Kind Debater Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 This is a tangent to DBMormon's thread on handling doubt, specifically what's being said about being flexible and allowing members to disagree on topics like the age of the earth. What are the essentials of the LDS faith? What are the things that you think all LDS members should believe in order to be considered LDS? Put another way, if someone is trying to resolve a faith crisis, what are the things you think they should hold on to and not be flexible on or toss out?
JLHPROF Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 This is a tangent to DBMormon's thread on handling doubt, specifically what's being said about being flexible and allowing members to disagree on topics like the age of the earth.What are the essentials of the LDS faith? What are the things that you think all LDS members should believe in order to be considered LDS?Put another way, if someone is trying to resolve a faith crisis, what are the things you think they should hold on to and not be flexible on or toss out? 1. The plan of salvation - aka Christ as Savior and his atonement for our sins to allow us salvation.2. Joseph Smith and the restoration/last dispensation - encompasses everything from the BOM/scriptures to the ordinances.3. Priesthood - the idea of correct authority and where the keys of the priesthood are (aka the prophet).4. Eternity - that there was a life before this, that there will be a life after and that there is a God running it. That's my opinion - all else feels like an appendage to me.
rpn Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Since when are the age of the earth or evolution or the day Jesus was born mortally etc. doctrines. Whatever the truth is about scientific issues and historical fact, we will all know someday because all truth is incorporated in the gospel of Jesus Christ. But at this point there are lots of things we don't know about facts. I think faithful members are free to decide the whole spectrum of facts and the interpretation of those facts for themselves until the day our Creator tells us how He did it. The essentials are to believe in God the father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and to believe in the Plan of Salvation. And living worthy of a TR. And loving our fellow man and serving him and her. And seeking to become more like our Savior, doing our personal best, and repenting quickly.
Kind Debater Posted September 8, 2014 Author Posted September 8, 2014 1. The plan of salvation - aka Christ as Savior and his atonement for our sins to allow us salvation. Just that Christ is Savior, not that he is the Son of God? 2. Joseph Smith and the restoration/last dispensation - encompasses everything from the BOM/scriptures to the ordinances. Meaning one has to accept that the BOM, D&C, Bible, etc. are generally true? 4. Eternity - that there was a life before this, that there will be a life after and that there is a God running it. So believing in pre-existence is essential?
ksfisher Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 This is a tangent to DBMormon's thread on handling doubt, specifically what's being said about being flexible and allowing members to disagree on topics like the age of the earth.What are the essentials of the LDS faith? What are the things that you think all LDS members should believe in order to be considered LDS?Put another way, if someone is trying to resolve a faith crisis, what are the things you think they should hold on to and not be flexible on or toss out? The baptismal interview for a convert would seem like a good place to start. Here it is from "Preach My Gospel" 1. Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?4. Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?a. The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.b. The law of tithing.c. The Word of Wisdom.d. The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.6. When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it? 2
JLHPROF Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Just that Christ is Savior, not that he is the Son of God? In my opinion, yes. His being the literal Son of God is not necessary to the plan of salvation. Believing that WHATEVER kind of being he was he died for my sins and he was without sin are necessary. I think His being the literal Son of God explains things but isn't necessarily a key belief. If he had been the brother of God or the best friend of God or the 2nd Cousin once removed doesn't matter, it is what he did that matters and his character allowing him to do it.That said, of course he is the Son. Meaning one has to accept that the BOM, D&C, Bible, etc. are generally true? Kind of hard to accept a religion if you don't accept its source so yes. Without them our religion would be word of mouth, and that really doesn't work well. So believing in pre-existence is essential? Not the pre-existence specifically, but in the eternity of existence. Without a concept of eternity (which then requires both forwards and backwards) then mortality trumps religion. Believing in eternity before here and after here is essential I thing.
Ahab Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 (edited) Who is our Daddy, the Father of all of us.Who is the Christ, and what his purpose was/is.That there is also a person who we refer to as the Holy Ghost, aka Holy Spirit, who helps us to communicate with our Father and Christ.That we can and should communicate with our Father to find out what he wants us to think and believe and do and how to behave.That we need to do what we call "repent" when our Father tells us we are not living as he wants us to live.That there are other people on Earth who have been given authority and knowledge from our Father and that we should join with them to help our Father and Lord help us.What the Church of Jesus Christ is, and which of all organizations on the Earth today is it.That we should join the Church of Jesus Christ as soon as we find it, through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, administered through our Lord's authorized representatives.That we need to endure to the end of our lives here on this Earth, living by every word of God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Edited September 8, 2014 by Ahab
rpn Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Yes, one essential is that we believe (or are willing to accept on faith and/or act as though one believes or suspends disbelief), that the prophet holds all the Keys to the power of God and guides the Lord's church the way the Lord wants to the extent that mortals can agree to do.
ksfisher Posted September 8, 2014 Posted September 8, 2014 Yes, one essential is that we believe (or are willing to accept on faith and/or act as though one believes or suspends disbelief), that the prophet holds all the Keys to the power of God and guides the Lord's church the way the Lord wants to the extent that mortals can agree to do. These sound like two remarkable statements of disbelief. The prophet might hold keys but he might not. He might guide the church the way the Lord wants or he might just be making it look like he does.
boblloyd91 Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 What do you believe are the essentials Kind Debater?
The Nehor Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 1. Blood Atonement2. Six foot tall Quakers living on the moon3. Lost Ten Tribes living under the polar icecaps4. Cain is Bigfoot5. Head in the Hat Everything else is negotiable. 2
JLHPROF Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 1. Blood Atonement2. Six foot tall Quakers living on the moon3. Lost Ten Tribes living under the polar icecaps4. Cain is Bigfoot5. Head in the Hat Everything else is negotiable. As per the thread I started - wouldn't it be fun to find out some of these are true? There as much (and in some cases more) evidence for believing them as there is for believing the Brother of Jared is called Mahonrimoriancumr. Maybe there REALLY are tall men on the moon dressed like quakers...
BCSpace Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 What are the essentials of the LDS faith? This manual right here contains them all: https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles?lang=eng
CV75 Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 This is a tangent to DBMormon's thread on handling doubt, specifically what's being said about being flexible and allowing members to disagree on topics like the age of the earth.What are the essentials of the LDS faith? What are the things that you think all LDS members should believe in order to be considered LDS?Put another way, if someone is trying to resolve a faith crisis, what are the things you think they should hold on to and not be flexible on or toss out?I think the essentials are in what we do, not so much what we believe. It is essential to make and keep the covenants by ordinance and as instructed by scripture and our living leaders. This ensures they are done by faith, but not doing them this way undermines faith.
Storm Rider Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” I believe that if an individual claims this testimony (s)he can be considered a Latter-day Saint and a Christian. I realize that some will state that there must be some testimony of the Book of Mormon and I agree with them given time. The foundation stone if Jesus Christ and all other things are built upon him, they are appendages, but not the foundation stone. He is fundamental to our faith, to our gospel, and our church. 2
Avatar4321 Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” I believe that if an individual claims this testimony (s)he can be considered a Latter-day Saint and a Christian. I realize that some will state that there must be some testimony of the Book of Mormon and I agree with them given time. The foundation stone if Jesus Christ and all other things are built upon him, they are appendages, but not the foundation stone. He is fundamental to our faith, to our gospel, and our church. I was about to post the same thing. The Atonement is the essential. That's why the Book of Mormon testifies to this all the time.
Jeanne Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Someday I think this will be a big gray area. It will be how the church will survive. Just IMO but once the next generation exhibits more freedom of thought after some new realities taught to them, it will be a necessity that they compromise for the older generation and what they were brought up with. You have to admit that there are some big changes in how people think, believe and some just justify. Thanks,Jeanne
Buzzard Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Every hiker knows that!-Extra water and food.-Jacket-Some means of emergency shelter. (Tarp or space blanket)-First Aid Kit-Map and compass and the ability to use them.. GPS doesn't cut it.-Waterproof matches, or a Butane lighter.-Sunglasses-These days,a cell phone (old timer rolls eyes) Sorry if this is my third smart aleck post in a short amount of time. I'm in a mood this afternoon. Either that, or I've been reading too many of Nehor's posts. 3
Kind Debater Posted September 10, 2014 Author Posted September 10, 2014 What do you believe are the essentials Kind Debater? I can't answer the exact question I asked as I'm not LDS. My church uses the Nicene Creed to sum up the essentials of our faith. I would say that insofar as someone is aware of the specific beliefs in the creed and what they mean, one would have to accept most or all of them. If you consider the theoretical case of someone in a remote jungle village who responds to what knowledge of God they have, they could believe in a good Creator and ask him to forgive the things they know they've done wrong without knowing the specifics of the Trinity, etc. OTOH, if you take someone who's grown up in America and has been exposed to basic Christian beliefs, and they decide that Jesus isn't God or the Holy Spirit isn't God, then they're denying God. In my opinion, yes. His being the literal Son of God is not necessary to the plan of salvation. Believing that WHATEVER kind of being he was he died for my sins and he was without sin are necessary. I think His being the literal Son of God explains things but isn't necessarily a key belief. If he had been the brother of God or the best friend of God or the 2nd Cousin once removed doesn't matter, it is what he did that matters and his character allowing him to do it. That said, of course he is the Son. In light of what I said above, I do think it matters that one accepts Christ's divinity.
Kind Debater Posted September 10, 2014 Author Posted September 10, 2014 Every hiker knows that! -Extra water and food. -Jacket -Some means of emergency shelter. (Tarp or space blanket) -First Aid Kit -Map and compass and the ability to use them.. GPS doesn't cut it. -Waterproof matches, or a Butane lighter. -Sunglasses -These days,a cell phone (old timer rolls eyes) One of the pastors at my church likes to tell the story of taking a bunch of teens on a hike and telling them to only pack the essentials because it's a long hike. So of course there's some guy who complains about how heavy his pack is, and it turns out he's been carrying things like Cheez Whiz.
ksfisher Posted September 10, 2014 Posted September 10, 2014 (edited) One of the pastors at my church likes to tell the story of taking a bunch of teens on a hike and telling them to only pack the essentials because it's a long hike. So of course there's some guy who complains about how heavy his pack is, and it turns out he's been carrying things like Cheez Whiz. Cheez Whiz is only an essential if your name is McGiver and you need a means to power the submarine you've just built out of discarded Christmas cards. Edited September 10, 2014 by ksfisher
mfbukowski Posted September 11, 2014 Posted September 11, 2014 This is a tangent to DBMormon's thread on handling doubt, specifically what's being said about being flexible and allowing members to disagree on topics like the age of the earth.What are the essentials of the LDS faith? What are the things that you think all LDS members should believe in order to be considered LDS?Put another way, if someone is trying to resolve a faith crisis, what are the things you think they should hold on to and not be flexible on or toss out?Temple recommend questions. That's it.
mfbukowski Posted September 11, 2014 Posted September 11, 2014 Every hiker knows that!-Extra water and food.-Jacket-Some means of emergency shelter. (Tarp or space blanket)-First Aid Kit-Map and compass and the ability to use them.. GPS doesn't cut it.-Waterproof matches, or a Butane lighter.-Sunglasses-These days,a cell phone (old timer rolls eyes) Sorry if this is my third smart aleck post in a short amount of time. I'm in a mood this afternoon. Either that, or I've been reading too many of Nehor's posts. Wuss!Lighter or matches? How about two sticks to rub together? Now if you had said a loincloth and a striker for making stone tools, I would have known you were a real man! just kidding- you think YOU are in a mood....?
Maidservant Posted September 14, 2014 Posted September 14, 2014 The Articles of Faith. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
Tsuzuki Posted September 14, 2014 Posted September 14, 2014 "Let us observe the 'Mormon Creed' - let everyone mind their own business." - Brigham Young
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