A Religious Philosophy
12/09/2003

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Philosophy (especially the branch called metaphysics) and Religion both attempt to answer basic questions about the nature and meaning of life, while
Epistomology attempts to find out how we can discover truth.

PHILOSOPHY

  1. Who am I?

    2. The scriptures say that we are children of God. Jesus said:
    ... go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)
    Paul said that God is the Father of our spirits:
    If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons ... we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:7, 9)

  2. Where did I come from?

    3. Most Christians accept that Christ had a pre-incarnate existence, but the scriptures teach that we also existed before our birth:
    Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
    The prophet Joseph Smith was taught that we were with God:
    Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. (Doctrine and Covenants 93:29)

  3. Why am I here?

    4. The scriptures give a simple purpose for this mortal life:
    ... we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them ... (Abraham 3:24-25)

    ... therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God ... (Alma 12:24)

  4. Where am I going?

    5. Well of course this is the most difficult question of all! But the scriptures give us much useful information:
    ... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement ... (Hebrews 9:27)

    ... the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)

    From these, and other scriptures, it is plain that what we believe and do in this life determines what our life will be like after death, hence the judgement referred to. The scriptures say that those who obey the gospel will become like God:
    ... now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

    RELIGION

    I believe in Jesus Christ as my savior and redeemer, and that He provides the only salvation for mankind. I wrote this page

    ... to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you ... (1 Peter 3:15)
    Well, you clicked, so I'll consider that asking! Theologians call this an apology, but Christians call it a testimony. Peter explained what a testimony is:
    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ( Acts 4:20; see also John 3:11 , 1 John 1:3 and D&C 52:36)

    What did Jesus do for us?

    • He redeemed us all from physical death.
      Physical death is the separation of spirit and body.
      This redemption is accomplished by His power of the ressurection.
      Death entered the world when Adam ate the forbidden fruit.
      As we are not resposible for Adam's transgression, Christ redeems us unconditionally from death by Christ without any action on our part.
    • He performed the work to save us all from hell, if we will accept and obey His gospel.
      Hell, or spiritual death is our being separated from God.
      This salvation is accomplished by the power of His atonement.
      Spiritual death entered the world when Adam transgressed God's law, and his separation from God is symbolized by his being driven out of the garden of Eden (God's presence).
      We are not guilty of Adam's transgression, but we are responsible for our own sins, which also separate us from God.
      Christ has paid the penalties for our sins if we accept this gift by obeying his gospel. Once justified by accepting Christ and receiving the ordinances of His gospel, we can enjoy the companionship of the Holy Spirit. Every gospel ordinance is paired with covenants. As we keep our covenants with God, and walk in the Spirit, we become sanctified through the blood of Christ.
    • He is our mediator with God.
      Since the fall of Adam caused us to be separated from God, we can only approach Him through Christ. Not only can we never return to His presence without Christ, but we even pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ.

    What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

    The first principles and ordinances of His gospel are: (see Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 6:1-2, A of F 4)
    1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
      It stands to reason that faith is the first principle of the gospel. It is faith in the sacrifice of Christ which motivates us to follow him, and no other gospel principle can be fruitful without it.
      This of course brings up the question of faith verses works. The reality is that since faith is the motivating force in all intelligent beings, it is always accompanied by works-- true faith results in good works, and false faith results in evil works.
    2. Repentance
      Repentance means more than turning away from sin. It means that we have confidence that we can be forgiven for sin through the merits of Christ's atonement. Without this faith, repentance is vain, as the scriptures say:
      ... begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you ... (Alma 34:17)
    3. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins
      Baptism is the first ordinance of the Gospel. Gospel ordinances are symbolic actions which show that we are making a covenant with God.
      It is vain to attempt to follow Christ without accepting this required covenant.
    4. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
      Laying on of hands, or confirmation is an ordinance which bestows the gift of the Holy Ghost. Without this gift it is not possible to walk in the Spirit and retain the grace of Christ.
      This ordinance also grants membership in the Church of Jesus Christ.

    EPISTOMOLOGY

    How do I know this?

    I have learned these doctrines by reading The Book of Mormon and praying about it. This book, along with the Bible, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price contain the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).

    How can you know this?

    You cannot learn the truth about God by science (today's most popular source of religious dogma), nor by deductive reasoning (the method used by Aristotle in his conception of God as the "unmoved mover"). God can be discovered only as He reveals Himself to you.
    ... Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:17)
    God's word shows the way to finding Him. The Book of Mormon is the evidence that God has provided that the LDS church and it's Elders are sent from Him. In the last chapter of that book, His promise is given:
    ... when ye shall read these things ... ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:3-5)
    The Elders of the LDS church can provide you with a complimentary copy of The Book of Mormon. Just visit www.mormons.org, or call 1-800-472-8338 and ask. If you want to read the book, but don't yet want to invite missionaries into your home, I'll be happy to send you a copy without any committment required.

    To email me, use this address:

    Russ Josephson

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