~”I just do not understand why some posters are seemingly obsessed with trying to put down my beliefs and my Church.”~
There are a few among our detractors who are genuinely concerned about our eternal well-being. Not many. Among the rest, the reasons I’ve identified include the following (in no particular order):
- An ecclesiastical form of penis envy.
- The drive to convince themselves it is not true (mostly ex-Mormons who have received a testimony, but who have decided to fight against it - they find that their testimony never completely goes away and that the soul is an annoyingly persistent sort of critter).
- A vested religious interest in disproving it (pastors, ministers, etc. - a substantial number of the detractors we see on FR are of this sort. They just hate the fact that we keep stealing the best people - like you - from their flocks. This is how they act out).
- People who make money from the anti-Mormonism cottage industry.
It was all prophesied. Lying in wait to deceive, etc. Water off a duck’s back. For me, I’m just glad to have my beliefs challenged and thereby strengthened. Imagine - the early Saints only had the Spirit to help them know it was true. We’ve got the advantage of also having the cantankerous!
ROTFLMAO!!!
You know, you'd think that the folks here who claim to know the scriptures would remember this one:
2Ti 2:14ff Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will eat its way like gangrene.
If they were really acting scripturally, they'd act as Jesus commanded his disciples in Mark 6. But arguing is so much fun....
I feel for you guys. You all have to take it as much, if not more, than we Catholics do...
- An ecclesiastical form of penis envy cognitive dissonance, rejection, and denial.
- The drive to convince themselves the Truth it is true false (mostly Mormons who have received a testimony are being convicted by the Holy Spirit after seeing the Truth, but who have decided to fight against it Him - they find that their testimony the Truth never completely goes away and that the soul Holy Spirit is an annoyingly persistent sort of critter).
- A vested religious interest in disproving it (bishops, laypersons, etc. - a substantial number of the detractors we see on FR are of this sort. They just hate the fact that we keep stealing the Holy Spirit is revealing Himself to the best ALL people - like you - from their flocks to deliver them from the grips of Satan. This is how they act out).
- People who make money from the anti pro-Mormonism cottage industry.
It was all prophesied. Lying in wait to deceive, etc. Water off a duck’s back. For me, I’m just glad to have share my beliefs and the Truth challenged and thereby strengthened. Imagine - the early Saints only ALSO had the Holy Spirit to help them know it was true preach the Gospel. We’ve got the advantage of also having the cantankerous Truth!
Some might be offended that you reduce the truth to the level of their understanding!:)