Learning

[LostInSpace]

Hi all,

I truly hope I do no offend anyone. For so many years I have considered myself to be an Athiest. But for the past months I have felt myself doubting this conviction. I read passages from the Bible and find myself filled with emotion. The sort of which brings tears to my eyes and a tremble to my body. I can not continue to live the why I do.

So I find myself here, looking for answers and hoping I've not lost my mind.

Why here? Because I've been approached throughout my life by baptists, evangelicals, catholics, and jw's. None of these seems to compare to the kindness displayed when speaking to a member of the LDS. Even when I spitefully inform them I am a non-believer. Still they wish me a good day and even ask if there is anything they can help with.

Shocking. Loving. And Exactly how I feel when I read the stories here and read bits of the Bible. LDS seem to truly live how Jesus would have. Amazing to me.

So where do I go from here? I know nothing of the Bible except for how I feel. I know nothing of Jesus except what I have mocked. There seems to e a structure and many rules which all seem scary to me.

Should I learn more before I contact missionaries? What should I read? I've downloaded the Book of Mormon to listen to any the way to and from work.

I want to join the Church but am afraid since I'm not a social person. I don't feel comfortable in groups of people. I need to get over this.

Thanks for reading my rambling post.

[Misshalfway]

Hi Lost in Space.

I am misshalfway. Your post is most interesting and I think that you are courageous to venture out of one train of thought into perhaps the opposite direction.

I think that you should follow your gut....even if it feels crazy. It sounds to me that your inner spirit is guiding you. I would trust that.

Reading the BofM is a great place to start. And I wouldn't hesitate in calling the missionaries. They are a really great resource in discovering the theology of this religion.

And you are certainly welcome to come and join our online family and post and ask questions. There are many knowledgeable individuals who post here and who are really great people. Many have been kind to me.

I wouldn't worry about the social thing. You can be as social or not social as you like. Hopefully we can help you feel welcome here!

Welcome to LDS.net!

[Truegrits]

Hi, LostInSpace...welcome to the site.

I've downloaded the Book of Mormon to listen to

That is a good place to start, as Misshalfway said.

Anything new can be a bit intimidating. And doing it alone even more so.

Hang out here with us for a while...learn more about LDS...then when you feel more comfortable, contact the Missionaries.

Hope to hear from you...:)

[pam]

Welcome to the site and good luck on your quest for answers. Might I also recommend using the site lds.org for the answers to many of your questions. It is the Church' official website and has a wealth of information.

[melissar]

I agree that listening to Book of Mormon is a good place to start. I am not very social either, but everyone here is wonderful about answering questions and everything. I hope you enjoy it here.

[HoosierGuy]

Wow LostInSpace, your story reminds me of myself in some ways. I felt lost, had a lot of hate inside of me, I was making fun of religious people, I looked down on all religions (except LDS and I knew nothing of this church.) I was angry at a lot of things including myself.

I decided I had had enough. It felt like my soul was on a one way street into darkness. It felt like if I did not make a change soon I would be forever on that long, lonely, dark road.

So, I punched in lds on the net and found this site. I asked a bunch of questions and more questions and more questions. I read the Book of Mormon online, met the missionaries at the church, went to services and got baptized a month after I first went to services.

I wake in the morning knowing that this is the true Church of our Brother and Redeemer Jesus Christ. It warms my heart and soul knowing that I'm in the church of Jesus Christ that existed when he walked the Earth.

I suggest you keep studying the Book of Mormon. Listen to it. Read it online. Read the Gospel Principles online too. And more importantly - pray. Pray to your Heavenly Father. Begin your prayer with - Dear Heavenly Father or Dear Father in Heaven. Then talk with him. Ask him for things you want and things you want to change. Be honest with him. Go ahead and cry to him. But make sure that when you talk you understand that you are talking to your Father because he is your Father. Close the prayer with "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Call those missionaries too. They would love to talk with you. They will not push anything on you. They will not force you to do anything. All they want to do is explain things to you and let you decide. No one needs to be afraid of missionaries. They are giving two years of their lives to help and befriend people like you!

[NateHowe]

I'll bet you may also know one or two people who are LDS. Talking to a regular member of the Church is a good, low-pressure way to get a few questions answered. It also helps social anxiety if you have an acquaintance to take you to Church. Think about those with whom you work, those in organizations you attend, etc., and see if you can remember a Mormon you could look up.

Don't be afraid to call missionaries. You can also look up your local meetinghouse on mormon.org and go to Church on your own. Introduce yourself, and you will undoubtedly make some fast friends who can help you feel more comfortable.

[rameumptom]

Lost,

Welcome. These feelings you have experienced while reading the Bible are from the Holy Spirit. We learn in the Bible that the "... fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " (Galatians 5:22-23).

In the Book of Mormon, we find "by the gift of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:3-5).

This experience you have felt is one that millions have experienced in the Christian world, and particularly amongst Latter-day Saints. It is this inner feeling and mental working from the Spirit that builds within us our testimonies that Jesus lives and is our Savior. It is this experience that gives us hope, peace and joy.

Allow these experiences and feelings to work within you, for it is a member of the Godhead speaking to you, testifying to your soul that the things you are reading and pondering are true.

I would then recommend you contact the missionaries in your area, and talk with them. They have a series of discussions that explain more about Christ's atonement, who God is, and what our relationship is to God. They will be able to explain to you why we're here on earth, and what heaven is all about. And they'll assist you in finding and receiving more of these spiritual experiences.

[mcdoodle]

I am with you!! I got goosebumps reading your post. I come from a very anti-LDS family. I am very literal and rational. I study anthropology and so have a very distant view of religion, as in very 3rd person. I am struggling also with meeting with missionaries. How will I explain this to people who know me? Will they be able to accept me? What will they think... will they think I'm different, or mentally ill or something, to make such a radical change? I finally emailed the missionaries and hope to hear a response soon. I just had to make what seemed a very emotional, non-rational choice that God has been leading me to.

If we were in the same city, I would totally take the discussions with the missionaries with you, I am so terrified to do it alone!! But I am exhilarated, too.

May you listen to your heart and find some peace with this. I finally have some, after 2 years of struggling with the decision.

[LostInSpace]

Thank you all for your positive feedback. I have so much to learn - I'm both worried and excited about the change I'm already starting to make.

I am spending my time reading as much as I can - there is quite a lot to take in. I'm going to continue reading over the coming days. I think I'll order a Book Of Mormon (or perhaps one of those "Quads" from ldscatalog/deseret books) since I don't even own a hardcopy of the bible. Until then, scriptures.lds.org is my new best buddy along with the mp3 audio book.

After some reading I think I'll be in a better position to reach out to missionaries with some slightly educated questions. You can be sure I'll post here with nervous anticipation when I finally make the call!

Also, I did locate my meetinghouse - it is quite near. Just knowing where it is seems to bring things into focus. I found the schedule - I'm trying to commit to a day I will visit. We'll see how that goes.

Thanks again for reading and all your kind words.

[guitarwizard]

Thank you all for your positive feedback. I have so much to learn - I'm both worried and excited about the change I'm already starting to make.

I am spending my time reading as much as I can - there is quite a lot to take in. I'm going to continue reading over the coming days. I think I'll order a Book Of Mormon (or perhaps one of those "Quads" from ldscatalog/deseret books) since I don't even own a hardcopy of the bible. Until then, scriptures.lds.org is my new best buddy along with the mp3 audio book.

After some reading I think I'll be in a better position to reach out to missionaries with some slightly educated questions. You can be sure I'll post here with nervous anticipation when I finally make the call!

Also, I did locate my meetinghouse - it is quite near. Just knowing where it is seems to bring things into focus. I found the schedule - I'm trying to commit to a day I will visit. We'll see how that goes.

Thanks again for reading and all your kind words.

I've said it before on these boards, but it bears repeating.

When i joined the church, i knew nobody in my ward. absolutely nobody. It worried me. I thought i would be alone and the outcast, and it really scared me to where i thought about not talking to the missionaries. Before i was baptized, i had made a best friend in the church. Now, I have made tons of friends, friendships that will last a lifetime. Guys that opened their house to me numerous times, even though i have known them for such a little bit of time. That best friend? I am now practically engaged to his sister (funny how things work) so he is more of my brother now. It is the Lord's church, and if you reach out, he will comfort you, spiritually and socially.

[candyprpl]

When I was investigating I found it very comforting having the missionaries meet me at church and then sit with me and introduce me to people and tell me where my sunday school class was and sit with me there, etc. I'm not very social either and I know that if I had to have gone to the meeting house by myself I'm sure I wouldn't be sitting here and be excited about your investigation!

Welcome LostInSpace and Mcdoodle!!

[utcowboy]

Candyprpl- your honesty is refreshing and I hope that you are a great influence and example for those just finding there way here.

Welcome LostinSpace and Mcdoodle, I hope that we can help you with all your questions and I also hope that you feel the love of all your new friends.

[Islander]

Hi all,

I truly hope I do no offend anyone. For so many years I have considered myself to be an Athiest. But for the past months I have felt myself doubting this conviction. I read passages from the Bible and find myself filled with emotion. The sort of which brings tears to my eyes and a tremble to my body. I can not continue to live the why I do.

So I find myself here, looking for answers and hoping I've not lost my mind.

Why here? Because I've been approached throughout my life by baptists, evangelicals, catholics, and jw's. None of these seems to compare to the kindness displayed when speaking to a member of the LDS. Even when I spitefully inform them I am a non-believer. Still they wish me a good day and even ask if there is anything they can help with.

Shocking. Loving. And Exactly how I feel when I read the stories here and read bits of the Bible. LDS seem to truly live how Jesus would have. Amazing to me.

So where do I go from here? I know nothing of the Bible except for how I feel. I know nothing of Jesus except what I have mocked. There seems to e a structure and many rules which all seem scary to me.

Should I learn more before I contact missionaries? What should I read? I've downloaded the Book of Mormon to listen to any the way to and from work.

I want to join the Church but am afraid since I'm not a social person. I don't feel comfortable in groups of people. I need to get over this.

Thanks for reading my rambling post.

Welcome Lost:

I am also a convert. I think that perhaps my personality is such that I pay little attention to what goes on around me once I am committed to a task. When I first read the Book of Mormon I did it in a few hours and spent 2 weeks after that looking for the Elders!!! The worse kind of salesmen (if they were) that you could find!!! Left me a book and no phone number of way to contact them. Can you imagine? I summary, by the time they returned I had made up my mind that I wanted to be baptized and I could care less what the church or the people in it looked like.

It is difficult for men to make friends. It is even harder for adult men to make friends and forge new relationships but boy was I in for a surprise!! From the bishop down they just loved me to pieces!!! I since moved from my first ward but I still keep in touch with just about all my friends and their families. I married and moved away after 5 years there but I found in the church the family that I did not have. in my current ward ai have made tons of riends in the last 5 years and now it feels like I've been here forever as well. Once you overcome your initial reservations you will find lots of people wanting to get to know you and love you as if they knew you since forever.

We are here to help and to support you. And yes, for us you are a long lost sister that we are thrilled to finally find!! Feel at home.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Islander

[pbush]

Lostinspace,

A few other great places to visit would be lds.org and/or mormon.org. I am sure most of your questions can be answered there. Good luck with all. What an exciting time!

[Brother Dorsey]

McDoodle and LostinSpace,

My wife teaches Gospel Principles and has only been a member for 4 years and she has many investigators and brand new members in her class. And just last Sunday during her class a brand new convert made a statement to my wife....she said, "Sister Dorsey, I hope someday I will know as much of the Gospel as you, I feel so stupid sometimes". My wife said," I know very little of the Gospel...just enough to get by teaching this class and you should not feel intimidated by members who seem to "know more" because no one knows it all, not even the Prophet of the Lord, we are here in the Lords kingdom to learn and to teach each other and serve one another." She then asked the woman, "Do you think the Lord loves me more because I know just a little more of the Gospel than you do?" My wife started to cry and told her, "you are my sister and I love you and we are in this together, all of us." There was not a dry eye in the room....the Spirit was teaching a great Gospel principle at that moment.

We are all in this together....do not fear...you are loved.....