Why is the Book of Mormon important?

This is part two in a set that answers the question “What is the Book of Mormon?” Beyond what the book physically is, where it came from, and how we got it, it is useful to understand why the Book of Mormon is important, and what purpose it serves.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Like the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon is a Testament, or witness, of Jesus Christ. This is the book’s primary, stated purpose, as found in the title page of the book, translated from the original text:

“…to the convincing of the Jew and the Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations”

Throughout the book you find references to the divinity of Jesus Christ as our Savior, and as the Son of God. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, said in 559 B.C.:

“And 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.”

The Book of Mormon is plain and simple

Through the years, and through multiple and various translations, the Bible has lost some of its simplicity. Passages that contain basic truths can be difficult to understand, even with the best references.

The Book of Mormon was compiled from a large set of records around the year 385 A.D., by an ancient prophet named Mormon. It was recorded onto plates of gold, and buried. In the 1800’s, Joseph Smith received those plates through revelation, and translated them through the gift and power of God.

Because only one translation took place with the Book of Mormon, the plainness and simpleness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes through clear and sharp.

Don’t take my word for it- ask God if these things are not true

Moroni, son of Mormon, who also wrote the last pages of the Book of Mormon after his father gave him the record, added these words to all who would read the book:

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

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.

No on should expect the reader of scriptures, which come from God, to rely on the word of another human to tell them if those things are true or not. No on in the Mormon church will ever ask you to take their word for it- they will tell you to ask God, and rely on the Holy Ghost, who witnesses today as He ever did, of the truth of all things.

What is the Book of Mormon about?

A lot of people ask “what is the Book of Mormon about?” Here is a brief summary of what the Book of Mormon is, and what it contains. This is the first of a two-part post. In the next post, I will answer the question “Why is the Book of Mormon important?”

The Book of Mormon is an ancient record

The Book of Mormon contains the record of several peoples. The main part of the record spans nearly 1000 years of history; from about 600 B.C. to about 421 A.D. It was translated from records that were written in Reformed Egyptian; though the book was written by people of Jewish decent, Hebrew was unsuitable for condensed writing, so Egyptian was used instead (it being highly compact, and known among the Hebrew people).

The Book of Mormon is a religious history

For the most part, the Book of Mormon deals with religious topics. The writers in the book were also Prophets, descendants of Joseph of Egypt by genealogy, and thus of the “House of Israel.” The book does touch on some of the major historical events of the people as well; wars, movements, daily life; but all in the context of their relationship with God.

The ancient people in the Book of Mormon had a version of “The Bible”

The collective books that we now know as “The Bible” were written by the Hebrew people; if we have a bible at all, we can thank the Jewish prophets of old for it, since it was they who wrote it. When Jesus Christ came to the earth, Judaism fractured, creating Christianity. The Christian prophets and apostles are responsible for the New Testament, while the Old Testament is the world of the Judaic prophets of old.

In the Book of Mormon, you will find that the Bible is quoted, often. The people in the Book of Mormon had the ancient Judaic records that we now call the “Old Testament”; the books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, etc), and the other Prophets as well (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc). These were scripture to them, and they followed them diligently.

The Book of Mormon people lived on the American continent

As is recorded in the record of this people, they traveled by boat to the American continent around 589 B.C. It is not known exactly where in the North and South American continents they resided; they also migrated to various portions of the continents at different times, and even had groups that voyages by boat to other lands.

Has the Book of Mormon been dis-proven?

The Book of Mormon, translated in the early 1800’s, has withstood the tests of science and scholarly review ever since. The record is undeniably of Judaic-Hebrew origin. The evidences of it being an ancient record are many, and no one has successfully placed any reasonable question on those facts, though many have tried.

Like the Bible, you can’t know if the Book of Mormon is true through science. With scripture, God’s word, our Heavenly Father requires faith. You can read the Bible or the Book of Mormon, and ask God if they are true, and in a beautiful way, He has provided an individual and personal testimony; the Holy Ghost; which can tell you whether they are true or not.

Update on the temple in Phoenix

The entire recent debate, and argument before the Phoenix Arizona city council, was on whether to allow a variance in a new PUD zoning application. This variance would have allowed for an additional 10ft of height on the Phoenix LDS temple. The city council unanimously approved the variance, for a number of reasons.

The groups who were opposing the temple pulled together signatures sufficient to put the variance request on a ballot, in spite of the city being done with the request.

Luckily for all involved, the LDS church has withdrawn their request for the variance, and has decided to redesign the temple to fit within the 30ft height restriction of their current zoning. This means a great deal of savings for the tax payers in Phoenix.

On the flip side, if the church decides to abandon the PUD zoning, the tax payer will lose out in a certain degree. I will update again when I know which zoning the church will be using.

One thing is for certain; the temple will be built in Phoenix, and it will be built within the bounds of the law, on the land that the church owns and has designated for that purpose. I sincerely hope that wherever and whenever it is built, the neighbors will enjoy its beauty and presence.

If you have any questions about temples, or specifically about the temple being built in Phoenix Arizona, please feel free to ask them here!

LDS church asks members to contribute to Haiti relief efforts

In an official release, the presidency of the Mormon church has asked church members around the world to contribute as much as they can to the relief effort in Haiti through LDS Philanthropies. They have setup a direct link to the donate page on the home page of LDS.org, so members or non-members can donate online. That link is:

Donate to the Haiti relief effort, through the Mormon church

I encourage anyone and everyone who wants every cent of their donation to be used to its fullest to give through the Mormon church. It can be hard to decide which charity to donate through, but the Mormon church WILL use your donation in the best way possible. Here’s why:

1. The Mormon church has no paid clergy

All of the teachers and leadership in the Mormon church do their work on a volunteer basis. Members are asked to take on the roles and responsibilities that make the church operate. Your donation money will not go toward paying for clergy or church services, because the members do that work themselves.

2. Mormon church members pay 1/10th of their income to support the church

The costs of running the Mormon church; building buildings, electricity, etc, are all paid through “tithing,” where members donate 1/10th of their income to support the operation of the church.  Your donation won’t be used for any of that.

3. The Mormon church has a long history of humanitarian aid

The Mormon church has experience in humanitarian aid. The church is always one of the first on-site responders in any emergency, worldwide. Your donation dollars will be helping an organized and efficient effort.

4.  Church members have been asked to put their money where their mouth is

When the First Presidency of the church asks members to act, it is not taken lightly. Mormons will be donating. Humanitarian donations are separate from tithing, so Mormons will be asked to put forth a little more effort to donate more than what they usually do.

It is a sacrifice to donate to any cause, and for any reason, but there is a reward. When we do something for someone else, especially someone in need who can never thank us, we please our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ, who said:

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)

Please donate what you can, ASAP

You can donate online, quickly and easily, through the LDS Philanthropies website. There is a “Haiti” section right on the front page. When you donate, you can be sure that your money will be used properly.  All other questions you may have about Mormonism aside, Mormons have proven that they are dedicated to disaster relief time and time again.

Donate online now

Where can I find out about Mormon relief aid to Haiti?

With the terrible destruction in Haiti from the recent earthquake, people are looking for as much information as they can get on what is going on to help the people of Haiti. As a part of our faith, and like all Christians, Mormons are dedicated through the gospel to help those in need, or those who suffer.

Many people are curious about what the Mormon church is doing to help, and wonder what the best source of accurate information is. I propose that the LDS.org newsroom is the most accurate and timely source. The newsroom is where you will find all official news publications and releases relating to the LDS (or “Mormon”) church. You can visit the newsroom here:

Visit the LDS newsroom to read about Haiti relief efforts by the Mormons

Another question that people have is, “how can I help?” You can certainly dontate to a variety of reliable source.  Search reputable news outlets for good charities to donate to. The Red Cross is one of my favorites.  If you want to donate to the LDS church, specifically for relief efforts, you can certainly do that as well; just use the meetinghouse locator at the top of this website. You can stop by to drop off a donation (you will get a receipt).

How do Mormons celebrate Christmas

Mormons are Christians

To answer the question “how do Mormons celebrate Christmas?” you have to first look at the fact that Mormons are Christians. Another thing to think about is the fact that Mormons were a large part of the pioneer and pilgrim foundations of the Western United States.

Traditional Holiday Celebrations

Because of this heritage, and because of our belief in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and the Savior of the world, we celebrate Christmas along with the rest of the Christian world, and in the same ways. We have trees, lights, stockings and Santa Claus. We sing the same carols, eat the same foods, and enjoy the company of family and friends.

Above all, we try to use the Christmas season as an opportunity to renew our commitment to helping those around us who may not have family, or may not have enough to meet their own needs. Christmas is a wonderful time to remember to reach out and give, especially where the need is great or for even basic items.

What does Christmas mean?

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. When our Savior was born, the course of human history and direction was altered for eternity.  We recognize this by the simple fact that all reckoning of our cultures time is based around the events of Christ’s birth, and His death. These two events, along with the example of His life, and his suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, combine to form the most important period of time ever. Christmas is the celebration of the dawning of that important period.

Jesus Christ provides answers and perspective

Understanding the life and death of Jesus Christ can help us gain perspective, and get answers to important questions about life: where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going? When Jesus Christ was born on this earth, He did not spring into existence; He was everlasting, and existed previously in the spirit world. Each of us was there with him, and have come here to this earth to be tested, to see if we will obey God and keep his commandments. After this life, we will return to live with God, the Father of our spirits.

If you have questions about Christmas, Mormonism, or faith in general, please do feel free to ask them here. You can also visin mormon.org, and lds.org, to read, watch videos, and learn on your own what Mormonism is really all about.

Mormon.org expands video content

New video content answers questions about mormons

Mormon.org, and official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) has just expanded their library of video content. The videos are available and easily viewable online at this link:

Mormon.org videos

You can view videos about mormonism in these categories:

• Our Stories
• Beliefs
• Family
• News
• Entertainment
• Myths

If you want to share the videos, you can easily send them along or even embed them on your own website.

The church has an official news article on the updates, which you can read here:

Mormon.org Updated and Improved…

Above all, the official Mormon church websites are a great way for anyone interested to find out about Mormonism, our beliefs and practices, on their own. You can easily search on lds.org, read on mormon.org, contact missionaries online, ask questions… everything you might want to know is easily available.

Definitely visit the sites above, but if you have questions you want to ask a mormon directly, feel free to do it here as well. I’ll do my best to answer your questions directly and to the point!

Fight against LDS temple height continues

Unfortunately, the fighting continues

Even after the planning commission and city council approved the issue unanimously, I am sorry to say that the bitter fighting against the re-zoning of the North Phoenix LDS temple grounds continues. A new political action group entitled the “Phoenix Property Rights Coalition,” was formed on the first Monday in December, with hopes of gathering 15,000 signatures by Jan. 2nd to overturn the city councils unanimous vote.

Interestingly, the Mormon church already has the right to build under current zoning and under current statutes. The re-zoning will actually restrict the Mormon church more, and force them to make concessions to the neighborhood. The petition and fighting won’t stop the construction of a temple in that area, nor will it delay it. The only thing they might accomplish is restricting the temple’s main building height to 30ft instead of 40.

To me it is sad that one HOA is so embattled against a relatively small variance request in a simple re-zoning application.  The re-zoning was at the request and recommendation of the city in the first place, and the LDS church is doing everything it possibly can to make all sides happy. Short of not building our temple there, I’m not sure what would make the HOA happy.

Sadly too, even if the temple location was moved, the anti-Mormon groups who may or may not be involved in this issue (they appear to work in secrecy, and have not announced themselves at any of the meetings) would still oppose.

Mormons are committed to being great neighbors

The thing to remember in all of this political wrap-up is this: Mormons have always shown a strong commitment to family and community.  We are encouraged to donate to our communities, and to volunteer our time and efforts to make communities better. This extends to every community we can reach, and not just the ones we live directly in.

Phoenix is the same. There are countless instances of community service, organized and carried out by the LDS people in Phoenix every year. It is an opportunity for us to show our love for the Savior Jesus Christ, by helping His children here on earth.

When the Temple is built, it will be an extension of that commitment to serve the community.

Do you have questions about Mormons, Mormonism or Temples?

If you do have questions about the North Phoenix Temple, please feel free to ask them here. You can also ask using the “Joe is Mormon” link on the right-hand side, which does not require registration to post a question.

An LDS temple in Phoenix Arizona

City council unanimously approved

The Phoenix city council, led by Mayor Phil Gordon, voted unanimously to approve the simple zoning variance requested for the LDS temple in North Phoenix. The temple will be built on property the LDS church already owns, adjacent to an existing church building. The main portion of the temple will stand 40ft high, instead of the 30ft allowed by current zoning. The steeple will add height, but steeples are not regulated under current Phoenix codes.

LDS temple will be a good neighbor

Interestingly, the LDS church made several concessions during the whole zoning change and variance request process. Based on complaints from members of a neighboring HOA, the LDS church agreed to:

• Use an exterior building color that was preferred by the neighborhood
• Decrease lighting output to below required standards, to help maintain night views
• Turn off key lighting at 10pm, and hour earlier than required by law, to help maintain night views

In the construction of this temple, the church is also:

• Building the structure further from the neighboring houses than is required
• Adding far more landscaping than is required

During each of the meetings that I attended, the church gave more and more to the HOA and neighbors. They tried to work with the neighbors to minimize the impact on the community.  The church was more than fair, it was gracious.

Mormons want to work with and support communities

During the last zoning meeting, several people made mention of the thousands of volunteer hours that the LDS church has put forth in North Phoenix communities recently, and how dedicated the LDS church is to making those communities great places to live.

Mormons want to make communities better, and more friendly for families and neighbors to work and live together. The temple that will be built will be a beautiful addition to the community, and will be well kept and maintained to the highest standards. The landscaping will be quiet and calm, and open for members of the community to enjoy on a daily basis if they wish.

Religious freedom is important, and it is threatened

The LDS church always work with local laws, leaders and communities. No matter where we are in the world, our personal conviction is to work within the law. One of our most cherished freedoms is the freedom of religion that we enjoy most pointedly in the United States of America, and often, that freedom is threatened.

It has always been that way for the Mormon church. From the beginning, opposition parties have tried to stop the LDS people from worshiping according to their faith and beliefs. This is in plain opposition to the laws of the land, which protect every individuals rights to worship. Members of any religious group should be concerned when they see the religion of another trampled on.

The members of the HOA opposed to the temple re-zoning have stated publicly that they have no issue with the Mormon religion, or their right to build a temple, but that they simply do not want a temple in their neighborhood. I hope and pray that they are sincere in that proclamation, as it is a comforting and peaceable stance to take.

It is also my sincere hope that the HOA and citizen groups involved are not associated with and do not accept funds from anti-Mormon sources bent on denying the LDS people their freedoms of religion.  Association with those vitriolic and secretive groups will bring those individuals nothing but remorse of conscience.

Healing with the community

I still believe firmly that Mormons in Phoenix are largely concerned, like myself, with the healing that can and should take place with members of the community after the temple is built. We feel strongly that those people who are currently opposed to the temple will see and understand the peace that will come from this sacred edifice once it is constructed.

I invite any and all who have questions about the temple or about the Mormon church to ask them here. I will try to answer you as directly as I can. No question is too small. I look forward to the outreach that we can make with the community, and to making Phoenix a better place.

Phoenix LDS temple zoning meeting notes

Phoenix residents meet to discuss temple construction

Last night I attended a city of Phoenix meeting where LDS members of the community debated aspects of the temple zoning request with members of the immediate neighborhood surrounding where the temple is to be built.

The meeting itself was to discuss a remaining point of the re-zoning application; whether or not the temple may be built with a 40-ft base structure (not counting the spire), versus the 30 feet which are already allowed in the current zoning. This represents a 10-ft variance.

The council voted unanimously to approve the request. It will now go to the city council for a final vote next month.

More than just a zoning meeting

To me, this was more than just a zoning meeting, for both sides of the issue. As I sat in the audience, I truly felt the frustration and concern the members of the neighborhood felt at the construction of such a large building in their area. They noted concerns such as light pollution, traffic, and visual obstruction. They also shared concerns about how the temple would change their neighborhood.

As an LDS member who lives within minutes of where this new temple would be built, the construction of the temple is no small thing for my part either. With small children, it means an easier time worshiping, and less hassle and expense in babysitting so my wife and I can drive to Mesa. It means more freedom to practice my religion, and more peace in my life.

In the end, the construction of the temple will absolutely change lives.  It will change the neighborhood, but likely not in the way that the residents fear. Even so, it is hard, if not impossible, to convey that and have those feelings felt and believed.

The consequences of this meeting, and this process

I was touched that the members of the opposition side made such a distinct effort to point out that they were in no way opposed to the LDS faith or the members of the LDS community. They simply were opposed to the construction and physical aspect, location, size and lighting of the building itself. I don’t know if they realize it, but their willingness to separate the religious side from this debate was a very, very kind gesture.

My fear, in seeing the emotion tied to this debate, is that these fine citizens, and this fine community of people, will forever have a negative impression of the LDS church and its members. While the debate was civil, or even calm for a room full of people this big, the tension was thick. As it appears the temple re-zoning and construction will be completed as expected and desired,  feelings may be hurt, and people may be disappointed.

One comment was especially disheartening. An opposition member expressed the desire to simply discuss with the church any possible alternatives to building the temple in their area. He seemed to feel that the LDS church just would not listen, and did not care.

I think sometimes people outside the church view it as an entity so large that it can buy, build or do whatever it wants; but the fact remains, the LDS church already owned this land. As Mormons, we are known for their frugality, and the use of this land for this purpose is an extension of that principle.

We build temples and meeting houses with donations from members, and while it may seem like our options are unlimited, we strive to make our choices for how we spend member donations in such a way that we can maximize them. We use land we already own, and for temples we often use land adjacent to meeting houses to economize on parking, etc.

Healing the neighborhood

As the temple construction goes forward, it is my sincere hope that feelings can be healed. When the construction is completed, I hope that members of the neighborhood will take time to view and appreciate the structure, and the grounds. If questions, concerns, or ill-will remain, I sincerely hope they will address those feelings in whatever way they can.

Phoenix LDS temple artistic rendition

Local news coverage of the meeting