Why I am a Mormon
“Mormonism is the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ; of which I myself am not ashamed.” – Joseph Smith Jr.
My name is David Ferriman, and I am a Mormon. What does that mean? The Latter Day Saint movement is very different from our sister Christian movements in that our view of Matthew 16:18, what the rock is that the Church will be built upon. The Church, of course, is you and me—all Christians.
A Shared Sense of Purpose
To be successful, faith communities typically create a shared sense of purpose and unity through worship and devotion. In the Fellowship of Christ, our goal is to ensure that all members of the community feel included and valued, regardless of their background or beliefs. This means that standardized forms of worship and devotion will not always be used. Each congregation will find what works best for them. And what works for them should not get locked down as if written in stone. They should work to offer a variety of worship styles and programs that cater to different local interests and needs, always evolving and moving forward.
This can become problematic as there may be those who do not want to support every type of service. It becomes important then to encourage regular attendance to help to build a sense of collective identity and belonging, so that no one left out, and none left behind.
What is Faith, and Why is it Important?
There is more than one answer as to what faith is. It means different things to different people.
Conference 2025 (Video)
“I have spoken through my prophets and my prophetesses from the beginning of these things, and I shall speak of them again through you this day, for the time is ripe, and the sun is setting.” -Doctrines of the Saints 133:6
Moving Forward in Christ
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. -1 John 5:13-15
If we believe that we are bad people, or that we can’t change, or it’s too late to change, or if we think we have sinned too many times and are far away from God, then I just want to tell you that you believe totally wrong. If you believe any of those things then please understand that those beliefs and feelings are from Satan, who is the great accuser.
Lo Here, and Lo There
“I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt; He said: They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrines the commandments of men: having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” -Avahr 6:33-36
When Joseph Smith Jr. walked into the grove to pray, after reading James 1:5, he had a miraculous experience. We do not know exactly what occurred, but we do know that he had a revelation. The different versions of this vision or revelation may be studied in Appendix 1 of the Book of Avahr. The thing they all have in common is that he was told not to join any of the denominations he had explored. Why not? And does this revelation mean that all churches were evil? And if they were, are they still today?
Why We Worship Together as Saints
“And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” -Exodus 34:8
Speaking to a friend recently, I was told that while she saw much value in the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship as a place for those seeking a spiritual home, rejected by the world and the worldly, she didn’t understand many of the things we allow for or do. She called our observance of the Holy Days as found in the Torah to be “moon worship,” and called the tallit, robes of the priesthood, etc, “silly costumes.” She didn’t understand why we needed to do much more beyond accepting one another. She saw worship, classes, services, and the rest, as something silly from a long ago and forgotten time.
Gender Expression in Israelite Culture
One question I hear quite often is, why didn’t God mention the LGBTQ people in the scriptures? I would say that God did by treating them as actual people and not separating them out as we do in modern society. That said, it should be understood that we do have inclusive terminology dating back to Biblical times.
Love not Contention
“Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil; take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness, and as many as repent, and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” -Doctrines of the Saints 12:35-36, Avahr 25:40
When we discuss differing opinions, it should be remembered that all are welcome to their beliefs in all matters. We cannot expect one’s beliefs to override the witnesses and testimonies another has received from God. 
When one feels entitled to answers they come to the table with the spirit of antagonism. This is Ego, speaking in a Kabbalistic sense. It is a seeming entitlement to ‘rightness’ as the sole proprietorship of truth being displayed by Ego.
Seeking Safety on the Path
“Then Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” -John 6:68
If you have found this website, you are likely looking for answers to spiritual questions. This is normal and healthy. Some potential benefits include gaining a deeper understanding of oneself and the world, finding a sense of purpose and meaning.
Teshuvah in the Torah of Moses from the Plates of Brass
Teshuvah is not merely something we do, as human beings, re-aligning ourselves with God. It is as an act of love and mercy on God’s part.
Women in Fellowship
In the Fellowship of Christ, we envision the ideal relationship between men, women and all genders as one of equity, equality, and partnership.