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LDS Church 101

Basic Beliefs of Members of the LDS Church

By Rachel Woods, About.com

If you want to learn about the LDS Church this is the place to start. These basics are an important part of what members of the LDS Church believe. You can also sign up for the weekly LDS Church 101 Email Course to read these lessons.

God, the Eternal Father

This first article is important to read because members of the LDS Church believe that God is our Heavenly Father.

Faith in Jesus Christ

The first basic belief and principle of the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is faith in Jesus Christ. But what does having faith in Christ mean?

Repentance

Acting upon our Faith in Christ means repenting which is why repentance is the second principle of the gospel (or basic belief) of the LDS Church but what exactly is repentance and how does one repent?

Baptism

Baptism is an important part of coming unto Christ but why be baptized? Who should be baptized? And how should one go about doing it? Learn all about baptism in the LDS Church including baptism for the dead.

Holy Ghost

We also believe in the Holy Ghost. What is the Holy Ghost, what does it do, and how do you feel the Holy Ghost? Learn all about the Holy Ghost in this four part article.

Gift of the Holy Ghost

Once you understand what the Holy Ghost is you can learn about the gift of the Holy Ghost and how members of the LDS Church receive it. This gift is the fourth principle and ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Prayer is a very important and vital aspect of LDS Church beliefs because it is how we communicate with God and how he sometimes communicates with us. Prayer can be said in one's mind or out loud. I personally find that praying out loud makes it easier for me to focus my thoughts on what I'm saying.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as Mormons, believe in the Apostasy, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon. Our basic beliefs are also summarized in a set of 13 Articles of Faith.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is an account of God's dealings with different groups of people who lived on the American continent. The history recounts how the people left Jerusalem, had prophets called of God, and were visited by Jesus Christ.

Organization of the LDS Church

The organizational structure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church) is the same as that which the Lord Jesus Christ organized during His life on earth. It's the same because Christ restored his church in these latter-days and has called living prophets and apostles. Other LDS Church leaders, auxiliaries, and its structure of communication are also explained in this article.

These lessons are also available in the LDS Church 101 Email Course.

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