[bytor2112]

You say that Christ and Christianity is a big part of your life, are you active in church? Do you hold the Priesthood? You keep saying the "LDS faith". The LDS faith is Christianity- true pure Christianity. Do you need your Bible with you to expound on the "issues" you are having with some church doctrine? Our faith is an active faith. When we speak of having a testimony, it is more than just a belief or understanding of doctrine or a belief that Jesus is the Christ. It is all of these things and more. The Holy Spirit testifies to our Spirit sacred truths, like Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God, that he was crucified for the sins of the world and that after laying in a sepulcher for three days, he was raised into immortality and ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father and reign in Eternal glory for ever and ever. These commonly held beliefs in Christ are what defines Christians today.

Have you ever wondered why their are so many denominations? They all claim to believe in Christ and understand salvation, but all understand the same scriptures a bit differently. Each of these denominations are break offs, off- shoots of the Catholic church. They left the Church because of differences of doctrinal opinion... and other issues. But they took what they believed to be true and started their own faith. The Church that Christ started was no longer in existence. There were still believers, but they all believed something different. The Authority to act in Gods name was no longer on the earth. We call this the Apostasy.

The Bible is an awesome collection of sacred writings that is interpreted differently by different religious groups. Some accept the KJV others have more books... like the Catholics. Joseph Smith was chosen to "restore" Christ's church to the earth in preparation for his second coming. The Book of Mormon is a sacred record that details the account of a family that left Jerusalem in 600 BC and traveled to the Americas. The record details the lives of the descendants of two brothers, Nephi and Lamen. It follows their wars and contentions and rise and fall because of there wickedness and the crowning event is the appearance of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. It provides details that have been missing from Christian beliefs for centuries. It is another witness or testimony that Jesus Christ is the son of God. It clarifies the information in the Bible. We believe that through Joseph's humble prayer, communication with God opened again. We believe that this communication continues today.

You are a young man who obviously has a firm testimony that Jesus is the Christ. The best ways to find out information about his church is to go to his church. See your Bishop and tell him of your concerns. Go to Gospel Doctrine class on Sunday. Do you attend Seminary? Pray and don't try and read the Book of Mormon- do it. It contains the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel, the good news of salvation through Christ and is a gift beyond compare, an example of Heavenly Fathers unending love for his children. Don't let the adversary distract you and whisper things to you that will lead you astray. You probably have a great work to do for the Lord and the adversary knows it and there is no better way than distract you from the truth.