How can I know this is all true? I’m going to serve a mission in a few months but I want to have a stronger testimony of the church. I’ve seen a lot of anti-Mormon information and some of it is pretty convincing. I decided I should investigate further.
I read information about Jehovah’s Witnesses, Adventists, Catholics, etc., as well as information from non-Christians and agnostics. The truth is I’m worried. All of these people firmly believe that they have the truth. They cite scriptures from the Bible to prove their points.
There’s so much seemingly convincing information out there. Just as there are people who firmly believe that our church is true, there are also people who are entirely convinced that their beliefs are true.
I ask this question in all sincerity. I really want to know the truth. Thanks.
Hi friend. It's easy to make a "convincing" argument when one presents only some of the facts, or when one distorts the facts. For example, did you know that the vast majority of rapists are men? Aren't men just terrible? Shouldn't we hate all men?
If I neglect to mention that the vast majority of men find rape absolutely disgusting, I can easily make a "convincing" argument that all men are monsters. Similarly, when anti-Mormons present only carefully chosen facts or when they distort the facts, it often appears that their arguments are "convincing." Don't be fooled.
Many people of other faiths also have testimonies of their beliefs, of course. Many of the things taught in other churches are true, so it's natural that the Spirit of God would confirm their veracity. Others believe strongly in their faith for cultural and familial reasons.
You need to focus on strengthening your testimony of Christ's restored Church in a way that is independent of the opinions and beliefs of others. You need to be self sufficient in your faith. A lot of that faith will come from additional study, prayer, and pondering. Additionally, often faith comes from doing. Many missionaries see their faith strengthened through their missionary service, for example.
I encourage you to chat with your parents and your Bishop about these concerns as well. Feel free to post your questions on this site also.
I hope this answer helps you. Best of luck.
Grandpa Chet
2014-05-05 07:00:58
The old cliches about buying a used car apply here. Look under the hood, kick the tires, and drive it around the block.
Seriously, don't trust me. Don't trust any mortal when it comes to something this important. You've been given permission - even a commandment! - to go straight to the source and seek a personal answer from Heavenly Father himself.
What would convince you? I don't know. This is one case where a subjective answer might be even more convincing than objective evidence. The Lord can and will answer according to what you can understand, where you are, and what you need. Your answer is going to be different from mine, because I'm weirder than you. When I asked if this church is the real, total one of Christ, I was answered in Boolean logic. When I tried to prove it wrong, I got zapped with an Alma the Younger type experience.
And when I asked a question of how Darwinism and "creationism" either fit together or disproved each other, the Spirit quite plainly asked me if I was willing to take a four year course of study in various scientific disciplines. I wasn't, and the Spirit told me I wouldn't be able to understand the answer. That, to me, was a good enough answer itself.
Don't trust me. Don't trust anti-Mormons. Don't even trust the scriptures, when you can go directly to the Savior and ask "Lord, is it real? Is this Your church, and do You obey our Father in all things? "
Be prepared for miracles that look like normal events.
Stephen Douglas
2014-04-13 04:08:57
If you are interested in an answer to Evangelical "questions and concerns" about our doctrine, etc, feel free to send me an email to puteoli1@aol.com and I will send you a Word file document that answers those questions. I spent over a decade of apostasy as an agnostic after having served a mission and married in the temple, so my insight might prove valuable to you.
Pamela Bonta
2014-05-04 06:47:50
I spent six years investigating every religion I had ever heard of, and many I had, after deciding to leave the church of my youth. In every church, I *always* found many things that I believed - but I *always* found something I did not believe. Indeed, our church teaches that all churches contain some truth. The difference is that this was the only church where I believed *all* of the doctrine. Here are some questions for you:
Do you believe Joseph was a prophet? Do you believe we have a living prophet? Do you believe the Book of Mormon is scripture? Do you believe in the sealing ordinances of the temple? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you are a Latter Day Saint. You cannot be anything else, because no other church on the earth believes those four items. One word of caution - never trust a source that does nothing but runs down another organization, especially when the sole purpose of a source is to run down others.
Pamela Bonta
2014-03-31 07:41:30
The story of Joseph Smith
There really are only two questions that you need to ask yourself. 1. Do I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet? And 2. Do I believe that the Book of Mormon is scripture? If you can answer yes to both, then you have a testimony. I myself spent 6 years investigating this church as well as every other church I had ever heard about. In every church and religion I found good teachings, good people, good spirit. But once I knew that Joseph was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is scripture, there really was nowhere else for me to go!
If I neglect to mention that the vast majority of men find rape absolutely disgusting, I can easily make a "convincing" argument that all men are monsters. Similarly, when anti-Mormons present only carefully chosen facts or when they distort the facts, it often appears that their arguments are "convincing." Don't be fooled.
Many people of other faiths also have testimonies of their beliefs, of course. Many of the things taught in other churches are true, so it's natural that the Spirit of God would confirm their veracity. Others believe strongly in their faith for cultural and familial reasons.
You need to focus on strengthening your testimony of Christ's restored Church in a way that is independent of the opinions and beliefs of others. You need to be self sufficient in your faith. A lot of that faith will come from additional study, prayer, and pondering. Additionally, often faith comes from doing. Many missionaries see their faith strengthened through their missionary service, for example.
I encourage you to chat with your parents and your Bishop about these concerns as well. Feel free to post your questions on this site also.
I hope this answer helps you. Best of luck.
Seriously, don't trust me. Don't trust any mortal when it comes to something this important. You've been given permission - even a commandment! - to go straight to the source and seek a personal answer from Heavenly Father himself.
What would convince you? I don't know. This is one case where a subjective answer might be even more convincing than objective evidence. The Lord can and will answer according to what you can understand, where you are, and what you need. Your answer is going to be different from mine, because I'm weirder than you. When I asked if this church is the real, total one of Christ, I was answered in Boolean logic. When I tried to prove it wrong, I got zapped with an Alma the Younger type experience.
And when I asked a question of how Darwinism and "creationism" either fit together or disproved each other, the Spirit quite plainly asked me if I was willing to take a four year course of study in various scientific disciplines. I wasn't, and the Spirit told me I wouldn't be able to understand the answer. That, to me, was a good enough answer itself.
Don't trust me. Don't trust anti-Mormons. Don't even trust the scriptures, when you can go directly to the Savior and ask "Lord, is it real? Is this Your church, and do You obey our Father in all things? "
Be prepared for miracles that look like normal events.
Do you believe Joseph was a prophet? Do you believe we have a living prophet? Do you believe the Book of Mormon is scripture? Do you believe in the sealing ordinances of the temple? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you are a Latter Day Saint. You cannot be anything else, because no other church on the earth believes those four items. One word of caution - never trust a source that does nothing but runs down another organization, especially when the sole purpose of a source is to run down others.