Analysis of a Writing Situation
“The Only True God and Jesus
Christ Whom He Hath Sent”
By: Jeffery R. Holland
This
piece of work is of a religious nature. There is a common misconception amongst
people that persons of the “Mormon” faith, as we are frequently called, are not
of the Christian sect. This is, however, a terribly wrong statement. As
depicted in this talk by one of the many Church officials whom have been put
into place by the support and sustaining of the people of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as Mormons, Jeffery R. Holland explains
that Mormons indeed are Christians. Not only is it explicitly stated in the
name of The Church but also in the actions preformed and lifestyles that most
members live. Elder Holland states that “we
do not need to be apologists for our faith, but we would like not to be
misunderstood. So with a desire to increase understanding and unequivocally
declare our Christianity…” (Holland).
Some
might wonder as to why this is the piece that has been chosen, and the reason
is simple. The simplicity of the misunderstanding leads to great controversy
between religious sects and the people of the world. And, as these feelings of
hurt and mistrust grow and become more rampant, instead of growing into a
unified nation and even world, the division becomes greater and the strains on
human ties, especially in the family, grow thicker and more volatile, and with
all misunderstanding some person or persons are hurt by the concept. As well as
how this misunderstanding came to be. History shows that through
misunderstandings and mistrust of others wars and contentions form and violence
becomes part of what could be a peaceful world. In the Mormon faith there are a
set or articles, thirteen to be exact, that state simple and core beliefs of
the faith. The first and foremost states “’ “We
believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. ‘” (Holland). This statement testifies that there is a distinct belief
in Jesus Christ, therefore a connection to Christianity, which is a belief that
Christ lived, died, and lives again and through Him mankind might be save. This also states that there is no belief in
the trinity. That fact causes the misconstrued conceptions that people have.
The
fact of the matter being that the Trinity, or God the father, Jesus Christ, and
the Holy Spirit are one, comes from no scripturally based knowledge, but was
instead dictated by a council of man “in the year A.D. 325…” (Holland). This
council combined all three members of a distinct Godhead into one. Now there is
some truth to the statement that the Godhead is unified as one. Though the
confusion being that they are one being and are, “abstract, absolute, transcendent, immanent, consubstantial,
coeternal, and unknowable, without body, parts, or passions and dwelling
outside space and time.” (Holland), is incorrect. They are three separate being unified as one
in purpose and action, which is to save all mankind, for all people truly are
the children of a loving Father in heaven. This statement about the Godhead may
best be summed up by “a fourth-century monk
cried out, “Woe is me! They have taken my God away from me, … and I know not
whom to adore or to address.” (Holland).
As a reiteration
of the above statements there is no scriptural saying to provide a Trinitarian
figure, but only a creed that has been passed down through the ages and brought
turmoil to the Christian faith. Time and time again blood has been shed in the
name of religion and there is little use for this, and the root of this
bloodshed and hatred is misunderstandings between peoples.
[Source] Taken from a talk given in the General Conference
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 2007 by Elder
Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-hath-sent?lang=eng&query=%22the+only+true+god+and+jesus+christ+whom+he+hath+sent%22
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