What it means to be Mormon

So I have this young friend who is thinking about being baptized in our church.  Her Dad said she could be baptized when she could answer what it meant to be baptized.  Thinking of this I wrote a letter to this friend, explaining to her what it meant for me to be Mormon.  I thought I'd include it here, since I also want my own children to know what it means for me to be Mormon.  The letter follows.

I was supposed to write this letter a long time ago.  I just ran across a note on my phone that said, “What does it mean to me to be a mormon?” and with that some thoughts that I jotted down.  I made this note to myself when I heard that you were taking the discussions and that your dad was going to let you be baptized when you could tell him what it means to be a Mormon.  I don’t know where you are in this process currently, but I wanted to let you know what it means to me to be Mormon. 

I grew up in the church.  My parents were Mormons before I was born so going to church is what I did from a young age to now.  It was what our family did together.  Despite this, I have many times in my life questioned is this where I should be?  Are the teachings of the church true?  Does Heavenly Father really have a purpose for us here?  Is there a living prophet?  Is the Book of Mormon really true?  And each time, I come back to the answer of YES, this is where I need to be and all these things are true.  I know because of the great happiness I have from being a “Mormon”.

Being Mormon means first that I believe in God or Heavenly Father.  I believe he created us.  I believe he loves us.   I believe he wants us to become better, like him, and because of this he sent us to earth.  I believe he loves all of us equally and wants us to return to his presence…all of us.

Being Mormon means I believe in Jesus Christ.  I believe that Jesus Christ is God’s son and that he is a separate distinct individual from Heavenly Father. I believe he came to earth to show us the example of how to live.  Being Mormon means I try to follow his teachings as best I can.  Being Mormon means that I believe in the atonement of Jesus Christ which means I can repent of my wrongdoings when I don’t follow what Jesus teaches.  Being Mormon means I believe we will live again after this life and be resurrected because of what Jesus Christ did. 

Being Mormon means I believe in the Holy Ghost.  I believe Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ use the Holy Ghost to help all mankind know what is right and wrong.  I believe that through the Holy Ghost I can receive answer to my prayers.  I believe that through the Holy Ghost I can receive revelation for me and for my family.  I believe that when I follow the Holy Ghost I can become more like Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Being Mormon means I believe in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.   It means I try to read these books because they testify of Jesus.  It means that I believe that God spoke to man and taught us about Jesus anciently, not only the jews, but all mankind.  He gave us these teachings to help us remember.  Believing in the Bible and Book of Mormon means I believe in prophets of old.

Being Mormon means I believe there is a prophet today.  I believe that God and Jesus Christ did appear to Joseph Smith.  God and Jesus Christ did help him translate the Book of Mormon.  God and Jesus Christ did help Joseph Smith restore the true church of Jesus Christ upon this earth complete with the priesthood and ordinances we need to return to the presence of Heavenly Father one day.  I believe that when Joseph Smith died, that God continued to speak with called men, prophets, to deliver his message to us.  I believe Thomas S. Monson communicates with God and helps us know God’s will for us during this time.  Because I believe in a prophet, confusing questions that I have become clear when I know what it is that God has taught.

These are the basics.  But I want you to know that being Mormon means so much more.  It means I try to be kind to all.  I try to serve others.  I try to be clean in my thoughts and actions.  It means I don’t drink or swear (although not swearing challenges me at times). It means I don’t have sex before I am married.  I don’t have relations with other men while I am married.  It means I believe my marriage can last forever.  It means I try forgive when someone offends me.  It means I believe in family.  It means when everything else in my life has gone wrong, I can put one foot in front of the other and keep moving because I know God and Jesus Christ love me.  I know that when I have done all I can, they will make up the difference.

I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I love our prophet.  I love the pure and simple teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Being Mormon doesn’t make me better than other people, it makes me a better me than I would be without it.

If you ever need anything, as a friend and your primary teacher, I am here to listen and help, regardless of whether you choose to be Mormon or not.