Why should one become a Mormon?

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Well, is not that they ask you to live a good life... you have to.

That is where you are wrong... you don't have to do anything. If you don't want to live up to the standards they feel are necessary for exaltation... you don't have to stay. If you don't agree that they are necessary for exaltation... you don't have to stay.

Why would anyone stay in an organization they don't agree with and then argue and try to change it, anyways? It seems silly and pointless to me.

[elguanteloko]

The purpose of this life is to test us to see if we will be obedient to God.

Not mine.

He has given light to every man that is in this world. We all have choices. We either chose light and life or darkness and death. Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world. If we follow the light and the truth that he gives to each of us he will lead us to further light and truth. If we are true and faithful to the light and knowledge that he gives to us we will be led to his true church. His true Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Part of being obedient is to follow the example of Jesus Christ who was baptized. After we join his true church and are obedient to it's laws and ordinances we will receive further light and knowledge and eventually be perfected by the grace of Jesus Christ. Straight is the way and narrow is the path that leadeth to Eternal Life and few there be that find it. Within the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the straight and narrow path. Other religions have some truth but the fullness of the gospel is only found within his true church. The only way to truely come unto Christ is though his restored religion. (John 7:17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. If we do the things God wants us to do, we will know that the LDS church is true. If we prove true and faithful, in other words obedient to his word, which includes following the light of Christ, we will become joint heirs with Jesus Christ. In other words we will eventually be exalted. That is why we should become a "Mormon".

...

[elguanteloko]

That is where you are wrong... you don't have to do anything. If you don't want to live up to the standards they feel are necessary for exaltation... you don't have to stay. If you don't agree that they are necessary for exaltation... you don't have to stay.

So, can I just not follow Christ?

Why would anyone stay in an organization they don't agree with and then argue and try to change it, anyways? It seems silly and pointless to me.

Have you heard the problems with the idea of "social contract"? You should.

[elguanteloko]

My observation is alot of self righteousnes and works of all you can do , and must do!

Do's and Don't!

But that is not a gospel that is a bunch of doctrines and legalism at most!

have you ever though of becoming a muslim or Jehovah witness , just for GP??

one love

So, a gospel doesn't have "Do's and Don't"?

[elguanteloko]

To procrastinate the day of our repentance and not to come unto Christ's true Church while in this life IS to willfully disobey God's Commandments. We will be accountable for the light and knowledge given to us in this life. If we reject that light and knowledge by saying, I will wait to join in the next life, while not taking advantage if the opportunity is presented to us in this life, we are foolish and will put our eternal lives is jeopardy. Once we are made aware that the true church does exist, we must make the effort to find out for ourselves if it is indeed the true church and if it is to follow. If we do not, we will be held accountable.

What if I never find convincing reasons to joing the Church in this life but I do in the afterlife. Will I be held accountable for not following what I clearly thought didn't make sense or was immoral (assuming I saw the Church's teachings as immoral and nonsensical)?

[BookofMormonLuvr]

So, can I just not follow Christ?

Have you heard the problems with the idea of "social contract"? You should.

1) Yes, you can choose not to follow Him. Your choice, your consequences.

2) The only contract in joining a church that claims sole authority from God to teach and administer His ordinances is you agreeing to keep His commandments (as taught by said church) and Him blessing you in return. If you choose not to honor His commandments you have no promise of blessings from His hand. Again- Your choice, your consequences.

[elguanteloko]

One should become Mormon because it is God's will that all His children form "the general assembly and church of the firstborn." The Firstborn is the way, the truth, and the life. Mormonism, correctly understood and applied, is the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and this is what Mormonism really offers.

Even if I take all these to be true, why should I follow God's purpose?

[jadams_4242]

Even if I take all these to be true, why should I follow God's purpose?

do ya wanna be happier than you could ever have imagined even possible?

[elguanteloko]

1) Yes, you can choose not to follow Him. Your choice, your consequences.

Do you really expect this to be taken seriously? Would you have said to the slaves who wanted to escape from their plantations, "your choice, your consequences" and accept that as a good response or would you rather attack the system under which they were being held? What do you think?

2) The only contract in joining a church that claims sole authority from God to teach and administer His ordinances is you agreeing to keep His commandments (as taught by said church) and Him blessing you in return. If you choose not to honor His commandments you have no promise of blessings from His hand. Again- Your choice, your consequences.

please look up what the "social contract" is and the criticisms of it. I mentioned it because of what you said (i.e. "Why would anyone stay in an organization they don't agree with and then argue and try to change it, anyways? It seems silly and pointless to me").

[elguanteloko]

do ya wanna be happier than you could ever have imagined even possible?

Depends how. If I am going to be happy by doing something wrong, then no. I see God and his Church and can't see how I would want to be happy in there.

[Daniel Peterson]

So, why should one become a Mormon? What is that Mormonism offers, really?

Because our Father, who is infinitely good and wise, wants us to.

Because Jesus bought us with his blood, and we rightfully belong to him.

Also because it's true, because it will make us better people, and because it's the only path to eternal life and exaltation.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Do you really expect this to be taken seriously? Would you have said to the slaves who wanted to escape from their plantations, "your choice, your consequences" and accept that as a good response or would you rather attack the system under which they were being held? What do you think?

please look up what the "social contract" is and the criticisms of it. I mentioned it because of what you said (i.e. "Why would anyone stay in an organization they don't agree with and then argue and try to change it, anyways? It seems silly and pointless to me").

You have reached the point of absurdity in comparing Mormonism to Black Slavery... How do you expect people to take YOU seriously?

[Libs]

Elquanteloko, do you mind if I ask "why" you are asking?

Just curious.

Wondering if you are still wondering if you did the right thing by leaving. Or are you just so sure it's not true, that you're curious as to why others still stay on? Or some other, completely, different motivation....that you might not even want to share (which is fine).

Thanks.

I joined the church eleven years ago, because I honestly and deeply believed it was true. I left, because I became convinced it wasn't true.

[zerinus]

So, why should one become a Mormon? What is that Mormonism offers, really?

Input appreciated!

The answer I should have thought was obvious enough

[TAO]

So, why should one become a Mormon? What is that Mormonism offers, really?

Why should I bea Mormon? There is many reasons I should, some of them consist of:

-Wanting to be with those whom I love forever

-Wanting to have a sense of purpose

-Wanting help through difficult trials.

However, what is it, that drives me most to be a Mormon...?

It's because to do what Christ asks me to is... to be happy.

Happiness is the reason I am Mormon, that it is, that it will always be...

And I will serve my Lord and God forever for it. That I will do, in the name of Christ, amen.

Best Wishes,

TAO

[elguanteloko]

You have reached the point of absurdity in comparing Mormonism to Black Slavery... How do you expect people to take YOU seriously?

LOL The point of the comparison is to show you how saying "love it or leave it" is impractical and, in face of a large-scale situation (i.e. slavery and God), rather ludicrous. Again, BoML, PLEASE check what the "social contract" is and some criticisms of it.

[elguanteloko]

Because our Father, who is infinitely good and wise, wants us to.

I have no idea what "infinitely good and wise" looks like or how it would be. It could be that the objectice, infinite good and wisdom you place as qualities on God are actually very different to what you and I may consider good and wise... to the point of us clearly clasifying those "objective good and wisdom" as bad qualities rather than good. Since I see no reason to consider God as a good being (except that he says he is... in terms we don't even conceive of), why should I follow Him?

Because Jesus bought us with his blood, and we rightfully belong to him.

What do you mean by this?

Also because it's true,

You mean factually good? If you see my first statements in this post you will realize saying it's true is rather useless. I'm assuming there than whatever God says is infinitely and objectively good and wise but that those qualities are unconcievable and, thus, unrecognizable.

because it will make us better people,

(same as above)

and because it's the only path to eternal life and exaltation.

Sure but, why would we want this (refer to the above comments for what I mean)?

[elguanteloko]

Hi, Libs! Nice to "hear" (read, that is) from you again.

Elquanteloko, do you mind if I ask "why" you are asking?

Just curious.

too complicated.

Wondering if you are still wondering if you did the right thing by leaving.

I actually wonder about that quite often.

Or are you just so sure it's not true, that you're curious as to why others still stay on?

I'm not absolutely, 100% sure it isn't true but I think we can be as certain that it isn't as with many other ideas being incorrect or misguided. I have good ideas for why people say in it but that's another issue.

Or some other, completely, different motivation....that you might not even want to share (which is fine).

I don't want to share it... because it's not interesting, really.

Thanks.

I joined the church eleven years ago, because I honestly and deeply believed it was true. I left, because I became convinced it wasn't true.

Similar story.

[elguanteloko]

The answer I should have thought was obvious enough

[CV75]

Even if I take all these to be true, why should I follow God's purpose?

Inasmuch as it is intuitively obvious for someone to have a purpose to do anything intentional, and absent any recognition of a higher purpose, this purpose can be considered a

[blueadept]

Are you sure you want to be Christ-like?

To me in being Christ-like is showing a type of sacrificial type of love to others. I'm on board with with that

[Daniel Peterson]

I have no idea what "infinitely good and wise" looks like or how it would be. It could be that the objectice, infinite good and wisdom you place as qualities on God are actually very different to what you and I may consider good and wise... to the point of us clearly clasifying those "objective good and wisdom" as bad qualities rather than good. Since I see no reason to consider God as a good being (except that he says he is... in terms we don't even conceive of), why should I follow Him?

Faith. Which is just another word for trust.

If you want to take another road, though, you're free to take it, and to arrive at the destination that lies at the end of it.

What do you mean by this?

We were slaves to sin. He bought us off the auction block at Satan's slave market.

It's pretty mainstream New Testament stuff.

If you want to understand it, don't ask me. Study the New Testament.

You mean factually good? If you see my first statements in this post you will realize saying it's true is rather useless. I'm assuming there than whatever God says is infinitely and objectively good and wise but that those qualities are unconcievable and, thus, unrecognizable.

I think they're recognizable, and that hundreds and hundreds of millions of people on the earth right now have, at least from time to time, recognized them. You might call it "tacit knowledge."

I don't see a point to hyperskepticism. It simply results in nihilism and an infinite regress.

To be like God is a good of "primary intent," or, rather, a bundle of such goods. There's no point in asking why one should desire them. They cannot be further analyzed.

Sure but, why would we want this (refer to the above comments for what I mean)?

Maybe you don't.

That's fine. I'm serenely confident that, in the end, people will get what they really want.

That's rather the point of this whole exercise.

[zerinus]

Dang it, I missed that one!

Well, either it is or it isn't. It can't be kind of half and half. If it is true, that is all the reason you need to stay in it. If it isn't, then there isn't any good reason why anybody should want to stay in it. I stay in in obviously for the former reason.

[Libs]

I actually wonder about that quite often.

Yeah, I think that's pretty normal, especially at first. I miss a lot of things about the church, especially the people and the culture (which is probably why I hang out here, off and on ).

I'm not absolutely, 100% sure it isn't true but I think we can be as certain that it isn't as with many other ideas being incorrect or misguided.

I'm a 100% sure that there are many things about the church that are true...which is why it's kind of difficult for me to say "the church is not true", without some qualifications. I almost went back and edited that post, because it didn't express my "true" feelings about the church. That would take a book. lol

Totally understand about not wanting to say more about your motivations. That's cool.

Have you found another path? Or are you staying away from religion for the time being?

[44Foxtrot]

Because our Father, who is infinitely good and wise, wants us to.

Because Jesus bought us with his blood, and we rightfully belong to him.

Also because it's true, because it will make us better people, and because it's the only path to eternal life and exaltation.

So let me get this straight.

1) You believe that an infinitely good and wise God (who is also supposedly omnipotent) would fail so miserably in redeeming his "crowning achievement" that less than .02% of the humans he created would have a chance of gaining the exaltation that you claim he wants for all his creation.

2) You believe that every human on Earth should strive to "belong" to another individual who you claim was born to a virgin as the result of her physical relations with a supernatural being, and that by his death he was able to make "forgiveness" possible for all the sins they might commit in life including drinking warm caffeine and being born homosexual?.

3) And you believe that all of these assertions, for which there is no physical evidence whatsoever, are "true" and that these unfounded beliefs will make one a "better" person and gain him or her eternal life with a supernatural being who has arranged things so that fewer than 0.02% of his "children" end up living with him for eternity.

This is what you believe and preach to the world? Seems like an arrogant, inconsistent, illogical set of beliefs, does it not?