Are you a member of the true LDS faith or the reorganized Mormon faith?

I still question some things. Yet I must admit, if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is not THE gospel – well, it should be!

Can you find a more honest, more decent, more family oriented, more education oriented, more pious, more patriotic, or more healthy group?

I think not.

To Covo, it is not fear that keeps devout Mormons from being “open” and participating in “any aspect of the world”. It is BELIEF. No matter what reasons people claim to have for or against being a Mormon, there is only one; either you believe it or you do not. As we are all governed by our beliefs, Mormons are no different from others in that regard.

Yes, I would certainly not argue with you that there are things Mormons abstain from that may be relatively harmless in moderation. There are many Mormons who try to explain our adherence to the Word of Wisdom to others by touting its physical benefits. While it has physical benefits; it is first and foremost a spiritual law. Observing it sets us apart from the world (whether we like it or not!). God has always given this kind of commandment with people who have made a covenant with him, whether it be a dietary law or that of circumcision. It isn’t about what we think is the way to right living and we do not judge others who have not made this covenant.

Brian, you don’t “get” Mormonism by asking other people about it. You just simply read the Book of Mormon yourself and make of it what you will.

Hello Brother,

Thank you for visiting my blog. Thank you for this site. I am happy we are of the same faith. Membership in this church is one of the most previous thing in my life.

Where else could you find another gospel that show us how our forefathers could be saved?

I thank Christopher for shedding light on beilief and questioning things.

In my view, the only true way to live learn and grow is through continual questioning and inquisitiveness…but only to be backed up through honest and sincere prayer. I think often we forget that prayer is probably one of the greatest gifts that we are given…that direct link to our Father in Heaven…that led an innocent 14yr old boy to read, “…if any of ye lack wisdom, ask of God…who upholdeth and upbraideth not.”

This promise is to everyone…at least to everyone that will honestly, openly and sincerely pray and ask about ANYTHING…and let me restate that…ANYTHING. First one has to want to believe, or hope to know the truth…then one has to study and research for themselves, as to formulate the right questions…then one needs to pray earnestly and openly to receive confirmation…and believe that they will receive an answer…faith in receiving an answer, no matter what it may be…is key to the power of prayer.

I think it is amazing to know that God, our Heavenly Father…makes such an effort to help us find truth…no matter where it is, or no matter what the truth is relating to. Heavenly Father keeps his word…if he says to ask him, because he won’t withold or hide truth from us…then we are truly blessed indeed…and we should “know” that he will help us find the truth. (Faith must be tested in order to become knowledge.)

The thing to remember is that the Gospel and the Church are joined, but not entirely the same thing. The Gospel is the core teachings, the doctrines and the scriptures…the Church is the organization that whole heartedly tries the best to follow those teachings and principles…and being an organization it is subject to the occassional “human error” of individuals in that organization.

The great thing is that in the church, we have a Prophet and other authorities in the Church whom give us direction through direct revelation, inspiration, and guidance…in order to help us and direct us as individuals back on path…to avoid follies and errors, which we have all had…

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true…and the Church is founded on that truth…and the Church in and of itself can’t be true…it can only aspire to follow that truth, to live by it, as it is an organization of individuals. An organization that is founded in on the greatest truth of a living gospel of Jesus Christ…

I promise anyone that wants to know the truth of something, that if they will research it out…from all angles…and pray about it open mindedly, honestly and sincerely…Heavenly Father will answer you. He loves us we are his children…wouldn’t you tell your child the truth if he or she asked it of you?

Sincerely,

P.E. Griswold

People are people some are patriotic in the church but I fear most are lost in their way or understanding of what patriotism truely is and need a fresh course or a good kick in the backside.
I moved to provo utah from Maine and do alot of research on byu campus and I am sad by the people and just how wicked they truely are. we are told utah or slc would become a very corrupt place.
In many ways the members are good or have good intentions but take things for granted as did the children of israel.
alot of rude or unfriendly people who are into clicks but they are still children of God and there is still hope.
Alot of people out here may not be open minded good or bad thats another story.
I myself am a convert from Maine and have always had an open mind while at the same time I am very stubborn sometimes that is good.
But I learn on my own with Gods help so if I am wrong I will study and admit to my arrors if not I stand my ground.

Ex mormons may be open minded in some good ways but also have walked down sinful roads.
we all fall short some of us just go too far.
These may be good people but use caution.

even the elect of God can be lead astray.
if your concerns of the lack of patriotism in the church then do as I am doing.

Educate inform and call them to repentance.

those who have been warned must warn others.
read the works of President Benson.
Alot of Good books at byu.
I believe byu has lost its original intent but just ignore the bad go their and learn what you can then share it with others.

use the missionary guide as a referance on how to approuch people build on common beliefs etc.

the missionary guide is a great bookand can be used for many differant things not just “missionary work”

for more feel free to E-mail me at guardian_of_the_republic@yahoo.com

Anyone know what’s up with the supposed quote by Joseph F. Smith in the Reed Smoot hearings that he had never had a revelation? I seem to remember President Hinckley saying the same sort of thing in a 60 Minutes interview. It was something to the effect that he and the brethren received impressions (aka the still, small voice), but that revelations like those received by Joseph Smith are no longer necessary. I’m confused. It seems like dejavu from anti-Mormons on my mission (revelation being unnecessary). The Church I thought I believed in believes in gifts of the Spirit, all of which should be enjoyed by the prophet. Can anyone help me out with this? I don’t want to lose faith in the Church, but it seems awfully contradictory.

wow, satan’s a tricky one isnt he!.anything that promotes Love is of God, period. why do so many choose to stumble on such little stones.fear, confusion, and contentions dont come from Our Father. did we forget where they do come from? one of our elder spiritual siblings really hates us, did we get confused whom this may be?Testimony is Divine knowledge of what we know to be true, not what we dont know. “accentuate the positive”

Dear John~

What you have described about falling away from Mormonism isn’t so different from my own doubts about Christianity as a whole.

The point I would like to make is that there is no way to prove the the New Testament is any truer than the Book of Mormon or any other revealed scriptures.

After some time, I’ve come to realize that there is no human authority with Ultimate Truth that we seek. This has been very difficult and disheartening to me as I once received much consolation in believing in what now seem like myths to me no matter how hard I try to believe them.

This leaves me with a problem: how to live life. I’ve looked into Buddhism, Taoism and many other religions. And you know what? They’ve all got elements of myth and faith in them. This too has been discouraging.

So what to do? Be an atheist? Trust science? Ah, but they have little to say about the soul or heart of man or how to live one’s life or how to raise a family…

As Thomas Edison once said, “All bibles are man made.” Now I’ve come to a different conclusion: so what! Yes they are man made! Of course they are. How could it be otherwise? However, so are the laws of this country. Should we cease to obey them? The manual for my new video camera isn’t from God either, should I banish it? WE NEED DIRECTION. We need culture. We need a reason to congregate as humans. We need commonalities to form a society. We need to raise our families, etc. etc. So do yourself a favor and stop the fruitless search for Ultimate Truth and realize the obvious. We seek one true, ultimate source of security but it isn’t a physical reality. THAT only seems to come by faith. Faith in whatever! Faith in Protestantism, Mormonism, Buddhism or a lucky rabbit’s foot. Studies show that prayer does work sometimes, but not just for Protestants! Not just for Mormons or Catholics or Jews. Faith in something bigger than oneself.

So this has been long, but let me part with some encouraging words.

If you have found that Mormonism isn’t true, keep in mind that neither is your alternative–not in the scientific sense. There are many people who’ve found the answer in the Mormon church and their faith is the truth they seek. If yours is outside Mormonism, then rejoice at that, but just remember that you may need to peel away the New Testament next when you find out how that book came to be. Then when you’re left with the Old Testament with all its vengeance, blood and fear… well, you’ll want to leave that too.

So whoever of you has faith, please hold on to it! Stop trying to validate it like a scientist. It will ruin it like it has for most true scientists. There is an outer world of physical reality that science has done a fine job of explaining and controlling so far, but as to the soul and inner heart of man, religion of some sort addresses best.

Find where your heart is home, don’t be too picky, and enjoy the ride! It’s like deciding where to live. You’ll NEVER find the PERFECT place. Just settle for what works and what is good and what you believe in. In my mind, nothing will ever be more God-inspired than that.

God bless you all!

I’m confused I thought that Mormons believed in the sanctity of human life. If that’s the case shouldn’t someone like Harry Reid be excommunicated. I never knew that Reid was a Mormon until I saw a documentary about Mormonism on PBS. I never heard of a Pro-Choice Mormon. The one thing I respect most about the Mormon Church is their views about family and the sanctity of human life. I’m pretty sure that if I weren’t a Southern Baptist I probably become Mormon.