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1994-11-15
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This file contains a brief history and introduction to Highland Graphics
and our beliefs and testimony. It is asked that if you use our images you
take a moment to read this file to get to know us better and to know what
we believe.
We've broken this file down into different sections:
1. Highland Graphics - Who are we? (our history)
2. Why are we doing this?
3. What we believe.
4. Our Testimony
5. How to reach us.
And a few extra sections:
Section A - Can you write such a record?
Section B - The Articles of Faith.
1. Highland Graphics - Who are we?
We're a husband and wife team. Or perhaps we should say a wife
and husband team. Cheri, the artist, has created all the images
included in this package and all of our other packages. Cheri has
been an artist every since she was a child. Through High School she
did a little work for different individuals and then found herself
applying for a graphic arts scholarship. She was then denied that
scholarship because of "lack of talent" (according to them). After a
few years in college there came along marriage and then a child,
then two. With the first child Cheri set the goal to remain at home to
raise our children. Soon after the birth of our first child Cheri was
offered the chance to do freelance computer clipart for a national
publication. This blossomed into a four year working relationship
where she could stay at home and still bring in some extra money
for the family. This relationship continues to this day.
The husband part of the team is named Drew. He couldn't draw a
figure to save his life. His talents lie in his abilities to keep the
computers up and going and to write files (howsoever poorly) such
as this. Besides the computers, he maintains the finances of the
business and correspondence.
Overall we have a rather nice blend of talents. While Drew has a
hard time drawing anything for his children to even recognize, Cheri
depends on him to keep the computers running and such. Basically
we couldn't do this without each other.2. Why are we doing this?
We started creating religious clipart images because we couldn't find
images out there that we really liked. We originally created two
commercial packages and put adds in magazines. We did okay....not
great....but not terrible. The cost of placing an add in a national
publication can run from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
While we usually broke even we didn't achieve the goals we had set
for ourselves.
Goals? You ask....Yes, we had set a few goals for our company at
the time. The freelance part of the business was making a decent
amount of money but we felt these religious images really needed to
be shared with as many people as possible. Money was not the issue
but Cheri really wanted to share her talents with others. We felt
these images did justice to the reverence and respect the Savior
deserves and that people would want to use them. The problem was
how to make them available. We also wanted to share our beliefs
and views of the Savior and his mission. The commercial market
didn't fit that goal very well. We turned to shareware for multiple
reasons. One of the major reasons is because the distribution can be
far and wide. Some shareware we have done in the past has ended
up in various places around the world. We couldn't think of a better
way to share these images or to share our beliefs.
So please, use these images, use them in your church, change them
so they have no color and let your children color them, use them,
use them, use them. We personally use them on a monthly church
newsletter and on each of our Sunday bulletins. We've let our
daughter color them and we have used them to teach her about the
Savior. Be creative and share these with others.3. What we believe:
As an introduction we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, sometimes called the "Mormon" or "LDS"
Church. Our Church has its world headquarters in Salt Lake City,
Utah. We are a Christian denomination with over 8.8 million
members in 150 nations and territories around the globe.
We have a couple of reasons for wanting to share this information
with you. One of the biggest reasons is just to dispel some of the
misconceptions there are about Mormons and Mormonism. One of
the other reasons is that we sincerely believe that the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can bring you closer to Christ than
any other church on earth.
Paramount in the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is a belief in God the Father, his son Jesus Christ and the
Holy Ghost. The three comprise the Godhead. We believe they are
one in purpose, but separate in being.
Although our church is Christian, it is neither Catholic nor
Protestant. Rather, it is the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
Our church emphasizes the need for priesthood authority. As Joseph
Smith,first prophet and president of the church said "...a man must
be called of God, by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by
those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in
the order thereof".
The First principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ are,
as stated by Joseph Smith, "...first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission
of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
(confirmation)".
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we believe revelation
from God did not cease nearly two thousand years ago, but has
continued over the years through various living prophets. The
presidents of the church down through the years since it was restored
in 1830 have been and are viewed by members of our church as
prophets in the same sense as Moses, Abraham, Peter and other such
biblical leaders.
One of the biggest misconceptions others have is that we are not
Christian. As mentioned earlier we believe in Jesus Christ. We
believe that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and our Savior. Except for
him there would be no salvation and no redemption. Unless men
come unto him and accept him as their Savior, they cannot have
eternal life. Christ is the center of our religion. He is the chief
cornerstone as mentioned in Ephesians 2:19-21.
We also believe in the Bible. We believe the Bible to be the word of
God. We also believe in a book called the Book of Mormon. The
Book of Mormon is not a replacement for the Bible. It is actually a
supplement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon stands as another
witness to Jesus Christ. Like the Bible, the Book of Mormon was
written by prophets of the Lord. They lived in ancient Palestine and
also ancient America. The Book of Mormon is an account of God's
dealings with these people who lived in America long before the
time of Columbus. The writings of these people cover hundreds of
years and were eventually combined by a prophet named Mormon.
This is where the name of the Book of Mormon comes from and
where we get the nickname. We don't worship Mormon but view
him as a prophet equally as important as Abraham or Moses.
The Book of Mormon was translated by a man named Joseph Smith
who was acting under the power and influence of God. It all began
in the year 1820 when Joseph was about 14 years old. In the area
where he lived in update New York there was a great amount of
contention among the preachers and members of the different sects
of religion who sought to influence the new converts to join their
respective churches. Joseph was extremely bothered as to deciding
what church was true. He wrote "While I was laboring under the
extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of
religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter
and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with
more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It
seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I
reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed
wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I
could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the
teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same
passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in
settling the question by an appeal to the Bible." (Joseph Smith
History 1:11-12)
With the words of James in mind he decided to ask God which
church was true. He picked a place in the woods close to his home
yet remote enough so he could be alone. He knelt down and began to
offer up the desires of his heart to God. He writes, "I saw a pillar of
light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which
descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . . When the light rested
upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all
description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto
me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My
Beloved Son. Hear Him!" (Joseph Smith History 1:16-17)
Joseph ask the Lord what church he should join. He was directed to
join none of them. He was told that while they all contained truth,
none of them contained all the truth. The Lord also said that in due
time, through Joseph as His instrument, he would restore to the earth
the true religion. Some time thereafter he knelt by his bedside to
pray for help that he may know more the course he should take. The
heavens were once again opened to him and an angel appeared to
Joseph. The angel's name was Moroni, the son of Mormon and also
the last prophet to have written in the Book of Mormon. Moroni
instructed Joseph further and told him of the Book of Mormon, how
it was written upon plates of gold and how he had buried it in a hill
not far from were Joseph lived. Four more years passed and in
September of 1827 Joseph received this record of these ancient
people and began to translate the record with the help of God.
Many people doubt the validity of such an event. But Joseph was not
alone in this wonderful calling. The Lord had chosen three other
individuals to bear an official witness to the world. These men saw
the plates and the angel. Eight other men were allowed to see and
handle the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated.
Their testimonies are included in the front of the Book of Mormon
and they remained true to their testimonies until their deaths. For a
little fun and a challenge see the section we included called "Can you
write such a record?" It puts some of the context of the Book of
Mormon into perspective.
One last thing about Joseph Smith. We believe that he restored the
church to the face of the earth just as it was when Christ formed His
church with his apostles. We believe in this same foundation of
prophets and apostles. We believe Joseph Smith was a prophet and
that since his time there has always been a prophet here on earth to
lead and direct the church according to God's will and desire. As a
result we believe in revelation and that revelation occurs even today.
We believe that Joseph Smith restored many basic truths that had
been lost over time.
One of the most beautiful truths that God has restored through the
prophet Joseph Smith is the priesthood power and the keys to seal
families together for time and all eternity. As members of this
church we believe that death is not an end but a continuation. We
also believe that your spouse, your family, your loved ones can be
together after you die. Some of the keys restored in these last days
carry the power to seal families together for time and all eternity.
Not just till death do you part but forever. We believe that eternal
life is family life in the presence of God. When a family member
moves on we don't believe that they are gone but that they have
moved on in their progression and you will have the opportunity to
see them again. For us, death can be a wonderful experience. While
there is certainly pain and a feeling of loss for those who have
passed on there is also the assurance that you will see that individual
again and the knowledge that there is a something after this mortal
life.
These sealing powers also have great importance to us as a couple.
Most churches perform marriages and include the words "till death
do us part". As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
Day Saints we believe in marriage for time and all eternity. We
believe that marriage shouldn't end at death but should go on
forever. These marriages are performed in special buildings called
temples. Currently we have temples all over the world. We have
temples in Japan, England, Philippines, Canada, Mexico and many
other countries. We also have temples in Washington D.C., Seattle,
Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto, Las Vegas, San Diego, Mesa
AZ, and many other locations in the United States and other
countries. Only members of the church that are worthy to attend the
temple can be married in the temple. This is because these are sacred
buildings and you must be worthy to receive the blessings associated
with the temple. As a couple this is means so much to us. We're not
only husband and wife but we are also best friends and we would
even say that we are as Genesis says, "one flesh". We are
incomplete without each other. The happiness we have found in this
life comes from being married as a couple. We want that to continue
once we have both moved on. We firmly believe that we are married
for time and all eternity and we will be together, forever.4. Our Testimony:
As a couple we wanted to share these things because we know they
are true. We have received so much happiness in our lives because
of this church and the teachings that are contained in the church.
When you know the real reason why you are here, why you go
through trials and tests and challenges you have a better perspective
on everything in your life. It is so wonderful to know that we are not
alone. That there is a loving Heavenly Father that listens and
answers us. We just need to take the time to ask and then listen.
Even when you are in the deepest despair and it seems all is lost,
there is someone listening that you can turn to. Someone who does
care. Someone who wants to see you succeed.
To understand death, to know that death is not an end but a
continuation of our spirit. We just don't believe this to be true but
we know it is true. There is a heaven. Our (your) loved ones are not
gone but have moved on and we will have the opportunity to see
them again. That brings such a peace of mind to us that we cannot
even explain it. It is common within our church for even the parents
of a young child or teenager or even adult to say, 'it was there time'
with an assurance that their work here on earth was completed and it
was their time to move on.
We know that this church is lead by a prophet. A man that speaks
with God and directs this church according to the Lord's will. In an
age when things seem to be getting worse and not better it is a
blessing to hear a prophets voice and know that the Lord is leading
us.
As a couple we know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It
contains so many simple and plain truths. It helps explain some of
the more confusing parts of the Bible and is a companion with the
Bible. It also contains many writings for us, today. Stories and
writings of people similar to us. People who believed in Christ and
leaned on him through prayer to help solve their problems and find
direction. It's no different then what we ourselves need to do today.
It gives us additional examples that we can look upon for strength
and guidance.
As a couple we would like to challenge you to not take our word for
it. If anything we hope that you have felt but a small bit of the spirit
of the Lord that tells you these things are true. But most of all we
don't want you to take our word for it. If you have felt that just
some of these things are true we encourage you to study them out
and ask the Lord. If you ask the Lord with a sincere heart, believing
that you will receive an answer you will know the truth for yourself.
And if you think about it, the only person who really knows for sure
is the Lord. And if you believe the Bible, and you believe what it
says is true, then take the words of James to heart: "If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." The Lord loves us
and he does answer prayers.
In closing both of us would like to say we know this church is true.
We would encourage each of you that read this to study it our for
yourself and learn for yourself. We pray that the spirit of our Lord
may be with you to help you, guide you and bring peace and joy into
your life. And we say (write) these things in the name of Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
5. HOW TO REACH US.
a. If you wish to E-mail us and have access to American On-Line
(AOL) you can send e-mail on AOL to userid HIGHLANDG.
b. If you do not have access to AOL but have access to an
Internet account you can still reach our AOL mail account
by sending via the internet to HIGHLANDG@AOL.COM.
c. If you have Compuserve you can reach us at userid
71042,2211.
d. Or via good old snail mail (US Postal).
Send correspondence to:
HIGHLAND GRAPHICS
PO BOX 641
PLEASANT GROVE UT 84062Section A - Can you write such a record?
Many people challenge the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. For
evidence of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon their is the
Testimony of Joseph Smith and the three witnesses and eight others.
If the Book of Mormon is not true the question remains: Where did
it come from? Some claim it is a work of fiction. To dispel this idea
we give you a list twenty-two items. Ponder these items and consider
if a person could have created such a work as the Book of Mormon
with these items in mind.
1. You are between 23 and 24 years of age.
2. You are not a college graduate. In fact, you have only had three
years of formal schooling.
3. Whatever you write much be on the basis of what you know.
4. You must write a book with 239 chapters; 54 of them about wars,
21 about history, 55 about prophecy, 71 about doctrine, 17 about
missionaries, and 21 about the mission of Jesus Christ.
5. You must write a history of an ancient country, covering a period
from 2200 BC to 421 AD.
6. You must include in your writings the history of two distinct and
separate nations, along with the histories of different contemporary
nations or groups of people.
7. Your writing must describe the religious, economic, social and
political cultures and institutions of these two nations.
8. You must write this history, covering a period of over twenty-five
hundred years, in approximately eighty days.
9. After pauses for sleep and food, you must continue dictating to
your stenographer without ever asking to have the last sentence read
back to you.
10. Your history or record must be long, approximately 522 printed
pages, with over 150 words per page.
11. You must add 180 proper nouns to the English language.
(Shakespeare added thirty.)
12. You must announce that your narrative is not fiction, but a true,
sacred record.
13. In fact, your narrative must fulfill the Bible prophecies that
foretell the coming forth of the book, even down to the exact manner
in which it shall come forth, to whom given, and its purposes and
accomplishments.
14. You must publish it to every nation, kindred, tongue, and
people, declaring it to be the word of God.
15. Tens of thousands must bear record to the world for the next 150
years and more that they know the record to be true because the put
the promise to the test and the truth of it was manifested to them by
the power of the Holy Ghost.
16. Thousands of men, intellects and scholars among them, must
subscribe as disciples to the record, even to the point of laying down
their lives for it.
17. Prophecies that you have included in the book must be confirmed
and fulfilled in the next nearly 160 years.
18. Three honest, credible witnesses must testify to the whole world
that an angel from heaven appeared to them and showed them the
ancient records from which you claim your record was translated.
19. Eight other witnesses must testify to the world that they saw the
ancient records in broad daylight and that they handled them and felt
the engravings thereon.
20. These eleven witnesses must bear their testimony, not for profit
or gain, but under great personal sacrifice and severe persecution,
even to their deaths.
21. You must find someone to finance your book with the
understanding that neither he nor you will ever receive any
remuneration from it. You must sell the book at cost or less.
22. Finally, after suffering persecution and revilement for fourteen
years after you finish the book, you willingly give your own life for
your testimony that the record is from God.Section B - The Articles of Faith.
This section contains the thirteen basic beliefs of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These items were created by Joseph
Smith, the first member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints and the first prophet since the restoration of this church.
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not
for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may
be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe 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; fourth, Laying on of
hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and
by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach
the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive
Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists,
and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the
word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,
and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important
things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration
of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon
the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the
earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal
glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to
the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same
privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and
magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe 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.