The Downey Patriot

Columns

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

DOWNEY--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon Church, is not only the fourth largest church in the United States – with over 13 million members throughout the world – but it is also one of the largest religious organizations in Downey, with a membership of about 1,400 people.

The Downey California Stake – a geographical unit encompassing Downey and parts of 17 other cities in the area – includes four Downey Wards, a young single adult branch, the Bell Gardens Ward, and the Lynwood Second (Samoan) Ward. Downey members are designated to a specific ward based off of their location of residency.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Downey dates back to the 1930’s, when a small branch met in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, later moving to the Women’s Club of Downey. The Downey branch became the Downey Ward in January of 1944. The facility located at 10511 Paramount Blvd., which currently hosts the 1st, 3rd and singles Wards, was built and later used in 1948.

In 1952, the Downey Ward was split into the 1st and 2nd Wards. In 1958, the Downey 1st Ward was divided, creating the Downey 3rd Ward. A year later, the Downey 2nd Ward was divided, creating the Downey 4th Ward. The facility located at 12425 Orizaba Ave. was dedicated in 1959, serving as the Stake Center and meeting location for the 2nd and 4th Wards.

The affairs of the Downey Stake are directed by President Larry J. Larsen and his counselors, President D. Mark Morris and President Carlos Medina. Each ward is presided over by a lay Bishop and two counselors. The four Bishops are Jeffrey Townsend (Downey 1st Ward), Mark Bukowski (Downey 2nd Ward), John Jaramillo (Downey 3rd Ward), Jacques Vallecalle (Downey 4th Ward), and Dean Michael (Young Single Adult Branch).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with President Gordon B. Hinckley sustained by members as a modern-day prophet.

Basic beliefs and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include:

• Restoration – Because Latter-day Saints believe that divine apostolic authority was lost from the earth after the death of the ancient apostles, a restoration of that authority was necessary. Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that restoration began in the early 1800’s with revelations to the young Joseph Smith.

• Trinity – Among the most important differences with other Christian churches are those concerning the nature of God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Together, these form what is commonly referred to as the Holy Trinity in many churches and as the Godhead by Latter-day Saints.

• Modern Prophets, Continuing Revelation and New Scriptures – Latter-day Saints believe that God still speaks to humankind, that He has called new apostles and prophets, and that revelation flows today as it did anciently. Further, many of those revelations have been formally incorporated into new volumes of scripture. These include the Book of Mormon; Another Testament of Jesus Christ; the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of revelations to Joseph Smith and subsequent presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and the Pearl of Great Price, which includes the writings of Moses and Abraham, as well as modern writings of Joseph Smith.

• Plan of Salvation – Latter-day Saints theology embraces what Mormons refer to as the “plan of salvation.” The topic covers the pre-mortal state of all mankind, the reasons why God created the world, nature and purpose of our life here and what future awaits us in the next life.

• Temples and their Purpose – The primary purpose of temple work is to “seal” or unite families together, with the expectation that those relationships continue beyond death. The same temple rites can be performed for those who have died. There is no counterpart to temple practices in other Christian churches. • Missionary Program – This is a difference in practice rather than a doctrinal belief, since many Christian churches send out missionaries to preach the Gospel. However, the missionary program of the Mormon Church is distinctive and recognizable for the sheer number and distribution of missionaries, for the length and variety of their service, and for their appearance and their preaching of a restored Gospel.

• Lay Ministry – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no full-time professional clergy at the congregational level. Even at the highest level of the church, leaders who are called as full-time apostles forsake their more remunerative professions in order to serve a lifetime calling as “special witnesses of Jesus Christ” and to oversee the church worldwide.

• Health Practices – Abstinence from alcohol among religious faiths is not unique to Latter-day Saints. However, among Latter-day Saints abstinence from alcohol is supposed to be total, as is the abstinence from tobacco, tea and coffee.

In addition, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that in 1820, Joseph Smith, in answer to fervent prayer, saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and was called as a prophet to restore the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. He summarized basic key beliefs in the Articles of Faith. They include:

• Believing in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

• Believing that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

• Believing that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and fourth, laying on the hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

• Believing the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly, also believing the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

• Believing in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. Indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul – we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous. lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Downey participates in Keep Downey Beautiful projects, planting several hundred trees and hosting clean-up campaigns. The church also works with PTA H.E.L.P.S., distributing food at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and sponsors Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs. Many blankets, quilts, caps, hygiene and school kits have been assembled and distributed by the church’s welfare program throughout the area as well.

Sacrament meetings are held at both Downey locations every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., and at 2:45 p.m. for the Young Single Adult Branch.