If you read my post ‘Who Am I?’ and saw that I’m from Salt Lake City, UT it probably won’t surprise you to find out that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I even served a mission in Lima, Peru from 2014-2016. Some of you may be familiar with our beliefs, but I would like to explain them from my point of view.

First, I do believe in God. I want to make a disclaimer and clarify that this does NOT mean I KNOW there is a God. The word ‘know’ to me, I feel, is thrown around a bit to cavalierly by members of the Church, and I have used the word incorrectly as well, so I won’t judge anyone who has used it. To know something means to me that one has no doubt, and has seen for themselves, thus negating the principle of faith. Faith, as defined in our religion, is to have a hope for things, which are not seen, which are true. We can quibble about the definition of hope in another setting. But suffice it to say, to say that you know something, I feel that you need a confirmation beyond a feeling. That doesn’t mean that feeling can’t cause one to have a strong conviction of something, the Spirit communicates with us through our feelings, and they play an integral part in our conversion.

Back to my belief in God. I believe in God. I believe that He is the creator of all things, that He is the Father of our Spirits. I believe that He created the earth and all things thereon. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that he came to this earth as the son of Mary, and he took upon himself flesh and dwelt among man. I believe that he atoned for our sins, that he was crucified and was resurrected on the third day. I believe that his message, the Gospel, is the path back to our Heavenly Father. I believe that one must repent, be baptized and take upon them the name of Jesus Christ if they are to be saved and return to the presence of the Father. Christ is the only way back to God.

I believe that God is merciful. I don’t think one can truly comprehend the merciful nature of the Divine. He is ready and willing to forgive those who will come to Him and repent. God loves His children. He wants us to be happy, for that reason He gives us commandments. As the scriptures say:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

God sent His Son that we might overcome sin. He sent His Son that we might repent and be forgiven.

We as human beings are imperfect and sinful. This is not a fault in God’s plan, rather an integral part of it. He knew that we would make mistakes, and that is why He sent Jesus to atone for those sins. Above all, God desires that we come unto Him. If we repent, we can be saved.

Though I have not seen God for myself, I can testify that as I study His words, pray to Him and seek to understand His will that I feel that He is there. I know that if there is a God, then He loves His children. Never have I felt anything so strongly before in my life.

If there is one thing that I could make everyone understand, it’s that God loves them. If one could truly comprehend what that means, it would change their life completely.