What's Your Source?

In light of the potential republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many are discussing "Mormon" doctrine and much misinformation is circulating on blogs and other social media conversations.

If you're smart, you'll understand that not everything you read online is true. For example, I read one article entitled, "Romney isn't Christian, and That's All Right," on Bloomberg.com makes ridiculous claims as to why members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aren't Christian. People, the Church is called The Church of Jesus Christ, where's the confusion? In contrast, I also read an article from The Economist simply entitled, "Mormons Are Christians," which does a much better job representing what the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe. However, even in that article, not all the sources cited-though cited as "LDS sites"-are official Church sources, so once again, be careful.

Really, I just feel that if you want information about something, go to the source. If I want to know what Rick Perry is all about, I'm going to go to his website and get information from the source, from him. If I want to know about Obama's latest policy, I'm not going to simply Google it and click on the first hit, oblivious of the source whether it be from an opposing party or not. And if I want to know Verizon's coverage area, I'm not going trust an AT&T commercial and vice versa.

So why, then, would anyone settle for what Bloomberg or The Economist or CNN or Fox or Mormonhaters.com or any blog--including mine--says about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Why not go to the source? The Church has ample, easy-to-access information available on several official websites. (Oh, look, the links are listed right there on the right!)

"Come unto me all ye that labour
and are heavy laden."

As for the question of Christianity and Mormons, this blog discusses that topic here, here, and here. The Church's discussion page discusses it here. But for those who are still wondering, Mormons are Christians. Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed "Mormons" because we read the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the center of everything we do, teach, and strive to live. Indeed, the Book of Mormon itself says of those who wrote it, "We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26).

The source for the remission of our sins, the only source, is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is only in and through Him that we are saved--through the cleansing power of His Atonement.1 He is the central figure in the plan of our Heavenly Father and the cornerstone of my faith. I know that He lived and died, and lives again and that He will once again return to the earth. And, though I am far from perfect, I strive to do as He did, to love and serve, to come unto Him. Yes, I am a Mormon and I am Christian.

Jesus Christ will come again!

Jeremy

1. References from the Holy Scriptures:*

• John 14:6
• Acts 4:12
• Hebrews 5:9
• 1 John 1:7
• 2 Nephi 2:6
• Mosiah 3:17; 5:8
• Alma 38:9
• 3 Nephi 27:13-21
• Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19

*These are just a few of many teaching of Jesus Christ and His Atonement found in the scriptures. To say nothing of the words of the modern-day apostles and prophets.