I’m thinking about leaving the Mormon Church and becoming a Catholic, but it doesn’t feel quite right. I still suspect (though I am uncertain) that Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God. Any advice?
4 Responses to “I’m thinking about leaving the Mormon Church and becoming a …”
Leonardo Miranda
2007-12-03 19:02:28
Hi friend. Let me start by saying that there is beauty in both the Mormon and the Catholic faiths. I myself am Mormon, but I have also visited a Catholic mass and enjoyed my experience there.
Because both religions teach much truth, I believe that one can feel the Spirit in both places. Beyond just feeling the Spirit, however, it is important to seek out the authority to act in God's name. The Catholic Church claims that that apostolic authority has been passed from pope to pope since the early Church, and that there was no apostasy. Many early Christians and modern historians disagree with that position.
For example, the historian Hegesippus (who lived immediately after the apostolic era and understood what was occurring at the time) said the following: "The church continued until then as a pure virgin and uncorrupt virgin: whilst if there were any at all attempted to pervert the sound doctrine of the saving gospel, they were yet skulking in dark retreats; but when the sacred choir of apostles became extinct, and the generation of those that had been privileged to hear their inspired wisdom had passed away, then also the combination of impious errors arose by fraud and delusions of false teachers. These also, as there were none of the apostles left, henceforth attempted, without shame to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of truth."
Cyril, the bishop of Jerusalem in the early Christian era (late 4th century), seemed to agree: "thus wrote Paul, and now is the falling away. For men have fallen from the right faith; and some preach the identity of the Son with the Father, and others dare to say that Christ was brought into being out of nothing. And formerly the heretics were manifest openly; but now the church is filled with heretics in disguise..."
Modern historians/academians agree. Will Durant, perhaps the most preeminent historian of the last 100 years, said, "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated [new] life in the theology and liturgy of the Church." Stuart Hall answered your question even more directly: "Fourth century orthodoxy is not the same as what Peter and Paul believed, any more than modern Roman Catholicism or Anglicanism is..."
Now it is not my intent to in any way disparage my Catholic friends and neighbors. I do believe there is much truth in the Catholic Church, and I do believe the divine influence can be felt in that institution. I also respect the Catholic Church because, unlike other denominations, they recognize the importance of the apostolic authority. I do not believe, however, that that apostolic authority can be found in the Catholic Church. It was lost from the Earth, and restored through the prophet Joseph Smith in the early 19th century. I know Joseph did see God the Father and Jesus Christ in his first vision. In our day, we can enjoy not only the same love of the Spirit that can be felt in other denominations, but also the apostolic authority–the priesthood–which has been restored from on high.
A testimony of these things does not come all at once. I council you to continue in your Mormon faith. Give yourself time to develop the knowledge of these things.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your decision!
SCN
2007-12-04 07:07:30
I loved my (then Girlfriend) wife no less when she was a Catholic. Though my wife chose to be LDS after many missionary lessons, it was a difficult choice, and many of her family members are still Catholic. With this history, I have studied the Catholic faith and became familiar with it as a missionary in South America. There is much info available about the origins of that faith.
I would suggest obtaining the book "The Great Apostasy" by James Talmage. It is very well-researched and will give you a greater understanding of the Catholic faith. Catholics are good people; as I stated, I have a family full of them, but that book will show you the need for a restoration of God's true Church.
As far as Joseph Smith is concerned, the truth of his calling as a Prophet is available to all that will study and pray for the truth of the same. I suggest the study of those men around him and the publication of the Book of Mormon. A simple synopsis of men that knew Joseph well can be found at http://www.thethreewitnesses.org.
Good luck in your journey.
Anonymous
2007-12-05 09:31:31
I have been in the same situation. I found that it was helpful take a logical step by step approach to this question. If you believe God and early Christianity (and it sounds like you do), ask yourself what would it take to show the truth of the Catholic church and what would it take to show the truth of the Mormon church, and then take each issue one at a time. Praying about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is fine, but it is really step 2 in a 5 step process. I suggest your start at step 1. As any restoration claim is dependent upon the occurrence of an apostasy, I would start there and first ask yourself whether or not there was an apostasy. If you do happen to read the Great Apostasy, this is made pretty clear in the preface, that if there was no apostasy then there was no restoration. Depending on your answer to this question, it may well decide the issue for you. I would also encourage you to listen to the arguments presented by both sides. Only listening to one side is not going to be probative of anything, as anybody can win a debate when they are the only ones speaking. Talk it out. Don't be afraid to seek out a member of the Catholic clergy and pose any questions you might have. Do the same with Mormon clergy if your are comfortable. You can also use one of the many internet forums to do this if you prefer (like this one). Finally, don't rush it. There are no deadlines, and it is worth it to take your time and fully study it out and think it through. It took me a few years of reading, thinking, and yes, praying, before I was able to answer this question. Best Wishes on your journey.
Webmaster: I really liked this answer. D&C 9 explains that to receive revelation from God we must first study the question out in our mind and then ask God if it be right. Sometimes I feel like we Mormons put too much emphasis on the "ask God" part of the equation, and not enough emphasis on the "study it out in your mind" part. This answer touched on both of these vital components of the revelatory process.
James O
2007-12-07 06:26:28
Get a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read and discuss it and compare its teachings to those of Mormonism. Which of these two religions shows Christ's authority better? Which is more convincing in its claims to apostolicity, historicity, universality, and unity? Which is the one that is the more convincing continuity of Christ's promise that the "Gates of hell will not prevail against" His Church?
In checking out the credentials of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, compare him to the prophets of the Old testament and the Apostles of the New Testament.
Do not rush into quick and uninformed choices.
Webmaster: I think James' suggestion is excellent. I disagree, however, with his assertion that continuity is necessary to satisfy the "gates of hell" scripture. As a Mormon, I would argue that the restoration of Christ's gospel from centuries of apostasy was the fulfillment of that scripture. The restoration is the very reason why the gates of hell truly did not prevail.
Because both religions teach much truth, I believe that one can feel the Spirit in both places. Beyond just feeling the Spirit, however, it is important to seek out the authority to act in God's name. The Catholic Church claims that that apostolic authority has been passed from pope to pope since the early Church, and that there was no apostasy. Many early Christians and modern historians disagree with that position.
For example, the historian Hegesippus (who lived immediately after the apostolic era and understood what was occurring at the time) said the following: "The church continued until then as a pure virgin and uncorrupt virgin: whilst if there were any at all attempted to pervert the sound doctrine of the saving gospel, they were yet skulking in dark retreats; but when the sacred choir of apostles became extinct, and the generation of those that had been privileged to hear their inspired wisdom had passed away, then also the combination of impious errors arose by fraud and delusions of false teachers. These also, as there were none of the apostles left, henceforth attempted, without shame to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of truth."
Cyril, the bishop of Jerusalem in the early Christian era (late 4th century), seemed to agree: "thus wrote Paul, and now is the falling away. For men have fallen from the right faith; and some preach the identity of the Son with the Father, and others dare to say that Christ was brought into being out of nothing. And formerly the heretics were manifest openly; but now the church is filled with heretics in disguise..."
Modern historians/academians agree. Will Durant, perhaps the most preeminent historian of the last 100 years, said, "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated [new] life in the theology and liturgy of the Church." Stuart Hall answered your question even more directly: "Fourth century orthodoxy is not the same as what Peter and Paul believed, any more than modern Roman Catholicism or Anglicanism is..."
Now it is not my intent to in any way disparage my Catholic friends and neighbors. I do believe there is much truth in the Catholic Church, and I do believe the divine influence can be felt in that institution. I also respect the Catholic Church because, unlike other denominations, they recognize the importance of the apostolic authority. I do not believe, however, that that apostolic authority can be found in the Catholic Church. It was lost from the Earth, and restored through the prophet Joseph Smith in the early 19th century. I know Joseph did see God the Father and Jesus Christ in his first vision. In our day, we can enjoy not only the same love of the Spirit that can be felt in other denominations, but also the apostolic authority–the priesthood–which has been restored from on high.
A testimony of these things does not come all at once. I council you to continue in your Mormon faith. Give yourself time to develop the knowledge of these things.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your decision!
I would suggest obtaining the book "The Great Apostasy" by James Talmage. It is very well-researched and will give you a greater understanding of the Catholic faith. Catholics are good people; as I stated, I have a family full of them, but that book will show you the need for a restoration of God's true Church.
As far as Joseph Smith is concerned, the truth of his calling as a Prophet is available to all that will study and pray for the truth of the same. I suggest the study of those men around him and the publication of the Book of Mormon. A simple synopsis of men that knew Joseph well can be found at http://www.thethreewitnesses.org.
Good luck in your journey.
Webmaster: I really liked this answer. D&C 9 explains that to receive revelation from God we must first study the question out in our mind and then ask God if it be right. Sometimes I feel like we Mormons put too much emphasis on the "ask God" part of the equation, and not enough emphasis on the "study it out in your mind" part. This answer touched on both of these vital components of the revelatory process.
In checking out the credentials of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, compare him to the prophets of the Old testament and the Apostles of the New Testament.
Do not rush into quick and uninformed choices.
Webmaster: I think James' suggestion is excellent. I disagree, however, with his assertion that continuity is necessary to satisfy the "gates of hell" scripture. As a Mormon, I would argue that the restoration of Christ's gospel from centuries of apostasy was the fulfillment of that scripture. The restoration is the very reason why the gates of hell truly did not prevail.