I am not a member of the LDS church or any church for that matter. I am however a very conservative follower of the Jesus Christ of the Bible who has been studying the Mormon faith. I have read the Book of Mormon and the other LDS scripture and material and visited many LDS apologetics sites including this one and I cannot find anyone who will give a complete and rational answer to the questions that I have. I must ask, at the risk of being given the all to common title of “anti-mormon,” because this is the one and only true church and I want to be in the truth. Why do none of these arguments answer the questions proposed? For some reason they almost seem to elude them and to provide more excuses than answers.
4 Responses to “I am not a member of the LDS church or any church for that m…”
Fernando Ramos
2009-01-25 07:41:50
Hi Daniel. Thanks for your recent email. I appreciate the fact that you've taken the time to read the Book of Mormon and to sincerely study the church. I don't think you're an anti-Mormon at all. :)
I obviously can't comment on the specific questions you asked, nor can I comment on the answers you received, without knowing what those questions and answers are. Feel free to send more details if you like. As is, I can only respond in the most general terms.
I can think of several possible reasons why you have not found satisfactory answers.
Perhaps the people you asked do not know the answers to your questions. I'm often asked questions for which I don't have an immediate answer. Many times I do subsequent research to learn the answer, but if I'm short on time (as I usually am), peoples' questions can sit in my inbox for months. I wish there were more hours in the day. :)
Mormon webmasters typically receive many, many anti-Mormon emails. There are too many to respond to, and most simply get deleted. I don't believe that you are an anti-Mormon, but you may be inadvertently using the same "catch phrases" that anti-Mormons use. This could lead other webmasters to delete your messages without response because they mistakenly think you are unreachably biased against Mormon culture and beliefs.
Explanations that you perceive to be "excuses" may in fact be perfectly reasonable to others, Mormons and non-Mormons alike. We all approach things through the lens of our own understanding. This lens can at times prevent us from seeing the reason in others' viewpoints. For example, I can't understand why some Protestants that believe all of God's words can be found only in the Bible continue to hold to post-biblical creeds that seem to contradict Christ's original teachings. When I ask them about it, they tell me it is because the creeds simply restate what is taught in the Bible. Because I am familiar enough with the Bible to know that such an assertion is not true, this statement strikes me as an excuse. But I am sure that through the lens of Protestant understanding, it is not meant to be an excuse at all. Perhaps this is why you see some Mormon answers as "excuses." Perhaps your preconceived notions about Christ and His gospel prevent you from understanding that same Christ from the Mormon perspective. I know that I at times struggle to see things through others' perspective because of the Mormon lens through which I see the world.
Feel free to follow up with more details if you'd like more specific comments. Hope this helps.
Anonymous
2009-01-26 03:51:12
In 1820, Joseph Smith had a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. They instructed him to restore Christs ancient church in modern times.
Hi, I agree with the webmaster in that you don't sound anti-mormon, but just courious about Jesus and which church is true? You sound to me a lot like a boy I've read about by the name of Joseph Smith. Have you ever read his history found in the Journal of Discourses or the Pearl of Great Price? Have you asked God which church is true? FYI I feel it's all about the phrasing of your questions so go ahead and ask Him directly "Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints true?" Or ask about the Book of Mormon since you're read it (see Moroni 10:3-5)
In any case I feel you're on the right track so do what Joseph did! Read in the Bible James 1:5 and go ahead and pray in the sincerity of your heart, beleive God will answer, and I testify that he will if it's the desire of your heart.
Anonymous
2009-05-11 03:57:52
What is it you want to know here? You did have the undirect question of "Why do none of these arguments answer the question proposed?" But where is there a question being proposed in the the above paragraph?
You say you have read the Book of Mormon, did you pray about the challenge and promise given in Moroni 10: 3-5? Given here -
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and If ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
So did you ponder in your heart the mercy God has given to the children of men, from the creation of Adam down to the time you finished the Book of Mormon?
Did you aks God the Father in the name of Christ, with real intent and a desire to know the truth of the book, with also having a genuine faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, if the Book of Mormon is true?
I've done that and by an experience too sacred to attempt to describe, I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Do you in your heart really want to know and accept that the book as true? If you do, and it sounds like you do, read the Book of Mormon again and pray about it again and the truth will be given you in God's way if you seek it with real intent and an honest heart.
I don't know what all the anti-mormon stuff you were refereing to above is all about, but I don't feel you're anti-mormon from what you wrote...
If you want to be in the truth of the gospel then pray to God that he'll help you to have a soft heart and an open mind each time you start to read the Book of Mormon, and especially when you go and pray about it. And when the witness comes that it is true, accept in your heart that fact.
If you don't like that answer give us your direct question that no one seems to be able to answer and we'll do our best.
Whitney Henkel
2009-05-03 04:54:29
Hi Daniel,
I commend you for searching for the truth, don't ever let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to know what's right. I just went through a major change where I was searching for what was the truth and I know it can be hard, but keep searching and praying and eventually you'll know.
I obviously can't comment on the specific questions you asked, nor can I comment on the answers you received, without knowing what those questions and answers are. Feel free to send more details if you like. As is, I can only respond in the most general terms.
I can think of several possible reasons why you have not found satisfactory answers.
- Perhaps the people you asked do not know the answers to your questions. I'm often asked questions for which I don't have an immediate answer. Many times I do subsequent research to learn the answer, but if I'm short on time (as I usually am), peoples' questions can sit in my inbox for months. I wish there were more hours in the day. :)
- Mormon webmasters typically receive many, many anti-Mormon emails. There are too many to respond to, and most simply get deleted. I don't believe that you are an anti-Mormon, but you may be inadvertently using the same "catch phrases" that anti-Mormons use. This could lead other webmasters to delete your messages without response because they mistakenly think you are unreachably biased against Mormon culture and beliefs.
- Explanations that you perceive to be "excuses" may in fact be perfectly reasonable to others, Mormons and non-Mormons alike. We all approach things through the lens of our own understanding. This lens can at times prevent us from seeing the reason in others' viewpoints. For example, I can't understand why some Protestants that believe all of God's words can be found only in the Bible continue to hold to post-biblical creeds that seem to contradict Christ's original teachings. When I ask them about it, they tell me it is because the creeds simply restate what is taught in the Bible. Because I am familiar enough with the Bible to know that such an assertion is not true, this statement strikes me as an excuse. But I am sure that through the lens of Protestant understanding, it is not meant to be an excuse at all. Perhaps this is why you see some Mormon answers as "excuses." Perhaps your preconceived notions about Christ and His gospel prevent you from understanding that same Christ from the Mormon perspective. I know that I at times struggle to see things through others' perspective because of the Mormon lens through which I see the world.
Feel free to follow up with more details if you'd like more specific comments. Hope this helps.In any case I feel you're on the right track so do what Joseph did! Read in the Bible James 1:5 and go ahead and pray in the sincerity of your heart, beleive God will answer, and I testify that he will if it's the desire of your heart.
You say you have read the Book of Mormon, did you pray about the challenge and promise given in Moroni 10: 3-5? Given here -
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and If ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
So did you ponder in your heart the mercy God has given to the children of men, from the creation of Adam down to the time you finished the Book of Mormon?
Did you aks God the Father in the name of Christ, with real intent and a desire to know the truth of the book, with also having a genuine faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, if the Book of Mormon is true?
I've done that and by an experience too sacred to attempt to describe, I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Do you in your heart really want to know and accept that the book as true? If you do, and it sounds like you do, read the Book of Mormon again and pray about it again and the truth will be given you in God's way if you seek it with real intent and an honest heart.
I don't know what all the anti-mormon stuff you were refereing to above is all about, but I don't feel you're anti-mormon from what you wrote...
If you want to be in the truth of the gospel then pray to God that he'll help you to have a soft heart and an open mind each time you start to read the Book of Mormon, and especially when you go and pray about it. And when the witness comes that it is true, accept in your heart that fact.
If you don't like that answer give us your direct question that no one seems to be able to answer and we'll do our best.
I commend you for searching for the truth, don't ever let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to know what's right. I just went through a major change where I was searching for what was the truth and I know it can be hard, but keep searching and praying and eventually you'll know.