Lossie_Bear

You keep saying assumption.. and saying things based on assumption is.. judgmental. Which was the subject matter in a sense. So, maybe you can understand why it was hurtful. And does me being new mean that I haven't heard the same questions over and over? No, it means I've heard them over and over offline in real life. Growing up a Southern Mormon where some people still call Joesph Smith 'Joe Smith' is a land full of people with questions and mostly hateful comments. The point was tolerance... and as far as that goes it seems to run thin. This obviously will go on forever. So, forget the post.. and those of you who assumed can go back to assuming, and I will go back to my old forum. Those of you who didn't, it's nice to know the chain can be broken.

Well, it was exactly what I was talking about.. I said, "I think we should listen more closely to what the person is trying to say rather than immediately assuming that it's an attack against LDS members." It was just ironic and hurtful.

..As a mod I think you read my message wrong. You immediately became defensive. Answer to your first response: Please Link on this site where I said anyone stated anything. I was talking about LDS members in general, and yes, I've met people that feel that way. Answer to your second response: Again, please link where I said someone on this site stated anything I had to say. I said I was surprised at the responses on this forum. I also don't see how my being new ties into anything. I've faced many of the same things you're speaking of whether it's online or off.. why does it matter? But, just for fun my Mother was on this site for years and I used to post quite frequently when she was a member-so I've seen it all. She also ended up leaving the site because she said it seemed more of a war of words than about the Gospel.. which I'm, sadly, starting to see. And in a mod? It's disappointing.. I was really taken aback. It was the exact thing I was speaking about, and in almost every post I was met with a snide remark. Vort flattered herself into thinking that she was the subject of this rant. You began asking me to link things to you wanted proof of something I never said. Pam backed you up before ever commenting on the post I made.. I don't know what else to say.. I thought I was sharing something I believed to be the right way to go about a similar situation, but it was turned into this..

So that no one gets the wrong idea about this thread: I am LDS, and this is not a thread about bashing the Gospel. I'm new to this forum, but already I've been very surprised by some of the responses to questions directed toward the LDS faith, and I truly believe many of these questions to be misunderstood. We live our faith, Pro-LDS. I love to share my testimony, and share answers to questions that have been asked about being LDS or even interrupting my personal beliefs about certain subjects. But, imagine.. being Jewish, Lutheran, Catholic.. any other religion. You believe what you've chosen to be the truth you've been seeking, and you've dedicated yourself to your faith with the same amount of belief as any LDS member. Thus, you live your life Pro-Jewish, Pro-Lutheran etc. And much like many of us who are LDS, these people want to share their faith in their beliefs. Why does that offend other LDS members? Why is someone showing faith in God, in another religion, bad? I don't believe our Father in Heaven looks down upon someone in Prayer and thinks, "Oh.. he's Jewish.. I can't answer his prayers." That line of thought is so very, very, wrong. ANYONE who goes to the Lord in earnest prayer will be answered-and their faith will not dictate his presence. I believe with all my heart that the Gospel is true. I believe Joseph Smith to have been a true prophet. I believe in Jesus Christ, and that he will come again. I also believe those who have lived their faith with their heart, and are loyal to God and Jesus Christ.. will have the chance to be exalted as well. Denying the Spirit is a sin.. a great sin, but if you've never had the chance to truly hear the Gospel and feel the Spirit touch you. I do NOT believe that you will be punished for being of another faith, I don't think that being of another faith is wrong. I know that God can reside in Churches other than LDS Churches.. we may have more truth in what we believe, but that doesn't make them wrong. When I took the discussions with the Missionaries they had an activity to relate how the church fell from it's time of glory. They stacked cups up into a tower, and then knocked them down. They said that the gospel had been scattered.. broken. That each Church held a bit of truth, but it wasn't until Joseph Smith that it all came back together again. What does this mean? That each Church holds a little bit of truth. I'm not saying stop trying to teach others what you've learned, but to be a little more tolerant of someone who may not share in what we believe. My point being.. when we read something posted I think we should listen more closely to what the person is trying to say rather than immediately assuming that it's an attack against LDS members. We're ALL brothers and sisters.. I think we should treat each other that way. Thank you for reading. God Bless.

This disturbs me... that questions of our faith, no matter how many times they are asked, could be met with such strong disdain. I've seen many of your posts.. and I'm very new, but if you're a LDS or even of another faith- shouldn't such things be responded with patience and empathy? Apparently this person, and their friend are pondering something that is quite complex. It's natural for someone who is learning or asking questions to get something confused.. such as the quote. I wish to say to all my friends on this board- Please, reconsider how you respond to those who may not know as much about the gospel as you do. That's what this forum is for. To connect with others spiritually, not tear them down with our knowledge and logic. Share with one another.. don't try and trump each other. What if this person is a confused teenager, a curious child, or new member? And if not, does it really matter?.. We're here to help each other, and be good representatives of our faith. In response to the original question.. I would tell your friend that in truth we are all brothers and sisters, and Lucifer was one of our brother who was cast out of Heaven in the pre-exsistance. So he is indeed the brother of Jesus, but also brother to you and I. To the second.. I believe is open to interpretation. My personal belief: Our goal on this Earth is to live a righteous life, if we endure.. and endure well we will be exalted on high with our Father in Heaven-The highest kingdom of glory. There we will have the opportunity to become Gods of our own world as we're granted the power to create. Now think about this.. if we become Gods of a new world that we've created-who's to say that our Father in Heaven didn't attain his power in the same way? It would be a infinite cycle. So.. to me this means, "As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become."

First, I think it was very brave of you to post this. Many people have these problems and keep them to themselves. It's a very healthy thing that you can talk about it openly. Hiding something like this is like not tending to a wound, when you don't treat it or pretend it's not there it festers and becomes a horrible ugly thing you deal with alone. I wouldn't broadcast it to everyone you know, but posting here among friends and those that care was a very good choice. What I have to say is that if you feel in your heart that you are alright to handle this then I say that you repent and move on. But! If there is any doubt, ANY doubt, in your heart that it's something that may reoccur or may be a problem you can't handle alone- your Bishop is there to help you, not to judge you. Whenever there is question-Pray. It will help you feel better about the situation and I know you'll receive an answer that will be right for you. Thank you for being humble enough to share with us. Believe me, no one is without sin.

I wouldn't be offended because I'm strong enough in my faith to know what is true and what is not. I wouldn't be offended because in my eyes it would be an act I didn't believe would have any real significance. On the other hand, to make it general and say 'soldiers that died' makes it easier to say that. Even though I have family in the Navy stationed out there, I think it might be harder for me if it were a very close family member of mine. If my son died and I felt that a religion was desecrating his name I might be more defensive-my emotions would cloud my better judgment, and my emotional connection to my son would make it hard to swallow. THIS is how I think some Jewish members must feel.. Even though I'm LDS, and I know baptism for the dead is an essential part of the gospel, I can still see why someone of another faith might misunderstand our intentions and be offended or hurt. In this I'd like to reach out to those who might feel this way and say: In no way shape or form would I even imagine disrespecting those you love. When I do this for my family, and loved ones.. I truly feel it gives them the chance to accept the gospel, and if they so choose.. deny it. It's simply a choice we want to present to those we love. I always seek the approval of the family of those I baptize that are not of my family tree. I do this because our God is not unfair, he is just. And if there are those who haven't had the chance to be baptized and wish to be.. I know our Father will grant this unto them. So, I try my best to do right by those I love, and by the loved ones of others.. but if I can't do this for them, I know that in the end mercy and fair judgment will be granted to those who were unable to attain a stand in for their body.

Thank you very much. :)

Lossie is a family nickname I've been given-thus I decided to use it on this site, instead of using or giving out my real name. I'm Twenty-two, married, and have a son who'll be one next month. I've been trying to get myself involved and apart of something that will be a positive reinforcement in my life-among other things, I think being apart of this online community may help me in my quest to feeling more enlightened and better about myself and others. I've been really stressed lately, hopefully I'll be able to make friends and get answers and advice from angles I'm unable to see. I'm glad to be here~!