MormonReads discussion
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John
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Feb 14, 2010 11:07PM
I'm John and I just wanted to say hello. I also am curious why you believe what you believe? Were you influenced by your parents who were Mormon? Or was it something else. Also what is the difference between you and Christianity? Sorry I just am trying to understand people of other beliefs =)
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I submit that if you really want to know what Mormons believe, you need to read the Book of Mormon at the very least. At the end of that book is a promise that if you will pray to God and ask Him if the Book is true, sincerely and with a desire to really know, you will receive a witness from Him. That is one of the main ways we believe what we believe as Mormons.
As for Christianity, by the definitions of that word given by most of the churches that claim to be "Christian," Mormons are not "Christian." One of the things we believe is that other Christian religions have lost many Truths about God and Jesus and the Gospel over time and that those Truths had to be restored by divine intervention. (The above link will tell you more about that.)
By our definition of "Christian" (people who believe that Christ is the literal and divine Son of God and is the Savior of the World through His Atoning Sacrifice and people who because of that belief strive to become more like Him), Mormons most certainly are Christian.
I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, we can try to answer them here, but you may find better answers on the website I referred you to earlier.
Hey, John. Thanks for the curiosity. I respect that. To answer your question, I did grow up Mormon. This instilled in me, like most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the values of honesty, virtue, and the importance of the family unit. On the other hand, to believe what I believe was a very personal experience. I couldn't just go through life piggy-backing on the faith of my parents. I had to know for myself. So, I did what (I hope) every member of our faith has done, and asked Heavenly Father, in prayer, having faith in Christ, if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was really His church, if Joseph Smith really saw God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ, and if the church continues to be led by prophets today.
Kathleen answered the Christian question pretty well.
Good luck in your search for truth. Remember to pray about it because I firmly believe that God answers our prayers because we are His children and He loves us.
Hmm and David what did God do when you asked? What fully convinced you?
Mod
Convincing isn't usually a one-time lightning-strike kind of thing. All David may have experienced was peace. But feeling that peace and continuing to feel it as time passes and as decisions are made to do the best things for each person are what strengthen the convincing process. It truly is a process, just as the growing of the mustard seed, small as it is, into a great tree is a process.
Oh okay I was just curious, thank you all for your insight.
