[DigitalShadow]

Originally Posted by the_jason

I'm sure you're familiar with Joseph Smith. His manner of knowing which church to join. Obviously, commonfolk like myself probably won't have heavenly being appear to them, but we can use his method as an example.

First, Joseph and his family were religious. During the religious uprising which took place at that time, Joseph was able to visit and study different churches. He was as confused as you were. He wanted to be part of God's church, but didn't know how he could determine which one that was. Then, he came across a scripture in James (man, I feel like I'm on my mission again).

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." -- James 1:5-6

Joseph asked in faith and received his answer. You will receive an answer too, if you ask in faith. All the studying and asking people about their beliefs won't get you your answer. Only through faithful prayer to Heavenly Father and a confirmation of the Holy Ghost.

That is the answer I've been given a couple times, and I've tried to follow it with no luck yet. But what bothers me about that method is this: What if the church that is true, is one that I've never heard of? Of the billions of people on this earth, I would think that a significant percentage of them have asked this question in prayer honestly, yet I've never heard of someone being told by God to seek out a church they've never heard of in a country they've never been to. If anyone can honestly ask god what religion is true and get a straight answer of "Religion X is true" then why don't people from all over the world flock to one religion?