Hello From Montag

[Montag]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and thought I'd drop in and say Hi. I am a former Marine with two young boys and a wife who's a nurse in the Air Force. She recently came back from Iraq. While I'm not a Mormon, I am familiar with the tenets of your faith and have many friends, and even relatives, who are LDS. My family and I attend a protestant church.

Ever since I was in the service, and made an LDS friend, I have found your religion intriguing. However, I have never been able to make the leap of faith. At one point, about 10 years ago, I was at a training seminar for two weeks in Salt Lake City during one of your church conferences and was able to hear Mr. Monson speak on the television and was quite impressed. He came across as an honest down to earth kinda guy. I'm not sure what his position was at that time. Having heard him speak, I took the time to go down and visit the Temple and purchased about 10 or so substantive books on your religion's history, faith, and conversion stories and read them over the following months. While I still wasn't convinced enough to be converted, I found Salt Lake City beautiful and I liked the atmosphere, so I asked to be transferred there. God evidently had other plans for me so I never made it.

Over the last 20 years I've had many good friends, coworkers, and other people whom I really admire attempt to convince me of the veracity of the LDS faith. I had one good friend who had converted years ago tell me that the only thing I need to pray about, and be convinced of is whether or not Joseph Smith was a prophet. Everything else will follow. As of yet, God hasn't given me the faith to believe that.

My Uncle, who converted to LDS about 10 years ago, is always trying to win me over. As a Christmas present one year, I bought him a ticket to Salt Lake City and paid for a weeks stay. He never had much money and always said he hoped to go there one day before he died. Needless to say he was moved to tears when he saw the gift. He had a great time and it was worth every penny.

Sorry to be so long winded, but I thought I'd just throw this out there and see what happens. Uncle Larry, if you're out there reading this, sorry about the money comment. You're one of the most humble and honest persons I know, and one of the best Christian examples the LDS Church could possibly have. If I ever convert, your life of faith will be one of the main reasons I do so.

Thanks for reading!!

Montag...

[Hemidakota]

What was your unit, what year did you leave the Corps, and your MOS? Coming from a former Marine...

Welcome to the forum.

[BenRaines]

Montag, thank you for sharing. I was in the Platoon Leaders Class while in college, attended officer basic at Quantico, Semper Fi.

I once heard that we should watch how we behave because we may be the only standard work that someone else ever reads. I have always tried to be a great example, it sounds like your uncle has done the same. Great gift on your part.

Welcome again to the site.

Ben Raines

[Montag]

Thanks for the welcome, jarheads! I was an airwinger when I was in. I was stationed at New River Air Station, Cherry Point, NAS millington, TN, and several floats. My dad retired from the Corps as Master-Gunnery Sgt. and was the one who convinced me to go into the Airwing instead of being a grunt, which is what I wanted to do. I was trained in Avionics on the F-4 but ended up on CH53 Helo's.

My brother just retired from the Corps, and I have another brother in the Army getting ready to retire. Needless to say, my whole family is military..

Thanks again for the Welcome!

Montag....

[Dr T]

Welcome :)

[Palerider]

welcome to the site.....:)

[pam]

Welcome Montag and have enjoyed you posts so far. Keep them up I love them.

[rameumptom]

Welcome Montag. I must be related to your wife, as I served 20 years in the Air Force.

Some testimonies come quickly, others at slower rates. Brigham Young took two years to be converted, and look where he ended up.

Feel free to ask questions here. Some of us even know a few answers.

[pam]

Thanks for the welcome, jarheads! I was an airwinger when I was in. I was stationed at New River Air Station, Cherry Point, NAS millington, TN, and several floats. My dad retired from the Corps as Master-Gunnery Sgt. and was the one who convinced me to go into the Airwing instead of being a grunt, which is what I wanted to do. I was trained in Avionics on the F-4 but ended up on CH53 Helo's.

My brother just retired from the Corps, and I have another brother in the Army getting ready to retire. Needless to say, my whole family is military..

Thanks again for the Welcome!

Montag....

I worked for the Navy for 18 years but as a civilian. I worked at the AIMD Power Plants level with helo engines for the H2, H3 and H46 helos. Also the SH60-B. Never had the chance with the CH53's.