What it Means to be a Latter-day Saint

Monthly Messages, January 2021

1. The word “saint” means a holy person.
2. A person is made holy by the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
3. To have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost one must:
4. Hear and accept the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
5. Repent of his or her sins (turn from one’s old ways to the way of Christ).
6. Receive the covenant of baptism from an authorized servant of Christ.
7. Actually receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after being confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
8. Remember the Savior always.
9. How a Saint lives:
10. A saint lives by prayer. All matters are taken to the Lord for consultation: plans, decisions, hopes, fears, thanks, etc. The answers received from the Lord as to how to proceed are then the basis for all action. No human authority supersedes this consultation, but the saint recognizes that he or she must also be fully acceptable to his or her bishop and stake president, for they are his or her witnesses.
11. The saint is pure. Desires are cleansed of all selfishness and are filled with a love of God and neighbor. The mind is cleansed of all untruth and unbelief, and is filled with the revelations of God, and with ever other good thing that is virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy. The body is cleansed physically and morally, and is used by the saint to wear out life and strength in blessing one’s fellowmen.
12. The saint is a doer. Time and substance are not wasted. Hard work is a way of life. Pleasure is not sought for its own sake, but is received only in the process of accomplishing the Lord’s work. Money and property of the saint are honorably obtained, ordered and maintained.
13. A saint supports the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He or she prays for those in authority, for the missionaries, and for the success of the programs of the church. Missionary work, genealogy and temple work, and the perfecting of the saints are his or her constant study and concern.

Sum: A saint is one who loves the Lord with all of his or her heart, might, mind and strength, and serves Him in the name of Jesus Christ.

Note: These ideas are ideals. They are the personal conclusions of CC Riddle. Do you share them?