I'm confused

[webmasterteen]

Don't be foolish! Jesus gets offended when you question him!

You know it's true so why let some atheist freaks to tell you diffrent!

You know deep down the LDS is the true religion. Realize it again, & your questions will dissolve..

God bless you :]

I wouldn't go as far as to say that as bluntly as you did. After all, He also taught that you chose to be offended.

[Saturnfulcrum]

Do I question my faith? yes

Do I believe that sometimes we are led astray? Yes

Do I believe that people are human and make mistakes? Yes

Do I believe that there is truth everywhere? Yes

Do I believe that all religions have some sort of truth? Yes

Do I believe science is truth? Sometimes.

Science is an amazing tool, but we also have to remember that science is based on theories. Think about what people knew about the world, our bodies, and space 300 years ago. Not much.

Science evolves as the more information we gather. Historically, the discovery of DNA is relatively recent, but DNA has been there since the beginning of life on this Earth.

Remember learning in school that light is always constant? That dinosaurs had skin? That Pluto was a planet? Light does not travel at a constant rate, therefore all the science based on that idea an innaccurate assumption that light is constant. According to some new textbooks, historians believe that dinosaurs had feathers. I'm not sure how they're able to prove this, considering that the only real proof that dinosaurs existed at some point on this planet are the bones left behind, but that's what they're saying. And Pluto...poor Pluto will always be a planet in my heart.

Science, logic and history change. They change once we learn more, think more, understand more.

God does not change. I believe that God is an unchanging and unwavering God. From the very beginning of the bible, the doctrines we have today were taught. The priesthood has, and always will be on this Earth. The doctrines of the gospel will always be the same, but sometimes the applications are different.

For example: the Israelites were given the law of Moses and a law of health was given inside that law. Do not eat swine. From what I understand, to save the meat of an animal you cannot eat in one meal, you can make jerky out of it. We do know from historical writings that making jerky was common practice. They would take the extra meat and lay it out to dry. It would shrivel, dry and turn into jerky.

Ever done that with a pig? I wouldn't recommend it. You'd be dead the next day.

In this case, science is true. Lay a pig out to dry and try to make jerky: your dead.

I've always wondered if the Israelites ever put that one to the test. They probably learned really quickly.

Our law of health today is the Word of Wisdom. It's definitely not as specific at the one given in the law of Moses because we now know and have ways to clean, sanitize and keep our food good for longer periods of time.

The Lord's law of health has changed, but has his view of murder? No.

Has His view of chastity? No

Has His view of keeping the Sabbath day holy? No

I am gay. I'm attracted to women. It's been a struggle, especially since prop 8. Sometimes I wonder why it's not alright to like someone of the same gender. Sometimes I wonder why it's not alright in the Lord's eyes to marry someone of the same gender.

In the end, I'm reminded of two things: God loves me no matter who I'm attracted to and if there are two genders on this Earth, there's probably a very good reason for it. God has said from the beginning that homosexual relationships are not alright in his eyes and God is an unchanging God. It hurts sometimes, because I feel like there's no hope for me, but my desire to live with my Heavenly Father again overrides my attraction to women. Is it fair? No. But we all have struggles in our lives that we must overcome, and coming to terms that me being attracted to women is not all of who I am. I am a person who breathes, loves, plays, cries, hopes, dreams, struggles, laughs and is surrounded by people who accept and love me for who I am. That includes Heavenly Father.

Do I believe this Gospel is true? Yes. It's been a long, hard struggle to reach this point, but I do believe it is the most complete truth on this Earth today. Everything that you have mentioned I have questioned myself and in the end, everything in my mind points to that there is a God.

I am not a mistake of a big bang (which has also recently been disproved). I am not a freak accident that just happened to spawn from a single-cell bacterium. Everything in this world had to have been created by someone. It's too beautiful and miraculous to have just happened by accident. God exists because I am here on this Earth learning about him. I am learning about His plan, His will and His goals for me in this life. I am a child of God and he has sent me here to learn to be just like Him. To be perfect just like Him.

You are not alone. Continue to find the answers for yourself. I still am. All of us still are. And if you ever feel like someone is trying to tear you down for any reason, I would suggest not being around them anymore. Usually those who try to tear others down, and those who attack others beliefs are not happy about themselves. There is something in their life that they don't like and try to pull others down to their levels of unhappiness. Do try to lift them up though, but if they don't want to listen, then you can't force them to listen.

Hope this helps.

[slamjet]

Don't be foolish! Jesus gets offended when you question him!

You know it's true so why let some atheist freaks to tell you diffrent!

You know deep down the LDS is the true religion. Realize it again, & your questions will dissolve..

God bless you :]

What in the world is this stuff???

[grandshahi]

I have a PhD in a scientific field. I understand what you are going through. I determined that a) science, in its current form cannot answer every question b) religion cannot answer every question. When I do science, I look at natural phenomena. As I observe natural phenomena, I look for answers - rooted completely in natural science. I never attribute something in nature or science to God.

When I am thinking about religion, I do not like to explain my faith in terms of science. Just the other day in a Elder's quorum, the teacher was trying to explain the word of wisdom, coffee in particular, in terms of science. Truth is, that coffee, according to science isn't that bad. Drinking soda - with and without caffeine is bad for the body because it is loaded with sugars. Eating fatty food is bad for the body. Therefore, we can't fully understand commandments in light of science. True, some of what was forbidden by the word of wisdom has turned out to be right in the face of people's views in Joseph Smith's time.

Faith is faith. One of the things we can do is build our faith. Admitting our own weaknesses, we can approach our Heavenly Father in prayer. I have done so many times. I have come to the conclusion that to doubt is to be human. Some people are blessed with the ability to have faith at all times without doubts. My faith is very dynamic. I continue to live according to the teachings of Jesus - even when I doubt, because things always work out when I do. I don't seek natural explanations for my private religious experiences.

[a1a2a3]

I, too, have had doubts and when doubt is placed in the mind it tends to conflict with faith. I believe it is okay to question -after all that is part of learning and growing. However, I think it is important to remember who the source by which that doubt comes. Listening to anti groups is probably not the source by which finding truth to your questions should come.

Seriously. I have never been able to understand why people who become disaffected by the church spend so much of their time trying to take others with them. I have a friend who left the church and spends so much of her time bashing the church and writing articles and etc. criticizing the church. To leave is her own choice but I don't get why she doesn't just throw herself into good books and work at other things of far greater value that would bring her so much more joy than to be so critical of a faith that teaches people to do good and be good and to believe in and follow Jesus Christ who taught us to do good and be good. What's so bad about doing good?

Let's look at things logically. 1)Those who are planting doubt in your mind are anti-mormon/anti-religion who spend so much of their time trying to tear others away. What good does that do? Why are they so emphatic about it? 2) If the church is "wrong" then were you a worse off person for following its teachings at the end of the day?

One thing I can tell you for sure...that when I put my trust in God, nothing wavering (James 1:5-7), that understandings and knowledge come to me that could not come by any other means. My understanding is quickened to understand principles associated with whatever I am learning (scientific or otherwise). When I doubt, my understanding slows and becomes a stumbling block to growth unless I use that doubt and seek out answers through legitimate means. Also...one day as I was doubting and picking apart the scriptures I was reading in my head and being very critical and unbelieving about what I was reading - I looked over to my Dad whom I have great respect and admiration for. It occurred to me that if I denied the gospel I would deny the priesthood and I had seen the power of the priesthood work many times in our lives before. I could not deny that power. It is real.

I was told a story once about two barking dogs. Both wanted feeding. The dog that survived was the one that was fed. Be careful which dog you feed.

Testimony should be derived from faith. Experiment on your faith by feeding it. Find out for yourself by applying principles of the gospel.

I, too, go through seasons of doubt. It is important for me to REMEMBER my blessings, past experiences that built my faith, to be grateful, to have charity and love. Faith brings me peace. Doubt brings me confusion and fear. Just REMEMBER the source by which your doubt or peace comes.

All my best to you.