The Unauthorized Investigator's Guide to
The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints

A faithful member of the Church asked me to share the following on this site:

As I grew up I learned many things of the nature of God and His word from the Bible and the good Protestant preachers who taught me. I learned of the good of Family and righteous choices at the hand of my parents. As a young man I was intrigued by religions of many different types and kinds. My discussions with a friend and Latter-day Saint led me to meet with the Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The one question that was foremost on my mind was "is Jesus the Christ and the Son of God?" I had asked this in many places, with many men of religion, but never received a witness from God that this was so.

While meeting with the missionaries, I knelt in prayer, addressed my Father in Heaven and asked Him in the Name of Jesus Christ if Jesus Christ was His Son and my Savior. The Holy Ghost Testified to me directly that this was true. It was a singular experience, and one that no man will ever take from me, to commune with God and know He lives! Subsequently I learned of the Priesthood authority of the Church, Joseph Smith's Prophetic Calling and the Truthfulness of the Book of Mormon Record. The Bible also came alive for me, as I read it and prayed about it's precepts so that the Holy Spirit could continue to tutor me.

Having shared in this wealth of truth and revelation I want to share it with others, as well as the Saints that I love. Some of which are still searching to know for themselves.

It is meet with the Lord that we teach one another in this way...

Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. (D&C 88:122 )

I want others both attending church and all others in the world to know of these things by the power of the Holy Spirit that they may be brought to know God.

Verily, verily, I say unto you who now hear my words, which are my voice, blessed are ye inasmuch as you receive these things;

For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment-that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you.

Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature.

And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say unto you, for you are mine apostles, even God's high priests; ye are they whom my Father hath given me; ye are my friends;

Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost. (D&C 84:60-64)

We are commissioned of Christ to bear testimony:

And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness.

And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice.

Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength.

Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.

Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.

Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;

Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.

Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and remember that they shall have faith in me or they can in nowise be saved; (D&C 33: 5-12)

Most importantly it is Christ we Testify of.

To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. (D&C 44:13-14)

There are great blessings that come with bearing one's testimony. The edification of those who can receive this testimony from the Holy Spirit as well as the edification of those who bear it:

Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. (Moroni 7:42-47)

In short I bear my testimony because I want to share with others what the Holy Ghost has taught me about Jesus Christ. I want them to know by the power of the Holy Spirit it is true, that they may know for themselves, believe upon the words of God and find Salvation in Jesus Christ our Savior.

I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

If you have a question or would like to discuss these topics, I suggest that you go to a Mormon-related bulletin board (here are some recommendations). If you'd like to contact me with comments or feedback, you may send an email to analytics@lds4u.com.