Reason #37 - Patriotism

Patriotism is actually a pretty individual thing. People of every religion have varying degree's of patriotizm, however, I have found the LDS Church over all is very concerned about being dedicated citizens of whatever country they are from. I find it interesting during the years of persecution and when even the President of the United States would do nothing to help stop the violence against the Saints, that we would volunteer to serve our country and fight in the Mexican war and I find it amazing after all of this that they would hold so dear, the constitution of the United States. Even today there are many Latter Day Saints who serve in thier countries Armed Forces. We always sing our National Anthem on the 4th of July and we have special activities in the church to celebrate our independence as a nation. In addition we can often be found supporting other veteran programs and organizations.

Reason #36 - Pagaents

Latter Day Saints love the theatre, music, singing, and acting and so it seems only fitting that we would have pagaents to explain or portray our history. When I went to the Hill Cummorah Pagaent near Palmyra, New York there must have been 10,000 or more people there. All I remember is seeing a seemingly sea of people. It was incredible. What was more incredible were such large crowds of protestors as well who shouted against our pagaent and held signs denouncing our faith and hope in Christ. What was also amazing is that the Saints will go to these pagaents in whatever weather occurs. We were drenched during pouring down rain for the 2 and a half hour pagaent, but we were warm inside from the message given.

Reason 35 - Authority

I wouldn't want a policeman to perform surgery on me. He hasn't been trained and does not have the proper authority to do so. It is the same way in the LDS church. Because the Prophet was visited by men who held this authority anciently and bestowed this authority upon him, we have the authority in this church to perform certain ordinances and blessings. It is a powerful thing.

Reason #34 - Families

The LDS Church places a very strong emphasis on the Family as being eternal. We have the Family Home Evening Program, which is a program designed to strengthen the family by spending quality time together. In the Temple we can be sealed as families to parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc by doing vicarious work for our ancestors or by working with our family units here and now. Since we believe that our families can be eternal, it is important to us to learn how to be unified in the gospel and within our families so we can all sit down in Heaven together. Many of us have people in our lives that we cherish and it's hard to think that those relationships would end. They don't have to with the restored gospel and the power to seal with proper authority a family together for all time and eternity.

Reason #33 - Revelation

Prior to joining the LDS Church I was told that there can be no more scripture and basically no more communication from Heaven. After being a member of the LDS church for a while, however, I've discovered the importance of Revelation and continued communication from above through the Holy Ghost. It is by revelation that so many inspired programs have begun, it is by revelation that our Prophet, his counselors, the twelve, and the seventy build their talks to us, God's children, and it is by revelation (Holy Ghost) that we may know the truth of all things. Revelations can be instructive or Prophetic and it is all about guiding the individual (if an individual recieves revelation for self or for family) or the Church (if given to a Prophet) in the ways of truth. Revelation is also one of the things that sets us apart from the many other churches as being unique.