Written by Richard Childs, a BYU student, studying a volume of scripture known as the Pearl of Great Price, which is written by prophets; members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Mormons” revere it as sacred text. This post comes from a book within the Pearl of Great Price known as The Book of Moses; it is an extraction from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet, June 1830—February 1831.

God the Father Loves Us All

In the Pearl of Great Price (a book of scripture, revered as sacred text by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Mormons”) and in the first chapter of Moses, Moses saw God the Father and he learned two very important things.

That God was his father, and that His work and glory are to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. From Moses’ experience we also learn that the Father has a physical body, just like we do, or rather we have a body just like His. This knowledge of the nature of God is evidence that he is our father. We as His children resemble Him, just as a puppy resembles a dog, or a kitten a cat. Moses was taught that God’s work and glory is the salvation of men. The knowledge that God is our father and that his whole work and glory is to bring about man’s happiness brings me comfort and peace. From Moses’ experience I have learned that God the Father loves us, that when I pray to the God I am praying to my Father in Heaven, an eternal being who doesn’t just love me but loves me like a son. With this knowledge I have prayed more seriously, and sought to get to know my Eternal Father, as any son would try to get to know his dad. Moses’ visitation by our Heavenly Father testifies of our divine nature. Understanding our divine nature has not only affected my relationship with God it has affected my relations with everyone. We are all children of God and as such have great value to Him. I have often taken for granted the knowledge that he loves everyone when I become frustrated with others. When I remember that we are all creations of God the Father and that he loves us all, I am filled with a new respect and love for all those around me.

Additional Resources:

Meet with Mormon Missionaries.

Mormons believe Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer. Read a Mormon’s testimony of this truth.

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, comparable to the Bible, request a free copy today.

Written by Josh Lloyd, a BYU student, studying a volume of scripture known as the Pearl of Great Price, which is written by prophets; members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Mormons” revere it as sacred text. This post comes from a book within the Pearl of Great Price known as The Book of Moses; it is an extraction from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet, June 1830—February 1831.

We can All Become Like God the Father

Reading the first chapter of the book of Moses, found in a book of scripture known as the Pearl of Great Price, is a remarkably good experience for those who need a model of a solid, personal relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. Moses’ experiences give us some of the most basic and useful insights for building our own relationships with Heavenly Father. If we learn what Moses learned in this chapter, we will find ourselves in possession of key bits of knowledge that, if applied correctly, will lift our hearts and mind and propel them toward an everlasting inheritance.

The first thing that Moses learned from his experience was that “man is nothing.” We have to be careful how we define “nothing” here because we might be led to believe that we do not matter to God the Father, that we are insignificant. That is not what Moses learned. What Moses learned in his moment of physical weakness (and what we ought to learn if we too are children of God) was that we, provided with only our own power, cannot bring to pass any degree of righteousness in the world; or, defined slightly differently, we can only learn and accomplish the things which God the Father has given us power to do.

Our energy and ability to accomplish even the slightest tasks are given to us by the power and grace of God. Without the Father we become pathetic and truly devilish creatures. This truth, if understood correctly, will lead us to walk more humbly and give us desire to pray more earnestly for the gifts of the Spirit and grace of Jesus Christ (See the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah 4:11-12). This is why Moses worshipped God. I, personally, would much rather be on the good side of the Almighty and see the grandeur of his power than, by my ignorance and pride, feel the wrath of his vengeance.

Another one of the important facts Moses learned about his relationship with God the Father was that the two of them were alike. Moses was created after the image of the Only Begotten of the Father, Jesus Christ. They had arms, hands, eyes, noses, etc. What we can take from this is that God is not some foreign object or abstract entity. God is real, and certain things about him are comprehensible by our mortal minds. However, the most important part of this principle that Moses understood and that we ought to as well is that if we are like him in body then we can become like him in character. Despite the massive difference in glory and power, becoming like God the Father is a legitimate and even an encouraged goal. So let’s not give up.

Moses also learned of the tools that God, as a good Father, has given us to help us in our mortal sojourn. In Moses 1:15, Moses mentions that the Spirit is what showed him the difference between God and Satan. Moses learned the difference between glory and darkness through the power of the Holy Ghost. We would be wise to learn the same principle that we ought only truly learn through the power of the Holy Ghost rather than be taught by the wisdom of men, lest we be deceived.

There is another principle Moses learned from this same moment. He learned the difference between the circumstances that God the Father and Satan enjoy – glory vs. darkness. We don’t have to learn it just the way Moses did, but we ought to be acquainted with the dynamics of eternal progression. Let us understand that an individual can either reach as high as the heavens or as low as hell, and our destination is determined by our decisions.

Moses also learned about prayer. Moses was spared from an awful experience, seeing the bitterness of Hell (See Moses 1:20), because he had the courage to pray. Similarly, we ought to learn to go to our knees before our decisions bring us to our knees.

What Moses learned about his relationship with Deity gives us some of the most fundamental building blocks for developing our own personal relationship with God the Father. Without a correct understanding that we are in the similitude of the Only Begotten of the Father, we would not feel particularly attracted to this omnipotent figure. Without knowledge of where our power to move and act comes from, we would proceed in a blasphemous, disrespectful and disobedient manner because of our own pride in what seems like “our” accomplishments. Without the most basic tools for communication with God the Father, we are blind in an ever thickening fog; prayer and the gift of the Holy Ghost will give us access to the powers of heaven and allow us to develop this, the most divine relationship, the way it ought to be developed. To clarify, by prayer we can actually talk to God our Father and by the Holy Spirit He can talk back. In this manner we can, in a way, spend “quality time” with our Father in Heaven.

Additional Resources:

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Request your free copy today.

Read/Watch/Listen to a living apostle testify of the reality that God is our Father.

God’s plan of happiness brings great comfort, peace an hope to life. Read a “Mormon’s” testimony about this truth.

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon Church or LDS Church)is not easy. We pay tithing, attend at least 3 hours of meetings on Sundays, obey the law of chastity, don’t drink alcohol or smoke, visit other members each month, and serve in volunteer church assignments. How then can we explain how this Church, which requires so much from its’ members, has grown to nearly 13 million members since the Church was established less than 180 years ago?

At any given time, there are more than 50,000 full-time Mormon missionaries serving around the world. These are young men and women who are generally 19-23 years old who leave their colleges, jobs and loved ones to volunteer to teach the gospel of Christ. These missionaries do not date, watch television or go to the movies on their missions. Missionaries and their families generally pay for their missions, and many missionaries contribute to a fund to help support missionaries who do not have the financial resources. These missionaries work about 12 hours a day, 6 1/2 days a week. They often serve in third world countries and live in very meager circumstances among the people they are teaching. Where else in today’s world can you find 50,000 young men and women who are willing to sacrifice so much at a young age for their faith?

However, I do not believe the LDS Church is the restored church of Jesus Christ because others believe. James 1:6 says “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.” I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true because I have put this promise from God to the test. I have asked Him, and I believe because my prayer was answered, and continues to be reaffirmed on a regular basis.

Matthew 7:20 says “By their fruits ye shall know them.” In other words, the Lord has given us a mechanism to know whether the Mormon Church is of God or not. If the fruits (results of Church teachings in the lives of its’ members) are good, then we can know that the tree (Church)is of God. I have observed how the lives of many individuals and families change for the better when they join the Church and live its’ teachings. I have seen families and marriages strengthened. I have repeatedly observed that lasting joy and happiness are the results of living the teachings of the LDS Church.

The Mormon Church is lead today by prophets and apostles, as in Biblical times. Knowing there are living apostles and prophets on the earth today is crucial because there is so much confusion in the world about Christian doctrines. Why would God want us to be confused? The Bible clearly shows a pattern of God calling prophets, revealing his truths to the prophets, and then the prophets teaching those messages to the people. Amos 3:7 says “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”. If God followed that prophetic pattern for thousands of years, why would he not have prophets and apostles today? Aren’t the wickedness, confusion and need for a prophet just as great or greater today than ever before? I know that God leads His Church on today through modern prophets, just as he did anciently.

I began by saying that being a member of the Mormon Church is not easy. It is not easy from a perspective outside the Church. However, I do not feel that the responsibilities involved in being a member of the Church are very hard. The Savior said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The requirements of being a member of the LDS Church are not a burden because we know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. They are the wings that give us the freedom to attain the Celestial happiness that a loving Savior and Heavenly Father desire for us.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Saviour for I have felt the power of his atonment in my life.

I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Here are the basics of my testimony:

I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today. I know that Gordon B. Hinckley is that living prophet of God and the leader of God’s church on this earth. And I am so grateful for him. I know, through very personal revelation from the Holy Ghost, that this Church is truly the only way to eternal peace and happiness. I know that Jesus Christ, through the Atonement, has all the power to heal and save us if we will humble ourselves and turn our wills over to our Lord and Savior. I also know that the Atonement makes it possible for me to be with my family forever. It doesn’t end here.

Growing up in Sin City, Las Vegas I was really not interested in the realm of religion; however I did like to argue and it was this trait that lead me to investigate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My parents were separated and my dad married into a strong Christian family, who naturally objected to my agnostic faith and loved to discredit anything and everything not their brand of religion. I just liked to debate about it, so I naturally took the defense of Mormons and Catholics alike. As a school debater and future attorney, I had hardly ever lost an argument, but when it came to the Mormon Church I hardly knew anything, so it was at this point I lost an argument. This troubled me that I could loose an argument to someone I thought of as ‘closed-minded,’ so I vowed to a re-match. This time I studied and studied, read every argument for and against the LDS Church. I figured a strong argument would be found in the Book of Mormon, seeing as that book is the apex of the religion; so I went to the church in a nice suit, and picked up a Book of Mormon. I felt different when I was in that church and I really started to enjoy going, so week after week I went, and then in about a month I finished the Book of Mormon. I was 18, and practically obsessed with the church, so I decided I would have a chat with the missionaries, so I called them up and set up a time to meet at the local chapel. The things they talked about were the same things I already knew, but I felt that same feeling that I had at church but it was way stronger with these nineteen year old kids! They explained that it was the spirit and I told them I was ready to be baptized. As a formality I went through the rest of the discussions and was baptized a few weeks later. When I joined the church, I cant really say that I had a testimony; but then I started to pray, and when I prayed to know the truth, It was confirmed to me, I knew for sure that the gospel was indeed true. I had read about these testimonies while I was investigating and felt skeptical; but when I actually felt it for myself I understood what the big deal was.

“I know with a solemn understanding that Joseph Smith was a servant of the Most High God, and his living son Jesus Christ. I testify of the validity of the Book of Mormon, and can truly give my witness that the Bible confirms the Book of Mormon, and the Book of Mormon confirms the Bible. These two sacred texts confirm to me with the spirit of revelation, that Jesus is indeed the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Messiah of the New. I know that the foundation of this church is the personal rock of revelation, that the Holy Ghost is a reality. I know that prophets and apostles have been sent to us for the perfecting of saints, that these men have priesthood authority and that the same authority is of Christ and is passed down to all worthy men, even myself. I have seen the great works of the priesthood in action, I understand that the witness I have received is of greater importance to me than all other things. I bear this testimony not of my own will and accord but of the will of my father which is in heaven, and in the name of his son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christophercurrently teaches in the primary, and is the first assistant to the Bishop of the Paradise Hills Ward, in Henderson nevada. He is also preparing to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.