I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ

 In the culture of the Church, there is a favorite Primary song whose verse says this: 

"I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am. I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor his name. I’ll do what is right;
I’ll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim."

- Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © 1989 IRI

Source

For many, belonging to an organization or group is often born from tradition. When I served my mission in Russia, I often heard Russians say, " I was born [Russian Orthodox] I will die [Russian Orthodox]" This seemed a strong commitment when many would only ever go to church at Christmas then Easter and otherwise never gave it much of a second thought. It was tradition. In a country where social upheaval was the norm, tradition was one thing they held to. 

For myself, I was born into a family that were long time members of the church on my father's side with a few of my ancestral lines going back to the early period of the church. My mother is a convert at age ten as were her brothers and sisters. Some may say that I was also born into tradition. They would be right, I was. I was baptized at the age of eight with only a few faint memories going back tot hat day of  forty-one years ago. 

However, one thing I was encouraged to do as a child was to seek out my own witness of the truths of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. This goes beyond tradition as it becomes a new thing and not just belief from tradition. One verse from the Bible that is key to this effort is James Chapter 1, verse 5 and 6 which reads: 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Source

To me, this means I can find out the truth directly from God. However, when I ask, I need to do so in faith, without doubt. This is the process whereby I gain may own testimony and my belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ then transcends tradition and the upbringing of my parents and my family. I have evidence of my own. 

This blog here is to serve as an outlet for that journey. It is "my light that I shine before men that you may believe my words and glorify our Father in Heaven." paraphrased in my own words from Matthew  Chapter five, verse 16 Source 

I have felt the light of the gospel upheld by others and I wish to share it with you. 

This is a record of my words and I type it here myself. Where they may sound like the words of others just shows how the influence of other great people have been ingrained in me and I have received the light of others and made it part of myself. I now share that with you. 

To end, I also wish to share a few verses from the end of the Book of Mormon. Written as part of a farewell message by Moroni, son of the titular author Mormon, at the end of his record before he consigned this record to the earth, to be protected by the Lord until it was brough forth again. 

In Moroni, chapter ten, verses 3-5 it says: 

"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." Source

It is not this blog I am admonishing you to read and confirm the veracity of. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The teachings of our savior as found in the Holy Scriptures and through the mouths of living prophets in our day. His teachings provide Faith, Hope, Love, and Grace for all who will learn of him, accept him, and do their best to live in the way He teaches. I am not perfect, and I make mistakes. But I do believe, and I am trying to live my life in His way. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

- Mark W. Gardner

The Christus Picture taken of the Christus Statue from the North Visitors Center, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT. Source