The_Seeker

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  1. This website might help: HolyFetch.com - Mormon Urban Legend and Folklore Site
  2. I suppose it might be different depending on which ward one attends, but I used to read from the NKJV in Sunday School, and no-one commented on it at all -- positive or negative.
  3. I was thinking of suggesting that. I would happily buy a book with commentary like this. :)thekabalist, is this the same way that you "deconstruct" (for lack of a better term) the Torah when you do scripture study? It's a fascinating way of looking at the text. I never would have imagined that there might be so many layers of meaning in the BoM -- but I guess most of this would only occur to someone who was familiar with the Hebrew language and Jewish culture.
  4. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. -- 2 Nephi 2:25
  5. Is that a separate thread? I don't think I've seen that, I'll have to go look..... Never mind, I found it. Here's a link for the lazy: http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-gospel-discussion/28067-help-requested-bom-sayings.html
  6. thekabalist, your commentary is very illuminating. I appreciate the time and effort you are putting into this, and hope you continue with it. :)
  7. I would do it, as long as I was sure it was something coming from the Church and not just the Bishop. I've made the covenant and had better live up to it. I imagine a *lot* of other things would be changing as well, either before or after this request was made. Not sure where that would fit in your poll choices, so I didn't vote.
  8. So you're saying that in your experience most people leave the Church due to laziness? I can see how that would happen, especially considering the commitment level it takes to be a Latter-Day Saint.I admit that I struggle with that to some extent too, especially Church attendance. My job requires me to work sometimes on Sundays, and I've discovered that after having to miss church several weeks in a row sometimes it's hard to make myself get up and go once I do have the chance. But when I make the effort it's always worth it.
  9. Speaking only for myself [of course]..... I am a member of the Church because I believe that is where Heavenly Father wants me to be. That's what it all boils down to. If at some point in time I felt (after much prayerful consideration) that God was leading me out of the Church, I would leave. To me, it's as simple as that, which isn't to say that it would be easy. I had to do a lot of praying and searching to convince me to join the Church, and it would take an equal amount to make me leave. As far as "denouncing my faith" -- I consider my belief in God and in Christ's Atonement to be something that I hold apart from or in addition to my faith in the Church. Even if I left the Church I would still have that.
  10. Speaking as someone who used to be a JW and is now LDS, the idea that YWHW of the Old Testament was actually Jesus Christ was a tough one to wrap my head around at first. It smacked of blasphemy to me. After studying it out in my mind I think I understand how it would work, but I'm so used to associating "Jehovah" with "God the Father" that it still trips me up mentally sometimes.
  11. So the NoD will be more like a great big co-op?
  12. I read Rough Stone Rolling while I was investigating the church. It's been a while since I read it last, so the details are starting to get a little fuzzy -- I should read the book again. I think Bushman did a very even-handed job of portraying Joseph Smith, and it puzzles me that some church members have a negative reaction to the book. Then again, I had read No Man Knows My History first, so that might color my perception a bit.
  13. I am. When I was investigating the church I tried to keep my Mom abreast of what I was doing and some of the things I was learning. To my surprise, she seemed pretty supportive of my studying. I think now that she was hoping it would just be a "phase" I was going through -- that I would take what I felt I needed from Mormon doctrine and move on.When I told her I wanted to get baptized, she kinda blew up, which caught me by surprise. I invited her to my baptism, but she told me in no uncertain terms that she didn't agree with what I was doing and couldn't in good conscience lend her support by attending. At this point (about a year later) we have a slightly uneasy truce. I occasionally still attend church or Sunday School with my Mom, but I find I feel more and more uncomfortable there. I still try to answer any questions she asks me about my beliefs or Church structure, but I don't bring up the topic myself because I don't want to start an argument. I'm hoping that over time my Mom will see that the Church is making a positive change in my life and not a negative one, but I realize that it isn't going to happen overnight. Other family members have been a little more supportive. My stepdad, who does not attend any church, has stood up for me a couple of times and overall seems slightly amused at my conversion. My grandmother, who lives in another state, doesn't seem bothered by it at all. The last time I talked to her, all she said was, "Well, at least it isn't the Jehovah's Witnesses!" (I was a JW for a few years in my teens.) I guess the only advice that I can give is not to let yourself be dragged into arguments. I learned that the hard way when I was a Witness, and I'm trying my best not to repeat that mistake. Arguing only makes things worse. Remember your family members are not your enemies, they are only worried about you and the destiny of your immortal soul. Also, any change of heart they have will probably take a long time. Don't expect immediate results. Sorry to ramble on so long, I tend to do that sometimes. Best of luck on your upcoming mission.
  14. I know that you can get "expedited service" when ordering a passport, but I don't remember how fast this is. It does cost extra money to do so.
  15. And what is a 41-year-old married Catholic man doing reading a thread about looking for young single women? Hmmm?