Part of the answer is in our name:
"Seventh-day" refers to our belief in the seventh-day Sabbath (the fourth of the Bible's Ten Commandments). More information about this later.
"Adventists" refers to our belief that Jesus Christ will soon return in person to this earth.
We are--
For more information, click here: Facts and Figures
Before we go any farther, maybe we should mention a few things that you may have heard we believe, but which we definitely do not!
For more information, click here: History of Seventh-day Adventists
Seventh-day Adventists base all their beliefs on the Bible. The following list, accompanied by only the basic texts, presents a summary of the church's major points of faith. Seventh-day Adventists believe:
"What says the Bible, the blessed Bible?
The Bible says, click here: Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?
For more information, click here: The Scriptures a Safeguard
In the Godhead, or Trinity, which consists of the eternal Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator and Redeemer of men; and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, 1Peter 1:2).
For more information, click here: The Trinity
That salvation is a gift from God which we receive through faith. All who enter God's kingdom must experience the new birth and a transformation of life and character by the re-creative power of God through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 3:21-26).
The Bible says, click here: The Plan Of Salvation
Church and State should be separated for the rights of the American People. We advocate Freedom of Religion (Religious Liberty) because we have a right to choose what church we want to go to and the way we want to live. The Government should not be able to tell us how to and when to worship God. This is our freedom of choice. God has given us this choice and a lot of Christians have died to give us this freedom of choice. Prayers in school is good as long as it is not forced upon others who are not of the same faith. God doesn't want our Government to enforce religion! God wants us to worship Him out of love, and not of fear. The First Amendment in our Bill of Rights reads as simply and majestically: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Government, you see, must protect religion, but not promote it. Otherwise, intolerance will surely raise its ugly head. History shows that whenever the religion of the majority is enforced upon society, persecution always results.
For more information on Religious Liberty (Church and State Separation) click here: Religious Liberty and International Religious Liberty Association
Important Facts, click here: Liberty of Conscience Threatened
In baptism by immersion after one has been taught the gospel, and believes in Christ as Lord and Savior, repents of all sins, and makes confession (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-6; 10:10; Colossians 2:12).
The Bible says, click here: Buried and Forgotten by God
That Christ, our Great High Priest in heaven, is now bringing to a close His work as mediator between God and man, and soon He will return to this earth in power and great glory. His coming will be literal, personal, and visible to all (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27-31; Revelation 1:7; Daniel 7:8-14; Hebrews 8:1,2; 4:14-16; Revelation 14:6-20).
The Bible says, click here: The Second Coming of Christ
In the Ten Commandments as God's moral law binding on all men in all ages (Exodus 20:3-17; James 2:10-12).
The Bible says, click here: You Are Responsible!
That the fourth commandment of the Decalogue requires the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, which is a memorial of Creation and a sign of sanctification (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Ezekiel 20:12; Luke 23:56).
The Bible says, click here: Don't Be Fooled!
What other Churches say about the Fourth Commandment: Hidden Truth
For more information, click here: Why is Sabbath-keeping such a Big Deal?
That man by nature is mortal and God "only hath immortality." Man receives immortality and eternal life as a gift from God only through his faith in Christ (Job 4:17; 1Timothy 6:16; Romans 6:23; 2Timothy 1:10).
The Bible says, click here: Are The Dead Really Dead?
That hell will be a real lake of fire where all sinners will be burned up, utterly destroyed, and cease forever to exist (Malachi 4:1-3; Revelation 20:14; Psalm 37:20; 2Thessalonians 1:9).
The Bible says, click here: Is the Devil In Charge Of Hell?
In the support of the gospel through tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-11; Matthew 23:23; 1Corinthians 9:9-14).
In the ordinance of humility and the Lord's Supper as Jesus left example (John 13:1-17; 1Corinthians 11:23-26).
That the follower of Christ should regard his body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore we steer clear of alcohol, tobacco, in all its forms, recreational drugs, and caffeinated beverages. We also avoid using flesh of animals which the Bible identifies as unclean. In fact, many Adventists have adopted a vegetarian diet as most conducive to excellent health. Because the Bible teaches that the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Adventists strive to avoid anything that would weaken or endanger their bodies. (1Corinthians 3:16,17; 9:25; 10:31; Proverbs 23:29-32; Deuteronomy 14:3-20).
The Bible says, click here: Healthful Living
For more information, click here: Why A Vegetarian Diet?
That the followers of Christ should manifest true Christian modesty in dress and deportment and should shun all questionable worldly amusements. Because the Bible counsels Christians to guard their thoughts and to live exemplary lives, we Adventists are careful in what we view and do in our leisure time. We avoid those forms of entertainment that would undermine our relationship to Christ. (1Timothy 2:9,10; Matthew 24:37-44; James 1:27; 2Timothy 3:4,5).
The Bible says, click here: "Guard Well The Avenues Of The Soul"
One of the gifts which the Bible says will be present in the church just before Christ's second coming is the gift of prophecy. This gift often includes a special ability to publicly expound the Scriptures, but it also may include the ability to predict future events and to deliver special messages from God to His people.
Seventh-day Adventists believe that the gift of prophecy in all its fullness was evident in the life and work of one of its founding pioneers-- Mrs. Ellen G. White. Through scores of books and magazine articles, as well as through public speaking, Ellen White faithfully shared God's messages to our young and growing church.
As stated in Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . , “The writings of Ellen White are not a substitute for Scripture. They cannot be placed on the same level. The Holy Scriptures stand alone, the unique standard by which her and all other writings must be judged and to which they must be subject” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . , Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Washington D.C., 1988, p. 227).
Though Adventists do not believe that Mrs. White's writings in any way take the place of the Bible or add to it, we are convinced that she enjoyed God's special guidance and inspiration as she wrote. Her books such as Steps to Christ and The Desire of Ages have led thousands to see the character of Jesus more clearly. (Ephesians 4:8-11; Revelation 12:17; 19:10; Amos 3:7; Hosea 12:10,13).
The Bible says, click here: What God's Word says about Prophets in the Last Days
For more information on Ellen White, click here Who is Ellen G. White?
For more information, click here: Over 350 Bible Subjects
What are Seventh-day Adventists doing to make a better world?
Seventh-day Adventists uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ as the ultimate answer for all the world's ills. But they realize that to follow the example of Jesus, a personal work must be done to help people right where they are.
What are Seventh-day Adventists doing about sickness?
The church operates 155 hospitals and sanitariums around the world, besides 276 dispensaries, clinics, and medical launches. In many areas, these are the only medical facilities available. In a recent year nearly six million persons received treatment at a Seventh-day Adventist facility.
Why do Seventh-day Adventists emphasize health?
Seventh-day Adventists believe that the body, mind, and spirit are inextricably knit together. They believe that the body can affect the mind as well as the mind the body. They believe that God is concerned that the entire man be in the best possible condition, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
What are Seventh-day Adventists doing to promote health?
Adventists have several community services related to health. The Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking is one such service. This unique plan was developed by a Seventh-day Adventist physician and a minister. It has proved successful everywhere it has been presented and has helped thousands of men and women quit smoking in only five days. The 4 DK Plan dealing with alcoholism is a similar service. Cooking classes, heart disease teams, and narcotics education are other areas where Adventists are working to promote public health. Also, it was Seventh-day Adventists who developed and pioneered breakfast cereals and nonmeat, vegetable protein sources.
For more information, click here:
5 Day Stop Smoking Plan
What about disaster relief and those who need them?
Nearly every local Seventh-day Adventist church has a "Dorcas Society" (named after the lady in the New Testament who did so many helpful things) which is now called, Adventist Community Services (ACS). These societies have supplies of food, clothing, bedding, and other necessities to aid families who for some reason need help. Similar facilities exist on a statewide level to assist in major disasters. The church operates a large number of specially equipped trucks to go into disaster areas with emergency services of food, water, clothing, bedding, and first aid. It ships thousands of pounds of clothing overseas. In an average year approximately nine million persons of all races and creeds will be helped in some tangible way by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The cash value of the food and medicine alone, which are given away amounts to some $11.5 million annually.
For more information, click here: Adventist Community Services (ACS)
For more information, click here: Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
What about education?
Although a relatively small church, Seventh-day Adventists operate the largest Protestant school system in the world. Approximately 4,400 kindergarten and elementary schools, 927 secondary schools, and 92 colleges, specialized schools, and universities provide education on every level. Total enrollment in a recent year was 657,035 students.
For more information, click here: Primary and Secondary Schools
For more information, click here: Universities and Colleges
What is the church's spiritual outreach?
Of the 213 countries in the world, as listed by the United Nations, Seventh-day Adventists are proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in 185. The gospel is preached in 604 languages. Fifty publishing houses print the gospel in 175 languages. There are more than 24,000 organized Seventh-day Adventist churches around the world.
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Comments, Encouragements and/or Suggestions Are Welcome!
People sometimes ask us:
Q: Are you the church that does not believe in blood transfusions?
A: No. You may be confusing us with the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Q: Don't you have a lot of churches in Utah?
A: We do have a number of churches in the state of Utah. But you may be confusing us with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), headquartered in Salt Lake City. A possible source of the confusion may be that the Mormons abbreviate their church as the LDS church--and we often abbreviate ours as the SDA church.
Q: Aren't Seventh-day Adventists a cult?
A: Most cults can be identified by their nonbiblical doctrines as well as by their use of psychological coercion in attempting to control the thinking and behavior of their adherents. Many cults also deny the deity of Jesus Christ.
We Adventists base all of our doctrines firmly upon the Bible, and we believe fervently in the divinity of Jesus. We reject as incompatible with true Christianity any form of force or pressure in gaining or retaining converts.
This my only question be.
The teachings of men so often mislead us;
What says the Bible to me?"
The Bible says, click here: Thieves in the Church
The Primary Activities of the SDA Church
Health/Bible Resource Center
SDA Websites
Quick and Easy Bible Reference
More about Ellen G. White
Are Seventh-day Adventists A Cult?
The Faith I Believe In...