Ezra Booth and the Dangers of Gossip
Filed under: Doctrine & Covenants, History, Joseph Smith: Mormon Prophet, Making Decisions, The Prophet
Ezra Booth, a former minister, became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often called Mormons, in 1831, when the church was still new. He had seen Joseph Smith heal the arm of a church member, and this was his reason for joining. However, Mormons know miracles don’t really convert people. The miracle must be followed up with appropriate steps to gain a true testimony, including study and prayer. However, Booth did not do this and so he had only the single miracle to bolster his thin faith.
In the early days of the church, adult men, even those married, could be sent out on missions and often did so when they were quite new to the church. This is not the case today, where missionaries must be well-versed in their religion and have strong testimonies. Ezra Booth left on his mission only a few months after joining. This mission demonstrated his lack of true testimony as he faced his first necessity to sacrifice for his faith. He was angry over having to walk to his destination instead of being given transportation, even though the young church had no money for such things and neither did he. He began to feel upset that he didn’t see a continual stream of miracles, not understanding that miracles are miracles precisely because they are rare. Missionary work wasn’t the glamorous task he expected it to be.
Spiritual Gift of Prophecy
Filed under: Basic Beliefs of Mormons, Basic LDS Beliefs, Bible, Blessings, Church Organization, Discipleship: Following in the Savior's Footsteps, Jesus Christ, The Prophet
In 1 Corinthians 12:10, we learn that one spiritual gift God gives to some people is the gift of prophecy. A spiritual gift is given to people in order to do God’s work and to bless others, and must not be used for personal gain. The gift comes through the Holy Ghost to those who are worthy and obedient to God’s commandments.
Although the Mormon church is headed by a prophet, the gift of prophecy referred to here is not referring to that prophet. The office of the prophet is held by the president of the Mormons. Only one person holds that office, but many people can have the gift of prophecy. Read more
Mormons Announce New Solar Powered Chapel
Filed under: Bible, Premortal Life, The Creation, The Prophet
On April 27, 2010, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, introduced its first solar-powered chapel, located in Farmington, Utah. “It’s about creating a place of worship that works in harmony with the environment. For decades we have looked for innovative ways to use natural resources in our meetinghouses that reflect our commitment as wise stewards of God’s creations.” Said H. David Burton Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the press conference. The new building is one of five pilot buildings designed to meet LEED certification standards. Read more
Joseph Smith And General Conference
Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church, established the pattern for regular, general conferences of the whole church. The idea was not his, but it was a commandment from God. The revelation, in part, reads:
Do Mormons Worship Joseph Smith?
The March 2008 edition of the Ensign magazine (the official magazine of the Mormon Church), is devoted entirely to discussing the life, mission, teachings, and atonement of Jesus Christ.
The Great I AM
Sometimes observations from philosophers just crack me up. Take, for instance, Thomas Aquinas. He was a medieval Roman Catholic philosopher and theologian, and was so adept at explaining Catholic theology that he was later called The Angelic Doctor.
A Prophet, not a Gadfly: Joseph Smith and Socrates
Why are Mormons so focused on Joseph Smith, this first prophet of their church? What makes him so different from other great figures in history?
Jesus the Mediator
Joseph Smith is a revealer of Christ. As the founding prophet of the Mormon Church, one part of his mission was to teach about Jesus Christ. On many occasions Joseph Smith was asked if he were a prophet. His response was an unequivocal yes. He would also quote a passage from the Bible:
On our own two feet
I have to laugh at times when I read about how some people characterize Joseph Smith. Sometimes he is a hick and buffoon, other times he is a power-mad profligate. The funny thing is that his critics can never quite agree on who he was: How can he be the laziest man in the world, while at the same time being sought out as a hired hand in mining?
Joseph Smith Is A Revealer of Christ
When asked to explain Mormonism in a nutshell, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote:
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