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My Faith

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I joined over a decade ago after a series of sweet and life changing spiritual experiences whereby the Holy Spirit made it abundantly clear to me that Jesus Christ was indeed my Savior, that God loved me more than I could possibly imagine, and that He had restored the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth through a prophet that he had called for this purpose in the 1800's named Joseph Smith. Those initial convictions have only been made fuller and more precious to me over time as I have continued in my walk with God in life and come to develop a deep personal friendship and fellowship with my Father in Heaven, my Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
 
I love my Church and the people with whom I associate in it. My active involvement with this Church and my belief in the the Gospel it teaches have brought me the greatest joys of my life and strengthened my relationships with my family and friends in ways I only dreamed possible.
 
Below is a succinct statement of my personal beliefs and convictions. If you would like to know more about my Church or have additional questions, you can email me at mark.peter.schmitt@gmail.com or just visit www.mormon.org. I have also provided a list of useful links and recommended reading here if you are interested.
  1. I believe in God the Eternal Father, in his Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. I believe that they are three distinct personages, and that the Father and the Son both have bodies of flesh and bone, but the Holy Spirit has a body of spirit (see D&C 130: 22). I beleieve that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are One God (see D&C 20:17-34) in that they are completely united in all of their desires and actions - most especially in their love for all of mankind and their unending desire to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" which is their work and their glory ( see Moses 1:39 ).
  2. I believe that Jesus Christ came to earth to offer his own life and precious blood as a great, all-sufficient, and eternal offering for the sins of all those who were, are, and yet will be upon the earth who will accept him as their personal Savior. I believe that He was, under the direction of His Father, the Creator of the Earth (see John 1) and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I believe that he is full of grace and truth (see the Book of Moses), and that any man or woman, boy or girl, who approaches Him with a sincere heart and desire to serve Him will be received into relationship with Him (see 2 Nephi 26:33). I believe that it is only in and through the grace of God that we are saved (see 2 Nephi 10:24), and that in order to continually avail ourselves of that grace, we must humble ourselves before God, repent, be baptized by one having the proper authority and endure in faith to the end of our lives, repenting of our sins daily, serving our fellow men and women, and ever seeking to honor the gift of salvation that God offers to his children through his Son by keeping His commandments (see John 14:15, Matthew 24:12-13 and Matthew 25). I believe that a personal relationship and friendship with Jesus Christ is absolutely essential to a person realizing his or her full potential in this life.
  3. I believe that God has always, throughout the history of this earth, called prophets to lead and direct his work (see Amos 3:7). I believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Heb 13:8, 1 Nephi 10:18-19), and that He in this time of such great spiritual need, has again called and ordained Prophets and Apostles upon the earth to receive His revelations and guide His Church. I believe that Jesus Christ stands at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today in the same manner that he did in ancient times over the Church he established in that time. I believe that the first Prophet of this dispensation of the Gospel on the earth was a man named Joseph Smith, who received instructions and authority from heaven that enabled him to organize the Church of Christ.  I believe this same organization exists today and that this same authority, called the Priesthood of God, is again upon the earth in full measure, even as it was anciently.
  4. I believe that God's words never cease (see Moses 1:4), and that through his ordained Apostles and Prophets, he can reveal and has revealed scriptures in addition to  the revelations contained in the Bible (see scriptures.lds.org). I believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and I believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.(see Articles of Faith 1:9)
  5. I believe that a husband and wife who are married in sacred temples by the sealing power of the Priesthood are joined in a holy union that endures beyond this life into the Eternities. I believe that Children born under or adopted into this covenant are likewise sealed eternally to their families. It is one of the greatest joys of my life to know that because of this sealing ordinance, performed in the name and through the authority of Jesus Christ, my family can be together forever. I believe that it was always God's intention that families would be forever (see "The Family: A Proclamation to the World")
  6. I believe that these truths I've shared here, and many others that God has revealed in these Latter-days, may be known with certainty by any sincere seeker of truth. I believe that God hears and answers the prayers of the humble and forthright and that anyone who desires sincerely to know whether what I have shared on this page is true may receive the unmistakeable confirmation of the Holy Ghost in their hearts. I believe the chief responsibility of the Holy Ghost at this time is to teach us the truthfullness of all things and bring all things to our remembrance (see John 14:26). I know that God loves all of his children and desires them to return to him. If you feel a desire to do so, I would invite you to pray about these things for yourself and ask God if they are true:

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."  (Moroni 10:4-5)

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