I need you advice / inspiration / words on this

[Shuyoru]

Okay how should I start?

My family and I have returned to church 5 years ago after 10 years being inactive...

At first we felt the spirit, we had hopes and expectations, I thought everything was fine between the memeber, that I was in a good ward...We believed.

Now things had changed a lot, I realised that I was alone in the ward and so my family,

thing have gone colder and by this I mean the church It's not the same anyomore...There are divisions between the memebers - richs with richs poor with poors instead of all united- and Pride and that upsets my family, specially my parentes.

This worries me a lot ,I pray for the ward for my family, but it gets worse.

My parents say that they'll leave the church, that they don't believe anymore -They have a special unfaith about the law of tithing, since they tried and our condicion economica hasn't changed but get worse- not only my parents but my 3 borthers and my sister shows disgust about church, they all are angrier even me.

I don't know what to say... I feel that all the thing I learned here are true but I'm losing the hopes too.

I want to go to a mission but this...this ruins my faith.

TL;DR

My parents and siblings wants to leave chuch because they can't stand some attitudes from the members, they have lost all faith, hope and they are starting to despise it.

Church doesn't make them feel better or comfort them anymore.

And I'm trying to give them hope but I'm starting to lose mine.

Please I don't know what to do or say.

[Guest]

Helaman 5:12

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

[Anddenex]

Speak with your Bishop.

[Shuyoru]

Speak with your Bishop.

I did.

He even came home with the stake presindent and talked to my parents, they talked about compromise.

Then ... few days later nothing was done and things are the same, my family is getting sick and tired of all the things about the church because, like I said, of the member's attitudes -yes including the bishop- and in some cases pride.

My family feels ignored, I feel ignored, it's like we don't fit there . I'm doing what I can to remind them that we are assisting because we believe(d) in Christ... It's not working.

[Anddenex]

Then you must make the decision yourself to remain active and participating no matter how difficult it becomes, especially if your family isn't involved. My wife began attending church again in her teens without family support.

Part of the reason her parents stopped attending for some time was due to the lack of charity from the members. The first Sunday there they sat in the wrong bench, because we all know in church we have assigned seats. Also, new members to a ward should obviously know where everybody is seated and which seats have been officially given to certain members -- .

It is difficult when we are in a place that we should be surrounded by people of faith, hope and charity, but charity seems to be missing.

If you make the decision, despite the atmosphere you feel, then you will be blessed in the long run. Your family must make their own decision.

Also, on a side note, I find it interesting as I have been in the ward now for 8 years, how some people have moved in and say, "This is the worst ward ever. Nobody is friendly. People only think of themselves."

At the same time another couple moves in who is more friendly, outgoing, and wants to participate in everything and they say, "This is the best ward we have been in, people are so friendly."

One thing I have noticed, people who tend to say a ward isn't friendly have either been less active, semi-active (only come to sacrament meeting), and those who have considered the ward to be friendly want to come in a meet everyone. They make friends quicker.

As a young man or woman, it can be really lonely if people are not friendly. However, continue to come, pray, and read your scriptures. Do what you can to show your love for Christ. We all have different struggles we face.

As the Lord says, we are here partly as a test to see if we will do all the Lord has commanded us, even through tribulation and trials.

[MsMagnolia]

It is honestly not up to anyone else but you to develop a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that may sound a little bit "harsh" but it is very true. I second what Eowyn quoted. If you have a testimony built on the Rock of Christ it will not matter who is mean to who on Sunday.

Something brought your parents back after ten years of being inactive. Ask them what it was that brought them back. Pray for the guidance of the spirit. Pray for your ward. Pray for those you do not like. Pray for your family to have their heart softened.

The Lord will answer your prayers. Just keep your spiritual eyes open for those answers.

Mags

[Shuyoru]

Thank you all of you for all .

I wish I could bring them back .

[Guest mcsurui]

Wish you all the best

Edited December 15, 2012 by skippy740
removed link to amazon.com

[Maxn]

my best wishes always with you

[Finrock]

Good Morning Shuyoru. It is a pleasure to meet you! :)

Please I don't know what to do or say.

Invite the missionaries over to your home. Have them come on a regular basis, like once a week. They can help.

Also, consider the following:

19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.

20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.

21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.

22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.

23 And it came to pass that there rose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness...

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree."

In my life I have come to recognize a certain pattern. There are moments when I feel inspired and I can clearly see the path before me. I might even receive specific revelation or counsel from the Spirit directing me on how I should act or what I should do. But, this feeling of being assured and of having this "eternal perspective" does not necessarily remain with me all of the time, even if I am striving with my might to do and to be good. I have asked myself, why? If I am doing what is right, then why do I not feel that hope and joy that I have felt before?

I am beginning to learn that sometimes, God provides us enough inspiration and enough strength to get us started down the right path, but he then leaves us for a moment to see if we will continue to follow the path of righteousness even when things aren't so clear or we aren't feeling so inspired. He shows us the right way to live, in a way that we can feel how good it is to follow the plan of salvation and then He expects us to exercise faith. So, there might be moments of darkness where we must cling on to past experiences with the Spirit. I think this is why the scriptures so often encourage us to look to the past to see how merciful God has been to us and to our forefathers. When we are in the midst of our trials, we can think back to when we felt God's love and draw strength from those experiences even if we aren't feeling the same faith at the moment.

We must remember that discipleship is a lifetime commitment. This means we must endure to the end and maintain our faith regardless of anything. It is tough. I know.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Please hang on and stay true. God is not far away even when it feels like He is. We can't always understand why things must occur the way they do. We do not have the foresight and wisdom that God has and sometimes our hearts are swept away in despair because we cannot conceivably see how a given situation will turn out for our good. But, God is faithful and He will not allow us to be tempted or tried beyond our ability to endure it and with the trial He will also provide a way for us to overcome it (1 Cor. 10:13).

Regards,

Finrock