn that he doesn't even claim to receive direct revelation from God.

Gays, Members of The Church, and Love

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-01-1050-what-is-the-purpose-of-family?category=social-media-shareable-videos&lang=eng

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am pondering why some people are expressing anger toward my faith. It seems to me that they think we are full of hate toward people who are gay. This perspective appears to be founded on the fact that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not accept gay marriages. That is true. We believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God. We also believe in complete chastity before marriage and total fidelity in marriage. We believe that the greatest happiness in this life, and in the life after this, will come as we live in families. We firmly believe that the family is the basis of a stable society.

Does this mean that we hate people who do not accept and live our beliefs? Of course not. True, members of The Church are imperfect people and some have their own prejudices, but we are admonished to overcome these weaknesses and truly live with love as the Savior did.  He associated with people not accepted in his society - the publicans, the Samaritans, the lepers, the sinners, or those who had broken the Jewish law.  He showed deep love to all, and this is what we must also try to do.

Questions from a Jew about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Why have member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints felt the need to convert dead Jews?

When a person is Baptized they are making a commitment to keep the commandments of God. We do not believe that a person can progress and become more like God if they do not make this commitment. 

When vicarious baptisms are done, it has no effect unless the person who is dead receives it. We believe that the freedom to make your own decisions is a foundation of the Gospel. We came to earth to learn from our own experience (mistakes), and this freedom to choose for ourselves will continue after this life here on the earth is over.

We offer this baptismal commitment to our direct ancestors. We want to unite our families all the way back in time. We volunteer our time to do these ordinances, because we value family. The individuals we do vicarious baptisms for can commit to follow the Lord, but they are not baptized into The Church as many sects do.

Can Members Express Dissatisfaction with Church Leadership?

After reading some of the comments from this small dissident group who would not sustain the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ at General Conference last weekend, I felt I should write more. If you have heard anything about them, you probably have some questions. If you have been around a bit you are probably wondering if more is really going on here, and you would be right. 

Because He Lives

I just saw this new Easter video. It is wonderful! It reminds us of the hope we have because of Him.

‪#‎BecauseHeLives‬ (I think I just did a hashtag!) This is a great site. Besides the video, it has pictures and a summary of the last week of the Savior's life. At the bottom of those pages are a question and answer and the opportunity to chat. it is great!

Searching for Truth and Revelation from God

I just watched this video and really enjoyed it. I identified with Willford Woodruff's search for truth.

Wilford Woodruff's search for the true Church explains the Apostasy and need for the Restoration. It emphasizes four essential elements of the true Church that were lost because of the Great Apostasy. (16:33)

Do I, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Believe in Traditional Religion?

A friend expressed to me how she could not believe in traditional religion, recounting Christianity's history of voting on doctrine, political maneuvering, conquest (Crusades), and cruelty (Inquisition). She also stated that though she did believe in God, she could not believe that one person's ideas about religion were better than another person's ideas. I agree completely with her.

What!? You are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How could you not believe in traditional religion? Aren't you the most traditional, conservative religion around? 

We do believe in truth and do not give in when we know something is right, but our faith is not based on tradition. Throughout time there have been many good people who have set up religions based on what they believed was right. I think some have done a lot of good, but by the time I was eleven I knew that was not enough for me. I didn't want to choose between the many philosophies of men one that I liked the best and join that church. What I was looking for was revelation of truth from God.

Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a Cult?

Some people think The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a cult. I don't know about you, but doesn't the word "cult" sound scary? I think of crazed charismatic leaders who mind control their followers to make them do horrible things. I associate things like kidnapping, abuse, and mass suicide with cults. I certainly wouldn't want to be a part of a group like that!

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are known throughout the world as great humanitarians. We are some of the first people there to help after disasters and the last to leave. How could such a church with over 15 million members around the world be considered a "cult"?

Why do members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints watch General Conference?

If you believed that you could hear advice from God to direct your life, would you listen? This is what we believe and why we listen.

There have been so many times when I have been worrying about something; when things just aren't

Could I still be Happy?

I could go Blind!
Going blind has always been one of my greatest fears. A few weeks ago when my eye doctor told me that I had cataracts, I had to face this possibility.  Since I have Addison’s disease, the normally simple surgery would be more complicated and risky. 

Are Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christian?

Some people have asked me if members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christians.  Are we traditional Christians? -- No, but are we Christians -- Yes!  This is Jesus Christ's church which is why our name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To me being a Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ as our Savior and tries to follow His example of loving and serving others.