Beliefs Pertaining to Homeschooling V

Although I am not an official representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here are some important notes about my beliefs relating to Homeschooling V:

1. I believe it is human nature to love the past prophets and reject the current ones. For example, people in Moses’s day touted that they were Abraham’s children; people of Christ’s day claimed to love Moses; and people today say prophets ended with Christ.
   
2. But, because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, I believe Christ calls prophets as long as the people on the earth are willing to listen. If they kill the prophets, God takes His prophets away. After the death of Christ’s apostles, God took prophets from the earth for a long time. Once the reformers made religion more accessible to the common man, and then after America—with its freedom of religion—was established, God again called a prophet named Joseph Smith. We have had a continuous stream of prophets since and our prophet today is President Thomas S. Monson.
   
3. I believe we are free to obey or ignore the prophetic counsel. But it is important to note that (like in the days of Noah and Moses) that obedience brings not only greater safety, but also greater blessings.
   
4. If we are disobedient, however, the knowledge we’ve received can be taken from us. Higher laws can be replaced with lower laws if the majority of people demonstrate an inability or unwillingness to live the higher law (see Exodus 32-34).
   
5. We believe the Jews were the only ancient people with whom God had made a covenant (which is a two way contract with God required for exaltation)—and they “botched” their half of the contract on many occasions (most notably when they crucified Christ).
   
6. We believe Mormons are God’s current covenant people today* (yes, we believe we are the only Christian denomination to have the full truth and God’s full promises)—but that we, like the early Jews, can botch it too if we are not diligent.
   
7. I also believe it is the nature of God to give us many, many chances to hear the prophets and then fulfill our half of the covenant/contract we make with Him. He is always willing and ready to give us blessings for obedience.

*IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: Just because the Jews were the “chosen” people and were the only ones God promised He would save in Biblical times—and just because Mormons believe we are God’s “chosen” people today—we do not believe that only ancient Jews and Modern Mormons are “saved.” Although being a part of God’s covenant is essential for the highest degree of exaltation, we believe that eventually, ALL people will have the opportunity of accepting that covenant, whether in this life or the next. And the greatest guarantee for happiness in this life, and in the life to come, is to adhere as closely as possible to the truth we have access to. If you are fortunate enough to live in a time when God and his prophets are available to you (eh hem—that’s right now), then great. If not, simply do the best you can to serve valiantly in the cause of truth that you know.