Christian first, Latter-Day Saint Second.
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I am a Christian. I have read the accounts of ancient and modern witnesses of his life and divine role and I believe them. I have read and studied Jesus’ teachings and gospel and I believe them to be filled to overflowing with truth. I believe that following Jesus Christ and applying his teachings is the surest way to finding meaning and purpose and living a fulfilling and successful life.
It is hard to argue that the world would not be a significantly better place if everyone lived even the most basic tenets of Christ’s teachings. Living the commandments would eradicate much human suffering. Many diseases, violence, and poverty could be eliminated or greatly mitigated by each of us following Jesus.
He was more than a great philosophical teacher or distributor of useful advice for life and self-help techniques. He was the literal son of God. I believe this. I choose to believe this. And as I continue to believe, follow and apply, my faith is affirmed and strengthened. I don’t need to see him to believe. Seeing is no guarantee of belief anyway, hence the people who killed Jesus even after witnessing his miracles and teachings.
I am unashamedly Christian. I am happy to speak about him, write about him, teach about him and rejoice in him. He is the light which has shined in my darkest hours, he is the person on whom I fix my focus. And in my moments of weakness I am quick to call out, yea Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief.
Besides being a Christian, I am also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These are not the same thing, they are not synonymous in my mind at least. They are separate and distinct. I am a Christian and I am also a member of the Church.
There are Christians who are not Latter-Day Saints and Latter-Day Saints who are not Christian.
Latter-Day Saints from a very young age quote that the first principle of the Gospel is faith in Jesus Christ. The primary reason for my continued membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that I believe it is the church that Jesus Christ himself, through Joseph Smith, established to help me become more like him. Everything about the church is centered on helping me become more like Jesus, and that includes having to interact with the self-righteous, judgmental and hypocritical members who occasionally attend with me.
But I am not in pursuit of a Church. I am in pursuit of Jesus Christ and I find him in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Everywhere I look there he is. The ordinances, scriptures, prophets, temples and organization there he is, teaching me, showing me, and helping me to become more like him.
If I didn’t find Jesus in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I would start looking for him until I found him and his church. I am a Christian first, not a Latter-Day Saint.
Now perhaps just an observation. I have seen many people who choose to walk away from their membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and to date, I know of none who have joined themselves to another Christian denomination. I’m certain this does happen on Occassion but this has not been my experience.
Perhaps these people were only Latter-Day Saints and never really became Christians, so when the church ceased serving some purpose, it was easy to walk away and find other organizations to meet their wants and needs.
I think, however, that the more likely explanation is that somewhere along the way, the flame of faith in Jesus Christ went out in their lives, and what purpose is a church that teaches about someone you no longer believe in? When we choose to stop believing Jesus, it naturally follows that we would stop attending the church that bears his name.
As my faith in Jesus Increases, my confidence in and resolve to remain a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints grows. I see the historical imperfections, the unpopular doctrine with modern world views and philosophies, the patriarchy, the challenging policies and the infinite imperfections of those who call themselves saints.
But I am not here for any of that. I am here for Jesus. And when I have taken my focus off him to address those other things I, like Peter, become fearful and begin to sink into the dark depths, but Jesus is merciful and as I have called out for him he has stretched forth his hand to rescue me.
Considering all that Christ has done for me personally and collectively, I feel that the least I can do is choose to believe him and attend the Church that bears his name.
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