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by W. John Walsh

Latter-day Saints are so successful because we have a message worth hearing and a program that really works.  There are three main reasons why someone should join the Church:

1)  Latter-day Saints have the answers to the three great questions of life: (1) Whence did we come? (2) Why are we here? (3) What awaits us hereafter?

2) Latter-day Saints teach the plan of happiness which will allow someone to achieve peace and happiness in this mortal life.

3) Latter-day Saints teach the plan of redemption which will allow someone to obtain eternal life in the Kingdom of God after they leave this mortal life.

Latter-day Saints have the answers to the three great questions of life: (1) Whence did we come? (2) Why are we here? (3) What awaits us hereafter?

(1) Whence did we come?                  See Teachings About Premortal Existence home page
(2) Why are we here?                         See Purpose of Life
(3) What awaits us hereafter?              See Teachings About the Afterlife home page

Latter-day Saints teach the plan of happiness which will allow someone to achieve peace and happiness in this mortal life.

The Family:  A Proclamation to the World states:

"The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

All of the teachings of the Church are designed to help a family unite in true happiness and joy.  While these teachings are not always easy to live, true happiness can only be found by living them.   To understand why this is so, see The Commandments—Gifts From A Loving Father.

How can you know if the Church is right for you?  Ask yourself the following questions:

1)  Do you believe in God?  Latter-day Saints "believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." If you can't accept that God lives, then the Church is probably not right for you.  (See The Articles of Faith) 

2) What do you believe about Jesus Christ?  Latter-day Saints believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Savior and Redeemer of the world. If you can't accept that Jesus is the true Messiah and that salvation centers in him, then the Church is probably not right for you. (See Teachings About Jesus Christ home page)

3)  Do you want to live with your family forever?  Latter-day Saints believe family relationships, including marriage, can be perpetuated beyond the grave.  We marry for "time and all eternity", not just "until death." If you want your marriage to end at death and then live singly through eternity, then the Church is probably not right for you.  (See Teachings About the Family home page)

4) Can you give up drinking and smoking?  Latter-day Saints don't drink or smoke. (See The Word of Wisdom)

5)  Can you restrict your sexual relations to only your lawfully wedded spouse?  The Church forbids all sexual relationships outside of marriage and condemns perverse or coercive sexual acts within marriage. (See Teachings About Sexuality home page)

6)  Do you love and welcome children?  Latter-day Saints believe "children [are] an heritage of the LORD" and "Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them." (The Holy Bible, Psalms 127:3,5) If you don't like children, then the Church is probably not right for you.  (See Teachings About Children home page)

7) Do you enjoy so-called "adult entertainment"?   Latter-day Saints "don't attend or participate in any form of entertainment, including concerts, movies, and videocassettes, that is vulgar, immoral, inappropriate, suggestive, or pornographic in any way."  (See Rated R Movies and Other Inappropriate Media)

8)  Can you devote one night of the week to family togetherness?   Latter-day Saints reserve one night of the week to gather in their homes to discuss and experience the gospel and build family unity.  (See Family Home Evening home page)

9)  Can you keep the Sabbath Day holy?   Latter-day Saints believe God has set apart one day of the week for rest and spiritual renewal. (See Teachings About the Sabbath home page)

While this covers only a small sampling of the teachings of the Church, it should quickly become apparant that being LDS reflects every aspect of your lifestyle.   We have a full and complete program.

Latter-day Saints teach the plan of redemption which will allow someone to obtain eternal life in the Kingdom of God after they leave this mortal life.

Latter-day Saints believe that the purpose of life is to obtain the fullness of salvation by becoming like God and living as he lives (See Godhood). We call this state of existence eternal life or exaltation. To obtain this ultimate degree of salvation, it is necessary to "obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel." (Third Article of Faith) These laws and ordinances are taught in their fulness only by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here are just a few examples -- faith in Jesus; repentance; baptism by immersion; gift of the Holy Ghost; gifts of the spirit; oath and covenant of the priesthood; eternal marriage; Sabbath keeping; Word of Wisdom; and law of consecration. While many Christian Churches teach portions of the gospel, we alone offer all the knowledge necessary to become Christlike and receive the fullness of salvation. As President Hinckley recently said:

"We, in effect, simply say to others, 'Bring all the good that you have and let us see if we can add to it'" ("The BYU Experience," BYU devotional address, 4 Nov. 1997).

(See Frequently Asked Questions home page)