Questioning

[SaulsSong]

Hey all. I'm really confused right now. I just don't feel that this is the true church, not sure if I ever did. I joined a little over two years ago, and I feel I've put an insane amount of effort into gaining testimonies, yet I can pray about a different church and get the same feelings. I'm seriously thinking of leaving the church. Help?

[the_jason]

Well, first I'd have to question your testimony at the time you were baptized. Were you 100% sure it was true, or did you still have a lot of doubts? Perhaps you weren't ready to be baptized when you were. The church doesn't just suddenly become untrue. It's either true or it's not. There's no grey. There's nothing wrong with being a member and still having doubts, but you do need to make a decision. Do you have a desire and willingness to find out if it's true? If so, do everything necessary (pray, read scriptures, pray, listen to hymns, pray, and then pray) to gain that testimony. Do you simply not care one way or another? If so, perhaps all parties would be best served if you do leave the church.

The choice is yours, but you have to commit one way or another. Waffles are good to eat for breakfast, but not so good as members of the church.

[SaulsSong]

I believed it was true. I didn't have doubts about the church. I thought about those things you've brought up before. Right now I'm in so much turmoil. I do desire to know, with all my heart.

[the_jason]

There is only one source of your feelings, and you know who he is. He wants you to doubt. He wants you to run when it gets too burdensome. Only those who can cast him aside and look at the ultimate goal will be the ones who obtain salvation and the promised blessings. It doesn't appear you need anyone's help on this. You already know what you need to do.

[SaulsSong]

When I pray it feels wrong to think about Father and Son separately. I don't know which to pray to and I end up not being able to pray at all. I desire to know and yet no answer comes.

[the_jason]

You pray to Heavenly Father. You close in the name of Jesus, who atoned for our sins.

Answers come in a variety of ways. They rarely come immediately following a prayer. For me, they most often come as I'm reading the scriptures, or just throughout my day. We have to be allowing the Spirit to testify though. If we pray and then get up and watch TV, if we don't study the scriptures, if we don't do everything we can that is condusive to the Spirit, the answer won't come, for the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples. The most important thing to remember is that the Lord answers us in his time, not ours. The time in which we think we need the answer the most are rarely the same as the Lords time. Be patient, have faith, and don't be discouraged. Have sincere desire and your answer will come. I guarantee it.

[SaulsSong]

Thank you. I'll ponder on these things.

[the_jason]

Where in WA are you?

[SaulsSong]

Lynnwood, you?

[the_jason]

Vancouver. Originally from Portland.