Membership in Christ's Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized to perfect and bless the lives of God’s children.

Jesus Christ is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The central purpose of the Church is to help all people come unto Christ (see Moroni 10:32). To fulfill this mission, the Church is organized according to the pattern revealed by the Lord “for the perfecting of the saints, . . . till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” ( Ephesians 4:12–13); see also verse 11.

The family is the fundamental unit in the Church. No other organization can take the place of the family. As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow, its purpose will always be to support and strengthen families and individuals in their efforts to live the gospel.

Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides many opportunities to help others come unto Jesus Christ. Church members:

Donate their time and resources to help the needy and the afflicted.
Serve as missionaries across the world to teach God’s children the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Perform saving ordinances (such as baptism) for themselves and for those who died without knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored by God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. You can know for yourself that these things are true by asking Heavenly Father in prayer.

The Articles of Faith

For my first post I would like to post up the Articles of Faith, these are some of the basic beliefs we have.

The basic beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are summed up in 13 simple statements penned by Joseph Smith as a response to frequent queries on the teachings and doctrines of the Church. These statements are now known as the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They are:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon this the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaical glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.