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I’m Jewish and a convert to the Church. I served a mission (though later than most), married in the Temple and raised my children in the gospel. I read a bit too much, ignoring the council to avoid anti-Mormon literature, and the sheer volume of what I found began to shake my testimony. Had I left off at that point I might well have left the church. I did set it all aside for a while but I had to go back to it and find answers to all the questions it raised. I spent a great deal of time searching out those answers. I spent many years after that doing apologetics with the information I had gathered. Eventually even that lost its allure. Attacks and ripostes just didn’t mean anything; being moved by the Holy Ghost was the only real thing. All the rest was just sophistry. A man (or woman) feels the Spirit or he doesn’t. That has to be the foundation of the discussion, not whether the Kinderhook plates prove Joseph was a Prophet. So I left the apologetics boards and found this one, where we can focus on how people feel and how they can cope with how they feel.
Welcome! Lots of good, wise folks here. You’ll fit right in! LDSThomas
Welcome! I am new here as well so looking forward to connecting. I’ve been reading through some of these threads and I’m humbled. For example, a question was asked about doctrines concerning Heavenly Mother. I thought to myself “I’ve got this” but by the time I read through the thread I realized I had nothing new to add. The same for several other threads, they had great responses and all I might have been able to add was a “me, too”. There are some very solid thinkers in this group. :geek: Yes, welcome, S Goodman. I agree. You’ll fit in quite well. I look forward to hearing more from you. 🙂 SGoodman wrote:Attacks and ripostes just didn’t mean anything; being moved by the Holy Ghost was the only real thing. All the rest was just sophistry. A man (or woman) feels the Spirit or he doesn’t. That has to be the foundation of the discussion, not whether the Kinderhook plates prove Joseph was a Prophet.
Hi, SGoodman – I’m glad you’re here and look forward getting your take on things.
Welcome to the forum, I look forward to interacting with you and to your perspective. SGoodman wrote:A man (or woman) feels the Spirit or he doesn’t.
I agree with this, and I see how this has some meaning to you. In the end we are spiritually converted – or not. Please understand that there are people here who do struggle with this idea, who believe or feel that they do not really have spiritual experiences, promptings, inspiration, confirmations, etc. Indeed, I think there are some who do not believe they have any spiritual interaction at all. There are also those who struggle with discerning what is spiritual and and what is personal feeling or emotion. For some it is a matter of intellect rather than the spirit – and that’s OK because “It is not that simple.”
What I like about your story is your commitment to finding an answer. Although my answer continues to evolve over time I find it is empowering because it is mine. I own it. It is no longer in the hands of a leader, in the hands of an apologist, or to be found in a history book. My spiritual journey is now between me and god.
Welcome.
Welcome. Please don’t get offended or take it personally when I occasionally use a hammer a little too forcefully. I try not to do so, but, as cwald can attest, at least I’m an equal opportunity hammerer.
😳 Old-Timer wrote:Welcome.
Please don’t get offended or take it personally when I occasionally use a hammer a little too forcefully. I try not to do so, but, as cwald can attest, at least I’m an equal opportunity hammerer.
😳 That made me smile.
🙂 DarkJedi wrote:Welcome to the forum, I look forward to interacting with you and to your perspective.
SGoodman wrote:A man (or woman) feels the Spirit or he doesn’t.
I agree with this, and I see how this has some meaning to you. In the end we are spiritually converted – or not. Please understand that there are people here who do struggle with this idea, who believe or feel that they do not really have spiritual experiences, promptings, inspiration, confirmations, etc. Indeed, I think there are some who do not believe they have any spiritual interaction at all. There are also those who struggle with discerning what is spiritual and and what is personal feeling or emotion. For some it is a matter of intellect rather than the spirit – and that’s OK because “It is not that simple.”
I particularly like this post. I liked the reminder that “it’s not that simple.” Nothing ever is.
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