Don't Mormons realize that some people have to feel forgiven before they can repent? Why deny baptism to someone whose struggling if they need to feel that FORGIVENESS BEFORE they feel they can move on?
2007-08-28 10:37:42 · 12 answers · asked by purifiedheartbeating 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think I know what you're trying to say.... I felt much more able to change when I knew that Jesus forgave me for my sins. I was thinking about the Atonement once, and I thought, "I wonder if Jesus forgives me for my sins?" Then a sweet peaceful feeling washed over me, and this was the first time that I knew that Jesus forgave me for MY sins. It really is silly, but up until that time, I could readily believe Jesus forgave others, but not me.
That said, I've been a Mormon my whole life, and Jesus IS the one who forgives... either before or after baptism. The ordinance itself doesn't magically bestow forgiveness. You seem to feel that baptism will magically erase your feelings of weakness, feeling inadequate. I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel very weak and unable, too. But personal change has to start within your own mind.
If you struggle with depression, having faith is difficult but not impossible. I had depression for years, but through faith/patience, and application of the guidance Heavenly Father gave me through the Holy Ghost, I have pretty much overcome it (finally).
The FIRST principle of the Gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (See the fourth Article of Faith - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1/4#1 ) When you have this faith, then repentance is possible. There is a reason why God revealed this progression of events through the prophet Joseph Smith. Exercising faith in "Him who is might to save" (ie Jesus Christ) is the FIRST step, before repentance (the second step). (See 2 Nephi 31:19 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/31/19#19 ).
In repentance you do not cleanse yourself... Jesus cleanses you. After this faith and repentance (and forgiveness) you will be ready for the commitment of baptism, and the indescribable blessing of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
You don't need to be perfect to be baptised, but you do need to be serious about the commitment. Once you have become ready for baptism (through faith in Jesus Christ... which leads to repentance), then baptism will cleanse you and set you on the path of progression. The Holy Ghost will be your constant companion, to help you overcome the rest of your personal weaknesses, so long as you never forget the most important thing:
Faith in Jesus Christ.
(See Ether 12:27-28 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ether/12/27-28#27 ).
God bless you on your journey towards Christ.
Love MumOf4
2007-08-28 11:41:42 · answer #1 · answered by MumOf5 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No one is denied baptism, let's get that out of the way first.
If you seek blessings before you act on an ordinance God has bestowed upon all his children, you are going to be sorely disappointed.
The point of getting baptized is that you already have prepared yourself to live a life solely for the purpose of obeying God and upholding his standards. You make a solemn declaration that you are in accordance with God and have had the change of heart to never want to sin anymore. Baptism is not something that should be taken lightly. It's necessary for you to be in the right mindset to serve God, to serve the Church, to serve others in the efforts of building up the kingdom of God on earth.
Forgiveness before repentance is not correct, it's imperative that first you feel sorry for what you've done.
Jesus Christ has paid for your sins already, but in order for us to take advantage of the atonement, we need to repent. The feeling that we have been forgiven comes soon after this process of being repentant.
Baptism is only half of the whole process of baptism. You are born of the body when you are baptized, the second part is receiving the gift of the holy ghost, here you are born of the spirit. You cannot have the spirit with you to lead you and to guide you to fully be able to serve God in the capacity you have promised to in your baptism in the water, if you're not in that mindset I discussed earlier. Hence, further hindering you from your spiritual progression.
How we enter into the ordinance of baptism, is indicative of how or service and our interest in following the Lord will be in the long run...will you do things for the blessings, or because the Lord has asked you to?
2007-08-28 11:15:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Are you saying that you think baptism will help stop unnapproved behavior?
If not, don't pay attention to the rest of my answer.
Baptism is a sacred ordinance that a person must be prepared for in order for it to be effective. Without the preperation of repentance, the baptism is null, void, and won't improve your spirituality.
You can feel, and be, forgiven before baptism through repentance. To be cleansed, however, you have to be baptized by water and the Spirit.
2007-08-28 10:55:39 · answer #3 · answered by Senator John McClain 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
Repentance brings forgivness. You must pray and change to follow god's ways and then through the spirit, you will know that you are forgiven
2007-08-28 11:17:21 · answer #4 · answered by DJ_surfer 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any thought how many tanning cubicles there are in Utah? it form of looks like each and all the Mormons want to get a tan. the guy who invented the single piece swimming adventure that could reason a woman to tan as though they have been bare (even however the fabrics makes it seem that they are totally clothed with a one piece swimming adventure on) is a Mormon Mommie. (rather cool invention i think of, provide that Mormon Mommie some accolades, she is clearly extremely clever and inventive like various Mormon women.) Off hand while is the final time you heard an Anti-Mormon point out something stable approximately Mormons? Ever? while the community individuals have been being slaughtered by way of eu Grace followers, Mormons stronger the coverage that Brigham youthful made everyday, "greater helpful to feed community individuals than combat community individuals." meanwhile the Gentiles (as they have been stated as) had an surprisingly very diverse asserting that they took to coronary heart. "the sole stable Indian is a ineffective Indian." additionally "Shoot first and ask questions later." grow to be very common with regard to the brown skinned community American by way of Anti-Mormons. Do Anti-Mormons inform you that Mormons did no longer enslave super quantities of Black people like their ancestors did? No, i did no longer think of so. Did they inform you that Joseph Smith ran for President and publicly on checklist recommended the liberating of all Slaves, everywhere interior the rustic, and giving land interior the South West portion of u . s . in return for each and all the paintings the Black Slaves did by way of the years? No? i did no longer think of so. Did the Anti-Mormons point out to you that The e book Of Mormon mentioned that the Lamanites (community individuals) will blossom as a rose? And this grow to be mentioned by way of Jesus Christ himself interior the e book Of Mormon? And what hue is a rose maximum regularly?... darkish hued ultimate. no longer each and all the time. yet regularly the roses are darkish purple. Did the Anti-Mormons point out that interior the e book Of Mormon Jesus Christ himself instructed the white Nephites to comprise a dismal skinned prophet interior the e book Of Mormon checklist named Samuel The Lamanite, and that this Prophet could no longer be killed via capacity of Jesus Christ that Samuel The Lamanite had? No? Geeeeeeeee what a marvel (ironic coughing spasm...) stupid Anti-Mormons... hints (and lies)... are for no-one.
2016-10-09 09:43:31 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No imasis2, Christ suffered for our sins so we could actually REPENT and be forgiven of our sins. He already PAID the price.
You are just another ex-mormon who obviously has no idea what you are talking about, or intentionally bearing false witness, or just plain stupid. Take your pick!
Why should we read those links? I think people should read the LDS website to learn what the LDS church really believes.
2007-08-28 11:10:39 · answer #6 · answered by fbjohn117 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Out of all the possible rituals and ceremonies one can perform, why do you chose baptism as having meaning for you? Can't you see that putting on a rainbow colored wig on and running around the clothesline for 10 minutes has the same significance as dipping someones head in water?
2007-08-28 10:51:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
We beleive that getting baptized is symbollic of your faith in Jesus Christ, and if you have faith you would want to repent of your sins. God will always forgive us of our sins if we go to him with sorrow for what we have done and try not to do whatever it is again.
2007-08-28 11:27:00 · answer #8 · answered by Melissa 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I realize that just fine -- thanks.
So who do you know that wants to wait before baptism and who have they talked to about this?
D
2007-08-28 10:43:08 · answer #9 · answered by Dionysus 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Ok that came out of nowhere....
WTH are you talking about?
2007-08-28 10:46:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋