So often in conversations today there is a lack of reason. People disagree, talk around each other, and let passion or emotion take over. No headway, towards truth or mutual respect, is ever made. We should expect so much more of ourselves!
With this blog, I would like to enter the conversation – relating generally to religion, and specifically to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I hope to do so reasonably - or, in other words, rationally and logically.
There are two overarching purposes to this blog, namely apologetics and preaching.
Apologetics
In the thrilling movie “The Prestige,” a magician named Cutter describes audience psychology when observing a magic trick. He says,
“Now, you’re looking for the secret. But you won’t find it because, of course, you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to work it out. You want to be fooled.”
To the Christians of his day, the apostle Peter admonished,
“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
I myself am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church. Unfortunately, so much about the Church is misunderstood, and what’s more, not all of these misunderstandings are innocent. Half-truths and falsehoods are intentionally perpetuated by critics, and all too often we, like Cutter explains, are not really looking for the truth. We are much happier believing the “trick”.
One purpose of this blog is to combat the misgivings about the LDS Church in mainstream culture, and to defend my beliefs where appropriate. It is my personal attempt to “give an answer” to those who ask why I believe what I believe.
Preaching
The world is becoming a more spiritually dangerous place to live in. Paul spoke of our day, when “some shall depart from the faith… speaking lies in hypocrisy” (see 1 Timothy 4:1-2) and “men (would) be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy… having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (see 2 Timothy 3:1-7). An ancient American prophet prophesied of “a day when the power of God shall be denied… a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceiving, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations” (see Mormon 8:28-31).
Another purpose of this blog is to, in some way, offer what strength I can to my fellow men in this day of tribulation. Whether you are LDS or not, hopefully you will consider what you read in the spirit in which it is intended, and remember that “he that is not against us is on our part” (see Mark 9:40). I very much want to be on your part in bolstering your faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.
Leave with Greater Faith
May those that visit this blog see those two purposes, and leave with greater faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I invite you to visit mormon.org to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While there, request a copy of the Book of Mormon. It is a book that, like the Bible, testifies of Jesus Christ. The teachings in that book will bring you closer to the Savior. It is also evidence that the things I say are true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet who restored the Church of Jesus Christ in our day. Read it for yourself, and test its’ claims.
Also, feel free to check out my other genesis posts (in the bulleted list below) and the Core Beliefs section. They provide a general framework for this blog.
- Simple Questions, Complex Answers? - what kind of explanations to expect when you’re here.
- Revelation, through Prophets - a note about the importance of modern revelation to the Church.
