Need advice, may leave church

[Kenny]

This is starting to get confusing I thought I was replying to the guy who has problems with early leaders and thinking of leaving the church.

These recommended books helped me more than I could ever expect particularly the first. In fact after reading Trial of the Stick of Joseph where before I believed Joseph Smith was a prophet now I actually knew and it has remained that way. I also think the problem with a lot of member’s problems is not having a firm testimony on Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon. The recommended book puts the BOM on trial in a modern court of law. It was written by a mature LDS law student who as part of his studies needed to defend something, anything, in a real court setting with judge, jury, and prosecution. So he decided to use the Book of Mormon. Witnesses were proxies of the early leaders with substantiating evidence from the scriptures. There is a children’s version and an adult one both easily read in one day.

If you don’t know the history of the church well enough Gerald Lund’s Work and the Glory series tells it as it was. His style has you right amongst the main characters as if you were actually there. Volume 7 in particular deals with polygamy in a way that helped me understand why this was introduced into the church only to be the very thing that almost bankrupt it when the US government were about to seize all assets if the practise continued.

[pam]

We also need to remember that The Work and the Glory is a considered a fictional series based on actual facts. We don't want to confuse or take everything written in the series as totally fact based.

Good series..but don't base your entire search for Church History on this series.

[Just_A_Guy]

Originally Posted by Italics

I have long hair . . .

Being a male, and (by your own statements) a student at BYU-Idaho--how is that even possible?

[Italics]

Originally Posted by Just_A_Guy

Being a male, and (by your own statements) a student at BYU-Idaho--how is that even possible?

My hair was longer before I came to BYU-I (and obviously before I served a mission). It is certainly shorter now than it was before, but still long by BYU-I standards.

[Kenny]

Yes I concur with that It was more a personal thing in that the style used help me engage with the real facts quicker than just reading the history. This is the skill of writing in this way. But as you have rightly cautioned fiction is just that made up and should not depend on it as fact.

[bjw]

Thanks Kenny, I look forward to checking those out.

As for the situation, I met with my bishop last night and he thinks I should go do a temple session. He also said he had no problems in releasing me from the callings and said I could be excused from 3rd hour because of my problems with the EQ President. He also told me that he understood why I didn't teach the lesson on Sunday so it wasn't a problem. We talked for about 20 minutes about feeling the Spirit in our church and it really made me feel better. He said that despite the history of the church, we still know the church is true by the feelings we have when we feel the Spirit, and people aren't perfect. He said he thought that Satan was using the shortcomings of these people to try to get me to lose my testimony.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how things are going. I'm going to do a temple session tonight.

[Crywithasmile87]

Originally Posted by bjw

Thanks Kenny, I look forward to checking those out.

As for the situation, I met with my bishop last night and he thinks I should go do a temple session. He also said he had no problems in releasing me from the callings and said I could be excused from 3rd hour because of my problems with the EQ President. He also told me that he understood why I didn't teach the lesson on Sunday so it wasn't a problem. We talked for about 20 minutes about feeling the Spirit in our church and it really made me feel better. He said that despite the history of the church, we still know the church is true by the feelings we have when we feel the Spirit, and people aren't perfect. He said he thought that Satan was using the shortcomings of these people to try to get me to lose my testimony.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how things are going. I'm going to do a temple session tonight.

Sweet, hope things go well for you

[Jim108]

When I am tired or upset I know that I do not make good decisions. Let some time pass and then look back upon these events. Also, do what Jesus would do. Love and forgive. I do not think the church is the problem. We all need to love and forgive more, afterall, how can we ask for forgivness if we can not forgive. Good luck.

[MorningStar]

Who gave a talk not too long ago about sticking to the Gospel basics - the beautiful, simple things? History is interesting, but the most time needs to be devoted to living the gospel.

BJW, try looking at this as an opportunity to learn more about forgiveness. I have also had conflict with people at church and went through some wonderful experiences learning to love people I never thought I could.

You have trials. So does your EQ pres. You don't know what most of those trials are. I'm glad to hear you're going to the temple. Good plan. The Savior came to save all of us. We're all sinners. There's a good chance you will tick off plenty of people at church without intending to. Wouldn't you want them to keep attending despite your imperfections?

[YellowLight]

BJW, in my opinion one of the most important things you can do is to be honest with yourself. If you do that, you will be happy. The reason I say that is because if you really feel the church is true, then individual people and their poor decisions should not stray you away. The bishop is right in that people are not perfect anywhere you go. So, my advice, follow your heart and fully commit yourself to what you feel.