Me and the Mormons

During the Second Great Awakening of the 19th Century, a young man named Joseph Smith Jr. began soul searching for answers to his questions of religion and faith. During this time, he discovered ancient scripts about Jesus Christ engraved on gold plates. His interpretation of those scripts became the Book of Mormon, which teaches that Christ’s original Church has been restored in modern times with living apostles and prophets, starting with Joseph Smith. Following this, Smith helped organize the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In 1844, following the political death of Joseph Smith, the church split based on different leadership. The Latter-Day Saints established a Quorum of Twelve with a leader of Brigham Young and relocated to Utah. Another group chose Joseph Smith III as their leader and stayed in Missouri, this group became the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The Latter-Day Saints have unique beliefs separate from other Christian denominations. Some of those beliefs are: 

• faithful members must participate in...temple "endowment" ceremonies
• marriages performed in LDS temples can continue after death
• deceased persons can embrace Mormonism in the spirit world through 'baptism for the dead.' (MRM)

New Mexico and parts of surrounding states are served by the Albuquerque Temple. LDS Temples are not places of ordinary worship, they are only for weddings and special ceremonies, "the temple is to provide a dedicated place where sacred ordinances needed for eternal life can be performed." Only baptized mormons who have received an endowment can enter the temple. 

The Church divides geographical areas into stakes and then further divides them into wards (or branches.) Different wards often hold their weekly service, or sacrament meeting, at the same meetinghouse. Wards are presided over by a bishop and services are run by members of the congregation. There are no paid clergy in LDS. 

I attended the 11 am Albuquerque East Stake, Sandia Ward meeting on Sunday morning at the LDS Church at 4109 Eubank NE. Three separate Wards hold regular meetings there at different times. The services are very family oriented. All ages attend the service, one of the children even came up to me during the service and offered me a toy. ☺

They partook in sacrament, bread and water. I had not read anywhere of any restrictions on nonmormons partaking, so I honored the sacrament as well. 

Many hymns are sung throughout the service and several members spoke. The youth speaker explained the theory of GodHead. She made an analogy to the three branches of the U.S. government, three separate entities that make up one government. 

The adult speaker was a sister who was a 7th generation mormon. She spoke of the Law of Consecration, "a divine principle whereby men and women voluntarily dedicate their time, talents, and material wealth to the establishment and building up of God’s kingdom." She advised the congregants to live by the law they should:

• TITHE - give freely to the church and to the less fortunate
• SERVE - willingly in the church
• MISSION - serve your mission - the closest to living by the Law of Consecration
• BE CHRIST-LIKE in your love for others 

They show great pride and commitment to their religion and beliefs. After the meeting, all members study the bible in classes designated by age and sex. All LDS churches study the same curriculum every week in Sunday school. 

Interesting Note: LDS do not use the Cross as a symbol in their religion. 

THANK YOU Sandia Ward of Albuquerque LDS for sharing with me your Sacrament Meeting.