More information on any of these topics can be found at mormon.org or lds.org
The Plan of Salvation
Life for us did not begin with birth, and it does not end with death. Before we were born, we lived as spirits with our Heavenly Father. He loved us so much that he wanted us to have the opportunity to grow and to learn. Our beautiful planet was created so that we would be able to come down to earth and receive physical bodies. During our time here, we would be able to grow, learn, and progress. The experiences and trials we have during our earthly lives prepare us to become more like our Heavenly Father. L. Tom Perry, one of the leaders of the church said, "Our Eternal Father did not send us to earth on an aimless, meaningless journey. He provided for us a plan to follow. He is the author of that plan. It is designed for man's progress and ultimate salvation and exaltation." Our time on earth is an important part of that plan.
The choices that we make here on earth influence what will happen to us in the next life. After we die, our spirits enter the spirit world where they will remain until the final judgment. We will be judged on our earthly actions and the desires of our hearts, and we will lastly be placed into a degree of glory that reflects our earthly life.
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| The Plan of Salvation |
Faith
What is faith? According to the scriptures, having faith means believing and trusting even though we might not completely understand. In the Book of Mormon, Alma 32:21 reads: "And now as I said concerning faith- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." We are all human and consequently have limited knowledge. We must rely on faith to make up for what we don't know. Faith is an important part of our everyday lives: we need to have faith that God will hear our prayers, we need to have faith that we will be blessed for keeping the commandments, and we need to have faith that God personally knows and understands each one of us.
Faith is more than just believing, however. We need to act on our faith. Howard W. Hunter, a former leader of the church, said, "Faith is the first step in any action and must be the first step in understanding the gospel." To have faith means to actually live and act upon the things that you know to be true. To have faith means to constantly strive to become a better person. To have faith means to actively follow Christ's example.
The Atonement and Repentance
We are all human and we all make mistakes. Our Heavenly Father knows this, and he does not expect us to be perfect. He lovingly provided a way for us to overcome our imperfections. He sent his beloved son, Jesus Christ, to sacrifice and die for our sins. Christ's sacrifice for us is known as the Atonement. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ atoned for our sins and bled from every pore. He willingly and unselfishly paid the price for each of our mistakes so that we wouldn't have to. He felt the guilt, sadness, and sorrow for the wrongdoings of the entire world. If we come unto him, we can be cleansed and forgiven. Christ knows exactly how we feel because he felt our sadness as well. Coming unto Christ allows us to find comfort and forgiveness, despite the mistakes we have made.
Sometimes people thing that they have sinned too much and are unable to repent. But this is never true. Jeffery R. Holland said, "It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines. There is nothing that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized."
Temples
The church has 141 operating temples worldwide, with many more planned and under construction. Temples are beautiful, sacred buildings, and because of their great importance and holiness, not everyone is allowed to go inside. In order to enter the temple, a person has to be a worthy member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God."
Mormon marriages also take place in the temple. A marriage that occurs in the temple is a marriage that is centered around God. A marriage in the temple is a marriage for time and all eternity. A marriage in the temple is the beginning of an eternal family. We believe that families can be together forever.
Enduring to the End
Life is not easy; it never has been. We all experience the feelings of pain, loss, and sorrow. Sometimes we go through things that are so incredibly difficult that we wish we could just give up. But we can't. The point of us coming down to earth was to be tried and tested so that we could learn and progress. We have to endure to the end, and if we do, we will be rewarded. We can take comfort in knowing that our troubles will not last forever. Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8 says, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."
Even though life is hard, we are never alone. Gordon B. Hinckley said, "When all else fails, our Lord is there to help us." If we trust in and rely on the Lord, he will help us through any trial or struggle that we may have. He will always stand by our side. He will support and strengthen us if we only rely on him.
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