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[Rekhyt2238]

You asked if the church is true, maybe try attending church or sign up for seminary this next year if you haven't already. I could go on but you get the point. So pray and act. You could even ask what do I need to DO to receive answers to these questions, you may be guided to do some specific things to find your answers.

I said in my other thread, that I had been in seminary for two and a half years and that I did not like it or get anything out of it. If anything seminary pushed me away from the church. Thank you for your suggestions. I think I am going to try asking what I need to do to receive answers.

[tubaloth]

As I previously said, yes I do believe in God, Christ, and Christianity in general. On the body part, I do not know. I only know what I have been told. I believe that the trinity is one, just simply different parts of that one.

Okay lets start here…

Who told you this? Why do you believe it so much? Where did this Testimony come from? From the bible? From your friends bible study class? Or from your friend telling you this?


First we have to separate the organization (people) of the church, and the Church organization (Gods kingdom on earth).

The people in God’s church are never going to be perfect, and aren’t easy to accept change. We kind of are naturally this way. You well realize over time that you well be thrown into a lot of different situations that you are the outsiders (if it be a new job, new neighborhood) or what not. You can either blame the situation on others, or do what you know you can do to help the situation. I have seen this same type of thing happen where LDS youth treat an outsider differently. Is this a representation on the other 13 million members.. Probably not…

Next what are you doing to find out if the church is true? Don’t you think probably one of the first steps is to actually go to church? Next is to actually read the book of mormon. I assume you have read it, how often do you read it? What do you get out of it? And last, what are your ideas of the Joseph Smith first Vision. You can read the account online on lds.org. You do realize Joseph Smith was in the same boat you are in! See how he figured things out. I think you probably would need more guidance then a message board can really give. Have you considered taking your questions to Missionaries? See if there “study class” can help you!

Then pray! Pray to know if Joseph Smith was called a prophet! Ask to know if Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Pray to know if Joseph Smith translated the book of mormon. The answers never came easy for really any of us in the church. For me it kind of seemed like the Lord was testing me to see if I REALLY want to know the answers.
You have to have an open heart. You have to be willing to accept that answer. The key is having faith, no doubt! If you go into the prayer already having your mind made up that it can’t be true (or that you don’t want it to be true) then the answer is going to be hard to find.

The journey you are going through is normal in the sense of questioning things. But it sounds like you have been away from the church for a while now, that mountain you need to climb is even steeper! Don’t expect the answer (or this journey) to be easy!

[Rekhyt2238]

Originally Posted by tubaloth

Okay lets start here…

Who told you this? Why do you believe it so much? Where did this Testimony come from? From the bible? From your friends bible study class? Or from your friend telling you this?

My testimony on Christ and Christianity came from God obviously. On the body part, I don't know. On the Trinity, it is what I have always been taught, and it makes sense.

Next what are you doing to find out if the church is true? Don’t you think probably one of the first steps is to actually go to church? Next is to actually read the book of mormon. I assume you have read it, how often do you read it? What do you get out of it? And last, what are your ideas of the Joseph Smith first Vision. You can read the account online on lds.org. You do realize Joseph Smith was in the same boat you are in! See how he figured things out. I think you probably would need more guidance then a message board can really give. Have you considered taking your questions to Missionaries? See if there “study class” can help you!

Like I have said, I have tried going to church. But when the people there do not want you there, its not exactly appealing. Even in my old good ward, it still did not do much for me. On reading the BoM, I do not currently read it. Like I said, I have tried multiple times but when I get about halfway through, I can not continue because I am not getting anything out of it. On the first vision, I have never had any reason to believe it or not believe it. I will probably go to the missionaries before I leave. Though I do not have much hope with them.

Then pray! Pray to know if Joseph Smith was called a prophet! Ask to know if Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Pray to know if Joseph Smith translated the book of mormon. The answers never came easy for really any of us in the church. For me it kind of seemed like the Lord was testing me to see if I REALLY want to know the answers.
You have to have an open heart. You have to be willing to accept that answer. The key is having faith, no doubt! If you go into the prayer already having your mind made up that it can’t be true (or that you don’t want it to be true) then the answer is going to be hard to find.

I have been, and have been trying to pray with as much of an open heart as I can.

[pbush]

Just a reminder to not only pray but to do. You can't just wait for answers you have to work for them. Good luck!!!

[Rekhyt2238]

Originally Posted by pbush

Just a reminder to not only pray but to do. You can't just wait for answers you have to work for them. Good luck!!!

Would you like to expound on what you think I should also be doing?

[utcowboy]

Rekhyt2238,
I haven't read all of the posts here, I've just skimmed the last page. I wonder if you are not getting hung up in 2 Nephi and the Isaiah chapters. May I suggest the you try reading the BoM from Alma. Alma is a great starting place and he has a wonderful message for all who wish to know it. Anyways, this was a tought that came to me while I was skimming over these posts. Best wishes

[Jenamarie]

Hello Rekhyt! I'm sorry you had such a negative experience with your ward disolving. Changes like that can be especially difficult, especially as a youth.

Originally Posted by Rekhyt2238

My testimony on Christ and Christianity came from God obviously. On the body part, I don't know. On the Trinity, it is what I have always been taught, and it makes sense.

I'm curious about how you said the Trinity is what you've always been taught. Is your family new in the church, or were you born-and-raised LDS?

ETA: And I agree with starting the BoM after 2nd Nephi, maybe start in Mosiah, and try to read a few chapters at a time so that you can get the flow of the story. I find my Scripture reading (both Bible and BoM) is much more enriching when I give myself time to become immersed in a particular story-line, such as Alma and Amuleck, or Elijah and the Priests of Baal.

[Rekhyt2238]

Originally Posted by utcowboy

Rekhyt2238,
I haven't read all of the posts here, I've just skimmed the last page. I wonder if you are not getting hung up in 2 Nephi and the Isaiah chapters. May I suggest the you try reading the BoM from Alma. Alma is a great starting place and he has a wonderful message for all who wish to know it. Anyways, this was a tought that came to me while I was skimming over these posts. Best wishes

Thank you. When I try reading it again, I will start at that point.

I'm curious about how you said the Trinity is what you've always been taught. Is your family new in the church, or were you born-and-raised LDS?

We have been mormon for a few generations. That is what my parents, church teachers, and seminary teachers have always taught me. Is that not what the church teaches?... Maybe I have simply misunderstood them.

[Misshalfway]

We don't believe in the trinity. We believe in the Godhead. God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings. Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bone. The Holy Ghost does not. His body is one of spirit matter.

This is one reason why Joseph Smith's first vision is so crucial to the LDS belief system. He saw God and Jesus standing separately and in bodily form, thus revealing the true nature of God.

Of course most of Christianity differs in their beliefs about the nature of God. The Trinity is one such belief and is found in many protestant belief systems and is basically the idea that the F, S, and HG are one person that changes form. So Jesus and the Father are seen as the same being.

Others I am sure can describe the Trinity better than I. I believe the origins of the Trinity doctrine comes from conclusions made by theologians at the Council of Nicea and is called the Nicean Creed.

And one thought about reading the book of Mormon. I really like the advice of UTcowboy. I wonder if you just read a few key doctrinal chapters or a few key bofm stories. The missionaries often have people read certain sections and kinda build from there. It might be less daunting than tackling the who thing at once.

The missionaries (at least they used to. I am revealing my age here. ) would recommend reading the Introduction to the book. It contains a brief description of what the book is and the story of the First Vision and the visit of the angel Moroni and how he appeared to Joseph and told him about the ancient record. You could then read 3 Nephi 11 where Christ comes to America and perhaps the last chapter of Moroni.

[Rekhyt2238]

Originally Posted by Misshalfway

We don't believe in the trinity. We believe in the Godhead. God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings. Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bone. The Holy Ghost does not. His body is one of spirit matter.

This is one reason why Joseph Smith's first vision is so crucial to the LDS belief system. He saw God and Jesus standing separately and in bodily form, thus revealing the true nature of God.

Of course most of Christianity differs in their beliefs about the nature of God. The Trinity is one such belief and is found in many protestant belief systems and is basically the idea that the F, S, and HG are one person that changes form. So Jesus and the Father are seen as the same being.

Others I am sure can describe the Trinity better than I. I believe the origins of the Trinity doctrine comes from conclusions made by theologians at the Council of Nicea and is called the Nicean Creed.

Interesting. I think the trinity is what I have always been taught, but I may have just been misunderstanding them the whole time.