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Hi I'm Colby Stewart Haymond
I'm a Mormon, who is on a 2 year mission to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
About Me
I am a 20 year old Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. I have grown up in the Church, I have lived in Utah for 17 years and was born in Las Vegas Nevada. I grew up mostly in Pleasant Grove where most of my life has taken place. I now have accepted the call to be a full time missionary for the LDS church. I am serving in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. I have been out for 18 months. I love being a missionary of our Savior Jesus Christ. I have been out for awhile and I hope that I can continue to work hard in serving my mission. It has been a rewarding experience and I would encourage any who are members to participate in one. It helps you with all aspects of your life. I am truly thankful for this service that I'm rendering to the Lord.
Why I am a Mormon
I am a Mormon because I grew up in the church and I know that it is the true church and I love every minute of being a Mormon. I have grown up in Utah, but it doesn't mean that I didn't have to get a testimony it was given to me by my parents. That is not so, I had to read the Book of Mormon and pray to the know the truthfulness of the book.
How I live my faith
I live my faith by being the example, no matter how many times you criticize someone they will most of the time shrug off that criticism. By being an example I can have them see how it is to be done instead of telling them how to do so.
Do Mormons regard the Bible as Holy Scripture and the word of God?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. There are several versions of the Bible, the LDS church uses the King James Version of the Bible because it is the most correct of any version of the Bible. Even then Joseph Smith has done a translation of the Bible which helps clarify some things. This is known as the Joseph Smith Translation, which is found at the end of the LDS version of the King James Bible by the appendix.
We believe that the Bible go hand in hand with the Book of Mormon. Most people not of our faith will find some scriptures that will say otherwise in contrary to what the LDS church believes. Those who site these scriptures, they are refering to some other aspect than what they are talking about. The Bible is the word of God, but so is the Book of Mormon.
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How do I become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church)?
Colby Stewart Haymond
You become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints by having faith in Jesus Christ, Repenting of past sins, being baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Once you have done those things you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. How to do this is by having the missionaries teach the lessons and have you come unto Christ.
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Why do Mormons perform baptisms for the dead?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Have you ever wondered what happened to those people who may have been in obscure places in the world, or people who weren't in obscure places, but didn't hear the Gospel? Would a loving Heavenly Father not want to bless his children, and especially those who haven't heard of the Gospel. This is why we do baptisms for the dead. We stand in proxy (substitute) for the person, and we are baptized by emersion. When you were baptized (if you are) you were baptized by emersion. You are done so by the same way, but you are performing the baptism for them, they can choose to accept it or reject it.
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What is a “testimony” that Mormons speak of?
Colby Stewart Haymond
A testimony is a witness that you personally have. When missionaries tell investigators they say, "don't take our word for it, do it for yourself." This is what we mean by a testimony. A testimony is a solemn witness that you know of what you speak of is true. You have had either experiences or you have had the Holy Ghost manifest the truthfulness of what you are going through or what you are learning. In John 7:17 it says (paraphrasing) If any man will do his will they shall know of his doctrine. If you have studied and tried to find out for yourself that what you are learning is true you will do his will because you know of his doctrine.
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What is the First Vision?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The First Vision is where the boy Joseph Smith saw, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In that vision Christ tells Joseph not to join any of the church's because their creeds were an abomination in his sight. They draw near to me by their mouths but they are far from me with their hearts, and they deny the authority. This is what specifically is the First Vision.
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What is the role of the husband and the wife in the family?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The role of the husband and the wife in the family, is to rear their children and be providing citizens in the neighborhood. Parents need to be parents to their children, not friends to their children. They need to punish them when punishment is needed. They need to love their children when love is needed, which is 90% of the time. Being there for your children is what the role of a husband and wife. When they so do this they are loving and respecting each other. They need to be able to understand each other. The husband provides for the family and the wife nurtures the family. But they also need to be able to do botyh.
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Do Mormons worship Joseph Smith?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Joseph Smith was our first Prophet, Seer & Revelator. He restored the Christ's church with the help of well, Christ. He was given instruction by the angel Moroni who was the same Moroni who was in the Book of Mormon. Not the Title of Liberty Moroni, but the one who compiled the books Ether and Moroni before burrying them. Joseph Smith was given instructions and inspiration from heaven. He restored the church and we do give much emphasis on him, we even have several hymns regarding him, but we do not worship him. We worship God the Father. We do not worhsip Jesus Chirst, Christ is our mediator with God. The Atonement allows him to do so, it allows him to empthasize with us and plead with our Heavenly Father (God) on our behalf.
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Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?
Colby Stewart Haymond
When we go to church we wear what we say as "Sunday best" for men this is white shirt, tie and black slacks or other conservative colors. Women, skirts, nice shirts and other apparel that is moddest and respectful to be wearing while in the church/chapel. For holidays we celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter, News Year (although we don't drink alcohol to celebrate) and other regional holidays that happen where you live. In addition to national holidays we celebrate birthday's and anniversaries.
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Are there restrictions based on race or color concerning who can join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have the priesthood?
Colby Stewart Haymond
There is zero color restrictions or race restrictions. In the past we didn't give blacks the right of Priesthood, but please listen. In 1978 was when the Official Declaration came out by Spencer W. Kimball that relinquished that, but before then if we had given them the rights, ten years ago during the height of the Civil Rights movement the Church would be more attacked. In other words it wasn't the right time, for them to have it. The time the 2nd Official Declaration came out, the world was ready to have equality so, today worthy male blacks and everyone else of different color/race than caucasion can hold the Priesthood if they are worthy of it. We love everyone and invite people everywhere to come to our meeting houses.
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What is the Church’s position on abortion?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Abortion is a serious topic, I want to take this in a serious tone. In the 10 commandments, it says to not kill or anything like unto it. In a sense you are killing something so innocent that it doesn't even have the chance or say in the matter. There are exceptions, but even then it is strongly suggested that you first counsel with a Bishop or Stake President before you do it. That is why the power of procreation is only to be done through marriage.
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Who wrote the Book of Mormon?
Colby Stewart Haymond
THe book of Mormon has the misconception that Joseph Smith was the author of the very book. He is not so. He had very little education, the equivalent of today a 4th grader. It is very unlikely that he wrote the book and had help. Joseph Smith translated the book in about 70 days. I would challenge you to write a book that is so complex, has so many names, cities & culture to do it in 70 days. The great authors of our day could not and would not want to try and have their books finished for the public to buy in 70 days or less.
The Book of Mormon, was written much like the Bible. It is a collection of books that were inscribed on a collection of different plates, that were handed down from person to person. The first book in the Book of Mormon is 1 Nephi, Nephi is the son of Lehi who tells his family they are going to leave Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon is a "story" of their travels and eventually a geneaology of Nephi and his brothers Laman & Lemuel. Which we call Nephi's posterity, Nephites, then we call Laman & Lemuel's posterity, Lamanites.
At the end of the Book of Mormon, we have the prophet Mormon who abridges the collection of plates and puts them together and that is what we have as the Book of Mormon. After Mormon abridges the plates he writes his portion then the book of Ether is a record of the people of Jared in the tower of Babel times. Then Mormon's son Moroni put his part at the end of the Book of Mormon and then he hides the record for Joseph to find later.
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Where did Mormonism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints begin?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The founder of our church in the restored dispensation (times when there is a prophet on the earth) is Joseph Smith. He restored the church that Christ founded about 2000 years ago. It began in Palmyra, New York. Joseph Smith was about 14 years of age. He and his family were engaged in a religious excitement that was occuring in his town. He had gone with members of his family to "tent" meetings where pastors,ministers and others were preaching. Joseph Smith was really crossed as to which church was true. He really wanted to know which of them was the true church, they all understood different passages of scripture so different from each other.
In Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price, he explained that he was partial to the Methodist sect. Which is funny, because he almost would have joined one of the churchs. One day Joseph Smith was reading the Epistle of James, he came to verse 5, which you might be familiar with, "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 you." If anyone needed wisdom it was most certainly Joseph Smith. When Joseph went out to go pray to God he saw a pillar of light, then Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him to not join any of the Churchs. Then from that time forth he received the plates, translated them into the Book of Mormon.
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Why don’t Mormons have paid clergy?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Everyone in our church is not paid, to fulfill their "calling" or job in the church. Everyone from the Bishop of the Ward to a Primary teacher do not get paid. They have full-time jobs that they have obligations to in addition to what calling they have in the church. Everything is done by volunteer work, and that is how it should be. It should be motivated by love and wanted to serve instead of motivating by means of money. In addition to church service that we hold, at select High Schools and Junior High's (Utah especially) they have what they call a Seminary building or Institute building where members of age 14-30 engage in materials from the Church's standard works. The teacher's who teach in those buildings are paid, but only because seminary and institute are optional but are excellent resources for individuals of that age group to learn of the Gospel and grow in their testimonies.
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Mormons believe Jesus Christ is their Savior. Why do we need a Savior?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Why would we need a Savior? When Adam and Eve partoke of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they introduced sin into the world. When they had done this they had introduced sin in the world, because of this man was fallen and could not dwell with God. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. Being fallen they couldn't do what they had done in the past. This is where Jesus Christ jumps into the picture. He being a perfect person, he gave up his life and took upon him the sins of the world and also all the emotions, fears, short comings and everything that we struggle in life he has bore and overcome.
If it were not for Christ we would not be able to get back to our Heavenly Father. Being imperfect and a sinner wer could not comprehend our Heavenly Father because of our sin. With Christ we can be made clean through him and he can plead with Heavenly Father that we are worthy of being in His presence. Without Christ's sacrifice we would die and live in an eternal Hell.
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Can a husband and wife be together forever? Do Mormons believe that families will live together in heaven?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We do believe that husband and wife can be sealed together for time and all eternity forver. The only means you can do this is by way of the temple. The temple is where we make those covenants with God that we will follow a higher law and if we do we will be sealed with our families and have eternal happiness in the world to come. Along with that, eternal happiness is having your family there in heaven with you. I could not imagine heaven without my family, let alone without my potential wife and family.
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In whom should we have faith?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We need to have our faith in Christ. We can have faith in other things, but if we first have faith in Christ everything else is just an appendage of Christ and his Atonement. Christ is our mediator, he talks in behalf for us to the Father. If we have faith in him and stand worthy of his commandments he has set out for us we are able to gain salvation, even Eternal Life which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
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What is the Mormon lifestyle like? How do Mormons live?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Being a Mormon that question seems silly. It actually is a good question from an outside perspective. The Mormon lifestyle is, one that very few practice today. With that said, Mormon's aren't completely weird. We don't drink alcohol, so that gets rid of us going to the bar or buying 24 packs. We don't use tobacco, so that nixes having to go to the convienent store unless we need gas for our cars. We don't drink coffee, tea or wine, so that gets rid of that lifestyle of waking up in the morning and having your "cup of Joe." From that stand-point alone our lifestyle is pretty different from about 75% of the United States. Mormon's go to bed, they wake up, most usually read scriptures, and if they are in families they have family scripture study in the morning. Then after the father goes to work and maybe the mother, then the kids go to school. The parents try to keep the family in unity, by having the scripture study in the morning, this gives the family time to be together. At the dinner table, it's not necessarily the food that is important but the family interaction that is met while eating at the table. As husband and wife they live their life to respect and grow to love one another. As parents they learn to rear their children and become parents not friends to the children. They love their children and do all they can to help them. Children do what they can to help out the parents and do what they can to do well in school.
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Are all Mormons required to serve a mission?
Colby Stewart Haymond
This is a very good question. When it comes to missionary work, most religions don't have a program, few have extensive missionary work. However the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is perhaps the most well known of any missionary service in the world. It is a commandment from the Prophet that all worthy male members ages 19-26 should serve a mission. However, even with that said, they still don't have to serve if they don't want. For the females they are not required by the prophet to serve missions, they do however have the chance if they want to. Sister missionaries can serve at age 21. Male missionaries serve for 2 years and sister missionaries serve for 18 months 1 1/2 years. These are full time missions.
Age groups that are older than this are what we call member missionaries, it is their job or duty to always be a missionary. They don't however have to do exactly as the full-time missionaries are doing. In our church everyone is a missionary. It's just the full-time missionaries devote their whole time to it, whereas members have jobs and lives of their own that they have to juggle while still being a member of the church.
When you are retired you can go on a senior couple mission. Where you and your spouse can go on a mission. Senior couples can go on 6,12,18 or 24 month missions. Senior couple missionaries have more lee way than 19-26 year old full-time missionaries. They don't have the same restrictions.
In essence everyone is a missionary.
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What do Mormons believe concerning the doctrine of grace?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Grace is a huge misnomer with other religions. It is through Christ's grace that saves us. The suffering in Gethsemane which Christ took upon us the sins of the world, is called the Atonement. It is through Christ's grace that saves us, but that is done through the Atonement. When you are saved through grace that is what we mean by in LDS culture as being immortal or resrrected. It doesn't mean that you will have Eternal Life, it means that we are saved through our diligence, faith and enduring to the end that we are ultimately saved.
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What is the priesthood?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Simply the Priesthood is the authority to act in God's name. Christ was given the authority by his Father (God) to act in his behalf. That same authority was given to the Apostles and they were to minister in the absence of Christ. That same authority that Christ and His Apostles had on the Earth 2000 years ago, has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Like when Christ was alive he healed the sick and ministered to those who are in need. The Priesthood today does exactly that. It heals the sick according to the faith of the giver and the receiver. It also ministers to those who are in need whether they are a member or not, it doesn't matter.
You might ask why does the Priesthood matter? It is a simple answer, if it wasn't for the Priesthood nothing we do in the church would matter. The Priesthood gives us the authority to do the things we do as a church. All the ordinances in the temple would be for naught, the right to preside in a meeting wouldn't mean anything. The Priesthood is everything to us, the church and should mean something to the world.
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Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints endorse political parties?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The church does not affiliate with ANY political parties. Most people seem to think that we do, when the church encourages it's members to vote on a particular legislature. This is because the church stands for something and has values. When something that is being voted on and the people have a chance to vote on it, then the church will encourage it, as representatives of a concerned community, not neccesarily as members of the church. Our first amendment gives us the right of free speech.
When it comes to Presidential elections, the church doesn't support either Republican, Democrat or Independent parties. They support members who make and put in the time to vote in our country, because that is the most basic thing as members of this country that we can do, it basic but soooo very important that we do so.
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What do Mormons believe about the Holy Ghost? Who is the Holy Ghost?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The Holy Ghost is the unsung hero outside the LDS church. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, he was there when Jesus was baptized, in the form of a dove. When Jesus was on the Earth, the Holy Ghost wasn't. Once Jesus died and was resurrected, the Holy Ghost dwelt on the Earth. The Apostles had the Gift of the Holy Ghost once Jesus left the Earth. Today you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by one holding the Priesthood of God. The Holy Ghost provides comfort and gives us our answers to our prayers and helps us understand doctrine. The Holy Ghost is essential for us. The Holy Ghost helps us in our every day life to discern from good and bad. We need the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives.
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Are Mormons Christians?
Colby Stewart Haymond
It is evermore occuring in the media that the LDS church is not a Christian church. We are a Christian church, everything that we teach in the church at Sacrament meeting, Sunday School, Priesthood/Relief Society, primary, Young Men/Young Women's all meetings in the church teach something that is an appendage to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for Jesus Christ, none absolutely none of our Doctrine would be important. We as a church do not focus on Christ's death, that doesn't mean we aren't Christian, because we don't put crucifixes all around our church and houses, doesn't mean we aren't Christian. The message that we share with the world is that he lives he stands on the right hand of the Father and that we can become like him, that is our purpose. Is to be like Christ and his Father. What more could Christ want for us? He wouldn't want us to follow him and then become his servants? He would want us to become like him and be happy exactly as he is happy. That is through family. We are a Christian church because our message is CENTERED on Jesus Christ, it is not centered on Paul, Mary or Peter. It is cented on Jesus who is the Christ. It is through Christ that we are able to get back to the Father, without Christ we are NOTHING.
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Who chooses the Mormon prophet?
Colby Stewart Haymond
It's pretty simple how an LDS Prophet is called to be a prophet. In the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, you have one who is in charge. He presides over the other 11. President Monson is the Prophet and presides over the whole church. Even though President Monson has 2 counselors that doesn't mean they are going to be the next in line to be Prophet. Once the Prophet dies the remaining 14 or so Apostles left meet together. The Apostle who has seniority presides at the meeting, he is then given the opporunity to be Prophet. He doesn't have to be, (he still has his agency to choose.) In this case President Boyd K. Packer is the President over the 12 Apostles. Once he decides the rest of the Apostles lay their hands on him and confirm him the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He then chooses his two counselors, it is usually one of the Twelve Apostles but it can be any worthy male who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood.
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Why is authority to perform a baptism important?
Colby Stewart Haymond
I'll illustrate this question with an example. You are driving down the Highway and you are going 90 m.p.h in a 75 m.p.h zone. You hear the ice cream man truck speeding behind you signalling you to pull over. You pull over and he gives you a makeshift ticket that you have to pay for speeding on the Highway. What would you tell the Ice cream man? Would you look at him like "what?" or "get lost?" In that same situation what if the Highway Patrol turn on it's lights told you to pullover and give you a ticket for speeding. What would you say? Would you say the same thing?
This goes for the same thing with authority. The Highway Patrol has the Authority to right tickets, the Ice cream man doesn't. You need to be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God. When someone has that Priesthood they hold the Authority of God, God gives them permission to do the baptism and thus making the baptism valid in God's eyes.
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What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to sacrifice His life?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is central to the message and Gospel that we teach in this Church. The Atonement is the act that Jesus Christ did to endure the pains, afflictions, sorrows, fears, uneasiness, misfortune and other feelings that will befall us in this life. Because of that he bore the sins of the world, if he did not do so, all of us would be doomed to go to Hell. It's not a pretty sight, but the Atonement is the Very most important thing that has ever happened on this earth. It was necessary for Christ to do this because if he didn't none of us besides him would be able to make it back to God our Father in Heaven. Christ was perfect, the only one that was allowed or could make the sacrifice necessary for the Atonement.
The Atonement includes, Christ suffering in Gethsemane or grove of olive trees. The death & hanging on the cross on Golgatha and lastly his ressurection. These 3 things make up the Atonement. All 3 were necessary for him to do. The church focuses on the resurrection part of the Atonement, since Christ lives today we don't find it necessary to worship the cross or carry it with us as we go about our day. He lives he has graced his three days prison, he stands today on the Right Hand of God and it is because of him that we have happiness in this life.
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What is the Book of Mormon?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The Book of Mormon as it's sub title says Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It's a second witness of Jesus Christ. Just like the New Testament doesn't detract from the Old Testament, neither does the Book of Mormon detract from the Bible. It acts as a companion to each other, just like it says in Ezekiel 37:15, where it talks about the stick of Judah the Bible, and the Stick of Joseph the Book of Mormon. They become one in your hands. The Bible and Book of Mormon as the scripture says become one they are witnesses that Jesus is the Christ, and that he is the Son of God and he shed his blood by way of the Atonement. The Book of Mormon is a convicning evidence of just that. As the chapter in 2 Nephi 33 says, that if you believe on the words of Christ you shall believe this book. The only way you can know the book is of God is by asking him in a humble prayer if the book is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet called today.
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What does Mormonism teach regarding baptism?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We teach that baptism is essential to salvation. Without it you cannot even touch heaven. Being baptized means to be submerged in water completely, to symbolize a washing away of your sins and a new covenant you make to continue in righteousness. The sacrament is a reminder and a refresher of your commitment at baptism to continually have Christ in your life. Without Baptism you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. That is why we put SO MUCH emphasis on temples so that we can baptize our deceased ancestors who did not have the chance to do so on this earth. In the end everyone on this earth will have had the opportunity to be baptized.
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How are the activities of the Mormon missionaries funded?
Colby Stewart Haymond
How the missionaries are funded is primarily by themselves or their family. A mission is roughly between 10,000-11,000$. Their monthly expenses are 400$ no matter where they go, the family pays through the church, which they give their donation by means of the local bishop. Missionaries use a credit card that gives them a certain amount of money per month. The rent & utilities is taken from the 400$, then whatever is left is for the missionaries to buy food. The funds is sacred, you are not to misuse this money, in essense it is the property of the church. If you do not pay for your mission the church will, but they strongly encourage that you pay for it yourself, it shows that you are comitted and less likely to quit or give up early on your mission.
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What will the Mormon missionaries talk about when they visit my home?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Being a missionary myself, what missionaries will do is, bring the materials that have been requested by the individual. When we come over to your house, we will give you the materials whether they be a DVD, pamphlet or a Book of Mormon. We will then setup an appointment to come back and answer any questions you have. If you don't want to investigate further tell them so that they don't come back. Be polite to the missionaries but if you aren't interested once you have looked over the material just politely tell them you aren't interested so they don't waste yours and their time coming back when you aren't interested.
The missionaries just want to get to know you, is the bottom line.
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What do Mormons believe about "eternal life?"
Colby Stewart Haymond
Eternal life is a concept that is both in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Eternal life is mistaken for immortality or that immortality is eternal life. Although the word Eternal life and immortality may seem at first the same thing but they are really different. Eternal life the greatest gift that God can bestow to man, why is that you might ask. God is all knowing and created everything, in essence he has and can do everything. Giving you the chance to live forever and have the chance to be like him is the best he can give you, which is a lot. Immortality, is where you will live forever but you will not have the ability to become like our Heavenly Father (God), you will have a ressurected and perfect body but you won't have the potential to become like your Heavenly Father.
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Why are only some Mormons allowed into temples? Is there something secret going on in Mormon Temples? What goes on in Mormon Temples?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The reason why only some Mormons are allowed into temples is because you need to be worthy to enter into the temple. You need to have clean hands and a pure heart, Psalms 24:5-6. If everyone were able to enter into the temple, then the spirit of God would not be able to dwell there. Jesus cast out moneychangers in the temple in Jerusalem? They were perverting the temple and making it a place of getting gain temporally instead of spiritually. There isn't anything secret that we are hiding from the government or any ludicrous things of that nature. Why we do this in closed doors is because of the sacredness of the ordinances that are performed there. Like mentioned above if everyone was allowed there would not be a sacredness to the temple and these ordinances would mean a lot less than what they are today. Usually in the basement of the temples is the baptismal font where we do baptisms for the dead, we do the ordinances of baptism for the dead in that font. We have someone who acts in proxy (substitution) of someone who is deceased and didn't have the opportunity to be baptized while on this earth.
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Why don’t women hold the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How do Mormon women lead in the Church?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We believe that neither is the man without the women, neither is the women without the man in the Lord (paraphrased a bit). Neither male or female is better than the other, thus you would think that the women would hold the Priesthood. Only worthy males are allowed to bear the Priesthood. The Priesthood is how men grow and learn how to become men. Womenhood is how women learn to become women to grow and learn as well. Men and Women by virtue of themselves are different, they both learn by different ways. The Priesthood is how men learn to be better husbands, fathers & sons. Womenhood is how women learn to be better wives, mothers & daughters. Because men and women are different they come together to learn from the differences that they both have.
In the Primary, Young Womens and Relief Society we have the women of the Church lead. In those areas of the church is where the women of the church lead. I wouldn't see having a man with 2 counselors and a secretary being the governing body of the Relief Society. How could the 4 men be able to relate to these women, how could they be able to help them with certain needs that only women can accomplish? This is why women are leaders and responsible for certain areas of the church since they are of a more caring disposition, they also can relate better than men. That is why men hold the Priesthood so they can learn leadrship skills over the head of the church, and things relating to that nature.
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What are Mormon Temples used for?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Have you every wondered why people have had a renewed interest in family history or genealogy? The LDS Church has been doing for the longest time. Why we do this is so we can use the information we find from family history is so we can do their ordinances in the Temple. Members of the Church are baptized by Immersion. What if someone in their family wasn't? Wouldn't a merciful God give a chance to all of us? He sure would, we do baptisms for the dead to give a chance to our deceased ancestors the opportunites of these saving ordinances that they will need but can do them since baptism is an earthly ordinace. That cannot be done in heaven. Temples are really important in the work of the dead.
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What is faith?
Colby Stewart Haymond
mmm, faith it's such a small word but yet it means so much. Faith is the driving force that compells you do to something even though you do not physically see it. Along with that faith is a hope for something that you can't see but is TRUE. You can't have faith in things that don't exist. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel, why? Everything depends on faith, if you have faith but don't act on it, whats it worth to you? Nothing, it's not worth anything if you cannot act on your faith. You only need a small amount of faith, to exercise faith. Once you have exercised that small amount of faith it will grow and you will see it grow as well. You will be more hopefull for things, you will have more confidence in others and yourself. Once you have grown in faith, everything else in the Gospel has a chance to be learned through your faith. If you have doubts, you will not have enough room for faith.
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Why was a Restoration of the Gospel needed? Haven’t we always had the Bible?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Using the scriptures that the church gives which are good scriptures, I like them. After Jesus Christ had died and soon following all of his Apostles (besides John, but that doesn't matter) died. Jesus had blessed them to do the same things that He could. That Priesthood authority that Jesus and the Apostles had was gone. After 100 A.D there was no authority on the earth, this is known as the Great Apostasy. To the Catholics they don't believe in this, they believe that the Pope has a never broken line between the Apostles and the Pope, (I'm not a Catholic scholar just wanted to point that out). With the use of these scriptures that authority that was on the earth is gone.
In the 1500's was called the Reformation, where doctrine was dramatically changed because it had strayed soo much from the original truth that was found in the Bible. Thus the Bible was secretly translated from Hebrew to German, then from German to English and then to other languages. The Bible is a good source of truth. It does hold everything that is needed for salvation but so many people misinterpret what it means, and there is also a very good amount of errors that are errors in translation or translation that has shifted the meaning by using another word that the language only has for that word. The Restoration was needed because truths were being distorted and like times past in the Bible when the people hit a rock bottom, that is when God calls another prophet, and Joseph Smith is that prophet.
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How can we stop the spread and influence of pornography?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Of all of Satan's techniques to bind us, this is the most effective and is usually the root of other evils in the world. If we were to get rid of Pornography we would see a decent decline in some crimes. Pornography on the computer can be stopped by not participating in it, have software that blocks sites like those. They may be free at first but if you participate more and become addicted you are more apt to buy the better stuff.
The other problem is also, in movies. All rated R movies has some kind of pornography in it. By not going to those movies you will not be buying a ticket, and if you aren't buying a ticket then the producers who made the film might get the image that they shouldn't go that direction. Addition to that is PG-13 movies, have become, pretty much rated R movies but not as bad. Look at not just the rating but as to why it is rated PG-13. Don't go to those movies that have nudity in them or things like that. Not going to a movie in theaters is the best thing to do. If movie theaters see that movies like those don't sell well, they just might be more inclined to not buy film for those movies.
These industries need money in order to survive. By not participating in them you in turn save you money and also you don't give them money to go make another morally wrong movie. I can tell you that a movie that is rated R or has nudity in it, is a movie that is not worth your time or your memory thinking about it later.
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What is a ward/stake/branch?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The LDS church organizes itself into Wards or Branches and then Stakes. To start off, a Ward is a basic collection of members in any given part of the world. It ranges from about 250 to 700 members. If a ward gets too big they split the ward and make it smaller, 700 members is a lot of people. A branch is like a ward but has smaller members than a ward. The Ward has at the head a Bishop, he has charge over the members of that church. The Bishop has 2 counselors that act for the Bishop if he isn't there and to help him out. Along with the Bishop is secretaries and ward clerks. A ward has a Primary where the children 3-11 go, the Primary is headed by a primary president. Then there is Young Men's for boys, Young Women's for girls, these ages range from 12-18, they are also headed by a Young Men and Young Women's President. Next you have the Elder's Quorum, which is a male 18+ attends, who is also headed by a Elder's Quorum President. Then you have for the 18+ females is Relief Society, which is then headed by a Relief Society President.
All of these Presidents are there to coordinate with that given assignment area. The Relief Society President has charge over the Women of the ward ages 18+, she doesn't however have charge over the Elder's Quorum. When you combine these Presidents and the Ward Mission Leader, then the Bishopric you have what is called the Ward Council.
A stake is a collection of Wards, with a Stake President who looks over the Wards.
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What is the difference between attending church and the temple?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Attending Church and the Temple is very important. The difference is, that Church is a meeting house for all members of the church and visitors. Everyone is welcome in our meeting houses for our worship. The church is for instruction on Gospel topics, it is where the Sacrament is performed. It is where we worship together as a ward family. We learn of Christ and all of his teachings both anciently and modern through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Now, for the Temple. Everyone in our Church makes it a focus to make it to the Temple. Only worthy members of age 12+ can enter in the temple and perform the ordinances there. From ages 12-17, they can only participate in baptisms for the dead. When they are 18+ they can do baptisms for the dead, but now they can do the higher ordinances in the Temple, such as Sealings & the Endowment Session.
The temple is where we make sacred covenants, the meetinghouse (church) is where we worship and learn in the Gospel. The church everyone can enter and partake. The Temple only worthy members may enter.
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Do Mormons practice polygamy?
Colby Stewart Haymond
Short answer: NO. In times past we did practice polygamy, but with the Official Declarion 1 that was given by Wilford Woodruff, we today from that point onward (1890) we have not practiced polygamy. Since the law of the land had prohibited it, the church came out with that Declaration because of our belief in the 12th article of faith where we believe in being subject to Kings, rulers, Presidents, Magistrates in honoring and obeying the law. Paraphased a bit, whenever the law of the land prohibits something that pertains to the Gospel the Lord see's fit to relinquish that law. Polygamy was more of a obedience to the law of God more than the practice of having multiple wives. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, God doesn't delight in bloodshed so why did God command him to do it? Obedience to God's commandments are more important than the commandment itself. Same with Saul and having the Lord command Saul to kill the King Agag and his people and all the sheep and cattle. Saul didn't do all of it, but most. He told Samuel that he left the sheep for sacrifice unto the Lord. Samuel then told Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice. The same is with Polygamy, it was something that would test the saints at the time, the saints passed with flying colors and were obedient to the Lord and obeyed his commandment.
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Why do Mormon missionaries proselyte?
Colby Stewart Haymond
We proselyte so that we can share our unique message of Jesus Christ. Our message is, is that Christ church's is restored in these days. How Christ did that was through Joseph Smith who we proclaim as a Prophet. It was through Joseph Smith, the church was organized just like how Christ organized it when he was on the earth roughly 2000 years ago. That message alone is why missionaries proselyte.
Along with proseltying means a lot of things. Tracting is probably the most well-known means of proselyting as any denominational of missionaries would. Knocking on doors and riding our bike and talking to people are ways that we communicate with people. But they aren't effective ways for us to spread our unique message. Most people who we knock on the door in most cases have something they have to do at that moment in time, and to have random 19-21 year old men at the door is a little intimidating.
The most effective way for us missionaries to proselyte is through the members of our church, who find individuals for us to meet with and hopefully teach. They have someone who they know and they know what they can expect from us by their friends who are members.
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What do Mormons believe about the nature of God?
Colby Stewart Haymond
The first belief of our church is: " We believe in God the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost." We believe that these three individuals are what make up the Godhead. They are individual and separate. The first two that I mentioned have a body much like ours, except their's is perfect and our isn't. The third member of the Godhead doesn't have body, he has a spirit. If it were not so, he could not dwell in us. The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to bear testimony/witness to us of the other two in the Godhead.
God is a perfect being, he is also our Heavenly Father, Christ is our Elder brother. We are on this earth to be tested to see if we are worthy to come back in the presence of our God & Father. This time on earth is the time for us to prepare to meet God. We aren't perfect on this earth, but if we keep the commandments that his Son Jesus Christ laid down for us we can become like him, perfect, immortal and be able to have Eternal Life which is the greatest gift that he can bestow upon us.
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Why do you have 12 Apostles? They were just meant to be around for the time of Jesus Christ, not to be replaced with new apostles.
Colby Stewart Haymond
If Christ choose 12 Apostles when he was alive then why would he have gone to such lengths to find them. He could have just taught people and hoped that they understood his message, he could have talked to as many people as he could and hoped that he talked with everyone. The 12 were there to assist Christ in his ministry and also they were something that was going to stay. LIke it says in the scriptures given in the offical church answer, Paul indicated that Apostles had some kind of purpose, and they were to bring us to the unity of the faith. We have Apostles today because we follow the example that Jesus set for us, and we are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are his church on this earth today, and we follow what he did and that is why we have Apostles.
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What is done with the tithing that Mormons pay?
Colby Stewart Haymond
In the LDS church we have many "funds" as you can call them. The main two funds is Tithing and Fast Offering. Tithing is what maintains church's such as utilites and lawn care, etc. Tithing is also the fund in which we build more temples, church's, seminary buildings and any building that is for main use by the church. The other main one is fast offering, this is used at a ward and stake level. The Bishop of the ward gathers the monthly fast offerings and he uses that money to put towards individuals in the ward who may need it, financially. If for any reason the money isn't used or leftovers, they go to the stake and the stake uses it at their level. Once the stake has used it, it then goes back to church headquarters and is used throughout the world, mainly for disaster relief that has frequently been happening recently.
Those are the two main funds in the church. There are other ones like perpetual education fund, general mission fund, ward mission fund, book of mormon and some others. These ones have specific reasons for the fund. Perpetual education is where the church helps out individuals who do not have means of getting an education so the church helps out that way. General mission fund is where you donate to the missionaries throughout the world, ward mission is where you donate to the missionaries in your ward. Book of Mormon fund is where you donate to the printing and creation of new copies of the Book of Mormon.
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