Beliefs
Beliefs Explorer
The declarations of The Church of the Only Begotten Son, made before God, gathered by theme. Choose a theme, search a word, or let a belief find you.
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Freedom
Created equal, made free
Every man and woman is created equal with everyone who has lived or will live, and is made free by God — the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — so that they may know joy.
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Freedom
Independence from municipal status
Members do not regard themselves as “inhabitants” or “residents” of a municipal corporation, and do not consent to contracts or labels they view as diminishing a person’s standing.
A conviction of the church about personal status, presented as belief — not a legal determination.
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Truth
Expose fraud, live integrity
A recurring commitment is to seek truth and expose fraud wherever it suppresses liberty, following the example of Jesus Christ.
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Christ
Christ: the light, the life and the way
Jesus Christ is Lord, brother and savior — the light, the life and the way, through whom one comes to the Father. There is one way to happiness, and wickedness never was happiness.
The church cites: John 14:6 · Alma 41
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Christ
Accountability and the cross
Christ’s sacrifice secured each person’s opportunity to stand in judgement for their own actions. His death followed his exposing the wrongdoing of the religious authorities of his time, including usury.
The church cites: Romans 14:10–12
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Christ
Christ and enlightenment
Drawing on the Buddhist idea of Bodhi, the church describes Jesus Christ as the highest enlightened one; attaining this wisdom is necessary to begin truly following his teachings.
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Scripture & revelation
Faith, science and other scripture
Physics, medical science, psychology and quantum physics, taken together, explain the existence of God and the biblical account. The church also accepts the thirteen Articles of Faith.
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Family & community
Family and marriage
The family unit of a man and a woman is foundational to God’s intention for humanity. Eternal marriage becomes possible through each person’s self-exploration and inner peace.
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Family & community
Resolving conflict
The church does not endorse divorce as a solution, preferring real resolution — with the help of the Ward Guide or the congregation when needed. Nor should a couple stay together merely to remain married.
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Work & stewardship
Your own manager
Each person should be effective in personal and professional life and regard themselves as their own manager wherever they work, gaining training in business, project and labour management.
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Work & stewardship
Non-profit commerce
The church engages in commerce on a non-profit basis to raise funds for essential goods and services for people in need, and to provide business and job training.
The church cites: 1 Timothy 6:17 · Proverbs 21:5 · Matthew 25:14–30 · Genesis 41:34–36 · James 4:13–15 · Ecclesiastes 11:2
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Work & stewardship
No usury
The church rejects usury at every level, defining it as any monetary increase on an investment, or interest on a loan, that must be paid or repaid only in cash or money.
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Freedom
The right to travel
Freedom to travel without obstruction is held as a foundational religious right, distinct in the church’s understanding from driving for commerce, which falls under commercial rules.
A statement of belief. It does not describe current traffic or licensing law and is not advice to disregard either.
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Work & stewardship
Stewardship of the earth
God made the good things of the earth for people’s use and benefit — to please the eye and gladden the heart — to be used with judgement, not to excess, and not by extortion.
The church cites: Doctrine and Covenants 59:17–24
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Freedom
Befriending the Constitution
Members befriend a republican form of government and the Constitution, especially the parts that protect freedom for all people — so every member should have access to legal advice and a defence.
The church cites: Doctrine and Covenants 98:4–10
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Service & vocation
Veterans and military service
The church will always support veterans after their service, but does not permit members to enter active military service.
The church cites: Doctrine and Covenants 98:16
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Truth
Recording wrongdoing
Members have a civic duty to document and report unlawful actions to the Ward Guide, whoever commits them. The law in its simplest form: no breach of peace, no breach of property, no breach of personal space without consent.
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Scripture & revelation
Learning from world religions
Members read and seek knowledge from the scriptures of the world’s religions, to better understand Christ’s message and apply it to daily life.
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Sacrament
The sacrament
The church believes in the sacramental use of sacred herbs and substances, modelled on what it regards as the original Eucharist — a pursuit of knowledge of one’s life purpose, wellbeing and eternal nature, and of a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
This describes belief only. Membership does not make possession of any substance legal, and this site gives no guidance about any substance.
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Family & community
No hierarchy but Christ
There is no single prophet or spokesperson; a Ward Guide facilitates the conversations at services. No one is called to a position of hierarchy, because only Christ and God hold that place and all people are created equal.
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Scripture & revelation
Personal revelation
Members are encouraged to seek their own revelations and spiritual experiences rather than relying only on others’ or on ancient scripture. Any worthy person can receive visions, revelations, gifts and premonitions according to God’s will.
No belief matches that search. Try another word, or choose All.
Each card summarizes one section of the church’s declarations, keeping the church’s wording where possible. The full declarations are the authoritative text.
Keep exploring
Your next step
- Declarations, part oneEquality, truth, Christ, family, work and usury.
- Practice and communityStewardship, sacrament, revelation and the Ward Guide.
- The 3 A’s & 5 C’s reflectionA private self-reflection on our member way.
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