In this article, we will study Southern Baptist doctrines in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. For my research on the subject, I have referred to The Baptist Faith and Message published by the Southern Baptist Convention. The objective of this article is to identify and study doctrines that Baptists and Mormons have in common. This will provide an opportunity for me and my fellow Latter-Day Saints to learn about the Baptist faith, while at the same time allowing Baptists to see a vast amount of similarity between our faith and theirs. In the event we learn of differences, we'll document them, but likely not pursue them for deeper study or argument. In some cases, I'll give a link to another article to provide you with an opportunity to study those things in depth if you so choose.
Because of potential copyright issues, I won't copy from the Baptist Faith & Message text, but you can refer to it using the link provided above.
The Scriptures
Like the Baptists, we believe the scriptures are authored by God, truth revealed by Him for the purposes of guiding us toward His salvation.
Nephi and his father Lehi who lived in 600 B.C. viewed the scriptures as an "iron rod" that guides us along the straight and narrow way, past spiritual dangers, toward the great love of God. (see 1 Nephi 8,11)
Nephi had a great love for the scriptures: "And upon these (metal plates) I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass (essentially The Old Testament from Genesis through Isaiah, with some other books). For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." (2 Npehi 4:15)
Nephi taught his people: "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)
Concerning his own contribution to the Book of Mormon, Nephi said:
"...we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God... And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy 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 25:23-26)
During His mortal ministry the Savior reminded us: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)
LDS Lower Light - The Importance of Scripture Study: They Are They Which Testify of Me
God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost
These verses are words which the Savior spoke among the Nephites, following His resurrection and subsequent appearance in ancient America:
"...this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one." (3 Nephi 11:35-36, compare 1 John 5:7-9)
For extensive study of LDS beliefs about God, see my Bible-study article: The Holy Trinity
LDS Lower Light: Latter-Day Saints and the Creeds of Christendom
Man
We also believe man was created in the image of God and fell and became mortal by way of transgression - his own choice. In the Book of Mormon, a missionary by the name of Aaron taught a wicked king from the scriptures, starting at Genesis:
"And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen." (Alma 22:12)
The Savior told Moses:
"...behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)
The Savior told Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery:
We believe all people, no matter their race, religion, ethnicity, origin, their need, or their sin deserve to be treated with respect, as people in need of the Lord's saving grace. In teaching his people to follow Christ, king Benjamin in the Book of Mormon said:
Salvation and God's Purpose of Grace
We believe salvation is not just a resurrection from mortal death into immortality, not just a redemption from hell into heaven, and not just removal of red marks from our page in the book of life. We believe salvation from sin is a change from sinning into not sinning, from deviancy and disobedience into steadfastness in Christ and firmness in bringing forth good works. It is signaled by our efforts and prayers to forsake sinful behavior and fulfilled only by the suffering and grace, the redeeming and cleansing power of our Lord Jesus Christ. To put it in the words of Jeremiah and Isaiah, salvation is the Lord transforming us from "degenerate plants" into "trees of righteousness". (Jeremiah 2:19-23, Isaiah 61:1-3) We believe there is no other name given under heaven whereby man can be saved. (see Acts 4:12, compare Mosiah 3:17)
Death, Resurrection, and Judgement
In the city of Ammonihah, Alma and Amulek taught about death, resurrection, and judgement:
Cleansed and Born Again
"War Chapter" Metaphors - Build Upon the Rock of the Redeemer
Helaman taught his sons the importance of building upon the Rock of the Redeemer:
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12, compare Matthew 7:24-27)
The Book of Mormon repeatedly counsels us to repent before going to war - whether in a temporal or spiritual sense - so that we can "fight [our] battles in the strength of the Lord". This phrase or something like it occurs thirty times in the Book of Mormon.
The "war chapters" in the Book of Mormon are meant to teach us metaphorically never to underestimate the subtlety and power of the enemy to deceive, to entice, to lead astray, to weary us, then corner and destroy. (see Alma 52:19-38) Book of Mormon prophets have counseled to us to beware of spiritual "poison" killing us (taking Christ out of the picture) so slowly we don't realize what is happening until it's too late. (see Alma 47:1-20) The Book of Mormon also warns us about evil people using the media to propagandize iniquity in order to advance their evil agendas. (see Alma 48:1-3) This is tantamount to spiritual poison, and it is rampant in our society today. Righteous military leaders speak of the importance of never being decoyed out of our Fortification, who is Jesus Christ. (see Alma 58:1) This is not unlike the counsel given by the apostle Paul to "be strong in the power of his might" and "put on the whole armour of God". (see Ephesians 6:10-18)
At the close of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni writes:
The Church
Like Baptists, Latter-Day Saints recognize the Biblical officers of pastor and deacon in our local congregations. We consider the words "pastor" and "bishop" to be equivalent offices, and we call our "pastors" bishops, but the function he performs in the local congregation is very similar.
We also recognize the offices of priest, teacher, and elder in the local congregation. Our local congregations are grouped into "stakes" or "churches" which have the office of high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (see Isaiah 54:2, Hebrews 5:1-10) Our church is a worldwide organization made up of these stakes.or "churches". (see Revelation 1:1-4) It has seventy designated elders and twelve apostles and a prophet guided by the Savior through revelation, just as was done at the time of Moses, Jethro and Aaron, and again at the time of Jesus and Peter and Paul.
To learn more about the structure of the ancient Church, see my Bible-study article: Priesthood Offices in the Ancient Church. For comparison, read about Priesthood Offices of the Latter-Day Church as laid out in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
Baptism & The Lord's Supper
The Sacrament: An Act of Obedience That Memorializes the Savior
Again, like our Baptist friends, we believe partaking of the "Lord's Supper", or "sacrament" as we call it, memorializes the Savior. One of the hymns we sing in conjunction with partaking of the sacrament reads:
"While of this broken bread
Humbly we eat,
Our thoughts to thee are led
In rev'rence sweet.
Bruised, broken, torn for us
On Calvary's hill—
Thy suff'ring borne for us
Lives with us still."
(see LDS Hymns #181 - Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King)
We believe partaking of the sacrament memorializes the very Savior who was "bruised, broken, torn for us on Calvary's hill...".
In a revelation on keeping the sabbath day holy and fasting and prayer, the Lord told Joseph Smith:
We
"offer up" our sacrament every Sunday. For us, this is a time for
confessing our sins before the Lord, or before Church authorities as
needed. This is a time, not just for memorializing the Savior, but also
for repenting and seeking a fresh remission of our sins - for keeping
ourselves "unspotted from the world."
Because of potential copyright issues, I won't copy from the Baptist Faith & Message text, but you can refer to it using the link provided above.
The Scriptures
Like the Baptists, we believe the scriptures are authored by God, truth revealed by Him for the purposes of guiding us toward His salvation.
The Book of Mormon prophet Helaman described the scriptures as a means whereby God guides us toward the kingdom of heaven:
"Yea,
we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is
quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the
snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a
strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is
prepared to engulf the wicked— And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand
of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac,
and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Helaman 3:29-30)
Nephi and his father Lehi who lived in 600 B.C. viewed the scriptures as an "iron rod" that guides us along the straight and narrow way, past spiritual dangers, toward the great love of God. (see 1 Nephi 8,11)
Nephi had a great love for the scriptures: "And upon these (metal plates) I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass (essentially The Old Testament from Genesis through Isaiah, with some other books). For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." (2 Npehi 4:15)
Nephi taught his people: "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)
"Now it came to pass that
I, Nephi, did teach my brethren... and it came to pass that I
did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass (the Old Testament from Genesis through Isaiah), that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old. And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books
of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the
Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the
prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." (1 Nephi 19:22-23)
"...we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God... And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy 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 25:23-26)
During His mortal ministry the Savior reminded us: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)
LDS Lower Light - The Importance of Scripture Study: They Are They Which Testify of Me
God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost
These verses are words which the Savior spoke among the Nephites, following His resurrection and subsequent appearance in ancient America:
"...this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one." (3 Nephi 11:35-36, compare 1 John 5:7-9)
We believe the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one, but in a different sense than most Christians are used to. While among the Nephites, Jesus prayed that the Father, Son, Holy Ghost and those whom the Father had given the Son out of the world could be one:
"Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified
those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them,
and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be
purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified
in me. Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out
of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me,
that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one,
that I may be glorified in them." (3 Nephi 19:27-29, compare John 17:6-11)
For extensive study of LDS beliefs about God, see my Bible-study article: The Holy Trinity
LDS Lower Light: Latter-Day Saints and the Creeds of Christendom
Man
We also believe man was created in the image of God and fell and became mortal by way of transgression - his own choice. In the Book of Mormon, a missionary by the name of Aaron taught a wicked king from the scriptures, starting at Genesis:
"And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen." (Alma 22:12)
The Savior told Moses:
"...behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)
The Savior told Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery:
"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!" (Doctrine & Covenants 18:10-13)
In summarizing the reasons why Christ organized His Church, Joseph Smith writes:
''[God] created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them; And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. But by the transgression of these holy laws man became sensual and devilish, and became fallen man. Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him... He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day; And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father; That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved—" (Doctrine & Covenants 20:18-25)
We believe all people, no matter their race, religion, ethnicity, origin, their need, or their sin deserve to be treated with respect, as people in need of the Lord's saving grace. In teaching his people to follow Christ, king Benjamin in the Book of Mormon said:
"I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)
"...ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due. And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness. But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. And also, ye yourselves will succor
those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your
substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that
the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish." (Mosiah 4:13-16)
We believe salvation is not just a resurrection from mortal death into immortality, not just a redemption from hell into heaven, and not just removal of red marks from our page in the book of life. We believe salvation from sin is a change from sinning into not sinning, from deviancy and disobedience into steadfastness in Christ and firmness in bringing forth good works. It is signaled by our efforts and prayers to forsake sinful behavior and fulfilled only by the suffering and grace, the redeeming and cleansing power of our Lord Jesus Christ. To put it in the words of Jeremiah and Isaiah, salvation is the Lord transforming us from "degenerate plants" into "trees of righteousness". (Jeremiah 2:19-23, Isaiah 61:1-3) We believe there is no other name given under heaven whereby man can be saved. (see Acts 4:12, compare Mosiah 3:17)
Death, Resurrection, and Judgement
In the city of Ammonihah, Alma and Amulek taught about death, resurrection, and judgement:
"Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death. The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect
form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even
as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God,
knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. Now,
this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and
free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even
there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every
thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the
body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the
Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil." (Alma 11:42-44 compare 1 Corinthians 15:53-58, Revelation 20:11-14)
Also see my Bible-study article: Paradise & Hell, Judgement & Resurrection, Paul's Three Heavens
Also see my Bible-study article: Paradise & Hell, Judgement & Resurrection, Paul's Three Heavens
Cleansed and Born Again
Alma the Younger reminded believers in the valley of Gideon that they must prepare for judgement by becoming cleansed through the blood of Christ:
"I say unto you... there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified
until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of
whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his
people from their sins." (Alma 5:21)
He continued, reminding of them of the importance of being not just cleansed but born again and staying that way:
"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?" (Alma 5:26-27)
Grace: Salvation from Sin, "Laboring More Than They All"
We believe that in order to be born again through the grace of Christ, we have to be giving our best effort, doing "all we can do". If we'll put in an effort and show the Lord that we value His redeeming blood enough to "strive against sin", He'll pour out grace and transform us from old creatures who sin into new creatures who no longer do. (see Hebrews 12:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 40:28-31, James 1:22-24)
Nephi writes: "...we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23, compare Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:9-10) We believe we have to be giving our best effort, doing all we can do to keep God's commandments. If we'll show Him by our effort that we want to live the commandments, by grace He will enable us to that end. When He does, we will know fully well it is not our works that have saved us, but grace. Still, salvation is salvation from sin into good works. (see also 1 Corinthians 15:10, James 1:22-25, James 2:16-20)
The Book of Mormon gives us several examples of people who experienced this kind of transformation.
The people of king Benjamin entered into a covenant with God and received a remission of their sins because of it:
"... even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." (Mosiah 4:20)
To this, the people responded, saying:
"...we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2)
You can also read about the miraculous conversion experiences of Alma the Younger and king Lamoni's father.
Grace: Salvation From Sin-ning
The Book of Mormon teaches us that, through grace, the Savior can not only provide salvation from sin, but also succor us in our adversities and temptations, which helps to alleviate the burdens that cause us to return to old sins.
While in the valley of Gideon, Alma the Younger taught:
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12, compare 1 Corinthians 10:13)
When the righteous people in land of Helam were subjected to bondage and persecution under the Lamanites, the Lord "visited his people in their afflictions":
The Book of Mormon gives us tools for dealing with temptations and adversity of every kind and magnitude, from the smallest bad habit to the most grievous of addictions.
For example, an explorer and missionary by the name of Ammon counseled the people of king Limhi not to trifle with the least of their temptations, lest it lead them back into bondage:
LDS Lower Light: He Succors Us According to Our Infirmities
LDS Lower Light: Salvation From Sin, Not In Sin
Grace: Salvation from Sin, "Laboring More Than They All"
We believe that in order to be born again through the grace of Christ, we have to be giving our best effort, doing "all we can do". If we'll put in an effort and show the Lord that we value His redeeming blood enough to "strive against sin", He'll pour out grace and transform us from old creatures who sin into new creatures who no longer do. (see Hebrews 12:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 40:28-31, James 1:22-24)
Nephi writes: "...we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23, compare Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:9-10) We believe we have to be giving our best effort, doing all we can do to keep God's commandments. If we'll show Him by our effort that we want to live the commandments, by grace He will enable us to that end. When He does, we will know fully well it is not our works that have saved us, but grace. Still, salvation is salvation from sin into good works. (see also 1 Corinthians 15:10, James 1:22-25, James 2:16-20)
The Book of Mormon gives us several examples of people who experienced this kind of transformation.
The people of king Benjamin entered into a covenant with God and received a remission of their sins because of it:
"... even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." (Mosiah 4:20)
To this, the people responded, saying:
"...we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2)
You can also read about the miraculous conversion experiences of Alma the Younger and king Lamoni's father.
Grace: Salvation From Sin-ning
The Book of Mormon teaches us that, through grace, the Savior can not only provide salvation from sin, but also succor us in our adversities and temptations, which helps to alleviate the burdens that cause us to return to old sins.
While in the valley of Gideon, Alma the Younger taught:
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12, compare 1 Corinthians 10:13)
When the righteous people in land of Helam were subjected to bondage and persecution under the Lamanites, the Lord "visited his people in their afflictions":
"And it came to pass that
the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift
up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which
ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver
them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens
which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon
your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye
may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And
it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that
the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort,
for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage." (Mosiah 24:13-16)
The Book of Mormon gives us tools for dealing with temptations and adversity of every kind and magnitude, from the smallest bad habit to the most grievous of addictions.
For example, an explorer and missionary by the name of Ammon counseled the people of king Limhi not to trifle with the least of their temptations, lest it lead them back into bondage:
"And again, he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison. And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction... But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." (Mosiah 7:30-31)
Recalling the captivity of the people of king Limhi, which had come about because of iniquity, Alma the Younger provided us this unequivocal witness of the redeeming power of Him who is might to save:
"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance
the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained
in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover,
have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell? Behold,
he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and
they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness;
nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the
everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them. And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not. And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains
of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you,
Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved." (Alma 5:6-9)
LDS Lower Light: He Succors Us According to Our Infirmities
LDS Lower Light: Salvation From Sin, Not In Sin
"War Chapter" Metaphors - Build Upon the Rock of the Redeemer
Helaman taught his sons the importance of building upon the Rock of the Redeemer:
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12, compare Matthew 7:24-27)
The Book of Mormon repeatedly counsels us to repent before going to war - whether in a temporal or spiritual sense - so that we can "fight [our] battles in the strength of the Lord". This phrase or something like it occurs thirty times in the Book of Mormon.
The "war chapters" in the Book of Mormon are meant to teach us metaphorically never to underestimate the subtlety and power of the enemy to deceive, to entice, to lead astray, to weary us, then corner and destroy. (see Alma 52:19-38) Book of Mormon prophets have counseled to us to beware of spiritual "poison" killing us (taking Christ out of the picture) so slowly we don't realize what is happening until it's too late. (see Alma 47:1-20) The Book of Mormon also warns us about evil people using the media to propagandize iniquity in order to advance their evil agendas. (see Alma 48:1-3) This is tantamount to spiritual poison, and it is rampant in our society today. Righteous military leaders speak of the importance of never being decoyed out of our Fortification, who is Jesus Christ. (see Alma 58:1) This is not unlike the counsel given by the apostle Paul to "be strong in the power of his might" and "put on the whole armour of God". (see Ephesians 6:10-18)
At the close of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni writes:
"I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing...Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect ("born again", or "changed") in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.: (Moroni 10:30-32)
Those of us who have felt the Lord's grace at work in our lives know
that it provides power to do things we are not capable of on our own. We
know what it is to put forth an effort and then succeed because we were
enabled by grace. As the apostle Paul put it, "yet not I, but the grace
which was in me". (see 1 Corinthians 15:10)
We can in nowise deny the power of God!
At the close of his sermon, king Benjamin urged his people to maintain the covenant into which they had entered, to be sure that they always forsook sin and held tight to the salvation which Christ had offered them:
"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen." (Mosiah 5:15, compare Romans 13:11-14, emphasis added)
We can in nowise deny the power of God!
At the close of his sermon, king Benjamin urged his people to maintain the covenant into which they had entered, to be sure that they always forsook sin and held tight to the salvation which Christ had offered them:
"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen." (Mosiah 5:15, compare Romans 13:11-14, emphasis added)
Like Baptists, Latter-Day Saints recognize the Biblical officers of pastor and deacon in our local congregations. We consider the words "pastor" and "bishop" to be equivalent offices, and we call our "pastors" bishops, but the function he performs in the local congregation is very similar.
We also recognize the offices of priest, teacher, and elder in the local congregation. Our local congregations are grouped into "stakes" or "churches" which have the office of high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (see Isaiah 54:2, Hebrews 5:1-10) Our church is a worldwide organization made up of these stakes.or "churches". (see Revelation 1:1-4) It has seventy designated elders and twelve apostles and a prophet guided by the Savior through revelation, just as was done at the time of Moses, Jethro and Aaron, and again at the time of Jesus and Peter and Paul.
To learn more about the structure of the ancient Church, see my Bible-study article: Priesthood Offices in the Ancient Church. For comparison, read about Priesthood Offices of the Latter-Day Church as laid out in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
Baptism & The Lord's Supper
Baptism: an act of obedience that memorializes the Savior
Like our Baptist friends, we believe baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of the Savior and represents the death of the old man of sin and the rebirth or beginning of a new creature in Christ. The Baptist Faith & Message is reminiscent of the words of the apostle Paul on the subject. (see Romans 6)
Like our Baptist friends, we believe baptism is an act of obedience that memorializes our Savior. The prophet Nephi taught:
For us, baptism also brings a remission of sins by way of the justifying and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost - a baptism of fire - that causes great, great joy at the moment of baptism. (see Acts 8:35-39) As previously mentioned, king Benjamin in his sermon said to his people in describing their experience:
"...ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." (Mosiah 4:20)
Again regarding baptism, Nephi further taught:
"For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 31:20)
Baptism: A Covenant of Ongoing Obedience
We believe baptism is in itself an act of obedience, and we also believe it is a covenant of ongoing commitment to and obedience in and by Christ. Having been commanded of God to build up His Church, a prophet by the name of Alma prepared a group of believers for baptism:
Baptism: My Personal Experience With the Winds of Pentecost
I remember the great joy I felt both coming out of the water and upon receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost when I was baptized. I remember the great joy that came with feeling clean inside! It was a fragile sort of clean, the kind that could be easily tainted by sin, and so I walked as if on eggshells, trying to hold on to it. Since then, my own effort to live the gospel as been a quest to continually regain and maintain the incredible joy that comes with being washed clean.
Like our Baptist friends, we believe baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of the Savior and represents the death of the old man of sin and the rebirth or beginning of a new creature in Christ. The Baptist Faith & Message is reminiscent of the words of the apostle Paul on the subject. (see Romans 6)
Like our Baptist friends, we believe baptism is an act of obedience that memorializes our Savior. The prophet Nephi taught:
"And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water! And
now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God
did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water? Know
ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth
unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth
himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would
be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments... Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea,
by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according
to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then
cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost" (2 Nephi 31:5-7,13)
Baptism: Justification and Sanctification by the Holy Ghost
For us, baptism also brings a remission of sins by way of the justifying and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost - a baptism of fire - that causes great, great joy at the moment of baptism. (see Acts 8:35-39) As previously mentioned, king Benjamin in his sermon said to his people in describing their experience:
"...ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." (Mosiah 4:20)
Again regarding baptism, Nephi further taught:
"For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 31:20)
Baptism: A Covenant of Ongoing Obedience
We believe baptism is in itself an act of obedience, and we also believe it is a covenant of ongoing commitment to and obedience in and by Christ. Having been commanded of God to build up His Church, a prophet by the name of Alma prepared a group of believers for baptism:
"And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses
of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be
in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered
with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And
now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for
joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts." (Mosiah 18:8-11)
Alma then proceeded to baptize them by immersion:
"And now it came to pass
that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood
forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon
thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart. And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant
to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the
Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you
eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared
from the foundation of the world. And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit." (Mosiah 18:12-14)
Baptism: My Personal Experience With the Winds of Pentecost
I remember the great joy I felt both coming out of the water and upon receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost when I was baptized. I remember the great joy that came with feeling clean inside! It was a fragile sort of clean, the kind that could be easily tainted by sin, and so I walked as if on eggshells, trying to hold on to it. Since then, my own effort to live the gospel as been a quest to continually regain and maintain the incredible joy that comes with being washed clean.
I have felt the "winds of Pentecost" blow many times as I have attended baptismal services throughout my life. (see Acts 2:1-2) One of the more memorable ones occurred while I was serving as a missionary in Venezuela.
My mission companion and I had the opportunity of teaching one Rafael Castillo the gospel. He had been a member of a gang and done many things in his life that he wasn't proud of. He had gone in search of religion in the hope of finding redemption, of becoming something better, doing something better with his life. We taught him that through baptism he could be made clean again, that if we would believe in Christ and learn to walk in the love of God he could have joy and peace in his life like he'd never known. On the day of his baptism he was very excited! I performed the baptism, and afterward, he was filled with great joy. I told him "That's nothing! Wait 'til you're confirmed!" When he received the gift of the Holy Ghost, every one in that room felt our hearts "burn within us"; we felt the winds of Pentecost blowing in our hearts, like a stiff breeze on hot coals. (i.e. see Luke 32:24) Following his confirmation and receiving the Holy Ghost, Rafael was absolutely speechless with joy! It took several minutes for him to regain his composure. The Lord had indeed poured out his Spirit and and caused that he "could not find utterance so exceedingly great was his joy!" The next day was Sunday. When Rafael came into church, his countenance radiated with the light of Christ, and with the joy of spiritual purity which was still his!
See also my Bible-study article on baptism.The Sacrament: An Act of Obedience That Memorializes the Savior
Again, like our Baptist friends, we believe partaking of the "Lord's Supper", or "sacrament" as we call it, memorializes the Savior. One of the hymns we sing in conjunction with partaking of the sacrament reads:
"While of this broken bread
Humbly we eat,
Our thoughts to thee are led
In rev'rence sweet.
Bruised, broken, torn for us
On Calvary's hill—
Thy suff'ring borne for us
Lives with us still."
(see LDS Hymns #181 - Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King)
We believe partaking of the sacrament memorializes the very Savior who was "bruised, broken, torn for us on Calvary's hill...".
In a revelation on keeping the sabbath day holy and fasting and prayer, the Lord told Joseph Smith:
"...that
thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou
shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy
day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High... But
remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations
and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy
brethren, and before the Lord." (Doctrine & Covenants 59:9-12)
There are two instances of the
resurrected Savior breaking bread and administering wine among the
Nephites, saying "this do in remembrance of me":
(compare Matthew 26:26-28, Luke 22:15-20, Mark 14:22-24)
For further study see also:
Uses for strong drink: Doctrine & Covenants 89:4-5
What can be used for the sacrament, "drink it new in the kingdom of my father": D&C 27
For further study see also:
Uses for strong drink: Doctrine & Covenants 89:4-5
What can be used for the sacrament, "drink it new in the kingdom of my father": D&C 27
Evangelism & Missions
We believe we have been given a solemn covenant and commandment to "preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people" again in the latter days.
We believe we have been given a solemn covenant and commandment to "preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people" again in the latter days.
"And now, verily saith the Lord, that these things might be known among you, O inhabitants of the earth, I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man, who shall appear unto many that dwell on the earth. And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Doctrine & Covenants 133:36-39, compare Revelation 14:6-7)
We believe it is incumbent upon us to tell the world what God has done for them:
"For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!" (D&C 18:11-16)
The Lord's Day
Like Baptists, Latter-Day Saints believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy. We also consider the sabbath to be the first day of the week in commemoration of the Lord's resurrection. (see Mark 16:9, Acts 20:7)
The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi quoted from Exodus, and he reminded the court of king Noah of the importance of keeping the Ten Commandments, including this one:
As previously mentioned, in latter days, the Lord has commanded His Saints to "offer up your sacraments upon my holy day". He continues:
The Lord's Day
Like Baptists, Latter-Day Saints believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy. We also consider the sabbath to be the first day of the week in commemoration of the Lord's resurrection. (see Mark 16:9, Acts 20:7)
The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi quoted from Exodus, and he reminded the court of king Noah of the importance of keeping the Ten Commandments, including this one:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; But
the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do any
work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy
maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; For in six
days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them
is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Mosiah 13:16-19)
Members of the Church in ancient America hallowed the Sabbath day:
"[The prophet Alma] commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy..." (Mosiah 18:23)
As previously mentioned, in latter days, the Lord has commanded His Saints to "offer up your sacraments upon my holy day". He continues:
"For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High; Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord. And on this day thou shalt do none other thing..." (D&C 59:10-13)
Last Things
Like our Baptist friends, we believe in a final Day of Judgement as also the Second Coming of the Lord. For more discussion on the subject, see my articles:
Education
Latter-Day Saints believe strongly in the principle of education.
In latter days, the Lord has counseled us:
"...seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (D&C 88:118)
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi warned us against allowing secular education to eclipse our faith:
"O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." (2 Nephi 9:28-29)
In ancient America, strict guidelines were given as to the doctrines that should be taught in the Church:
"And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets. Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people." (Mosiah 18:18-20)
"Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Alma 37:33)
While we are taught to study the scriptures on our own and to teach the things we learn therein, we also have strict guidelines and a Sunday School curriculum that relies on scripture for its doctrinal backbone.
Stewardship
King Benjamin from the Book of Mormon said:
"...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)
In the LDS Church, we make a solemn covenant to "consecrate all our time, talents, energy, and everything with which the Lord has blessed us to the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion."
For this reason, we give of our material possessions to support those in need. We dedicate time in our callings in the Church. We even consider our employment to be a part of our consecration to the Lord, for it enables us to do all these other things. We consider the gospel of Christ to be not just our privilege, and hardly cause to elevate ourselves above others. We consider it to be our humbling obligation to see that the whole world have the opportunity to receive the same blessings and enjoy the same peace and happiness which we have found in Christ Jesus.
Cooperation
We believe that as individuals and as a Church, we should collaborate and cooperate to do much good in the world.
In latter days, the Lord has said:
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward." (D&C 58:27-28)
We see no reason why we cannot link arms with those of other walks of life, whether Christian or not, to the salvation and benefit of our fellow beings. For us, these words of the Savior form a central part of what it means to be Christian:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35)
The Family, and The Christian and Social Order
Latter-day prophets have issued a proclamation that clearly states God's purposes for the family and for the establishment and protection of a social order that fosters development and perpetuation of the family as its fundamental building unit. Read The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob chastised the violation of sacred covenants and of the principles of sexual morality and praised those who loved their spouses and children and safeguarded the family:
"Behold, the Lamanites your
brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness... are more righteous than you; for they have
not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them. And
now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this
observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy
them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people. Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief
and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their
fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of
your great Creator?" (Jacob 3:5-7)
Religious Liberty
We believe religious liberty should be preserved, that just laws are those which are founded in the principles of righteousness. We believe no society can function whose people do not govern themselves upon godly principles and whose laws are not also founded thereon. For more discussion, see my article on the Ten Commandments.
In short, I have been surprised by how very much we Latter-Day Saints have in common with our Baptist friends!
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