Hyena

With the holiday season officially in full swing for essentially the next month, beginning with All Hallows Eve on to Thanksgiving, through to Christmas and Kwanzaa, it made me wonder if there were any officially recognized and celebrated holidays sanctioned by the LDS church? For example, Hanukkah for the Jewish church or the practice of Lent for us Catholics. I mean in addition to the LDS church's stance on the usual holiday pantheon... does it encourage or discourage the practice of celebrating Christmas and Easter or Halloween (I suspect at least that one, I imagine.) or does the LDS Church not have an official stance on that? But beyond that, are there any unique LDS holidays or traditions that are recognized annually? I'm not talking about ceremonial ones or like the general convention, but things where you would gather with family and loved ones, give thanks, and exchange gifts, eat treats such as.. I guess tuna casserole according to what I've read and multiple jello dishes? Maybe even such things like Ramadan? Thank you, and again if this has been answered previously, I apologize for not being thorough in my searches.

Thank you SO MUCH Anatess! This should probably be like elevated to the top or something: "LDS for CATHOLICS." Putting it in these terms was EXTREMELY helpful.. by making links and comparisons to how things are in my current faith, Catholicism, it really helped reinforce these concepts. It's all so overwhelming. I was interested in the LDS church but I had no idea how... complex it is. It's exciting and daunting all at the same time. I'm way past whelmed I think. Makes decision making a little more difficult. But I'm slowly getting through it, and thanks to people like you and vort and others I think I'm slowly becoming illuminated.

The church from all I've seen is very family oriented and places God's desires and dictates well above its own. So where does that leave the Church in its official stance on the divorce of members? Is this allowed, yet frowned upon? Or does the Church have a policy against divorce sternly? How is this complicated (or not) by sealing? I'm not married, but my mind was thinking of things that could potentially happen in the future.

Lol I love that!!!

Are new members and investigated people required to read the entire Book of Mormon before joining? I only ask because I've seen several people answer here about reading 2 to 3 chapters at night but it taking them half a year or more to finish at that pace. That means that as an investigated person it might be a year before I'd be able to be baptized and join the church. Is that normal and realistic of a timeline?

Thank you everyone! I'll try to keep my questions minimized per thread in future. I just find myself having a bunch of questions at once and I didn't want to flood the forum with exhausting question after question after question. But if it makes it easier for everyone I'll try to only ask one or two questions per thread and try diligently to refrain from asking anything but what I think are the most important questions I could ask. Other than that, allow me some time to read through your answers moire carefully and consider the advice and wisdom you have all so graciously shared. Thank you, deeply, from the whole of my heart!

In the interest of time, just in case it may already have been answered on the site, is there somewhere or someone that can explain the difference between a: - Bishop - Ward President?? - Stake President?? - a ward vs a stake - How is someone selected for these Wards or stakes? Is it based on the missionaries I work with? - What is the "Elder's Quorum?" Isn't an Elder a specific title given to members that has to be earned? - If so, how does one earn the title of Elder? As someone mentioned earlier in another thread, my age probably prevents me from being a missionary as they usually tend to do that young, so my best hope is to someday find a nice woman to marry and then do the couples missionary work? How then do I earn the title of Elder if I can't be a missionary? Or am I misunderstanding something? - What is the Quorum of the Seventy I've heard mention of? Is it the same thing as the Elder's Quorum, just a different name? - Do you HAVE to become a Home teacher? I may have asked this somewhere before, but again, my concern is I'm rather shy about meeting new people so being assigned to ANYTHING with new and strange people is a bit unnerving for me. I'm not the most confident individual. - I'm still not clear on how Sunday Service works: I understand first is Sacraments (sp?) which is basically like general church service, open to the public, and everyone meets together, men and women and boys and girls right? Then it's Sunday School? Everyone attends this? My experiences have always been that Sunday school is something for children, although that might just be my Catholic upbringing. And then there is yet another "meeting" where it's just men or women of the same age separated by gender? Why three separate services? Do you only need to attend one or are all three sort of part of the "Sunday activities" and have to be done one after the other? What happens in the third meeting that doesnt happen in the sacrament? Why the need for two or three different services in one day? Are they all mandatory? Or is it acceptable to just choose one or all depending on your mood? - I noticed another thread where someone expressed a thought that the LDS church was extremely family oriented (or at least couples oriented). But I am not a couple... so will this impact my experience? Would I be rendered ineligible from some facets of church activity due to this? Will it impact how involved I can be in the faith and services? Will it impact my status within the church (I know statuses aren't supposed to be important but what I mean is, will other members sort of look down on me for being "that single guy" and thus refrain from inviting me to participate in things because of this lacking? I'm sure I have tons of others questions, but I'm trying to look them up or research them myself first so that I don't annoy everyone on the site with a never ending list of moronically stupid inquiries. I apologize in advance, but some things I feel can only be clarified by those with the experience to answer.

I'm touched that you're interested. I haven't reached out to any yet it being the holiday season and they're probably very busy right now. For now I'm just been slowly trying to make my way through the book of Mormon, Listening to devotionals, and reading whatever's available. Slowly I'm working up the nerve but again I am concerned about how my family will react. But sneaking around in clandestine secrecy feels wrong as well. I don't know... Guess I still gotta do some more soul-searching. Thank you!

LOL actually that concerns me... I don't know if that is something I'm capable of at any point. Being responsible for someone else or even just meeting random people... I'm not so good with that. In fact, I'm super shy as heck, which is why I was blessed to find this site to speak with people instead of just flat out seeking out local missionaries. Maybe my bishop or whatever will recognize this and treat me accordingly and give me an exception.

LOL well I didnt mean that.. I meant more of that they would be constantly pressuring me to just join.. join.. join.. come on join, dont hesitate seriously come on do it now your soul is in danger hurry, haste! Lets do it this weekend, tomorrow, right away do it baptize and join! I just didnt want to feel obligated, as if contacting the missionary was tantamount to making an appointment for baptism arrangements.

Ahhh... So meeting with missionaries doesn't mean Im engaging in actually joining the church? That was my fear, that Id reach out to missionaries and then start the ball rolling on something I wasn't ready for... that it would essentially put me onto a rocket sled to "baptism." Not that Im balking at joining the church, in truth, part of me wants to jump in with both feet right away because I feel so inspired. But then maybe Ill discover something I don't like or decide the LDS church isn't for me, which would be admittedly hard to assume since so far I have only seen that the Church seems focused around Jesus and living by his example... and I cant see anything wrong with that on the surface. But you never know I guess. Im excited and apprehensive at the same time. I think it makes me feel tremendously better that it wouldn't be a "high pressure sales" experience if I contact the missionaries which was the one thing sort of holding me back from doing so. Again, all of you have been invaluable to helping me work through these fears and issues!

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on the matter and I feel a good deal better about things now. I suppose many of these questions I have are pointless as they'd simply be answered in due time should I baptize into the church. Still, it is a terrifying thing.. I envy those who can just decide, "I like how this church looks, I think I'll join it." and then just walk right into Baptism. To me, deciding on a church is like going through a change of diet. You can't just assume it's a simple task of just deciding you'll do it and it's done. It's not something I can try for a while and decide I don't like it and quit. My soul, my happiness, and my relationship with God are at stake. That said, I guess I will continue to read the Book of Mormon through first and then pray and see what I feel inside. Then maybe I'll contact a local LDS church and arrange to meet with a missionary or two. I truly appreciate everyone here's guidance, advice, and kindness.

Thank you! I feel somewhat excited as well! But apprehensive too. I feel like there's really so many things I can do to serve in this church, to really make an impact with my life.. but that there's so much to learn.. so much more than I'm capable I think. The potentiality to fail terrifies me... That I might end up disappointing my fellow members, the home teachers, etc. I'm also excited, but haven't yet contacted anyone local to come and talk to me because I really don't think I could do this with my family around. They would make it nearly impossible for me to sit with the missionary and learn what I need to do and prepare leading up to Baptism. I feel like I'd have to sneak around to accomplish this goal, as my family tends to have a "once it's done we don't care anymore" attitude, which is fine with me but... feels.. somewhat wrong? I mean, it's a magnificent change in my life.. God has purpose for me! And I would do this with little discussion or input from my family, as if I was doing something immoral. I have much consideration to do yet. Also, I didn't see anyone really explain the difference between Temple worthy/recommend and endowed. From the gist of it, it sounds like I wouldn't be able to worship with my fellow members for a while even after baptism? I've never heard of a Church where new members aren't allowed to attend service with the others because they did not have the status to enter the Church on Sunday or whenever the service is. That's somewhat curious to me.

To be honest, I just feel like my life is empty, and the only answer I keep feeling myself tugged towards is Jesus and not through my Catholic church, but through the LDS. I can't put my finger on it. It just... feels right? Like.. coming home? If that doesn't sound too cheesy...

Thanks! Is there any place on these forums where I can find more information about Home Teachers? I'm just curious about what it entails.. what they are supposed to do. For example are their weekly meetings with them? What is it they are supposed to do? If I'm not progressing the way the teacher thinks, can I be kicked out of the church?!! Do I have to obey this person's commands? Are they like my boss? Or like.. my priest? Also, someone above mentioned "Endowed.." The other black person I believe. I've come across that term before, along with something called Temple Worthy or Temple Recommended... what do these things mean? Again, I'm sorry If I'm asking something that has been answered previously somewhere else in the forums.

Thank you, first of all, for all your kindness and help. I also thank you all for your patience with my questions. First, to Skippy740: Thank you for being so candid with me about the type of things I might experience once I undergo my baptism. As pleasant as I thought it might be for me spiritually, You are right to remind me that unfortunately afterwords other people have to go on with their lives as well. I believe that keeping engaged in an activity in the church will allow me to also meet other members and form an internal support group who can help guide me along. As for the Church's past, I did quite a bit of reading on that prior to coming to this point in considering the church. Like many religions, There are a lot of myths and assumptions that are made incorrectly about the church that give investigators like me a whole slew of ill-conceived notions. Not through any intentional malice of course but from simple ignorance. Rumors abound, from racism to polygamy. I take such things as my spiritual evolution seriously, so I did a fair amount of research prior to me considering the church as a possibility for myself; In addition I'm something of a history buff. So I've done a fair amount of reading and I do not believe that the church itself was ever truly racist. Certainly Joseph Smith was not and in fact was pretty heavy-handed in his belief of abolitionism. If there was anything that could constitute racism it was due to the time and the society in which the people lived rather than the hearts of the people themselves. With the exception of Brigham Young. But it is hard to determine what his true feelings were and I have not researched it enough to make a fair determination. Regardless be that as it may, I believe that the church has left by and large the majority of its racist component behind. And if not... well I'm here to serve God not the whims of men concerned about skin colors. Thank you Applepansy you make me feel much better about things. If God is telling me what to do and guiding me to this Church for a purpose it is of his design and I must have faith that I am his child and beholden to serve and honor him. And that he does not want me to be miserable. I am certain he will provide avenues of joy in my calling and service. Worst case scenario I can simply avoid discussing the church with my family members... But not my faith and works... I will not remain silent about my testimony. Thank you for the kind encouragement. And thank you anatess. Your personal experience have me hope and insight! I did not know about these home teachers! Who are they? How long do you have them? What do they teach you? Can you fail??

I've become increasingly inspired by the LDS's concept of serving Christ and our Heavenly Father, by the love and unity the church members seem to have for one another, and by the humanitarian, missionary work they do. So much so that, having never spoken to any of the elders in my area, I have been reading on my own and praying about it and I'm pretty much convinced by the Holy Spirit that being a member of the LDS church is what my soul needs to be fulfilled. But I have a few problems. First, my fear is that the moment you get baptized, you're on your "own" again. All the people intrinsic to preparing you for that moment of baptism then suddenly disappear back into the shadows and it's just you and your book of Mormon all alone again. I want to be useful, to be a part of something. to serve Christ, not just in my heart and in my personal life but I want to be an active part of a church. But it seems like only certain people are able to this? Second, A more personal issue... I see these things of baptisms of people that finally went through with it and it is so beautiful and full of love and they are surrounded by so much support. However, I know that I won't have this. To be honest, coming from a strong Catholic background on one side and a black baptist family on the other, NEITHER side is going to accept the idea of me becoming a "Mormon." Even the one attempt at simply having a dialogue of inquiry about it led to much consternation and lecturing. I feel that to become a member of the LDS I would be turning my back and defying my family, my culture, traditions.. Which to a degree I suppose I'd be willing to do. I know that it is with the LDS Church that I would find the happiness and works that drew me to it in the first place. But the stigma, the humiliation of being labelled a "sell out" or "cult member" frightens me because I would be on my own with no support system, which doesn't seem like something the Church would prefer in an investigator/baptismee. Should I give up on thinking of joining the church? How long or how would I go about becoming a missionary? And what do I do if the only person at my baptism is me and I don't have all the friends and family there with me? Thank you, Respectfully submitted. - WantToServe