From the Heart and Soul of a Mormon

I feel it needed that my witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ be written down for generations to see.

I, Clark LeRay Herlin, know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, my Savior.  I know that the Bible is true and teaches of the need for Jesus.  I know that Jesus Christ came down as God's Only Begotten Son and atoned for my sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary.  I know he was resurrected after three days in the tomb.  I know He has a body of flesh and bone, like His Father's.  I know They live with bodies of flesh and bone.

I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.  I know that Joseph Smith received the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods from John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John respectively.  I know that Joseph Smith gave the Priesthood Keys he held into the hands of the entire Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before he and Hyrum were martyred.  I know those Keys are with the LDS Church today.

By knowing that the Book of Mormon is true, I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Joseph Smith was the Prophet called of God to restore His Church, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living Church upon the face of the earth.  I know that the Priesthood Keys are vested within said Church, and no other church.

I know the Authority to bind families together forever can only be found and used in the Houses of the Lord built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I know that I will have my wife in the eternities in the marriage relationship because of the Sealing Authority, which Authority is only within the LDS Church.

I know that the Word of Wisdom was given by God through Joseph Smith, and that by abiding within it's principles our temporal salvation is secure.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God today - the only man authorized by God to use all the Priesthood Keys.  I know that the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles now living are prophets, seers, and revelators and speak God's will for us today.

I know that the calamities spoken by ancient and modern prophets will be poured out upon those who do not follow God's servants.  I know all I have previously written within The Mormon Eagle is true, and is my witness, forever given to the world through the medium of the Internet.

I know God lives, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the LDS Church is true - the only true Church - through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mormon Theology no. 14 - Are Mormons Christian?

An article appeared from the Associated Press which states,

"A Presbyterian church was happy to have Jeremy and Jodi Stokes as Cub Scout leaders, at least until officials there found out they are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and told them they would have to step down because the church does not consider them real Christians."

Most Evangelical churches teach that Mormons are not Christians.  They are wrong, and I will say why.

First off, the Mormon Church's official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as received through revelation (D&C 115:4).  What more evidence do you need than that?

Second, I will cite scripture which states our position.  From the Book of Mormon we read, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:26)"  Also from the Book of Mormon we have the words of the prophet Amulek: "And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Alma 34:8)"

The Bible teaches us, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31)"  From the pen of Isaiah the prophet we read, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)"  He also writes in chapter 9 verse 6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Councellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

In modern times the Prophet Joseph Smith said,  

"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it. (HC 3:30)"

The world's current prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has said,

"I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that . . . Jesus is . . . the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. (Ensign, May 2007, 22–25)"

I, Clark LeRay Herlin, also know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does indeed teach and preach of Him, and those that say He does not need look again!

Mormon Theology no. 3 - The Book of Mormon

To truly understand the LDS nature of the Godhead and all other doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ, one must understand where that doctrine comes from - the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the hinge upon which the door to our other doctrines is opened. All our doctrines can be found in the Book of Mormon. But before the doctrines can be understood, the nature of the Book must be understood first.

The Book of Mormon was written between the years 600 BC and AD 421 by many prophets and apostles that lived on the American continent. The preeminent figure in the Book is the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Book is to bring all unto Christ to obtain salvation in His only true and living Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the only book in the world to be hand delivered by an angel to a boy whom God hand picked.

If the Lord's words in the Holy Bible are sufficient enough, then what of the Mormons claiming new and additional revelations? Does not the Bible contain sufficient? The answer is that it does not. Throughout the Bible, the Savior's prophets and apostles have spoken about Israel being restored a SECOND TIME to the land of their inheritance. The Book of Mormon teaches that it alone is proof of this second gathering of the Lord's people. The Mormon Missionaries are called to go to California, Chile, Korea, Japan, Germany, and all the world to find the remnants of Israel. They go out preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified through this ever-revelatory book. This preaching comes with a prescript: obey the teachings within the Book of Mormon, repent of past sins, be baptized by immersion by those having proper authority, and receive eternal salvation in the Kingdom of God or be damned for all eternity. We say this because it is a fact that if one rejects the Book of Mormon and the teachings of Jesus Christ within it, that person rejects Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Having said this, I extend an invitation to all people. Come! Come and begin to read this marvelous book known to the world as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Doing this will answer all your questions (especially those questions about the nature of the afterlife) and will lead you to total joy. This I know because i have read the Book of Mormon and seen it change people's lives, including my own. It can change your life as well. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!