Starchild

Members
  • Posts

    2
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Starchild

  1. Hi! Hope someone can help.

    I am an inactive member and am trying to gain a testimony. So, I have taken up Hinkley's challenge to read the BoM and everything is going smoothly until I hit a speed bump and I find whatever small testimony I was gaining being whisked away in an instant - leaving a bad taste in my month. Here is an example:

    Alma 38:13-14: "Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to heard of men, and to be praised for thier wisdom. Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren..."

    Hello?! Didn't Jesus say this exact thing to the Pharasees 100 year years later??? in Luke 18:11 (btw the footnotes direct you to Luke 18:13)? So, was Jesus quoting Alma? or was Alma quoted Jesus 100 years in the past?

    It's these little moments of deja vous in the BoM that make me go hmmmm. And don't get me started on the book of Ether. Last time I read that book, I put away the Book of Mormon for months! So am I nervous about reading it again.

    Is there a good reason why the BoM relies so heavily in its narrative on the Old/New Testament stories?

    I truly want a testimony of the BoM. I have prayed, and am obviously reading and occassional get the warm feeling of the spirit like w/ Alma 32 or other doctrinal passages, but then it is torn to shreads over things like this.

    Can anyone help me?

    TIA - InactiveTx

    Hello,

    I think that when you are trying to gain a testimony, the adversary will draw attention to anything that can cause diversion. He can also get alot of help in cloudy, confusion that causes focus on the unimportant while drawing attention away from what you are seeking. Pray prior to reading the BOM. Pray after. Seek spiritual assistance understanding from spiritual sources, not here. While those of us who support you search for a testimony would offer support and help we can not offer enlightenment or true reassurance of your faith. Come here for good conversation, support from friends, a chance to socialize turn to the Spirit for what you are seeking. Your testimony will grow. But like any small growing thing it needs to be protected as well as fed to grow. I wish you blessings and revelations of Heavenly Father and confirmation of the Holy Ghost. All here are searching. Just in different directions. I really hope it stays respectfull of each persons beliefs. I would like to stay but if disrespectfullness against LDS beliefs start I will leave. I joined to find a place to share that, and I have no problem with others believes but not when they feel thier right to differ gives them the right to belittle mine. I too searched many religions before I settled on LDS and while I dont believe there is only one true religion I do believe it is the Fullest and most complete. No church/religion is perfect but I think the fruit of the church speaks for itsself. It is the only one who could settle my two main question. Why would God bother with man? Did he just walk by look down and say "Oh look at the cute little humans. .. I shall play with them?" No we are his literal children, that alone explaines his interaction and even more.. his patience with a rebellious race of people. Next questions. After death? I am going to spend my life being good to die and do what/???? Bow, and yell halleluah for eons to come? God is really so vain that he wants millions to spend eternity doing nothing but "worship him". That is all anyother religion could tell me would be my "reward" big deal. Only the LDS made sense of the eternal kingdom of Heavenly Fathers family. Im sure we will all be shocked and appalled to find when we get there that not every word of every book was literal and true , and not every teaching was to the letter. But guess what, we have been warned we are not suppose to have exactness, assurance and proof. Its all about faith , honey. And that comes by witness of the Spirit not internet tesitmonys for or against truth. Just offering my own opions not churh position, or teachings. We are all still working on our testimonies. When we stop they wither and fade. Believe me I know.

  2. I have been reading a lot about the good facts of green tea. What I am wondering is, is green tea against the word of wisdom? We use some herbal teas when we're sick but I don't know if green goes in the ok column or the bad column.

    [/quote\\

    Hello, green tea has been proven to be of benifit and we have been told herbs can be used medicinally. Even coffee was used as a medicine in the past. At one point it was the only medicine known to stop an asthma attack and could save a child not able to breathe when there was nothing else to use. Tea is a natural diuretic and was used to combat edema and lung congestion from too much fluid when it was the only substance known to work. A wet tea bag on a toothache could stop tooth pain. When I asked a stake president about the use of herbals, teas and medications in relationship to to word of wisdom. I was told that all things are for mans good and thier use for medicinal value would not be against the word of wisdom. It continous use for recreational enjoyment that is the issue. "The intent of the heart" is a big one hear. Just as a prescribed narcotic is acceptable for short term use after surgery is not wrong while buying the same medication on the street for use at a party would be against the word of wisdom. With herbal teas especially green teas read the label or go to celestial seasonings.com Most herbal teas do not contain tea at all. Some green teas contain mixes of green and black teas and are have caf. True green teas are pure green tea and maybe mixes of spices and herbals with no caf. Many herbal teas have tea added to them so you have to read the box to be sure. The definition of a tea is an infusion. An infusion is not against the word of wisdom. But use of coffee and tea as drinks, not medication is and should be not just caffiene but the nic. acids in them and by products they create are not good for us and taken on reg. basis are unhealthy. Take a look at the full Word of Wisdom as well. Note the reference to grains. There are grain beverages that are very good and healthy and use of grains reduces use of meats and we are told that that is best for man by his creator. Heavenly Father knows best. :)