God our Father and His Son.

As I started last week, now I want to outline the "why's" as to why I have come to believe what I currently do.

My first point I made was to God's existence, His love and our being His children. I personally feel that there are many reasons to come to this conclusion.

First, God's existence. To first discuss this I would like to cite a scripture in the Book of Mormon, where a prophet, by the name of Alma, had a discussion with a man named Korihor, about God's existence. This is the Link for the full-story. Alma responded that "All things denote there is a God." The existence of the marvelous creations around us show it. The regularity of our planet and the beauty of the system in which we live.

However, for me personally, my main reason to believe in God's existence is founded on one principle--His speaking to us in recent times. Joseph Smith, as a 14 year old boy, saw and conversed with both God the Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ in 1820. Full story.
That is perhaps the most convincing proof I can present. Somebody, in recent, recorded history who actually saw God. Talked with God. To know for oneself if God exists or not, one simply needs to know if that event really happened or not; if Joseph Smith is a genuine prophet, or a spinner of false truths. I know he did see God, and in future posts, I hope to discuss that more. Here is a big part of it.

We are God's children. The scriptures say we were created in His own image, in the image of God. The scriptures contain countless passages about our being His children. This is probably one of the principles of the Gospel, that if understood by all would have the greatest impact on this world. Who, believing he was surrounded by his brothers and sisters, family members, would ever seek to harm them, treat them maliciously or otherwise abuse them?

Finally, God's love for each of us. I think that many in today's world believe that God does not care about their individual lives, cares and concerns. Naturally, God has said otherwise in the scriptures, and more importantly, what He has said through the living prophets and apostles of today about His love for each one of us.

In conclusion. I know God really does exist. I know we are His children. I know He loves me and you and all those around us.

Picking a Topic...

As I have been thinking recently about a good topic to start a blog; I think it would be the most beneficial to me to start a blog on what I believe. I am a 23 year old Latter-day Saint (aka Mormon), former full-time church missionary (having served for 2 years in Brazil, Portuguese speaking), married and attending BYU.

I believe that God exists. I believe we are His children, and that he loves each one of us individually. I believe that He is truly mindful of each individual.

I believe that God, ever since the beginning of the world, has called prophets to teach His children correct principles, whereby they might choose to return to God's presence one day.

I believe that God sent down His only Begotten Son--Jesus Christ--to redeem all men from the Fall of Adam, death, and our individual sins. I believe that Jesus Christ atoned for all men and suffered in a way that we will never quite fully understand, but that we can grow to understand better as we strive to be more like Christ.

I believe that Christ organized His church--The Church of Jesus Christ--while on the Earth and that He called prophets and apostles at that time to lead and guide the church by the direct authority of God--the priesthood.

I believe that the before mentioned Church of Christ was taken from the Earth when men persecuted the saints and apostles--killing those who had the authority to lead the church.

I believe that as that authority was lost, there was a resultant confusion that ultimately led to the formation of many churches and doctrines--the results of which are visible today.

I believe that God has not changed since the beginning of time, and as a direct result of His continuing love, has called yet another prophet in our day by the name of Joseph Smith, whom both God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ appeared to in the spring of 1820, in answer to his humble prayer to determine what church he should join.

I believe that through this latter-day prophet, God restored the same church that was lost anciently in it's entirety, with authority, prophets, and apostles--that exists today under the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I believe that the humble (with true desire) seeker of Christ may gain a witness directly from the heavens if these things are true.