Torch

Today I spoke to a very close friend who is a Muslim. In this thread and among members in general, there seems to be a consensus that people of other faiths can feel the spirit selectively but only active members of the LDS church have the constant companion of it. Also, LDS members are the only people in the world that pray to know the truth of things from the Holy Spirit, ie. The Book of Mormon. However, this is NOT true. My Muslim friend discussed that it is openly encouraged to seek guidance, truth, and answers, which is given freely to those who ask it. So, if I were to study Islam, have faith in the Qur'an and pray with faith in Allah that he WILL answer my question then there is no reason why he wouldn't. And if I got the answer that Islam was not true or didn't receive anything, it could be said that I lack faith. The overall point was to get away from Bigfoot and show that from real people, answers can and do get answered to belong to other religions all day, every day. So, why would anyone believe the LDS claims when one can receive the same answer with every other religion? I am not being contentious, but if you are seeking truth, it is a good topic to discuss with your friends of other faiths. What do you believe and more importantly why do you believe it?

Are you saying that the Holy Spirit will not confirm other truths or mysteries of the universe, and how do you know? And is that because believing in Bigfoot is silly?

Are we really going to cherry pick which individual scriptures we are going to accept and not accept? Just out of curiosity, do you also believe the scriptures that state that if a single woman is raped, she should be forced to marry the rapist? Just curious as you said "it is stated as such in the scriptures."

I know exactly where DKM88 is coming from and can almost predict what will be in his near future. I know this because this is where I was only a few years ago. There is no grievous sin committed and DKM88 doesn't need to just "pray harder" as though there couldn't possibly be ANY reason to question anything in the church. Everyone has questions regarding some doctrine and many are able to put it on the shelf never to be touched again while others are not. If I said that Bigfoot is real, would you believe me? All you have to do is meet with the bigfoot search groups, read ONLY their materials, because anything else would be anti-bigfoot and attend all their social gatherings. Oh yeah, and you need to pray about bigfoot with sincere faith. I mean, it has to be real right, they have sightings ALL THE TIME from people who have no motive for making this stuff up and there is evidence such as bigfoot prints. All joking aside, I think DKM88 is taking the neutral position saying "sure, it could be true, but the evidence for it is lacking" just like Bigfoot, the loch ness monster, and alien abductions. He is not saying the church is full of liars and I am going to fight every last one of you until you lose your faith. Just my .02 cents.

So the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the current Iraq War didn't and don't exist?

All in all, good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people every day. It doesn't seem that there is an invisible man with his hand in everything going on down here on Earth although I will not tell you there is not. Every religion has prayers that are answered, not answered, and miracles that seem to strengthen their members convictions although NO ONE religion has a monopoly on any of them. Like others have said, my chances of being healed are the same whether I pray to a specific God or the 1% milk carton, because we all know whole milk isn't good for you. :)

Because you do believe in this God who has no problem starving some of his children to death, about 28,000 a day to be exact all the while you think He cares about you not finding your car keys. And, I think you may not understand my beliefs too well either.

Isaiah 45:7 (King James Version): I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Now I am wondering if it would be ok for me to starve one of my three children. I mean, after all, my other two children have the agency to provide some of their food if they wanted. I will take the thanks and praises of my two children with food and continually bless them and turn my head at my starving child's plea for any amount of food. Of course we all know that I would NEVER do something like this, so I have to wonder about God's morals

The problem I have with this is that all prayer has a 50% chance of being answered, doesn't matter what God you pray to. And, I guess the 28,000 children that die of malnutrition today got a "no."

You are correct. When I had doctrinal discussions with the bishop, he mentioned that I could believe anything I wanted or be inactive and that I could stay on the rolls as a member so long as I didn't "apostatize" or preach out against the church.

I agree with Eowyn. My wife and I were actually encouraged by our bishop to move our wedding date up after we had planned for a longer engagement. We followed his council and I have to say it was really good advice.

As the others have said, they will simply be counted as inactive members unless they formally request that their names be removed.

I have to agree with Carl62. In my mission I would say that about 60-70% were pressured with undue pressure to serve a mission. For the church to say it is "your duty" is to say you have no choice. God expects it and if you want to be worthy and follow the prophet, you WILL serve. So, there really is no choice.

I would recommend seeking an endocrinologist and getting on a testosterone replacement therapy then. Low testosterone is dangerous.

I just wonder who collected the 10,000 species of ants and 28,000 species of butterfly for the ark just to think of a few, and how was this done if there were multiple continents?

As a testicular cancer survivor, I can tell you that things still function the way they should so that won't work. :)

I strongly disagree. I would NEVER have my daughter talk behind closed doors with one man about her sexual feelings and actions. Certain things as well as accusations can and have happened with very poor outcomes in the church.

I was going to say no, but the devil made me say yes. :)

How can one determine at what point they "know?" Many members claim unequivocally that they KNOW the church is true when in fact it is simply a belief, regardless of how strong the belief may be.