This guy is Mormon?

[Archie Moses]

How does it work?

Dude, you served a mission and I'm sure you know how it works. I feel the right answer is being dodge for one reason or another. I agree with Colton that the spirit can lead people to do different things, but the spirit is not going to say, "the church is not for you." Why, because the church is for everyone - whether they like, dislike it, need it, or don't need for the fact that LDS church doctrine teaches they are the only "true" church that's authorized by god to do baptism (which Christ said to do in order to be saved.)

Now I'm not saying Mother Thersea needed to be LDS to be saved - because I also believe in work after death. All I'm saying is that the spirit "a member of the LDS godhead" isn't going to tell someone "the church isn't for you". That would be like Christ saying "the church isn't for you" imo.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

That first question is really the core of it, isn't it.

So did the spirit whisper the truth to her? If not, how do you explain it?

Let me start by saying, and I'm sure we all know this, there are many people out there that are bad examples of what their church teaches. There are people that may or may not be trying to live up to what they are trying to represent. How many times have we stopped using a certain business franchise because we got bad service at one of them. That one employee had a uniform and a tag and represented the franchise, so we stopped buying from them. Was the bad service a good representation of the service you would have received from one of the owners, probably not. This is similar to what happens in religion, only times ten. The bad experiences that are tied to religion generally do not represent the teachings of that religion. Do LDS prophets and Apostles teach various leaders to guilt trip kids into "doing what they should"? No they don't. Sometimes Bishops and Stake Presidents don't handle things the best way, but most of the time they are trying. It is very difficult for someone who has had a, or many, bad experiences with a church to overcome those. This is just human nature I am talking about.

When I talk about the LDS church being the True Church I am not talking about the people in it being perfect. I am not talking about the leaders in it being perfect. I am talking about the Church having the real Authority from Christ to do some things in his name. Does that mean the Prophet walks around all day every day, and everything he says or does is straight from Christ? No, I don't think so.

What's my point? I thought those ideas were important to the discussion. There are many very good Christians in the LDS church. There are many very good Christians in other religions. The LDS church certainly does not as someone mentioned earlier, corner the market on being Christians, living good lives, giving to others, having charity, or anything like that. They also have their fair share of people that are having a hard time living those principles. They also have enough "wolves in sheep's clothing" running around hurting people in the name of good.
What I believe the LDS Church has that other churches do not have is the Authority to perform ordinances in the name of Christ that truly will last after death. Does that mean that LDS members are better than anyone else? Nope. Does that mean we are more charitable than anyone else? Nope. Does that mean we are immune from hurting other people, or saying and doing stupid things? Nope.

I guess my idea of the Truth's that need to be proven for each individual, somewhat in this order are: (maybe not in this order, I am just throwing them up there)
Does God exist?
Is Christ the Son of God?
Did he truly Atone for our sins?
Is the Bible the word of God?
Is the Book of Mormon the word of God?
Does God still speak through Prophets?
Was Joseph Smith a Prophet?
Is the current LDS Prophet a Prophet?
Is the Priesthood authority truly the authority to perform ordinances in the name of Christ?
Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints truly the Church of Christ today?
(I'm sure I misses something, but do the same thing with every question after this)

How to answer these questions is specific to you, but some of the ways are to think it through and see if it truly makes sense. Study it out and see if you understand it fully. Live your life like the question is true and see if it makes a difference in your life. Ask God to answer your question. I'm sure I missed some other ideas that help people get the answers they are looking for.

I think my point here is that you can't just jump to the last question on your list, it's like building a cathedral or temple, you have to start answering the foundation questions before you can get to some of the more in depth or convoluted questions.

I think I am done rambling and answering nothing. These questions are hard for me because I feel like the question to fully be answered it would have to take a year of constant discussion and action.

 

[bigb]

Doesn't work that way, Colton.

For what it's worth, I agree with colton on this one.

 

[Archie Moses]

For what it's worth, I agree with colton on this one.

Can you explain why?

 

[bigb]

Can you explain why?

My personal thoughts and opinions. I'm not trying to speak for the Church or make blanket statements regarding Church policy or doctrine.

 

[Archie Moses]

My personal thoughts and opinions. I'm not trying to speak for the Church or make blanket statements regarding Church policy or doctrine.

OK, cool, although I think there is a doctrine on this and plenty of scriptures.

 

[bigb]

So if Mother Teresa had listened to the missionaries but chosen not to be baptized, would she be damned?

 

[Archie Moses]

So if Mother Teresa had listened to the missionaries but chosen not to be baptized, would she be damned?

No. That's not the argument I'm saying. In fact, read my second post from the previous page. I'm saying the spirit won't tell someone "the church isn't for you".

 

[bigb]

Sorry if that's the way it came across, not what I meant. Just was curious what your take on that was.

 

[Archie Moses]

Sorry if that's the way it came across, not what I meant. Just was curious what your take on that was.

I do understand what you and Colton are saying, but I just think there's part of the response that's being dodged too. This is coming from a guy who's been to church once this entire year, but I've decided I'm going for sure tomorrow.

 

[LogGrad98]

No. That's not the argument I'm saying. In fact, read my second post from the previous page. I'm saying the spirit won't tell someone "the church isn't for you".

Then was it an evil spirit that so positively changed my sister-in-law's life, that brought her so much closer to God, and convinced her that she needed to love her neighbor as herself, even if before her change of heart she despised mormons (she told me that exactly once...I was one she said she didn't despise, probably because many of my beliefs are not canonical). She still says the mormon church is wrong, and she feels it is damaging to the children, but she feels love and forgiveness and acceptance. I have a hard time believing that wouldn't be something we would recognize as "the spirit".

"By their fruits ye shall know them."

As I said, this experience has really changed the way I view my own beliefs and made me think very deeply about my own religion.

 

[Archie Moses]

Then was it an evil spirit that so positively changed my sister-in-law's life, that brought her so much closer to God, and convinced her that she needed to love her neighbor as herself, even if before her change of heart she despised mormons (she told me that exactly once...I was one she said she didn't despise, probably because many of my beliefs are not canonical). She still says the mormon church is wrong, and she feels it is damaging to the children, but she feels love and forgiveness and acceptance. I have a hard time believing that wouldn't be something we would recognize as "the spirit".

"By their fruits ye shall know them."

As I said, this experience has really changed the way I view my own beliefs and made me think very deeply about my own religion.

There is an opposition to all things. One opposition, whispers in the ears of the children of men that all is well in Zion. I believe, the opposition I'm referring to, is very smart indeed and has been since before the world and the time of Adam and Eve.

There are people from many different religions that feel at peace with what they believe and that's it's the truth. Many of them teach good things and do feel the spirit and close to god. With that being said, having 99% of the truth, isn't having the "full" truth.