I don't need to believe in Moses in order to be saved, but I do need to believe in Jesus... so why do mormons think that I need to believe in Joseph Smith in order to be saved?
2007-05-28 18:24:17 · 22 answers · asked by Super G 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it's got nothing to do with believing in joesph smith to be saved. we believe in grace after all that we can do is what saves us. We don't expect anyone to believe joesph smith to be saved. if you believed in him, than you would probably be mormon anyway. but we do believe that he was a prophet of God, just like Moses. And just like the ten commandments are important revelation, joesph smith gave us revelation just like all the prophets before and after, that help us to live righteous lives and to know more fully what God expects of us. Nobody expects you to believe in anything. We all have free agency and i don't know any religion that puts so much empasise on the fact that we all have the agency to choose. hope that helps.
2007-05-28 21:08:04 · answer #1 · answered by pono7 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm...the way you state that, it's a little confusing. We don't believe that we need to "believe in" Joseph Smith to be saved. We believe one must have a testimony of the work and life of Joseph Smith in order to also have a testimony of the gospel. A person could not claim to know the gospel to be true without having personal conviction that Joseph Smith restored the gospel. It would be totally contradictory. Like saying you believe you breathe air but that there is no air to breathe. Wouldn't make sense.
We believe Joseph Smith was personally visited by Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, that they instructed him on restoring the gospel, on organizing the church and many other important things pertaining to the gospel. One could not be a faithful member if they did not believe all that was true...
Hopefully that makes some sense.
We believe it is through Jesus Christ alone that we can return to our Heavenly Father. It is because of His Atonement and Resurrection that we even have the opportunity for repentance and remission of sins...and for the opportunity to one day become perfected in Him.
2007-05-31 17:15:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you had lived in Egypt at the time of Moses you would have had to choose between following Moses are staying a slave to the Egyptians. In order to be saved from slavery you might say you would have had to believe in Moses. Moses was the legitimate prophet at that day and age, and if you were a true believer in the one true God you would have followed Moses.
Throughout the ages there have been prophets. If you follow the prophets you follow God. If you reject the prophets you reject God.
If you believe in Jesus you will follow the prophet that he has established for the time and place you live in.
2007-05-29 15:51:43 · answer #3 · answered by Doctor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They do not think you need to believe in Joseph Smith. However, by believing in Joseph Smith as a Prophet and the Book of Mormon as true scripture, you will be able to learn to be closer to God and more intune with His plan for His Children. Good link below.
2007-05-29 09:46:17 · answer #4 · answered by je_apostrophe 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Mormons regard Joseph Smith as the Prophet who "restored" the Church of Jesus Christ on Earth in the last days.
2007-05-29 01:43:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to believe IN Moses but you do have to believe Moses. He was a prophet who spoke of many truths to guide God's chosen people and his teachings are relevant today. If you believe in Jesus that's wonderful. Satan also believes in Jesus... in fact I'm sure he knows Jesus, but I don't think he has faith in what Christ has to say. I believe Christ when He said I can be saved through His sacrifice.
I believe Joseph Smith. I truly believe he saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Joseph taught many things to the world that were lost or distorted by man, and all of the teachings concerning the Church have to do with The Kingdom of God. He was just a man, just like Moses; imperfect, falible, and human. But like Moses he too was called to be a prophet to lead God's chosen people.
In order to better understand the heavenly realm from which we came, to better understand our Savior Jesus Christ and His teachings... we have to believe Joseph because he had a relationship with the divnine that only a prophet of God can have.
2007-05-29 01:42:04 · answer #6 · answered by Bubblewrap 4 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Mormons do not believe you have to believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet in order to be saved, so get that one straight.
In order to achieve exaltation, you must believe and have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Jesus Christ atoned for our sins.
2007-05-29 01:29:35 · answer #7 · answered by rndyh77 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
I think you have your information wrong. Mormons don't tell people they need to believe in Joseph Smith to be saved. Check your facts.
gw
2007-05-30 17:38:11 · answer #8 · answered by georgewallace78 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You don't have to believe in Joseph Smith in order to be saved according to Mormonism. You don't even have to be Mormon to be saved.
In Mormon theology, Hell is a place that is reserved for the truly undeserving - very few people were ever born in the grand scheme of things that have ever turned out so incredibly terrible to merit an eternity of suffering.
While you are required to be Mormon (among other things) to earn eternity in the highest level of Heaven (Celestial), you don't have to be to reach the lesser two (Telestial and Terrestrial). You don't even have to be Christian. Mormons believe in good people outside of the Christian community.
2007-05-29 01:40:29 · answer #9 · answered by Lady of the Pink 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Please read 3 and 4 of our 13 articles of faith:
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:3 - 4)
As you can see, we must have faith in Jesus Christ .
As for Joseph Smith, we believe he is the prophet that
retored Jesus Christ's church on earth, that is all required for all members of the church.
2007-05-29 02:33:00 · answer #10 · answered by Wahnote 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋