What Religion are you?

Perhaps this is Satan's way of distracting many people. It's a way to divide us; to segregate us so we talk more about our differences as opposed to the Truth. The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one.

What religion am I? I don't want to make my answer complicated. So spend just a few more minutes with me and allow me to complete my thought. Light is discernible. Darkness does not exist where Light exists. If you hear me out, I believe you will be able to discern Truth.

We are literal Children of God. He is our Father and we are heirs to His Kingdom. If you are a parent, you know that everything you enjoy...you would like your children to enjoy. As parents we are willing to share everything we have. Such is the case with God. He is our Father. We are not mere mortals, as C.S. Lewis so eloquently wrote.

We are one family. Adam and Eve, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Peter, James, and John, you and I are members of this noble family. We lived with our family prior to clothing our spirits in these mortal bodies. We were taught by our Father and we learned of His Plan: the purpose of coming to earth; the gift of Agency; the Savior's role for each of us; and our eternal potential as children of God.

Since the days of Adam and Eve, God has given commandments. The Children of Israel were commanded to perform ordinances, or sacred rites and ceremonies, and were blessed according to their obedience. The people were organized...for organization brings order. For example, Melchizedek was the priest of the most high God (Genesis 14:18). God has always called upon men to lead His people. Prophets taught of the coming of the Son of God, our Savior, who would take upon Himself our sins and teach us a higher law. When He came to the earth, he organized His church...the Kingdom of God on earth. He sent his disciples out to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invite all to follow Him. Jesus was baptized. And taught us that we must be baptized, as He was, to enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus gave the authority to perform this ordinance by the laying on of hands to his Apostles (Acts 6:6), who would continue His Work.

Christ was ultimately rejected by His own. He was crucified. His Apostles were eventually martyred and God took His authority away from man for a season. His children had rejected His Son, the Church, and it's teachings. There was a falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3), much like the Children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, only to a more serious degree.

Men certainly continued to believe in God. But they had no direction. The authority to perform essential ordinances such as baptism had been taken away. Men, such as John Wickliffe, Jan Hus, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, and John Calvin, among others, recognized this. They were inspired of God and began a movement known as the Reformation. These men are of the Kingdom of God.

The New World was "discovered." Religious freedom was among one of the great liberties fought for my our forefathers. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, just to name a few, were inspired of God to author inspired declarations to the world. These men are of the Kingdom of God.

Shortly after the Independence of the United States of America, a young man was born in Vermont. Religious freedom brought about many searching for Truth. The bible taught this young man that if he had questions, he could turn to God...who would answer him (James 1:5).

In 1820, the faith of a young farm boy, preceded by honorable men who had prepared the way, caused the Heavens to open once again. The Kingdom of God was reestablished on the earth 10 years later after much preparation. Angels brought the good word of God back. Messengers of God, men we are familiar with...resurrected men such as Peter, James, and John, Moses, John the Baptist, Elijah, and many others restored the authority on the earth through the laying on of hands. Miracles have not ceased. A Prophet lives on the earth today.

We are children of God and, as such, heirs to His Kingdom. His teachings have not changed since the time of Adam and Eve. We are one family. And we worship God as our Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Whether you're a Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, Lutheran, Hindu, Mormon...it doesn't change the fact that we are children of God and heirs to His Kingdom. Religion is man-made. It is a distraction. Christ said, "In my Father's house are many mansions" (John 14:2). There is one way to God. He has set the standards. He has provided the way. In His Kingdom, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Lutherans, Hindus...and yes, even Mormons, won't exist as such. We will continue to be His children and worship Him.

You're choice is which path you will take. Who has the authority to act in the name of God here on earth? Who has the authority to baptize you as Jesus commanded? God didn't create the religions of the world. But His Kingdom has been reestablished as prophesied in both the Old and New Testaments (Daniel 2:44-45; Acts 3:20-21).

The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36-37). I invite you to seek out light and truth. If you are sincere, God will make the truth known unto you. He knows how to speak to you. Listen.

I do not belong to a religion. I am a son of God and I belong to His Kingdom. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I invite you to join us.