It is truly astonishing to Mormons how much is misunderstood about us. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a video with Hall of Fame quarterback, Steve Young and former Miss America, Sharlene Hawkes.
You may watch the video: Mormon Myths & Realities by clicking on the link. This site, currently, does not allow embedded objects.
Are we Christians? Do we practice polygamy? Do we drink booze or smoke? Do we stick to ourselves? Do we all live in Utah? The answers to all these questions are in the video. The answers are yes we worship Jesus Christ and are Christians, no we do not practice polygamy, no we don’t drink alcohol or smoke, no we do not stick to ourselves, and no we do not all live in Utah, less than half of the 13,000,000 plus members of the Church live outside the United States.
These are questions which have been asked of the Church since Mitt Romney began his run for the Presidency of the United States of America. He happens to be Mormon, as well as a statesman, and the questions are flying fast and furious because of his faith.
Even I have been somewhat startled at the breadth of the misconceptions about Mormons. What I’d like to talk about today is the particular and horrifying misconception that we don’t worship anyone.
First, the official name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon is a nickname that was given to us in the early days of the Church. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Lord and Redeemer, our King and only through Him may mankind be saved. He stands at the head of this church, because it is His Church, and it was restored in its entirety by Joseph Smith, Jr, under His guidance, on April 6, 1830. At that time there were six members of the Church, now there are over 13,000,000 of us spanning the globe.
Every single one of us worships Jesus Christ. We believe in the Godhead: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, (Matthew 3:13–17; John 14:6–10; John 17:6–23; Acts 7:55–56; 2 Nephi 31:18; Mormon 7:5–7; D&C 76:20–24.) Jesus Christ, as He explained over and over in the New Testament, went about His Father’s work on earth. He is the central figure of our religion. Everything about us revolves around Jesus Christ, His Atonement and His Resurrection.
The prophet and apostles have issued a statement to the world entitled The Living Christ and it begins like this:
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
Read the rest of this incredible testimony of Jesus Christ by clicking on The Living Christ.
Gordon B. Hinckley, the living prophet of God, said of Jesus Christ:
Jesus was in very deed the great Jehovah of the Old Testament, who left His Father’s royal courts on high and condescended to come to earth as a babe born in the most humble of circumstances. His birth was foretold centuries earlier by Isaiah, who declared prophetically, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
This Jesus Christ of whom we solemnly testify is, as John the Revelator declared, “the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.” He “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” (Revelations 1:5–6) …
Such is the witness of the testament of the Old World, the Holy Bible. And there is another voice, that of the testament of the New World, wherein the Father introduced His resurrected Son, declaring, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name.” (3 Nephi 11:7)
Added to all of this is the declaration of modern prophets: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” (D&C 76:22) …
It is proper during this season when we commemorate His birth that we remember the Lord Jesus Christ in reverence and with love. He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has brought meaning to our mortal existence. He has given us the gift of eternal life. He was and is the Son of God, who was “made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
God be thanked for the gift of His Son, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Prince of Life and Peace, the Holy One. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Testimony of the Son of God,” Ensign, Dec 2002, 2–5)
Oh yes, we worship someone . . . we worship God the Eternal Father and His Beloved and Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The day will come when I will fall at the feet of my Savior and worship Him with tears pouring down my face for the great love and sacrifices He made for the likes of me. It is my greatest hope and fondest desire that He gather me in His arms and whisper to me, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
For I am a servant of Jesus Christ and His Father, our Heavenly Father who is God the Eternal Father. Always, I will stand as a witness of them and shout hallelujah on the day Jesus Christ descends, once again, from His heavenly throne in triumphant glory, the enemies of God forever defeated and Satan, with his minions, forever cast away.
I testify to you that this is possible if we stay on the straight and narrow path, which is the plan of salvation, clinging to that iron rod, which is the word of God. Oh yes, Jesus Christ is my Divine Redeemer and forever will I glorify His name.
