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About a year ago I met a fantastic woman, who is a member of the LDS Church. I started to attend church with her and was baptized in January of this year. The more we spent time together we knew that we right for each other, in May we decided to get married. The first couple months were tough, and now they seem to get tougher. I started to struggle with some of the Mormon beliefs, primarily the Word of Wisdom and Joseph Smith. I didn't and still don't understand how drinking tea or coffee makes me any less righteous of a person. I have asked the Bishop and he was not able to give me a straight answer. My wife's biggest concern is to get sealed in the Temple. I just don't feel that drinking tea makes me not worthy. Once we started going to our new family ward, I attended the Priesthood meeting and was immediately turned away. The person teaching the lesson did nothing but "bad mouth" Catholics for the full hour. My family is Catholic, my heritage is Catholic, I grew up Catholic and this offended me very much. My wife convinced me to talk to the Bishop, so I did. Although he said that that instructor should not have done that. He basically did the same thing, by pointing out what he thought was wrong with Catholics, when I didn't ask. This pushed me further away from the Church; I started to notice that many members in the new ward and singles ward seem to have a close minded attitude towards Catholics, whenever the subject came up. My wife noticed this and told me that as long as I have God in my life that was all that matters. She also stated that if I wanted to attend Catholic mass, she would attend with me after we attended our ward. I prayed and prayed and felt that the answer I needed was to re-investigate both Churches. I started to lean closer to the Catholic Church. Although there are too many beliefs in both religions that I love, I felt like I was in the middle. Although I was grew in a Catholic household I never made my communion, I found out that I can not make my communion unless I was married in the Catholic church, and in order to get married in the catholic church I have to agree to do my best in raising the kids Catholic. I told her that she could raise the kids Mormon and I would teach the kids Catholicism when they are old enough to ask. She said that she was okay with that, until she talked to her sister who is very close minded towards Catholics and her mom who said she does not want Catholic grandchildren. Her dad is extremely open-minded and very helpful. He helped with providing talks about accepting other religions. Her mom instructed her to talk to our Bishop; the Bishop basically said that she should not sacrifice her beliefs. I never intended her to do that. After her talk with the bishop she gave me the ultimatum to either believe in Mormonism or leave me. I told her I am still struggling and that I felt closer to the Catholic Church so she left me. I spoke with the Bishop and showed him a letter from the First Presidency regarding accepting other faiths and he just brushed it off. I feel strongly that because of his close-mindedness, he pushed her away from me. He closed her eyes to accepting other religions. I told her that I would try again, but I am still struggling. She told me that either I believe or she will leave me again. I have been praying and praying and the answer that I feel that I have is to research and study the problems that I am having. I figured that the Word of Wisdom is only a “branch” of my struggles, but the trunk is Joseph Smith. I realized that if there was proof that Mormonism existed in South America, then I would have to believe, because what Joseph Smith did, would have been a miracle. I went to the Smithsonian Institute and found that they have no archeological proof that it existed; nothing showing the existence of the Nephites or Laminates. Now I am torn. I’m afraid to tell my wife because I am afraid she will leave me. I love her with all my heart and don’t want to lose her, but I know she will if I don’t believe and that I feel that Catholicism is for me. I have no problems attending both churches and helping her. I found out that my friend’s sister who is Catholic just married a Mormon Bishop’s son and they have no problem accepting her. Why would this be such a problem with our Bishop? Mormonism and Catholicism have many of the same beliefs and many good values. To me, the combination would be a super religion. Reading some of the post on this website, I feel a comfort reading knowing the openness to Catholicism. I guess what I don’t understand, is if God is unchanging and a fair God; why would he want to tear apart two people who love each. She keeps saying that God is first, then me. Is that true? My understanding is that as long as God in our lives, no matter what religion we grow closer to him as a married couple. I hope this all makes sense… Please Help!!