Matters of Faith

I find it interesting that a Baptist preacher gets so much press from declaring (backed up by the Southern Baptist Confernce) that Mormons are a cult and are not Christians. Why does any group get to say whether this church or that church is not Christian? I, a Mormon, belong to the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I declare myself a follower of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. I believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. I declare that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was founded not by a man as the preacher says but by Jesus Christ who was also head of the ancient Church. Joseph Smith was his prophet, called as was Moses. I declare my belief in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, as well as the Bible, as far as it is translated correctly. Other declared Christians can in all validity say that Mormons are not Evangelicals; Mormons are not Protestants; Mormons are not Baptists--but they have no right to say that Mormons are not Christians. I would not decide that Baptists or Methodists are not Christians because they do not follow every doctrine that I embrace. 11th Article of Faith: "We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God, according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege. Let them worship how, where, and what they may." I love and support all who claim Christ as their Savior and Redeemer and support their right to claim the title of Christian, as I do for myself and Mormons around the world.

Matters of Civility

Sometimes our course is set by the immediate needs of the children before us. When we see a child in pain, ridiculed, belittled, we reach out to do whatever is in our power to correct it. And so it was this last week at Copper Hills. A rather strange little girl, odd and different in so many ways, was the object of a cruel game perpetrated by her classmates. They were mocking her, name calling, poking, and pushing. Not only one or two students joined in, but whole classes sided against this singular child. Her teacher wondered what could be done. I called the District’s attorney and the head of student services. Bullying. What is to be done when it is 94 against one? The lawyer took it personally as the father of children on the autism spectrum. The teacher was heart-broken that her students could be involved in such unkindness. The girl and her mother, sadly, said it was okay—they were used to it. It was not okay! We had a meeting with all the students to appeal to their hearts and minds because it is not ever okay to stand by while one child hurts. It is our duty and our choice to make a difference to the one and to the 94.