Why I'm a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon)

For a few dozen reasons, I've been thinking lately about why I am a devout, active, participating, living, breathing, loving, dying, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yes, I was "raised" in this church (i.e. my parents were members, their parents were members, their parents were members, their parents were members, their parents were members, and maybe their parents were members--I lost track of parents), but I like to think that I believe, belong, contribute, serve, am for more important reasons. (Sorry about the cataloging of words; I recently finished reading James Joyce's Ulysses, which has a lot of catalogs in it. Have no fear, that is where the influence will end. Er.) Yes, the LDS Church is known for being able to keep children raised with its beliefs as adults (brainwashing--oh yes, that's the secret--please note the dripping sarcasm here), but there is more reason there than Mormons are simple-minded, blind followers of whatever church leaders say (we're not that at all--or we shouldn't be--but aren't there blind followers of every dogma?). Putting aside all the asides (I like parentheses, you see), I want to let everyone know why I am a Mormon.

It all begins with a little girl who lived on a little island called the Isle of Man in the mid-nineteenth-century. She sailed across the ocean when her parents met a couple of Mormon missionaries and decided that the missionaries had something to offer than no one else had offered them before. This little girl--she was sixteen-ish--walked across America, from the civilization in the East, to the wild unknown in the West. She was captured by Indians (they were fascinated by her red hair); two of her close family members died along the way; and she met the love of her life. After a series of unfortunate events, she was left a young, pregnant widow in Salt Lake City (I'm not sure if it was a full city yet; I don't think Utah was a state). So as not to be a burden to her family, she married a man whom she didn't really love but who would care for her and her son. She eventually bore him ten children (one of whom was the grandfather of my grandmother's mother).

Now, I have dozens of ancestors who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in its infancy, but this particular ancestor of mine has always had a special place in my heart. My grandmother knew her quite well; this ancestor knew Joseph Smith--sat on his knee and played with him; this ancestor was not famous or well known. She lived a life of quiet faith (well, as quite as a fiery red-headed Irish woman can) and endured through many trials (the death of her true love, plural marriage, etc.). But she lived on, leaving a legacy of faith and belief in her wake.

How can I deny her belief? How can I deny her faith and the faith of all my progenitors who provide a witness for the truthfulness of all that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represents? After all these witnesses, how cannot I not believe? OK, you say, but this isn't why you believe. Maybe you're right. Well, let me tell you another story.

This one is about a boy. He grew up in a large, poor, farming family that had to move around a lot. His family lived in a time and area of the United States known for its religious turmoil (it was called the "Burnt Over District" because of all the revivals and camps and such). Naturally, as God-fearing, Bible-reading people, this boy's family was caught up in the religious turmoil. It was hard: so many voices telling them different things to believe. When all the preachers contradicted one another (or worse, hypocritically condemned other preachers but taught to love one's enemies), how could anyone pick one that is right? For, there must be a "right"one? Can God be anything to anyone? Not if one believes the Bible, or at least this is what this boy was trying to figure out.

Anyways, after thinking and praying and reading the Bible, this boy did what the Bible says to do: he asked God Himself which religion was true. And when Joseph Smith received his answer, it changed the world.

My faith begins with this boy; it begins with what he saw and with what God told him. Now, some say that God does not appear to man. Well, why not? He did all throughout the Bible, why not now (well, almost 200 years ago)? Some say that God doesn't call prophets anymore. Well, why not? He did in biblical times. If the Bible is God's word, which a great portion of this plant believes, then what does it teach about God? Well, that He loves His children, that He answers prayers, and that He sends wisdom and counsel through various means, including prophets and personal revelation. So, Joseph Smith received personal revelation, and God called Him to be a prophet. Thus, with Joseph Smith, God reestablished a critical connection between God and man, and that connection is direct revelation to the world through someone authorized to speak in behalf of God on this earth.

My belief in the LDS Church begins with my belief that God does not leave His children to wander the earth without direction. The Bible is wonderful; I love the Bible. But, really, how in the world does the story of David and Goliath have anything to do with, say, the degrading nature of pornography or the growing discrepancy between the wealthy and poor? Yes, one can pull principles from this story, but why wouldn't God give specific direction on matters that we face today? That's why I believe in prophets today, and I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

So, it follows, that I believe everything he taught, which means I believe everything that followed. And that's why I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Because I believe in personal communication between God and man, I must say a word about my communication with God. For I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because God told me that what the leaders of this church say is true. No, I haven't personally seen God, but I've prayed and asked Him, and He has told me this through the Holy Ghost, in my mind and heart. I've felt with every quark (smaller unit than atom) of my being that it's all true. Now, do I understand everything? No. Do I agree with everything? No. Does that make any of it any less true? No. So, there you have it.

In all honesty, I've been thinking about this blog post for about three months. Most of it I wrote three months ago and then I stopped. Why? Because, honestly, I can't explain why I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can tell stories of awesome people and I can explain prophets and personal revelation, but none of that is why am what I am.

I mean, really, what does it mean that something is true? It's not false? But what does any of that mean in a relativistic/pluralistic world where Truth isn't at all what it used to be (if it ever used to be anything)? I say I feel it is true, but what does that mean? I have no idea! Really, I don't.

So, then, why am I a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Because it's right. Whatever that means.

But why is it right, for me? Because it (the Church) offers me something I have not found anywhere else: peace, joy, satisfaction with myself and who I am. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. I just have to be me, and that's enough. But it (the Church) also pushes me to be better than I am, to become something greater, to reach my true potential as one of God's children.

Um, that sounds pretty good. Let's stick with that.