Our vicar told me that you do not believe in Jesus as God on earth and our one true redemption. Can you help me with any of this? I would like to think that we are all tolerant of others who practice their faith in such a manifest way. What is your take on the established Christian church in the UK? Are we poles apart or can we live in harmony alongside each other?

Who exactly do you call our Parents in Heaven - if there is ONE true God who created us all, how can we have PARENTS in the plural? I don't ask in condemnation, only to gain a better understanding

Here is the way I understand it to be: The Church of England had an unusual beginning with the reign of Henry the VIII, and his motivations did not appear to have much to do with the two common Christian positions in the world.

These positions being: 1) Jesus Christ organized a church, and it has continued all down through A SUCCESSION to the present time. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches claim that they are that original church.

2) The other position is that of the reformers who were convinced that men had changed the original church to the extent that they felt the need to Protest (Protestants) and REFORM the church. There are hundreds of protestant churches.

We also believe that Christ's original Church and Gospel was changed by the teachings and interpretations of men, and that a complete RESTORATION was needed. This restoration was actually predicted by Peter as he wrote of when the

"times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of RESTITUTION of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19 - 21)

We believe that this restitution, or restoration, was accomplished by the Lord communicating directly through a prophet as he had done anciently, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains those original truths. This restored gospel clearly teaches of the Savior's suffering and death on the cross and his resurrection to overcome death for all and to pay for the sins of those who will follow him.

We certainly accept the right of people to worship how they may, but we also believe that the changes and interpretations that have taken place down through the ages cannot substitute for the true teachings, organization, authority and ordinances taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. (see John 14:6)

By the way, contrary to your vicar's perception, we believe that Jesus WAS and IS the only Begotten Son of God the Father the creator of this earth as well as the Redeemer of all Mankind. (See Hebrews 1:1-3 and John 1:-3)

My sons, along with 30,000 other fine young men and women each year accept calls from the living prophet today, to assist the Twelve Apostles in taking the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people as Christ commanded his disciples to do anciently. (see Mark 16:15, Revelations 14:6-7 and Matthew 24:14).

Regarding your question about Heavenly Parents, let me answer it the following way. The scriptures make it clear that we are the children of our Heavenly Father (see Romans 8:16-17, Acts 17: 29 and Hebrews 12:9)
Romans 8:16, 17: " 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

There is nothing specifically in the Bible that speaks of a Heavenly Mother except for the implication in Genesis 1:26-27. We just reason that we also have a Mother in Heaven and the Spirit of Truth confirms this belief. It is my belief that our Heavenly Father felt not to mention her name out of reverence and respect so her name wouldn't be used in vain as his is so often done. Consequently, we don't discuss it all that much.

Thanks again for the email. I hope this helps you.

[Bev's comments: What a beautiful, comforting doctrine it is that we indeed have a loving Mother in Heaven, especially for me as a woman. I don't even remember her and I just adore her! :-) LDS Church leader, Bruce R. McConkie, wrote in his book, "Mormon Doctrine" (pg 516), "This doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in plainness by the (former) First Presidency of the Church (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund) when , in speaking of the pre-existance and the origin of man, they said that "man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father," than man is the 'ofspring of celestial parentage,' and that all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity." (Man:His Origin and Destiny, pg 348-355)]

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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