tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post3400726716609718042..comments2023-06-28T05:08:34.909-06:00Comments on Musings on Mormonism: Religion vs. Relationship with JesusI am the Clayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746787843582356037noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-69098707579013720762011-07-25T18:49:14.815-06:002011-07-25T18:49:14.815-06:00I'm a little sad to admit that I haven't r...I'm a little sad to admit that I haven't read through all of this blog particularly but it is about what I have been trying to impart to my boyfriend who is LDS. He comes to church with me (I'm a Presbyterian) and then I go with him to Singles ward. I know he tries to be open about what I believe and I try to do the same, but is there anything you think might be useful for me when I talk to him about it? Thanks so much! And I think that you have a great blog. Keep praising sister! =]demolitionxlover77https://www.blogger.com/profile/07109973125671946487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-219018154092875962009-05-28T20:32:51.101-06:002009-05-28T20:32:51.101-06:00Hi, arthur. I understand , truly I do. It's ea...Hi, arthur. I understand , truly I do. It's easy to get discouraged when witnessing to the LDS. As you said, without God working in their hearts none of what we will say will be of any affect. That is why I really try to share the good news vs. focusing on the "wrongs" of mormonism. They so need to hear the message of grace and the perfect law of liberty.<br /><br />May God bless you as you too witness & please do pray!!!<br /><br />gloriaI am the Clayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03746787843582356037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-17635306997875819472009-05-28T19:47:44.556-06:002009-05-28T19:47:44.556-06:00I know I need to spend more time specifically in p...I know I need to spend more time specifically in prayer for mormons. I find it easier to show them where they are wrong than to pray for God to show them what is right. I can make the most clever and complete arguments in the world, but as we both know without God working in their hearts none of it will ever matter.Arthur Sidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848508095612688493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-31318345554579711992009-05-28T12:51:30.286-06:002009-05-28T12:51:30.286-06:00Latayne,
Thank you so much for taking time to sto...Latayne,<br /><br />Thank you so much for taking time to stop by and leave a comment. :) I would love to share some thoughts with you. I will respond to you at the site you info you left.<br /><br /><br />God bless,<br />gloriaI am the Clayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03746787843582356037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-32248514172059753982009-05-28T12:49:41.280-06:002009-05-28T12:49:41.280-06:00Hello to my "anonymous" commentor. Thanks for tak...Hello to my "anonymous" commentor. Thanks for taking time to stop by and share your thoughts. I appreciate that! <br /><br />I would love to address some things you shared, and if you don't mind..I am going to blog about this. I often times blog on responses that are left by those who comment here. <br /><br />So, please do check back in a few days as I will be responding publically to your remarks. <br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing.<br /><br />In Kindness,<br />gloriaI am the Clayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03746787843582356037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-3534348608569462342009-05-28T11:48:54.718-06:002009-05-28T11:48:54.718-06:00Hi Gloria. I became aware of your blog through Ar...Hi Gloria. I became aware of your blog through Arthur Sido's, and it looks very compelling!<br /><br />I'd like to invite you to submit an item-- or several, if you wish -- for my blog, latayne.com, in the section, "365 Reasons Why I Won't Return to Mormonism." Just contact me via the site and I'd love to hear from you. Meanwhile, may God bless you for your ministry.<br /><br />Latayne C Scott<br />www.latayne.com<br />novelmatters.blogspot.com<br />Author, The Mormon Mirage: A Former Member Looks at the Church Today, Latter-day Cipher, and other writings on MormonismLatayne C Scotthttp://www.latayne.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431135023103819088.post-59255489524705646672009-05-28T11:12:08.039-06:002009-05-28T11:12:08.039-06:00I am also a lifetime member of the LDS Church. I d...I am also a lifetime member of the LDS Church. I did all the things you did. I even served a mission. Afterwards, I had trouble doing the Mormon thing of finding a wife and spitting out 5 kids and so forth. So I changed my life, I dated outside the church, stopped attending, married a "non-member", got a job at one of those places that the church frowns on ( a rent-to-own company). And for 6yrs I was happy. Well, I thought I was. But slowly, I noticed that this new relationship and "understanding" that I had with God was not going as I expected. I began to see that I wasn't getting closer to God but rather I was just maintaining a casual contact. Long story short I returned to the church. Everything was the same, to many meetings, long hours, always someone asking me to "do" something for them or for the church. BUT, I found that I had changed. I realized that the church was a vehicle that the Lord was using to teach me what service and love of man was. He uses these things to teach us about sacrifice. Sacrifice of ones time, money, talent, all for someone else's benefit. What a perfect way to illustrate the Savior's sacrifice for us. The two great commandments 1. Love God 2. Love thy neighbor. The Lord knew that until we could love the ones we see everyday we could never truely love someone we haven't seen. Up in your statement you used this quote "In the Old Testament and the NT, God's plan is not based on people's efforts and good works, but is based on His amazing love and amazing grace for us." A true statement but used in such a way to distort it's meaning. It is true that no man can work out his salvation. Grace is eccential. The Lord said He is the only way. Only those who have FAITH in him can return to Him. But he also said that faith without works is dead. In conclusion, I am sorry that you had a bad experience. But rather than saying that Mormons are out performing works to get into heaven and don't really have a love of Christ in their hearts, think back to the way you were at the time you were doing all those things. I submit that at that time, YOU were doing them because you felt you were forced by your parents or peer pressure. But if you look at what you were being ASKED to do, you will find numerous examples of the Savior doing the same things. Remember, it was the Lord who said "Go and do thou likewise as you have seen me do" (not an exact quote but you get the picture) Thank You for devoting your time to uplifting others. I would like to say. From an eternal perspective, I would rather see a person leave the church and devote themselves wholely to the Lord that to stay in the church just going thru the motions. Thankfully The Lord and Savior is the Judge and I will leave it to Him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com