Thomas RELC100 Intro to Mormonism.
Firmly rooted to a Christian background and raised in the Methodist church, I used to ponder the meaning of "being a good Christian." I would ask myself constantly, "what does being a Christian mean to me? How closely does it tie in to my personal beliefs and ethical morals? Do I apply this religious knowledge on my everyday life, or is it actually another domain in my vast mass of principles altogether?" These were redundant questions I would ask myself everyday - somewhat in the sense that I doubted my faith, as well as to evaluate my true feelings and changing attitude towards Christianity. Then I discovered the Book of Mormon and the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So why did religion become important to me? Simply because I believe it to be true. It teaches us something vital about ourselves and serves as the ground for our hope in eternal life. You wouldn't want to turn to religion merely for comfort, security or peace of mind because if religion isn't true, then these desires will not be fulfilled anyways. If the religion accepted is not entirely true, then you can expect that the longing for truth will inevitably initiate one to pursue the evidence continually, wherever it may end. .
The first aspect of truth that the Church offers that is written about within the standard works, mainly the Doctrine and Covenants. The scriptures tell us of a "premortal life." Before we came to Earth and obtained mortal bodies, we lived in Heaven. We were provided with a celestial home more glorious and beautiful than any place on earth. There, we lived with our heavenly parents, our brothers, and our sisters. Every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in heaven (Gospel Principles, 11). .
Most Christians could probably identify with this concept- we are the children of God. Where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints differs is on this next topic: Who is God? In the book of Acts, it clearly states that we are his off-spring.
