Howdy from Arkansas

[Uriel]

Hello everyone!

I'm from the great state of Arkansas in the southern US. I've was raised in a non denominational/pentecostal church for most of my life. About 5 years ago I fell away from Christianity but have been slowly coming back. I have been church shopping and learning about different denominations for the past year or so. Recently, seemingly out of the blue, I've become interested in the LDS faith.

This is a bit strange since I was raised to think it was a cult and in my investigations have found that many Christians don't even consider Mormons to be fellow Christians! But here I am, investigating for myself and finding that ya'll aren't as strange as I had been led to believe.

I'm sure I'll have questions for ya'll, but for now I just wanted to say hello!

[pam]

Welcome. Of course I am the most sane person on this site. Just ask me. :)

Feel free to ask questions.

[Truegrits]

Hello :) WELCOME to the site.

And just so you know, I AM strange, but it is not due to my being LDS

[rameumptom]

Welcome. And just so you know, while the LDS Church is not a cult, I am a cult. I have groupies and followers who are just waiting to drink the purple juice on my command. Of course, it is just purple juice, as the Word of Wisdom doesn't allow us to take in harmful chemicals.....

[Uriel]

Yesterday I went to the local LDS church for the first time. Drove by the place three times before I finally worked up the nerve to turn in. I must say, everything was pretty normal. Very similar to evangelical services sans a dedicated preacher.

After the sacrament meeting I got the missionaries' attention and they took me to Sunday school. Afterwords, they gave me a BOM and a Gospel Principles book. They're supposed to come by my house tomorrow after I get off work. I'm a bit nervous, hope the family isn't around when they show up. Maybe I'll head the missionaries off at the door and suggest we go to a restaurant and talk... sigh...

But feeling good about everything other than the family resistance. Has anyone else had to deal with an unsupportive or hostile family when investigating?

[Guest Sachi001]

Yesterday I went to the local LDS church for the first time. Drove by the place three times before I finally worked up the nerve to turn in. I must say, everything was pretty normal. Very similar to evangelical services sans a dedicated preacher.

After the sacrament meeting I got the missionaries' attention and they took me to Sunday school. Afterwords, they gave me a BOM and a Gospel Principles book. They're supposed to come by my house tomorrow after I get off work. I'm a bit nervous, hope the family isn't around when they show up. Maybe I'll head the missionaries off at the door and suggest we go to a restaurant and talk... sigh...

But feeling good about everything other than the family resistance. Has anyone else had to deal with an unsupportive or hostile family when investigating?

Yep been that route too. Was SCARED to enter the house of cultists. My mother always taught me that Mormons were kooks. Found out they were just pretty much normal joes busting their tails to get by on a living like myself.

You'll find some teachings difficult to understand as to why it's this way, but like myself I found the answers after hard study to be more correct in principle.

And No! Contrary to my bible thumping cousins in Texas (yes I know a rival) we do not pray to Joseph Smith as some have inferred, and we do teach from the bible as well.

Aloha as I don't live in the rival state anymore. Guess where! Yeah and we have razorbacks here too and serve it Imu style.

[skippy740]

Just remember that we don't handle snakes in our church... so everything must get better from there, right?

I wouldn't suggest a restaurant to have a spiritual discussion. I would suggest a local park?

[Uriel]

Yep been that route too. Was SCARED to enter the house of cultists. My mother always taught me that Mormons were kooks. Found out they were just pretty much normal joes busting their tails to get by on a living like myself.

You'll find some teachings difficult to understand as to why it's this way, but like myself I found the answers after hard study to be more correct in principle.

And No! Contrary to my bible thumping cousins in Texas (yes I know a rival) we do not pray to Joseph Smith as some have inferred, and we do teach from the bible as well.

Aloha as I don't live in the rival state anymore. Guess where! Yeah and we have razorbacks here too and serve it Imu style.

Sounds like you're in Hawaii. Always wanted to go there, but i hear it's the most expensive state to live in. I don't need expensive right now.

[Uriel]

Just remember that we don't handle snakes in our church... so everything must get better from there, right?

I wouldn't suggest a restaurant to have a spiritual discussion. I would suggest a local park?

My mom's going to be visiting her mother during the visit. She knows and isn't thrilled, but I think I can get her to be okay with it after a while. Stepdad's who I'm worried about. He's a BIG John MacArthur style Baptist. But he sleeps during the day so I should be okay.

Plus, it's 100 degrees outside. And humid to boot.

Anyway, I'll update ya'll after they leave.

Edited July 19, 2011 by Uriel

[HiJolly]

Best wishes!

HiJolly

[Uriel]

Well the missionaries just left and everything went well. We talked about some of the basics of the gospel and the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. We prayed and set up a time to meet later in the week. They also invited me to a potluck at the church so I can meet some other potential converts and members.

So thanks for the warm welcome!

[pam]

I'm so glad you had a positive first experience.

[Guest Sachi001]

Sounds like you're in Hawaii. Always wanted to go there, but i hear it's the most expensive state to live in. I don't need expensive right now.

Bingo bruddah! Yep it is quite costly. Unless you want to go true native and live in the bush.