tfrey1225

I am upfront. Granted, I've only been a Latter-day Saint for a few weeks now, so I haven't had many people ask me. But I did have a funny situation at work. I work at a prison, and I was working in the segregation unit, and one of the officers I was working with was drinking a Monster "Java Irish Cream." He ended up offering me some and I said "I can't drink coffee products." And he said, "everyone can drink coffee." I said "no, I'm a Mormon." Another officer asked, "what does that have anything to do with that? You can't have coffee because you're Mormon?" The coffee drinking officer said, "yeah they can't drink anything with caffeine in it because caffeine is a drug and they can't have drugs." I went on to clear up that I can have caffeine just not coffee or tea, and yes I can't smoke drugs.

Thanks for all the kind words.

So I was working with a woman last night at my job (corrections officer) and we were discussing a lot of different things. I mean I do work a 12 hour shift so naturally we came across the discussion of religion. I recently got baptized into the Church, however was hesitant to bring that up because I suspected she may be heavily anti-Mormon and we still had about 6 hours left on shift. Well my suspicions were confirmed when she told me that the Freemasons and the LDS church were essentially the same thing and in co hoots for a world takeover basically. Then she proceeded to "school" me on the history of the LDS church. You see according to her Joseph Smith and Bringham Young had a bloody battle in Utah over leadership of the church. She said that "Mormons" would raid border towns and just massacre people disguised as Indians, and this was part of the bigger battle between Smith and Young. She said they were "cold blooded assassins." She then proceeded to speak in a very paranoid tone about a movie came out a few years back staring Jon Voight that was apparently chronicling these alleged "battles on the border." And after she heard the tickets were available she went to buy them and *duh duh duh!* the movie had been pulled! She said that at first movie theater staff played dumb and then the manager pulled her aside and told her in hushed tones that "you wouldn't want to see that movie, none of it was true." Well this was "proof" in her eyes that the LDS church had far too much sinister sway in the area. Now, naturally I didn't believe hardly anything she was saying but my question is this: should I have spoke up and said something? Should I have stopped her and corrected her? Did I miss a chance to witness and bare testimony? It wasn't that I was ashamed of the Church or anything, I just wanted things to remain civil and have a comfortable working atmosphere. What do you think?

Hello all. I wasn't sure where to put this thread, so I settled on this forum. If it's not the correct place a mod can move it. I came here inquiring about the LDS Church a few weeks back. I have been meeting with missionaries the past few weeks, and studying the Book of Mormon. Today I was baptized at the local LDS church. I feel great. I will be confirmed next week and I can't wait. That's why I say I feel new, this is my introduction as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A few weeks ago I was alone, lost, bitter and drifting. I was slowing spiraling into lust based sins and it was consuming me. Now I am ready to start my new life.

Thanks for the response, I will press on.

I recently was given a copy of the Book of Mormon by some missionaries I have been talking to. I am very excited and want to learn as much about the LDS Church (which in my mind every day I come to think of it more and more as the true Church of Jesus Christ) and I was reading through 1 Nephi and I encountered 1 Nephi:8 and I was having some trouble with it. 19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood. My questions are: what is the Iron Rod? The Strait and Narrow path too me seems to symbolize the path of Salvation. I assume the people clinging to the iron rod were those who remained faithful to the Commands of God and those who fell of the path were those who were unfaithful. However, where I got really lost was the big building across the river, what does that symbolize? Who were the people mocking and scoring Lehi and his family? Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

Yeah my Vikings are 9-1!

Thanks for the reply. I (growing up for the most part of my life Baptist) have heard that passage bandied about as "proof" against the LDS.

I have a question about the Kingdoms. What if you go to one Kingdom but your family goes to another, wouldn't that be the cause for much anguish amongst all parties?

Hey I was just wondering what the LDS response is to the common evangelical criticism that the LDS "adds to the Word of God." They often quote Deut. 4:2 which reads: 2Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. I was just wondering how you guys react when that passage is brought up?

Hello all. I want to preface this by saying that I am not Mormon. I grew up a Baptist. I went to church almost every Sunday. Later in high school I converted to Catholicism. With such a background I grew up with some pretty anti-Mormon beliefs. I had simply been hardwired to believe that Mormonism is a "cult." I heard it from all angles. About six months ago I left Christianity all together. I was let down by it (a long long story I felt used and abused by Christianity) and just decided to leave. I was atheist for awhile. Well now I feel a draw back to Christianity. And for some reason (that I honestly don't know) I feel drawn to Mormonism. Something, or perhaps Someone is telling me to check it out. I did try the online chat at Mormon.org and that just hasn't worked. I tried the 1-800 number and was ultimately letdown by the cold, corporate feel I got by it. Not to mention I got an answer once, and the guy told me to "hold for one minute" and then he hung up or something. However, I am not discouraged. I really want some answers. That is why I am here. I am here to learn and perhaps one day convert, who knows? I want to thank everyone in advance for thoughtful answers. Thank you and God Bless, Travis.