New Testament Accounts

In Luke chapter 1, we see the account of an angel appearing to Mary and telling her that she would have a son. Mary at first was confused, and asked the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:30-35). Latter-day Saints believe this account to be true, and that Mary was a virgin, just as other Christian denominations believe. Latter-day Saints also believe the account in Matthew of Jesus’ miraculous birth.

Modern Revelation

In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, there are several places where Mary, or Jesus’ mother, is mentioned by way of prophecy or vision. In the book of 1 Nephi, the prophet Nephi sees a vision of Jesus’ birth. Nephi said of Mary, “And in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white . . . most beautiful and fair above all other virgins” (1 Nephi 11:13-14). During his vision, Nephi was escorted by an angel. In the next verse, Nephi records what the angel said to him:

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms (1 Nephi 11:15-20).

From Nephi’s vision, the account in the New Testament is corroborated. Mary was a pure virgin, and the mother of the Son of God. Nephi also states that Mary was “carried away in the Spirit,” similar to Luke’s description of her being “overshadowed” by the Holy Ghost.

Later in the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma teaches the people that Jesus “shall be born of Mary, . . . she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Alma 7:10). Again, the language of the Book of Mormon echoes the Bible, teaching that Mary was a virgin and was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is the Son of God

Latter-day Saints believe that God the Father is Jesus’ father, not the Holy Ghost. The Church of Jesus Christ’s official website, lds.org, states: “Mary was Jesus’ only earthly parent because God the Father was Jesus’ father”[1, emphasis added]. We believe that Jesus inherited different characteristics from each of His parents: from His mortal mother, Mary, Jesus inherited the ability to die; from His immortal father, God the Father, Jesus inherited the ability to rise again. However, Latter-day Saints don’t profess to understand exactly how Jesus’ conception took place. The how of the virgin birth is not important; what’s more important is that we know it did happen.

What Latter-day Saints Don’t Believe About Mary

While Latter-day Saints do believe in the Virgin Birth, we do not believe in the Immaculate Conception, as the Catholics do, nor do we believe in Mary’s perpetual virginity or her assumption into heaven. We believe that Mary was a precious and chosen individual, but also that she was mortal, and, in that sense, just like any other mortal on earth. We do not pray to Mary or believe she can intercede on our behalf. We do honor her as the mother of the Son of God on earth, and as a virtuous and chosen woman.

When I was in high school, and had a good summer job, I always thought that an employment service was the last place to go, the last resort, in a job search. I was optimistic that I would always be employed if I wanted to be, and didn’t foresee any troubles ever finding a job.

Then I graduated from college. And the economy wasn’t good.

For me, just like for many other recent college grads, the job market outlook wasn’t that great. I quickly came to the conclusion that employment services aren’t a last resort; they’re a valuable resource I need to use.

What LDS Employment Services Offers

Searching for work or suddenly being out of a job can be really stressful and scary. It can be easy to become discouraged and frustrated when job leads don’t work out, or interviews are unsuccessful. It can also be hard to go to others for help. But turning to others for help gives them the opportunity to serve, and provides job seekers with important skills to enable them to have success.

LDS Employment Services has services for job seekers, students, small business owners, professionals, and employers. They offer career workshops for job seekers, helping them to write effective resumes and cover letters, hone their interviewing skills, and increase their professional network. LDS Employment Services has qualified volunteers waiting to assist members in securing employment.  The full-time senior Mormon missionaries and part-time Church-service missionaries are professionals, and know what to teach job seekers to they can be successful.

Career Workshops

Of the many services offered by LDS Employment Services, the Career Workshop is one that has helped hundreds of people gain the skills and confidence they needed to land a job. At the Career Workshop, trained volunteers teach patrons how to set professional goals based on their talents and skills; how to identify the resources available to help them reach their goals; how to best use those resources to have success with networking, applying, and interviewing; and how to have continued professional success. Patrons all over the world have participated in the Career Workshop, which has given them the skills and confidence to reach their goals. One patron from Magna, Utah, stated after completing the workshop: “I now have an arsenal of pre-decided power statements I can use. It gives me confidence to look at a broader range of jobs.” Another patron from Nairobi, Kenya, relates: “I went to the interview and applied the things that I was taught in the Career Workshop . . . out of 30 people I was the only one who was offered a job” (see www.ldsjobs.org).

LDS Employment Services are not just for people who are entering the workforce or have recently lost a job. The professionals at LDS Employment Services can also assist patrons who are underemployed, wish to change careers or advance professionally, or desire to start their own business. They have helped thousands of people worldwide to have success in their education and careers.

Self-Reliance

I realized that being self-reliant “does not mean that you must be able to do all things on your own. To be truly self-reliant, you must learn how to work with others and turn to the Lord for His help and strength” (“Work and Self-Reliance,” For the Strength of Youth). Being self-reliant and independent didn’t mean I was an island, and completely on my own as I searched for work; self-reliance also includes turning to the Lord, and being willing to receive guidance and counsel from others.

The resources available through LDS Employment Services are there to be used, not looked at or talked about. Volunteers are eager, able, and willing to help. Turning to them doesn’t mean I am not self-reliant; it means I am more self-reliant because I recognize there are many things I can still learn and improve on, and I am following the guidance and counsel of those who are smarter and more experienced than I.

To learn more about LDS Employment Services or to find a center near you, please visit www.ldsjobs.org.

As a BYU-Idaho student, President Monson’s October announcement changing the age at which missionaries are able to serve had an immediate and direct impact on me. (The qualifying age for young men was lowered from 19 to 18, and for young women from 21 to 19.)  I watched as dozens of my friends, co-workers, and acquaintances altered their life plans and prepared for Mormon missionary service. During my final semester in Rexburg, Winter of 2013, there were noticeably fewer 18- and 19-year-olds on campus, as many had left for missionary service. In each of my classes, there were two or three students preparing for missions or working on their missionary papers. Many had already received assignments and were simply waiting for the semester to end so they could depart. Campus-wide, there are now fewer younger students, as well as fewer females, as many have left on Mormon missions.

Why do Mormons Serve Missions?

What would prompt a young 18- or 19-year-old to leave home, postpone college, friends, and relationships and travel to a foreign country or distant state for 18 months to two years? After all, this is the prime time of life, when there are adventures to be had and careers to be established. For many young people, this is the time of life to be carefree and even a bit reckless. Instead, Mormon youth are putting it all on hold to serve their church. Why?

The answer is simple: Love. Young Latter-day Saints have an incredible capacity for love. They love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and want to share it with others. They understand that everyone is a child of God. Their love for God and the Savior and desire to serve Them is more powerful and important than any selfish desires they have. They believe that “when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:19), and that the best way for them to be happy is to love and serve others.

I could see in my friends and fellow students at BYU-Idaho a sincere desire to serve the Lord. They weren’t going on missions just because it was “the cool thing to do,” or because their parents were bribing or forcing them. No. They really love the gospel, and have strong faith. Because of this love, they want to serve.

How Can Mormon Missionaries Help Me?

Elder Russell M. Nelson, an apostle and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ, spoke about this very question in an address titled, “Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!” In this talk, he identifies eight problems or concerns with which Mormon missionaries can help both members and non-members:

• “You might want to know more about your ancestors.”
• “You love the Lord and often think of returning to His fold. But you don’t know how to start.”
• “You may want to know how to conquer an addiction or live longer and enjoy better health.”
• “You may feel that life is busy and frenetic, yet down deep in your heart you feel a gnawing emptiness, without direction or purpose.”
• “You have concerns about your family.”
• “You desire for greater knowledge.”
• “You have a deep desire to help people in need.”
• “You want to know more about life after death, about heaven, about God’s plan for you.”

Elder Nelson’s solution to all of these problems is: “Ask the missionaries! They can help you!” Mormon missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ and His Church, and can help both members and non-members with many problems and concerns they may have. Missionaries really love and care about the people they serve, and will do their best to help solve these problems and alleviate these concerns.

Representatives of Jesus Christ

Some may wonder how missionaries are able to help people with such a wide variety of problems and concerns. Missionaries are, for the most part, young people whose world experience is relatively limited. However, the thing that sets missionaries apart is that they are official representatives of Jesus Christ.

All missionaries receive their “call,” or assignment directly from the president and apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ. Their nametags prominently display the name “Jesus Christ” along with the missionary’s own name. They have literally taken the Savior’s name upon them, and are committed to doing what He would do. They will pray and seek guidance from the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, about how best to help the people they are serving. They might not have all the answers, but they will search the scriptures and pray in order to serve and help the best way they can. The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that knowledge of the gospel can bring us the greatest happiness, and so missionaries teach this gospel in an effort to help people at the root of their concerns, rather than the branches.

Mormon missionaries are more than just travelling preachers. They are representatives of Jesus Christ, serving in love, with a strong and true desire to help those they are serving. They have made vows consecrating themselves to the Lord’s service in holy Mormon temples.  The young male missionaries hold the priesthood of God, giving them power and authority to receive revelation and perform miracles.  Each missionary receives personal revelation through the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as he or she serves.  They strive to bring souls unto Jesus Christ, blessing the lives of many. Having the missionaries knock on your door or stop you in the street isn’t a terrible thing; it’s a great opportunity to learn what Mormons believe from young men and women whose faith and belief is strong and bright.

Joseph Smith’s Role in the Restoration of Christ’s Church