Jesus Christ

 

Mormons worship Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redeemer. He is considered to be the head of their Church and their actual name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reflects this belief. They believe that their prophet Gordon B. Hinckley receives direct revelation from Jesus Christ to guide and direct their Church.

 

Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, "the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." 1

 

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi says, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." 2 The Book of Mormon is used in conjunction with the Bible to convince the world of the Divinity and mission of Jesus Christ.

 

President Gordon B. Hinckley has declared, "We may be somewhat different from the traditional pattern of Christianity. But no one believes more literally in the redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ. No one believes more fundamentally that He was the Son of God that He died for the sins of mankind, that He rose from the grave and that He is the living resurrected Son of the living Father. All of our doctrine, all of our religious practice stems from that one basic doctrinal position." 3

 

Mormon doctrine teaches that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, both physically and spiritually. That He was born of an earthly mother Mary. That He lived a perfect life and is an example to all of us. They believe that it is through the Atonement of Christ that a person's sins can be forgiven and that they can eventually achieve eternal life. They also recognize that His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection broke the bands of death. Because of Christ all mankind will be resurrected, with their bodies reuniting with their spirits at the great resurrection day.

 

Just like other Christian religions members of the Mormon Church take the sacrament each week. In the prayer it states that members who are taking the sacrament agree to "take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember Him, and keep His commandments which He hath given them, that they may always have His Spirit to be with them." 4 Members try to emulate Jesus Christ in their daily life. They strive to continually be more Christ-like. They uphold His example as the perfect life and continually look to it for guidance in their actions and lives.

 

 

 

(1) Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121

(2) 2 Nephi 25:26

(3) Interview with Religion Newswriters Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sept 14, 1997

(4) Moroni 4:3