When Mormons celebrate Mother’s Day, they often take some time to honor one of history’s most important mothers as well. Mary, the mother of Jesus had a very difficult role in life and one that affected eternity through her faith.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and of Mary. Despite prevailing gossip, they do not believe this occurred through intimacy because both the Bible and the Book of Mormon say Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born. They also do not believe the Holy Ghost is Jesus’ father, since the Bible specifically says the Lord’s Father is God. Although Mormons do not know how the conception occurred, it is not important since it does not impact eternal life. They know only that it was done respectfully.

Mormons believe Jesus Christ’s duel heritage—both mortal and divine—are essential to His eternal mission as the Savior. Because of His mortality, He was able to experience those things mortals experienced, but because of His divinity, He was able to live a sinless life, atone for the sins of others, and be resurrected from the dead.

Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus Christ. It was a calling, a sacred responsibility to raise the Son of God. She had to accept a miracle in her life and then cope with the mortal consequences of the miracle. Joseph initially was upset over her pregnancy, until he learned of its miraculous purpose. He had a choice, but he chose to obey the angel’s command and marry Mary. He had an important responsibility to be a foster parent to Jesus, providing a male role model and fulfilling the role of an earthly father.

Mary carried out her instructions with courage and grace. She and Joseph obeyed every prompting and commandment in order to ensure the prophecies were fulfilled and Jesus was kept safe. It is clear she and Joseph were both spiritual beings, well-suited for their divinely appointed role.

The people of the Book of Mormon knew of Mary, even though they lived in what is now the Americas. Their prophets saw her in a vision and knew she would be a virgin mother and that God had chosen her for the role. They honored her even before she was born and waiting eagerly for the birth of her child.

The following is one vision recorded in the Book of Mormon, a book Mormons use as a companion to the Bible. This vision was given to a teenager named Nephi, whose father Lehi was a prophet who had also seen this vision:

 13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.

14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms (1 Nephi 11).

Watch this beautiful video made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the actual name of the church the Mormons attend) about Mary

Written by Ashley Bell, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as a “Mormon”). Ashley and her husband are expecting parents, for the first time, and are very excited for the life that is ahead.

Finding Happiness Is a Constant Journey, Not a Destination or Graduation

Thanks be to my parents who both found happiness even though they came from backgrounds that did not cultivate the feeling, for various reasons. My dad came from a Greek family who wanted him to have a Greek wife. My mom came from a Mormon family that ideally would have had her marry someone with a similar belief system (even though they weren’t active Mormons at the time). Despite their parents opposition they were married because they felt right about it. For their financial income they ran and owned a local bar. They didn’t feel happy there so they gave up their good income and moved to where they thought they might find happiness- a farm in Missouri! After living a hard, exhausting, and not to mention poor farm lifestyle their hearts were prepared to receive the source of true happiness, the Gospel of Jesus Christ– through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

How can we personally find happiness?

Just yesterday I was having a lovely conversation with my sweet Mother about attitude. She taught me the timeless counsel that we can be involved in something and be unhappy, or we can be involved in that same something and be happy. The choice is ours. Naturally when we choose happiness we are continually drawn to those things that will usher happiness into our lives. Consequently those who choose happiness initially are eventually led to live the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether they intentionally do this or not. Jesus Christ’s teachings, if followed, brings the kind of happiness that lasts forever. As the Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints, even Thomas S. Monson, has said, “Happiness comes from living the way the Lord wants you to live and from service to God and others” (See “Preparation Brings Blessings,” Ensign, May 2010, 66-67).

Why does the Gospel of Jesus Christ bring happiness to our lives?

When I was in high school a boy asked me a sincere question that caused me to ponder. He asked, “why are you always so happy?” To that point I didn’t think I was happier than the average high school student, but for some reason this boy saw something that I didn’t. I was enlightened at that moment and was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. The still small voice whispered to me, “You are happy because you know that Jesus loves you.” I responded by telling my friend exactly that, “I am happy because I know that Jesus love me.” What a turning point this was for me—I finally recognized the source of my happiness, the Lord Jesus Christ. I was not a girl without problems (everybody has them) but I was happy. And I am still happy! The reason for my happiness, the why, is because I know that my Redeemer lives and that He loves me—and He loves all of His children.

Is it possible to maintain the feeling of happiness in our day-to-day lives?

“[God] is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. . . . All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan” (See Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2010, 1). God is the Father of the Universe, and He has provided a way for us to receive true and lasting happiness through His Son Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

I know it is possible to be happy from day-to-day because I am doing it! Sure, I have a bad day every now and then (it is inevitable), but I know that lasting happiness will continue to envelop my soul as I go to the proper source, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources

Basic beliefs about Mormons.

Learn more about Jesus Christ on an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Request a free Book of Mormon.

Every May, many Americans celebrate a National Day of Prayer. President Obama issued a presidential proclamation making it clear the day was for people of all faiths, although the task force that considers itself the official organization for the event has, from time to time, banned from their official events religious people who do not conform with their definition of Judeo-Christian and all who do not consider themselves Christian or Jewish. This has, in the past, had the impact of officially banning Mormons (a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) from participating in official events, although the organization gave them “permission” to host their own events.

The Mormons refused to be drawn into the battle at the church level. Indeed, Mormons consider prayer such an integral part of every day that many do not feel a strong pull to participate in such events, although some do and in Utah, many Mormons host truly interfaith events for the day. However, for Mormons, every day is a day of prayer.

Mormons are taught to pray privately every morning and every evening, not reciting a pre-written prayer, but conversing with God. At the end of these prayers, they are encouraged to stay on their knees for a while, so that they can listen to God’s response. They do not believe prayer is a one-way communication. They believe God answers prayers through the Holy Ghost. These answers may come in several ways.

When Mormons have a specific problem, they are taught to study the issue and come to a decision on their own. Then they take the solution to God for confirmation. When they have made a wise choice, God confirms this by allowing them to feel the comforting presence of the Holy Ghost. When they have made a wrong decision, they often feel a negative sensation. This helps them to return to the process and continue their study until they have an answer that conforms with God’s plan for them. From time to time, the impression also comes into their mind that they must wait. God does not always operate on our time.

Other times, the Holy Ghost puts impressions into our minds even when we weren’t seeking specific advice. For this reason, Mormons are encouraged to engage in conversation with God throughout the day, keeping the lines of communication open. Many religious people report feeling a prompting to do something they later discovered protected them or helped someone else. These promptings come from the Holy Ghost.

Mormons who are married are taught to have a prayer as a couple as well. If they have children or others living in their home, they hold a family or household prayer. Of course, there are also prayers before meals and before special events, such as the beginning of a vacation trip.

During church meetings, Mormons begin and end with prayer. There is an inside joke that it takes three Mormons to change a light bulb—one to change the bulb and two to give the opening and closing prayers. One thing people who come to live with a Mormon family soon learn is that they are a praying people.

For Mormons, every day is a day of prayer—with or without a holiday.

Prophets Help Lead Us to Jesus Christ

Daniel, a student at Brigham Young University and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called “Mormon Church” by friends of other faiths), shares his insight to his scripture study of Moses 7:1-40. The book of Moses is found in The Pearl of Great Price, a book of scripture revered as sacred by Latter-day Saints. The book of Moses is an extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Moses 7:1-40 provides a narrative of Enoch’s interaction with God the Father as he is shown a vision of future events and a glimpse into the heart of our Father. From this narrative, I learned multiple things, asked several questions, considered the flow of the account, and came to understand better the role of Jesus Christ as Justifier and Advocate.

The scriptures are filled with numerous accounts of prophets in various dispensations being shown in vision events of the future, particularly as they relate to their people. Enoch was given this privilege as part of his Seer-ship. It is likely that many such experiences occurred elsewhere though the record is not now known or had among men. These men were Seers. Given this, it is quite probable that the Seers today are given similar experiences on varying levels from time to time.

The account begins with God showing Enoch a vision and describing the contents of it to him. It is confusing though whether or not the vision is one continuous vision or if it simply a single narrative which records multiple visions seen at different stages of Enoch’s ministry. Also, was the battle Enoch led the people of God in a spiritual battle or a physical battle? A few verses later it is speaking of a physical war which might mean the earlier reference could be the same kind of battle, only the people of God seem to have been spared from taking part in this later battle.

The flow of this chapter shows a pattern wherein God the Father commands, fulfills His commands, and either blesses or curses men according to whether or not they followed His commandments. Enoch is first told to go to Mount Simeon to see a vision of future generations. He goes and is shown the vision. As a result, many believe his witness of Jesus Christ and they become Zion (the pure in heart). Likewise, those who do not accept his witness fight a losing battle against the people of God, either physically or spiritually. Zion, due to faithfully following God, is taken up into heaven while Satan holds the wicked inhabitants of the earth under a veil of darkness. The flow of the chapter also shows God’s pattern of teaching the Plan of Salvation. Always included is reference to the Fall, to man’s agency, to sin, and to salvation through Christ. In answering Enoch’s inquiry as to His tears, the Father expounds on all the above stated doctrines.

There appears to be dual reasons for the shedding of tears by God the Father in Moses chapter seven. Though the voice of the Lord in this passage is given from the perspective of the Father, it is Jehovah that is conveying the message. Also, it is stated that Zion ascended both into heaven and into the bosom of God, suggesting that the word “heaven” is synonymous with “God” in this instance. Thus, when the heavens weep, it is God weeping. Verse 39 indicates “…that which I have chosen” is Jesus Christ who even at that time “pled” before the Father on behalf of His sinful children. The intent of His pleading is for His brethren to be justified before the Father as outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants (a book of Mormon scripture revealed in modern times) 45:3-5. The word “wherefore” in verse 39 hints that because Jesus Christ was pleading for the sinful souls Enoch was viewing, He also was the one required to suffer for their sins. Or, if looked at in reverse, because He was the one required through His voluntary offering to suffer, He is the only one that could plead for the sinners. His suffering only covers those who repent. All souls will remain in “torment” until they repent. “Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep.” This is God’s summation to the shedding of tears and, as clarified through causal words, indicates that God sheds them because of the pain that sinners experience until they repent and because of the pain that He Himself suffers for the sins they repent of.

Additional Resources:

Request a free Book of Mormon today.

Meet today’s Prophets and Apostles.

Are Mormons Christian?

Many people have asked “Is God real?” and simply put the answer is “Yes!”

I used to help as online chat support for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inadvertently called the “Mormon Church” by the media) and answered many chats that were pranksters trolling. Many of them came online to waste time but 90% of the time it boiled down to the fact that they didn’t believe in God or didn’t truly know Him. This post is directed towards those that may have wondered “Is God real?” and will outline why it matters to know that God exists and how anyone can know it.

Is God Real: Why Does it Matter?

We all have parents and our relationships may vary with them but most people tend to regularly keep in touch with their parents whether asking for an allowance, guidance, or love. I’m a daddy’s girl myself and love spending time with my father. Even though he knows me well, I will call him on the phone and tell him of my hopes, successes, dreams, and fears. I treasure my relationship with my dad and I really value his advice and unconditional acceptance.

As much as I love my father, the most valuable relationship I have is between me and my Heavenly Father. Sometimes I’m puzzled why others have questioned “Is God real?” because I’ve known the answer from a very young age. My childhood wasn’t easy because of unstable family dynamics—the absence of a mother and my father busy overcoming financial debt. Perhaps it was being taught to pray at a young age or that these challenges pushed me seeking for God at an earlier age than most.

Knowing God exists has changed my life. I don’t think I could be truly happy or survive the hard times without this knowledge. I’m extremely vulnerable without His help and have leaned heavily upon Him in my life. God’s purpose is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39, translation of the book of Genesis by modern prophet Joseph Smith). Because of modern prophets, we know that we are children of God with a divine nature and He wants us to reach our potential—to become like Him (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” 1995). Every little girl grows up wishing to be a princess.  But does every little girl recognize who they inherently are?

I’m not the only one that has put the question to the test. My really good friend Gino was an atheist but that changed once he sincerely asked “Is God real?”  I witnessed the answer transform his life as he became a happier person filled with true joy. Since the day he learned that God exists, he has somehow become a better father and friend to those around him because he knows his worth as a son of God.

Is God Real: How Can I Know It?

Some people have seen God face to face such as Biblical prophets, Jesus Christ, and in modern times—Joseph Smith. Some people have a gift of visions and dreams but the majority of people won’t see God face to face during their mortal lives. I haven’t seen God but I can still feel His hand in my life and know without a doubt that He has answered my prayers. You don’t have to see the wind to know it exists but can find ways to measure it there. There are many ways I know God is there—such as learning about Him in the scriptures or listening to modern prophets testify of Him but the most important way is through prayer by conversing with Him.

Richard G. Scott, a modern witness of God, has said “It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.” (“Using the Gift of Supernal Prayer,” Ensign, April 2007)

Just like he said, anyone can talk with God and the way to do it is through prayer.  The answer will be clear as long as you sincerely talk with Him.  Just like I sometimes call my father to tell him what’s going on even though he knows me well enough to know without me telling him.  I invite you to sincerely ask “Is God real?” but beware—the answer may change your life like it has mine.

Additional Resources:

Praying to God

Reading about God in The Bible

Heavenly Father

Many who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have questions about the roles of women in the church. Members of this church are sometimes referred to as Mormons and to an outsider, the roles of women seem a bit outdated. This is the result of a misunderstanding of how the church views gender. It is not an issue to most Mormon women.

Why don’t Mormon women hold the priesthood?

The priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name in certain instances. It is a service position and the person who holds the priesthood cannot use it to benefit himself in any way. For instance, one thing a priesthood holder can do is to, with another priesthood holder, place his hands on a person’s head and give him a healing blessing. This does not, of course, guarantee the person will be healed, but it does place the person directly in God’s hands and what happens will be according to His plan. While it is true and woman cannot do this, a man cannot do it for himself, either. He must find two men to give him a priesthood blessing if he needs it. Since there are often two priesthood holders in a home—a father and a son, for example—this means it is more complicated for a man to get a blessing than it is for a women. The man must find someone outside the home to perform the ordinance.

Priesthood is not about gender, even though only men can hold it. It is a specific responsibility that God chose for men. He chose other responsibilities, such as having children, that are reserved just for women—and few consider that discriminatory. It is merely an assignment of roles. Because priesthood is merely one of many ways God arranges for people to serve others, women are not losing any blessing a man might receive by not holding the priesthood. They have many ways to serve—more than they have time for, usually. The women’s auxiliary, the Relief Society, was organized entirely to provide service.

Can Mormon women hold leadership positions within the church?

Yes, Mormon women hold leadership positions ranging from the congregational level to the international level. At all levels, the Relief Society (the women’s auxiliary), the Young Women’s program (for teenage girls) and the Primary (for children) are all led by women. Although men may serve as teachers in the Primary, they may not hold any leadership position not related to Cub Scouting in that organization. Men may also teach in the literacy program, but only women can run the program. Some church callings (volunteer positions) are reserved for women and some for men. Others may be held by members of either gender.

All positions in the church, even to the level of the president of the Church, are volunteer positions. As such, positions reserved for priesthood holders do not deprive women of paid employment. Most Mormon women feel they have more than enough unpaid work to do without adding any more. In fact, Mormons who are worthy to hold a very high level calling seldom want one. They understand these positions are not about power—they are about service. The service required of a person in leadership generally requires many, many unpaid hours, which must be done in between paid employment, family responsibilities, and community service. A bishop, the equivalent of a pastor, gives at least 25 hours a week and usually far more, all unpaid. The international leaders, both men and women, largely serve full-time and they are not paid.

Being a Mormon leader does not mean the person has power. Each leader in the church answers to someone above him or her. He or she is expected to follow church guidelines and to pray about all important decisions. The president of the church, who is also a prophet, answers to Jesus Christ. He must never make a decision based on his personal preferences. When the decision matters, he takes it to God in prayer and it is God who guides him to his decision. When the prophet dies, he will be accountable to God for how he led the church. Leaders are not “promoted” in the church. A bishop may find himself as an assistant in the toddler nursery when his time as a bishop ends. People move in and out of leadership on a regular basis to give everyone a variety of opportunities for personal growth.

Both men and women may pray and preach before the congregation. As a lay church, any member may be asked to pray. In the worship service, the responsibility to say the opening or closing prayer can be given to any adult or teenager. The bishop does not give the weekly sermon. Instead, several members of the church—adults and teens—are invited to give brief sermons, lasting from ten minutes for teens up to twenty minutes for adults. Most people give these sermons, called talks, about once a year. Both men and women teach in the church as well.

Dallin H. Oaks, a Mormon apostle, was asked about this issue when he spoke to non-Mormons at Harvard University. He informed the audience that his wife was given a position at the international level long before he was.

As we study the Bible, we realize Jesus gave women important roles in his ministry, but He did not call them to be apostles, which is a priesthood role. God did not send a daughter to save the world. It is not because God thinks less of women; it is merely that each gender has its own role in his gospel, all equally important.

What does it mean when Mormons say the man is the head of the household?

Mormons leaders consistently teach that being the head of the household is a leadership position. It does not make the man the boss. His leadership must come through example only. Men and women work in equal partnership to manage their families. Even if a man is given the final say by his wife, he understands that does not mean he gets his way. It means he must pray and then make the best choice for his family, and often that means he decides to take the path his wife preferred. Often, the man will decide his wife is better informed on or more impacted by the decision and will defer to her. Sometimes he defers simply because he decides to do so. A man who always chose his path would be in violation of his priesthood. Being the head of the household never gives a man the right to abuse a woman or to control her. While God prefers that women have primary responsibility for the home and children and men be primarily responsible for earning the income, both adults are expected to assist the other. Men receive regular training in their priesthood classes in the importance of helping their wives with the responsibilities of home and family. Most Mormon men cook, clean, and change diapers happily. When visiting a Mormon congregation, you will find men in the foyer caring for fussy children or entertaining them in their classes so their wives can enjoy their lessons.

Do Mormon women mind being told their primary responsibility is to the home?

Mormon leaders of both genders teach the importance of the home. Mitt Romney’s wife Ann said her husband always told her that her job was more important than his. After all, a business or political career is only of value in this life. But Mormons believe families are meant to last forever, so Ann’s job has eternal significance. The mother has the privilege of shaping the family that will last forever, raising the next generation, and sharing her values and talents with her children. Mormon men and women both consider their children to be very important. To suggest that caring for them is unimportant or unchallenging is to suggest their children don’t matter—and in an eternal family, they matter a great deal.

Parenting done properly is not boring. Mothers teach, strategize, and carry out complex plans that will give their children the best opportunity to become successful adults. It is more than diapers. A good Mormon mother is balancing the spiritual and the temporal to create a complex and pleasing mortality for her family. She teaches everything from the alphabet to how to know Jesus Christ. She solves complicated problems faced by her family, manages the budget so it provides the most important things a family needs, and sets long-term goals for her children. No corporate executive has to work harder at planning and succeeding than a mother does.

Most adults understand the importance of parents. If they had a great mother, they are thankful for the joy that brought into their lives—the way this mother made them feel special. If they did not, they understand what they missed. Mormons consider that no secular job comes close to the one they do in their own home.

By Jan Mayer, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .  As a “Mormon woman,” Jan is a graduate of BYU and mother of five children. She has written for numerous publications,  including The Denver Post, The Villager and NorthStar.

I worked in a small office area with a woman who had great disdain for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons”). We had been briefly acquainted before she recommended me for a job. Although she knew I was a Mormon, she thought I had been deceived and that she could change my beliefs.

When she learned that I was a devout Latter-day Saint (Mormon)—truly converted–she was appalled. When I asked where her information had come from, she told me she had taken classes at her church. Shocked, I told her that I couldn’t understand why one religion would teach against another—that it didn’t seem very Christ-like. She told me that the world needed to be aware of evil so the enemy would be exposed and that no one can be like Christ because he is God. I was puzzled by her reaction.
We tried to refrain from religious discussions, but periodically, people would come to our office and innocently initiate conversations that led to outbursts from her.

“You don’t believe in Christ,” she accused. It pierced my heart to hear such words when I love Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul. He is my personal Savior, advocate and friend.

“The name of our Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” I explained. “He is at the center of our beliefs.”

“Well, you can call a school a bakery, but that doesn’t mean it makes bread,” was her response.

I turned back to my work to avoid the contention that was building. On another occasion, she blurted out that we, as Mormons, aren’t Christians and don’t believe in the same Christ as other religions. With narrowed eyes she asked, “Just what DO you believe about Christ?”

I responded: “I’m not sure what you’re asking… We believe in the same Christ as you do–that Christ is the Savior of the world, that He is the son of God…”

“You believe he was a MAN!” she declared. “Maybe like a prophet or a good man…but not God!”

For the first time, I understood why some do not believe we are Christians. The difference lies in our beliefs about the nature of God. Men have declared that Christ, God, Holy Spirit are one and the same. They believe that Christ was God—somehow his own Father who came to earth as His own Son.

Mormons believe that Christ is literally the Son of God and that there are three separate and distinct personages in the Godhead— the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost—not a three-in-one entity, but one in purpose. Christ was mortal because of His mortal mother, but had attributes of God because of His Father.

To me, the doctrinal differences between Mormons and some denominations have significant implications.  For example, if the Savior was just the Father incarnate, in the flesh somehow, there would have been no need for Him to have free choice. As a separate Being, though, He did actually have agency. Every day, Christ could choose whether to live a mortal life or follow the guidance of his Father. There would not have  been any purpose in Satan tempting Him if he had not had the ability to sin. He chose not to sin. He was a perfect man…not because he was incapable of sin, but because He made that choice to remain free from it.

Because Christ had these mortal attributes, I can try to follow Him as a Latter-day Saint, one of His disciples. When I read that He atoned and died for my sins, and that He suffered, I know that He comprehends me, and freely took upon Himself the sorrows of all mankind. Because He knew what it was to love His neighbor, I can try to love my neighbor and minister to the sick and downtrodden. I can worship my Heavenly Father as He did. Of course I will fall short, but because of His example, I can make strengthening choices that will lead me to Him.

Additional resources:

Listen to a song about Jesus Christ from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Learn more about the gift of free agency.

Request a free Book of Mormon.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are sharing their witness of the Savior, their love for Him, their knowledge of His atonement, crucifixion and resurrection online this Easter weekend in an unprecedented social media wave.

Witnesses are posted on mormon.org, a site created to share Mormon beliefs with friends of all faiths. We invite you to take a look and to share and extend the witnesses you see and read with those you love and those in your broadest networks, that the Savior may be honored and glorified and remembered in a special way this season and all seasons.

The Internet initiative, sponsored by the Church’s Mormon.org website, will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6-8 April 2012. Comments from the Church’s Missionary Department explained that this will be a unique chance for Mormons to share their personal testimony of Jesus Christ with people of other faiths.

Read more about the campaign at LDS.org.

My own witness lies here:

I continue to come to know Christ in ways that I treasure more than anything in this life besides my own family and friends. I’ve come to know His grace—His enabling power—that applies to all I do. He is my Savior and atoned for my sins and felt my every infirmity or affliction as He has yours. I feel as close to Him as I do the best friend I could ever have. He converses with me through His word and as I pray and listen, repent, and grow. He marks my path. He has a million ways of delighting me. He goes before me. He opens my eyes to things I’d never see on my own. He colors my world; He changes me. He tutors me, He sends angels to minister. He finds things I’ve lost. He embraces me and reveals Himself to me continually. He challenges me; He encourages me; He corrects me. He provides me with wisdom and hope. He beckons me. He intercedes for me. He continually extends His reach towards me, and extends my reaching of Him, my understanding of His atonement. He has poured out healing and balm in times when I may otherwise have been crushed by betrayal. When I stood alone in my marriage covenants, He filled and fills the void. Through and with Him, I don’t have to go it alone. As my children have been, in a sense, spiritually fatherless, He has been their Father; He has compensated. I know He lives and knows me. He knows when I pull in the driveway, when I’m sitting on my bed, when I’m trying to sort out the best of the best to do in His kingdom, when I struggle to overcome, when I long to be better, as I strive for excellence, when I plead for my children, when I seek Him.

I testify again that the Savior lives. He is resurrected! Death is only a door to eternal life, for those who follow Him. I testify He wants to be found. I testify that all things testify of Him. I submit to you my love of Jesus Christ and my joy in my relationship with Him. His gospel has been restored in our day, and His priesthood power is on earth, which means that you and I have access to His presence again—in this life or the next. He will come again. I know that’s true and bear witness of these truths in the name of Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources & News Coverage:

• LDS Church Offers Message of Faith Over Easter - KUTV
• LDS Church to launch unprecedented social media blitz for Easter - ABC 4
• Mormon Newsroom: LDS Testify of Christ Easter Weekend

Easter is coming in just a few days. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a Mormon), Easter means much more to me than spring flowers and chocolate bunnies. I am a Christian, with a deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ. As always at this time of year, I feel both profound sorrow and profound joy as I contemplate the sacrifice of our Savior when He took upon Himself all the sins and evil of the world, suffered, and was crucified. It is almost unbearable to remember His sufferings. Yet my heart is filled with overwhelming joy at His resurrection, which brings with it the incredible promise of eternal life. The Doctrine and Covenants, which contains revelations from God given through modern Mormon prophets, uses a beautiful image to describe Jesus’ atonement.  Jesus has “descended below all things, …that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth” (from The Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 6). The darkness of sin and death have been swallowed up in light and life.

Passover and the Last Supper

Another holiday coincides with Easter, a holiday that is deeply symbolic of Jesus‘ atonement as well. That holiday is Passover. Like most Christians, Mormons do not celebrate Passover, but it is no accident that the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ occurred during this time. Indeed, Christ ate the Passover meal with His disciples just before leaving for the Garden of Gethsemane, where His atonement began. The Last Supper was a Passover meal; its bread and wine were the bread and wine of Seder:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it,and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:26-28).

The older I get, the more I realize how much I need the atonement of Jesus in my life. Some of my loved ones have passed away, and I long for their company. As the years go by, my body ages, and I can see that in time it will wear out and I, too, will die. At times I feel weighed down my my sins and mistakes, or burdened by sorrow for the sufferings and sins of others. I need the blood of the Lamb of God to save me from the destroyer. So every week, I attend Church, and partake of the bread and water representing the blood and body of my Savior, Jesus Christ. The resurrection of His body renews my body; the sacrifice of His blood redeems my soul. My heart rejoices in the promise of life everlasting, made possible by His infinite love. May the joy of Jesus’ redemption dwell in your heart as well this Easter, and always.

Additional Resources

This Is The Christ, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

He Is Risen—A Prophet’s Testimony

This weekend, the Twelve Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ will be speaking to the world during the worldwide General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the Church, who are also known as Mormons, will gather in meetinghouses and homes to watch and listen via TV, radio, satellite, and internet. The broadcast originates in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the Church has its headquarters. It is a unique opportunity to learn from the living representatives of Jesus Christ on the earth today.

Jesus Called Twelve Apostles to be Special Witnesses

During His mortal ministry, Jesus called twelve apostles to bear witness of Him to the people. He chose, from among His disciples, Twelve to whom he gave special priesthood authority:

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Matthew 10:1).

Jesus then sent His Twelve Apostles forth among the people to testify of Him, and to do His works:

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:7-8).

Those who accepted the testimony of the Twelve accepted the testimony of Christ Himself, and of His Father:

He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me (Matthew 10:40).

The Apostles in the Early Christian Church

After Christ’s resurrection, He spent 40 days teaching His Apostles, preparing them to lead His Church in the months and years ahead. He commissioned them to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). He gave them power to be “witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Apostles called another to replace Judas, bringing their number back to twelve. They then organized the early Christian Church, administered it by calling local leaders, and bore witness of the Savior throughout all the world as Christianity spread from nation to nation.

Tragically, the intense persecution of the early Christians soon prevented the ongoing calling and ordination of new members of the Twelve Apostles to replace the old as they were martyred. The unique calling of Apostle, along with their unique authority from the Savior, vanished from the earth with their deaths. The long period of confusion that followed is known as the Great Apostasy.

The Twelve Apostles on the Earth Today

In 1830, Jesus Christ restored the calling and authority of His Twelve Apostles once again to the earth, as part of His restored Church, which He revealed to the young prophet Joseph Smith. The Savior designated that the name of His Church was to be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although it is sometimes inadvertently referred to as the “Mormon Church” in the media. Peter, James, and John appeared to Joseph Smith the Prophet, who was the founder of Mormonism. They bestowed upon Joseph, by the laying on of hands, the calling and authority of the Apostleship. Joseph Smith, under inspiration from God, then called twelve new Apostles from among the new Latter-day Saints (Mormons) to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ in modern times. Since that day, God has chosen a new Apostle each time an Apostle has passed away, thus maintaining an unbroken chain of authority stretching back to the Savior, Jesus Christ, Himself.

There are Twelve Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ alive on the earth today, right here and right now. They are General Authorities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have direct authority from Jesus Christ to bear witness of Him to all the world. Their calling is to testify of Jesus Christ, and to do His works, just as the Apostles of old did.

General Conference at the Tabernacle

The Twelve Apostles will Speak at Mormon General Conference

This coming weekend, March 30-April 1, 2012, will be the 182nd annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ. The Church on the earth today is the same Church that was organized by Jesus Himself during His mortal ministry. Jesus has called a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who will preside over the conference and speak several times. The other speakers will be members of the Twelve Apostles, and of the Seventy, as well as some of the women who lead in Christ’s Church today. Mormons from all over the world will be listening via television, radio, satellite transmission, and internet. You can listen yourself if you like. Sessions begin at 10:00 and 2:00 each day on Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and April 1, 2012, Mountain Daylight Time. You can often find Mormon General Conference sessions on local TV, radio, or cable stations. A live feed is also available at lds.org. If Peter, James, John, Paul, Matthew, or one of the ancient Apostles were alive today, surely you would make every effort to hear them. Their successors are here, speaking to you this coming weekend. Come and listen.

Additional Resources:

182nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Modern Day Prophets

The Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ