I was brought up to believe in the Mormon faith, but I've realized there are so many other faiths and beliefs all claiming to be the right one. Also, I constantly hear alot of negative things about this faith-Some people even consider it a cult. I am beginning to feel skeptic, and so i've slowly begun losing my faith all together.
How can I know in my heart that this religion is the true, and that it will lead me into the right direction, and strengthen my relationship with God?
If not, where can I turn?
Please help me! Give me your testemony of faith-I don't care what religion you believe in- and let me know how you know for sure in that in all your heart it is correct.
2007-08-31 20:01:35 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Last semester at college, i had that same question. I had been brought up in the Mormon church and i had always "lived the ways of the church" but i never knew if it was really the right way. It really bugged me that i didn't know if it was true. I had heard so many people talk about how they knew it to be the right church, but how could only one church be true out of thousands? I didn't know what i should do. I had a roommate that "dropped" out of the church. It was an interesting cycle. At first she was very confused and it seemed like she wasn't happy. She got with a guy and started to do bad stuff with him. She would come home crying, but she never really changed to come back to the church. I saw a change happen with her. I can't even explain it, but it was like the light in her was changing. She was not happy, but she kept on doing those things. I started to see her going numb to her feelings. It was a very interesting situation, being able to see that so close. That's what really started making me think about my religion. I started reading the Book Of Mormon. I've really never read it before. I alway skimmed through it, not really caring what it said, i was just doing it to say i had done it. But this time i took out my red pencil and marked up all the things i saw in it. I would read and read until 2 in the morning. At first i didn't think i would get my answer. But as i read, truly read it, i got my answer.
It got to the point where if i went a day without reading the words from that book, i wouldn't be at ease. I can't even explain it. It was just a change that happened in me. I became so much more happy and I felt God in my life so much more.
Since then, there has been so many trying times in my life. And I have felt God with me more than ever.
I still respect, but i don't believe that "all roads lead to heaven" there is something so much more powerful than just "all things are right." There has to be a power on this earth that only God can give away, there has to be. I have felt something this past year that i cannot forget. I have felt God's hand in my life. He has told me, through the feelings that i have had, that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the ONLY true church. How can a church be true if it is a break off of something else? or if it has been altered so much throughout the years? Truly God would not let us stay in confusion. and he hasn't. the Book of Mormon, if you study it out, makes so much sense. It even explains how native Americans came to be. If there was not a Christ, how could we be? heaven would be impossible, and we would all be Dammed if we did not have a Christ to save us. I have seen miracles, real miracles. If we didn't have the power of God on earth we would not be able to have these miracles. This power is the Priesthood. There is no other church in the world that has this full power. That is why the Church of Latter Day Saints is the only true church. How can there be two different stories and they are both true? There can only be one truth. This is what i truly believe with my whole heart. If it were not true, how could i have this feeling inside of me that is telling me it is true? It is true, and I know it, i don't just think it, I know it.
Search out the Words of the Prophets, the Living Prophets and Ancient Prophets. If you truly ponder them out you will be able to get the answer that you are searching for, what ever that answer may be, This thing i know.
2007-08-31 20:30:07 · answer #1 · answered by Midian 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I am a Hindu, and I believe that most religions are legitimate paths to God, including Mormonism.
I have studied religions for years (I even have a degree in Religious Studies now!) and what I have concluded is that all religions have some truth, but there is no "One True Religion." The way I see it, God is beyond our total comprehension. "He" is far more than we could ever imagine. So our descriptions of God do not really capture God fully. Words are inadequate to express Ultimate Truth. So all of our words and scriptures are mere approximations of that truth. As the Buddha says, the teachings are like a finger pointing to the moon. If you do not take your eyes off of the finger, you will never see the moon. The teachings are not the end in themselves - they are only valuable insofar as they are able to point you in the right direction, or to stir up devotion in you and motivation to stay on the path (whichever path you choose). God's house has many doors.
Forgive me for this sort of strange analogy, but my family's Methodist pastor once said that God is like a disco ball! Everyone in the room sees the ball from a different perspective. Each sees different colors. They may not all describe what they see the same way - but they do all have an authentic vision of the disco ball. None of them are wrong. They just see different aspects of the whole.
I realize that many religions teach that they are the one and only path to salvation. The way I see it, any particular religion may be the one and only path for certain people, but it is not the one and only path for ALL people. We all have different spiritual needs and different cultural backgrounds, etc, and we should choose the religion that best leads us personally to God. For me, that may be Hinduism, but for you, it may be Mormonism.
If you still believe that there may be only one true religion for all of humankind, then what you need to do is begin a serious study of all the religions which make a claim to being the only true way.
I once began to do this in a very organized fashion. I had a different ring-binder for each religion, and I collected information about each religion, including evidence that was offered by members of that religion, and counter-evidence offered by non-members. Try to be as non-biased as possible and realize that no matter how long you study a religion, you still do not know all there is to know about it. So be careful about calling a case closed. There will always be someone who can give you a fresh perspective and cause you to re-evaluate the religion.
So this is no easy task.
But do it prayerfully.
As far as the Mormon Faith, I would like to say that, yes, it gets a lot of negative reviews, but this does not mean there is anything wrong with the faith. Every religion gets criticized by some people. That's just the way it is. Look at the values taught by the Mormon faith. It is a religion which teaches a wholesome life. I greatly admire that. Some of the kindest and most wholesome people I have ever met have been Mormons. I do not know much about it, but I believe if it can help people be so kind and wholesome, it must have something of great value!
If you feel that the Mormon Faith brings you close to God, then do not be discouraged by what anyone says. If you do not feel that it is bringing you close to God, then prayerfully search for a religion or way of life that does.
May God bless you in your search!
2007-08-31 20:44:55 · answer #2 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Isaiah 55: 7-9
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We may grasp bits and pieces, but we will never come to the fullness of the truth through our own logic and reason because our ways are not Gods ways. The more we look to our own understanding the more confused we become.
James 1: 5
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
God has given mankind the gift and power of the Holy Ghost that we may recognize the truth when we find it. The Holy Ghost can bear witness to our souls of the truth. There is no other way to really know.
Moroni 10: 4
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
If you want to know what is true, don't ask men, don't try to work out the answer yourself logically, ask God.
I have done this and I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is God's true church. It is the only church on earth with the fullness of the gospel. I feel it in my soul. I know it is true.
2007-09-02 18:09:58 · answer #3 · answered by atomzer0 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you can do for yourself is to find what you believe in by studying religion and thinking about your beliefs and coming to your own decision about it. If Christians believe that faith is about having a personal relationship with God, then why would you let someone else tell you what to believe, or what the nature of God is, or even whether or not he exists? That is a personal decision for you to make.
I used to be a Mormon too, and after leaving the church and reflecting alot on my personal beliefs, I became atheist. You might have a different experience, after thinking about it and studying you might decide that your faith was right in the first place, or you may find that a different religion works better for you. But this is a major life decision and you shouldn't let anyone make it for you
2007-08-31 20:14:24 · answer #4 · answered by lindsey p 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Obviously this is not the best place to be asking this type of question. A testimony is sacred and personal. There was a time where I was in your shoes but it was not neccessarily that I lost faith in mormon doctrine it was just that I just got lazy doing it all....going to church every Sunday....attending church meetings and all that. So I stopped going to church all together. To be honest, they were the most incomplete 4 months of my life. I was happy, but I never felt complete. I struggled with myself day in and out with things that used to be a piece of cake for me. See I thought that I could do it all, and the Lord proved me wrong. I need him in my life! This experience has helped me realize that I am noone without Christ and that I need church to give me the strength and wisdom that I need to live a complete and happy life. I suggest that you try to realize the same thing. Look within yourself first and see all the things that you fall short in. When you realize that you are not perfect and that you have things you need to work on that only our Savior Jesus Christ can succor you will develop a great sense of humility. Noone can have true faith without developing this attribute of HUMILITY in CHRIST first. Something else that helped me was the video FINDING FAITH IN CHRIST. Call your ward missionaries, or request it from your bishop, or go to your temple visitor's center, or mission office they always have copies and they'll lend you a copy or let you have it. Its a powerful video and I know that if sought with the right intentions you will find faith in Christ and he will let you know which church is true. Search, Ponder, and Pray are the things that you must do. Its one step at a time.....work with patience, I promise that you will get there! I did!
2007-09-01 04:31:12 · answer #5 · answered by LooneyLu 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You have to be Mormon to have FAITH?
This religion is the true?
Look are Mormons Christians or not?
You can stop being a Mormon and still be or even become a better Christian.
Read the Bible Pray and Meditate!
The Divine will guide you to where you need to be.
However since humans have flawed or limited perceptions of the Divine it may be a rough trip!
You might want to read the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.
He has some helpful things to say about wavering faith.
The important thing is your connection to the Divine not whether you're Mormon Catholic Protestant or Buddhist for that matter!
It's not whether your religion is "true" thats important
its whether you have a true real connection and relationship to God!
2007-08-31 20:50:16 · answer #6 · answered by JeeVee 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You need to go to positive sites to learn about any religion. obliviously if you go to an Anti Site, Like exmormon.com, you will only hear negative things from people that never really knew their church. Hear stuff from people who are still a member for their church. you would never go to a "Excatholic" site to see if you want to be catholic. The only stuff you will find there is anger and even lies. Talk to people that haven't been "kicked out" or "stopped believing" about the religions you are interested in, and once you find one that you really like really really try it out, try to feel at peace with it. Have you really tried out the mormon church? or have you just "lived" it with out giving it a chance? There might be some truth to their religion. Give them a chance, a real chance (really read their doctrine and see if you can feel at peace with it) before you try to find another religion. You can always learn about basic beliefs from people, but you have to get a testimony for yourself of what the real truth is.
2007-09-02 05:06:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only way you can find your testimony is by Christ. He will take you into a part of your heart that no one can take you in, and there he will manifest his answer to you.
My belief is the Mormon fatih. I love my church and only the anti-mormons make me feel stronger about my faith. I know this is God's church established by Joseph Smith Jr. Who was led by God to restore the Gospel on the church...just read the Book of Mormon
2007-09-01 09:52:06 · answer #8 · answered by travsbest 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My testimony? My testimony is simple. I know that God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that God loves me and that he wants to help me.
If I did not have the strength I get from my active participation in the LDS church, I would be dead. I would have given up on life long ago. When I ponder the scriptures, when I pray to my Father in Heaven, when I obey God's commandments, I feel strengthened, uplifted, comforted, calm, and peaceful.
I cannot comprehend how people live without the blessings that I see in my life thanks to my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
If you find your faith lacking then pray and ask God to help you. He wants to help you, He is only waiting for you to ask.
2007-09-01 04:47:18 · answer #9 · answered by Joseph 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I believe that Christ is our Lord and Savior and died for each and everyone of us. Without His atoning sacrifice none of us would be able to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father. I believe that if I try to do my best in this life and use Christ's Atonement to repent I can achieve my ultimate goal of Exaltation! Who wouldn't want such an amazing gift such as that? I understand what it is like to become confused and begin to doubt. It is one of the worst feelings to not be sure of what you believe. But never lose faith, by praying and reading the scriptures you can built your testimony back up again and you will be able to feel that peace and love in your life once again! I was finally able to fully appreciate the gospel in my life once I experienced my life without it. I hope you realize the same thing! :)
2007-09-01 02:25:38 · answer #10 · answered by Karen 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋