Greetings!
It has been a long long time since I have blogged here. I have kept this blog up to share with those who cross my path, who are interested in hearing about my journey out of Mormonism.
It's a lot easier to refer them to this blog vs. telling people over and over again. :)
Recently, I came across a series of videos that are geared at helping LDS transition out of the LDS faith community. These are excellent, and I wanted to share them here. They are helpful not only for ex-LDS, but also for members of the Body of Christ, who wish to understand and minister to those in their lives who have come out of the LDS church.
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FBBJECNU
If you wish to share your thoughts about the videos, I would love to hear from you.
Grateful for grace,
gloria
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday, March 1, 2010
Looking back.... no regrets.
Dear readers,
I began this blog about a year ago. It was very therapeutic for me to share my experiences and thoughts concerning Mormonism. There is something very healing about writing down one's experiences. The LDS church was my life for 19 yrs of my life. My life took a dramatic change when Christ took a hold of my life in the fall of 2007. It has been 2 yrs plus since I took that step to completely surrender my life to the lordship of Christ my King.
As I look back, I can honestly say I have absolutely no regrets in my decision to resign from the LDS church. Please don't get me wrong, it was not an easy thing to do! Far from it! But, honestly and sincerely I have no regrets.
The Lord spoke thousands of years ago of "counting the cost" of being one of HIS disciples;
" And if anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father, and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life, he cannnot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, cannnot be my disciple. For which of you intentending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it------
Lest after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ' this man began to build and was not able to finish'. .....
Luke 15;26-30
When I resigned from the LDS church, I knew it would be hard.
I knew it would "cost" me something and it has. The loss of relationships. The loss of love from loved ones.
Thru it all though, thru all the ups and downs ... I can honestly and boldly declare;
Christ is worth it!!!!!
I wouldn't change one thing.
I wouldn't go back and re-do things differently.
I have counted the cost, and found that HE is indeed worth everything!
So some may ask where am I now?
I will tell you that after 2 plus years of walking with the lord Jesus Christ, I am more convinced now more than ever that truly Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.
He is the living waters.
The bread of life.
The Messiah.
The I AM.
He is, and was, and is yet to come.
2 yrs later you would find myself and my 10 children lovingly embraced by the body of Christ in a wonderful non denominational church here. We are growing and learning along with the Body of Christ. My 10 children have all accepted Jesus as their lord and Savior. We have been blessed with wonderful ministry opportunities to share Jesus with the lost. We are loving our life as believers and embracing every chance to grow in our walk with the Lord!
I truly can say looking back, that embracing Christ.. surrendering to His headship has been the singular best decision I have made in my lifetime.
No regrets....
One of my favorite hymns is : I have Decided to follow Jesus
The words stir my soul.......
I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow, I have decided to follow Jesus.......
No turning back, no turning back.......
The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me.....
No turning back, no turning back.......
Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow......
No turning back, no turning back......
Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.........
_________________________
So, with that I have decided to retire this blog. I have hoped and prayed that it has in some small way it has helped . I will also continue to pray for the Body of Christ, that we may continue to reach out to the LDS in a spirit of love & truth.
If any of you wish to continue to read about me or my family. I invite you to read my blog at http://www.thepotters-hands.blogspot.com/ or you can catch up with me on Facebook.
I thank my Lord, My God & My Savior for His gracious mercy and grace in pulling me and my children out of the LDS church and for the giving of His precious body & blood, so that we can receive the gift of Eternal life.
Thank you , Jesus. I love you so much.
I began this blog about a year ago. It was very therapeutic for me to share my experiences and thoughts concerning Mormonism. There is something very healing about writing down one's experiences. The LDS church was my life for 19 yrs of my life. My life took a dramatic change when Christ took a hold of my life in the fall of 2007. It has been 2 yrs plus since I took that step to completely surrender my life to the lordship of Christ my King.
As I look back, I can honestly say I have absolutely no regrets in my decision to resign from the LDS church. Please don't get me wrong, it was not an easy thing to do! Far from it! But, honestly and sincerely I have no regrets.
The Lord spoke thousands of years ago of "counting the cost" of being one of HIS disciples;
" And if anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father, and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life, he cannnot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, cannnot be my disciple. For which of you intentending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it------
Lest after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ' this man began to build and was not able to finish'. .....
Luke 15;26-30
When I resigned from the LDS church, I knew it would be hard.
I knew it would "cost" me something and it has. The loss of relationships. The loss of love from loved ones.
Thru it all though, thru all the ups and downs ... I can honestly and boldly declare;
Christ is worth it!!!!!
I wouldn't change one thing.
I wouldn't go back and re-do things differently.
I have counted the cost, and found that HE is indeed worth everything!
So some may ask where am I now?
I will tell you that after 2 plus years of walking with the lord Jesus Christ, I am more convinced now more than ever that truly Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.
He is the living waters.
The bread of life.
The Messiah.
The I AM.
He is, and was, and is yet to come.
2 yrs later you would find myself and my 10 children lovingly embraced by the body of Christ in a wonderful non denominational church here. We are growing and learning along with the Body of Christ. My 10 children have all accepted Jesus as their lord and Savior. We have been blessed with wonderful ministry opportunities to share Jesus with the lost. We are loving our life as believers and embracing every chance to grow in our walk with the Lord!
I truly can say looking back, that embracing Christ.. surrendering to His headship has been the singular best decision I have made in my lifetime.
No regrets....
One of my favorite hymns is : I have Decided to follow Jesus
The words stir my soul.......
I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow, I have decided to follow Jesus.......
No turning back, no turning back.......
The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me.....
No turning back, no turning back.......
Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow......
No turning back, no turning back......
Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.........
_________________________
So, with that I have decided to retire this blog. I have hoped and prayed that it has in some small way it has helped . I will also continue to pray for the Body of Christ, that we may continue to reach out to the LDS in a spirit of love & truth.
If any of you wish to continue to read about me or my family. I invite you to read my blog at http://www.thepotters-hands.blogspot.com/ or you can catch up with me on Facebook.
I thank my Lord, My God & My Savior for His gracious mercy and grace in pulling me and my children out of the LDS church and for the giving of His precious body & blood, so that we can receive the gift of Eternal life.
Thank you , Jesus. I love you so much.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New blog!!!
A New Year!!!! A new blog for me!!
I will be blogging at :
www.thepotters-hands.blogspot.com
May you each enjoy a blessed New Year~
gloria
I will be blogging at :
www.thepotters-hands.blogspot.com
May you each enjoy a blessed New Year~
gloria
Monday, November 16, 2009
Dispelling Myths
It has been almost 2 yrs since I left the LDS church. In that time I have noticed some interesting things. In speaking with my LDS friends , both in "real life" and "online" I have picked up on a trend ( for a lack of a better word) that I would like to write about.
There is a tendancy, for some LDS to hold beliefs about "why" members of the LDS church resign. Sometimes these beliefs are in fact valid, but many times they are not. In fact there are some "myths" out there about "why" we leave. I thought it might be helpful to discuss those reasons, with the hopes of dispelling the myths.
First of all, the "myths".................
I have noticed that some LDS "may" think former Mormons have left because:
1. They have been offended.
Ok, this one is what I think is one of the silliest reasons and myths around. Why? Because one can be offended in any church, not just the LDS church. Goodness knows people are people -- whether LDS or not. People say and do hurtful things, and are often times insensitive. LDS are not immune to such behaviors, and it's not a reason to ultimately leave a given faith.
Was I offended at any point in my time in the LDS church? Sure, I was! Was that a reason to leave? NO! I would not leave a church simply because someone there says something or does something that is insensitive. Have I been offended by Christians? Heck, yeah! It happens! Church denomination set aside... it happens... both in and out of the LDS Church.
I was a Mormon for 19 years. Yeah, my feelings got hurt from time to time, but that was not the ultimate reason why I resigned. In my 2 yrs since exiting the LDS faith, I have met many former Mormons both online and in "real life" and I have yet to meet someone who resigned because someone hurt their feelings. I am not saying it "can't happen".... I am just saying I don't know of someone personally who left because of this reason.
Honestly, most former Mormons I have met, including myself ... took their faith very seriously. They did not expect perfection from other Mormons, and certainly did not have unrealistic expectations that Mormons were a "perfect" people. I for one would have not left simply because someone hurt my feelings. I took my former faith much more seriously than that. I was committed to what I believed at that time was "the one true Church" and would not have resigned based on some insensitive remark from a fellow LDS.
2. We just didn't "get it"......
I hear this reason probably more than any other reason for leaving the LDS. I have ran in a number of LDS who when they hear that I left the LDS faith, assume I just "didn't get the LDS gospel" . They make the assumption that I really didn't understand the LDS doctrines & faith or I wouldn't have left. Instead of just agreeing to disagree and wishing us well, they just assume we weren't listening all those years, didn't study the LDS gospel and just didn't understand. Can I just say how ridiculous this argument is? Especially for those of us who served full time proslyeting missions, spent years in the LDS church teaching doctrinal classes ( such as Sunday School,Gospel Doctrine, Seminary, RS. Priesthood, etc.) .
Many former Mormons also spent their lives in the LDS church. From the time they were born they were taught LDS doctrines & faith. To be told they didn't "get it" well , that is a bit insulting.
Just because a person chooses to leave a particular faith , does not mean they did not understand it's founding principles and doctrines. Actually the opposite is usually true. It's because they did "get it" ..... that they ended up making the choice to leave.
Most former LDS I know, studied the LDS gospel deeply. In fact, their study led them to find things that were deeply concerning to them. Contradictions in LDS doctrines, and challenging aspects of LDS history have led many a LDS to question their faith. This is true for those who question in other faiths. When I was a Roman Catholic, there were many aspects of the R.C. faith that troubled me. From their non biblical teachings and traditions , to their emphasis on ritual I was disturbed enough to make the choice to leave the R.C. Church.
I have met few former Mormons that left without studying the LDS gospel deeply! Many not only took a deep look at their former faith, but also spoke with their eccliastical leaders, such as their local Bishops, Stake Presidents, Insitute teachers, apologetic leaders from FAIR and other LDS apologists before making the choice to leave the LDS faith. Like me, they wanted to try to make "sense" of the contradictions in doctrine and the troubling spots in LDS history.
To say " we didn't get it" it is to imply that because we made the choice to leave, we never really understood it to begin with. May I say how wrong this assumption is? For many of us, we did get it , and we simply did not agree with it. We chose something different. Whether that was Biblical Christianity, or whether that means to simply exit and not affiliate with another faith.
3. The LDS gospel was too hard to live.
This "myth" is almost laughable. Believe me, being a Christian is so much more difficult in many ways than being LDS. Loving your enemies, doing good to those that hate you & forgiving your LDS family members for shunning you is no easy thing! The LDS gospel may be rule ridden, but that doesn't mean it's "hard" to live. It is also insulting for those of us who truly did committ to living the LDS lifestyle and gospel. Most former Mormons who are now Christians, truly did love their faith and tried sincerely to live it to the best of their abilities. I have also run across a number of them who served faithfully in their LDS church callings, from Bishops to Sunday School teachers to former Temple Presidents and Mission leaders. They didn't leave because it was "too hard".
4. There is some unrepentent sin that was committed .
This is another "myth" that is floating out there with some LDS about "why" some of us leave. Maybe for some this may be true, but I have yet to meet a Former Mormon who left, because of some "sin" they didn't want to repent of!! Goodness knows there are plenty of LDS who stay LDS, sinning set aside! We all can agree we are sinners. For all have fallen short and have sinned. LDS and non LDS. Many LDS sin and "stay" LDS .
I did not leave the LDS church because of some awful sin I committed, that I was unwilling to repent of! Good grief! This "myth" is probably the most insulting of them all. Not only that but terribly judgemental.
The above "myths" are just that..... Myths..... they are simply not the truth, for the most part on why we leave. Yeah, perhaps there are some who may leave for the above reasons, but for the most part those who I have spoken to , this is simply not true!
I would encourage those who remain affiliated with the LDS church to perhaps take some time to really try to understand "why" people really do leave. I believe it will be helpful to them, because the truth of the mattter is Mormons do leave, and they will continue to leave. Who knows, it may be one of your loved ones one day. A child.... a spouse.... a parent... may very well choose to leave the LDS Church.... what will you do about it? Will you be upset? Will you try to understand them and reach out to them with compassion? Will you just make "assumptions" about why they left?
May I suggest the approach of trying to make steps to understanding? If a loved one leaves the LDS church, they are still your loved one are they not? Just because they choose to leave the LDS Church does not mean you need to excommunicate them from your life? Why not try to understand where they are coming from? I can assure you that if you do this, you will build bridges and your relationship will have a better chance of weathering the storm.
As a former LDS, ( I was LDS for 19 yrs) I would like to share with you the following reasons that people may leave the LDS Church for. This list is certainly not inclusive, but it may help you to understand a little more and perhaps help you to build bridges . Who knows, it may be your child or spouse one day who chooses to leave... why not equip yourself with some tools to help you navigate the situation... in any case, all LDS know of at least a few former mormons, whether they be inactive members or former Mormons who have resigned. This may help you understand them a little more. These reasons are based not only on my own expierences with leaving, but on the expierences of the many former LDS I have run across thru the years.
Reasons why LDS may choose to leave or resign from the LDS Church:
1. They simply found something else.
Yes, as hard as that may be to graps for current LDS, some Mormons may simply choose to attend another church or faith expression simply based on the fact that they found "greener pastures". This is not an insult to your faith. Please don't see it that way. It just means that the LDS church is not a "one size fits all" orginization. What works for one, may simply not work for another. That is just human nature. Many former mormons choose to disafilliate with the LDS church simply because they found something that works better for them. That may be another Church or Faith, or it may simply mean they don't want to affiliate with any religion what so ever. Please try to not be offended by that.
I recall a friend of mine who when I told her years back I had left the LDS church because I had found something that ultimately fills my needs more adequately, her response surprised me......... " oh that can't be.. nothing is better than the LDS church! You can't find anything better!" Ok, well that may be very well for her, and her family, but that is her personal choice. Just because she feels that way does not mean others agree. For me personally we have found a church that is staffed with better teachers for my children, offers a more alive and relevant worship service and offers a multitude of ministry opporotunities. Why can't current LDS simply say : " Hey, I'll miss you at church, but I wish you the best!"
The fact of the matter is that the LDS church does not have the corner on the market on Sunday School teachers & worship music. What works for one family, may not work for another.
2. For those of us who have embraced Biblical Christianity, we ultimately have placed our trust fully in Christ and not in a religious denomination.
This is a reason many have for leaving the LDS faith. They have found that the grace of Jesus Christ is enough for them. They do not wish to place their trust in a religion or Church, or the church's ordinances, but in the person of Christ . This reason would definately be one of the main reasons I left personally. I simply came to the conclusion that Jesus Christ, and His work on Calvary is what I need to place my trust in.
3. They have studied LDS history & doctrines and have found discrepncies and contradictions.
This is another common reason I come across for leaving the LDS. Many of my former LDS friends began their journey "out" by studing the LDS doctrines at length. They could not reconcile the contradictions, and so chose to leave. It happens. It is a valid reason for leaving any faith. When one can no longer embrace the doctrines of one's faith, many are not willing to continue to affiliate with that particular faith expression. They resign.
When I realized that Joseph Smith's accounts of his first vision contradicted each other, it greatly disturbed me. Instead of putting it on a shelf as some choose to do, I chose to study it at length and made the ultimate discovery that Smith was not being honest. As a former Mormon, I could not reconcile this part of LDS history, and ultimately this played a part in my choice to resign.
This reason is a common reason why many former Mormons leave.
4. A spouse or loved one exposed them to another faith, and they ultimately made the choice to resign from the LDS church.
Though not as common, as the other reasons stated above, I do from time to time run into a former Mormon who did ultimately choose to resign from the LDS , because they either married a Christian or because a friend or loved one introduced them another faith expression.
5. They just don't "believe it" anymore.
I hear this a lot from former LDS...... ultimately they just didn't believe any more in the doctrines and LDS Church. Perhaps it was a combination of searching doctrines, or just a slow demise of their former faith -- they ultimately just didn't believe anymore. I don't want to get too specific as to "why"... because I have ran across so many reasons, but I think it's fair to say that a great many former Mormons leave because they simply don't believe anymore.
As you have read thus far, former Mormons leave for various reasons. Each one's exit is unique..... but the bottom line is that for most of us who are former LDS, we do not leave for the "myths" stated at the beginning of this post. We don't leave because we are offended, or because it was "too hard" to live. No, for most of us, we have chosen to resign after deep study, prayer, and really a heart search. For most of us who were at one time LDS, we sincerely believed the LDS Church was all it said it is. We did not take delight in leaving. Many of us, left behind a spouse or children or loved ones. We did not embark upon our journey out with light mindedness and flippantness. No for most of us the decision was wrought after deep soul searching and months if not years of questioning and prayer.
Instead of embracing the "myths" why not try to really understand "why" we left? Why not communicate with compassion and an attempt to understand? I can promise you when you do so, you will build bridges with your loved ones, instead of alienating them.
Remember it may be your child or spouse that in the future leaves the LDS church. Why not try to understand them? I think you will find that when you do so, you will be better equipped to navigate the changes in your relationship and build bridges towards understanding and mutual love & respect.
God bless,
Gloria
" I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me."
~ Psalm 19:14~
There is a tendancy, for some LDS to hold beliefs about "why" members of the LDS church resign. Sometimes these beliefs are in fact valid, but many times they are not. In fact there are some "myths" out there about "why" we leave. I thought it might be helpful to discuss those reasons, with the hopes of dispelling the myths.
First of all, the "myths".................
I have noticed that some LDS "may" think former Mormons have left because:
1. They have been offended.
Ok, this one is what I think is one of the silliest reasons and myths around. Why? Because one can be offended in any church, not just the LDS church. Goodness knows people are people -- whether LDS or not. People say and do hurtful things, and are often times insensitive. LDS are not immune to such behaviors, and it's not a reason to ultimately leave a given faith.
Was I offended at any point in my time in the LDS church? Sure, I was! Was that a reason to leave? NO! I would not leave a church simply because someone there says something or does something that is insensitive. Have I been offended by Christians? Heck, yeah! It happens! Church denomination set aside... it happens... both in and out of the LDS Church.
I was a Mormon for 19 years. Yeah, my feelings got hurt from time to time, but that was not the ultimate reason why I resigned. In my 2 yrs since exiting the LDS faith, I have met many former Mormons both online and in "real life" and I have yet to meet someone who resigned because someone hurt their feelings. I am not saying it "can't happen".... I am just saying I don't know of someone personally who left because of this reason.
Honestly, most former Mormons I have met, including myself ... took their faith very seriously. They did not expect perfection from other Mormons, and certainly did not have unrealistic expectations that Mormons were a "perfect" people. I for one would have not left simply because someone hurt my feelings. I took my former faith much more seriously than that. I was committed to what I believed at that time was "the one true Church" and would not have resigned based on some insensitive remark from a fellow LDS.
2. We just didn't "get it"......
I hear this reason probably more than any other reason for leaving the LDS. I have ran in a number of LDS who when they hear that I left the LDS faith, assume I just "didn't get the LDS gospel" . They make the assumption that I really didn't understand the LDS doctrines & faith or I wouldn't have left. Instead of just agreeing to disagree and wishing us well, they just assume we weren't listening all those years, didn't study the LDS gospel and just didn't understand. Can I just say how ridiculous this argument is? Especially for those of us who served full time proslyeting missions, spent years in the LDS church teaching doctrinal classes ( such as Sunday School,Gospel Doctrine, Seminary, RS. Priesthood, etc.) .
Many former Mormons also spent their lives in the LDS church. From the time they were born they were taught LDS doctrines & faith. To be told they didn't "get it" well , that is a bit insulting.
Just because a person chooses to leave a particular faith , does not mean they did not understand it's founding principles and doctrines. Actually the opposite is usually true. It's because they did "get it" ..... that they ended up making the choice to leave.
Most former LDS I know, studied the LDS gospel deeply. In fact, their study led them to find things that were deeply concerning to them. Contradictions in LDS doctrines, and challenging aspects of LDS history have led many a LDS to question their faith. This is true for those who question in other faiths. When I was a Roman Catholic, there were many aspects of the R.C. faith that troubled me. From their non biblical teachings and traditions , to their emphasis on ritual I was disturbed enough to make the choice to leave the R.C. Church.
I have met few former Mormons that left without studying the LDS gospel deeply! Many not only took a deep look at their former faith, but also spoke with their eccliastical leaders, such as their local Bishops, Stake Presidents, Insitute teachers, apologetic leaders from FAIR and other LDS apologists before making the choice to leave the LDS faith. Like me, they wanted to try to make "sense" of the contradictions in doctrine and the troubling spots in LDS history.
To say " we didn't get it" it is to imply that because we made the choice to leave, we never really understood it to begin with. May I say how wrong this assumption is? For many of us, we did get it , and we simply did not agree with it. We chose something different. Whether that was Biblical Christianity, or whether that means to simply exit and not affiliate with another faith.
3. The LDS gospel was too hard to live.
This "myth" is almost laughable. Believe me, being a Christian is so much more difficult in many ways than being LDS. Loving your enemies, doing good to those that hate you & forgiving your LDS family members for shunning you is no easy thing! The LDS gospel may be rule ridden, but that doesn't mean it's "hard" to live. It is also insulting for those of us who truly did committ to living the LDS lifestyle and gospel. Most former Mormons who are now Christians, truly did love their faith and tried sincerely to live it to the best of their abilities. I have also run across a number of them who served faithfully in their LDS church callings, from Bishops to Sunday School teachers to former Temple Presidents and Mission leaders. They didn't leave because it was "too hard".
4. There is some unrepentent sin that was committed .
This is another "myth" that is floating out there with some LDS about "why" some of us leave. Maybe for some this may be true, but I have yet to meet a Former Mormon who left, because of some "sin" they didn't want to repent of!! Goodness knows there are plenty of LDS who stay LDS, sinning set aside! We all can agree we are sinners. For all have fallen short and have sinned. LDS and non LDS. Many LDS sin and "stay" LDS .
I did not leave the LDS church because of some awful sin I committed, that I was unwilling to repent of! Good grief! This "myth" is probably the most insulting of them all. Not only that but terribly judgemental.
The above "myths" are just that..... Myths..... they are simply not the truth, for the most part on why we leave. Yeah, perhaps there are some who may leave for the above reasons, but for the most part those who I have spoken to , this is simply not true!
I would encourage those who remain affiliated with the LDS church to perhaps take some time to really try to understand "why" people really do leave. I believe it will be helpful to them, because the truth of the mattter is Mormons do leave, and they will continue to leave. Who knows, it may be one of your loved ones one day. A child.... a spouse.... a parent... may very well choose to leave the LDS Church.... what will you do about it? Will you be upset? Will you try to understand them and reach out to them with compassion? Will you just make "assumptions" about why they left?
May I suggest the approach of trying to make steps to understanding? If a loved one leaves the LDS church, they are still your loved one are they not? Just because they choose to leave the LDS Church does not mean you need to excommunicate them from your life? Why not try to understand where they are coming from? I can assure you that if you do this, you will build bridges and your relationship will have a better chance of weathering the storm.
As a former LDS, ( I was LDS for 19 yrs) I would like to share with you the following reasons that people may leave the LDS Church for. This list is certainly not inclusive, but it may help you to understand a little more and perhaps help you to build bridges . Who knows, it may be your child or spouse one day who chooses to leave... why not equip yourself with some tools to help you navigate the situation... in any case, all LDS know of at least a few former mormons, whether they be inactive members or former Mormons who have resigned. This may help you understand them a little more. These reasons are based not only on my own expierences with leaving, but on the expierences of the many former LDS I have run across thru the years.
Reasons why LDS may choose to leave or resign from the LDS Church:
1. They simply found something else.
Yes, as hard as that may be to graps for current LDS, some Mormons may simply choose to attend another church or faith expression simply based on the fact that they found "greener pastures". This is not an insult to your faith. Please don't see it that way. It just means that the LDS church is not a "one size fits all" orginization. What works for one, may simply not work for another. That is just human nature. Many former mormons choose to disafilliate with the LDS church simply because they found something that works better for them. That may be another Church or Faith, or it may simply mean they don't want to affiliate with any religion what so ever. Please try to not be offended by that.
I recall a friend of mine who when I told her years back I had left the LDS church because I had found something that ultimately fills my needs more adequately, her response surprised me......... " oh that can't be.. nothing is better than the LDS church! You can't find anything better!" Ok, well that may be very well for her, and her family, but that is her personal choice. Just because she feels that way does not mean others agree. For me personally we have found a church that is staffed with better teachers for my children, offers a more alive and relevant worship service and offers a multitude of ministry opporotunities. Why can't current LDS simply say : " Hey, I'll miss you at church, but I wish you the best!"
The fact of the matter is that the LDS church does not have the corner on the market on Sunday School teachers & worship music. What works for one family, may not work for another.
2. For those of us who have embraced Biblical Christianity, we ultimately have placed our trust fully in Christ and not in a religious denomination.
This is a reason many have for leaving the LDS faith. They have found that the grace of Jesus Christ is enough for them. They do not wish to place their trust in a religion or Church, or the church's ordinances, but in the person of Christ . This reason would definately be one of the main reasons I left personally. I simply came to the conclusion that Jesus Christ, and His work on Calvary is what I need to place my trust in.
3. They have studied LDS history & doctrines and have found discrepncies and contradictions.
This is another common reason I come across for leaving the LDS. Many of my former LDS friends began their journey "out" by studing the LDS doctrines at length. They could not reconcile the contradictions, and so chose to leave. It happens. It is a valid reason for leaving any faith. When one can no longer embrace the doctrines of one's faith, many are not willing to continue to affiliate with that particular faith expression. They resign.
When I realized that Joseph Smith's accounts of his first vision contradicted each other, it greatly disturbed me. Instead of putting it on a shelf as some choose to do, I chose to study it at length and made the ultimate discovery that Smith was not being honest. As a former Mormon, I could not reconcile this part of LDS history, and ultimately this played a part in my choice to resign.
This reason is a common reason why many former Mormons leave.
4. A spouse or loved one exposed them to another faith, and they ultimately made the choice to resign from the LDS church.
Though not as common, as the other reasons stated above, I do from time to time run into a former Mormon who did ultimately choose to resign from the LDS , because they either married a Christian or because a friend or loved one introduced them another faith expression.
5. They just don't "believe it" anymore.
I hear this a lot from former LDS...... ultimately they just didn't believe any more in the doctrines and LDS Church. Perhaps it was a combination of searching doctrines, or just a slow demise of their former faith -- they ultimately just didn't believe anymore. I don't want to get too specific as to "why"... because I have ran across so many reasons, but I think it's fair to say that a great many former Mormons leave because they simply don't believe anymore.
As you have read thus far, former Mormons leave for various reasons. Each one's exit is unique..... but the bottom line is that for most of us who are former LDS, we do not leave for the "myths" stated at the beginning of this post. We don't leave because we are offended, or because it was "too hard" to live. No, for most of us, we have chosen to resign after deep study, prayer, and really a heart search. For most of us who were at one time LDS, we sincerely believed the LDS Church was all it said it is. We did not take delight in leaving. Many of us, left behind a spouse or children or loved ones. We did not embark upon our journey out with light mindedness and flippantness. No for most of us the decision was wrought after deep soul searching and months if not years of questioning and prayer.
Instead of embracing the "myths" why not try to really understand "why" we left? Why not communicate with compassion and an attempt to understand? I can promise you when you do so, you will build bridges with your loved ones, instead of alienating them.
Remember it may be your child or spouse that in the future leaves the LDS church. Why not try to understand them? I think you will find that when you do so, you will be better equipped to navigate the changes in your relationship and build bridges towards understanding and mutual love & respect.
God bless,
Gloria
" I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me."
~ Psalm 19:14~
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Is it really about grace?
For some time now, God has been prodding me to blog here about grace. To be honest, life is so incredibly crazy full with homeschooling my 10 kiddos, bible study, fellowship with the King, ministry work, keeping house, shopping, house keeping, etc. that my time to blog takes a back seat.
This morning after my time of fellowship with the Lord again, I once again had that distinct thought to blog here again on grace.
So, I guess I need to follow thru on what God is clearly pushing me forward to share, eh? Lord Jesus, may my words be acceptable to You!
My church is studying the book of Romans for bible study. Awesome, amazing stuff in the book of Romans! I am thoroughly enjoying the study and learning so much!
Last night, we studied Romans chapter 10 & 11.....( some of my favorite chapters in the entire book) .......
This passage jumped out at me and I knew I needed to share it here.
" And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace otherwise work is no longer work. " - Romans 11:6
If we believe we are saved by grace + _________ ( fill in the blank) then it's no longer grace, friends.
Abraham, the "father of the Jews" was justified by God because of His faith, not because of his good works.
" For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. " Romans 4:2-3
" If" Abraham had been justified by "his works" he has nothing to boast about before God.
" Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." -- Romans 4:4 & 5
If we are saved by "works" or by "grace + works" then the wages of our works is not counted as grace. The wages of our works then are counted as "debt".
The whole awesome amazing thing about grace is that it has nothing to do with our works... but on the whole entire work, life, and blood of JESUS Christ the Messiah!
Abraham was made right with God even before he was circumcised. It had nothing to do with circumcision and "works". Romans 3:10
As a born again believer, I am made right with God thru my faith and belief in the *work* Jesus did . More specifically, the work He did on Calvary.
It has nothing to do with my good works. Sure, God cares about our good works. The purpose of our good works was clearly defined by Jesus when he said :
" By this is my Father glorified, when you bear much fruit." John 15:8
Our "fruit" or "good works" are to bring glory and honor to God. Not to seek favors or to gain something from God, and definitely not to be able to "gain" or "work out" where we will end up in the eternities.
Jesus worked out our salvation on Calvary.
His blood is what justifies us.
" Since we have now been justified by His blood. " Romans 5:9
Grace is not grace if we add works or anything else to it.
It is solely the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that saves us, and allows us access us to the throne of God to live eternally is His presence.
Anything else, simply put.... is not grace.
That's the message I have today here for those who stop by and read. That is what God has led me to share. I hope it leads you to think deeply about grace... for those of you who already understand how awesome and amazing His grace is, I say to you, Praise God.. and to those of you who are still wondering if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is enough... I say to you, YES, YES, YES! His blood is enough.
Amen & Amen it is enough ,
Gloria
This morning after my time of fellowship with the Lord again, I once again had that distinct thought to blog here again on grace.
So, I guess I need to follow thru on what God is clearly pushing me forward to share, eh? Lord Jesus, may my words be acceptable to You!
My church is studying the book of Romans for bible study. Awesome, amazing stuff in the book of Romans! I am thoroughly enjoying the study and learning so much!
Last night, we studied Romans chapter 10 & 11.....( some of my favorite chapters in the entire book) .......
This passage jumped out at me and I knew I needed to share it here.
" And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace otherwise work is no longer work. " - Romans 11:6
If we believe we are saved by grace + _________ ( fill in the blank) then it's no longer grace, friends.
Abraham, the "father of the Jews" was justified by God because of His faith, not because of his good works.
" For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. " Romans 4:2-3
" If" Abraham had been justified by "his works" he has nothing to boast about before God.
" Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." -- Romans 4:4 & 5
If we are saved by "works" or by "grace + works" then the wages of our works is not counted as grace. The wages of our works then are counted as "debt".
The whole awesome amazing thing about grace is that it has nothing to do with our works... but on the whole entire work, life, and blood of JESUS Christ the Messiah!
Abraham was made right with God even before he was circumcised. It had nothing to do with circumcision and "works". Romans 3:10
As a born again believer, I am made right with God thru my faith and belief in the *work* Jesus did . More specifically, the work He did on Calvary.
It has nothing to do with my good works. Sure, God cares about our good works. The purpose of our good works was clearly defined by Jesus when he said :
" By this is my Father glorified, when you bear much fruit." John 15:8
Our "fruit" or "good works" are to bring glory and honor to God. Not to seek favors or to gain something from God, and definitely not to be able to "gain" or "work out" where we will end up in the eternities.
Jesus worked out our salvation on Calvary.
His blood is what justifies us.
" Since we have now been justified by His blood. " Romans 5:9
Grace is not grace if we add works or anything else to it.
It is solely the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that saves us, and allows us access us to the throne of God to live eternally is His presence.
Anything else, simply put.... is not grace.
That's the message I have today here for those who stop by and read. That is what God has led me to share. I hope it leads you to think deeply about grace... for those of you who already understand how awesome and amazing His grace is, I say to you, Praise God.. and to those of you who are still wondering if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is enough... I say to you, YES, YES, YES! His blood is enough.
Amen & Amen it is enough ,
Gloria
Monday, September 28, 2009
New Poll!
Hi, all! Please take a moment and vote in my newest poll I have posted on the side of my blog.
Thanks!
Gloria
Thanks!
Gloria
New Bible for the LDS Church?
The LDS Church has announced it's plans to re-translate the Spanish Bible. Before this time, Spanish speaking LDS members used their own Spanish Bible translation of the KJV or " Reina Valera" translation. It's important to take note, that this a new translation, not just a reprint of the KJV translation with a LDS book cover. To read more about this, you can visit the LDS Church's official website and read up on this project.
I suspect the LDS church will include the various changes it's founder Joseph Smith, made to the original text of the KJV. These can be found at the back of the current English version of the LDS published Bible. I also suspect the new Spanish LDS edition of the Bible will have the LDS footnotes at the top of each chapter and cross references to other LDS scriptures, as it does in the English version.
What I do wonder is how long will it be before the LDS Church re-translates the English Version of the Bible into their own translation/version? Right now, the LDS church uses the KJV, and also adds their own footnotes, and cross references to other LDS cannonized Scriptures. I wonder if this step will lead LDS leaders to come up with their own Bible translation in English and then do the same in other languages?
I also wonder, and wondered when I was a practicing LDS, "why" they just don't lay aside the KJV all together and use the Joseph Smith Inspired Version like the Reorganized Church and other splinter churches from the original church Joseph Smith founded.
My concern is this, right now the LDS people have God's word available to them in the KJV. Yes, there are LDS footnotes, and cross references, but God's Word is still available to them to read. For me personally, my exit from the LDS was deeply affected by reading the Bible. ( and yes it was an LDS published KJV bible!) God has promised us that His word will not return void and will go forth and fulfill the purposes it is intened by God to do, and that is to bring men to a knowledge of their sinfullness and need of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As long as the LDS do have access to the Bible, there is great hope, that many will pick it up and read and may come to see the truth.
"If" the LDS church re-translates the Bible it's members use there is reason to be concerned. Other Cults also have their "own" translations, including the Jehovah Witnesses. These translations change God's Word in essential ways.
For example, what if the LDS church changed John 1: 1 from what it states now to what Joseph Smith said it should be?
Right now John 1: 1 states:
" In the begining was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. "
Joseph changed this passage to read:
" In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God and the Son was of God."
Can you see the significant change in the text & meaning of this passage?
All of sudden Jesus is no longer the WORD, and no longer is HE GOD.
Big difference! Big change!
So there lies my concern.
All I can do is hope & pray God would intervene, that the LDS people would begin to read their Bibles more , like I did, and that God would use His word to divide asunder, and to convict them of the error of the LDS doctrines. I guess time will tell.
One can hope & definately one can pray ~ He is able!
gloria
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
My LDS friend keeps inviting me to LDS functions, what should I make of it?
A while back, a comment was left by a reader who was wondering if her LDS's friend desire to invite her to her church's function was sincerely just wanting to "include her in the fun" or could there be an "ulterior motive" to her invites?
First of all, I do not claim to be able to discern the motives and intents of an individuals heart. I simply can not make that call. Only the Lord Himself can make that judgement call. With that said, I can share with you what my personal experience was when I was a LDS.
If any of you have spent any time with LDS, you know for the most part they are a social people. They enjoy getting together . They host "ward dinners" ... that is another word for a "potluck" or "fellowship meals". They host big Halloween parties, Christmas' Dinners & celebrate the Mormon pioneers who travelled to Utah by handcart and wagon. ( Pioneer Day Celebrations)
LDS are not only encouraged to bring their families, they are also encouraged to bring their "less active" friends, that is Mormons who are not actively participating in the LDS programs or attending Church regularly. The hope or "desire" is to "activate" them or "bring them back into the fold sort of speak". Active Mormons ( those who attend church regularly) are encouraged to also invite their friends or family who are *not* LDS. Their hope or motive is to "share the LDS gospel" with them.
When I was trained at the Mission training center in Provo, Utah prior to leaving for my 18 mos LDS proselytizing mission to Argentina, I was taught the "commitment pattern". The commitment pattern is a multi step program geared at activation and converting non members to the LDS gospel. It is a very simple program involving that the active Mormon do the following:
1. Build a relationship of trust with the non member, or less active Mormon
This should be done subtly, thru showing concern , empathy and interest toward the potential convert. For example, as a missionary we were taught when door knocking, we should not just tell a person strait out " hi, we are here to share the restored gospel, and to invite you to become a member of our church!" No, that wouldn't work too well! Instead we were trained to come up with methods to build a relationship with the person *first*. We might ask or inquire about the person's work, family, home, interests, etc. The goal was to "build trust" with that person.
2. Share/ Invite the Spirit was the second step involved in the commitment pattern. Missionaries were taught that after inquiring about a person's interests, showing concern, etc. we were then trained to share something "spiritual" with them. For example, if an Elder or LDS missionary approaches the home of a family with children, he/she may first ask about each child. Their name, age, interests etc. They then would state that they know families are special and that God has a plan for families to be forever together. The missionary may then ask the potential convert if they believe or would wish to be with their family forever?
3. Testify: The next step of the commitment pattern would be to "testify" to the potential convert. An Elder or Sister may say something like " I know God has a plan for families to be together forever. He wants us to enjoy our families for not just this life but the next".
4. The final step would be to invite or challenge the potential convert : " We would like to invite you and your family to hear a message about how families can be together forever. We would like to return on such and such a day to share that message. " That is the final step of the commitment pattern. Committing the potential convert to some kind of commitment, whether it be to attend LDS church services, or listen to the missionary discussions or to be baptized into the Mormon faith.
The above steps are taught to the LDS missionaries prior to being sent off on their mission.
The LDS church teaches and believes that *every* Mormon should be a missionary.
Missionaries work with the members in the wards to help them in their missionary efforts.
I remember well many times the Elders would come over and we would write a list of non member friends and family. We were told to pray over that list and listen to the "spirit" tell us which one of those names listed we would invite to hear the Mormon missionary discussions. We were encouraged to fast and pray that God would help us to "share" the gospel with these people.
We would plan a "family home evening" ( Monday night family activity) and invite our non member friends or family. We might even have the Mormon Elders there to "share" or present a "gospel" message. The goal was to help the non member convert to Mormonism.
Members are encouraged by missionaries and their Bishops to invite their non Mormon friends to Ward dinners, and activities. A stake or ward may even go as far as to host an "open house" or activity especially geared at teaching the non member about the Mormon faith.
I want to state here, that as a missionary I was taught to set goals and determine a certain number of converts I wished to see baptized each month. I was told to set goals for how many book of Mormons I gave out each week, and how many discussions I taught to potential converts.
Mormon Stakes & Wards have "stake missionaries" or "ward missionaries" that is a lay member of their Ward is called by their bishop to serve as a missionary within their particular ward boundaries. ( they do not leave their families or area they live in)
So as you can see, the LDS church is a Church that places great emphasis on converting non Mormons to their Church. They also try hard to "re-activate" those LDS who have drifted away from the Mormon Church.
The question posed by my reader, about her LDS friend then can be addressed in light of the information shared on this post. Her friend may most likely be inviting her to these events with the hopes of converting her friend, or she may be feeling pressured by LDS missionaries that are working with her family to invite non LDS friends to her Church's events and activities.
Please take note, that the LDS do this with sincerity of heart for the most part. They truly believe they are being obedient to their leaders wishes, and please take note that they believe that their Church is the ONLY TRUE church on the earth today. They believe that it is only thru the LDS church that one can receive all the necessary teachings and ordinances ( baptism, confirmation, temple endowment, sealing, etc) for a person to live with God forever.
So the next time your LDS friend invites you to a ward dinner or over to dinner ~ be aware that there may very well be an ulterior motive to their invitation. For Christians reading this post, you may wonder "what should I do, if that is the case?" I would strongly recommend that you tell your LDS friend that you are aware of their church's focus on converting people to their Church. Be sure to tell you friend you are aware, and understand their motives for doing so. Be sincere & kind. This will unguard them sort of speak --- once they "know" you "Know" what is going on, they may feel more free to just be themselves. The pressure will be "off" and they can let their true colors show. Many LDS will feel a sense of relief that they don't need to work at converting you! :) You may then just enjoy one an other's company without any strings attached. Be aware though, that not all LDS may wish to continue the friendship once they know you "know" what is the motive. They may have just become a friend with the intention of converting you. That is not always the case, but it happens enough to warrant my sharing this here. To give you an example, my older sis moved to Utah in the 1990's. Never been a Mormon, she knew little about the LDS culture. She moved to very Mormon Sandy, Utah. They purchased a home in a predominately LDS neighborhood. She was amazed at how friendly everyone was! Cookies, brownies and bread came from all over the place! Wow, she was impressed. Everyone welcomed them to the neighborhood. After a bit , the invites came to attend the local ward and to have the missionaries come over. My sister, being a devout member of another faith, politely declined their offers. What happened next is so sad. Basically these people were only friendly for the possible conversion of my sister and her family. After being told they had no interest in becoming Mormon, they basically ignored her & her family.
Now, I know not all LDS are going to respond that way. I most certainly did not when I was LDS. If a friend or some one else said "sorry, not interested", I did not just drop them and move on. I saw this happen enough though to know this does indeed happen. I hope my LDS readers realize that I know that not all LDS respond like in this way.
Bottom line, the LDS do have an agenda. The agenda is to convert you to Mormonism.
They may invite you to their local ward activities, or over to dinner or share an LDS movie production with the hopes of converting you.
All you need to do is be honest with them and politely tell them you know "what's up" and "no thanks". They may ask you "why not" and that may open the door for you to share about Jesus with them.
I also want to say, I realize that Christians as well have an "agenda" . As a born again believer, my hope my great desire is to see souls sold out for Christ Jesus!!! I want to see as many people as possible come to the saving knowledge that Christ Saves! I long to see my LDS friends released from the bondage of a religion and into a relationship with the King of Kings!
Yeah, I have an agenda too.
The difference is, for the most part the Christian evangelist is open, transparent about their motives. They will come out and say I want to see you saved, friend. There is no commitment pattern. No building a relationship of trust. To be honest friends, there may be not be enough time for such things, because the world is on fire, and we are called to grab our houses and start crying out : JESUS SAVES, run!
I think that is the greatest difference I see in the evangelization efforts of the LDS vs. Christianity.
Our goal as Christian is not to fill up our Churches -- but to fill up Heaven!!!!
Our goal is not to convert to our particular denominational choice, but to see souls converted to the King of Kings!
... And hopefully if our friends and neighbors and loved ones reject the good news... we will keep loving them....... we are called to do so, friends. We just don't drop them off, and say "move on". No, we keep loving on them, knowing that the God who saves is able in His time to open eyes and ears to the truth in Christ!
So the next time your LDS friend or neighbor invites you over for dinner with the Elders, you'll hopefully be equipped to perhaps unguard them , and also with God's help and grace to share the fantastic news that what Jesus did is sufficient for all men!
God bless,
Gloria
First of all, I do not claim to be able to discern the motives and intents of an individuals heart. I simply can not make that call. Only the Lord Himself can make that judgement call. With that said, I can share with you what my personal experience was when I was a LDS.
If any of you have spent any time with LDS, you know for the most part they are a social people. They enjoy getting together . They host "ward dinners" ... that is another word for a "potluck" or "fellowship meals". They host big Halloween parties, Christmas' Dinners & celebrate the Mormon pioneers who travelled to Utah by handcart and wagon. ( Pioneer Day Celebrations)
LDS are not only encouraged to bring their families, they are also encouraged to bring their "less active" friends, that is Mormons who are not actively participating in the LDS programs or attending Church regularly. The hope or "desire" is to "activate" them or "bring them back into the fold sort of speak". Active Mormons ( those who attend church regularly) are encouraged to also invite their friends or family who are *not* LDS. Their hope or motive is to "share the LDS gospel" with them.
When I was trained at the Mission training center in Provo, Utah prior to leaving for my 18 mos LDS proselytizing mission to Argentina, I was taught the "commitment pattern". The commitment pattern is a multi step program geared at activation and converting non members to the LDS gospel. It is a very simple program involving that the active Mormon do the following:
1. Build a relationship of trust with the non member, or less active Mormon
This should be done subtly, thru showing concern , empathy and interest toward the potential convert. For example, as a missionary we were taught when door knocking, we should not just tell a person strait out " hi, we are here to share the restored gospel, and to invite you to become a member of our church!" No, that wouldn't work too well! Instead we were trained to come up with methods to build a relationship with the person *first*. We might ask or inquire about the person's work, family, home, interests, etc. The goal was to "build trust" with that person.
2. Share/ Invite the Spirit was the second step involved in the commitment pattern. Missionaries were taught that after inquiring about a person's interests, showing concern, etc. we were then trained to share something "spiritual" with them. For example, if an Elder or LDS missionary approaches the home of a family with children, he/she may first ask about each child. Their name, age, interests etc. They then would state that they know families are special and that God has a plan for families to be forever together. The missionary may then ask the potential convert if they believe or would wish to be with their family forever?
3. Testify: The next step of the commitment pattern would be to "testify" to the potential convert. An Elder or Sister may say something like " I know God has a plan for families to be together forever. He wants us to enjoy our families for not just this life but the next".
4. The final step would be to invite or challenge the potential convert : " We would like to invite you and your family to hear a message about how families can be together forever. We would like to return on such and such a day to share that message. " That is the final step of the commitment pattern. Committing the potential convert to some kind of commitment, whether it be to attend LDS church services, or listen to the missionary discussions or to be baptized into the Mormon faith.
The above steps are taught to the LDS missionaries prior to being sent off on their mission.
The LDS church teaches and believes that *every* Mormon should be a missionary.
Missionaries work with the members in the wards to help them in their missionary efforts.
I remember well many times the Elders would come over and we would write a list of non member friends and family. We were told to pray over that list and listen to the "spirit" tell us which one of those names listed we would invite to hear the Mormon missionary discussions. We were encouraged to fast and pray that God would help us to "share" the gospel with these people.
We would plan a "family home evening" ( Monday night family activity) and invite our non member friends or family. We might even have the Mormon Elders there to "share" or present a "gospel" message. The goal was to help the non member convert to Mormonism.
Members are encouraged by missionaries and their Bishops to invite their non Mormon friends to Ward dinners, and activities. A stake or ward may even go as far as to host an "open house" or activity especially geared at teaching the non member about the Mormon faith.
I want to state here, that as a missionary I was taught to set goals and determine a certain number of converts I wished to see baptized each month. I was told to set goals for how many book of Mormons I gave out each week, and how many discussions I taught to potential converts.
Mormon Stakes & Wards have "stake missionaries" or "ward missionaries" that is a lay member of their Ward is called by their bishop to serve as a missionary within their particular ward boundaries. ( they do not leave their families or area they live in)
So as you can see, the LDS church is a Church that places great emphasis on converting non Mormons to their Church. They also try hard to "re-activate" those LDS who have drifted away from the Mormon Church.
The question posed by my reader, about her LDS friend then can be addressed in light of the information shared on this post. Her friend may most likely be inviting her to these events with the hopes of converting her friend, or she may be feeling pressured by LDS missionaries that are working with her family to invite non LDS friends to her Church's events and activities.
Please take note, that the LDS do this with sincerity of heart for the most part. They truly believe they are being obedient to their leaders wishes, and please take note that they believe that their Church is the ONLY TRUE church on the earth today. They believe that it is only thru the LDS church that one can receive all the necessary teachings and ordinances ( baptism, confirmation, temple endowment, sealing, etc) for a person to live with God forever.
So the next time your LDS friend invites you to a ward dinner or over to dinner ~ be aware that there may very well be an ulterior motive to their invitation. For Christians reading this post, you may wonder "what should I do, if that is the case?" I would strongly recommend that you tell your LDS friend that you are aware of their church's focus on converting people to their Church. Be sure to tell you friend you are aware, and understand their motives for doing so. Be sincere & kind. This will unguard them sort of speak --- once they "know" you "Know" what is going on, they may feel more free to just be themselves. The pressure will be "off" and they can let their true colors show. Many LDS will feel a sense of relief that they don't need to work at converting you! :) You may then just enjoy one an other's company without any strings attached. Be aware though, that not all LDS may wish to continue the friendship once they know you "know" what is the motive. They may have just become a friend with the intention of converting you. That is not always the case, but it happens enough to warrant my sharing this here. To give you an example, my older sis moved to Utah in the 1990's. Never been a Mormon, she knew little about the LDS culture. She moved to very Mormon Sandy, Utah. They purchased a home in a predominately LDS neighborhood. She was amazed at how friendly everyone was! Cookies, brownies and bread came from all over the place! Wow, she was impressed. Everyone welcomed them to the neighborhood. After a bit , the invites came to attend the local ward and to have the missionaries come over. My sister, being a devout member of another faith, politely declined their offers. What happened next is so sad. Basically these people were only friendly for the possible conversion of my sister and her family. After being told they had no interest in becoming Mormon, they basically ignored her & her family.
Now, I know not all LDS are going to respond that way. I most certainly did not when I was LDS. If a friend or some one else said "sorry, not interested", I did not just drop them and move on. I saw this happen enough though to know this does indeed happen. I hope my LDS readers realize that I know that not all LDS respond like in this way.
Bottom line, the LDS do have an agenda. The agenda is to convert you to Mormonism.
They may invite you to their local ward activities, or over to dinner or share an LDS movie production with the hopes of converting you.
All you need to do is be honest with them and politely tell them you know "what's up" and "no thanks". They may ask you "why not" and that may open the door for you to share about Jesus with them.
I also want to say, I realize that Christians as well have an "agenda" . As a born again believer, my hope my great desire is to see souls sold out for Christ Jesus!!! I want to see as many people as possible come to the saving knowledge that Christ Saves! I long to see my LDS friends released from the bondage of a religion and into a relationship with the King of Kings!
Yeah, I have an agenda too.
The difference is, for the most part the Christian evangelist is open, transparent about their motives. They will come out and say I want to see you saved, friend. There is no commitment pattern. No building a relationship of trust. To be honest friends, there may be not be enough time for such things, because the world is on fire, and we are called to grab our houses and start crying out : JESUS SAVES, run!
I think that is the greatest difference I see in the evangelization efforts of the LDS vs. Christianity.
Our goal as Christian is not to fill up our Churches -- but to fill up Heaven!!!!
Our goal is not to convert to our particular denominational choice, but to see souls converted to the King of Kings!
... And hopefully if our friends and neighbors and loved ones reject the good news... we will keep loving them....... we are called to do so, friends. We just don't drop them off, and say "move on". No, we keep loving on them, knowing that the God who saves is able in His time to open eyes and ears to the truth in Christ!
So the next time your LDS friend or neighbor invites you over for dinner with the Elders, you'll hopefully be equipped to perhaps unguard them , and also with God's help and grace to share the fantastic news that what Jesus did is sufficient for all men!
God bless,
Gloria
Monday, August 24, 2009
My child has decided to serve a Mormon mission, now what?
Recently, a reader left a comment here on my blog. His daughter was soon to leave on a Mormon mission. He asked "what" he could tell her before she left. This young woman's father was a former Mormon, now redeemed by God's amazing grace. He loves his daughter and is concerned for her.
After pondering upon this situation and giving it some prayer, I wanted to offer some encouragement to this dad. :) Perhaps there are other Christian readers who are in a similar situation, with a child or loved one getting ready to go on a Mormon mission.
First of all, I would encourage this dad and any others to PRAY! I can not encourage that enough. Pray that God will give you the words to speak. Pray that God will give you the grace to love that person in spite of their choices, and pray for the wisdom to speak and share God's word with them. Pray for opportunities to share the Good News! Pray for their hearts to be softened and for their eyes to be opened. Pray that they will be receptive , when the time comes to what you may be led to share! In short PRAY!!!!!
I have shared here recently, about a young LDS woman I have been praying for. She recently was sent to the Midwest on a Mormon 18 mos proselytizing mission. I have been praying daily for her. God , has answered my prayers in amazing ways!!!! She has been meeting with a christian pastor each week and he has been teaching her about Jesus. She has also befriends born again Christians who have opened their home to her, shared the love of Jesus with her and a meal too! :) I am just floored by how God is working!! I am praying daily that God will use believers to share the truth with her in love and with boldness. I believe God will do a great work in her while she serves her Mormon mission. God is not restricted by the situations around Him, folks. That means He can save Mormons while they serve a Mormon mission ! I have personally read the testimonies of young Mormons who were saved while serving a Mormon mission and then came home and left the Mormons and embraced Christianity. Friends, it is possible! Our God sits on the throne and He is still in the miracle business!!
Never ever ever underestimate the power of prayer, friends!!!!!!
Secondly, I would encourage this father and others to really show forth LOVE. Love is a huge thing. I think we underestimate it's power in the lives of the lost. When we reach out with love, hearts are softened....... minds are opened...... ears become receptive. Let your Mormon friends see that love. Genuine love. Show them the defining fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ -- LOVE.
They will know we are Christians by our love. I love that song!!! We sing it often in our home!
For this dad who is worried about his daughter -- I encourage you to love her!!!! Write to her when she leaves and just tell her how much you love her, and are praying for her.Let her never doubt your love for her. Let it be an unconditional rock in her life!
Friends I know it's easy to become frustrated with our LDS family and friends. But let's remember, God calls us to love. Sometimes that can be tough. Sometimes , they are hard to love.
Believe me, I understand..... but God calls us to love one another. He didn't not say "love only believers". He said to love everyone.
Finally, when the time is right and the Holy Spirit directs, share the truth we know and hold dear. Share the good news! Plant those seeds of grace. Perhaps you are discouraged, thinking they won't listen.... won't receive. Friends, one never knows. God calls some to plant seeds, some to pull the weeds, some to till the soil and some to harvest...... it's rare that any of us would see the entire process all the way thru with a lost soul. Most of the time, we get to do one of the above... plant a seed, or weed, or harvest........ all are important.
I want to encourage this father and others to PRAY, LOVE & when the time is share the good news!! God is more concerned about your lost loved one than we are!! He wants them saved and safely in His kingdom more than we do!
Entrust HIM with your loved ones that are lost.
He is still the God who saves.
It is HIS work.
We can trust that He will complete the good work He has begun in their lives ~
And remember, I am praying for you too!!!!!!
God bless,
Gloria
After pondering upon this situation and giving it some prayer, I wanted to offer some encouragement to this dad. :) Perhaps there are other Christian readers who are in a similar situation, with a child or loved one getting ready to go on a Mormon mission.
First of all, I would encourage this dad and any others to PRAY! I can not encourage that enough. Pray that God will give you the words to speak. Pray that God will give you the grace to love that person in spite of their choices, and pray for the wisdom to speak and share God's word with them. Pray for opportunities to share the Good News! Pray for their hearts to be softened and for their eyes to be opened. Pray that they will be receptive , when the time comes to what you may be led to share! In short PRAY!!!!!
I have shared here recently, about a young LDS woman I have been praying for. She recently was sent to the Midwest on a Mormon 18 mos proselytizing mission. I have been praying daily for her. God , has answered my prayers in amazing ways!!!! She has been meeting with a christian pastor each week and he has been teaching her about Jesus. She has also befriends born again Christians who have opened their home to her, shared the love of Jesus with her and a meal too! :) I am just floored by how God is working!! I am praying daily that God will use believers to share the truth with her in love and with boldness. I believe God will do a great work in her while she serves her Mormon mission. God is not restricted by the situations around Him, folks. That means He can save Mormons while they serve a Mormon mission ! I have personally read the testimonies of young Mormons who were saved while serving a Mormon mission and then came home and left the Mormons and embraced Christianity. Friends, it is possible! Our God sits on the throne and He is still in the miracle business!!
Never ever ever underestimate the power of prayer, friends!!!!!!
Secondly, I would encourage this father and others to really show forth LOVE. Love is a huge thing. I think we underestimate it's power in the lives of the lost. When we reach out with love, hearts are softened....... minds are opened...... ears become receptive. Let your Mormon friends see that love. Genuine love. Show them the defining fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ -- LOVE.
They will know we are Christians by our love. I love that song!!! We sing it often in our home!
For this dad who is worried about his daughter -- I encourage you to love her!!!! Write to her when she leaves and just tell her how much you love her, and are praying for her.Let her never doubt your love for her. Let it be an unconditional rock in her life!
Friends I know it's easy to become frustrated with our LDS family and friends. But let's remember, God calls us to love. Sometimes that can be tough. Sometimes , they are hard to love.
Believe me, I understand..... but God calls us to love one another. He didn't not say "love only believers". He said to love everyone.
Finally, when the time is right and the Holy Spirit directs, share the truth we know and hold dear. Share the good news! Plant those seeds of grace. Perhaps you are discouraged, thinking they won't listen.... won't receive. Friends, one never knows. God calls some to plant seeds, some to pull the weeds, some to till the soil and some to harvest...... it's rare that any of us would see the entire process all the way thru with a lost soul. Most of the time, we get to do one of the above... plant a seed, or weed, or harvest........ all are important.
I want to encourage this father and others to PRAY, LOVE & when the time is share the good news!! God is more concerned about your lost loved one than we are!! He wants them saved and safely in His kingdom more than we do!
Entrust HIM with your loved ones that are lost.
He is still the God who saves.
It is HIS work.
We can trust that He will complete the good work He has begun in their lives ~
And remember, I am praying for you too!!!!!!
God bless,
Gloria
Friday, August 21, 2009
Mormon Apostle Urges Mormons to Avoid Defensiveness
Recently, Russell Ballard, Mormon Apostle spoke at the Commencement Exercises of BYU students in Provo, Utah. He urged LDS to avoid becoming defensive when speaking about the LDS church and it's teachings.
Mr. Ballard referred to recent research that suggested that Mormons can sometimes appear defensive to those who are not members of the LDS Church." The study said, that when Mormons are explaining their beliefs, they couch their language in terms that suggest that they are expecting criticism. "
The full text of Mr. Ballard's remarks are available at the LDS website newsroom.
I thought this was timely to share in light of my recent posts.
I agree with Mr. Ballard.
" Among the reasons for this type of reaction is the long history of persecution that Mormons faced during the early days of the Church.... that is now an inedible part of history. You have heard these stories of hardship and sacrifice since you were a small child. And yet this isn't 1830 and there aren't 6 of us anymore." -- Russell Ballard
Well said, Mr. Ballard!
I have for many years, even prior to leaving the LDS church, felt that some LDS suffer from a "persecution complex".
The LDS suffered persecution for a relatively short period of time in U.S. history. When you compare it to the years and amount of persecution Christians have endured. Don't believe me? Check out www.persecutedchurch.org and read up on what is going on in the world today, and you'll get a better idea of what persecution is all about for Christians.
Do you know that in 53 countries today the Bible is outlawed?
Do you know that as I type Christians are being burned, killed and imprisoned in countries like Korea, Iraq, and India?
As Christians, what is our response to the persecution?
Jesus said it well when He said, " Blessed are you who are persecuted... rejoice and be exceedingly glad!!" Yep, we are to rejoice and count it all for joy when we are counted worthy to suffer for Jesus!!!
Are Christians to become angry and bitter and defensive at those who persecute and chide?
NO!
The Lord told us to love our enemies.
Do good to those that use us.
And pray for those who persecute us.
Yep, we are to pray for the Muslim nations who kill and imprison Christians.
Yep, we are to pray for those who would seek to harm innocent Christians.
Yep, we are to pray for our mormon friends and family who make fun our salvation experiences. ( that has happened to me more times than I can count!)
We are not to become defensive and angry and bitter and least of all to develop some kind of persecution complex.
Persecution is the name of the game if your walkin with Jesus.
Bring it on!
In Christ alone,
gloria
Mr. Ballard referred to recent research that suggested that Mormons can sometimes appear defensive to those who are not members of the LDS Church." The study said, that when Mormons are explaining their beliefs, they couch their language in terms that suggest that they are expecting criticism. "
The full text of Mr. Ballard's remarks are available at the LDS website newsroom.
I thought this was timely to share in light of my recent posts.
I agree with Mr. Ballard.
" Among the reasons for this type of reaction is the long history of persecution that Mormons faced during the early days of the Church.... that is now an inedible part of history. You have heard these stories of hardship and sacrifice since you were a small child. And yet this isn't 1830 and there aren't 6 of us anymore." -- Russell Ballard
Well said, Mr. Ballard!
I have for many years, even prior to leaving the LDS church, felt that some LDS suffer from a "persecution complex".
The LDS suffered persecution for a relatively short period of time in U.S. history. When you compare it to the years and amount of persecution Christians have endured. Don't believe me? Check out www.persecutedchurch.org and read up on what is going on in the world today, and you'll get a better idea of what persecution is all about for Christians.
Do you know that in 53 countries today the Bible is outlawed?
Do you know that as I type Christians are being burned, killed and imprisoned in countries like Korea, Iraq, and India?
As Christians, what is our response to the persecution?
Jesus said it well when He said, " Blessed are you who are persecuted... rejoice and be exceedingly glad!!" Yep, we are to rejoice and count it all for joy when we are counted worthy to suffer for Jesus!!!
Are Christians to become angry and bitter and defensive at those who persecute and chide?
NO!
The Lord told us to love our enemies.
Do good to those that use us.
And pray for those who persecute us.
Yep, we are to pray for the Muslim nations who kill and imprison Christians.
Yep, we are to pray for those who would seek to harm innocent Christians.
Yep, we are to pray for our mormon friends and family who make fun our salvation experiences. ( that has happened to me more times than I can count!)
We are not to become defensive and angry and bitter and least of all to develop some kind of persecution complex.
Persecution is the name of the game if your walkin with Jesus.
Bring it on!
In Christ alone,
gloria
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