Abstract

Spirituality is woven into the fabric of Mormon (LDS) religion and culture. LDS people (of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) consider themselves deeply Christian. They bless the sacrament weekly, in remembrance of Christ's body and blood, “that they may … witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them …” Having this continual spiritual guidance requires an intrinsic commitment to Christ's teachings and not extrinsic form or imitation. If it is not written in the “fleshing tables of the heart” (Roman 5:16), it probably will not be acceptable to God; it is the character (integrity) and heart (eg, mind, spirit) that count. Christ's words, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt 5:48) may trouble any devout striving Christian who does not take thoughtful perspective. Even the appellation “Mormon” is Christian in the sense that this American continent prophet of c.350 to 400 A.D. saw and witnessed the resurrected Christ and wrote scriptures about him, along with other New World prophets whose writings are abridged in the Book of Mormon (which is to witness Christ's teachings in the New World after his resurrection).