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Rekhyt2238 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 02:59 AM

Hello, my name is Brendan and I live in northern Utah. I am 17 and a senior in high school next year. Currently I am very close to becoming an ex-mormon. I came here mainly to ask a few questions to make sure that leaving the church is not a mistake.

SmilingRedhead · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 05:37 AM

Hi Brendan

Welcome! I hope you find the answers you're looking for.

pam · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 05:52 AM

Welcome Brendan. We are happy to have you here.

prospectmom · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:18 AM

Glad you are here

Never a mistake............ It's normal to have questions at your age..... you will find the answers...

Truegrits · #5 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:26 AM

Hello Brendan. Welcome to the site.

utcowboy · #6 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:38 AM

Hello and welcome. I hope we can answer your questions

tntraveler · #7 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:45 AM

Brendan, I am an old man by your standards, but I a have children your age, am a convert, and a man who is going through a dicorce of a temple marriage so truuuust me, I have sat on that fence you are on more than once and I have fallen back to the right side both times. If you have questions ask away because there are plenty of people here who have struggled with the same issues you are, whatever they are, and you have the benefit of being able to ask people who do not know you personally here. No suger coating. Fire away.

Misshalfway · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:49 AM

Hello and welcome to the site. Tell us a little of your thought process. Maybe someone here may have been in similar situations. It is ok to feel the way that you do. It is a very big decision.

Rekhyt2238 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 10:30 AM

Thanks, I appreciate it everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misshalfway

Hello and welcome to the site. Tell us a little of your thought process. Maybe someone here may have been in similar situations. It is ok to feel the way that you do. It is a very big decision.

Here is pretty much what has happened. I have had questions about the church for years, but only about this past year have started taking them serious. I had started thinking more about it, and praying frequently about if it is true, and if it is where I am supposed to be.

Firstly, most of my friends are non-mormons and one of them does a bible study. One afternoon last fall, I asked her if I could come to the bible study. From the very start, I noticed how much different how she practices is from any mormons(She is baptist, btw). Over a few bible studies, she helped me realize that I did not have much faith at all in this church. I realized that almost all of my faith came from the thought, "All of my family believes it, so it must be true." Over the next couple of weeks, I did some serious praying about whether this church is where I am supposed to be. As far as I could tell, the answer I got, was no.

Let me finish by saying that the LDS faith is as far as my troubles go. I have a complete testimony of Christ and Christianity in general, though.

pbush · #10 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 11:14 AM

I randomly came across your post and it caught my attention. I just wanted to give a quick reply. I too have gone through faith finding periods in my life. I was born and raised in the church and have had moments of question and confusion. I grew up with a small testimony that saddled my parents and siblings testimonies for most of my youth. (Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith (Rom. 10: 14-17)) As I battled the thought of the direction I was headed I turned to prayer and also to the words of the leaders of the church. Sometimes answers would take a while and sometimes I would feel I had the answer but it was Satan using his sly ways to make me think the answer came from God but in reality it was him trying to lure me away.

Basically, I guess I just wanted to say to you, take your time to really study this decision out. I know that the happiest I have ever been is when I am fully living the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a member of the LDS church. When ever my faith is wavering or I have moments of doubt prayer, scripture study, the words of our prophets and words of those I love and trust, have never failed me. Take Moroni's Challenge to find out if the Book of Mormon is true and that will lead you to other answers.

Here is one of my favorite scriptures:
Alma 32:36
Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

Wow, I said a quick reply. It wasn't so quick, sorry. Good luck with everything and remember to take your time!

Sincerely,
Your Friend