What Do Mormons Really Believe?: Part XI
Article of Faith #11
This is Part Eleven of my series on what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, sometimes called "Mormons", believe. Please remember that though I am an active member of the church, my disclaimer is that I do not claim to provide the official view from the church; I'll leave it to the church to do that (see www.mormon.org).
The intent of these articles is not to attack or demean other faiths or to cause any kind of contention or argument. They are written to simply outline the beliefs of church members in as straightforward a way as possible. I have no intention to convince, trick or deceive anyone. Indeed, this is far from the mind of any faithful member of the church. We realize full well that spiritual matters are deeply personal and can only be accessed through study, reflection, and with the aid of the Divine.
The Articles of Faith were written by Joseph Smith Jr., whom church members take to be a prophet and the first leader of the church in our time. They were written to clarify the church's position about many fundamental issues.
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Article of Faith #11
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
'Nuff said . . . ?
FAQ:
What about missionaries?
Missionary work is a commandment from God (see Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15). I'll also tell you a story! I am an award-winning cook. Nearly every time I enter a cooking contest, I win, or something of mine wins. Nevertheless, when I make something amazing for my kids, they won't eat it! I can't figure it out. The other night, I made the most amazing soup I've ever made in my life. It was so good, I was desperate to have my kids try it. But they wouldn't touch it. I was so sad, and perhaps even hurt.
When I was 19, I was fresh out of high school and ready for life. But I was also filled with a profound gratitude for the blessings that my Heavenly Father had given me. I felt in myself a metaphor of amazing ice cream that I had eaten and wanted others to try. So I went on a mission. My goal wasn't to convert, but to share. Conversion only comes through Divine means, but I did want to share my knowledge of gospel things with others. My goal was also not to convince, but to simply present the truth and hope that those to whom we spoke would listen and try to find out for themselves through prayer, study of the Bible, and reading the Book of Mormon (see Part VIII (Article of Faith #8) whether or not my message was true.
This Article of Faith still stands, even for missionaries. If any members of the church demean others or their faiths, they are not following the counsel from our leaders and from the teachings from the scriptures. In a recent address, former church president Gordon B. Hinckley stated:
We can respect other religions, and must do so. We must recognize the great good they accomplish. We must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly toward those not of our faith. We can and do work with those of other religions in the defense of those values which have made our civilization great and our society distinctive.
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Next stop: Article of Faith #12
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Contents to articles:
What Do Mormons Really Believe?: Introduction
Part III (Article of Faith #3)
Part VII (Article of Faith #7)
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Comments: 6
This looks like a great series. I am going to check it out when I have more time.
Ann