Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarwizard
my point is to try and make one less site on the internet, one that i frequent on that note, that has malicious lies about the church. This started as an attack on a guy about to leave on his mission. Those questions were posed to the soon-to-be missionary. It was partially in defense to him as well. What if those questions made that guy start questioning only weeks before his mission? I just don't want even 1 person to be led away from the truth of the church because i didn't take time to defend it.
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You did the right thing, GW. Way to go, Elder Ballard would be proud of you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarwizard
new response: I find it interesting that just last week Elder Oaks gave a speech where he cautioned members of the church about reading about their history from anywhere other than the church's official accounts. If the church is true, why are the leaders of it always so concerned about people doing research on their own without the guided hand of the church? They seem to know on a subconscious level what has become apparent to me over the years: the further you dig into the church's history and doctrines, the more doubt you get.
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I've gotta look that one up (Elder Oaks). As to doubt, you are right. BUT (insert a BIG butt here) ---- If you can, by the spirit and grace of God, work through that doubt, then you can actually be ready for God to teach you the mysteries. It's a great place to be, but it doesn't come easily, nor cheaply.
Again about doubt -- it is a two-edged sword:
Quote:
The downside:
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might
win by fearing to attempt.
-- William Shakespeare,
Measure for Measure, Act 1
The upside:
"To refuse to doubt, think about or question what you are told
is to miss an opportunity to talk to God"
-- Father Leo Booth
The annoying truth:
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and
the intelligent are full of doubt."
-- Bertrand Russell
The uplifting truth:
"Living with ambiguity is a form of intellectual honesty, of
humility. It is only when we admit that we don't know that we
are receptive to what lessons may be taught. In some strange
way, it also brings an inner peace since we are no longer
fighting reality to maintain our inner fantasies on how things
should be. While I am characterizing it as an intellectual
process, it also has spiritual implications, since only an open
mind is capable of hearing God."
-- Andy Piereder (on Eyring-L)
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HiJolly