rex friend Interfaith Youth Tour

october 5, 2025 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) traces its origins to a religion founded by Joseph Smith in New York in 1830. The term Mormon, often used to refer to members of this church, comes from the Book of Mormon, which was published by Smith in 1830; use of the term is discouraged by the church. The church is characterized by a unique understanding of the Godhead, emphasis on family life, belief in continuing revelation, desire for order, respect for authority, and missionary work.

Instead of full-time paid clergy, local congregations are led by members of the Church who volunteer their time. They’re supported by other everyday Church members who help with everything from teaching Sunday School classes to cleaning the church building. At age 12, all worthy males become deacons in the Aaronic priesthood. They become teachers at age 14 and priests at age 16. About two years later they may enter the Melchizedek priesthood as elders, and thereafter they may enter the upper ranks of the church priesthood hierarchy. In addition to service in the priesthood, many members accept the call to missionary work. Single young men, generally between the ages of 18 and 25, undertake a 24-month proselytizing mission, and single young women aged 19 and older undertake a mission of 18 months.

What are the sacred texts for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?

o   The King James version of the Bible.

o   Book of Mormon—named after an ancient American prophet who, according to Smith, had compiled the text recorded on the plates—recounts the history of a family of Israelites that migrated to America centuries before Jesus Christ and were taught by prophets similar to those in the Old Testament.

o   The Doctrines and Covenants contains Smith’s ongoing revelations through 1844.

Buddhism

Buddhism developed from the teachings of the Buddha, a teacher who lived in northern India between the mid-6th and mid-4th centuries BCE.

In ancient India the title buddha referred to an enlightened being who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and achieved freedom from suffering.

The Buddha based his entire teaching on the fact of human suffering and the ultimately dissatisfying character of human life. Existence is painful. The conditions that make an individual are precisely those that also give rise to dissatisfaction and suffering. Individuality implies limitation; limitation gives rise to desire; and, inevitably, desire causes suffering, since what is desired is transitory.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism:

o   The pervasive presence of suffering in our lives. This truth teaches that life always involves suffering, in obvious and subtle forms. Even when things seem good, we still feel an undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty inside.

o   The cause of suffering is fundamental ignorance or misunderstanding about our own nature and the nature of reality. We suffer because of our mistaken belief that things, including us, are separate, independent, and solid. The painful and futile struggle to maintain this delusion of ego is known as samsara, or cyclic existence.

o   Our obscurations are temporary. They are like passing clouds that obscure the sun of our enlightened nature, which is always present. Therefore, suffering can end because our obscurations can be purified, and the awakened mind is always available. This state is referred to as enlightenment, or nirvana, which is the complete cessation of suffering. It is a state of freedom, peace, and liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

o   The fourth and final truth tells us that by spiritual practice, living ethically, and developing wisdom, we can take the same journey to enlightenment and freedom from suffering that the buddhas do. By following the eightfold path, we, too, can wake up.

Catholicism

The Roman Catholic Church traces its history to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. In 1054, the Great Schism occurred and the Eastern Orthodox Church branched off from the Catholic Church. In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation initiated many, many more new Christian religious traditions from the original Catholic Church. Over the course of centuries, it developed a highly sophisticated theology and an elaborate organizational structure headed by the papacy, the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world. The Roman Catholic Church recently elected a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV, considered to be the 267th Pope since Peter.

The number of Roman Catholics in the world is greater than that of nearly all other religious traditions, and is the largest Christian community of believers.

The Roman Catholic Church has seven holy sacraments that are seen as mystical channels of divine grace, instituted by Christ. Each is celebrated with a visible rite, which reflects the invisible, spiritual essence of the sacrament. Whereas some sacraments are received only once, others require active and ongoing participation to foster the "living faith" of the celebrant. The sacraments are: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation (or Confession or Penance), the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony.

In Christian theology, ‘grace’ is the free, unmerited gift from God that is necessary for salvation of the soul (Ephesians 2:8). In Catholicism, God’s grace is available in both everyday ordinary life as well as during sacred rituals (such as the sacraments). As a gift, grace can be accepted or rejected. Regardless of one’s choice, Catholicism asserts that grace enables one to enter heaven. Grace is first given at baptism, which brings the Holy Trinity into the soul of the individual. In turn, Catholicism considers the ritual of baptism as necessary for one’s salvation.

What are some sacred texts for Catholics?

o   The Catholic Bible, which contains seven books not included in other Christian Bibles; Catholics consider these books divinely inspired scripture, and don't view them as "extra" books added later, but rather as part of the original Christian biblical tradition that was later removed by others. Eastern Orthodox churches also include these books in their Bibles, showing this was indeed the common Christian practice before the Reformation.

o   The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains a full description of the tenets of Catholicism — the essential and basic beliefs in Catholicism.

o   Catholic Social Teaching, going back centuries and providing a compelling challenge for living responsibly and building a just society. They include seven tenets: Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Human Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, Solidarity as One Human Family, and Care for God's Creation

Discussion questions

1.    What are some of the similarities between your religion and some of these religions?

2.    What are some of the differences?

3.    Was there anything that made you uncomfortable about some of these other faith traditions? Why do you think that is? 

4.    Was there anything about any of these beliefs or traditions that really resonated with you? What were some things you really liked?

5.    Would you ever be interested in visiting another faith community? Which ones?

6.    If you had to say three sentences about your own personal spiritual or religious beliefs, what would they be?