I am a 21 yr old girl that had so much faith when I was growing up. When I was 18 years old I moved in with my boyfriend and I stopped going to church and now my faith is extremely low and sometimes I wonder if there is a God at all. I try praying so hard to get answers and it seems like I get nothing at all. I put everything I have into my prayers and still no answer. Is God real?
2006-10-13 13:47:21 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, God is real.
I have struggled at times with hearing the answers to my prayers.
One thing that helped me was to remember the experience that Joseph Smith had when he prayed in the Sacred Grove. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came personally to answer his prayer. It helped me to think that, if his prayer was answered, mine will be, too.
When you were confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you were commanded to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can be your constant companion, if you are worthy of His companionship. He can give you thoughts and impressions and help you along the right path. In addition to prayer, one thing that helps me to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost is reading the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. So if you aren't reading the scriptures regularly, I'd recommend that.
Jesus said once, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7) In other words, if you want to know whether Jesus' teachings are true, you will find out by living them. Please talk to your bishop; he can really help you to see things in perspective and make good choices for your life. I suspect that your parents (and siblings, if you have them) would love to help you out with this too. You are definitely not alone.
As you live more and more of the teachings of Jesus, it will get easier. Just like when you plant a seed, when it sprouts and begins to grow, you know that the seed is a good seed. When you continue to nourish the sprout, it can become a beautiful, full plant. As you nourish the faith in God that you have, it can grow up and become wonderful for you. (See Alma 32 in the Book of Mormon for more about this idea.)
I know that God and Jesus Christ are real and that They love you. Don't be afraid to make changes in your life that will bring you closer to Them. Change is scary, but this is one change that will bring very good results.
You'll be in my prayers!
2006-10-13 20:05:37 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes he is real. Sometimes the situations we are in hinder us from feeling the spirit. Think about it...our testimony is just like a plant. When it is new we feel great, we feed it, we go to church, pay our tithing, all the good stuff and the "plant" grows. But once we stop doing all the things we need to and don't have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, what will happen to that "plant", it will slowly die unless it is again "nourished" and replenished so it can start growing again. Have you tried going back to church? Are you praying for a specific answer and just hoping you will get it? Sometimes it takes more effort on our part to get the answer...
I challange you to attend church again, start reading your scriptures, speak to the missionaries if you need a "refresher" course...which sometimes we do. Also, are you still living with your boyfriend? Because it is very hard for the spirit to be around when we are sinning...sorry. I am not trying to be judgemental, believe me, I am not perfect...I am just sharing what I know.
Contact me if you have any more questions or need to chat.
2006-10-14 05:28:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The worst reason to leave the church would be that you were "tired of it"or "tired of living the way you were taught", those reasons would only be second to "someone offended you". I have though hard about this and I think a good reason would be that you find something better and leave, without hate or malice, a group of people that for the most part believe just what you did only a short time before. This kind of decision is very important and you wouldn't want to be hasty. I can also see moving far enough away from what the church teaches that it would not be a good fit anymore. I think a lot of prayer would be involved. BTW 7 of 9, my daughter had a beautiful, wonderful, spiritual patriarchal blessing that she(and I) will treasure forever, it is one of the too few spiritual experiences in my life that I hold dear to me and I'm sorry yours was not that way.
2016-05-22 00:02:12 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You were raised with faith... although it was a cult group... you were familiar with the Bible and the 10 commandments and the teachings of Jesus. Then you chose to walk away from what you knew was right. You chose to live in sin. Sin makes a person guilty. It separates you from God. If you want to have a new fresh relationship with God, you need to...
1. repent of your sin....
2. change your way of living and move out and live on your own or with a girl friend.
3. Get back to God and church...
God answers the prayer: Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. When forgiveness and change comes, then you can expect Him to hear and answer other prayers unless they are selfish prayers.
2006-10-13 13:55:11 · answer #4 · answered by rejoiceinthelord 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sweetheart Mormonism is a cult, but of course the church will always welcome you back. ( without the live in boyfriend) You gotta do what you gotta do. I just hope some day you will grow beyond believing what some powerful group of old men declares to be the truth. Of course membership can be "fun" and a lot of people believe it it, but that doesn't make it true. "God" can't be put in a box, with rigid rules, and that is what the Mormons do. You are pretty young and maybe some day you will figure that out for yourself. At this point thougfh I will not allow my life and my thoughts to be dictated by anyone.
2006-10-13 14:00:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes he is real. Sometimes we are tempted to think God has moved away from us when it is really we who have moved. Knock and the door will be opened.
2006-10-13 14:32:34 · answer #6 · answered by Midge 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello there, I am here to tell you God does exist but perhaps not the way your religion taught you. It sounds to me like you are just beginning your journey to find your own spirituality and it's starting out to be a rough, rocky path. Believe in what makes sense to you not what others want you to believe. Contrary to popular belief God will not punish you for ANYTHING you do wrong. You will punish yourself or reward yourself by the choices you make in this life. Choose wisely.
2006-10-13 14:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Does the Sun rise every morning?
2006-10-13 13:49:28 · answer #8 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to get your Spirit Recreated to get to Heaven.
Can't handle the Power of GODs Presence if you are not Born-Again.
Yes, GOD is REAL.
HE Operates Mostly through our Spirits IF you get that Nasty Thing Recreated!
If not, it is Hell.
2006-10-13 13:52:47 · answer #9 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Read the Bible my friend
Let go and let God
2006-10-13 13:50:54 · answer #10 · answered by fifi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋