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Hooray for the internet. I’m so glad this forum and others like it exist. I’ve been reading the posts here for a while now and I am thrilled that there are many unorthodox or reform-minded LDS members out there. I’ve chosen to become involved with this forum rather some of the others out there because I still have a real testimony of much of what the church teaches. I now believe very few things are literally, historically true, but that sort of “truth” just doesn’t really matter to me that much anymore. The real truth, for me at least, is in the meaning behind the message. We are imperfect, but we can become perfect. We can progress forever, with our loved ones alongside us. Those are beautiful truths to me that I just don’t want to leave behind.
Unlike many of you, I have never felt particularly close to the members of the church. I joined as a convert about 12 years ago when I was 18 and then went off to college away from my first ward. Since then, I have rarely been in a ward longer than 2 years and so I have never developed that strong sense of fellowship that helps keep many of you attached to the church. The doctrine was what won me over and is still what keeps me coming. Only now my understanding of that doctrine has evolved.
By the way, the rules of disengagement were so very helpful to me. Thank you so much to those who wrote them.
Hi Ardub, Welcome to the StayLDS.com community. Thanks for introducing yourself.
ardub wrote:The doctrine was what won me over and is still what keeps me coming. Only now my understanding of that doctrine has evolved.
I was born and raised in The Church, but the doctrine is a point that keeps me interested after my faith transition. So I guess we have that in common, even if from different angles of approach. I think Mormonism has some really cool ideas, some very inspiring and uplifting ideals too, that I just don’t find in the same configuration anywhere else. My understanding of them has also changed a lot over time. It seems like that is how it should be. If our understanding DOESN’T change over time, we are probably not moving forward, not progressing.
Now that I think of it, isn’t one of the Mormon concepts of “damnation” the inability to progress? Using that viewpoint, having an unchanging testimony and a sense of eternal surety of “knowing” the truth, that form of devotion and faith actually becomes pride that damns us to an inability to change. You just got me thinking I guess … Welcome to the community.
I like the term “rules of disengagement” — where did you read them? I must have missed them and I’d like to have a look at them. Sounds like a good movie title. Welcome to the forum and thanks for coming out of lurking and posting your intro. It is always so beneficial to learn from others who share their stories. Glad you’re here!
welcome ardub, I’m glad you’re here. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you.
Mike from Milton.
Hi again. Thanks for the words of welcome.
Brian, your comments on damnation reminded me of what I expected my progression through the gospel would be when I joined. I thought everyone just kept “adding upon” knowledge and testimony and the truly great ones would have visions and their calling and election made sure. Well it didn’t work out for me that way, but I’m still making some sort of progess. In fact, I haven’t been this engaged with the gospel since those early days. By the way, the “How to stay in the church” essay was extremely helpful to me several months ago. Thanks for your work on it.
SilentDawning, I goofed. The “rules of disengagment” are found on another site, (NOM). But the ideas are set forth in them are all found within the “How to stay in the Church” essay. The most important rule as far as I see it is “Go slow.”
Welcome. I don’t have time to write much else, but, sincerely, welcome. ardub wrote:the truly great ones would have visions and their calling and election made sure. Well it didn’t work out for me that way, but I’m still making some sort of progress.
Don’t give up. Those things happen to people. But it almost always isn’t the way they expected, and it often doesn’t happen to the people we see as “great ones.” Instead, you can find it among the quiet and simple folks who aren’t standing in the spotlights. The Sermon on the Mount lists groups of folks who will inherit the Kingdom of God. It’s a nice, poetic description of the process.
ardub wrote:I’ve chosen to become involved with this forum rather some of the others out there because I still have a real testimony of much of what the church teaches. I now believe very few things are literally, historically true, but that sort of “truth” just doesn’t really matter to me that much anymore. The real truth, for me at least, is in the meaning behind the message. We are imperfect, but we can become perfect. We can progress forever, with our loved ones alongside us. Those are beautiful truths to me that I just don’t want to leave behind.
I see it similarly, Ardub.Truth is in perspective… & whatever has influence.
Even beliefs not founded on scientific facts have influence on how we feel and behave.
And any given thought is too limited to be 100% objective truth, so it’s a matter of picking healthy illusions that work for us.
rw, glad you’re here — look forward to your stories. -wayfarer
Quote:The real truth, for me at least, is in the meaning behind the message.
This reminds me of what Eckhart Tolle says about the ego and the self. The ego is the voice in your head, the mind. The self is the one listening to that voice. But he is clear to point out that the ego is not the self. Nor is the message the meaning or the truth.
Quote:Unlike many of you, I have never felt particularly close to the members of the church. . . I have never developed that strong sense of fellowship that helps keep many of you attached to the church.
This was true of me until after I was married for at least ten years. Then we really started to befriend our fellow ward members. But I can honestly say I never really liked Mormons before then, and I really didn’t like all the ones I got to know since then. But I’ve found many many I really do like.
Quote:The doctrine was what won me over and is still what keeps me coming. Only now my understanding of that doctrine has evolved.
I love this. I can really relate. There are many Mormon doctrines that are unique that really matter to me.
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