“I would venture to guess that I might know more than you do about the LDS Church. Maybe, maybe not.”
I couldn’t take it anymore last night. I have no doubt you know more about Mormons - from your perspective - than I. I was baptized 8 yrs ago so I am fairly new - one of those who came into the Church since President Gordon B. Hinckley became the Prophet. The Church grew by one-third under President Hinckley and I am happy to be among that group. There have been many loving changes. I love my Savior and I love my Church.
I was raised a Southern Baptist; tried being a Catholic; tried being a Pentecostal. I was with Youth With A Mission (YWAM)for about 5 yrs. Lived in Belize (Central America) for 18 months with YWAM. Got discouraged by all the contradictions and hypocrisy.
AUTHORITY - that was the missing ingredient. I know in my knower that The LDS Church is the True Church. The other Christian Churches all have some of the Truth. Great! I am happy for all Believers who put their trust in the Atoning Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is no respecter of persons. We are all his children.
I just do not understand why some posters are seemingly obsessed with trying to put down my beliefs and my Church.
The Authority is CHRIST! Not some flesh and blood so-called "living prophet".
Did you submit to the AUTHORITY of Christ when you were a Baptist or a Catholic?
Got discouraged by all the contradictions and hypocrisy.
That is what we have been pointing out about the LDS Church. Hypocrisy and contradictions. That is the earmark of the Mormon Church.
It may not be the earmark of most the LDS Members, but it is the earmark of the LDS Church. They teach one thing and then they change their minds and try to pretend they never taught it. They have never said they were WRONG about anything. Polygamy was never "Wrong" it just is no longer taught. Discrimination against blacks was never "Wrong", God just changed his mind.
I have never seen a Church more filled with contradictions and hypocrisy than the Utah LDS Church. I am not talking about your typical Mormon, I am talking about the LDS Church as an institution.
I can only pray that you one day see the light and return home to either the Catholic or Baptist Church or find some other Bible Based Church which believes in the Jesus of the Bible, not the Jesus of the Pearl of Great Price.
If you are looking for AUTHORITY in the Church, that is Christ and Christ alone. If you are looking for authority in the arm of flesh, you are looking for trouble.
Saundra,
P-Marlowe, greyfoxx39 and I were Mormon. We are all now saved by the Grace of God alone - we left behind the belief that works of ordinances could offer us Celestial Glory.
Do you not wonder why we left Mormonism for the pure unadulterated Love of God. Do you really think we are “haters,” and not just normal, sinful people who sometimes get caught up in emotion, but who love God and want to share our experiences with those who may lurk on these threads.
I hold no animosity toward you, or resty, or Utah Girl, or Spiff. I’ve said before - There are a great many Mormon people whom I love and admire. I am convinced Saundra, that you DO know the true pure love and Grace that Jesus Christ offers you. Please, please, please don’t ever let it go!
My prayers are offered for each and every one of us.
I have a right to question the Mormon Church because:
MORMON SCRIPTURE INVITES EXAMINATION AND CRITICISM
Doctrine and Covenants sees such criticism as an opportunity to shame the critics of the church:
Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest. Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you–there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time. D&C 71:7-10MORMON LEADERS INVITE EXAMINATION AND CRITICISM
I say to the whole world, receive the truth, no matter who presents it to you. Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test … I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him … let every man and woman know themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates or not. This has been my exhortation continually. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 16:46, as cited by Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1950, pp. 129-130).IT IS ESSENTIAL TO EXAMINE THE MORMON CHURCHIf Joseph [Smith] was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead people, then he should be exposed, his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false. LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1 pp 188-189
The Book of Mormon must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions. The nature of the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; If false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it. If, after a rigid examination, it be found imposition, it should be extensively published to the world as such; the evidences and arguments on which the imposture was detected, should be clearly and logically stated, that those who have been sincerely yet unfortunately deceived, may perceive the nature of deception, and to be reclaimed, and that those who continue to publish the delusion may be exposed and silenced by strong and powerful arguments by evidences adduced from scripture and reason. Apostle Orson Pratt, Orson Pratt's Works, Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, Liverpool, 1851, pp. 1,2
Don't you agree that, with time and all eternity at stake, it is imperative for us to discover the truth while we are still on this earth?
Doesn't your Church tell you to seek the truth? Doesn't your Church teach you should share the truth with others? Don't we both have a right to know the truth? Doesn't your Church teach you will be blessed if you find the truth? Don't we both have a right to that blessing? Won't you please help me find the truth?
Grant, those things exist in Protestant churches.
Are you saying that they do NOT in the LDS Organization?
I agree with you Saundra “the say one thing and do another crowd” that the way it was in my day now.
It is sad but many here are like bullies on the play ground!
Meaningful discussion are disrupted by all kinds of things.
PS
And this election year seems to be bring every thing to a head like a carbuncle.
This purging is going to be hard but it is something that has to be done.
SALT LAKE CITY 21 February 2008 According to the National Council of Churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow steadily, with a 1.56 percent increase in its United States membership in the last year. This is contrasted with most other churches, which are not experiencing membership growth or which are declining in numbers.
The findings were made available last week when the NCC published its annual Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints maintains its position as fourth-largest religion in the nation.
~”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!