DISCLAIMER: This post is meant to only share what I believe and invite you to learn more. Please do not take offense.

Most people know that I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since that's a mouthful, we are also nicknamed "Mormons." That is only because we read The Book of Mormon alongside the Bible. It's another record of Jesus Christ, only it takes place in ancient America. It is an awesome book that has changed my life!

But the main reason I'm writing this post is because I LOVE being Mormon, and I want you to know why! So here are 10 reasons YOU should be Mormon, too. (There are billions more, but 10 seemed like a good starting point.)

1. Jesus Christ is the center of our faith.

A lot of people believe we don't worship Jesus Christ, but we do. (Just check out the Church's full name.) We believe in the same Jesus Christ that other Christian faiths believe in. He is the Son of God and died for our sins.

2. God still speaks to the world through a prophet.

Remember in the Bible when God called prophets? Well guess what? He still does!

There is a living prophet today named Thomas S. Monson, and there are also 12 apostles. Joseph Smith was the first modern-day prophet who was called by God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. The only way you can know there's a prophet is through listening to what he has to say and praying to know for yourself.

3. The Book of Mormon is MORE evidence of Christ.

In a world of people with little to no faith in Jesus Christ (although there are many who do believe), it's such a blessing to have another testament of Jesus Christ in book form, just like the Bible! The Book of Mormon is the second witness that shows that Jesus is the Christ, and both can be read side by side to learn more about who He is and how we can be like Him. It rocks! Plus, it's easy to understand because it hasn't been translated a million different ways and times, only once!

4. We have no paid clergy.

Most faiths have a paid bishop or pastor, and that's their life career. But out of our 14+ million members worldwide, from the prophet to the bishops to the members, NO ONE is paid. It is because of our faith in Christ and in the order which God has used to create His Church that we are all willing to volunteer much of our time to it.

We also follow the commandment of tithing, where 10% of our income goes towards building churches and temples, feeding the poor, and other church organizations. Plus the Church is exactly the same everywhere in the world. As it should be.

A small aside: To help settle some disputes, I feel I should mention that a small stipend for living expenses is served to the prophet and apostles. However, most have retired from successful jobs when they are called. There are also jobs associated with the Church media and such--but these are not callings. What I am getting at is that we don't have people that go to school to become prophets and apostles and bishops and that becomes their job. They are called by God and volunteer their time to serve.

5. We have the biggest missionary program EVER!

There are currently about 74,900 missionaries throughout the world in 405 missions. None are paid. They don't get to choose their destination (the prophet and apostles do that), they go for 18 months to 2 years, and they start as early as 18 years of age. We even have to save our own money to serve! Why do we do it? Because we know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ and that it will bring more happiness and peace to your life than you can ever know otherwise! That's why I did it.

6. We know death does NOT separate families.

God put us on this earth in families so we can learn and grow together. We all have a need for a family unit where we can learn how to avoid the evils of this world and become strong. Satan is constantly attacking the family today because it is the most important thing in our lives. But would God put us here in families just to break them apart at death?

Of course not! That's why when we are married it is not til death, but for all time and eternity. This is done in the 141 temples around the world, where families are being united every day.

7. We have temples!

You've probably seen a temple in a picture or real life, but they aren't just pretend castles. In ancient times, God commanded His people to build temples to perform sacred ordinances like marriage, which I mentioned above. With the restoration of His church through the prophet Joseph Smith, building temples became a commandment once again. They are beautiful and the House of the Lord on earth. You can feel the peace there even just walking around the grounds.

8. We have authority from God.

No one can just stand up and decide they have authority from God to start a church. That's what people thought in the days after the death of Christ and His apostles. Many churches were formed and people had this idea that they could start a church however they wanted. Many had good intentions. But that authority that was given by God to baptize, preach the gospel, and hold all the keys to run His church on earth was brought back and restored through a prophet, just as it was in the past.

9. We aren't perfect, but we have the same goals.

Lots of people think members of our faith are supposed to be perfect robot clones of each other! At least, that's what it feels like sometimes. Nobody is perfect, and everyone in our religion (or any other for that matter) struggles with something. We may not always follow our faith perfectly, and we make mistakes, but most of us share a same goal: to try to follow the example of our Savior and be united as families for all eternity.

10. We can have happiness forever!

I am in no way going to say that being a Mormon means you'll have no trials. FALSE. But, many of us can handle our hard times and our struggles much easier with the knowledge we do have. Happiness is so much more abundant when we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and try to be better everyday. People often ask me how I can be so happy all the time, and it's because I know where I came from, why I'm here, and where I'm going.

So, ready to be Mormon?! Well maybe not yet, but you can know for yourself if all these things I've said are true by learning and praying.

Request a FREE COPY of The Book of Mormon by clicking here, or find it online here, or even better invite the missionaries to come share more with you by clicking here. If those are too intimidating, just try chatting with missionaries online here. You won't regret it.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?

Want to know more? Check out Why I'm a Mormon for more compelling reasons by names you might recognize (David Archuleta, Stephen R. Covey, Brandon Mull, etc.)