curtishouse

This thread is not meant to bash or berate mainstream Christianity; this is only my personal experience. I used to belong to different mainstream Christian sects such as the church of Christ, a Bible church (which is affiliated with the Baptist churches), the RC church, some non-denominational churches and others but, it seemed, there was something in common with each of them. If you didn't believe exactly what they taught regarding salvation, you were destined for their concept of Hell. If you believed in faith alone for salvation, the church of Christ thought you were going to Hell, if you believed that works were essential for salvation along with faith, the Bible church thought you were going to Hell, and on, and on. These conflicting opinions (and they all had biblical scripture to support their views) pretty much just drove me crazy and drove me away from Christ altogether. How could there be so many differing thoughts based on Scripture when God is the Author of Peace and not confusion? I was so confused that eventually I just gave up on God altogether and believed that one didn't exist. I still had hope deep inside but mainstream Christianity hurt me so bad that I just could never go back to any of those churches ever again. Along the way, I was talking to some on here last year and one wonderful person sent me the Book of Mormon as well as some pamphlets. I read some of it but I just don't think I was ready at that time. I eventually got immersed deeply in Atheism once again and I couldn't fathom Heavenly Father existing and, even if He did, I just couldn't envision myself worshiping this God that the churches have taught me about. Sending a person to Hell for all eternity in torment and pain because they were taught a different faith growing up in a different land? The trinity? The Bible is all we have to go on for learning about Him even though it can be construed a million different ways? A literal 6,000 year old earth when all evidence points to roughly a 4.5 billion year old time period? I don't know how it happened but I was looking into Mormonism again and even uploaded a PBS special called "The Mormons" on my YouTube channel and I felt the need to read the BofM. To be honest, at first, I was reading it sarcastically through the first chapter because I thought it would just be utter bunk but, after I read the first chapter and had the night to think about it, I couldn't shake the feeling that this truly was the Word of God. It reminded me of how I used to feel when I read the Bible before those dissenting viewpoints on doctrine destroyed my faith. The more I read it now (and I've been reading at least a chapter every day) I KNOW unequivocally that it is the Word of God and haven't felt this peace with God in quite a while now. I know I don't understand all the doctrines in the LDS faith and, right now, I just don't care. I know this is the Word of God and I just love feeling this way! It's like being in love all over again and everything just makes more sense. Life is good and, most importantly, I can say this and mean it for the first time in a long time...GOD IS GOOD!

This reminds me of an old South Park episode LOL

I live in Fresno, California and there are only a few wards in town so I don't think scarcity of greeters would be a problem.

That's sad. A lot of good memories going to Blockbuster renting movies. I guess its just the nature of technology. I'm sure the owners of the former small video stores that Blockbuster knocked out of business are smiling a little bit when they hear of this news.

What classifies as a good person though? I'm sure there are nice people the world over that do help others and such but there is not a righteous person, no not one. (Romans 3:10) Also if we don't have faith in Jesus, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) I agree that there are wonderful works of literature throughout other religions, but there can only be one way to God. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) Also you speak of peace...But what did Jesus say about it? Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)

Face cards? LOL Is there a corrected version of the book? I would want to read the original but, as I'm just learning about the faith now, I don't want to get a bunch of errors stuck in my head!

That could have been why some Mormons had some bad things to say about him. When you come out with a book called "Mormon Doctrines", it better be spot on. :) Glad to hear that I was wrong and he stayed as a faithful member of the church for the duration of his life.

I have debated over at CARM before and it seemed that many members of the LDS church spoke ill of him and that he wasn't teaching church doctrine. I also recall some saying that he left the church for various reasons. Take that all with a grain of salt though. I am definitely not qualified to speak on his life. I could very well just be mistaken.

It seems that Mr. McConkie is quoted quite a bit here on the boards. Isn't he vehemently against the LDS church now?

I guess that fringe minority of the LDS church have something to agree upon with the fundamental Baptists and such...They swear up and down that the "whore" is the Catholic church as well. So, from these posts, it feels there really isn't a consensus on what truly is the abominable church. I'll check out that link that somebody else posted as well. Is there an official church position on this?

I'm just reading through the BofM for the first time and I came across 1Nephi 14:3. What church is the "abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children"?

Sounds good Anatess! I think I will! :)

I really don't think this was a problem in the 1800s. It just seems priorities are out of whack a bit if one puts attire above a person's heart.

As some know on here, I am close to going to worship for the first time in the LDS church. A question that enters my mind though is this. Will me and my wife be looked down upon since we do not have children? We are both in our 30s and, chances are, we will never have children. I know how important family is in the faith and that is one of the things that have drawn me to it but we are childless. What will the reaction of the members be? Will we be encouraged to have children, looked down upon if we never do, or just be treated as every other member?

Sounds like you got an awesome ward there bro. I'll definitely check out Harley dude.

If you have FireFox, I urge you to get the add-on called "AdBlock Plus" as well as the element hider...You can just have the comments removed so you don't have to worry about the heinous things that other YouTubers are saying. It saves me a lot of stress. :)

My hair is never "ratty." I know all about my Sunday best and I wouldn't show up in anything less than a presentable fashion.

I'm sure everybody will be nice. Just my low self-esteem seeping through most likely. Thanks for the comments.

Why would they encourage me to look a certain way? Are looks really a determining factor in the LDS church?

Hi, I am thinking about attending my first church service at a local ward but something is bothering me. I have pretty long hair down to my shoulders and a goatee as well. Will I be looked down upon because of this?

I was just going to post the same. So it seems what some are saying is that first we should obey God (whether we have faith or not) and then if we do, the gift of faith will be given to us. Would that be correct?

That definitely is something to ponder PrisonChaplain...But isn't God described as indescribable though? What are some attributes that help you to describe God? I don't want to be part of the "free thinkers." I want to believe in God but I just can't have a blind faith. I wish that I could just believe and never have a doubt in my head but that just isn't me. I think that verse in Mark (9:24 I think) sums me up really well...I believe! Help me with my unbelief!

I guess it just seems to be a matter of faith...There is as much evidence that there is a God than that there isn't...Some look at the sky and marvel at God's creation...Others look at that same sky and marvel at its beauty from a planet that occurred from the Big Bang roughly 5 billion years ago. I hope that God exists and put my faith in that I guess. If God doesn't exist, then when we die, nothing happens. I would rather focus on the hope of God existing. It seems the reward of God existing far outweighs the reward (if there is any) if God doesn't exist.

For those that remember me, I used to post in here quite a while ago but I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I just don't think that I'm thoroughly convinced that God exists. This really needs to be settled in my mind and heart first before I could ever focus on theological issues and such. How do you all know that God exists? What confirmed it for you personally? Thanks. Curtis

I was wondering what the LDS church's take on Bible verses such as Isaiah 44:6 which states: Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. I have been under the impression as discussing things on here the last few days that Heavenly Father is a God, Jesus Christ is a God, The Holy Spirit is a God and, even debatably (is that even a word? lol) Heavenly Father's "wife" is a god as well...How does all of this reconcile with Isa 44:6?