Some interesting information from “Basic Facts About the Church” at http://www.lds.org/church/facts?lang=eng
"According to the National Council of Churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the second-fastest-growing church in the United States. However, despite its increasing numbers, the Church cautions against overemphasis on growth statistics. The Church makes no statistical comparisons with other churches and makes no claim to be the fastest-growing Christian denomination despite frequent news media comments to that effect.
It took 117 years—until 1947—for the Church to grow from the initial six members to one million. Missionaries were a feature of the Church from its earliest days, fanning out to Native American lands, to Canada, and, in 1837, beyond the North American continent to England. Not long after, missionaries were working on the European continent and as far away as India and the Pacific Islands. The two-million-member mark was reached just 16 years later, in 1963, and the three-million mark in eight years more. This accelerating growth pattern has continued with about a million new members now being added every three years or less. Growth consists both of convert baptisms and natural growth through the birth of children. Church membership today is over 14 million."
I recently received an email from my mom that included the following (I cannot guarantee that the following statistics are accurate, but they are probably pretty close):
"61,000 missionaries serve in 165 countries; 93 percent are college-age;
22 percent are female.
The church has 5.5 million members in the U.S., making it the fourth
largest individual U.S. denomination.
For the last 15 years, every day an average of 800+ people worldwide
joined the LDS church.
In 1984 a non-LDS professor estimated 265 million members by 2080; so
far growth has been faster.
As this growth has been steady, he said it will be the "first 'new'
major world religion since Islam.""
We have more than 50,000 full time missionaries in the Church, serving all over the world. The missionary program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the most effective and efficient missionary program of any church in the world. Every year hundreds of thousands of people are taught and baptized into the Lord’s Kingdom.
But we will never be completely successful in bringing our brothers and sisters to a knowledge of the Savior and His Gospel until the members of the Wards and Branches of the Church begin to participate more fully in the work. Over the past several months I have come to realize and understand the importance of fellowshipping our Investigators—local members teaching alongside the missionaries; inviting Investigators into their homes to be taught, to read the scriptures, or for Family Home Evening.
Over the past several months we have been inviting the members of our ward to become more involved in the missionary work by doing the things mentioned above. We have found that Investigators are more likely to enter into the waters of baptism when the members have been part of the process. We have also seen that after Investigators are baptized, they are more likely to stay active in the Church when they have developed friendships with ward members.
We have just recently begun a program in our ward in which we will be assigning brothers and sisters who have been endowed and have current Temple Recommends to serve as Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers for recent converts and recently reactivated members. The goal is that endowed members will help prepare the non-endowed members to receive their Temple blessings. We have come to believe that the goal of all our members should be the Temple. As important as baptism and confirmation are, it is only through the ordinances of the Temple that we have the hope and promise of Eternal Life. No matter how good a life a person lives, he or she cannot be exalted without having received the blessings available in the Temple.
We are coming to realize that saving souls is very labor intensive. We do believe, however, that the results will be worth our efforts.
Last week we attended a Worldwide Leadership Training broadcast, at which several Apostles, Seventies, and other Church leaders spoke. From the things we were taught during this meeting, several of us that attended felt that we received confirmation that we are trying to move our ward in the direction that the Lord wants us to go. I tell you this, not to boast, but to bear witness to you that if we pray sincerely to know the Lord’s will concerning His work, He really will make it manifest to us, even if we are living in South Texas (or Southern Peru, or Danville, Illinois).
The Elders Quorum President in our ward has been working on an electronic form on which we can track the progress of our recent converts and newly reactivated members from the time of their baptism or reactivation to their receiving their endowments. This form will be used in conjunction with a program called “Drop Box,” which is available with Google Mail.
With this program, all of our ward leaders will be able to view and update the progress of the members so we can know immediately what needs to be done next. This form is based on the “New and Returning Member” form which you are probably already using. The main difference is that all the new and returning members are listed on one form instead of a number of individual sheets. As soon as we have this program up and running, I will be glad to email a copy of it to anyone who requests it. Perhaps it will be helpful to you in you wards and branches.
Whether we are sharing the Gospel with non-members, re-activating or strengthening baptized members, or performing ordinances for the dead in the House of the Lord, it is all one work--bringing souls unto Christ. We have been given the opportunity as well as the responsibility to be instruments in the hands of the Lord in His work, which is "...to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." I testify to you that our own eternal lives are dependent on our being diligent in this work.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Temple Work and Second Chances
I have been thinking recently about the work we do in the temples (for a brief explanation of temple ordinances, see my Blog posting of October 31, 2010, "They Called Me a Pig"). The idea of performing ordinances vicariously for people who have died is a new concept to most of our investigators and recent converts. I am afraid that even many of our long-time members, including some of those who have received their temple ordinances, do not completely understand Heavenly Father’s purpose in allowing this work to be performed.
I have found that many members of the Church believe that after a person who has not received temple ordinances dies, his or her name can be taken to the temple, the ordinances can be performed, and then that person can be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom. This is not in keeping with the Law of Justice or the Law of Mercy.
The fact of the matter is that, at some point in time, either during their own lifetimes or after they have died, all of Heavenly Father’s children will have the opportunity to be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to receive the ordinances necessary for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. This is according to the Law of Justice—all people will have an equal opportunity. The great majority of this work will be done during the Millennium, when temples will dot the Earth and Satan will not be allowed to tempt the children of men.
Despite the fact that every individual will have his or her work completed, each will, nevertheless, be judged according to the life he or she lived. Even though many people that were born into this world lived during a time or in a place that the Gospel was not available to them, they all had the opportunity to live according to the truth that was available. No matter what the circumstances of the time or the place, there have always been good people and there have always been evil people. Those people who lived good lives will be judged and rewarded accordingly. Those people who lived evil lives will also be judged accordingly.
According to the Law of Mercy, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will answer for all the sins for all those who have repented sufficiently. According to the Law of Justice, the Atonement will be of no affect to those who have not repented. Despite the fact that all will have their temple work completed, those who lived lives worthy of receiving Celestial glory will go to the Celestial Kingdom, those who lived lives worthy of receiving Terrestrial glory will go the Terrestrial Kingdom, those who lived lives worthy of receiving Telestial glory will go to the Telestial Kingdom, and those who lived lives worthy of no glory will go to Outer Darkness. It is generally believed that most people will end up in the Terrestrial Kingdom.
A fair question to ask is: “Why do we do Temple work for everyone if everyone will not go to the Celestial Kingdom?” The answer, of course, is that we do not know how anyone will be judged; we assume that all of Heavenly Father’s children will return to His presence; therefore, the work needs to be completed.
Sometimes when people learn about this doctrine of salvation for the dead, they come to believe that God gives everybody a “second chance” to be saved. This is not the case. All will have an opportunity, either in this life or in the next. It is my understanding that those who receive their opportunity in this life will not have a second opportunity after they die (See McConkie, Bruce R., Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p.685-687; see also Doctrine and Covenants 128:5).
You may ask: “What constitutes an opportunity?” I do not have a good answer to that. I do feel very certain that those who have been taught and have received a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel have had their opportunity. If, after having the Holy Ghost bear witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel, they do not enter into the waters of baptism, but do accept proxy baptism after they are dead, they will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom, not the Celestial Kingdom. I hope that having had missionaries knock on their doors does not count as the opportunity for those people who told the missionaries, “I’m not interested.”
I am very concerned about the members of the Church who have the opportunity to receive their Temple blessings, but, for reasons of their own, do not receive them. I fear that if they go through their entire lives without these ordinances, after having had the opportunity, receiving them after they have died will not be of the same affect. Having known the importance of these ordinances, what excuse will be sufficient for not having received them? I wonder if those husbands and wives who know and understand the principle of Eternal Marriage but are not sealed, should expect to a proxy sealing after death to be effective.
As we teach the Gospel to all who will listen, we must always keep in mind that baptism is only the beginning. Baptism is the key to the Celestial Kingdom, but it is from the Temple ordinances that we become exalted. Our goal, as missionaries, is not merely to baptize and confirm. As important as these ordinances are, our goal is to help God’s children to receive the ordinances of the Temple, which lead to Eternal Life.
I have found that many members of the Church believe that after a person who has not received temple ordinances dies, his or her name can be taken to the temple, the ordinances can be performed, and then that person can be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom. This is not in keeping with the Law of Justice or the Law of Mercy.
The fact of the matter is that, at some point in time, either during their own lifetimes or after they have died, all of Heavenly Father’s children will have the opportunity to be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to receive the ordinances necessary for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. This is according to the Law of Justice—all people will have an equal opportunity. The great majority of this work will be done during the Millennium, when temples will dot the Earth and Satan will not be allowed to tempt the children of men.
Despite the fact that every individual will have his or her work completed, each will, nevertheless, be judged according to the life he or she lived. Even though many people that were born into this world lived during a time or in a place that the Gospel was not available to them, they all had the opportunity to live according to the truth that was available. No matter what the circumstances of the time or the place, there have always been good people and there have always been evil people. Those people who lived good lives will be judged and rewarded accordingly. Those people who lived evil lives will also be judged accordingly.
According to the Law of Mercy, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will answer for all the sins for all those who have repented sufficiently. According to the Law of Justice, the Atonement will be of no affect to those who have not repented. Despite the fact that all will have their temple work completed, those who lived lives worthy of receiving Celestial glory will go to the Celestial Kingdom, those who lived lives worthy of receiving Terrestrial glory will go the Terrestrial Kingdom, those who lived lives worthy of receiving Telestial glory will go to the Telestial Kingdom, and those who lived lives worthy of no glory will go to Outer Darkness. It is generally believed that most people will end up in the Terrestrial Kingdom.
A fair question to ask is: “Why do we do Temple work for everyone if everyone will not go to the Celestial Kingdom?” The answer, of course, is that we do not know how anyone will be judged; we assume that all of Heavenly Father’s children will return to His presence; therefore, the work needs to be completed.
Sometimes when people learn about this doctrine of salvation for the dead, they come to believe that God gives everybody a “second chance” to be saved. This is not the case. All will have an opportunity, either in this life or in the next. It is my understanding that those who receive their opportunity in this life will not have a second opportunity after they die (See McConkie, Bruce R., Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p.685-687; see also Doctrine and Covenants 128:5).
You may ask: “What constitutes an opportunity?” I do not have a good answer to that. I do feel very certain that those who have been taught and have received a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel have had their opportunity. If, after having the Holy Ghost bear witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel, they do not enter into the waters of baptism, but do accept proxy baptism after they are dead, they will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom, not the Celestial Kingdom. I hope that having had missionaries knock on their doors does not count as the opportunity for those people who told the missionaries, “I’m not interested.”
I am very concerned about the members of the Church who have the opportunity to receive their Temple blessings, but, for reasons of their own, do not receive them. I fear that if they go through their entire lives without these ordinances, after having had the opportunity, receiving them after they have died will not be of the same affect. Having known the importance of these ordinances, what excuse will be sufficient for not having received them? I wonder if those husbands and wives who know and understand the principle of Eternal Marriage but are not sealed, should expect to a proxy sealing after death to be effective.
As we teach the Gospel to all who will listen, we must always keep in mind that baptism is only the beginning. Baptism is the key to the Celestial Kingdom, but it is from the Temple ordinances that we become exalted. Our goal, as missionaries, is not merely to baptize and confirm. As important as these ordinances are, our goal is to help God’s children to receive the ordinances of the Temple, which lead to Eternal Life.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Latter-day Saints Believe in Revelation and Prophecy
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “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” (9th Article of Faith). We believe that revelation from God is as necessary in the twenty-first century as it was in the times of Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Peter, James, and John.
I do not know if our belief in modern-day revelation is unique among Christian churches, but I would venture to say that the official doctrine of most Christian denominations is that prophecy and revelation ended with the deaths of the Twelve whom Jesus called as His Apostles. Even though that may be the doctrine of their churches, I have found that many of my friends and family actually do believe in revelation; they just don’t realize that they believe.
Part of the reason for the confusion is a misunderstanding of what revelation is. Most people tend to think of revelation as marvelous visions, visits from heavenly messengers, voices from heaven, etc. While these types of manifestations do, occasionally, occur, they are not typical of the revelation we speak of in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The book of Matthew provides a wonderful example of what would be considered the most typical form of revelation: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:15-17).
Peter’s knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth was “…the Christ, the Son of the living God…” was revealed to him by “…my Father which is in heaven.” I would submit to you that anyone who has the same testimony that Peter had, had to have received it through revelation from the Holy Ghost. In other words, anyone who has a true testimony of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ has received revelation (even those who have received it in this, the twenty-first century).
In Mormon Doctrine (2nd Edition, 1966), Bruce R. McConkie writes, “Nothing more than the testimony of Jesus (meaning the receipt of personal revelation from the Holy Ghost certifying that Jesus is the Christ) is needed to make a person a prophet…” (p.605). With that as the basis for the definition of a prophet, I would submit that many of you reading this article could, in fact, be designated as prophets.
The Holy Ghost has the power to reveal much more than the divinity of the Savior. He is available to provide guidance and direction in our daily lives. Most of the people I know, who claim to be Christians, pray (some more than others) when they have needs or problems. How many of you, at various times in your lives, have prayed to know which school to attend, which job to accept, whether or not to marry the person you have been dating, etc? How many of you parents have prayed to know how to deal with the problems your children were facing? How many of you prayed to know who to vote for during the last election? If you received answers, you received revelation.
How many of you have been driving down the street, on your way to somewhere, and felt a prompting to go a different direction or to a different place. How many of you have felt a sudden need to call or visit a friend, and when you did, he or she told you that you were an answer to a prayer? This is another form of revelation which most of us have experienced.
Of those of you reading this article who are not Latter-day Saints I ask, “What is your church’s doctrine concerning modern-day revelation?” If the doctrine is that revelation from God has ended, I invite you to investigate more fully the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please visit the Website at http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng for more information or the Website at http://mormon.org/worship/ to find a Church meetinghouse near you.
I do not know if our belief in modern-day revelation is unique among Christian churches, but I would venture to say that the official doctrine of most Christian denominations is that prophecy and revelation ended with the deaths of the Twelve whom Jesus called as His Apostles. Even though that may be the doctrine of their churches, I have found that many of my friends and family actually do believe in revelation; they just don’t realize that they believe.
Part of the reason for the confusion is a misunderstanding of what revelation is. Most people tend to think of revelation as marvelous visions, visits from heavenly messengers, voices from heaven, etc. While these types of manifestations do, occasionally, occur, they are not typical of the revelation we speak of in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The book of Matthew provides a wonderful example of what would be considered the most typical form of revelation: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:15-17).
Peter’s knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth was “…the Christ, the Son of the living God…” was revealed to him by “…my Father which is in heaven.” I would submit to you that anyone who has the same testimony that Peter had, had to have received it through revelation from the Holy Ghost. In other words, anyone who has a true testimony of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ has received revelation (even those who have received it in this, the twenty-first century).
In Mormon Doctrine (2nd Edition, 1966), Bruce R. McConkie writes, “Nothing more than the testimony of Jesus (meaning the receipt of personal revelation from the Holy Ghost certifying that Jesus is the Christ) is needed to make a person a prophet…” (p.605). With that as the basis for the definition of a prophet, I would submit that many of you reading this article could, in fact, be designated as prophets.
The Holy Ghost has the power to reveal much more than the divinity of the Savior. He is available to provide guidance and direction in our daily lives. Most of the people I know, who claim to be Christians, pray (some more than others) when they have needs or problems. How many of you, at various times in your lives, have prayed to know which school to attend, which job to accept, whether or not to marry the person you have been dating, etc? How many of you parents have prayed to know how to deal with the problems your children were facing? How many of you prayed to know who to vote for during the last election? If you received answers, you received revelation.
How many of you have been driving down the street, on your way to somewhere, and felt a prompting to go a different direction or to a different place. How many of you have felt a sudden need to call or visit a friend, and when you did, he or she told you that you were an answer to a prayer? This is another form of revelation which most of us have experienced.
Of those of you reading this article who are not Latter-day Saints I ask, “What is your church’s doctrine concerning modern-day revelation?” If the doctrine is that revelation from God has ended, I invite you to investigate more fully the doctrines and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please visit the Website at http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng for more information or the Website at http://mormon.org/worship/ to find a Church meetinghouse near you.
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