Hello to everyone!

[Libbets]

My name is Beth and have been investigating the church for a little over a month now. I attend sacrament meetings regularly and have been faithfully reading my scriptures. I have been receiving the teachings of the missionaries every week. So from the outside it appears that I am a progressing investigator. But, I'm wrestling with all these questions.

I've been approached by the missionaries twice to set a date for baptism but am afraid that it is too soon. In the sacrament meetings I get promptings and witnesses from the holy spirit regularly and have felt like that is just where I belong. The doctrines aren't that different (IMHO) than most of the ones that I grew up with. The Words of Wisdom seem more like a good handbook on how to live.

The last time that the missionaries "cornered" me about baptism I told them that there were a couple of things that I had to reconcile for myself. The one being the ultimate, is The Book of Mormon what it says it is. I enjoy reading the book and believe that it is an inspired book but the story of how the book came to be and the actual translation of it all seems a little hokey to me. Do I believe that man receives revelations from God and that Joseph Smith and, now, President Monson are prophets of God? Yes.

The other big things that I had to find out were could I convert to a religion if I didn't wholeheartedly believe in some of the stances that it's taken? Namely, homosexuality and abortion. The churches view on homosexuality is that it goes against God and his plan for marriage and family. That they're willing to accept that there are gay people in the world but they haven't sinned unless they've actually committed the act. But in Matthew 5:28 it says But I say unto you. That whosoever looketh on a woman in lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. So wouldn't the same be true of homosexual thoughts? I don't believe that my Heavenly Father would create people that are gay as a "test" of their will to abide by the plan and commandments he set forth. I don't believe that gay is a choice. There is no one that would choose that life, it seems much easier to choose to be heterosexual.

As far as abortion goes the church believes in abortion for rape and incest, if the baby will not survive much past the birth or the mother's life is in danger. That's a hard line in the sand to draw and they've done much better than the christian right (speaking politically). I agree with those things, but I also agree that there are irresponsible teenagers out there that have unprotected sex and get pregnant. It happens all the time, so much so that MTV has made a whole show out of it. What about them? The ones who were pressured into sex, who made wrong choices? Do we leave them out in the cold to raise a child? Some of these kids I wouldn't give a puppy to, let alone another human being. It is true that there are those that rise up to the challenge. But we shouldn't believe that they are all like that. That everyone will be a success story.

After I finished talking about these things they continued on and said that they felt that I should be baptized in 2 weeks. So I had 2 weeks to reconcile all these feelings and align my views with the church. I didn't think I could do it so I told the missionaries at the next lesson that I didn't think I was ready and wanted to finish reading the Book of Mormon. I had also read some general conference notes from Elder Oaks and he spoke about "goal baptism", but I think that the missionaries thought it was cooler that I was reading notes from general conference rather than what I was saying.

So I put the question out there. Can I convert to the LDS Church without aligning my beliefs? Can I believe in the LDS Church if I don't believe the story of where the Book of Mormon came from if I believe that it is inspired scripture and not a literal translation of a book found in a hill and translated through a hat?

Thanks in advance.

[Hemidakota]

If you wish to reconcile your own beliefs, present them before the Savior and have the faith, He will answer your questions.

[Maya]

Welcome. I was never asked id I wanted to be babtized... I ahd to tell myself that I want to NOW!

The truth is that you wont nee dto have all your questions answered befor you can join. The main thing is DO you believe the Church is true. Was JS a Gods Profet and are we led by a real profet today. Do you repend your sins ... if you have any. And are you willing to grow.

There is a lot of things we dont really know reason to, but God does. At this moment the Church practise is what it is, the practices change, but faith do not change.

You can choose to get babtized to the Church you feel is right or to wait and struggle with a few things, that are important, but that are not important for your own salvation. That struggle may take you a week or the rest of your life. Only way to know is to get on yopur knees and ask God... somehow I get the feeling someone already said that...

I had issues I could still be "searching", but I asked God and He gave me a peacefull feeling that it all will be sorted later.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

The teachings of the church - when considered together - are harmonious and true. Thinking of single concepts individually can blur that distinction. For example the church's stance on abortion makes complete sense (and is perfectly obeyable) if you also consider (and obey) the church's stance on premarital sex.

Another thing to consider: There are laws. For instance, there is a law (or commandment) that you should not engage in sexual activities before marriage. There is also a law or commandment (from modern prophets) against abortion. Breaking the first law does not exempt you from the second.

As regarding homosexuality - the sin is not in having lustful thoughts or feelings. The sin occurs when you fail to immediately dismiss those thoughts or feelings. This applies to everyone regardless of who they are or what gender the object of those feelings may be.

Scientifically, the causes of homosexuality have not been determined - whether it is environmental or genetic (nature vs nurture). I suspect a combination of both, depending on the individual. In any case, regardless of the origin of homosexuality, it can not be argued that it is natural (since it precludes the possibility of breeding, and therefore defeats the purpose of sexuality). The morality of homosexuality depends on your own perspective on the matter (due to the inherent subjectivity of morality in general).

Now it all boils down to 1 thing. Either the church is true or it isn't. If it is true, then it is all true. It's up to you (and your own interaction with the Lord) how you reconcile these issues you have, but if you believe in the scriptures and if you believe in the prophets, then you must act according to that belief.

The church is true, what else matters?

[Gemma]

Hi libbets,

Although the church believes that abortion isn't the right answer in the case of accidental pregnancy, neither do they believe that the mother should be left to raise the child alone. The 'ideal' solution is that the baby should be adopted - no one would pressure a mother to give up their baby if they didn't want to, but we do believe that to have both a father and a mother who are married to each other is the best upbringing for a child.

I hope you get the answers you're looking for!

[Libbets]

Thanks for all the answers and welcomes. A little background on me. I grew up without any religion in my home. It was always understood that my parents believed in God but we never went to church. The only church I'd ever been exposed to was the Catholic Church, from my babysitter. Whenever we went on vacation there was a small get-together of kids that got together to worship and fellowship and learn His teachings, but I wouldn't call it a church more like a, "this is the thing Beth can do to get out of our hair for a bit."

I remember being about 9 years old when I asked my Mom what religion I was. I was told that I was never baptized because they wanted me to find my own religion. My first answer was Judaism but my Mom said I couldn't be Jewish because I had to be "born" Jewish. My next answer was Catholic and again my Mom said I couldn't be Catholic because I had to be born Catholic. At that point I had run out of religions (that's all I knew at 9). So I asked what religion I could be. Her answer, which is starting to sound more and more like a punchline, was, "your father is a baptist and I was raised Lutheran that must make you a Methodist." So I started reading as many books on as many religions as possible.

Oddly enough LDS never came up. I read about all the other major religions but none of them ever "sat" quite right with me.

Then I read Under the Banner of Heaven and I knew I had to read the Book of Mormon. More out of curiosity than anything else. I went to mormon.org ordered my book and eagerly awaited it's arrival. It never did. I would see missionaries on the street and hope they would knock on my door. That never happened. It wasn't until I was were I shouldn't have been that I saw missionaries and I ran up to them and asked them for a book. They were quite surprised and taken aback. But I had my book and an appointment to start the lessons. Finally, all my questions would be answered. That was 6 or 7 weeks ago.

I started to read the new testament, as I now realize that I don't think I ever had. I think that I need to understand Jesus in order to love Him.

I'm glad to have found a community that I can bounce things off of when they come up and the missionaries aren't directly in front of me.

I have to ask God for wisdom and receive the truth from Him.

[dazed-and-confused]

beth, i'm so happy that you went up to the missionaries after hoping they would come to you and didn't. seems you took your search for religion and HF into your own hands...good for you. i am also a convert and when i was baptised, i still had questions left unanswered, but i believed that the answers would come in time as my understanding grew. some have been answered and some not, as yet....but when i prayed to HF asking if the church was true, the answer i got was immediate and undeniable, and that i have always leaned upon for my testament.

you will ultimately have to find the answwer in your own heart and prayers...ask for yourself if the church is true, or whatever you have questions about. remember, sometimes it's how a question is phrased that may determine what kind of response you receive, IMHO.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

My first answer was Judaism but my Mom said I couldn't be Jewish because I had to be "born" Jewish.

Actually you can be a convert to Judaism, and once you're converted you're considered a "born" Jew; Judaism recognizes no distinction between a convert and a veteran. But there are a lot of Jews who don't even know about Jewish conversion, so we can't fault your mom for not know it :)

[Libbets]

The past couple of days I've been thinking a lot about baptism. And then there it was a date. I dismissed the date as something that I possibly had to do on that day and then there it was again. I tried to put it out of my mind and concentrate on what I was doing, driving at the time. And there it was again. I'd go to sleep thinking about the date and wake up with the date. What does this date mean?

At sacrament meeting today I realised what the date meant. It was the day I was to be baptized. After the meeting I went to the missionaries and told them I had a date. They looked surprised, I think they thought it wasn't ever going to come.

So my date is Sept. 12.

[Maya]

That is wonderful. It will be the best day of your life. When you get out of the water, you will feel so pure. I felt like a protecting skin all over me over my body. I still can feel it when I feel really spiritual! I love babtizements. :)

In a way I did not take it as such a big party it was like a thing that was determined to happen as I agreed on the scrioptures. Later I kind of have regretted that I kind of did not stop to admitt it really was something to party for. It just felt so natural like opening the door. I think I rushed in with a loud Yepppee... and rigt to the business. I was a bit confused as there were so many people in the babtizement (at that time a lot of people attended, today, not that may I am sorry to say), I felt a bit out of place... why would all tose people want to see me babtized, I was no special person! But now I have learned that yes, I am special, and so are you ... and everyone else. Every batizement is a great party both in Heaven and here on Earth!

ENJOY!:)

[Honor]

As far as abortion goes the church believes in abortion for rape and incest, if the baby will not survive much past the birth or the mother's life is in danger. That's a hard line in the sand to draw and they've done much better than the christian right (speaking politically). I agree with those things, but I also agree that there are irresponsible teenagers out there that have unprotected sex and get pregnant. It happens all the time, so much so that MTV has made a whole show out of it. What about them? The ones who were pressured into sex, who made wrong choices? Do we leave them out in the cold to raise a child? Some of these kids I wouldn't give a puppy to, let alone another human being. It is true that there are those that rise up to the challenge. But we shouldn't believe that they are all like that. That everyone will be a success story.

There are irrevocable consequences that apply to all of us, regardless of age or experience. It is the exact reason why sexual purity before marriage is stressed so much and why the church has put so much effort into the LDS Family Services program.

Edited August 17, 2009 by Honor

[Honor]

Sorry, after posting I realized how rude it was to just jump to one point without even saying...

Welcome to the site! :)

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

The past couple of days I've been thinking a lot about baptism. And then there it was a date. I dismissed the date as something that I possibly had to do on that day and then there it was again. I tried to put it out of my mind and concentrate on what I was doing, driving at the time. And there it was again. I'd go to sleep thinking about the date and wake up with the date. What does this date mean?

At sacrament meeting today I realised what the date meant. It was the day I was to be baptized. After the meeting I went to the missionaries and told them I had a date. They looked surprised, I think they thought it wasn't ever going to come.

So my date is Sept. 12.

W00t!

[mlbrowninwa]

Welcome to the site and let me also congratulate you on your upcoming baptism. I was baptized this past June and it was amazing. It has turned out to be the best decision I ever made. You will truly feel the spirit that day.