Strong christians/LDS - I need your spiritual help!?

Question

Sometimes when I hear testimonies and such I get what is called a "Spiritual High". Praying, fasting, Reading Scriptures, the whole lot. The only problem is that the feeling fades over time until I get to a "Spiritual Low." It's like I know the church is true but the spirit just isn't in my everyday life. This may be because I am not baptized/ confirmed because my parents will not let me become so. I dress modestly, don't curse, Follow the word of wisdom, and such..... but I just don't feel the holy spirit.

I'm afraid this may be because I don't "Honor my mother and Father" But being a teenager, it's so hard to. They curse, and smoke, they don't want me to go to church, and all they do is call me worthless and yell at me. Also they try to stop me from being religious. Im torn - Follow my parents or follow what god in my heart tells me is right. It's a lose- lose situation. Someone help me out of the hole i put myself in. Prayers / Fasting would be wonderful at this point! HELP!

Answer 1

Try to spend as much time in Holy {Places that you can. Make your room a place of refuge. You can't choose your parents or their habits but you can make sure that your room is a place of peace. Put up pictures of temples, the prophet, Jesus Christ, etc.
Hope this helps

Answer 2

Hmm, you are in a tough situation. I have not been in that situation before. But I do know my sister's mother-in-law joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was 18, and she had to go to a different state to do that (this was back in about 1964). Her parents and the rest of her family stopped talking to her. I don't know exactly what your age is, but it sounds like you are younger than 18. I have another friend whose parents were very much opposed to him joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was over 30, and their relationship is still strained.There is such a thing as spiritual jealousy, and Satan will often send spirits who are good at promoting discouragement and contention to stir up people who otherwise would be kind and supportive in almost any other setting. Other answerers have mentioned praying and fasting for your parents as well. It sounds like stress is going to continue until someone makes a decision, or a series of decisions. The important thing is to pray and be aware of what the timing is for you. Make sure you have a support system at all times, and don't give up on your spiritual journey. We think the world of you for being brave enough to ask for help. You might want to make an extra effort to compliment your parents when they do something good, but be sincere about it.

Answer 3

GG knows what she's talking about.

God may intend for you to act as the catalyst that reawakens the faith of your parents, as well as other people around you.

First, he needs to do a little work on you.

Get out your bible and read about Joseph's trials and tribulations in the Book of Genesis. Take a look at some of Moses' problems in the book of Exodus. Read the Book of Ruth.

The bible is full of stories of troubled, ordinary people (just like you and I) who managed, with a little help from their creator, to accomplish great and wondrous things.

When you get done with those, try reading The Dark Night of the Cross that GG suggested.

So, keep the faith, realize that you're not the first or the only person to experience tribulation, pray without ceasing, and thank God for blessing you with a remarkable opportunity.

Then, do your best, so as not to let him down.

Answer 4

Maybe you are not going to the right church that the bible speaks of. Like, if you go to a "man made" church then it is wrong AND it could be what is making you feel that way. I am not judging people, but the church that the BIBLE speaks of is the "church of christ." Not the ones that play music, jump up and down during church services, have solo`s, ect. I think this is what could be making you feel this way. If your parents do not want you to go to church then pray to god for them to change their minds. Prayer always helps! You obey your parents UNTIL it comes infront of the word of god. Read your bible every day. You can also ask for bible studys at your church if you have not already! Hang in there!

Answer 5

Your spiriual high is your faith being stirred up but.... First and foremost Christianity is a long race not a quick sprint. Develop your relationship with Christ this is your key. You sound like a born again if not go ask your church what it means. If not already start seeking to speak in tongues. Soon after you can get baptised in water by being fully sub merged. Your leaders and pastors will help you. Share your battle with Jesus in prayer and with leaders at church. Ask Jesus fot the grace to do what he wants you to do. Ask god for revelation on who you are in christ. Eph 1:1-14 is a good start. Read Jer. 29:11. You are the light of the world God will use you to guide your parents to the Lord. Jesus loved the sinner with incredible sacrifice ask him for that strength and you too will become an example to your parents of real love. Trust the rest into God's hands. The devil hates you wants you dead and will use your parents against you. You need people to interecede for you. you need wisdom for spiritual warfare. Eph. 6 from v 10. Get wisdom. Do as jesus asks and leave the rest up to God. He wants to do the most incredible things with you and for you and your family you ahve been chosen to help your family dont give up. Trust God. read Ps. 27. If you parents forsake you God will not. Fast once a week only if you can. Let God instruct you for further fasting. Remember- there is no revival without having a revival in yourself first. Humble yourself first and wait on God. Cast your burdens on Christ cause he cares for you. Thats somewhere in peters books. Confess positively. Take it easy. If God is for you who can be against you? Romans 8 v... its there somewhere.

Answer 6

It is normal if you experience spirtual high and low.The capacity of your spiritual man increases or decreases because of certain factors.It could increase if you are among believers in a meeting or church because God said where two or more are gathered in my name I am there and also through some self denial actions like fasten or to abstain from sin.That is why Jesus told His disciples that casting away of some demons needs fasting and prayers after they could not cast away a demon from someone.It is like a magnet,the nearer it is the stronger is it's effect.So when you feel a decrease in your "spirit man" you have to know the opposite is happening to you,you are drifting away from God or you are in a place where only sinful things happen and this distracts you.You can't run away from your parents may be it is the reason you have been called to bring salvation to your family.Continue in reading the scriptures by so doing you are writing them inside your heart .I'm happy for you because you are learning to be a believer and not just a christain.
Let me explain;if you have a Doctorate degree in medicine but you never worked as a doctor your certificate is useless.So christains study the bible and doctrines very well but they don't apply it in their daily lives but believers apply all what they study as a christain in their daily lives.That is why Jesus said follow me and not my followers.So all what you read in the bible you have to apply them.Lot in the bible had this similar problem like you because the immorality in the land he lived was disturbing him but he remained focused on God.Daniel also had the same problem trying to serve God in Babylon.
So you see the stories in the bible are not only stories but a manual from God with which we use in following Jesus in our own lives presently not only in words but in actions and His annointing will lead us to the truth.

Answer 7

I know I have read your questions before and it sounds to me as if you are trying to get someone to say 'Ignore your parents and do what you want.' and I am just not going to tell you to do that.
Continue in your bible studies, continue in your prayer, live for God (just make sure you are learning what that really means)
God will NOT send you to hell or to outer darkness or hold it against you for your PARENTS sin.
If they do not allow you to go to 'church' or get baptized, then don't do it until you are of legal age to. If the LDS are pushing you for baptism then you need to rethink why they are doing that.
Theirs is a numbers game. Theirs is to increase their numbers - they don't even lower them when someone wants out.

What are you expecting when you say 'Feel the Holy Spririt'? Perhaps your prayer life needs raised, perhaps you are not being still, perhaps you haven't accepted Christ in the way that HE wants you to - fully and completely. Baptism is by the Holy Spirit is not a water thing.

Answer 8

I would say this is pretty normal (LDS here). There must be opposition in all things. Continue doing what your doing and pray that you will have more obedience to righteous desires. The Lord loves you and knows of your struggles with your parents. Don't be angry with them. Waiting, your are still a Latter-Day Saint, God knows of your righteous desire to be baptized. One day you will understand those lows, the Savior was brought Low, we are as well. Consider yourself fortunate to have an inkling of a feeling to how the Savior felt. Remember God loves you.

Answer 9

I'm sorry you have to go through this. See if the missionaries can help you. I have a friend that is in about the same situation as you are. She just hangs out with the Mormons even though she can't go to church. My advice would be to do as much as you can. Go to the activities and do personal study. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Read a book by John of the Cross called "The Dark Night Of The Soul" to help you understand the "dryness" you experience. Part of deepening your spiritual existence is delving into contempletive existence---a place that transcends the physical reactions to early prayer and worship and delves entirely into spiritual existence.

As for the hole you're in, you're not in the hole. One of my best friends found faith early in life just like you did, and her parents reacted similarly. After 10 years of praying and perservering in her faith, both parents have changed their tunes considerably.

Here's my rule of thumb: Don't talk to them about The Lord; Talk to The Lord about them.