A few quick internet searches on “Why do Mormons…?” brings up topics like the following:
Why do Mormons wear garments?
Why do Mormons baptize for the dead?
Why do Mormons not drink coffee?
Why do Mormons store food?
Why do Mormons fast?
Why do Mormons have so many kids?
(And can I just debunk one of the commonly asked questions? Why do Mormons practice polygamy? We don’t!)
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are often known for what we do (or what we don’t do — see our “I can’t. I’m Mormon” post.). We go to church for three hours each week. We pay tithing. We attend our temples in addition to our regular church meetings. We read scriptures and say our prayers daily. We’re passionate about family history (genealogy). We don’t drink coffee, or tea. We don’t smoke. We dress modestly.
The list could go on.
Why do Mormons live this way? We welcome these kinds of questions, and address them regularly on our site.
But ultimately, I think it’s important to understand the fundamental elements of our faith. I was reminded of the importance of understanding the whys of Mormon life as I re-read the talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf called Forget Me Not. We as Mormons need to be reminded of this, too…of the whys of all that we do.
In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.
[T]he gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.
The whys of Mormon life are founded in our belief in God as our Father, who has provided a plan for our well-being now and our eternal happiness after this life. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our perfect example and to be our Savior and Redeemer. Through living prophets, we are given guidelines for living that help us remember and trust God every day, and become disciples of Jesus Christ and be changed by His grace. (Yes, Mormons believe in grace!)
If you are curious about Mormonism, again, we welcome your questions. (You can also chat anytime with a Mormon missionary by using the box in the right sidebar.)
But we also encourage you to take a few minutes to learn more about our basic beliefs and doctrines. You can’t really understand Mormonism until you understand what we believe, about why we do what we do. The elements of Mormon life that often show up in the media or in internet searches will often not capture what matters most to us, what is at the heart of our faith, and how it makes a difference in our daily lives.
very interesting