🕊️ Heaven, Hell, and Judgment

We believe in life after death, but we don’t focus on strict categories like “heaven or hell” the way some traditions do. Instead, we trust in God’s grace and love—that ultimately, God is working to heal and reconcile all people, even beyond this life. So rather than fear-based images of eternal punishment, we talk more about transformation and restoration.

As for judgment, we believe it’s not about condemnation, but about being called to reflect on how we’ve lived and loved—and how we can become more like Christ. It’s more like a loving parent helping their child grow than a judge handing down a sentence.

💔 Sin and Repentance

We understand sin as anything that separates us from God or harms others and creation—including personal choices and larger systems of injustice. But we also believe that God is always inviting us to turn back, to heal, and to do better.

Repentance for us isn’t about guilt trips or shame—it’s about changing direction and letting God transform our hearts. It’s a journey, not a one-time event. We believe that God is a loving, kind, and underdstanding God. We encourage our friends to pray to God about their struggles, and to be sincere as possible. Repentance is about turning back to God and making things right—not just feeling sorry. It’s part of our spiritual growth, and it leads to forgiveness, wholeness, and new life. We believe in second chances (and third and fourth…). God’s grace is bigger than our failures.

🌈 LGBTQ+ Inclusion

We fully affirm the worth and dignity of LGBTQ+ people. In many places—like the U.S., Canada, and Australia—we offer same-sex marriage and priesthood roles to LGBTQ members in committed, monogamous relationships.

This wasn’t just a policy change. It came from years of discernment, prayer, and listening to the Spirit. Our church believes that God’s love includes everyone, and we are committed to creating welcoming, safe, and affirming communities for all.

📖 Scripture and Revelation

We use the Bible and our Doctrine and Covenants as scripture. But we don’t treat them as infallible. Instead, we see them as sacred stories inspired by God, and we interpret them through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

We also believe in continuing revelation—that God is still speaking today. Our church holds regular World Conferences where new insights can be shared and added to our scripture. It keeps our faith alive and responsive to the world we live in.

🧡 Justice, Peace, and the Worth of All Persons

One of our core beliefs is the worth of all people. No one is excluded from God’s grace. That shows up in how we do mission: we work for peace, end poverty, promote fairness, and care for creation.

We don’t just believe in an afterlife—we believe we’re called to help bring about God’s vision of peace and justice right here and now. That’s what we mean when we talk about “building Zion.”

🌍 What Do We Believe About Other Religions?

We believe that God is bigger than any one church. Other religions have truth and beauty in them too. While we follow Jesus Christ and believe he shows us the clearest picture of God’s love, we respect and learn from people of all faiths. We believe God’s Spirit is at work everywhere people seek peace, truth, and justice.

🧠 What If I Have Doubts or Questions?

Questions are welcome. We don’t expect you to have everything figured out. Faith is a journey, and we believe God honors our honest searching. Community of Christ even has something called “faithful disagreement,” where we can hold different views and still be united in Christ’s mission. That includes different opinions on things like the Book of Mormon, how we read scripture, or even how we understand God.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 What’s Your View on Women in Leadership?

We believe God calls people of all genders to serve in leadership. Women are fully ordained in all priesthood offices in our church. That’s been true since 1984, and we’re grateful for the many women who lead with wisdom, compassion, and strength in every part of the church—from pastors to apostles to prophet-president.

💒 What About Baptism?

Baptism is one of our eight sacraments. It’s a public commitment to follow Jesus, and it’s done by full immersion when someone is ready to make that choice. We practice believer’s baptism, meaning we don’t baptize infants, but we do offer a blessing of children to honor them and their families.

If someone was already baptized in another Christian denomination, we usually honor that baptism if it was done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

🍞 What’s Communion Like?

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Communion) monthly—or more often—and everyone is welcome at the table, no matter where you’re from or what your background is. We use grape juice and bread (or cultural equivalents), and it’s a time to remember Jesus and renew our commitment to live as disciples in community.

♻️ Do You Care About the Earth?

Absolutely. We believe creation is sacred, and part of our discipleship is to care for the Earth. That’s part of our mission of building Zion—living in harmony with each other and with the planet. We’re encouraged to live sustainably, advocate for environmental justice, and see the world as a gift from God.

🙌 Do You Believe in Miracles?

Yes, though maybe not always in the dramatic way some people expect. We believe God is active in our lives, bringing healing, comfort, guidance, and transformation. Sometimes that looks like physical healing, and other times it looks like peace during hardship, restored relationships, or a renewed sense of purpose.

🙏 If I Had to Sum It Up…

We’re a church that’s:

  • Christ-centered

  • Inclusive and welcoming

  • Open to new understanding

  • Focused on peace, justice, and compassion

  • Willing to grow and change as the Spirit leads