LDS Beliefs? (Jesus Christ, priest, ritual, Latter-Day Saints, Earth)

[KPereira]

"
Below is a passage from The Wentworth Letter that Joseph Smith Jr. wrote after being asked about the basic beliefs of the Church. This collection of thirteen statements are known as the Articles of Faith and present an overview generally accepted by most Latter Day Saint denominations. However, certain denominations have different articles of faith, and others have modified the Articles to reflect later doctrinal developments.

1. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that these ordinances are 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d, Repentance; 3d, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God by "prophesy, and by laying on of hands" by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists &c.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophesy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues &c.
8. We believe the bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes. That Zion will be built upon this [the American] continent. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiac glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul "we believe all things we hope all things," we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praise worthy we seek after these things."

This is all from Wikipedia, no less.

I agree with numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, half agree with number 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13

But I was wondering if there was any LDS out there who could explain to me numbers 4, 5, and 10.

4. What does "Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" mean, exactly?

5. I just don't understand this one. Is it saying that anyone who preaches the gospel must be a prophet ?

10. Is this claiming that Jesus will come again and rule over the Earth? Perhaps a better explanation of it would help me understand?

Thanks in advance for any responses I may get .

[Katzpur]

I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of moving this to the "Discuss Individual Religions" forum, to the sub-forum on "Latter-day Saints." From your OP, it didn't really sound as if you were interested in debating these doctrines, but just understanding them. If I misinterpreted your intent, please PM me and I'll move it back. Thanks!

I'll start a new post to respond to your questions.

[KPereira]

Oh sorry lol. No, I don't mind it being moved. It was only that I was unsure about where to post it. Thanks Katzpur

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by KPereira

I agree with numbers 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, half agree with number 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13

But I was wondering if there was any LDS out there who could explain to me numbers 4, 5, and 10.

4. What does "Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" mean, exactly?

5. I just don't understand this one. Is it saying that anyone who preaches the gospel must be a prophet ?

10. Is this claiming that Jesus will come again and rule over the Earth? Perhaps a better explanation of it would help me understand?

Thanks in advance for any responses I may get .

First off, thanks for actually quoting official doctrine as opposed to something from one of the huge number of anti-Mormon websites out there. It is much appreciated!

Re #4: The "laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" is described briefly in Acts 8:14-19, which states, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."

While we believe that the Holy Ghost can and does reveal spiritual truths to the pure in heart of any religion at any time, we see the "Gift of the Holy Ghost" as something a little different. As you may or not know, we baptize children at the age of 8, which is the age at which we believe them to be capable of understanding the difference between right and wrong. Following baptism, those who hold the required priesthood authority (as did the Apostles anciently), lay their hands on the person's head, confirm them a member of Christ's Church, and give to them the "Gift of the Holy Ghost," or the promise that, if they continue to try to live in accordance with Christ's teachings, they will have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost at all times in the future.

Re #5: No, this does not mean that anyone who preaches the gospel must be a prophet, although our Church is led by a man we believe to be a prophet. Just as Catholics believe that the Pope holds the same authority as was given to Peter, we Latter-day Saints believe that the Prophet/President of our Church holds that authority. (We believe that the Church Christ established fell into apostasy shortly after the deaths of the Apostles, and was restored by the Savior Himself through the Prophet Joseph Smith -- but that's the subject for a whole new thread.) We don't believe that a person can go to divinity school or a theological seminary in order to get the authority necessary to perform the various ordinances/sacraments that Christ established, but that this authority can only be conferred upon someone by someone else who already holds it himself. With the exception of the "General Authorities" (the Prophet, twelve Apostles and the Seventy), ours is a lay ministry. While many are permitted to preach the gospel, that is not the same as holding priesthood authority.

Re #10: This pertains to the Second Coming of Christ and His Millennial Reign as described in part in the Book of Revelation. We do believe that Satan will be bound for a one thousand year period and that peace will reign on earth. This is the time when we believe we will be resurrected and receive a new, immortal body. Unless I'm mistaken, it's not terribly different from Catholic belief.

[silvermoon383]

4. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is given to a baptised person by 2 elders laying their hands on the person's head and giving them the Gift through the power of the priesthood and with the authority of Christ. The Gift of the HG means that the person now has the right to the constant companionship of the HG provided that they're worthy of it.

5. Not quite. It's saying that for someone to have authority in the Church, that person must recieve their authority from someone who already holds it (it's confered in the same way that the Gift of the HG is), and that the person giving the authority (Priesthood) must have prayed about it first, to determine wether or not that person should recieve such a gift.

10. Yes, we do believe that Christ will come again and that He will rule over the Earth as King.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by KPereira

"
4.We believe that these ordinances are 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d, Repentance; 3d, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.


4. What does "Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" mean, exactly?.

Laying on of hands is actually a preisthood ordinance where the men lay their hands upon the head of an individual and prounounce a blessing and the Holy Ghost upon that person. It's not what you imagine from the televangelists; it's very subdued, and the Holy Ghost is prounounced upon that individual.

Something else that might help:

"The gift of the Holy Ghost is the privilege given to a baptized person, after he/she has been confirmed a member of the Church, to receive guidance and inspiration from the Holy Ghost. Of course, the members of the Church must be worthy to receive revelation and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost. (Gospel Doctrine, Joseph F. Smith, pp. 60-61)

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by KPereira

We believe that a man must be called of God by "prophesy, and by laying on of hands" by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

5. I just don't understand this one. Is it saying that anyone who preaches the gospel must be a prophet ?

Not at all. We just mean that a man/woman must be called by a person with authority to teach AND adminsiter the ordinances of the gospel. The last part is extremley important. Anyone can preach the gospel of Christ, but to be able to adminster the ordinances, you need to have authority.


I'll leave number 10 to the others, because I'm not as well-versed in that one as I should be.

Hope some of what I explained helped.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by KPereira

4. What does "Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost" mean, exactly?

Here is another quote that may help (or confuse, as I'm known to do!)

"Every person who has reached or passed the age of accountability of eight years, and who with a totally repentant heart is baptized properly, positively will receive the Holy Ghost. If heeded, this member of the Godhead will guide, inspire, and warn, and will neutralize the promptings of the evil one. (President Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 14-15)