Someone asked me recently “what do Mormons believe?” My previous blog entry, About Being a Mormon Christian: Facts about Mormons, briefly summarize some of the basic beliefs Mormon’s have (e.g. Facts, Faith, Family, Fruits). Click here to read that entry.
For this entry I wanted to briefly summarize a few things I have learned recently about the consequences of these beliefs – how the beliefs of Mormons translate into different actions.
I have always known that, for the most part, Mormon beliefs seem to produce pretty happy, normal people…
Last weekend, however, I thought about things in a new way as I attended the semi-annual general conference of the Mormon church (which is really called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – “Mormon” is just a nick-name). It is an interesting event where the leaders of the Mormon Church give messages they feel are most pressing topics to address for the 6 months until the next conference. This conference was especially memorable as there was a new president and new first presidency called and sustained (one of whom is a retired Luftansa pilot from Germany). Over 100,000 people attended at the 5 different sessions at the conference center in Salt Lake City, and the meetings are also broadcast via satellite all over the world in almost 80 languages.
In one of the addresses at conference, Bishop David H. Burton was speaking about the story of the good Samaritan in the Bible and asked, in todays world – who is my neighbor? He then shared some statistics about the humanitarian efforts of the Church that I think even most members of the Mormon church didn’t know.
In 2007, the Church responded with support and supplies to those affected by:
- major earthquakes in 5 countries,
- massive fires in 6 countries,
- hunger and famine in 18 countries,
- and flooding and severe storms in 34 countries.
For example, when the firestorms in southern California destroyed 1,500 homes and forced over a million people to evacuate, the Mormon Church responded quickly by providing cleaning kits, blankets, hygiene kits, and food. Over 5,000 Mormon volunteers along with missionaries cleaned, cooked, comforted, and cared for those affected.
Additionally The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sponsored:
- clean water projects in 25 countries, benefiting over 1 million people,
- the mass production of “Atmit” and Ethiopian porridge mixture for those in severe poverty situations,
- production and delivery of tons and tons of food, clothing, and medical supplies around the world,
- more than 60,500 people receiving wheelchairs in 60 nations,
- sponsoring many work training programs, to increase self-reliance,
- over 16,500 health-care professionals in 23 countries were trained in infant neonatal resuscitation,
- a vision treatment program where volunteer ophthalmologists assist medical care providers around the world with training and equipment to treat simple vision problems (assisting about 20,000 people),
- to help eliminate measles, 2.8 million children and youth in 10 countries received immunizations.
For example, over 54,000 Church members volunteered to help, working with the World Health Organization, to eliminate measles (a killer of almost a million children each year). A Church member in Nigeria wrote: “I called our labor the ‘rescue of the innocent.’ We went house-to-house and village hall to village hall. A woman told us she had lost three children to measles. She told her story with such grace and passion that there was not a dry eye in the house, mine included.” Our volunteer observed, “The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things that you do for others remain as your legacy.” And especially the legacy of your faith in something greater than you.
As another example, the Church is still in their fourth-year of helping those devastated by a tsunami in Indonesia and southern Asia. Funding was provided to help build 902 homes, with 3 community centers, 24 village water systems, 15 schools, and 3 medical centers. In Ethiopia, the Church drilled wells and constructed storage tanks for helping give access to clean water. Communities organized a water committee and dug the trenches needed to pipe the water from the storage tanks to each village. In some cases this was a distance of over 3 miles (5 km).
In total The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members responded to 170 major events—nearly one every two days for the entire year. Bishop Burton said, “It was a busy year with many opportunities to serve.”
Another story I found interesting was shared by Elder Henry Eyring. He was in the office of President Hinckley, then president of the Church, when President Hinckley was asked to take a phone call. He said there was a brief phone conversation and then they returned to their conversation. But President Hinckley took a moment to explain. He said that the call was from the president of the United States, who was flying over Utah in Air Force One on his way to Washington. The president of the United States had called to thank President Hinckley for what Church members had done in the aftermath of a hurricane. The president of the United States had said that it was a miracle that the Mormon Church was able to get so many people, so quickly, working together so well. He praised the Mormon church by saying that they knew how to do things.
The way in which the Church is prepared to help people in need is impressive to most people but, more important than any praise from a leader or dignitary, it is most important to those who are in need and to those who are blessed to be able to be the ones helping.
And one thing that I think impressed me the most was that all of it is done with no strings attached. There is not even any proselyting attached to any humanitarian effort, and often the Church will provide the resources – but work through a local organization to make sure that impact is put before worrying about who gets credit. There is a big emphasis on making sure service and aid is given at the right times of need, but also given with the right motivation (not for any praise, but simply out of love).
Something equally interesting to me was attending a conference the day following conference hosted by the LDS International Society. I quickly became aware that it was not just the central Church organization doing things to make this world a better place, but many ordinary members take upon themselves to start NGOs or join humanitarian efforts which really have made a difference for millions and millions of people around the world. For example, this picture is of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus (left) with Warner Woodworth. The Bangladesh-based pioneer of micro-credit finance calls young Latter-day Saint volunteers the ‘Mormon Peace Corps’. I would share more examples of ordinary members who have made a big difference, but fear this blog entry is getting too long already. Perhaps I will add a few of them as a comment later.
So why? Why does the Church and so many of its members do all of this?
One reason might be because of how Joseph Smith articulated what it means to be a Christian. He taught that “love is one of the chief characteristics of Diety, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 174).
On another occasion Joseph Smith said something else I liked, “I love that man better who swears a stream as long as my arm, yet deals justice to his neighbors and mercifully deals his substance to the poor, than the smooth-faced hypocrite. I do not want you to think that I’m very righteous… There was one good man, and his name was Jesus” (Documentary History of the Church, 5:401). [For more Joseph Smith quotes, click here.]
So what do Mormons believe? In short, they believe in trying their best to be more like Jesus – to be better Christians. I think everyone sees their own imperfections, but if people are really trying to live like Jesus taught (which is no easy task), then that desire provides limitless opportunities for imperfect people to see how they are needed in helping to make the world a better place.
In practice, Mormons also believe in having lots of meetings.
Ha! Yes – funny comment. It is true that when I have told people that church is 3 hours long – they don’t believe me. Why would anyone actually want to go to church for that long? I think, however, they are expecting lot of ritual and recitation – when they find it to be more dialogue-based and interactive. With no paid clergy, it is interesting to see ordinary members teaching and learning about their experience in trying to understand and live what is in the scriptures.
A few years ago I remember reading in the LDS Church News about relief efforts given in some nation (I can’t recall which…) that was predominantly Muslim. When LDS relief workers asked the community leaders what they needed most, they responded that their mosques had been destroyed, along with their scriptures. So then along with repairing homes and buildings, the LDS Church also provided thousands of copies of the Qur’an for the disaster victims. I think this is a beautiful example of providing true relief.
Do Mormons really believe that if they lead a good life, they’ll become gods of their own planets?
Good question – thanks for asking. Having grown up in the Church, I have never actually heard anyone in any of the Sunday school classes or church meetings say it like that before (my initial feeling reading that statement is that it initially strikes me as quite arrogant). The only times I have heard it said like that are by anti-Mormon sources that are trying to make The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seem weird. [Although one unique belief about life after death that does set Mormons apart from other Christian faiths is the belief that families can be united even after death – couples are married in temples for “time and all eternity” and not “until death do we part”]
Mormons do believe in the Bible, and in verses like John 17:
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent…
I pray for them…That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us… And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; …that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
But what exactly happens after this life or what those verses mean (to be “one with God”, made “perfect” in Christ, to be “saved” or be given “eternal life”, and to be given the same glory as God), – I really don’t know. Mormons simply see God as a Father – who wants to give His own children all that He enjoys, and is trying to teach them how to be ready for it.
To be honest, though, I personally (and many Mormons to a great degree – as you can probably tell from this blog entry) kind of just leave exactly what happens after this life in God’s hands – and focus more on using their talents to make today better, and to make this world right now a better place. Here is a quote from Brigham Young (the second president of the Church) along those lines…
“I preach, comparatively, but little about the eternities of God, and the wonderful works in eternity; and do not tell who first made them, nor how they were made; for I know nothing about that. Life is for us, and is for us to receive today.”
“[Our work] is a work of the present. The salvation we are seeking is for the present, and sought correctly, it can be obtained and be continually enjoyed. If it continues today, it is upon the same principle that it will continue tomorrow, the next day, the next week, or the next year, and we might say, the next eternity.”
“If we are saved we are happy, we are filled with light, glory, intelligence, and we pursue a course to enjoy the blessings that the Lord has in store for us. If we continue to pursue that course, it produces just the thing we want, that is, to be saved in this present moment. And that will lay the foundation to be saved forever and forever, which will amount to eternal salvation.” (Journal of Discourses 8:124; 1:131)
Does that help answer your question?
Jim,
I also want to chime in on this one. Your question really has two parts and I think its important to single them out:
“If Mormons lead a good life, they will be like gods” is the first part–that implies that we think we can work our way into heaven – and even more audacious, become gods. We don’t really think that. We think that we show our devotion to Jesus Christ through living by His commandments (as He asked us all to do – if ye love me, keep my commandments) and then with His “grace” or mercy, or atoning power (which all mean the same thing), we are purified and able to go to Heaven. . . and, yes, eventually become gods AND goddesses (women don’t get left behind one bit).
The second part of your question is really just the doctrine of who God is and our relationship to Him. This is where Mormons really are different. Joseph Smith actually SAW God, and when he saw Him, he realized that God was an exalted man. He looked like a man (only glorified), and talked with Joseph “face to face” (as he did with Moses). Joseph Smith taught that God really is an exalted Man– eternities more glorious, intelligent and powerful than us, however. And so he taught that as puppies grow up to be dogs, and chicks grow up to be chickens, this level of glorious exaltation is also the natural progression for man.
So, yes! We believe that there is some divine potential within us. We don’t believe that as soon as we die, we receive a deed to the planet Zepron IV or anything. Joseph Smith also taught that we have LOTS to learn in the next phase of our existence, after we die, but eventually, we will progress to the level of godliness.
Even though it is different–I think this teaching is REALLY cool and really hopeful. I hope you can see it that way too. We are worth so much more than meets the eye.
Great Post
DO you want to hear something funny – I just typed “lds general conference image” into google, as I was looking for an image of first pres at general conference, and one of the images that appeared was from this post! Small world!