Jane_Doe

My ward: doesn't do anything digital and has a lot of folks opposed to masking. I don't feel comfortable attending in person. My parent's ward does the Zoom and half the alphabet's invited to attend in person thing. Knowing my situation, my parents forward me their Zoom link and it's... been very nice. I really enjoy seeing others, even when it's people I don't know. And it's really awesome when somebody in my family is speaking: I get to see their talk, hear their thoughts, and chat about it with them afterwards.

Speaking personally as the "where did things actually happen" aspect and the importance of that-- We don't know American locations of things. But there are some fairly solid guesses as to the Middle East locations of things. I have a lot of family members that are really into that sort of thing, and taking tours over there. My sister literally majored in this subject at BYU, doing extensive research and spending years in the Middle East. She's extremely passionate, and loves to bring back photos of places of places that she talks about, and it's a big thing for her. For me though.... such photos do nothing for me. Literally nothing. Through my sister I'm aware of how inaccurate my family's Nativity set is (for example), but seeing a rendition more accurate to historian guesses.... does nothing for me. It just doesn't matter. Visiting 1800's North American sites we do know where things happen does... nothing for me. Me & my testimony just isn't moved by how historically accurate my Nativity set is or knowing the exact coordinates of the Sacred Grove. Now I totally respect my sister's drive for historical accuracy. She'll be thrilled when specific Book of Mormon locations are revealed, and I'll be very happy because she's so happy. Both she and I walk by faith where we at points see into the glass darkly. But they are different perspectives.

From the LDS Christian standpoint: Yes. All things that testify of Truth are testaments from God. Speaking personally, I have a good friend whom grew up in the USSR without any exposure to faith, except for some light Buddism. Throughout our friendship, I saw the Holy Ghost witnessing to her about Christ, and celebrated her joining a local Evangelical congregation. We had so many great conversations, and I felt truly blessed watching this amazing transformation. Now, would it have better if she decided to become an LDS Christian instead of a Evangelical Christian? Obviously. That would have been the complete package with all of the cherries on top. But that doesn't take away from the great transformation I did see take place.

Statistically speaking, the by far most common first exposure is a friend whom see a LDS Christian acting in such a positive way that Christ's light shines through. It's the most common spark of curiosity for somebody to come check things out. Past that exposure, a friend can also help explain things and be a friend -- somebody you already know and are comfortable with discussing things. But ultimately conversion should indeed b a matter of that individual's change of heart.

Haha- I'm a really thorough investigator whom has checked that out a dozens of different faiths. Just because I'm a nerd that way. For me personally: the theology makes logical sense. LDS Christian version of the Plan of Salvation (the Fall wasn't an 'ooops'), logical consistency of knowing good & evil / experience, individual agency, growth and experience, afterlife, etc. Also the stress on revelation (personal and public) is a big one for me: if I don't understand something, I just go ask the Father- it's that simple. If something isn't known at large, Church leaders can speak up on it from God. Scripture isn't a book form a dead man- it's a gateway to a relationship with a living breathing and approachable God. Also God Himself- is approachable, feels, understandable etc. He's not a nebulas unknowable disembodied thing like the Star Wars Force, rather He's my Father. I love Him, we chat, He guides me. And He's there and feeling in a really real way for me-- when things are good and when I'm white-knuckled. Such is important to me, and it's major in the LDS Christian faith and...honestly I don't find it really in other Christian faiths. Did that get at the answer you were looking for PC?

For quick obvious impacting points, particularly from a sociological focus, my defaults are: LDS stress on continuing personal & public revelation, very strong emphasis on family ties, clean conduct, and a structured global church family. The question "why be LDS" is different- you should join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints if that's what God tells you to do. Just like you should join the Catholic Church if that's what He tells you to do (or whatever other example you will have).

Go back and read the first paragraph of Traveler’s post.

LDS Christians full-heartedly agree that God is everlasting and merciful without end. Also just without end.

It is indeed very tough. For us, reaching out to one or two other families for small in-person gatherings has been a tremendous lifeline. In-the-flesh does matter a lot.

My grandparent's stake in UT has done just that.

Here's an analogy to how i see this topic: when I was young (21?) I had a rotten tooth and had to have a root canal done and replacement put in. The oral surgeon explained things to me on a very broad scale, and I did consent to the procedure - after all I needed a replacement tooth. The surgeon then went to work. But as he was inserting a miniature piece of crowbar into my jar, my reaction was "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!" I didn't want this-- what the- I DID NOT AGREE TO THIS!!!!?!?! I mustered through things- trusting the surgeon even though I didn't understand what was happening. I also didn't understand that the surgery involved for days later. Also I didn't understand the soreness I would have afterwards. I didn't understand how all these years later my fake tooth would still taste weird. Such isn't the surgeon's fault-- I did agree to surgery and it was necessary. And even if he had spent hours explaining every single piece to me, I still wouldn't have understood it to actually agree with it on that deep level. Shifting to talk about our Heavenly surgeon: I also believe that we've all agreed to go through His refiner's fire as a broad principle. But like me freaking out in the dentist's chair, I don't think we really "understood" what all that refining process entails -- the shock, pain, uncertainty, etc. I don't see unexperienced spirits with little (if any) knowledge of Good and Evil could understand what's all involved there to agree on that deeper level. We do muster through, and trust the Heavenly surgeon- He knows what He's doing. But there's plenty of freak outs along the way.

That's my thoughts as well, in relationship to @Traveler's very thoughtful post (as usual). If #5 is in regards to eternal destination, then I totally agreed. However, I won't agree if we're talking about every bruise on the way there.

Jonah, if you're truly interested in the answer to this question, read the thread: it was already discussed.

I have been through several times where life was extremely turbulent. That includes the spiritual side of things and having complicated/hurt feelings when it comes to things of God and the earthly church. I am debating how far to go into things...many things I could say. One big thing that is important is learning to love one another. That includes living those that are going through trublant times. Love, even when you don’t understand what they are going through. Forgive when they do something in pain or that causes pain. And when you’re the person in the turbalnce: live those around you. Even those that need forgiveness because they made stupid bone-headed comments. Love them, even when they don’t understand what you’re going through and you don’t understand them either.

I get some (a lot of) people are polarizing. It really annoys me. REALLY annoys me. As I stated earlier, I have no problem acknowledging that folks are imperfect humans. I also don't like the term "Cafeteria Mormon", mostly due to all of the negative associations I've heard with it. Believe what you do believe, listening to Christ and walking with Him (or at least trying to). That's the most anyone can do.

I like to be productive with my time. So if it's a conversation with somebody, and they have honest that they honestly want to hear answers for, then I'm totally game for talking about pretty much anything. And giving honest answers, including when the answer is "I don't know". If somebody isn't really interested and just wants to talk at me, then they aren't worth my time at all. So I'm not going to crash a site where people aren't interested in talking with me. Which to be frank is most anti groups. As to history in particular: I actually get really really annoyed with how much this topic comes up in anti stuff. We have such limited info on church history stuff, so much is he-said-she-said, and frankly- people are human! I don't have any acknowledging humans as fallible beings, and get really annoyed when some anti dude wants me to "defend" Joseph Smith (or whomever) as if he were absolutely perfect and we had absolutely perfect information. It's a ridiculous straw man.

@Jonah, rather than actually addressing my post and questions (you know actually having a theological discussion), you've completely ignored me to instead focus on a 50 year old printing of a children's magazine. I'm sorry, but such is incredibly disrespectful, disregarding me, showing that you've no interest in real Christian study or behavior, and is downright trolling.

My daughter and I went to go watch "Coco" in theaters this week. I've always loved that movie, and we got a private showing for a total price of $8 (nobody else bought tickets). It was an fantastic mommy-daughter date!

Ok, that's hilarious. And so fitting. I'm sure you're doing wonderful.

*Time out* Bolded part: did I miss something!?!?!

I too love the you=[ick talks, letting the Spirit guide me. The 30 minutes notice is... a mixed bag. The upside is that it is so quick and from the heart, and not something you fiddle with a million times over. The downside is if you feel silly when-the-straight-from-the-heart has some tongue ties involved .

Neither of those ideas you present are correct. This Earth and life is how God always intended it & according to His plan. God never went "oh shoot, they ate the fruit, guess I now need to come up with a backup plan to fix this." Knowledge of good: knowing what is good, happiness, joy, glory, lawfulness, light, etc. Do you believe those can be learned is a person is kept in an environment where there is no bad, they never are hurt or sad, no lawlessness, no darkness, etc.

So sorry to hear that JJ!

Your bodily parents created your physical body -- the whole conception / pregnancy / delivery process done through bodily means. It's an area us humans have studied a lot. Your Heavenly Parents predate you having a body, and are instead parents of your spirit. We don't know how that works.

A important thing here: we humans default to "parent" = "somebody whom gave literal birth to our physical body". That's obviously not the case for spiritual parents. We don't know how the mechanics involved with eternal intelligences / spirits, etc, but it's not the bodily mechanics we think of with bodily parents.