After a lovely trip through the internet, I find this...

[CommanderSouth]

I love how Hockey Heroes "Check" Melting Ice Caps - ZAMBONIS TO THE RESCUE!

[Faded]

It's a good thing that Hillary didn't become president. Bigfoot is MASSIVELY corrupt and would have assassinated her and made himself dictator-ruler of the USA.

[Moksha]

All this because of their smarky title for an article on the brother of Jared...

Is that the one where he is quoted as saying Quiznos is better than Subway?

[NeuroTypical]

My first reaction is that along the lines of, Is MRM really Anti?

Yes, the Mormonism Research Ministry is really Anti. They believe we're wrong and they're right, and instead of share their faith with us, they'll share their criticisms of us. That's kind of the definition of anti-mormon, right? Anti = against? Anti-mormon=against-mormon?

The term 'anti-mormon' is sort of sensationalistic, so if you prefer to call them 'critics of the LDS faith', feel free to do so. It's a much more charitable term.

But anyway, if you're gonna expose yourself to critisicms of something you believe in, prepare to have your faith and beliefs challenged. If you're not ready for that, don't be looking at stuff that challenges your faith and beliefs.

LM

[in my second decade of exposing myself to critics of my faith]

[Blackmarch]

Of course, now I am awash in doubt. Maybe not faith shattering doubt. But it's up there. I really don't know how to respond to this kind of thing. In a way I think it's funny, I joined the church because it provided answers (and what I believe to be the testimony of the Holy Spirit of course). And in finding those answers, I am now faced with even harder questions, that are so much more niche I have even fewer people to go to.

All this because of their smarky title for an article on the brother of Jared...

don't respond to it.. there probably is not enough valid information to do so anyways.

Having been around a lot of "anti" behavior sarcasm and mocking go hand in hand and are very pervasive when its not full blown hypocricy and hatred.

[RipplecutBuddha]

I've spent years carefully, and prayerfully, studying all the anti-Mormon material I could find. My conclusion is that after all that study, I have found two things to be true.

1. The overwhelming majority of issues have already been addressed since Joseph Smith's day because most of the material comes directly from that time period. No new arguments, no new answers to them.

2. Those issues we cannot answer are not a problem because nobody else has an answer either. There's nothing wrong with honestly stating "We just don't know right now."

There is an essential need for us to question our faith. Without questions, we cannot learn. Since none of us knows everything about the gospel, we all have questions, and we probably will throughout our lives. That's how it should be.

Never be afraid of not knowing everything; nobody does. Take comfort in knowing where to find the answers. God will never lead you wrong.

[InquisitiveSoul]

What I find funny at this stage in life RipplecutBuddha, is the number of people who expect to know and understand everything in regards to religion or spirituality. I've been one of the biggest offenders in my life in this regard, I've stayed away from the chruch because I thought I should know everything before I join and move forward.

At this age with more experience and some new understandings I can see I will never understand everything.

[RipplecutBuddha]

What I find funny at this stage in life RipplecutBuddha, is the number of people who expect to know and understand everything in regards to religion or spirituality. I've been one of the biggest offenders in my life in this regard, I've stayed away from the chruch because I thought I should know everything before I join and move forward.

At this age with more experience and some new understandings I can see I will never understand everything.

It's also something I've struggled with. I figure, if there's a question, there oguht to be an answer readily available. However, I've come to realize us humans are much better at asking questions than accepting answers that have already been given.

What I had to understand is that we do have all the answers we need to gain eternal life. That much has been given to us, and as such, represents the most important information we could have in any case.

While it would be great to have an absolutely complete body of knowledge regarding the gospel, I find that we probably won't get there in this life, no matter how long God lets us try.

The most frustrating thing about growing is learnig, and understanding, the limitations of your own abilities and intelligence. As children of God, we simply have to humble ourselves and accept them for now. They won't always be there, but we can't get rid of them just by wanting it to be that way.

[mark08]

There's nothing wrong with having questions about the church that simply have no answer. Just be sure you have at least one thing pertaining to the restored gospel that the spirit has born witness to you is true. As long as you have that to "hang your hat on" when your testimony is challenged, it will keep you grounded in faith.