[This was written in 2017, before the Church officially sent out guidelines for members of the press to use the name “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” instead of the word “Mormon” or “LDS Church”. Before this, it was common for members, including Church authorities to use the term “Mormon.”]
I am a Mormon [a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] because I believe in the fullness of God’s word and His enduring love for His children. The Bible is a testament of God’s dealings with His people, revealing His divine will and His plan for our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. The scriptures within it, inspired and preserved over generations, have always been a source of light and truth for those seeking God’s will. In addition to the Bible, we have been blessed with the Book of Mormon—a further witness of Christ and His ministry among other nations.
The Book of Mormon is precious to me because it complements and clarifies the teachings of the Bible. It serves as another witness of Jesus Christ, testifying of His atoning sacrifice and of God’s unceasing efforts to reach out to His children. When I read its pages, I feel a deep sense of God’s love and a clearer understanding of His plan for all mankind. I believe that both the Bible and the Book of Mormon together open a more comprehensive understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I find great comfort in knowing that the Lord continues to speak to us today through living prophets. Just as He guided His people in ancient times through men like Moses, Isaiah, and Peter, He continues to guide us in this modern age through a living prophet. Heavenly Father’s desire to communicate His will did not cease with the early Church; He is constant, unchanging, and desires to lead and bless us in our unique challenges and circumstances.
Through continuing revelation, the Lord’s guidance is ever-present. The Holy Spirit not only confirms the truth of the scriptures to my heart but also reveals God’s will for me personally and for His Church collectively. It is through the Spirit that I have come to know the truth of the teachings of the Bible and the Book of Mormon and have felt the reassurance that there is indeed a prophet today, called of God, to lead and counsel His children.
In embracing these truths, I have found a deeper relationship with my Saviour, Jesus Christ. His teachings, as revealed in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, shape my faith and give me hope in a world that is always changing for the worse. His Church, guided by living prophets and by ongoing revelation through the Holy Spirit, is a constant reminder that God’s love is ever-abundant and His desire for our salvation ever-present.
This is why I am a Mormon: because I believe in God’s continuing care and in His unchanging truth, made manifest through His word and His servants.
