In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we believe in - TopicsExpress

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we believe in modern day prophets who guide us in the same way as prophets like Moses guided his people in the past. It is not uncommon for many people to question such organization in modern days. Why the need of modern day prophets? Doesnt the bible teach that in the last days many false prophets would rise up to deceive many? Jesus taught that by their fruits we will know them (Matthew 7:15). The first prophet in the church was Joseph Smith who we believe restored the Church of Christ. As part of the process of this restoration, he was given ancient records, new scripture, which he translated and is now recognized as The Book of Mormon. As part of the careful evaluation encourage by Jesus so many years ago, missionaries around the world encourage many to read The Book of Mormon, ponder its message, and pray to God with a sincere heart and with real intention, in the name of Christ, whether these things are not true, with the promise that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may know the truth of it. I did such evaluation and received my answer, and have decided to join and remain in the church. Recently, the Church and its standards have gained public attention due to alleged issues of gender inequality. More recently events resulting in the excommunication of a member who was advocating for the ordination of priesthood to women have again brought attention to this. Such attention can so easily open doors for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. If members do in fact experience inequality among their congregations, it is not a result of doctrine, teachings, or practices in the church but rather a result of our human nature and imperfection. In response to this recent event, the First Presidency of the church, which includes the one we sustain as todays Prophet, released a statement on the matter if you care to read what is the actual position of the Church on the matter. The priesthood does not determine whether a member can make meaningful contributions to the church. Although my religious beliefs do influence some of my political views, which vary depending on the situation, I do not hold views that are solely conservative or liberal by default. I just took the time to create this post because the Church means so much to me and my family and I wish to do my best to dispel misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Excommunication is not something that should be treated lightly, and it is very sad for anyone who has to undergo this process. My family and I have prayed for all those directly or indirectly affected by this decision. https://lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/june-first-presidency-statement?lang=eng