So i made a deal with God...

[sjdean]

Another fantastic post by Penny. I see Chet has a Dave Lister icon. Im reminded of the inquisitor episode when the Cat and Rimmer were judged better than Lister and Kryten. although Cat and Rimmer did very little with their lives, they did the most with what they had. While Lister and Kryten had the ability to do so much more but never did.

TV has taught us so much!

:-)

The problem I had originally meeting the missionaries ten years ago, is that I would like to take that as a sign. But what if it wasn't a sign? What if it was just coincidence and there's nothing magical or mystical about it and Im reading waaaay too much.

But yeah, it makes sense. I myself have been given the book of mormon, the opportunity to learn, to take on board, to discuss. I think God's waiting for me to take the next step, go to Church, discover, feel happy and comfortable. He's waiting for me to act on the faith I have and do something about.

Yeah. I get it.

But I do remember Debs first post saying she had gone to the church but didn't feel comfortable?

[breecatasnana]

The problem I had originally meeting the missionaries ten years ago, is that I would like to take that as a sign. But what if it wasn't a sign? What if it was just coincidence and there's nothing magical or mystical about it and Im reading waaaay too much.

My guess is that you receiveing the Book of Mormon 10 years was your first step. You were given what you were ready for, and what you needed at the time. We are lead along slowly one step at a time.

But yeah, it makes sense. I myself have been given the book of mormon, the opportunity to learn, to take on board, to discuss. I think God's waiting for me to take the next step, go to Church, discover, feel happy and comfortable. He's waiting for me to act on the faith I have and do something about.

Yeah. I get it.

I think you are right. When you act on what you already have you will be given more as you are ready. The Bible says even Christ grew from Grace to Grace.


[

COLOR="blue"]But I do remember Debs first post saying she had gone to the church but didn't feel comfortable?[/COLOR]

I think that is normal. I was a Katrina evacuee. I had always been a member of the church that was on the frontier, so to speak. I was in awe of those in Salt Lake and surrounding areas who's families had been members for generations, and who's branches of the church had exhisted for ever it seemed to me. They were the originals to me. When I evacuated I went to Arizona. When I first went to church I was afraid, felt I just was not the same as the "originals" I felt they knew much more, were much more advanced. I felt uncomfortable at first. However, I found out they were as much in awe of me as I was of them. They had it the easy way while I was on the frontier having it harder like their forefathers had. When I gave them a chance I found they were wonderful. I felt very accepted, and loved, and wanted.

We always fear the unknown. We are always somewhat uncomfortable when treading into new waters, when meeting new people. It is just human nature. All we have to do is give it a chance, give them a chance. Things in life are not always easy, are not always comfortable, but they are worth it.

When you go to church just introduce yourself and tell everyone you are an investigator. Find the missionaries, the Bishop. I think you will be surprised at how welcomed and comfortable you will be made to feel. Meditate on the Spirit and see what the Spirit tells you, how the Spirit there feels. Prove it wheather it is of God or not, and hold fast to it if it is good.

If you need me to tell you more of what to expect, please let me know. I will do all I can to help prepare you.

My very best to you.

Penny

[deblldo]

Hi,

thankyou again for all your replies, its good just to listen to your advice and stories of conversion. They help me to put things into perspective. I just have to take things slowly and wait upon the Lord until a time i think is right.

your right though simon trying to determine what is from God and what is not is the hard part. Was meeting the missionaries and learning more about the Lds faith our chance/proof from God or is it like so many things in our life somthing to distract us from where God wants us to be (no offence ment to lds, i believe we all try and be where God would have us be).

your right i did visit the church and i expected that to be my "lightbulb" moment when it all came together and made sense. I felt uncomfortable probably because i was on my own whilst all my other friends and family were at my home church, i also did not have the approval of my husband. So i guess all these things were playing on my mind. The service's though were great and there is lots to learn, the people too were wonderfully friendly, so please dont let that put you off.

thanks again for all your help i really appreciate it.

[its_Chet]

God bless Penny, that's all I can say. If I wasn't typing, I'd be clapping my hands right now.

Hey there sjdean! Good to see another "Dwarfer" out there! Interesting that you mention learning from television, and Red Dwarf in particular. I always found the "Justice" episode to be incredibly insightful myself. I always thought how neat it would be if we could have a justice field here on earth. You'd never have anything of yours get stolen. If someone attempted to inflict physical abuse on you, you wouldn't feel tempted to retaliate because they'd immediately suffer the effects of their assault and you wouldn't. On and on and on..... How marvelous that would be, I thought. And then I realized that it sounded more like Lucifer's plan to do things that way, and that while this world is fundamentally unjust, it's the only way for us to learn to overcome evil, to rise above it. We have to have unpleasant experiences to learn and to grow, as much as I hate to admit it. I still like the idea of living in a "justice field", but I understand now why life isn't like that.

I too learn a lot from television :-)

[sjdean]

One of the problems with a justice field I would imagine is well, is those who want to inflict self harm on themselves.... becomes a little more easier! It would take away freedom and personal responsibility, learning as you rightly say!

[TattooBlackVest]

Hi Deb,

I get like that too. There are some doctrines that i just dont understand...its not that i flat out dont believe them....i say now that i just dont understand but it doesnt matter to me because there is something about the church that i 'love'. I am so drawn toward it and i just seem to believe that its the Holy Spirit telling me its true. There has been so many instances where ive had a thought of the church pop into my head then 5 minutes later ive saw missionaries getting off a bus or an email buddy of mine from Utah will send me an email that day and im amazed. I come from a Catholic background and my parents couldnt understand why i would want to join the church. Im not great at justifying things and going into depth about scripture...plus they werent too interested but i just told them how it made me feel and that i wasnt being naive about it and as long as i was happy and a good person...then they werent too bothered at all. In fact my mum even turned up for my baptism

TBV x

[Aesa]

I have been drawn the LDS Church for years. In-fact it was when I first attended a Christian church with a friend my father explicitly stated "Don't get mixed up with those Mormons."

It's funny how denigrating remarks will lead a curious person to question "What do you mean by that?"

In my experience, most people are wrong about the LDS Church. I myself even feel it is right to correct people when they espouse nonsense about it.

Just do what you feel you are lead to do.