New Years Resolutions for New Mormons
Congratulations! You’ve joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and have become what is sometimes called a Mormon. Your whole eternity looks different now, but you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed about what steps to take next. With the new year just starting, it’s a great time to make some resolutions to help you settle into your new faith. Following are some ideas to get you started:
Serving Behind the Scenes
Filed under: Becoming a New Member, Surviving the First Year
As a new convert, you probably won’t receive, just yet, the so-called “important callings.” Most new converts, except in areas where the church is new, aren’t chosen to lead organizations or do the jobs that garner attention and praise. One of the wonderful things about the church, though, is that regardless of how certain individuals might perceive a calling, there is no such thing as an unimportant calling. We don’t invent work. Every job that is assigned is necessary and important. J. Reuben Clark pointed out,“In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how.”
Born Again
As a new member, people who don’t understand your new religion may ask if you’ve been born again. For some, that means no more than saying you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior, which you most certainly have. It’s one of the questions you’re asked when you are interviewed for baptism. However, there is more to being born again than making a statement.
When Others Don’t Believe You’re Christian
Filed under: Becoming a New Member, Surviving the First Year
If you’ve mentioned to others you are investigating the church, or have recently joined it, you may have had someone tell you that you are no longer a Christian. This is, of course, completely false. Why, the very name of your church has the Savior’s name in it: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon is only a nickname, not the real name of the church.
Teaching the Scriptures to Young Children
Filed under: Becoming a New Member, Surviving the First Year
Are you surprised when your small children—even those who can’t read yet—are asked to bring their scriptures to Primary? Your new religion considers scripture literacy very important, and the best way to help children understand and value the scriptures is to begin reading them to your children long before they can understand what they mean. Even when they appear to be playing, they are often quietly listening. One small boy, asked what was in the scriptures, said enthusiastically, “And it came to pass!” Although he was only three, he had heard and remembered that often repeated phrase from the Book of Mormon his parents had read to him since he was born.
How to Treat an LDS Wife
If you’re a man who has recently joined the church, you may be wondering how the teachings of the church will affect your relationships with women, particularly your wife.
Head of the Household
As a new male member of the church, you may have learned that you are to be the head of the household. If this hasn’t been a part of your marriage in the past, it may seem complicated to you to understand how to do this in light of the way the missionaries taught you to treat your wife. This is because many people confuse being the head of the household with being the boss. They picture an autocratic man controlling every decision, every action. This is not at all what the church means when it tells men to take their place as the head of the home.
Message to New Mormons: Converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
I still remember my early days as a newcomer to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently known as “The ‘Mormon’ Church”). A former Catholic (Karen Trifiletti Merkley), I raised unanswered questions about the war in heaven, confession of sins, baptism, and many other doctrines, which I found later answered as I investigated the claims of the Church of Jesus Christ as mentioned in anti-Mormon literature written by ex-mormons. The claims of Mormons aligned themselves completely with the doctrines of Jesus Christ as I found them through personal, guided study of the New Testament (See www.mormontestimonies.org).
Becoming an Effective Follower
We hear much in the church about the importance of leadership, but less about what Roger Merrill calls followership. There is no point in having leaders if there is no one to follow, and followership is an excellent place for new members to provide service in the church. When we learn to effectively and humbly follow our leaders, we show respect for the Lord’s choices for leadership. Since we are all asked to follow the Savior, learning to follow righteous earthly leaders is good training for this.
Developing Leadership Skills Without a Calling
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