Three Doctrines Only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Teaches But Every Christian Wants to Believe.
One of the most shocking things I have learned from my interactions with other Christians is how many of them believe doctrines only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches. Often they believe their church teaches and believes them also, but they don't.
These doctrines just make sense to our souls and people naturally believe them, unless taught otherwise. Here are three examples of doctrines that almost every Christian believes, yet only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches.
1st. We Are Literal Children Of God.
If you ask any Christian "Are you a literal child of God?" they will almost unanimously reply "YES!" But if you ask the Pastors/Priests "Does your church teach you are literal children of God?" They will start to backtrack on their unashamed belief that they are Children of God. Explaining that He is only our Father through the adoption of grace and that we are not really His children.
Every doctrine within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rests upon the doctrinal foundation and belief that we are literally spirit sons and daughters of God. It is the main doctrine underlining the entire Plan of Salvation! We believe that we lived with our Heavenly Father in heaven before we were born (also a unique belief). And because of Jesus Christ and His atoning grace, we can return home to heaven! All of this rests on the foundation that this is all possible because we are His children! Think about a doctrine or principle and quickly you will be able to connect it to this foundation. That is why Satan seeks to get us to identify by anything other than as children of God.
"It is essential that our preeminent identity is as a child of God."
Donald L. Hallstrom
2nd. Eternal Families.
Building off the doctrinal foundation that we are children of God, comes the belief in eternal families. I don't think I've ever met a mother who did not believe they would be with their children in heaven. Or a husband who truly loves his wife who did not hope, pray, and believe his love was eternal. Yet like being children of God, no other church will teach that in heaven we are families. They believe he who decries divorce in this life, will be the great divorce lawyer in the heavens separating every family from one another.
That thought makes reason stare! God's joy comes from being with His family, and so does ours! So why would a loving God deny His children the very things that bring Him happiness and joy? Simple, he does not. Plus, when God joined Adam and Eve together there was no death, it was an eternal marriage. Jesus did warn though that in heaven man is not given in marriage, so therefore all matters of marriage must be taken care of on earth.
3rd. Hope For The Dead.
Building off being children of God leads to asking the question: "What about the millions who die without the gospel?" Are they lost? Is God batting a losing average? As far more have died without hearing about the gospel than die with it. Does he not love the billions in China? Are they not His children also?
As universal as a belief that we are God's children is hope, even if ever so faint that there is hope for the dead. But once again, The Church is the only church that believes God still loves and is merciful to the dead who die without the law. After all, even the Bible teaches about both Baptisms for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29), and also Christ leading the missionary work among the souls of the dead (1 Peter 3:19-20 and 4:6).
The truth is simple. God is a both loving and fair, merciful and just. He truly is our loving Heavenly Father. He did not send billions of His children to earth without hope of coming home. He has provided the means whereby those who have not heard the gospel in this life can be taught the gospel hereafter (before the resurrection), to allow them to accept Christ. Truly this is what a loving Father would give His children.
"Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy."
Joseph Smith
If you like this article you might also enjoy this one, The most comforting doctrine Joseph Smith taught.
Excellent article, as are all the articles I’ve read thus far. I liked the quote from the hymn, too—that was intentional, right? Haha.
I’m glad to be able to associate myself with you as a member of the LDS church!
Yup, my favorite hymn O My Father =D
That is so true
I am clarified and straightened in my knowledge and faith because of this article that I've read.Thank you for this insight.
You missed using Jeremiah 1:5 in the Old Testament to support our existence with God before this life. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
I wish they would get a bit more detailed about these beliefs. I have been a member for 25 years but many in my family are not. I believe these truths, yet when confronted with some gospel verses, these truths become misinterpreted by others. The only begotten Son of God, gives pause to those who want to proclaim that we are also literal children of God. There will be no marriage in Heaven, gives pause to proclaiming families will have the opportunity to be together in Heaven. Salvation for the those who never received the law is a bit more simplified because there are verses in the bible that address this. I get around some of these issues by proclaiming what others do strongly believe. If God is the the God of ALL creations and our spirits were created, then who created them and would that entity, being our creator, also be our father?
Hi Darren. "The Only Begotten Son" means that Christ is the only son of God who was begotten 'in the flesh' - we are all children of mortal parents; Christ, in His earthly life, was the son of a mortal mother and God the Father. That's the meaning of the phrase, "Only Begotten". Other scriptures teach that we become 'joint-heirs' with Christ through His mercy and grace, when we follow Him to the end. Being separated in these terms - by our different births and roles - from Christ isn't intended to make us less children of God, but is necessary for Him to fulfil His role as our Saviour. It's a means of Him bringing salvation to us.
What Jeremy has written here about there being 'no marriage' in heaven isn't quite correct. There is more nuance to it - and it always helps to connect certain verses with other teachings about the same topic. So what's been revealed about marriage in this dispensation is also part of the doctrine. The Bible is also obviously missing a lot, including Jesus' full teachings about marriage - the passage that has this phrase is incomplete as we have it, and even if complete, it would only be one teaching, disconnected from the rest. A couple of interpretations of what the Lord said there are, that he was speaking to Saducees, who didn't believe in resurrection, so to them, they wouldn't participate in marriage after this life; another is that eternal marriage is reserved for those who desire and gain exaltation. Another way to consider it is that idea seems to say that a loving Father in Heaven would deny His faithful children who haven't been able to marry here the chance to every marry, and therefore not be exalted. Which doesn't make sense. So there's obviously more to it than we know.
tons of christian churches teach this. Other non Christian churches also teach these things. The difference is, many lads don’t realize that other religions believe this because they don’t have ordinances that are needed. Many teach that by grace alone that they will be with their loved ones and that there is hope for the dead.
No, Christian's may believe it. But no organized denomination of Christianity other than LDS teaches these three things.
This is so true especially the last one, my christian friends always ask me that question but when ever i try to explain they go all "how can you have proxy baptism" and dey all laugh but den dey never have an answer nor those their leaders answer them.
This is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal life of man!
Before, I was not a member or witnessed former/old church of Jesus Christ. Glory be to Heavenly Father for I can be a member, witness of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day (last day). And testify to the Lord goodness in his church ones again unpon the surface of the earth.
Hey Bro. Goff, I love most of the things you share. I think you're awesome! For some reason this has really been bothering me and I feel I need to say something. Yes, we definitely believe the we are children of a loving Heavenly Father, but, as the scriptures say that we need to become the children of Christ also, and I feel it is important to let the world know that we do believe that as well. Yay! Inspiation! I was just inspired by this article I'll share. I have been searching the last week for the right words to share with you and I found just got it while writing this and stopping to search more.
From 1985 Ensign, TO BE BORN AGAIN by Elder Theodore M. Burton
Now, if we are born again, we must be born into a family. Into whose family are we born? Why, into the family of Jesus Christ! The scriptures refer to the Savior as the Bridegroom and to the church as the bride. Through baptism, then, we become children in that royal family, with Jesus Christ as our Father. Through the baptismal ordinance we take upon ourselves a new family name—the name of Jesus Christ. Paul states that we are thereby adopted as the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ. Note these words of Paul given to the Romans:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons [and daughters] of God.
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him [that is, if we are obedient and serve as Jesus Christ has done], that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:14–17.)
That the adoption process which Paul referred to is baptism is made clear in his message to the Galatians:
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female [in other words, it makes no difference at all what you have been in the past; through this ordinance you are now all equally children of God]: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise [to receive the same promise and blessings as were given to Abraham].” (Gal. 3:26–29.)
Baptism is the ordinance through which this adoption is effected and through which we take upon ourselves the new family name of Christ. It is, in other words, the means by which we become Christians.
By the ordinance of baptism and confirmation, a person is both physically and spiritually adopted as a child of Jesus Christ. You will remember that God the Father had but one physical son on this earth. That Only Begotten Son is Jesus Christ. The only way a person can be exalted into the presence of God the Eternal Father and clothed with a perfected, resurrected body of flesh and bone is through Jesus Christ, the only physical Son of God the Eternal Father. That is why the scriptures in so many places state that there is only one name given by which mankind can be saved, or, better stated, exalted, in the presence of God the Father. That name is the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus correctly said, therefore, that he is the door to the fold.
King Benjamin, that great Book of Mormon leader, explained this clearly in the following words:
“And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
“And under this head ye are made free, and there is … no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
“And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.” (Mosiah 5:7–9.)
When we are baptized, we actually make a new covenant with God the Eternal Father to take upon us the name of his Only Begotten Son. Jesus Christ thus becomes by adoption our covenant Father. Thus, though he was, and is, our Elder Brother, he is also now our covenant Father, and we have become his covenant sons and daughters. We desire to be respectful and show our gratitude to him for the opportunity we have to become members of his royal family.
It was for this reason that Peter made his statement that we quote so often from his first letter:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet. 2:9–10; italics added.)
Through baptism we have become adopted members of the royal family of Jesus Christ, and that is the basic reason we now call each other “brother” or “sister.” We have indeed become members of the Church, or family, of Jesus Christ.
If we can keep that concept clearly in mind, that we are covenant children of Jesus Christ, as well as children of our Heavenly Father, it will change our lives. If we live righteously enough, we can go into the temple and be sealed into the patriarchal lineage of the Melchizedek Priesthood. We then become the covenant children of Jesus Christ even more completely. Further, as we perform vicarious work for the dead in the temples, we are given authority, as proxies, to assist in the Savior’s redemptive work of sealing together all men, women, and children in family order who are worthy of such blessings. It is in this manner that the covenant family of Jesus Christ is put into proper patriarchal order of lineage for the eternity of family life to come.
If we truly understand the full stature of the name by which we then are called, we will live different lives. No longer will we do less than our best in our work or at school. No longer will we be dishonest in paying our bills or in the treatment of our family members, nor will we take unfair advantage of anyone in any way. Our word will be as binding on us as our bond. No longer will we be unkind to our associates or be unvirtuous or immoral or selfish in any way, either secretly or openly. We will do nothing to bring dishonor or shame to that holy name we carry as children of Jesus Christ. We will respect and honor our covenant Father, Jesus Christ, and be righteously jealous and protective of the holy name we bear. We will judge everything we do on the basis of how it might reflect on Him whose name we carry, not only on our lips but in our very hearts.
Peter stated clearly the importance of that name as he testified of Jesus to the Jews:
“This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:11–12.)
Paul told how important this name becomes to us as he taught the Ephesians:
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
“Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” (Eph. 3:14–15.)
Nephi, that great Book of Mormon prophet, wrote of this concept:
“Behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.” (2 Ne. 25:20.)
This truth was also revealed in our own time to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the following words:
“Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;
“Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day;
“Wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.” (D&C 18:23–25.)
To repeat Jesus’ words:
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9.)
Thus, through baptism we can enter through that narrow gate into the kingdom, or family, of Jesus Christ as heirs—joint heirs with Jesus Christ, our covenant Father—to all the blessings of God, our Eternal Father.
This is one of the reasons we pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of his Son. As we make covenants with the Son, he serves as our Mediator, our Advocate, and leads us, if we will, back into the presence of God the Father. Thus, through righteous living we can receive all those blessings which God has reserved for those who are prepared to receive them. These blessings come to us through the atonement of Jesus Christ and through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, by which we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, in Hebrew Yehoschuah Maschiach, which interpreted means, the Anointed Savior or Redeemer. Through this ordinance we can walk, at least in part, in the very footsteps of our Lord and Savior.
I only wish I had been able to teach these principles to that stewardess before our plane landed and we were separated. Perhaps, though, I sowed a seed which will someday sprout and grow when a missionary later on contacts her and has an opportunity to explain the true meaning of being a “born-again Christian.”
Totally agree, the adoption of grace is a real doctrine. But it does not negate our relationship with deity. Christians often think it's one or the other.
Thank you for taking the time to write your thoughts! It makes absolute, perfect sense. May I copy it to study further? 🙂
Before, I was not a member or witnessed former/old church of Jesus Christ. Glory be to Heavenly Father for I can be a member, witness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day (last day) Saints. And testify to the Lord goodness in his church ones again unpon the surface of the earth.
Can you please clarify this statement ..."But once again, the LDS church is the only church that believes God still loves and is merciful to the dead who die without the law." I would interpret that to mean that ONLY LDS believe, for example, that a Buddhist would have a chance at spending eternity with God. That would be an inaccurate statement regarding Christian religions, so I was wondering if I misunderstood something.
Thanks for your help!
The LDS Church is the only Christian church that believes that men can come unto Christ and accept Him after death.
Thanks for your response! I think I understand what you are saying...the LDS Church believes that people make a choice after death to accept Jesus and that THIS is a unique teaching. You are not saying the idea that non-Christians can go to heaven is unique to the LDS church. Because, just for example, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (847) states "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience--those too may achieve eternal salvation." I guess the difference here is that, in the Catholic Church, Jesus makes a judgement based on the non-Christian's earthly life; there's not a conversion process because the person is already considered united to Christ, albeit unknowingly.
Re: "Jesus did warn though that in heaven man is not given in marriage, so therefore all matters of marriage must be taken care of on earth."
Remember this:
“There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation, and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive” (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 138).
Elder Richard G. Scott
“If you are single and haven’t identified a solid prospect for celestial marriage, live for it. Pray for it. Expect it in the timetable of the Lord. Do not compromise your standards in any way that would rule out that blessing on this or the other side of the veil. The Lord knows the intent of your heart. His prophets have stated that you will have that blessing as you consistently live to qualify for it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1999, 33; or Ensign, May 1999, 27).
That is correct! No blessing will be denied, the millennium is the stopgap that allows the Lord to keep His promises to all His children.
Still, although I believe it to be true, these are not scriptural references. And, I must admit, it puzzles me a little because it seems pretty forthright. "Man is not given in marriage" is about as plain as you can get. So I have decided to take it on faith that the Lord will sort it out for me. 🙂
Another question I have is about the great divorce lawyer...lol and it's really not about us as much as it is some other religions. We were the only LDS family in an otherwise "evangelical" area. Everyone I knew thought that when you died, you were still married and the spouse was not supposed to remarry. Have you ever heard that one?
Lynne,
Members of the LDS Church believe that the words of a prophet are of the same or greater value as scripture. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken; … my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).
It’s also helpful to remember that the Bible, including the New Testament was translated into English by a group of scholars chosen by King James. They did a tremendous job, but we believe in it “as far as it is translated correctly.” There may be some errors in the translation of Jesus comment about marriage. Even if it counts out marriage in Heaven, it doesn’t count out marriage in the millennium, as Jeremy says.
I am from NC. Most people I know do not believe you are married after death. Nor do they believe in eternal marriage, baptism for the dead and you are only a child of God by Grace. I actually had someone on Billy Grahams website ask me if I thought God www as liar because I commented that everyone is a child of God. Evangelicals have these beliefs.
Here dwels the truth in all things. If you truly seek the teachings of Christ with humility you will know in your heart they are true. Leave the outside world at your doorstep, prepare a place where Christ may dwell.
Great article, but I do not believe this phrase thay was tucked in there:
" therefore all matters of marriage must be taken care of on earth."
Depending upon what was meant by the comment. I believe that those who do not have a chance to marry in this life will have a chance in the life to come.
We have been taught by the prophets that the ordnances must be done on earth by mortals, so those faithful will have the opportunity for eternal marriage, even after their death, but the sealing will need to be done by mortals. A good majority of temple work will be done during the millennium, including for those who keep the commandments but do not receive the blessings here in this life.
Hi Todd. I also was concerned by the author's inclusion of that. This phrase is in the New Testament, but it (a) needs to be considered in its context, (b) linked with other teachings about marriage, (c) understood as a fraction, rather than a complete teaching, and (d) balanced with what we know about the Bible - mostly true and well-translated, but also from many different records, chosen for various purposes through time, etc. In other words, with a grain of salt : ). So including it in this post just as it is, without further explanation, is misleading. I replied to another comment above in more detail about it.
You need to clarify the portion "Plus, when God joined Adam and Eve together there was no death, it was an eternal marriage. Jesus did warn though that in heaven man is not given in marriage, so therefore all matters of marriage must be taken care of on earth". This is contradictory to your next section of Hope for the Dead. The teachings are stated many times over, that any worthy blessing, while sometimes be delayed, will given if not in this life, then the next.
No, it is not. On earth all things must be settled. Those who are denied blessing during mortality will have the chance to have them during the millennium, which is before final judgement and going to heaven.
This article is wrong about other churches not believing that they are a child of God. They do believe that and they teach that we are a child of God.
Only by adoption. None of them believe that we are actually children of God. The HUGE difference is that we believe everyone is a child of God. Other Christians only believe those who have accepted Christ are children of God; therefore, other faiths are not children of God. (This is how many justify hate towards Muslims and others).
If people scoff at the notion of vicarious baptism for the dead then gently remind them that everything that Jesus did for us was a vicarious work. Overcoming death, paying the price for our sins - it was all vicarious. Vicarious work is the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Jesus did warn though that in heaven man is not given in marriage, so therefore all matters of marriage must be taken care of on earth." Prophets have declared that, “No blessing, including that of eternal marriage and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life—for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied” (“The Church Is for All People,” Ensign, June 1989, 76). -President Hunter. Help me clarify this please.
That is actually quite simple. During the Millennium all blessings denied to the faithful will be given them. Marriage, raising of children who died as babies etc.
AFTER the Millennium is when we have the final judgement and then are rewarded a kingdom of glory.
So all matters of marriage must be settled before that final judgement for after it no one is m married or given in marriage.
I think your statement that you can’t be married in the next life makes reason stare. There are so many people who don’t have the opportunity for marriage during their mortal lives, for a variety of reasons, it’s hard to believe that a loving and merciful Heavenly Father wouldn’t provide a way for that to happen in the next life. Because of that statement, I don’t feel comfortable sharing this article.
They will, but it is not in heaven, it is during the millennium. All matters of marriage must be settled before the final judgment.
President Hunter taught, “No blessing, including that of eternal marriage and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life—for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied.”
Hmmmmmmm!...... That's was beautiful.Indeed this is true.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5.)
Recollecting this, we were comforted, for this sovereign promise is not to the few, nor to those of high degree only, but to every one of us, high and low, rich and poor, who live on God's footstool; it is universal, unrestricted—to you and to me, to our neighbor and to his neighbor, and to our loved ones afar off. God will give liberally to each and all who properly come to him and to the established Church of his Son. Reflecting thus, we had joy in our hearts, for here was great hope.
But we now remembered the further words of James, teaching us how we might make certain to gain the promised wisdom:
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
"For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (James 1:6-7.)
Wondering, almost doubting, we thought, have we the faith necessary to gain the wisdom we seek? We recalled Paul's discourse to the Hebrews on the power of faith, and the mighty works done through the ages by this all-compelling force, even since the beginning days when "through faith ... the worlds were framed by the word of God." (Heb. 11:3.)
We felt we had not the faith that performed the great wonders of which Paul told, yet we recollected that faith is a gift of God, and that Jesus speaking to the multitudes on the mount said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9.)
Then there was borne in upon us the everlasting truth that the Lord stands always ready to help; that all spiritual aid comes from him; that this we may always have if we go to him in such way that we can receive his blessings. We know he has unnumbered blessings to give to every one of his children, if they but put their lives and their spirits in such tune with his that he may bestow his gifts, and that we may so attune our lives and spirits with his if we keep his commandments.
Then recollection brought us the memory of his great commitment to us:
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D.C. 82:10)
Very well explained. Thank you!
People love contention, I see that with so many responses from them.I think it is a human condition. I love your responses, I believe they are patient, non-threatening & complete. I feel like screaming at some of the responses, "Are .you stupid, did you read the article?" And, yes, one of the rhings I am working on is patience .
Thanks Scott for your post. I have passes one on.
Joseph Miller