Why do some people insist on thinking they are save you by trying to stop you converting?

[autismmum]

I am 3 months into exploring LDS and want to convert and be baptised when I am ready.

i have already posted on my parents not being happy about it.

Now I have friends trying to put me off.

someone sent some anti mormon info to my Facebook basically saying that LDS is satans church and that he traps people by claiming to be the true church and after we spend our lives devoted to it, when it comes to judgement day we find out that this isnt what The Father and Christ wanted and that we have turned our backs on them:o

My own feeling is that the only link to Satan there is in the people sending the message in the first place

Has anyone else come across this mindset before?

I do believe I am in the right place and doing the right thing...but when you are just starting off on this journey things like this plant a tiny seed of doubt in the back of your mind making you wonder what if it is true....I hate it when people try to rubbish my beliefs like this

[MarginOfError]

I am 3 months into exploring LDS and want to convert and be baptised when I am ready.

i have already posted on my parents not being happy about it.

Now I have friends trying to put me off.

someone sent some anti mormon info to my Facebook basically saying that LDS is satans church and that he traps people by claiming to be the true church and after we spend our lives devoted to it, when it comes to judgement day we find out that this isnt what The Father and Christ wanted and that we have turned our backs on them:o

My own feeling is that the only link to Satan there is in the people sending the message in the first place

Has anyone else come across this mindset before?

I do believe I am in the right place and doing the right thing...but when you are just starting off on this journey things like this plant a tiny seed of doubt in the back of your mind making you wonder what if it is true....I hate it when people try to rubbish my beliefs like this

To be fair, mormons have been known to describe people leaving the LDS Church as having turned their backs on the Lord. It's a natural human response and rooted in the fact that devout religionists are profoundly emotional about their chosen religions.

First, let me point out this: in the minds of your family and friends, they really are trying to help you. They very likely are convinced that they have your best interests in mind. In that regard, what they are doing is commendable.

In other regards, what they are doing is ignorant. It's a mixed bag.

The best advice I can give you on how to handle it is to respectfully, but firmly, point out to them that religious choice is strongly influenced by feeling. At this time, you feel that the teachings of the Church make you feel good, and so you're going with it. Express appreciation for their concern and ask that they respect your decision.

Whether they respect your choice or not isn't something you can control. All you can do is recognize that they care about you, try to appreciate that fact, and hope they don't get so obnoxious and toxic that the issue causes irreparable harm to your relationships. More than likely, when the dust settles a bit and you've convinced them that this really is your choice, then things will die down a bit.

[HEthePrimate]

Probably for the same reason Mormons are trying to save you by converting you.

What it comes down to is this: You need to do what you believe is right.

If you do join the LDS Church, I suggest that you make extra efforts to remain friendly with your non-LDS family and friends. Show them with your actions you are the same person you were before, that you have not "gone off the deep end," so to speak, but now you're a better you. Tell them what the gospel means to you, and that part of the gospel (the most important part) involves loving and serving others, and maybe that'll help reassure them you'll be okay, and you're not going to leave them.

Peace,

HEP

[Guest]

Autismmum, I have good news and bad news for you...

The good news first: Everybody - and I mean everybody, LDS, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist, Agnostic, Atheist, Whatever-ist - goes through challenges like this. If it's not religion, it's the way you raise your kids. If not that, it's your political leanings. If not that, then it's the way you wear your clothes, the way you talk, the things you eat, the pets you keep, etc. etc. I can tell you right now, we have 6 pet snakes. You won't believe how many people tell me I need to be imprisoned for child abuse because I'm endangering my children... because, yeah, ball pythons eat 8 year olds. Sigh.

It doesn't bother me for people to send me messages warning me about the "evils" of the Church. If a devout Catholic friend of mine sees me heading towards the Mormon Church, I would expect that he would try to get me back to where he BELIEVES is the path to God if he truly cares for my well-being. For a Catholic, turning your back on the Trinitarian teachings to embrace the Godhead and even going so far as to deny Christ's Presence in the Eucharist is a straight shot to hellfire and damnation... I would be surprised if a friend who truly cares about me will just let me jump ship without him trying to do something about it. And I would be very wrong to say that they are linked to Satan. I came from the Catholic Church. There is nothing Satanic about Catholic beliefs. I learned the foundation of the gospels from the Catholic Church. I continue, to this day, to love the Catholic faith which is my foundation. They are not Satanic. They are merely lacking key doctrines of truth.

The bad news - if you can't stand in the midst of non-believers without getting seeds of doubt planted in your mind, you have a weak testimony or no testimony at all. It might be a better idea at this stage to not turn your back on those Facebook messages you got. It is better to take those messages, bounce it against what the LDS Church trully teaches about them, take both sides to the Holy Spirit and see what kind of answer you get...

[autismmum]

It isn't casting huge doubts...but don't forget I am only a couple of months into my investigations so I don't know the ins and outs of it all yet. I do know that "something" is telling me that this church is where I belong and that no matter what my family say I want to go with my feelings. I have a real feeling of calm and peace in my life that I didn't have before

[Backroads]

It isn't casting huge doubts...but don't forget I am only a couple of months into my investigations so I don't know the ins and outs of it all yet. I do know that "something" is telling me that this church is where I belong and that no matter what my family say I want to go with my feelings. I have a real feeling of calm and peace in my life that I didn't have before

Then go with what you feel. Focus on that and your relationships with your loved ones. Try not to become obsessed with their reactions.

[RMGuy]

Probably for the same reason that some people believe they are saving you when they are trying to convert you.

-RM

[dahlia]

I found that I needed to keep my investigation to myself. I eventually told my mother, but mostly because she had the bad habit of calling me just as I was going off to church.

I am very happy with my choice, but I don't need to make problems for myself, in my personal life or my work life. It is hard enough to be a conservative academic, much less a Mormon one. Plus, I have many gay friends and most of them think that Mormons hate gays. I have had to talk to these people individually and school them on the real views of the Church on this topic.

This is not the same as denying your religion. If someone asked, I'd certainly say I'm Mormon. And I've become a lot more at ease with saying that I go to church, but I'm still careful. Why bring so much division and unhappiness into your life? Just do your thing for now and be around people who are supportive, not antagonistic.

[Hala401]

I am 3 months into exploring LDS and want to convert and be baptised when I am ready.

i have already posted on my parents not being happy about it.

Now I have friends trying to put me off.

someone sent some anti mormon info to my Facebook basically saying that LDS is satans church and that he traps people by claiming to be the true church and after we spend our lives devoted to it, when it comes to judgement day we find out that this isnt what The Father and Christ wanted and that we have turned our backs on them:o

My own feeling is that the only link to Satan there is in the people sending the message in the first place

Has anyone else come across this mindset before?

I do believe I am in the right place and doing the right thing...but when you are just starting off on this journey things like this plant a tiny seed of doubt in the back of your mind making you wonder what if it is true....I hate it when people try to rubbish my beliefs like this

OK, I'm going to break some rules here, but I hope that I will be allowed to say this.

I was evangelical fundamentalist from 1974 to 2002. In that time, I attended Baptist Church, several community churches, and Foursquare church. My stepfather was Amish, so I am well aquainted with very conservative Christian thought.

From my personal experience, a lot of hate and conditional forgiveness is taught in these churches. And, yes I was also told that the Mormons are a cult and worship satan. I love doing research and used to go onto Youtube and seek out the anti mormon vids. Then I would do research on their arguments and I always found them to originate from falsehood and lies.

There are no blood sacrifices, orgies, or satanic rituals at the temple. In Helamin 6-7 you will find reference to the Gadianton band, and their secret vows and signs and words to help their evil purposes.

So, I think that this may be the origin of the lies that Mormons have secret vows and things. I do not yet have full temple privileges but so if there are secret handshakes, which I doubt, I have not seen them.

In my experience with the Mormons from March of 2011 to now, Heavenly Father has used them to bring me to great healing on several issues.

I know what you mean by oposition from others because people who were mildly upset by my conversion to Islam, no longer even talk to me since I converted to the LDS church. I think it is laughable. They speak from a depth of ignorance that seems impossible to plumb.

[Vort]

So, I think that this may be the origin of the lies that Mormons have secret vows and things. I do not yet have full temple privileges but so if there are secret handshakes, which I doubt, I have not seen them.

Hala, in the temple you make covenants. These covenants are very sacred and important, but they are not secret. You covenant to follow God, to follow the law of consecration and of chastity, and so forth.

Associated with these covenants are certain signs and "tokens". The tokens take the form of simple hand grips. They, too, are very sacred, so much so that we rarely talk about them outside the temple, and we never discuss them in detail. But it's not some weird "secret handshake". It is a token representing covenants you make. Nothing sinister or bizarre about it.

It's actually very plain and straightforward. I know that some people who were expecting some great, dramatic, mystical temple ceremony have left the temple disappointed in the simplicity and utter lack of pretense of these things. But the kingdom of God does not use mysticism and dramatic liturgy to evoke emotions; instead, we present truths in a simple, straightforward manner, and invite the Spirit to confirm and instruct.

[prisonchaplain]

I still remember when I came home from Bible camp, feeling one incredible spiritual "high." I told my parents (unchurched, but vague believers in God) that I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and was very excited about my Christian life. They later admitted they thought I was going through a phase, and would soon grow out of it. Here we are 35 years later...haven't gotten over it yet.