Ken Sorber – 2011
God
I believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. These three distinct beings are perfectly unified in purpose. God created all things, the entire universe, this world, me. I don’t know the details of how He created the universe but I see no conflict between science and my faith. God is loving, personal and approachable. God’s work, all that He does, has a central purpose: to help us, his children, grow, develop and progress to become more like He is.
Mankind
All mankind are children of God, not just creations. In a way we are dual beings, we have a body and we have a spirit. This spirit is the essence of who we are. God is the father of our spirits. We lived with Him and learned from Him before this mortal life. We are eternal beings.
Purpose of Mortal Life
The simplest way for me to think about our mortal experience is the metaphor of leaving home to go to college. It is a time to learn and develop talents and character. It is a time to make independent choices and experience the consequences of choices, ours and those made by others. God give us absolute freedom of choice. He does not force anyone to act in a certain way. In a very real sense, we are lost in a world where both good and bad exist, we encounter adversity, challenges, and even tragedy. God does not leave us without direction, He communicates with His children generally through prophets, apostles and scriptures. He also communicates with us personally through prayer and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Ideally, we come to earth as a part of a family and are given loving guidance from parents. Joy can be experienced even in the midst of trials and adversity. We experience joy and inner peace to the degree that we live the way that God teaches.
The Role of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the only begotten son in the flesh. He came to earth for several reasons: 1) He came to teach us how to live so that we can return to God after this life. He is my teacher and example. 2) He came to redeem all mankind, to be the Savior of the world. He was sinless and perfect and He willingly chose to suffer for the sins of all mankind. He invites us to follow Him and join Him in His work. 3) He established His Church by calling apostles and prophets to guide His followers after His earthly mission was complete.
The Atonement of Christ
What Jesus did for me and for all mankind through his perfect life and atoning sacrifice is more than I can comprehend, but I have come to have great confidence in what lays ahead beyond mortal life. The decision to follow Christ in this life, to the best of my very imperfect ability, has brought me a healing peace and a quiet joy amidst the difficulties of life.
Scripture
At various times and places throughout history God has spoken to prophets and apostles for the benefit of His children. The written words of these prophets and apostles is the word of God. The Bible contains God’s word to people that lived in ancient Israel. The Book of Mormon contains the word of God a people on the ancient American continent. God is speaking again in these days to modern prophets and apostles.
The Church
After the death of the ancient apostles, Christ’s church became corrupted and was lost to the earth for centuries. A spiritually dark age was followed by gradual enlightenment and a growing environment of religious freedom and toleration. In the modern era God has again called prophets and apostles. He has restored His Church for the benefit of His children and to prepare the world for the second coming of the Savior. Members of the restored church have a special responsibility or mission but certainly not a monopoly on goodness or virtue.
After Mortal Life
We are spiritual beings, at death our bodies are laid in the grave but our spirits live on. Eventually, everyone will be resurrected and stand before God. Between death and the resurrection there is a space where people continue to learn and make decisions. The Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to be taught in this state. People that did not hear the Gospel in mortality will have the opportunity to hear the glorious truth in this spiritual realm. Everyone that has ever lived on the earth will have a chance to hear the Gospel and either embrace it or reject it. There, as now, it is a matter of free choice.
Resurrection and Eternal Life
All people that have ever lived will be resurrected, receiving glorified and perfected bodies that are not subject to pain, suffering or decay. Our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ want us to be with them and be like them. Family will be the organization in eternity. I do not wan t to leave the impression that all people end up blissfully with God for eternity regardless of their choices. I do not believe in a God that capriciously predestines some to exaltation and others to damnation. I do believe in a God that invites all to come to Him, to learn of Him and to follow Him.
