As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as (LDS), a little over sixty years ago, I was very impressed with the personal spiritual and progressive oriented doctrine, the organization and most importantly with the spirit displayed by the LDS people. Obviously, there have been many others that are and have been impressed as well. However, to commit to it, body and spirit, is quite a different level of admiration. That kind of commitment does not come from admiration based on its accomplishments, or from an astonishment at its longevity and growth, etc. That kind of commitment comes from having been touched by the spirit and having been given a sure witness of the truthfulness of its doctrine and mission in the world as well as its sacred mission to those who have passed on without having a knowledge of Christ and their relationship to Him. There are currently 75,000 Mormon Missionaries serving in over 188 of the 220 countries in the world today. The church has been growing at a rate of approximately 250,000 new converts every year. The church welfare services complements the preaching as it is one of the most comprehensive and well managed welfare programs in the world. The Church not only believes in charity but it actually practices what it preaches. The number of Temples in the world has grown from less than a handful 50 years ago, to over 150 throughout the world with more being built where the membership justifies them.
Author Leo Tolstoy
The following is an account of a conversation between Andrew D. White, United States foreign minister to Russia, in 1892, and Leo Tolstoy, Russian author and statesman. The conversation happened at a time when the church was fewer than half a million members. “Count Leo Tolstoy, said, “I wish you would tell me about your American religion.” “We have no state church in America,” replied Dr. White. “I know that, but what about your American religion?” Dr. White explained to Tolstoy that in America each person is free to belong to the particular church in which he is interested. Tolstoy impatiently replied: “I know all of this, but I want to know about the American religion. …The church to which I refer originated in America and is commonly known as the Mormon Church. What can you tell me of the teachings of the Mormons?” Doctor White said, “I know very little concerning them.” Then Count Leo Tolstoy rebuked the ambassador. “Dr. White, I am greatly surprised and disappointed that a man of your great learning and position should be so ignorant on this important subject. Their principles teach the people not only of heaven and its attendant glories, but how to live so that their social and economic relations with each other are placed on a sound basis. If the people follow the teachings of this church, nothing can stop their progress—it will be limitless.” Tolstoy continued, “There have been great movements started in the past but they have died or been modified before they reached maturity. If Mormonism is able to endure, unmodified, until it reaches the third and fourth generation, it is destined to become the greatest power the world has ever known.” The church Mr. Tolstoy referred to is now over 16 Million strong.
President John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy stated: “Of all the stories of American pioneers and settlers, none is more inspiring than the Mormon trail. The qualities of the founders of this community are the qualities that we seek in America, the qualities which we like to feel this country has, courage, patience, faith, self-reliance, perseverance, and, above all, an unflagging determination to see the right prevail. I know that many of you in this State and other States sometimes wonder where we are going and why the United States should be so involved in so many affairs, in so many countries all around the globe. If our task on occasion seems hopeless, if we despair of ever working our will on the other 94 percent of the world population, then let us remember that the Mormons of a century ago were a persecuted and prosecuted minority, harried from place to place, the victims of violence and occasionally murder, while today, in the short space of 100 years, their faith and works are known and respected the world around, and their voices heard in the highest councils of this country. As the Mormons succeeded, so America can succeed, if we will not give up or turn back.”
News Anchor, Walter Cronkite
About performing with the Tabernacle Choir: “I hope that somewhere, Mom and Dad are proud that little Walter is performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I have never been a religious person in the conventional sense, but I have felt nearer to my God the past couple of days than ever before.”
Lt. Gen. Russell
“For a long time I have talked about being individually prepared,” he said. “I have talked about community preparedness and government preparedness because we know on any given day Mother Nature can break anything built by man. I think what the Mormon Church has demonstrated and what it continues to demonstrate is what happens when you create a culture of preparedness within an organization.” Honoré said that when disasters hit, it is the poor and vulnerable who often suffer because they have a tendency to live in less-secure shelters. He cited a quote he saw mounted on the wall in Welfare Square from the Prophet Joseph Smith that reads: We are “to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or any other, or no church at all.” Honoré said he was impressed to see the commitment of the church to serving the poor with, not a “hand out,” but instead a “hand up.” He said seeing the church’s operation on television would be nothing compared to seeing it in person. “This is real,” he said. “This is the commitment of a people who know how to grow the food, process it, can it, distribute it and put it in the hands of the people who need it. This is phenomenal.” He said the depth and breadth of the operation and the church’s “commitment to excellence in transportation” was “most impressive.” “I’ve been to many a factory where food and personal things are kept,” he said.
“The cleanliness was beyond anything I’d ever seen before. You’ve got people dusting in warehouses; I’ve never seen that before.”
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life hosted a conference aimed at exploring a larger picture of Mormon life. “A Mormon World View” The discussion was centered around the Mormon Historian Richard Bushman. He was asked; “What is the question that Mormonism answers?” Bushman replied: “What Mormons really try to do is to offer a story—a story of human existence that begins in the world before and comes to this world. It answers the classic question of whence, why and where. It’s
not just something that stands above Mormons, but is imbued into their minds.” This broad view of humanity stirs the inspiration of Latter-day Saints, elevates their earthly aspirations and gives poetic meaning to their eternal longings. Accordingly, the journey of human life originated in a premortal existence, where each individual exercises free will and progresses spiritually by learning from a loving God the principles of truth and happiness. To further that progress, God provided a mortal existence in which His children could prove their faithfulness and fulfill a very individualized destiny. His personal guidance and mercy, manifested in the Savior Jesus Christ, give each individual more than ample opportunity to succeed. Participating in this mortal test is a choice each person makes freely. And the choices made in this life determine one’s station and activity in the eternities, where God reserves a unique place for all of His children. Throughout this process each individual maintains a core identity and posses immense capacity for growth and progress. Above all, the main purpose of God’s numberless creations is to allow his children to be happy. Anything but earth-bound, the most deeply-held desires of Latter-day Saints constantly stretch towards eternity. All earthly disappointments and loss can ultimately be redeemed, thus pro- viding a surety that the most precious things in life—human associations and personal character—can continue forever… This transcendent worldview affirms both a broad perspective of eternity and a focused concern with the immediacy of the present. It motivates actions into civic involvement by extolling the inherent worth of the individual and urging mutual responsibility between all humankind. It exalts the worth of intelligence and knowledge, and not only in this life—these will continue to increase and serve wonderful purposes in our eternal journey. …All human striving blends seamlessly into eternity.” There are thousands of testimonies of the church and its charitable missions around the world. Charitable missions are important but they represent a small part of an even greater work performed by the church in its world wide missionary effort to share the Gospel on both sides of the veil. The destiny of the church truly lies beyond the limits of just those who are living. “For if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor. 15:19). Missionary service is a sign of the true church. (1 Peter 3:15) “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (Mark 16:15) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The ‘dispensation of the fullness of times’ spoken of in the New Testament has been initiated by Holy Angels. The LDS Church or more appropriately called, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,’ The destiny of the church is to one day welcome the Savior back as prophesied in Holy Scriptures.