A Christian View

I was sitting at Panera Bread with a Spanish classmate on Tuesday afternoon. My classmate and I got to talking about religion. Hmmm! I had prayed for a missionary opportunity that very morning. My classmate had her Bible with her. I took a look at it because it looked a little different than most Bibles I'd seen. Her Bible wider than most. It had spots for her to journal in as she read on the outer margins of the pages! So cool! I kind of wish I had a Bible like that, but I have a blog and Face Book and regular old journals (LOTS of them) that I can write it, plus I LOVE to mark my scriptures with pretty colors.

Anyway, back to the reason I am writing! Sheesh! I checked the version of The Bible she was using. ESV. ESV? What the heck is ESV? English Standard Version. Ok what's that? I didn't read to know, but ok, ESV. I read the King James version like every other LDS person. Now hear comes the good part... My classmate, my dear sweet friend, said I wasn't Christian. WHAT?!?! I'm NOT Christian. Well, that's what she said. Because I'm Mormon, I'm not Christian. Well, my naive friend is 20-years-old. I'm almost (GASP!) 40. (Well 40 next year!) I have to say I find it almost offensive to be informed that I'm not Christian. It, unfortunately, shows the naivety of my dear, young friend.

So let's get educated... I'm am LDS, otherwise known as Mormon. AND I AM CHRISTIAN! Dictionary.com defines Christian as 1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings: a Christian faith. 2. of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ: Spain is a Christian country.

Me and my fellow Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons, fit both definitions. Let me explain... #1 I believe in Jesus Christ AND His teachings. #2 I belong to a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The official name of the LDS, or Mormon, church IS (drum roll please!) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Um, Christ is right there in the name. And the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ ALSO has Christ in its title. So I'm confused as to why I'm not considered Christian. I consider myself Christian, so do all my LDS friends and family. In fact, in the Book of Mormon, Jesus is mentioned in 2 Nephi 25:19 by name. He is spoken of much sooner being referenced as the Lamb of God, Son of God, and Messiah just like He is in The Bible. Please go read it! I promise it's an AWESOME book!

So on with my discussion with my friend. I think I've convinced her I'm Christian, but she wants to know what I believe about what Christ is and what He did while he was here on earth. Apparently, she believe Christ is wholly god and wholly man. That logic fails me. How can anyone defy the laws of mathematics and be TWO wholes? I believe Christ is half man and half god. His man half, or mortal half is what allowed Him to physically die on the cross. His godly half is what allowed Him to take on all our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane AND (now this is important!) resurrect himself three days later, giving us the Easter celebration. Jesus Christ was both mortal and god. Glad we all agree. Christ's suffering in Gethsemane allowed us to return to Heavenly Father so long as we've done our absolute best to follow His commandments. Jesus Christ redeemed us so we could return to Heavenly Father overcoming the spiritual death suffered by man in the Garden of Eden. Next, His resurrection allowed us to overcome physical death so we could return to our perfected physical bodies once they've died. He led the way.

Now folks, I may understand some things incorrectly here, so please help me out. Thoughts and opinions are welcome, but we must be respectful of one another. I did not tell my sweet friend she was wrong. I just didn't agree with her. Just like I wouldn't tell someone of Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, or any other faith they are wrong. They just believe differently than I do.

If you'd like to know how I came by my faith and the faith of many other members of the LDS church, check out Mormon.org. The link to my profile is: http://www.mormon.org/me/F1YF/Brandi

I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the one true church here on earth at this time. It may be led by imperfect men, but they do their best to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as best they know how. They are amazing and they love each and every one of us, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhist, and everyone else. They love us and want us all to come unto Christ.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.