Ingbert

Somebody mentioned disfellowshipping on another thread, and it didn't seem appropriate to interrupt that thread with my ignorance. I'm basically a newbie and not familiar with disfellowshipping. Can somebody explain it or provide a link that does so? Basically, what is it? What kind of things can lead to disfellowshipping? Is there a difference between disfellowshipping and excommunication?

Hi Phi. Sorry, couldn't resist I like your point about interacting with the actual people of a faith. Hope you can find some good answers here.

That's a great answer I think it boils down to not so much what can we read as to why are we reading it.

I don't know what, if any, official stance is and haven't read through the rest of the thread yet, so I can only give my opinion here. I'm one of those people who reads everything. When I was first meeting with the missionaries before joining the church, I often read other stuff, some of it downright anti-Mormon. They never discouraged it, and it often led to some really good questions I never would have thought up on my own. My personal theory is that truth is truth, no matter what else you read. It may lead to questions, maybe even doubts, but if you approach it with openness and prayer, ultimately the truth will win out, and leave you with a much stronger faith when it does. As for what the missionaries are allowed to read, I can understand restrictions there. They have a job to do and need to stay focused.

Just joined the group. I joined the church about 10 years ago, was active for a couple years, then drifted away. Lately I find myself drawn back into it.