Mormons, how do you KNOW?

Question

Not just mormons though. This is for anyone who thinks their church is the one and only true church. How do you guys know for sure you're lucky enough to know the "truth"? I've had this feeling too, but now I'm starting to question it. If I "know" that my church is true, what does that mean of some suicide bomber in the middle east who also "knew" his church was true and was willing to go blow himself up over it? Wouldn't he have to be so completely and wholeheartedly convinced he had the truth? But wait a second, I though I felt something once that told me I had the truth. But I don't know if I'd blow myself up over it. So does that mean he was right and I was wrong? Maybe we both just felt something and got confused...

Anyway, I wanna hear what you have to say. How do you know your church is true?

I'm starting to think atheism is the best choice.

Answer 1

Faith -- I don't have time to answer

Answer 2

That's a good question. How does anyone know the truth?

Our Heavenly Father designed this earth to help us develop an answer to this question. He could tell us the answer directly, but what does that really accomplish -- power can make you fear someone, but not trust them.

To illustrate, consider that I tell my children not to lie and why this is important. I hope they'll understand and obey, but they will probably gain additional insight as they see what happens when a relationship is damaged because of dishonesty.

God prepared this earth so there would be competing "truths" and where people would be able to make both good and bad choices. This allows us to develop an understanding of the principles of happiness we couldn't obtain in His presence.

One of the things I've learned so far is the importance of using both your mind and heart to recognize truth and avoid deception. There are many examples such as the ones you mention where people didn't do this and blew themselves up figuratively as well as literally.

It seems like you're giving the problem some serious thought and that's great. As you continue to search for truth and bring your life into compliance with what you feel is right, you'll be led to greater and greater light.

Answer 3

Good question and I hope that you are truely looking for the answer.
The Mormon belief was created in the early 1800's by a few pety criminals and scam artists that decided that the laziest way to get money and not get sent to jail was to create a new religion.
The book of mormon was a bastardized compilation of a stolen book written by a retired Minister, Solomon Spaulding, and the King James Bible. When the mormons arrived at Conneaut, Ohio, they were summarily run out of town, because the arrived at the home of the late Mr. Spaulding and the residents knew the story very well, including the oft used, 'it came to pass'. In fact, the abuse of this phrase earned Mr. Spaulding the title of 'Old (or Ol') came-to-pass.
J. Smith Jr. was a convicted petty crook that used to con nearby farmers with his supposed ability to ivine treasure by using 'peep stones' This is the crime he was convicted of.
It is of special note that the 'witnesses' in the front of the book of mormon recanted their sworn statements that are printed in the front of the book of mormon.
As for who has the real truth?
The Bible is a real treasure trove of knowledge and is constantly used by archeologists and it always bears fruit (providing the starting point is correct),
In fact things that have long been believed to exist that contradict the Bible are falling all the time.\
A few years ago, it was discovered in Egypt, that pharoa Ramses had the entire kingdom's publicly displayed carvings changed and that everything every found that referred to the exodus of the Jews, still existed, but the names of both the leader (Moses) and the group of people (Isreal) had been obliterated, but the story still remained, in places. this information was newly discovered about 4-5 years ago, if memory serves. Heretofore, it was denied, because no evidence was found, and therefore used to 'prove' the Bible was false.
The book of mormon has NEVEWR, EVER yeilded a single proof, archeologically, that any of the peoples listed therein ever existed! No anicdotal proof exists to back up its claims, either, although in its own pages, it self-claims that it is wisdom of God to record these thing for future generations.
Funny then, that God would hide these plates, and not allow anyone to see them. Funny that the "MOST PERFECT THING EVER WRITTEN, would, admittedly be revised for grammatical errors, and not contain a portion that was hidden after its first 'translation', and was not allowed by God to be retranslated.

Of course there are other religions, that claim the REAL truth.
Many of these also claim that there are MANY roads to God and that their road is not the ONLY road.
This fact alone, makes those religions of non-effect, as they can be, by their own admission, be completely ignored and a different path chosen.
Religions that claim reincarnation are also incorrect, as we now have more people alive than have ever lived, so where do the new souls come from?
Also, how can one correct the mistakes of the past lives, when:
1 There is no knowledge of past lives
2. new wrongs are committed all the time by all of us? This would lead to a never ending cycle that no one could break out of, and no one could right the wrongs done unless all were reborn into the exact same group over and over again, which we know, with population shifts and such, just is not possible
This leaves us with only a limited amount of choices
1. God does not exist
if this is true, and there is no afterlife, why live with any type of restraint? it does not matter what we do and we SHOULD just live for self gratification and live for the moment only
2. God does exist
a. God has chosen to inform us of who HE is
b. God has been honest with us
c. God is only found in an religion that is exclusive, not inclusive, of other viewpoints (I am not God, but I am not inclusive of other's views of me, but I am only tolerant of views of me that I, myself, consider to be true. How mush more so, God?)
Islam offer NO assurance, no real hope
Christianity, real Bible Christianity offer the only way that is COMPLETE and, as of yet, still not disproven in any way. No other religion can, truthfully, make that claim.

Answer 4

People tend to get "knowledge" and "faith" mixed up.

Atheism is a little drastic, but's who's to say that you don't "know beyond the shadow of a doubt" that God doesn't exist?

When I was a kid, I absolutely knew something was true. I was so positive, and I just knew that this "truth" was going to change my families life!

This "truth" was Ed McMann. I know all I had to do was send in these stamps choosing the 5 magazines that my family would enjoy most and that soon enough Ed would show up on the door with a huge check for $10Million. Shockingly, the magazines showed up (with a bill), but Ed never came.

It doesn't mean Ed doesn't exist though...

Answer 5

There is no such thing as the one and only true church. I have known Christians in all sorts of churches and cults. True Christians do tend to move from one religious organisation to another to find that Church closest to how they think and feel. The point is to know that you are a true Christian wherever you are. A true Christian has the Spirit of Christ within and knows that Christ is God.

Answer 6

The thing is, the Holy Spirit will testify of ALL truth - doesn't matter which church its from...

John 16: 13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Problems (like fundamentalism) arise when people receive a spiritual witness of a truth, and then accept that all tenets taught by their religious leaders are true.

Truth is found in every religion (and science, et al).

Even LDS leaders tell us not to trust them, but to ask God (every time) if what they are saying is true....

A lot of Mormons like to say, "I know this is the only true church upon the face of the earth..." I wonder if they really know that, or if they just say it because everyone else does.

I know that the doctrines of the LDS Church are all true, because the Spirit has witnessed this to me. Everything I have read so far in the LDS church is true... Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

It has taken me many years to receive spiritual confirmation for every tenet of doctrine, but I've held on, because I received a witness of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon very early on.

I also know that crystal healing can be an instrument of God, and that God sometimes leads people to other religions for their spiritual benefit. I know this through the Spirit... (not through church leaders).

Trust God, and be open-minded. The truth is there for the finding... Being willing to believe is the basis for receiving a spiritual witness of any truth, wherever it is found. Mormons don't have a monopoly on that, but they do have many truths that can't be found anywhere else.

Answer 7

Being an ex-atheist, I believed religion deludes people, but when you die I believed I went to the void of nothingness, doesn't bring a person much hope, to be nothing in the end. Doesn't answer the question as to why am I hear or where am I going. I believed the bible was a fairy tale and translated so many times (I was reading the mormon bible) until i read the christian bible and got a rhema (google rhema-please) and the word of God became alive.
Well I have my own proof, I started to prophey over people's life and see it come to pass, I saw miracles, like a guys eyes that were cross, actually uncross themsevles after he got prayed over. As an atheist I would have never believed this stuff, I would have believed that they heal themselves with their minds, but then I almost died of a bleeding ulcer and my mind could nevr heal me.
I got saved and years of wanted to die disappeared and I wanted to live. Beleive it or not.

Answer 8

It makes me happy that you generated that truth by yourself. Because it is extremely profound.
Every religion and cult claims to be in possession of the 'absolute truth', and yes, they will fight and die to defend it. The problem is that every other religion and cult is just as convinced that their version is the right one.
Of course, they are mutually exclusive, and at most 1 can be right.
Alternatively, none of them may be right. Judging by all the inconsistencies, hypocrisy practised by the 'faithful' and human devastation caused by religious belief and the clash of religions, I think atheism is the only sensible course. The only human course.

As to the question about how they know their belief is the right one. They can offer no evidence, they must rely purely on blind faith. Just like all the others...all extremely ridiculous and frankly embarassing for mankind that has to endure it.

Answer 9

Jesus said, 'In the last days, there shall be many false prophets ... but [nevertheless] By their fruits ye shall know them"

What were the fruits of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young?
More so, what are the fruits of the current day prophets - Gordon B Hinckley, and the apostles?
A true testimony is quiet and personal to the personal heart.

It is not a devilish rage of a testimony, that makes for a terrible din and fuss, and kills, maims or/and injures countless of God's children, not only leaving the victims dead or in distress, but leaving great tragedy, fear, broken hearts, and a lifetime of distress and sorrow for spouse, family and friends throughout the world.
Such is clearly the work of the devil - the master of commotion, distress, death and great fuss!

Answer 10

After taking Moroni's challenge my senior year in high school, a voice entered my mind, clear as day, and told me that I've always known that it's true.

This has confirmed by experiences on my mission, such as Bete. She had a dream in which the Savior said their was another book, like the Bible, but that this one would have his name in the title. She also dreamt of the Salt Lake Temple before she had seen any pictures of it or heard of what we do inside our temples. Evil spirits obeyed my command to leave a certain haunted house.

Answer 11

Why don't all Non Mormons get Yahoo to open up a new category on here!
You can call it 'Let's bash the Mormons" Category!
You all will be so much happier, that you will finally have a true purpose in life!
Curiosity is one thing ,but y'all carry it too, far!