A recent news article told the story of a couple in Oregon who was prosecuted for and eventually pled guilty to second-degree murder of their newborn child. Due to their religious beliefs, this couple had chosen to have their child born in a bedroom, with no medical assistance. To everyone’s surprise, twins were born. The parents didn’t have any sonograms, nor did they visit a doctor during the pregnancy. Neither of them could have known the mother was carrying twins. Even still, at the time of the birth, and with the life of their little girl on the line, they chose not to forego their religious beliefs by seeking medical help. Because of that, the child died, just hours after her birth, leaving her twin in critical condition.

This couple was fifth generational members of the Church of Christ. They believe that God is the master healer. Many others share this belief as well. However, the difference between common belief and the Church of Christ is that they believe He is the master healer 100% from every angle. Meaning that if it’s God’s will, He will heal the person—no additional medical assistance necessary.

In 1998, Oregon stated that the number of children’s deaths, in the Church of Christ, between then and 1955, was 78. They concluded that 21 of those deaths could have been avoided by seeking medical assistance.

As Mormons we, too, understand that God is the master healer. However, we believe that He would expect us to seek medical help as part of that healing process. God is the master healer because He is the master of everything. He heals us but He has also provided us with tools to seek the best learning.

Modern Medicine and Prophets

Many of the prophets and apostles in the Mormon church have been successful in the medical field. Current prophet, Russell M. Nelson, is a world renowned heart surgeon and medical researcher. In April 1972 he was called to perform a very risky heart surgery on President Spencer W. Kimball. Kimball was then a member of the twelve apostles and at the age of 77. Nelson had never performed this specific surgery on a man of his age group. It was decided he would go through with the surgery, anyway, as President Harold B. Lee, then the president of the quorum of the 12 apostles, insisted that President Kimball was to be prophet someday.

On the day of the surgery, there were many that were fasting and praying for it to go well. President Nelson received a blessing from the first presidency that he would be able to efficiently perform the operation. All of those, combined with a lifelong study of medicine and surgery, helped President Nelson to operate on President Kimball’s heart perfectly. He then went on to live another phenomenal thirteen years.

This can all be found in President Nelson’s biography, Father, Surgeon, Apostle.

Priesthood blessings can be a vital part of healing for people in the Church. Christ came to Earth and, as part of His earthly ministry, healed the sick. His priesthood remains on the earth today and is exercised through righteous men who have received it through the laying on of hands.

Faith and sacred Priesthood power can help us heal. But God also expects us to seek help and take action by getting the best medical help available. He takes care of us and meets our needs through many different avenues.

Jesus’ response to that was, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

This meant that in order for the Savior to be completely perfect and fulfill His father’s plan, He had to be baptized. But how could that be when we are baptized to be forgiven of our sins?

Jesus taught that baptism isn’t just a washing away of our sins but an entrance—a gateway that opens a pathway back to the Father.

This can be confusing because there is a common belief that God is both the Father and the Son. But this event tells us that not only was Christ baptized by water, but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings. We call that the Godhead.

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”

We have Jesus, who was just baptized by John the Baptist in His temporal, mortal body; we have the Holy Ghost, which descended in the form of a dove on Jesus’ shoulder; and we have the voice of Heavenly Father. Three separate beings, but all with the same purpose. And that purpose is to help us make it back to them someday.

The act of being baptized by full water is symbolic. It represents our willingness to follow Jesus Christ, strip ourselves of our old selves and come out of the water, clean again. It’s a symbolic death and rebirth. It’s also essential to our salvation, including the Savior’s. Even though He is God, because He chose to come to Earth in a mortal body and suffer for us, part of that deal included baptism.

To reiterate Christ’s words, “For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” A common belief among Christians is thanks to Christ, by grace we are saved. Many believe that as long as we accept Christ into our hearts and believe on His name, we will be saved. Mormons believe very similarly. We believe that when we are baptized, we promise to take His name upon us.

We covenant, or make a promise with God, that we will do all that we can to keep the commandments and live as Christlike as we can. That’s what we do when we follow the Savior’s words, “For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” This means we help each other in times of need and we give ourselves through service whenever and wherever we can. He meant that justice is a real thing and that we need to fulfill that law. We need to do all that we can do to follow Him, just as He did all that He could to follow the Father. Then, after we do all we can, by grace we are saved.

“Then he suffered him,” can be interpreted to mean that the law will suffer us. As long as we try our best and be baptized, then we are able to repent and be forgiven of our sins all throughout our lives.

Baptism was part of the law that Jesus had to fulfill. It was a symbolic message to us that because He was baptized, so must we be, by full immersion in water. It’s that first step to entering the Kingdom of God.

I Stand All Amazed

Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932, wrote this hymn. He wrote an estimated 7,000-8,000 gospel songs. Many are available and can be found in 21st-century hymn books. He writes under several pseudonyms, including Charlotte G. Homer, H. A. Henry, and S. B. Jackson.

An excerpt from his bio:

His musical talent was well recognized in his boyhood home of Wilton. There is one folklore story, that the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilton (Pastor Pollock or McAuley) once saw Gabriel walking in town early in the week. He asked Gabriel if he knew a good song to go along with his sermon. The pastor shared the sermon topic and by the end of the week, the boy had written a song for that Sunday – words and music. The Rev. N. A. McAulay was a pastor at the Wilton church for many years, and it is also said that young Gabriel wrote the music for one of McAulay’s songs. The song, “How Could it Be,” was later published in Songs for Service, edited by Gabriel, with the music being credited to “Charles H. Marsh,” possibly one of Gabriel’s pseudonyms.

Eventually, he served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, San Francisco, California (1890-2). While working at Grace Church, he was asked to write a song for a mission celebration. He wrote “Send the Light,” which became his first commercial song. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, and in 1912 he began working with Homer Rodeheaver publishing company.

Gabriel was married twice, first to Fannie Woodhouse, which ended in divorce, and later to Amelia Moore. One child was born to each marriage. He died in Hollywood, California. Gabriel wrote an autobiography titled Sixty Years of Gospel Song (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, undated). He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1982.

“I Stand All Amazed”

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

This is one of my favorite hymns because His love has made such a difference in my life. The first time that I really listened to the words of this hymn I was 16 years old. I had been pulling away from God because of some events that had taken place in my life. Namely being sexually assaulted. I had gotten mad at God because I didn’t know why that would happen to me.

For some reason this song really stuck in my mind. Especially the line, “I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.” I was confused for a long time and I thought that God would never love me but now that I am older and able to look at the situation with clearer eyes, I can see the love that He has for me.

All Creatures of Our God and King

The text for this song was written by St. Francis of Assisi, 1182–1226; trans. by William H. Draper, 1855–1933. Saint Francis of Assisi was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, informally named Francesco. He was an Italian Catholic friar, deacon, and preacher. He is one of the “most venerated religious figures in history.”

An excerpt from his bio:

Pope Gregory IX canonized Francis on 16 July 1228. Along with Saint Catherine of Siena, he was designated Patron saint of Italy. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of 4 October.

He is often remembered as the patron saint of animals. In 1219, he went to Egypt in an attempt to convert the Sultan to put an end to the conflict of the Crusades.  By this point, the Franciscan Order had grown to such an extent that its primitive organizational structure was no longer sufficient. He returned to Italy to organize the Order. Once his community was authorized by the Pope, he withdrew increasingly from external affairs. Francis is also known for his love of the Eucharist.

In 1223, Francis arranged for the first Christmas live nativity scene. According to Christian tradition, in 1224 he received the stigmata during the apparition of Seraphic angels in a religious ecstasy making him the first recorded person in Christian history to bear the wounds of Christ’s Passion.  He died during the evening hours of 3 October 1226, while listening to a reading he had requested of Psalm 142.

“All Creatures of Our God and King”

All creatures of our God and king

Lift up your voices and with us sing

Alleluia, alleluia

Thou burning with golden beam

Thou silver moon with softer gleam

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,

This hymn speaks to me as I marvel at the beauty of the world and all His creations. I’m the type of person that would be happy planning every second of my day. I don’t usually take time to notice what is around me. If I could, I would be content to just curl up with a good book and get lost in the words.

I have never really taken the time to marvel at the trees, animals, water, etc. I’ve never noticed how truly beautiful the world outside is. The words in this hymn remind me to take a minute and appreciate the beauty of the world that I live in.

I Believe in Christ

The text was written by Bruce R. McConkie, 1915–1985. “Bruce Redd McConkie (July 29, 1915 – April 19, 1985) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1972 until his death. McConkie was a member of the First Council of the Seventy of the LDS Church from 1946 until his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles” (Bruce R. McConkie).

An excerpt from his bio:

His testimony, given often in conference sermons in his characteristic booming voice, was a moving testament from one called to bear special witness of Christ. Writing of Jesus Christ, Elder McConkie said:

“Let it now be written once again—and it is the testimony of all the prophets of all the ages—that he is the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father, the promised Messiah, the Lord God of Israel, our Redeemer and Savior; that he came into the world to manifest the Father, to reveal anew the gospel, to be the great Exemplar, to work out the infinite and eternal atonement; …

“And now let it also be written, both on earth and in heaven, that this disciple … does himself also know the truth of those things of which the prophets have testified. For these things have been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit of God, and he, therefore, testifies that Jesus is Lord of all, the Son of God, through whose name salvation comes”(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965–73, 1:876).

“I Believe in Christ”

I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!

As Mary’s Son he came to reign

’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,

To save them from the woes of sin.

I believe in Christ, who marked the path,

Who did gain all his Father hath,

Who said to men: “Come, follow me,

That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

I like this song because it talks about how Jesus loved us so much that He made a way for us to return to Him.  He pays the price of justice because of His mercy – the Atonement. He showed us the way. He is the ultimate example for us to follow to get back to Him.

This song helped when I was injured. I was in a lot of pain and had to stay in bed most of the time because I couldn’t move. Because I know that He is there for all of us, it helped me put my trust in Him during a time that was hard.

How Great Thou Art

The text was written by Stuart K. Hine, 1899–1989. The hymn “How Great Thou Art” is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Boberg (1859–1940) in Sweden in 1885. It was translated into German and then Russian. Stuart K. Hine translated it into English from the Russian and added two verses of his own to the hymn.

An excerpt from his bio:

Stuart K. Hine was born in 1899 in Great Britain. In much of Stuart’s earlier years, he and his wife were missionaries in the Western Ukraine of Russia, where they evangelized as Christian workers and singers. In 1931, Stuart K. Hine and his wife returned to Britain and conducted gospel campaigns throughout Great Britain.

During those years, Stuart published many songbooks and wrote many of his beloved gospel songs. Stuart retired from the active ministry but continued to publish his songbooks and his music and contributed the majority of his income to various missionary endeavors around the world.

Stuart K. Hine’s most popular composition is “How Great Thou Art,” which is recognized in many polls as the number one Hymn in America. Among his other compositions are “Can There Be One,” “O Savior Mine?”, “Faith Is The Bridge,” and “What Can Cleanse My heart?” Mr. Hine died in 1989.

“How Great Thou Art”

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When I hear this song my mind goes to how I developed my relationship with Christ and how I really came to know of Him. Like I have said in previous paragraphs about what happened to me when I was 16 years-old. I really began a good relationship with Christ when I was in college. I started to count the good things in life instead of focusing on all the bad stuff that happened in my life.

It is true, “I scarce can take it in.” It is beautiful that He loves me so much that He takes everything from me. That He understands perfectly what I went through and knows perfectly how to comfort me. Once I had a relationship with Christ, I noticed that even if I had a really bad day I could still feel His love. I didn’t feel lost from Him anymore.

Beautiful Savior

The words of this hymn were written in the 12th century. Sadly the author is unknown. So, for this hymn, I will talk about the music composer. The hymn is a Silesian folk song. This version of the song is arr. by Darwin Wolford, b. 1936.

An excerpt from his bio,

Darwin Wolford is a composer, organist, and former music professor. He was Director of Organ Studies at Brigham Young University–Idaho before his retirement in 2004.

Wolford was born in 1936 in Logan, Utah. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, his Master of Music degree and his Ph.D. in organ composition from the University of Utah. He began piano lessons at the age of eight and studied piano with Irving Wasserman. During college, he studied organ with Robert Cundick and Alexander Schreiner and composition with Leroy Robertson, John LaMontaine, and Ned Rorem.

He has published more than 350 compositions for choir, orchestra, organ, piano, and other instruments. Wolford’s works are among those heard performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Wolford is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served for many years as a member of the General Music Committee. He was a member of the Executive Hymnbook Committee and assisted with the publication of the 1985 LDS Hymnbook. He also helped prepare the LDS Children’s Songbook.

“Beautiful Savior”

Fair is the sunshine,

Fairer the moonlight

And all the stars in heav’n above;

Jesus shines brighter,

Jesus shines purer

And brings to all the world his love.

Fair are the meadows,

Fairer the woodlands,

Robed in the flowers of blooming spring;

Jesus is fairer,

Jesus is purer.

He makes the sorrowing spirit sing.

Beautiful Savior!

Lord of the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Thee will I honor, praise, and give glory,

Give praise and glory evermore!

Evermore!

I love this song for how much it talks about the Savior and just reveling in the fact that He loves us. I love having this song in the hymn book because we spend so long thinking about who Christ is that we forget we can come to know Him through hymns. This hymn is such a good example to me of who Jesus Christ is and that He loves us.

How Firm a Foundation

The text for this hymn is attributed to Robert Keen, ca. 1787. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835. This hymn has a bit of mystery attached as to who the author really is. It is attributed to “K” in the original publication which is believed to be Robert Keen.

An excerpt from the hymns bio:

“How Firm a Foundation” is a hymn so well known and loved that it was sung during the funerals of U.S Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. It was sung by American troops engaged in the Spanish-American war on Christmas morning in 1898. It was a favorite of General Robert E. Lee and also sung at his funeral. And yet, with all its notoriety, the author is somewhat of a mystery. The hymn is attributed to “K,” in the original publication.

First published in 1787, in a book titled A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, much of the text of the hymn is straight from The Bible, such as Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Hebrews 13:5. John Rippon edited the book, and it is believed that the “K” might refer to John Keene, who was the cantor at Rippon’s church. Others have associated “K” with Kirkham, or John Keith. The hymnbook for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints credits the text to Robert Keene.

“How Firm a Foundation”

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

The verse that I am sharing from this hymn is one of my favorite verses of the hymn. I like this verse because a lot of stuff has happened to me in my life. The bad stuff that has happened to me has shaken me and has tried to get me away from Christ. But like the song says, “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose. I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes”.

Lord, I Would Follow Thee

The text for this hymn is written by Susan Evans McCloud, b. 1945. Susan is an author, novelist, poet, hymn writer, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

An excerpt from her bio:

Two of McCloud’s hymns appear in the LDS Church’s 1985 hymnbook. One of these, “Lord I Would Follow Thee,” has also been recorded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Lines from this hymn have been quoted in the LDS community,  and it has even been called “one of the best-loved songs in the LDS Church.” McCloud wrote her other hymn, “As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days,” with the goal of giving strength to a “vacillating youth.”

McCloud has also contributed to film music used by the seminaries of the LDS Church.

McCloud has published more than 45 books. Since the late 1970s she has published nearly one novel annually, many through the publishers Bookcraft or Scribe Publishing. Her novel Black Stars Over Mexico was a best seller in January 1985.  Brigham Young: An Inspiring Personal Biography was partly developed as a result of her 30 years as a docent at the Beehive House.

McCloud’s poetry first appeared in the Ensign magazine in 1972.

“Lord, I Would Follow Thee”

Savior, may I learn to love thee,

Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own.

Savior, may I learn to love thee—

Lord, I would follow thee.

I like this hymn a lot because it does a good job of showing the process we go through to become like Jesus and learn to love others just as He loves everybody. I also love the part that Jesus will give us the strength to overcome what we have to go through in life.

This hymn made me really think about my great grandmother. She always would put others before her. She was always trying to help someone in need. She was good at that. She was so good at being Christ-like.

Abide with Me

The text was written by Henry F. Lyte, 1793–1847. Henry F. Lyte was an Anglican divine, hymnodist, and poet.

An excerpt from his bio:

Lyte’s first composition was Tales in Verse illustrative of Several of the Petitions in the Lord’s Prayer (1826), written at Lymington and commended by John Wilson in the Noctes Ambrosianae. Lyte next published Poems, chiefly Religious (1833), and in 1834, a small collection of psalms and hymns entitled The Spirit of the Psalms.

After his death, a volume of Remains (1850) with a memoir was issued, and the poems contained in this, with those in Poems, chiefly Religious, were afterward published in one volume (1868). Three of Lyte’s best-known hymns are paraphrases of psalms, published in The Spirit of the Psalms: “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” (Psalm 103), “God of Mercy, God of Grace” (Psalm 67), and “Pleasant are thy courts above” (Psalm 84).

Lyte’s best-known hymns are:

• Abide with me! fast falls the eventide
• Jesus, I my cross have taken
• Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven
• Pleasant are Thy courts above.

Of these hymns, “Abide With Me” is the best known.  According to the traditional story given in the Remains, Lyte wrote it a few hours after conducting the final service at his church, which was probably 5 September 1847.  More likely the hymn was actually written in July or August of that year. Lyte himself created for the hymn what his biographer has disparaged as “a dull tune.”

When Hymns Ancient and Modern was published in 1861, the editor, William H. Monk—whose three-year-old daughter had just died—composed his own tune, “Eventide,” for Lyte’s poem. The hymn became a favorite of George V and George VI and was sung at the former’s funeral. The hymn also inspired Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener and General Charles “Chinese” Gordon, and it was said to have been on the lips of Edith Cavell as she faced a German firing squad.

“Abide with Me”

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me!

I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

This hymn has a very special place in my heart. After I faced a difficult time I listened to this song all the time. I felt a peace that was really hard to come by after feeling lost for so long. And turning to Christ, I found that peace. I found that by letting Christ be my “guide,” I was letting go of the pain and learning to trust Him. Now, this did not happen right away. I worked and worked on it. In fact, I am still working on it today.

These Mormon musicians try every day to make music besides the hymns that uplifts people and brings them closer to Christ:

Lindsey Stirling

David Archuleta

Hilary Weeks

Alex Boye

Does God Exist?

One of the questions you may have had is if God does in fact exist? M. Russell Ballard says,

“In last October’s general conference, I invited listeners to follow Brigham Young’s counsel to stay on the Old Ship Zion, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to hold on with both hands. Since then, I am happy to know that some of my family and others were listening and have asked me this question: “What’s in the Old Ship Zion that we should hang on to?” I reminded them of what President Brigham Young said: “We are on the old ship Zion. … [God] is at the helm and will stay there. … He dictates, guides and directs. If the people will have implicit confidence in their God, never forsake their covenants nor their God, He will guide us right.”

It is comforting to know that “God is at the Helm” and that He will lead us through the difficulties of the world. He sends us tools to help us along in this life. President Henry B. Eyring says,

“We were not sent here completely in the dark. Each of us was given a portion of God’s light, called the “Light of Christ,” to help us distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. This is why even those who live with little or no knowledge of the Father’s plan can still sense, in their hearts, that certain actions are just and moral while others are not.”

President Henry B. Eyring continues,

“Our sense of right and wrong seems especially keen when we are raising our children. Innate in almost every parent is the desire to teach his or her children moral virtues. This is part of the miracle of Heavenly Father’s plan. He wants His children to come to earth, following the eternal pattern of families that exists in heaven. Families are the basic organizational unit of the eternal realms, and so He intends for them also to be the basic unit on earth. Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental love. Families are also the best way to preserve and pass on moral virtues and true principles that are most likely to lead us back to God’s presence.”

I believe that this quote is saying that the best way we can come to know or find God is in our families. As we teach our children and give them the tools to know right and wrong, we come closer to God. This is the plan for all of us and it will help us to return back to God’s presence.

Who is God?

It is hard for us to figure out how to know who God is when we haven’t met Him face to face. However, one way to know who God is, is to look at His Son, Jesus Christ, who exemplified His nature when He was ministering on the earth. Jeffrey R. Holland says,

“God in His ultimate effort to have us know Him, sent to earth His Only Begotten and perfect Son, created in His very likeness and image, to live and serve among mortals in the everyday rigors of life.To come to earth with such a responsibility, to stand in place of Elohim—speaking as He would speak, judging and serving, loving and warning, forbearing and forgiving as He would do—this is a duty of such staggering proportions that you and I cannot comprehend such a thing. But in the loyalty and determination that would be characteristic of a divine child, Jesus could comprehend it and He did it. Then, when the praise and honor began to come, He humbly directed all adulation to the Father. “The Father … doeth the works,” He said in earnest. “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” [John 14:10; John 5:19]. On another occasion, He said: “I speak that which I have seen with my Father” [John 8:38].”

I like to think of a God that loves us so deeply that He provides a way for us to return to Him despite our flaws which lead to human mistakes.

Does God want to help people?

Of course, God wants to help people. We only have to ask for His help because He gives us all our agency so that we can make our own choices. This can be seen in the story of Adam and Eve. Robert D. Hales explains,

“Now we are here on earth, where opportunities to use our agency abound; for here “there is an opposition in all things.” This opposition is essential to the purpose of our lives. As Lehi explained, “Adam and Eve were the first of God’s children to experience these enticements. Having sought the misery of all mankind, Satan, “the father of all lies,” tempted Adam and Eve. Because they chose to partake of the “forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.” Because of that choice, they also “brought forth children; … even the family of all the earth,” and this earthly state “became a state of probation” for them and for their posterity. For “behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things,” Lehi told Jacob. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”

He continues,

“Sometimes we forget that our Heavenly Father desires that each of us have this joy. Only by yielding to temptation and sin can we be kept from that joy. And yielding is exactly what Satan wants us to do.”

Why do bad things happen?

Bad things happen because everyone on this earth was given agency by God to act and make their own decisions. Robert D. Hales says,

“Now we are here on earth, where opportunities to use our agency abound; for here “there is an opposition in all things.” This opposition is essential to the purpose of our lives. As Lehi explained, “To bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, … the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.”

This is how we learn and grow. The bad things that we go through are to bring us closer to God so that we make the decision to return to Him. He doesn’t force anybody to believe in Him. It is a trial of faith.

Robert D. Hales continues with,

“We have been given agency, we have been given the blessings of the priesthood, and we have been given the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost for a reason. That reason is our growth and happiness in this world and eternal life in the world to come.”

God exists, how do I find Him?

One of the ways that we can find God is prayer. When I first prayed to Him, to know Him, I was eighteen years old. I had been bullied a lot in high school and I felt alone. I prayed for Him to let me know if He was there and to feel His comfort and love. This was the first time that I felt His love wash through my body. This is how I came to find Him when I was in one of my darkest moments. He will reach out when prayers are said. James E. Faust says,

“Great is the power of prayer. No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place. When God placed man on the earth, prayer became the lifeline between mankind and God.”

This is the way that we come to find and know God. I have come to Him through prayer many times since that first time that I prayed to Him. It is amazing to feel that depth of love through prayer to God.

In one video, a couple talks about how family prayer can be rewarding for parents, and another video points out that family prayer is more than just a time to pray together as a family. Mormon couples talk about how prayer has strengthened their family and helped their children become more confident, humble and mindful of others.

In another video, a Mormon mom talks about her struggles with parenting and how she remembers to follow the example of the way God interacts with his children. “I’m so grateful that God gives me second chances and that he says, ‘It’s OK you messed up. You can try over again’ and I do that with my kids and we’re in this never-ending cycle of loving, teaching, forgiving and starting over again,” she said.

In other videos in the one-minute series, members of the Church answer questions like, “Do Mormons really believe in Jesus?” and “Do Mormons believe in the Bible?” Also, in one of the videos, Latter-day Saints of diverse backgrounds and cultures describe what Mormons believe in three words or less.

These videos can be a great resource to introduce the basic beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to those who are investigating the Church or to answer general questions that people might have about the Church. The videos can also be used as a refresher for members who are striving to live their daily lives in accordance with the teachings of the Church.

Our Families Can Be Together Eternally

In life, everyone will experience loss. Depending on your circumstances you may experience losing your parents, children, significant other, or others close to you. But even though dying is a part of life that we all will experience, death is not the end. One day, we will be able to see, touch, talk with, and enjoy the presence of every person we’ve lost.

Pre-Mortal Existence

Before the earth was created our spirits existed in heaven, and we lived in heaven with our Heavenly Father. However, given the spirit state we were in, we could not live up to our eternal potential and be like our Father in heaven. And so God created a plan called the Plan of Salvation. This plan detailed how we could become like God, and receive all the blessings that He has.

However, God knew that earth life would be hard. He knew we would need help. But more importantly, He wanted us to experience the joy of having a family, having an eternal marriage, and having our own children. So he created families.

How Are Eternal Families Possible?

There are three things that needed to occur for families to be forever. These events are the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement.  In addition, eternal families must be created through the correct ordinances and covenants.

The Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement

Adam and Eve, by Jay Bryant Ward Via lds.org © intellectual reserve

The Creation is a term referring to the idea that God created all things. He created the earth, and he created man. Through the Creation, marriage was also introduced. Adam and Eve were the first people to be married.

Mark A. Mathews writes in his article from the Ensign, “From the beginning, marriage between a man and a woman was ordained of God and established as the ultimate purpose of our creation.”

Nonetheless, the Garden of Eden was unique in that Adam and Eve could not change, or grow. The state that Adam and Eve existed in did not allow for them to have children. And so all mankind needed the Fall. The Fall refers to Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, which they had been commanded not to eat. There were two consequences that befell Adam and Eve from the Fall: they were cast out of the Garden of Eden, and they entered into a mortal state. This was a good thing though because this new state would allow for children to be born.

The Creation and the Fall created a way for families to come into this world, but without the Atonement, families could not be eternal. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can overcome spiritual and physical death, and be with our families forever. This is a central doctrine of Mormonism. The family is sacred to us.

Sacred Ordinances And Covenants

Now that eternal families are possible, we still have to do our part. Not all families are sealed for eternity. You may be familiar with the phrase, “till death do us part.” Marriages that are performed without the necessary sealing power become void in death. Fortunately, mankind has been given the ability to form eternal marriages. An eternal marriage must be:

• Between two worthy individuals
• Take place in dedicated temples
• Be consecrated by someone blessed with the right to perform eternal marriages

Even if all these things are in place, however, the promised blessings of an eternal marriage are still predicated upon each spouse’s faithfulness to the promises they made to each other and to God. Robert D. Hales has taught:

An eternal bond doesn’t just happen as a result of sealing covenants we make in the temple. How we conduct ourselves in this life will determine what we will be in all the eternities to come. To receive the blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father has given to us, we have to keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families will want to live with us in the eternities.

Children born to parents who have been joined eternally are born in the covenant. This means that they will automatically be included in the eternal sealing their parents created, and therefore, they will be sealed, or connected, to their parents forever.

What If I Don’t Want To Be With My Family Forever?

Unfortunately, not all families have positive dynamics. Divorce, estrangement, and even abuse occur in families in today’s world. In these situations, it’s very natural to feel upset and distressed over the prospect of being stuck with a dysfunctional family forever. Sadly, there hasn’t been much information related to this particular topic. However, we do know that in heaven there will be no pain. Heaven will be a place infused with joy and love. We also know that God will be fair and just. He would not allow anyone to be tormented by another once they have reached their eternal paradise.

Photo by Takmeomeo on pixabay

Joseph F. Smith has taught:

If a man and woman should be joined together who are incompatible to each other it would be a mercy to them to be separated that they might have a chance to find other spirits that will be congenial to them.

I feel that this would apply to any relationship within a family. If a parent abused their child, I don’t believe that God would force the child against their will to endure eternity with their abuser.

In these situations, it’s important to remember that we have been given the gift of agency. We will have the freedom to choose in heaven, and we will not be encumbered by pain and fear.

It’s also important to remember that we don’t have a full knowledge and understanding of the nature of heaven, nor of what our own heavenly disposition and capabilities will be. I imagine that we were probably very close with our family members in heaven before we came to earth. A life-long abusive relationship on earth may seem more like a small, intense fight between friends from an eternal perspective. Again, remember that we will not be in pain in heaven. All wrongs will be made right. Maybe, after justice and mercy have been applied, those who have been gravely mistreated will feel differently. Perhaps they will desire to embrace their eternal friends with forgiveness and love. But I do not believe that anyone will be forced to.

Create A Loving Family

Your family can be the best part of your life. Your family can trump your job, your friends, your favorite sports team, or any other passions you have.  We don’t have a choice in who are parents and siblings are, but we will choose whom to marry.  We will choose how to raise our children.  These are choices we should not take lightly.

Because of the importance of the family to the eternal plan of happiness, Satan makes a major effort to destroy the sanctity of the family, demean the importance of the role of men and women, encourage moral uncleanliness and violations of the sacred law of chastity, and to discourage parents from placing the bearing and rearing of children as one of their highest priorities.

-Robert D. Hales

The Family: A Proclamation to the World is a statement from the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles of the Church.  In this statement, it says:

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

Love your family.  Make every effort possible to get along with your family. Be willing to forgive, and let go of things family members have done to hurt you, and have an open mind towards family members that have different opinions and beliefs. Definitely, don’t marry someone you can’t imagine spending the rest of your life with. You have the power to create a loving family.

One of the more straightforward ways to characterize what a spiritual gift is has been defined by Lane Johnson in the article, How To Receive Spiritual Gifts. Johnson says, “Any increase in light that an individual experiences may be regarded as a spiritual gift–or a gift or free offering of the Spirit.”

The scriptures specifically list several different spiritual gifts:

• Faith (Moroni 10:11, 1 Corinthians 12:9)
• Personal Revelation (Matthew 7:7)
• Testimony (Knowledge) of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 46:13)
• Believing on the Words of Others (Doctrine and Covenants 46:14)
• Teaching by the Spirit (Moroni 10:10)
• Judgment (Wise Application of Knowledge, or Word of Wisdom) (Doctrine and Covenants 47:17, Doctrine and Covenants 6:7, Moroni 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:8, James 1:5-7)
• Speaking in many Languages (Doctrine and Covenants 46:24, Moroni 10:15, 1 Corinthians 12:10)
• Interpretation of many Languages (Doctrine and Covenants 46:25, Moroni 10:16, 1 Corinthians 12:10)
• Translation (Doctrine and Covenants 5:4)
• Faith to Heal (Doctrine and Covenants 46:20, Moroni 10:11, 1 Corinthians 12:9)
• Faith to be Healed (Doctrine and Covenants 46:19)
• Working of Miracles (Doctrine and Covenants 46:21, Moroni 10:12, 1 Corinthians 12:10)
• Beholding of Angels and Ministering Spirits (Moroni 10:14)
• Prophecy (Doctrine and Covenants 46:22, Moroni 10:13)
  • The gift of prophecy can be given to all so that they can receive guidance for themselves, as well as come to understand the Lord and his purposes. However, don’t confuse this gift with a prophetic office. There is a difference between a prophet unto themselves, born through the gift of prophecy, and the prophet.
• Power of Discernment (Doctrine and Covenants 46:23)
• Knowledge (Doctrine and Covenants 46:18, Doctrine and Covenants 121:26)

What Is The Purpose Of Our Spiritual Gifts?

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

The purpose of spiritual gifts can be compared to a tree.  The underlying purpose of all spiritual gifts, or the tree trunk, is to strengthen us each spiritually and to help us serve, and bless the lives of those around us.  Spiritual gifts are for everyone’s benefit.

The more specific purposes, or the branches of our spiritual gift tree, can be things like:

• Teaching the gospel more effectively
• Feeling comfort in times of trials
• Amplifying our talents and abilities to help others
• Helping us to connect spiritually, socially, and emotionally to others
• Helping us to understand complex situations
• Coming closer to God

Robert D. Hales has taught us in this regard, “God has given us the gifts of the Spirit to allow us to be drawn more closely into His circle of love … As we do, our faith in Him will increase, and our true destiny will be fulfilled, ultimately to return to His presence.”

Who Can Receive Spiritual Gifts?

Preparatory Spiritual Gifts

To be gifted with a spiritual gift, you must follow God’s commandments, and live your life in line with the teachings of the gospel. Through the Holy Ghost, everyone can endeavor to develop a spiritual gift (Moroni 10:17). For example, the spiritual gift of having faith is a gift that can be given to anyone when they develop and nourish a desire to believe in spiritual truths (Alma 32:26-43).

When the time is right, and the individual is ready, they will feel the Spirit, which will testify to them of the truth of the gospel. Spiritual gifts of this nature, as in gifts that can be used by everyone, are better defined as preparatory gifts.

Complex Spiritual Gifts

Members of the Church who have received (and are worthy of) their gift of the Holy Ghost can be given more complex spiritual gifts. Having the gift of the Holy Ghost is different from experiencing a manifestation of the Holy Ghost.

Having the gift of the Holy Ghost means being able to always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with you. You can think of it like always having a little shoulder angel to help you, lift you up, and encourage you.

A manifestation of the Holy Ghost is a temporary enlightenment. This would be more like having a really great school teacher who makes you want to be better, but when you’re away from them, you may either forget or push aside their positive influence.

All spiritual gifts, whether preparatory or otherwise, are obtained through the Holy Ghost. And all spiritual gifts are given only to those who are faithful to Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 46:9).

How Do We Get Spiritual Gifts?

As I mentioned above, all spiritual gifts come through the Holy Ghost. However, this does not mean that you will automatically, by default, have a spiritual gift when you have the gift of the Holy Ghost. Joesph Smith clarified this by teaching that these gifts are “not visible to the natural vision, or understanding of man … [and it] require[s] time and circumstances to call these gifts into operation.” For example, developing the gift of tongues, or learning languages, requires intense study and hard work. But once you’ve done what you can, a spiritual gift can amplify your abilities to meet a need.

After showing faithfulness and obedience to God, there is a process in which spiritual gifts come to us.

First, we need to determine a need that can be helped with a spiritual gift.  After finding something that needs to be fixed, or someone that needs to be helped, or some other situation, we must do all that we can to assist in fulfilling the need.  When we are doing all that we can, it would then be appropriate to ask God for help.

George Q. Cannon taught:

If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect … No man out to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them. If a man lacks wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else … [God] gives these gifts, and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth.

With the exception of preparatory gifts, spiritual gifts are not to be used as a way of convincing someone who doesn’t have faith in spiritual truths. These gifts are sacred. It would not be appropriate to flaunt them or perform impossible feats just to impress someone. Attempting to use a spiritual gift in this way would send the Holy Ghost away, and since spiritual gifts operate through the Holy Ghost, the gift would be removed.

Fake Spiritual Gifts

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

It can happen that Satan will try to deceive people through the use of pseudo-spiritual gifts and miracles. In fact, the scriptures warn us about this. In Matthew 24:24, it states, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Satan can give an ordinary person extraordinary abilities; however, he does this only to so that “all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27). Satan would love nothing more than if he could lead someone astray under the guise of Christ.

There is hope though! The spiritual gift of discernment can help one to know when they are really seeing the work of God. However, like all gifts, this gift must be deserved. Those who are genuinely seeking the truth, and studying and pondering the gospel of Jesus Christ will be given the right to spiritual truths. Just like someone will need to put in thousands of hours to develop skills that allow them to be given the gift of tongues, one must also put in their fair share of work to have the gift of discernment.

Faith

As I’ve already mentioned, spiritual gifts are given to those who have faith. In the Church’s Gospel Principles handbook, it teaches that spiritual gifts “are not given to satisfy our curiosity or to prove anything to us because we lack faith.”

Moroni has addressed those who deny the existence of spiritual gifts (Mormon 9:7-8,20-21):

7 And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;

8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.

20 And the reason why he [God] ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.

21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

Learn More:

3 Nephi 29:6-7 (For those who deny the gifts)

1 Corinthians 12 (Spiritual Gifts in the ancient Church of Jesus Christ)

Doctrine and Covenants 46:9-26 (Spiritual Gifts in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

How to Receive Spiritual Gifts by Lane Johnson

Recognize and Develop Your Spiritual Gifts, Elder Hales Counsels

Spiritual Gifts by Dallin H. Oaks

The Gifts of the Spirit: Chapter 22 of the Gospel Principles handbook

Who Can Receive A Patriarchal Blessing

Anyone who is a member of the Church can get a patriarchal blessing as long as they are baptized, and worthy. To be worthy, a member will need to be following the commandments, and also continue to keep their baptismal covenants.

Members generally wait until they are either teenagers or adults to request to receive their patriarchal blessing. However, as long as the member in question has a recommend from their bishop (which is required for all members, regardless of age or status), they may receive their patriarchal blessing.

To get a patriarchal blessing, a member of the Church will put in a request with either their bishop or branch president. After being interviewed and found ready and worthy, their bishop or branch president will give the member a recommendation. Then the member can schedule a meeting with the patriarch.

Who Can Give A Patriarchal Blessing

Patriarchal blessings have to be performed by a very specific person: a patriarch.  However, in the scriptures, there are three different types of patriarchs mentioned. The three types are fathers of families, ancient prophets, and stake patriarchs. Only stake patriarchs bestow patriarchal blessings. A stake is an organized group of congregations, like a diocese in Catholicism.

Stake patriarchs are members of the Church, who are very spiritual, knowledgeable servants of God. The office of patriarch is very special in that patriarchs are ordained, not set apart.  This means that patriarchs are patriarchs for life.  This office is a permanent calling (unless the patriarch behaves in a way that would make them unworthy).

What Do Patriarchal Blessings Talk About

Lineage

One of the most important parts of every patriarchal blessing is a declaration of lineage. There are 12 tribes of Israel, and a person will learn which tribe they belong to through their blessing. Depending on which tribe you are declaired to be descended from (either literally, or adopted in), you will have special tasks and responsibilities.

Being adopted into a tribe does not exactly involve an adoption process like when someone adopts a child. Joseph Fielding Smith said the following about this matter in his book, Doctrines of Salvation:

Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage … The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham … Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.

So those who are not literal descendants are automatically adopted in when they are baptized and confirmed a member of the Church.

There are 12 tribes of Israel. As I said above, when you receive your patriarchal blessing, you will learn which tribe you belong to. Many people today belong to the tribe of Ephraim, and they have a responsibility to spread the gospel and to be leaders and teachers in the Church. It has been suggested that because of the nature of Ephraim’s task, it makes sense for members of his tribe to be made known first in these latter days of the earth.

As for the other 11 tribes, there isn’t as much knowledge about their specific responsibilities. We can make some guesses based on the scriptures, especially from the blessings Jacob gave to his sons, but fewer members of those tribes have been recognized in these modern times than of the tribe of Ephraim, and secondly, Manasseh.

Personal Counsel and Warnings

Your patriarchal blessing can be thought of as scripture specifically for you. In other words, your blessing has counsel and warnings from God that is just for you. Every blessing is different. Some blessings may go into great detail, while others have hardly any mention of personal counsel. Many blessings may address, to some extent, your education, profession, spouse, children, and/or other future blessings (or current blessings depending on when you receive your blessing). Depending on how detailed your blessing is, you may be able to get a pretty good idea of what your life can be like if you are righteous and align your will with God’s will.

Another part of this council can be personal warnings. These warnings may be about future trials. The warnings may be about current trials. Your warning counsel can be blunt, or vague.

Gifts and Talents

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

A patriarchal blessing may address spiritual gifts and talents you possess, or ones you will be given opportunities in the future to possess. Spiritual gifts include traits like being receptive to truth, being able to teach with the spirit, or having the gift of tongues. In contrast, an example of spiritual talent is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who have all been blessed with beautiful voices that they use to spread the gospel all over the world.

Your patriarchal blessing may describe ways in which you can use these gifts and talents to build up the kingdom of God. Just like with personal counsel found in your blessing, spiritual gifts and talents can be stated directly, or elusively.

Promises and Blessings

Patriarchal blessings may address blessings and promises you have been given by God. This part of a patriarchal blessing can be confusing because these blessings and promises are predicated on our faithfulness. If we don’t uphold our own promises, our Heavenly Father is no longer bound to hold up His.

Many blessings that are mentioned may only be able to come through our faithfulness. For example, by following the word of wisdom, we will be blessed with good health and good judgment. This example is pretty straightforward, but not all blessings and promises are.

As I mentioned, this can be a confusing area for members because they are told about blessings and promises in their blessing, yet they don’t see them clearly in their life. However, it’s important to remember that patriarchal blessings are linked to an eternal timeline, not an earthly one. Here’s an example I’ve made up to show this idea: Someone is promised in their blessing that all their family members will accept the gospel. However, they are very confused when a particular family member dies without accepting. But our blessings and promises extend to the next life, and they can be fulfilled in the next life.

Things Not Mentioned

Our Patriarchal blessings can be likened to a roadmap. But just like actual road maps, they won’t tell you when you’re going to run out of gas, or when a rock will fly up and crack the windshield. Your patriarchal blessing will not give you a play-by-play transcript of your life. Your patriarchal blessing will not tell you every blessing, promise, talent, or word of advice that you’ll need or come by in your life. Many people may be confused or even afraid if their patriarchal blessing doesn’t mention something in particular, like say marriage. But patriarchal blessings are not all-inclusive, nor are they meant to be.

Sharing Your Patriarchal Blessing

Patriarchal blessings are extremely personal in nature, as well as being tremendously spiritual. So attempting to gain personal revelation from another person’s blessing is nonsensical. There can be times, however, when a person may feel prompted by the spirit to share a very, very small part of their blessing with others. But even in these circumstances, most people still tend to be quite vague.

Generally, though, patriarchal blessings are things kept close to our chest, so to speak. It would not be wise for people to compare and contrast their blessing with another’s blessing. The spiritual nature of the blessing deems it not appropriate to share one’s blessing with others. I’d like to note, however, that members have been told that it can be appropriate to allow immediate family members and your spouse to read your blessing if you so desire. 

The takeaway from this section is that your blessing will contain personal revelation to you from God. I imagine it may be quite offensive to our Heavenly Father when people overshare without feeling a spiritual prompting to do so.

In conclusion, Thomas S. Monson made this statement about patriarchal blessings in a session of the October 1986 General Conference:

Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound…Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.

Learn More:

Of the House of Israel by Daniel H Ludlow

The Stake Patriarch by Boyd K. Packer

The Lord Blesses His Children through Patriarchal Blessings by Richard D. Allred

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, also known as MoTab, is a world-famous, critically acclaimed choir composed of 360 members.  Every person in the choir and orchestra is a volunteer, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The choir has performed all over the world, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia. The choir has performed at World’s Fairs, the Olympics, and even the inaugurations of almost a dozen U.S. presidents.

The choir has also performed with several celebrities, including Angela Lansbury, Alfie Boe, David Archuleta, Lindsey Stirling, Natalie Cole, Angela Brower, Laura Osnes, and many others!

Where Is The Mormon Tabernacle Choir From

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir originates from Salt Lake City, Utah. Their ‘home base’ so to speak, is the Tabernacle building in Salt Lake. You can listen to performances year round by the choir, and even many rehearsals are open to the public, and free to attend.

What is the Purpose of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

On the choir’s website, they have stated their mission and purpose:

As an ambassador for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this unique musical organization transcends cultural and generational boundaries, uniting people worldwide through music.

In addition to this noble purpose, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs during the Church’s bi-annual general conference sessions every year.  These performances are very moving and spiritual.

The choir also has a weekly live broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word, and yearly Christmas concerts with celebrity guests.

Who Can Join The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

In an effort to maintain the high-quality sound produced by the choir, there are very strict requirements in regards to who can audition. The following requirements are quoted from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s website:

Candidates must satisfactorily meet the following requirements:

1. Is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing and able to qualify for a temple recommend.
2. Is between 25 and 55 years of age on or before [the specific date] when [their] Choir service would begin.
3. Is currently residing within 100 miles of Temple Square.
4. Is able to commit to maintaining the required levels of attendance.
5. Is in good health to permit consistent participation in long rehearsals, demanding travel, and other performance-related requirements.
6. Has auditioned not more than two times in the past. Applicants will now be limited to a total of three applications over their years of age eligibility.

Besides these requirements, applicants must pass three phases in the audition process.

The first part consists of an unaccompanied recording sung by the applicant. The music director chooses the song, not the applicant.

The second part involves a musical assessment and skills test. This test measures the applicant’s musical ability and aptitude (including knowledge of music theory).

The applicants that advance to the third part will have their final test in person with the music director. They must perform a hymn, sight-read some music, and then they will be tested on their vocal range.

If an applicant passes all parts of this audition process, they are then required to attend a four-month-long musical training program. If and when they finish their training, they will officially be members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Listen to some of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s most popular songs…

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Youtube

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Website

The Bible and the Book of Mormon Testify of Christ (The Bible and Book of Mormon: Two Witnesses) by Greg K. Olsen via lds.org © intellectual reserve

What Is The Book Of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon is a religious book studied by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the Church believe that the Book of Mormon is quite literally “another testament of Jesus Christ” (in addition to the Bible).

The Book of Mormon acts as a companion book to the Bible, and it supports the doctrines, and testimony of Christ found in the Bible.

Who Is The Book Of Mormon About?

The Book of Mormon is unique from the Bible because through the Book of Mormon, we learn about the ancient people and ancient prophets from the Americas. You may recall that the Bible detailed the history of the people from the ancient eastern hemisphere.

Who Is Mormon?

Mormon was a Nephite prophet and military general who lived about A.D. 311-385. Mormon was the person who was tasked with compiling, keeping, and abridging the words of the ancient prophets of the Americas.

Moroni Hides the Plates in the Hill Cumorah by Tom Lovell via lds.org © intellectual reserve

How Did We Get The Book Of Mormon?

Ancient Prophets chose, through the Spirit, what they wanted to document. They wrote about the history of their people, and the miraculous, spiritual experiences they had. Mormon abridged these records.

After Mormon passed away, his son, Moroni, also abridged some of these records and then sealed them. Through the Lord’s instruction, Moroni hid the records.

In the year A.D. 1823, Moroni visited Joseph Smith as a resurrected being. Moroni gave Joesph Smith instructions on how to find the records.

Joesph Smith translated the records, through the power of God, from a modified, reformed Egyptian, into English.

Why You Should Read The Book Of Mormon

Guide For Life

First and foremost, the Book of Mormon is a flawless guide for us. It is the perfect teacher for how to navigate our way through this life. The stories may be about people from a time so long ago, that their world seems more alien than not; however, the gospel principles and doctrine are the same that will lead us to salvation today.

In the first section of the Book of Mormon, called 1 Nephi, there are a few chapters spent describing a vision that Lehi, and later Nephi, had. This vision (of the Tree of Life) is very symbolic and is about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the wickedness of the world. In my own personal study of these chapters I learned several things I can apply to my own life, during these modern times:

• Even the most righteous of people need someone to be a good example (1 Nephi 8:14-16).
• There are people who truly desire to be righteous and follow God, but are drawn away and distracted by the wickedness of the world (1 Nephi 8:21-23)
• People who are in the great and spacious building (which is symbolic of the pride of the world) did not have a laid out path there. They had to meticulously seek the great and spacious building out. They had to turn their back on Jesus Christ feel their way there in the dark (1 Nephi 8:31).

Jesus the Christ by Del Parson via lds.org © intellectual reserve

Another Witness Of Jesus Christ

The Book of Mormon is another witness to us of Jesus Christ. On the Church’s website, we are taught, “the scriptures show us a pattern of using multiple witnesses to establish truth in Christ’s Church. The Book of Mormon adds a second witness to the Bible as a testimony of Christ.”

The Book of Mormon also clarifies on doctrines that were not addressed fully (or at all) in the Bible.

Come Closer To God

There is a very popular quote from Joseph Smith about the Book of Mormon, which states, “a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, then by any other book.”

If we want to communicate with God, we pray to him. If we want God to communicate with us, we read the scriptures. When we read the scriptures, the Holy Spirit sends impressions to us. By reading the scriptures, we can be changed for the better, and reach our eternal potential.

Invitation To Learn The Truth

Before Moroni sealed up the plates and hid them, he added a few more chapters. The Book of Moroni is only about 13 pages long and talks about several things including details about the administering of the sacrament, and some last words from Mormon.

One chapter in particular, however, includes instruction on how to know for yourself the truth of the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Moroni, chapter 10, verses 3-5:

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Learn More:

A Brief Explanation of the Book of Mormon

Details of How the Book of Mormon was Translated

Moroni’s Promise by Elder Gene R. Cook (Ensign April 1994)