Speak Out

Explaining Mormonism

Re "For clarity's sake!" (Speak Out, April 7):

It seems to give some aberrant pleasure to some religionists to claim that we Latter-day Saints have deviated from the true path of Christianity, while just the opposite is true.

Letter writer Elmyra Jackson stated that because Mormonism was so "deviant" from Christianity, persecution forced the Mormons to move from one place to another. The fact is that those most active in heaping persecution on the early Latter-day Saints were so-called "Christians," those professing to know Jesus and follow his teachings. I don't read anywhere in my New Testament any justification for the followers of Christ to vilify and torment any other group of people for their beliefs.

Jackson said that in spite of the fact that Mormons are good people, and do many good things, they still are not Christians. I submit that one of the signs of God's church on Earth is the fruits they produce. If it were the Christians of the early and mid-19th century who were involved in so many non-Christian acts as murdering and uprooting the early Latter-day Saints, and if it is the Latter-day Saints who are "good people and doing many good things," who are the real Christians here? Our Savior's compassion and love for all men set the example: "Come, Follow Me."

As for the Book of Mormon, obviously Jackson has not read this marvelous book, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. If a person will read the book, with a sincere desire to know if it is true, and pray and ask God if it is true, I can assure that person that the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth of it to that person's heart.

Richard Bybee
South Jordan, Utah

My brand of Christianity

I am fairly certain that letter writer Elmyra Jackson has studied what she believes to be Mormon doctrine. But I am equally confident that she doesn't really know what it is that Mormons believe.

She knows what the spinmeisters of religion have told her that we believe. I am Christian because I believe that Jesus was born of Mary, was and is the literal Son of God, healed the sick and raised the dead. I believe that He taught the multitudes and the one. I believe that He suffered and died for my sins and infirmities.

But I also believe that He was resurrected on the third day and that He lives today. Because I love the Lord of the Bible, I try to emulate Him daily. I want to serve others, to love them, to help those who need help. I am Christian because He has applied His redeeming blood in my life and because of His love, I love Him and seek to follow Him.

I may not be of Jackson's particular brand of Christianity, but I am Christian nonetheless.

Don Layton
Bend, Oregon

Mormons are Christians

I suggest letter writer Elmyra Jackson go to mormon.org and do a little research, or go to lds.org and access Jeffrey R. Holland's talk given at General Conference on April 6. That will point out very succinctly why Mormons are Christians in the truest form, meaning the same as first-century Christians.

Sam Rogers
Newburgh, Ind.