Could I Leave My Faith

As my father was dying, he begged me to come back to our traditional family religion.  He claimed that since all religions were about the same, it wouldn’t make any difference.  Though I knew it would mean so much to my dad, I didn’t do it.  Why?

To answer, I must go back to my college days.  I lived just down the hill from the University of California at Berkeley.  It was in the late 1960's, the age of Hippies, and “Flower Power”.  Youth were questioning.  They were tired of just being admonished to do as you are told.  They didn’t want to merely follow some traditional religion.  They wanted answers.  They wanted to know the meaning of life.  Some sought “enlightenment” in Far Eastern religions, and some in LSD (not LDS!) drug highs.  For most it was just a “fad”, but for me it was not.

I studied the major world religions and found some truths there.  I looked at Christian religions and found some truth there.  But it was not enough for me.  I wanted more than beliefs that some people had decided would make good guides for life.  I was looking for more.  I wanted truth, what was real.  I was looking for something that felt right.

One day I began to study The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I found again the real God, a loving Heavenly Father, whom I had known as a child until I became lost in all sorts of religious “mysteries”.  I learned that my life had purpose - to learn, grow, and become like my Heavenly Father, and that our Savior could help me reach my full potential.  I had always felt that loving relationships could not just end, and was thrilled to hear that we could continue in families after we left this life.  It all felt right and true.  It felt like I had rediscovered truths that I had always known.

It was like going from candlelight into the sun.  After years of searching, I had found not some man-made set of beliefs, but the truth I was seeking and could never leave.

Why I Became a Mormon

When I was eighteen and living close to Berkeley, California, I was looking for some teachings to guide my life. I wanted a happier life than I'd seen in my family.  I looked into all sorts of religions, even Far Eastern.  Nothing felt right and many of the things they said didn't seem just - such as if you were a little bit better you went to heaven or a little bit worse and you went to hell.  About this time I met a nice girl in a high school summer class, and we became friends. I was very impressed with the love I saw in her family.  I had never seen anything like it before.  I began to ask her questions, and she suggested I talk to some missionaries.  As I read the Book of Mormon, so many questions I had were answered.  Ideas just rang true.  They felt like things I had always known, but had forgotten.  Finally, two years and many, many questions later (I  had to be sure, for I knew this was the biggest decision I would make in my life), I finally joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  My parents weren’t very happy with my decision, but I was.  Through the years, these true principles have helped me to build a happy marriage and a strong family, and to see my health problems as opportunities to grow. I have never regretted my decision one moment.

Can we know truth?

I have been thinking about a comment my husband made a few days ago.  He expressed that he was amazed that so many well educated people seem to believe whatever they see posted online. All I could do was agree,  but since then, I have been wondering about what he said.  I feel that many people today may not have the foundational principles to enable them to make wise decisions.  In our world truth is viewed as  something which is "unknowable" and "relative". Often the longing for truth is quelled by telling ourselves that, after all, everyone has the  right to their own "truth". This sounds nice, but down deep it doesn't make sense.

What is The Book of Mormon?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-00-1010-what-is-the-book-of-mormon-a-60-second-overview?category=mormon-beliefs&lang=eng

A friend of mine asked, "If there is the Old Testament and the New Testament, where does the Book of Mormon fall into this group, or does it not?"

Yes, the Book of Mormon is one with the Old Testament and the New Testament. Throughout time, God has given revelation, light and knowledge, to those who would listen. His revelations and the history of the people He gave them to are recorded in books we call scripture. The Old Testament and New Testament record God's dealings with the Israelite people who lived in the Jerusalem area. 

Before Nebuchadnezzar took over the land of Israel, God sent many prophets to warn the people to repent, so He could protect them and save them from being conquered. The people killed many of these prophets, but one, Lehi, was told to take his family and flee. Eventually, Lehi, his family, and another family made it to the "Promised Land", the Americas around 600 BC. The Book of Mormon is the history of this branch of Israel. 

Why Do Some People Not Consider Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christians?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-01-02-the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-has-sent?category=topics/jesus-christ&lang=eng

A Jewish friend told me that she thought it was strange that some Christians do not consider members of our church Christian. This is my response to her.

Yes, it is strange that many do not consider us Christians especially since our name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. We follow the original "Christian" beliefs. We believe that there is one God of this world -- Jesus Christ. He created the world and reveled his teachings to righteous people-- Adam, Noah, Abraham and the other prophets, that He came to teach people how to live and died for our sins, and that he will come again someday in glory. He did all these things under the direction of His Father. We believe that these teachings (the Gospel) were restored in our day through the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

We are not Protestants. We are not protesting against the Catholic church leaders. We believe in direct personal revelation from God and that He leads His Church-- not men. Many Christians do not consider these beliefs "Christian". Many view the people of Moses time as "primitive" and the Gospel teachings of love were only known when Christ preached them during his ministry. The consider the God of the Old Testament as different from Christ in the New Testament. 

Are Bible Miracles True?

A nurse friend said, "The Bible often perplexes me. Am I supposed to actually believe Moses fasted for 40 days? Would he not be good and dead if he didn't have any nourishment or more importantly, liquid, for that period of time? "

Under normal circumstances her statement is true. People cannot live without nourishment for 40 days, but does this mean that the many miracles described in the Bible are not true?

Why Did I Join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church?

               https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2018-01-0010-discovering-truth?lang=eng

A friend asked if I had joined The Church because I married a member. This is my response to her.

No, I did not join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I was marrying a member. After I joined the Church, I found a strong member of my faith to marry, because I wanted a partner who would share my beliefs and help me to grow.

When I was 16, I met a girl in a summer school class in California and we became friends -- still are! I was impressed with her values and her family. There was a love there that wasn't in my family. As I told you I was looking for truth. I've never had any interest in "religion" -- in joining some group and adopting their ideas. I really don't understand why people do that -- security? I am an exceptionally independent person who lives by principles and not much of a "groupy".

Could I Leave My Faith?

As my father was dying, he begged me to come back to our traditional family religion. He claimed that since all religions were about the same, it wouldn't make any difference. Though I knew it would mean so much to my dad, I didn't do it. Why?

To answer, I must go back to my college days. I lived just down the hill from the University of California at Berkeley. It was in the 1970's, the age of Hippies, and "Flower Power". Youth were questioning. They were tired to just being admonished to do as you are told. They didn't want to merely follow some traditional religion. They wanted answers. They wanted to know the meaning of life. Some sought "enlightenment" in Far Eastern religions and some in LSD drug highs. For most it was just a "fad", but for me it was not.

Should Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ask Questions?

Of course!  Questioning is how we learn. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in these latter days because a young man questioned the traditional Christian teachings. Joseph Smith prayed and asked God what church was right? Which church should I join?

But many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are very concerned that they are showing a lack of faith if they question their leaders. Though we are warned to follow our leaders to help us be safe in these perilous times, that does not mean that we are to blindly follow them like unthinking robots.  We each have a responsibility to carefully study the things our leaders say, then we must pray to know what they are saying is right.  It is only after own own effort that we can gain our own testimony, our own witness from God, of the truth of what our leaders are saying.  It is only when we act on what we have learned to be right,  that we will grow and progress.

Some members can feel OK about asking for a confirmation that what leaders are saying is right, but feel that they are doing something wrong if they question Church doctrine.  What confuses members and is causing their concern is that there are seeing two different things. One is the honest questioning of a person who is looking for answers. The other is people who are looking merely for a quick way to discount the Gospel teachings and live a less demanding life.

Faith and Signs

Written in 2012 to answer a friend's question.

Yes, I think people long to know why they are here, what is the purpose of life, and where they will go afterward. We all want our relationships to continue and want to be with our loved ones forever.

I believe there is a God and that He loves us more than we are capable of understanding. I know he loves me for I have felt His presence supporting me in my most desperate moments.

I believe that He truly is our Heavenly Father, the father of our spirits, and as our father, He wants us to grow and be happy. Our purpose for being here on earth is to learn to choose good over evil -- to learn and become more like our Heavenly Father. With His help we can progress and return and live with Him someday where we can enjoy eternal family relationships.

Truth and Faith

When I was in my early teens I began to question organized religions. I felt that each religion had some truth, but many of the things they said just didn't feel right to me. I studied many religions including Far Eastern. I learned how beliefs were voted on at the Council of Nicea and later how Protestants leaders tried to reform and return to beliefs they felt were true. Religions were formed as people interpreted scripture and mixed it with what they thought was right. Though I admire these good people, this was not what I was looking for. I didn't want to just pick some religion that seemed the best of the lot, I wanted real truth. I wanted revelation from God. I don't understand how some people can just say, "This is what my religion says is true so that is what I believe".  I live by true principles and I test them out so I know they are true.

Do I, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Believe in Traditional Religion?

A friend expressed to me how she could not believe in traditional religion, recounting Christianity's history of voting on doctrine, political maneuvering, conquest (Crusades), and cruelty (Inquisition). She also stated that though she did believe in God, she could not believe that one person's ideas about religion were better than another person's ideas. I agree completely with her.

What!? You are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How could you not believe in traditional religion? Aren't you the most traditional, conservative religion around? 

We do believe in truth and do not give in when we know something is right, but our faith is not based on tradition. Throughout time there have been many good people who have set up religions based on what they believed was right. I think some have done a lot of good, but by the time I was eleven I knew that was not enough for me. I didn't want to choose between the many philosophies of men one that I liked the best and join that church. What I was looking for was revelation of truth from God.