truthseaker Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 Hello everyone I am new and know absolutely nothing about this church. The other day I was at home, upset about life in general, and two young men knocked on my door from The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, what a long name that is! They came back a couple of days later and gave me a book of mormon to read, they were really lovely and I have agreed to read it and have a lesson with them next week. I do not know anyone who is religious so I found this forum online for help and advice. Is there anything other than reading some of the book of mormon that I should do to prepare for this lesson? What part of it do you think I should read first? Thanks in advance to anyone who replies. BeccaKirstyn, person0, Midwest LDS and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 (edited) Since you do not know anyone who is religious, and you probably want to get a down-to-earth understanding of the religion you are about to learn of, you might try visiting http://www.mormon.org The site is an official explanation of the church, specifically for those who are unfamiliar, but interested. http://www.lds.org is also an official site, with much more in-depth information, should your curiosity make you want to look deeper. This site is good for raising questions that regular members of the church can answer. The answers here are not "official," but most posters are knowledgeable. I am not a member, but came here with questions. Despite not converting, I found the people and conversations so friendly and informative, I've stayed around. Edited December 8, 2017 by prisonchaplain zil, Midwest LDS, Jane_Doe and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane_Doe Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 Howdy! Welcome to the forum, and (more importantly) learning more about Jesus Christ. Let us know if you have any questions or just want to chat about random stuff. truthseaker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 (edited) Welcome, @truthseaker! I think the best thing you can do to prepare for your meeting with the missionaries is just read the Book of Mormon - don't skip the introductory pages - the title page, introduction, testimony of witnesses, brief explanation - these contain important information. You might also want to skip to the end (Moroni 10:3-5 or so) and read the promise and challenge there. Then just start with the first book - 1 Nephi. Ask us whatever questions you have - no such thing as a bad question. ETA: Pray as you read, and pay attention to the things you feel and thoughts that come to your mind - these are how the Holy Ghost testifies of truth. Edited December 8, 2017 by zil truthseaker and askandanswer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 36 minutes ago, prisonchaplain said: Since you do not know anyone who is religious, and you probably want to get a down-to-earth understanding of the religion you are about to learn of, you might try visiting http://www.mormong.org The site is an official explanation of the church, specifically for those who are unfamiliar, but interested. http://www.lds.org is also an official site, with much more in-depth information, should your curiosity make you want to look deeper. This site is good for raising questions that regular members of the church can answer. The answers here are not "official," but most posters are knowledgeable. I am not a member, but came here with questions. Despite not converting, I found the people and conversations so friendly and informative, I've stayed around. I would correct that to mormon.org prisonchaplain and truthseaker 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, pam said: I would correct that to mormon.org Done...and yikes. :-) ... at least I wasn't sneaky, sending the OP to http://www.ag.org Edited December 8, 2017 by prisonchaplain truthseaker, zil and Vort 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e-eye Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 What an awesome experience you will have studying with the missionaries. This is a pretty good place to ask questions as well. There are anti mormon websites around so you do have to be careful on where you go. I would read the parts the missionaries asked you to read. Write down some questions that you might have and also somethings you learned, and discuss it with them. Good luck! Vort and truthseaker 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 12 hours ago, prisonchaplain said: Done...and yikes. :-) ... at least I wasn't sneaky, sending the OP to http://www.ag.org Isn't there a rule about posting links to anti-Mormon sites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MormonGator Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 Good luck my friend. We are all praying for you. May God bless you in your journey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthseaker Posted December 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thanks everyone! I will read go back and read all the intro stuff zil because I didn't do that, I skipped straight to chapter one 1 Nephi They are coming on Wednesday, I'm pretty excited, there was just something about them, you could tell they were close to God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 9 hours ago, Carborendum said: Isn't there a rule about posting links to anti-Mormon sites? You misunderstand. Yes, when you click the http://www.ag.org you will find a link to a Pentecostal Evangel article entitled "Adoring God Through the Pain." However, "the pain" not referring to any particular religious group, nor any particular individual (cough: @Carborendum) within a faith tradition. Sunday21 and askandanswer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 (edited) 10 minutes ago, prisonchaplain said: You misunderstand. Yes, when you click the http://www.ag.org you will find a link to a Pentecostal Evangel article entitled "Adoring God Through the Pain." However, "the pain" not referring to any particular religious group, nor any particular individual (cough: @Carborendum) within a faith tradition. I LOVE YOU, MAN!!! Edited December 9, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askandanswer Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 On 08/12/2017 at 1:12 PM, truthseaker said: Hello everyone I am new and know absolutely nothing about this church. The other day I was at home, upset about life in general, and two young men knocked on my door from The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, what a long name that is! They came back a couple of days later and gave me a book of mormon to read, they were really lovely and I have agreed to read it and have a lesson with them next week. I do not know anyone who is religious so I found this forum online for help and advice. Is there anything other than reading some of the book of mormon that I should do to prepare for this lesson? What part of it do you think I should read first? Thanks in advance to anyone who replies. Absolutely great to see another Aussie on here! The American vocies on here really need to hear more of us, although they probaby don't realise that. My son is currently serving as a missionary here in Australia, walking around and knocking on doors looking for people to teach. I hope he finds someone like you who is ready and willing to listen to and consider their message. truthseaker, zil and Sunday21 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthseaker Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I had my lesson, it was really interesting, it was about jospeh smith and how he started the mormon church, I have been invited to go to church with them on Sunday, I am going to go. They told me church goes for 3 hours! Midwest LDS, Sunday21, zil and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MormonGator Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 5 hours ago, truthseaker said: I had my lesson, it was really interesting, it was about jospeh smith and how he started the mormon church, I have been invited to go to church with them on Sunday, I am going to go. They told me church goes for 3 hours! The sacrament session goes for about one hour, then the members split up into groups like Sunday School, priesthood session, etc. Feel free to stay for only one hour at your first time. It can get really overwhelming at first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 5 minutes ago, MormonGator said: It can get really overwhelming at first! You only say that because when we all go together, it takes three pews (in the middle, not the short, side-pews) and they have to set up extra chairs in Relief Society and Primary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MormonGator Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Just now, zil said: You only say that because when we all go together, it takes three pews (in the middle, not the short, side-pews) and they have to set up extra chairs in Relief Society and Primary. The attorney general of Florida stopped by today. Thank goodness wives 2-8 were out grocery shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 @truthseaker - this is just a running gag between @MormonGator and I - do not be alarmed. The Church isn't weird - Gator and I are - in a fictional sort of way. Sunday21, Jane_Doe and truthseaker 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anatess2 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Hi @truthseaker, I'm late to this party. About your question on the Book of Mormon (where to read first)... from the beginning is a good answer. But I have been giving people who are interested in reading the Book of Mormon this excellent write-up from @Vort. It's a super excellent summary of what the book is about. Having the overview kinda gives you a good footing on what is happening as you read the book. zil, Vort, Jane_Doe and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Wow. I'm surprised and gratified by that, anatess. I do hope my explanations were of some use to Sunday21 and others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anatess2 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Vort said: Wow. I'm surprised and gratified by that, anatess. I do hope my explanations were of some use to Sunday21 and others. I thought I mentioned it here before. I'm pretty sure it was while we were still going over BOM in Sunday School. I gave your write-up to our ward. Then when we get investigators, I give them one too. I compiled the "parts" into one article. P.S. My son's gf and her sister are getting baptized by my son on Christmas Eve. I know for sure this helped both of them (they're teens having a difficult time with the old english). Edited December 14, 2017 by anatess2 zil, Vort and askandanswer 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthseaker Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Thank you, and don't worry I don't think this church is weird, and I will stay for the full 3 hours. I want to see what all of church is like zil 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eVa Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 10 minutes ago, truthseaker said: Thank you, and don't worry I don't think this church is weird, and I will stay for the full 3 hours. I want to see what all of church is like It is quite all right, in my opinion, to think the LDS church is weird because it is. Essentially, that is one way to know the true church from others. We are directed to be "set apart" or be different from those around us so embrace the weird. Best wishes for you on your journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 25 minutes ago, eVa said: It is quite all right, in my opinion, to think the LDS church is weird because it is. Essentially, that is one way to know the true church from others. We are directed to be "set apart" or be different from those around us so embrace the weird. Best wishes for you on your journey. I've said this multiple times on this site. We are supposed to be a peculiar people. And if others want to separate themselves from us because we're "weird," I say: GREAT!! We're doing exactly what Christ told us to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 If weirdness comes as a result of obedience to Christ, then "count it all joy." If it's just the result of intentional oddness then "tempt not the LORD, thy God." Vort and mordorbund 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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