Nicartos Posted May 27, 2008 Report Posted May 27, 2008 Recently, I was surfing the web, and it crossed my mind to look up some of the reasons we are disliked. I was shocked. Christians, including us, are considered with such hatred and bitterness. There was one page in particular, that mentioned how he was always treated badly by members when he had sinned, and therefore left the church. And it made me come to a realization. These people are extremely unlikely to ever obtain exaltation, and now I feel as the sons of Mosiah, shuddering at the very though of other, real, living and feeling human beings, not gaining the wonders that are available to them, if they only realized. And then, I was horrified by the realization that my best friend is a catholic. I love her so much, but she cannot make it to the celestial kingdom in her current ways. What can I do?!
Lighterknot Posted May 27, 2008 Report Posted May 27, 2008 From my experiences we can't change other people's beliefs unless they are ready to change, so i would say we should just live as Christlike as possible. Setting the example in your own life may be the best thing to do to get them interested in the gospel. I have personally been turned away from things when people tried to push their beliefs on me. Chad
Elphaba Posted May 27, 2008 Report Posted May 27, 2008 , that mentioned how he was always treated badly by members when he had sinned, and therefore left the church. Would you please provide a link?Thanks,Elphaba
maverik78 Posted May 27, 2008 Report Posted May 27, 2008 From my experiences we can't change other people's beliefs unless they are ready to change, so i would say we should just live as Christlike as possible. Setting the example in your own life may be the best thing to do to get them interested in the gospel. I have personally been turned away from things when people tried to push their beliefs on me.Chad:)I agree we can't change people we can only be the person that we would want them to be and lead by example.:)
Guest tomk Posted May 27, 2008 Report Posted May 27, 2008 Also keep in mind that posters on the web do not necessarily represent the majority of the people out there.Far more people are members of the Church than who post publicly online. The same is true for non members. The same is true for antis.Think about that. Those who post represent the tiniest fraction of their respective groups.So we don't know what the majority are thinking or feeling. We only know what the smallest, online, very vocal minority are saying.As far as getting others to "become interested" in our faith -- WE don't do anything. The only thing WE do is to become willing to share our beliefs with them. We become willing to do so no matter what they throw back at us. It is God that provides that crucial witness of the Spirit to them. Until they have that -- they will remain as they are. This is why the Church has never pursued avenues of proving the Book of Mormon is true except for that which the Book itself gives as a means of "proof": the witness of the Holy Ghost.This cannot be rushed, or coerced or forced upon people. THEY must become willing to seek it and receive it! THEY must go to God and receive that witness!Also keep this often overlooked phrase in mind (found within the promise): 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. Based upon what some people have to say about our beliefs -- it would seem that for some people, it is NOT "wisdom in God" that they should be reading "these things" yet. It would seem that they are not ready. They need to endure a few more seasons of life "in the world" before they will have the humility and willingness to "ask with real intent, having faith in Christ." Those outside our faith want to dismiss that need for "real intent." But the requirements of the promise cannot be modified to suit the whims of others. WE must come to God with a broken heart and contrite spirit. He will not change for us because if He did, He would cease to be God, and He loves us too much to let that happen.Tom
Hemidakota Posted May 27, 2008 Report Posted May 27, 2008 Recently, I was surfing the web, and it crossed my mind to look up some of the reasons we are disliked. I was shocked. Christians, including us, are considered with such hatred and bitterness. There was one page in particular, that mentioned how he was always treated badly by members when he had sinned, and therefore left the church. And it made me come to a realization. These people are extremely unlikely to ever obtain exaltation, and now I feel as the sons of Mosiah, shuddering at the very though of other, real, living and feeling human beings, not gaining the wonders that are available to them, if they only realized. And then, I was horrified by the realization that my best friend is a catholic. I love her so much, but she cannot make it to the celestial kingdom in her current ways. What can I do?!I have more enemies in the church than outside. Why? Read the Book of Mormon and note who caused the wars...and it was not the Lamanites.
NateHowe Posted June 9, 2008 Report Posted June 9, 2008 The way to help is to provide a positive contact with the Church. That requires two things: 1. Be an example of living the truth 2. Show others that the good in your life comes from your faith in the restored Church.
Guest dallas Posted June 14, 2008 Report Posted June 14, 2008 Recently, I was surfing the web, and it crossed my mind to look up some of the reasons we are disliked. I was shocked. Christians, including us, are considered with such hatred and bitterness. There was one page in particular, that mentioned how he was always treated badly by members when he had sinned, and therefore left the church. And it made me come to a realization. These people are extremely unlikely to ever obtain exaltation, and now I feel as the sons of Mosiah, shuddering at the very though of other, real, living and feeling human beings, not gaining the wonders that are available to them, if they only realized. And then, I was horrified by the realization that my best friend is a catholic. I love her so much, but she cannot make it to the celestial kingdom in her current ways. What can I do?!Setting a steadfast, yet non-aggressive example is the best way to win anyone over. It's the people that feel the need to get in your face about small details that make an entire church (any church) seem like a bunch of lunatics. This doesn't mean you have to be a doormat and not stand up for what you believe in or for what is right. It's the constant bickering and arguing that make otherwise wonderful people seem like fools -- and that is what you need to avoid if you're trying to set a good example and want to lead anyone down the right path.Also, no one is going to agree with you on every small detail right at first, so you have to win people with the larger picture first, then lead into the smaller details later. As seen in so many threads in the forums, know-it-all bickering only serves to make believers dislike or insult one another. And, really, how dumb is THAT? If we can't agree with ourselves (or at least not bicker) how can anyone reasonably expect people to not say unkind things about the church?
Islander Posted June 14, 2008 Report Posted June 14, 2008 The reflexions above are interesting. I am a convert of almost 9 years now and I moved from my original ward to the current one 5 years ago. It was difficult and I missed my friends in my "home" ward terribly. This one is quite different with many more elderly members, lots of single sisters and part memeber families. I have also seen members come and go in the last 5 years. My theory is that people have problems, they failed see to or ignore the warning signs, they are not humble enough to acknowledge the issues and seek help. As these problems become ever present and apparently impossible to solve, the Spirit withdraws and they lose their desire to associate with the saints. Human beings do not act randomly. Even absurd behavior MUST have an explanation, bizarre as it may be and it always relates to a need. As they distance themselves from the church they (need to) come up with reasons and justifications why they left the church or fall into inactivity. Outward targets are always preferable. The Church is the Lord's and the doctrine thereof. Unless I break my covenant, succumb to the enticement of the enemy of all souls and transgress the law of God, there is no one alive that could drive me out of the congrgation of the saints. That is just my take.
bytor2112 Posted June 24, 2008 Report Posted June 24, 2008 It really is sad that members of our faith as well as members of other Christian faiths are so looked down upon. I have met some very nice atheists who are pretty hard nosed against religion of any kind. However, I think that is because of some of the extremes in TV evangelism or the gorilla tactics used by some to bash non-believers. We(all mankind) would all be well advised to live up to the Lords standards and show love to all, then maybe, people would get it. "What matter of man ought ye to be,....even as I am" As for your Catholic friend, she will have an opportunity to receive the Gospel, as will all mankind.
Misshalfway Posted June 24, 2008 Report Posted June 24, 2008 (edited) Who isn't looked down upon? Goodness! Show me a group that hasn't been knocked down for one reason or another? Show me a religion that hasn't had persecution as part its history or its present? It is about humans and our inability to deal with differences. I don't know. I think many people respect the church. Perhaps they find our ways peculiar and some of our ideas contrary, but I think the tide of our historical persecutions are changing and flowering into friendship and acceptance. I think many have learned of us, visited SLC or perhaps had a sit down with one of our leaders and changed their opinion to one of favor. I think how we live is so important. How do we treat others of different faiths? How do we respect their beliefs and convictions? All of us are on our own path. There is something beautiful in that.....something that I am absolutely sure Father in Heaven holds in his hand. I may not understand or know when a person may want to learn about the gospel or be ready for added measures of truth to come into their lives. Perhaps your friend is exactly where she/he needs to be right now, learning what she can from her Catholic experience. And perhaps in the course of your friendship you both will come away with wisdom from each other. Edited June 24, 2008 by Misshalfway
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