Newly converted; less than 4 months. Overjoyed at my decision, but - under much financial stress - have had a few drinks, several times.
2007-10-26 00:24:48 · 15 answers · asked by Barbara M 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Making the transition to a new culture and a new belief system can be challenging. I think it is fairly common to slip into old ways during the first months of conversion. Drinking is a serious taboo for Mormons, but repentance and forgiveness are also central to Mormon teachings. I think you can definitely repent and go on to be a respectable Mormon. If one had to be perfect to be "respectable," there wouldn't be a respectable Mormon on earth!
I suggest you go to your bishop or branch president. Explain to him the challenges you face and seek spiritual guidance. Perhaps together you can come up with a plan to try to prevent future drinking.
Welcome to the church, by the way! Take everything you read on Yahoo! Answers (or the internet in general) with a grain of salt; there's a lot of people here who pretend to understand Mormon doctrine when in reality their only intent is to discredit and lie about our beliefs.
My site, http://www.allaboutmormons.com , is one accurate resource, as are http://www.lds.org and http://www.mormon.org .
2007-10-26 07:37:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, we all make mistakes, anyone who judges you will come under their own condemnation for that...
Talk to the Bishop about your financial stress - if you want. The church offers monetary help and things like that when needed. Also, remember that now you are a new convert, satan will try to confuse you and get you to doubt the gospel. Remember the Lord will never do that, but satan will try to lead you away from the gospel because even he knows it's true. Sometimes when a person is newly converted, they have a "spiritual high" and it's great...then it kind of wears off as you get into your daily routine...just keep building on your testimony and satan will have less and less influence in your decision making.
Good luck!
2007-10-26 13:21:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. Take it from a well experienced lush. A few drinks never hurt anyone. Several times is nothing. Compared to some of us you are already on the road to sainthood or whatever it is called.
2007-10-26 07:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by What? Me Worry? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey we are all trying to do the best we can. We all fail we all fall short. We are human. Here is the deal. There is a big difference in struggling and falling and just not caring. If you try and fail pick your self and and go at it again. If you are doing the best you can then you are respectable.
God asks that we try, he know we can't be perfect. And loves us inspite of what do or don't do.
2007-10-26 18:55:05 · answer #4 · answered by O. Prime 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LOL! Are you aware that Brigham Young had a still? True story, look it up. It was not until many years later that the LDS made the Word of Wisdom such an important doctrine, kind of like how the Pharisees did in the Bible. Jesus drank some wine with the sinners and they squawked about it.
While I certainly do not recommend the use of alcohol because of the risk of abuse... the scriptures do not forbid the drinking of alcohol per se, only the abuse of alcohol that leads to drunkeness.
Are you aware that the General Moroni in the Book of Mormon allowed his soldiers to have a daily RATION of fermented wine? They even used the same wine to get their enemies drunk and gained a great victory over them during their wars. It is said of General Moroni that if all men were like him the gates of hell would be shut continually... hmmm, a man that allowed his men a sip of wine during a time of war. What would the LDS say of that?
In case you are wondering, I am ex-LDS and belong to another church that accepts the Book of Mormon.
2007-10-26 07:45:20 · answer #5 · answered by Technoman 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
It's a good thing you're honest about it, and want to repent. That's a start. I think you might want to see your bishop/branch president, he can help you. Instead of drinking whatever you drink, how about try praying?
You can be a respectable Mormon/LDS no matter what! What will be respectable about you is the fact that you overcame a bad habit and continued on strong, that is something I have yet to do....
I hope you make it! God bless.
p.s. don't listen to those antis/ex's...they're just trouble.
2007-10-26 08:56:20 · answer #6 · answered by ginny 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
'A few drinks, several times' is a very frank formula indeed. You have an evident love of truth, so you must be a true seeker, no equivocation intended. Congratulations on turning to religion in spite of material preoccupations (it doesn't work that way for everyone...)
2007-10-26 07:30:44 · answer #7 · answered by hindisikhnewaalaa 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
hoping to be respectable is also stress. if you love god, why do you care so much for the rest? **** happens anyway. just get over it and go on. there is still much to come. just rely on gods mercy! and all will turn out fine.
2007-10-26 07:39:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just talk to your bishop and work it out. Forgiveness is for everyone and for all sins.
Feel good about yourself -- we ALL make mistakes
D
2007-10-26 13:57:56 · answer #9 · answered by Dionysus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you can be a disreputable Mormon. I happen to know from personal experience that disreputable Mormon girls are a great deal of fun. Oh my, and how.
2007-10-26 07:32:32 · answer #10 · answered by senor_oso 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋