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Question

I am struggling and I was wondering where I could find comfort in the gospel to fall back on?

Answer 1

Alma 5:45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

Answer 2

Everyone here has some good advice. Generally speaking, no matter what your struggles may be, the Lord will inspire you through prayer. The bishop may also be a valuable resource for any problem. I have had bishops help me with various things. At one time I found the bishop to be my only gospel resource because I did not believe in God; prayer was useless because I lacked faith, and I was skeptical of the scriptures. My bishop guided me in the right way to help me gain a testimony. Never give up on prayer and scripture study... when I did this I was in spiritual darkness for quite a while. Finally I repented, and it wasn't until after I started doing the will of God that I knew the truth (John 7:17 is right!). Listen to the Spirit, that still small voice. The Spirit is the Comforter, and will be able to comfort you if you are able to listen.

Answer 3

I understand where you are coming from. we all have had stuggles in life. There's a simple solution.
Pray, prayer is a connection with the Divine a line that won't go out during storms, never has down time, is busy.

Fast, imagine prayer is a internet connection on dial-up. Pretty slow, now when you through fasting into the equation now you have Hi-speed Internet or prayer with fasting is much better.

Now I want to through a third part of the equation, scripture study, when you add Prayer+Fasting+Scripture study=a Celestial Internet connection.

When you pray about what you want it's good, then you add Fasting which is helps us become humble and teachable, then when you read the scriptures. You just gave God the best opportunity to help you out. So remember the formula Prayer+Fasting+Scripture study= The Celestial connection.

Also, if it helps talk to members of the church, Bishop, Hometeachers, Visiting Teachers. ME. Contact me if you need help.

Answer 4

The best place to find comfort is praying for the comfort of the Holy Ghost. When my father died, I actually felt this comfort very tangibly, it was amazing. I also have really benefitted from fasting and praying for a specific reason or answer.

If you go to lds.org and search on a gospel topic that you think might help you, you can find any number of conference talks and Ensign articles that can be so helpful.

If you have a Temple nearby, go there and stroll the Temple grounds and you will feel the spirit.

I hope you get the answers and comfort you are looking for.

Answer 5

I agree with most here, it depends on what you're struggling with. Is it a specific principle, or is it everything in general?
Yesterday someone mentioned in RS that the brother of a teacher of theirs woke up one morning and thought to himself, "I don't know if I love my wife anymore." He wasn't sure what to do. He thought about it off and on for a day or two, and still didn't know if he loved his wife of 15 years. Then he noticed that over the past few weeks he was busier than normal with work, and church, and other things other than his wife. He decided one night that he would serve her. So the next morning he woke up early and fixed her breakfast. He did some things he normally didn't do, like fixed her a sack lunch, picked up the dry cleaning, came home and did the laundry, carried out the trash, put the kids to bed, did the dishes and gave her some alone time to do what she wanted to do. After doing this for several days he realized that he loved her more than he had ever loved her. So the point is, to serve. We recently had a 5th Sunday lesson about the youth, given to the parents. The teacher said that our youth are much stronger and able to cope and deal with things than we think, and that all too often they are not overwhelmed but UNDERWHELMED. While we may not have been able to deal with everything they are asked to deal with everyday when we were their age, they have been specially prepared for this time, and that by not giving them difficult things or only one or two things at a time to do we are cheating them and not allowing them to "be all they can be". So my point and advise to you is whatever it is that you are struggling with, throw yourself into living that principle wholeheartedly, and don't be afraid to take on more than you think you can because it's through those things that we prove ourselves. We may prove ourselves to not have what it takes, but we may surprise everyone (even ourselves) and prove that we not only can do what we (anad everyone else) thought we couldn't do, but that we can do so much more at the same time.
While it's true that the scriptures can give MUCH comfort, and we should use them and gleen from them as much as we can, then repeat the process, much can also be learned by getting out there and doing it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just the scriptures, it's what we can become by implimenting what the scriptures teach us into our daily lives. Think of what you can DO, how you can serve, how you can impliment this principle that you're struggling with, so you can learn whether it's true or not.

Answer 6

Start on your knees. The Lord never moves--we do. What has been changing in your life that has caused the difference?

And then read Alma 32:28-36. This is Alma's discourse on faith. I have often read it, especially when I feel like I'm drifting or losing faith...

And talk to your parents or your leaders. They are there to help you, and they are concerned about you and love you. (You might talk to them about your other issues too and see if they can get some help. You might need to see a counselor or some other mental health professional.)

All the very best.

Answer 7

They say that if you need to talk to God, then pray. And if you need God to talk to you, read your scriptures. I understand both of these probably sound a little too simple to be effective, but it's also said that through small means do great things come to pass.

In other words. Stick with the basics. Pray, read scriptures, and go to church. If you have questions, don't be ashamed to ask. We all have questions. And we all need help from time to time. And sometimes we may even need to lean on the testamony of another for awhile.

Answer 8

Read _Rough Stone Rolling_, a biography of Joseph Smith written by a believing Latter-day Saint who also has a Ph.D. in history and doesn't sugar-coat the facts. (This is absolutely true, google it yourself to find out.)

It all comes down to Joseph Smith. If he was a fraud, so is the church.

Learn about Joseph Smith and you will find comfort and know exactly what to do.

Answer 9

That depends on what you are struggling with. Different situations call for different scriptures. When needing comfort, try Psalm 23 in the Bible. No matter what, that is a comforting scripture. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

Answer 10

It depends on how you're "struggling."

If your struggle is based in the doctrines of the Church, as it is with more members than most of us would know, then "falling back on the Church" isn't going to help you at all.

I am a member of the Church, and an active one at that. However, I don't believe in it any more than I believe in Santa Claus: a wonderfully cheerful story based partially in truth, which teaches a good message and promotes responsible behavior.

I believe in Christ and I believe in God, but the Joseph Smith story just doesn't hold water, even if you grant him the benefit of the doubt on all of his "controversies" (child brides, public drunkenness, attempted murder orchestration against Gov Boggs, Kinderhook plates, Abraham papyri, etc.). I would recommend exploring this option, praying to God about it if you'd like, and adjusting your perception of your self-worth to one that doesn't demand you to be perfect in all things. Life is beautiful, and too short to be depressed about not ever being good enough according to the D&C.

Answer 11

Bishops are a great resource.

Priesthood blessings

Reading the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi

Prayer

Really Good is Patriarchal Blessing