Hi there! I would appreciate it if you could state it plainly in a few words: What is the founding principle of your faith and how has clinging onto this principle changed your life?

Anonymous, 8/7/2010

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El Santo Gringo from La Jolla, California:




Hi Anonymous. Thanks for your question. Mormonism, like most other religions, is a fully developed theological and cultural system. It is not hard to understand, but it is very hard to reduce to a few words. :) As with other Christian religions, a faith in Jesus Christ is foundational. We see him as God the Son, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. Our sins unavoidably distance us from God. It is only through Jesus Christ that those sins can be erased. He is the great bridge between man and God the Father. Knowing that there is a way to recover from my own faults has helped me overcome guilt and remorse. It's given me hope that I can return to God's presence one day, even with all my shortcomings, thanks to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

It would be a mistake to think that Mormonism is just another Christian denomination, however. While we are Christian to the core, we are not Catholic or Protestant, and so we have a unique perspective. Here's a brief statement I often share with people:

First Vision
In 1820, Joseph Smith had a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. They instructed him to restore Christ’s ancient church in modern times.
The "Mormon Church" is a beautiful Christian religion. It is true, however, that it is a unique kind of Christianity. For example, Mormons don't accept the creeds established after New Testament times.

Given that Mormons are Christians, they believe in many of the same things other Christians believe, including:
  1. Christ is divine and salvation comes only through Him.
  2. The Bible is the word of God.
  3. People should love one another.
Mormons belong to a unique branch of Christianity, however. We're not Catholics or Protestants, so naturally we have a few beliefs that are unique. One significant difference relates to the authority to act in God's name. Mormons believe that shortly after the death of Christ and His apostles, the early Christian church was heavily influenced by Greek and Roman philosophies and politics. Despite the efforts of many noble men and women, the true Church of Christ was lost because of these external influences and internal changes realized by the hands of men. Mormons believe that God restored the original Christian Church, together with the authority to act in His name, in 1820 through a man named Joseph Smith.

Hope this helps! Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.
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