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I just want to say hi to everyone. I guess you could say I’m struggling to stay L-DS(as in Latter-day Saints). But this struggle comes not from no longer believing in the prinicples of Mormonism, but rather because of what I have researched about the early church. I find a greater purity in the original forms and practices of the 1844 church. This causes me to want to practice those principles. Now I’m not just talking about Plural Marriage. But I’m talking about the Anointed Qurorum, the school of the Prophets, the original form of the endowment, etc. The modern church seems to want to cover up, hide, or gloss over important parts of the restored Gospel.
Anyway, I guess that will do for an intro.
Every once in a while, someone at this website (or a related one) asks the question, “Do you think Joseph Smith would even recognize the LDS church in its present form?” A few have postulated he might be more comfortable leading one of the Fundamentialist churches. On the other side of the coin, my mom always said the one thing we can expect in life, is change. People change, organizations change (churches included), usually because of outside secular pressures. Anyhow, welcome to the website and hope you gain much and enjoy the comradeship as much as I do. PS: My introduction is directed below yours. I’m also sort of a new kid on the block. See “Monolith in a Louisiana Forest.”
Welcome, I joined earlier this year. This forum has helped me a lot, understanding the positive aspects of the LDS, and how to deal with the more, shall we say, “uncomfortable” parts. I also recommend some of the podcasts on the site – some folk might be able to recommend specific ones – they explore very different ways of approaching Mormonism from the traditional ones. I had been inactive for a number of years, and now have got back into the church, and am looking
As someone here has said, nothing in life is perfect, not least the church, and that’s something we have to put up with. You’re not going to find anything else that is perfect.
Quote:The modern church seems to want to cover up, hide, or gloss over important parts of the restored Gospel.
Well, this is part of the mainstreaming. Some parts of the older doctrine I don’t miss, not least the curse of Ham stuff (in the bucket with that one please). But there are other old teachings which are actually highly original and interesting. The idea of us becoming gods, while offensive to many other churches, is actually quite tame compared to a lot of New Age and Oriental stuff.
I think the church can sometimes dumb down stuff too much. Basics are good, but not everything has to be basic, if you get my meaning.
First off, welcome to the community! I had sort of a similar reaction to studying Church history. I found myself really falling in love with the passion, the exploration, the questioning and even some of the wacky (by today’s standards) practices and attitudes. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were far more interesting than I ever imagined from correlated materials I grew up with.
On the other hand, I came away with a sense that “prophets” can be wrong and the whole process of divine inspiration is a fuzzy and messy business (but still valuable). I can’t say I have any desire to turn back the clock per se, and I personally don’t think some things were a good idea or necessarily exactly what God wanted. But like I said, I find more of a sense of connection with the early saints than perhaps the Church today sometimes.
I highly recommend the following resources on the transition from early Mormonism to post-correlation Mormonism we see today in the LDS Church:
The amazing podcast recently published at Mormon Stories with Daymon Smith:
http://mormonstories.org/?p=980 Linked at our site:
http://www.staylds.com/?page_id=29 Gregory Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, Part 1 of 2
Gregory Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, Part 2 of 2
And of course the book itself.
crusader wrote:I guess you could say I’m struggling to stay L-DS(as in Latter-day Saints). But this struggle comes not from no longer believing in the prinicples of Mormonism, but rather because of what I have researched about the early church.
Welcome, crusader. I guess it was a little over a year ago when I first came upon this site…and I was studying a lot of church history, and going through a personal situation where I was trying to make sense of things.One supporter here on the site advised me to “go slow” and realize there is no need to make drastic changes to my beliefs or positions with the church…that things can work themselves out over time, and that really helped me…so I will pass that on to you as well…accept there are some things you want to study and figure out and go slow while going through the process.
A favorite quote that struck me was by CS Lewis:
Quote:If our religion is something objective, then we must never avert our eyes from those elements in it which seem puzzling or repellant; for it will be precisely the puzzling or the repellant which conceals what we do not yet know and need to know….the truth we need most is hidden precisely in the doctrines you least like and least understand. Scientists make progress because scientists instead of running away from such troublesome phenomena or hushing them up, are constantly seeking them out. In the same way, there will be progress in Christian knowledge only as long as we accept the challenge of the difficult or repellant doctrines.
I think there is value in not only studying the changes in teachings or practices the church went through, but also an internal study of what seems puzzling or repellent and why you think it is puzzling or repellent.
Welcome!! I admire your desire to live Mormonism in it’s original form rather than what you consider to be a “watered down” version of it. I believe that God wants us to be Hot or Cold and that life is best lived in great faith! If you can’t live it in great faith then find something that you can. Unlike you- I have no faith in the original LDS church. I don’t believe ANY religion can claim authority or that religion can save our souls. Only faith in Christ can do that. So that frees me up to go to any church where I feel helps my faith in Christ and my love for Him and man grows. I go to a Christian church by myself and then go to Sacrament meeting with my wife and 3 beautiful children. I stay LDS because my wife is still a member and I will support anyone who truly believes they are following God- even if I think they are off their rocker!
I may disagree with you entirely about many issues and especially your current belief about the early church- but please know that I respect and admire your heart. I believe that your desire is to serve God with all you have and in the way He wants you to- and for that you deserve great respect.
My3GirlsDad wrote:I believe that God wants us to be Hot or Cold and that life is best lived in great faith!
Well said, M3GD.I also believe people who come to the conclusion there is no God, but embrace their own opinions that help them find peace and love for their fellow human beings and are not ambivalent about it, they also have my deepest respect.
Quote:I also believe people who come to the conclusion there is no God, but embrace their own opinions that help them find peace and love for their fellow human beings and are not ambivalent about it, they also have my deepest respect.
Many of the ones I come across these days seem to want to bash me over the head for any spiritual beliefs that I have!!!
Thank you for the warm welcome and all the wonderful suggestions.
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