There is a difference between interest and mere curiosity in the Church, Elder M. Russell Ballard declared Saturday afternoon.
Serving on the Church's Public Affairs Committee, Elder Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, said has revealed a "great need for clear, simple statements that present those who are curious with the basics about the Church as it is today."
The apostle then presented four main subjects to help others gain a basic understanding: facts, faith, families and fruits of the restored gospel.
• Some facts might include: First, "Mormon" is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Second, the Church was restored in 1830 with Joseph Smith as the first president and prophet. Today, it is headquartered in Salt Lake City with President Gordon B. Hinckley as the present prophet. Third, there are more than 13 million members in 176 countries and territories. Fourth, local congregations are led by unpaid volunteer members. Fifth, Mormons are represented in politics and government with 16 members in Congress from both parties. "Members also serve in high and trusted positions throughout the world in government, business, medicine, law, education, media, sports and entertainment."
• "Next, people need to know something of our faith as committed Christians with strong traditional values.... We believe in the eternity of the soul, that God is the Father of our spirits, and that we can return to Him after death. We believe that Jesus Christ is our personal Savior and we try to model our lives after Him and His teachings.... We believe the original church that Jesus established was lost and has been restored again in our day.... We believe in and we use the Holy Bible, the Old and New Testaments. And we believe in the Book of Mormon and other books of scripture which support and authenticate the Bible and testify of the ministry and the divinity of Christ and of God's ongoing revelation to man."
• "The next thing it is good for people to know is how family-centered our theology and our life styles are.... Mormons place particularly strong emphasis on family as the basic unit of the Church and of society.... Polygamy, a limited practice in the early, pioneer days of the Church, was discontinued in 1890, some 117 years ago. Families, whether members of our faith or not, can attend Sunday services in our chapels. Latter-day Saint families are encouraged to hold family home evenings weekly, usually on Monday nights. This provides a regular and predictable time for parents to teach values to their children and to have fun together... The Church has auxiliary programs for women, youth and children as a support to the family.... There is also much focus on extended family, genealogy and personal family history...."
• "It was the Savior who said 'by their fruits ye shall know them,"' Elder Ballard continued, referring to healthy lifestyles of Church members, of lower divorce rates for those who marry in and regularly attend the temple, of higher education rates, of some 70,000 member volunteers serving throughout the world, and of the Church emphasis on self-reliance and a solid work ethic.
Elder Ballard added: "Now is the time for all of us to reach out and tell others who we are."
