Why Mormon?

[Heber13]

Have you been baptized? I ask only because I want to know if you can be baptized and still have this view.

I have been baptized, hold the priesthood, go to the temple, and hold callings to serve others in my ward. You can hold these views and be a member of the Church.

I don't have to have it, but I don't understand why this is a part of the faith. I understand abstaining from drugs, alcohol (BTW didn't Jesus drink wine?), and even sex, but I don't see the reasoning behind banning such a benign substance.

Yes, Jesus drank wine, as did the early church people...whether that is the same kind of wine we have or not, I don't know.

There are 2 parts to the teaching. 1) abstaining from the substances outlined to be a Mormon is a good practice to avoid taking into your body things that have stimulants, and never give up or impair judgement to substances. 2) The principle of committing to a healthy lifestyle and sacrifice to be obedient brings blessings from God, who sees your sacrifice. The spiritual teaching is that you have control over your body to refrain from things, even if we may not understand what the big deal is with coffee or tea. With all commandments, you should try it with faith and see if you feel blessed by the Spirit and feel you should keep doing that.

Why not other substances, like cola or red bull? Because it starts to defeat the purpose to start making super long lists. At some point, the teaching is given for us to understand, and then we live it and do what we think is right. Some mormons drink Coke, some don't. You make up your mind on things that are important, but there is a definition given of coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol and drugs...to give us a guide. Then you go from there on how you live it.

I heard a story that I wondered if you would like to read about this topic...it may apply to you or not, but I found it inspiring:

Driving to the Los Angeles Airport with a busy radio executive, I learned that he and his wife, though born in the Church, had never participated. Their social life of parties and weekends for fun and escape dominated their lives.

After eight years of marriage and three children, they were becoming concerned about their lives but did nothing about it.

Different sets of home teachers came and went. A new home teacher—a true shepherd—came into their lives, and after a time this new home teacher committed this man to go to Church once. Brother Adamson said he would not give up smoking and drinking. He had made a firm resolve not to live the Word of Wisdom, and if he was not welcome in Church because of it, that was fine. The home teacher said, “You are welcome, and I will pick you up.”

The first Sunday Brother Adamson attended Church he waited for someone to move away from him because of the strong tobacco odor, but that didn’t happen. “They will ask me to pray or work in the Church,” he thought. That didn’t happen either.

The home teacher did not phone on Sunday mornings to give him a chance to make an excuse and back out but drove to his home and would say, “Are you ready?” This home teacher picked him up every Sunday for over a year.

The Adamsons began reading A Marvelous Work and a Wonder and found that the Church consisted of much more than just the Word of Wisdom, which he had heard so much about all his life (and because he didn’t live the Word of Wisdom, felt the Church had nothing to offer him).

This couple soon learned it is a Church of love, not a Church of fear. They learned of the mission of the Savior and of our Heavenly Father and of repentance. They became so proud of the Church they had been born into that the Word of Wisdom no longer was an important issue. He didn’t go through the pangs of quitting. It just happened. There were so many other principles of the gospel that now were so important in their lives.

He said, “I found myself working on our new chapel and then one day quietly telling the bishop, ‘I’m ready, now. You can call on me to pray.’”

The Savior taught Peter, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32.)

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/10/people-to-people?lang=eng

I think sometimes people get caught up on the commandments and don't know if they can live it. But if they try it, and see how it makes them feel happier, obeying those commandments isn't that hard anymore, because other things are so positive, it is easy to obey.

This conversion comes over time, with prayer and faith, and searching for God to tell you in your heart what is right for you. It does take faith.

Edited November 2, 2012 by Heber13