Maestrophil Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 For Doug and Peaceful...How did you come to decide that you were in error about the topics you list... I am curious to know. And were you both "100%" convinced you were in the right when you thought in opposition to LDS doctrines? Was there a struggle with ego in admitting things, or were your opinions not public enough for that to be a factor?
peacefulleeman Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 For Doug and Peaceful...How did you come to decide that you were in error about the topics you list... I am curious to know. And were you both "100%" convinced you were in the right when you thought in opposition to LDS doctrines? Was there a struggle with ego in admitting things, or were your opinions not public enough for that to be a factor?My first experience of being in error was often getting in arguments concerning Mormonism and religion, and realizing that what I was doing was wrong and fruitless. I realized that being critical of things that were and only did good, helped man be better etc. was not going to do me any good as a person who also wanted to be good and to know and do what was right and true. I realized that if I was going to be critical of things in life, I needed to be critical of evil and wrong, not simply nuances or things I really didn't know enough about. I wasn't for example an expert theologian, so who was I to say something was right or wrong religion wise? Much smarter and moral people than I did believe, so maybe there was more I needed to learn.So, I put away my judgments, and just lived my life. There came a time when I was ready and interested in knowing if there actually was or wasn't a true Church or path, and that I trusted I could find it. I again studied and experienced religion, and again eliminated others as being possibly valid, and I was stuck with Mormonism. I then proceeded to compare anti-mormonism with LDS scholarship, and came to see clearly how anti-mormonism including my own judgments were not the whole truth, but was a perversion and omitted much information to make such judgments. Along that, I studied the issues I most had problem with, and can to see the same thing. That I was simply ignorant. I had pre-judged the Church falsely so when there was much more I hadn't actually seen and knew.I did have a spiritual experience in the beginning of this process in which I believed Joseph and only God could have created the religion and scripture, but I needed the facts and truth, not simply a spiritual experience. However, because of my faith of wanting to know what was true, being perfectly willing to accept that there was none, but my doing my part, the truth of it all came to be known. Then one day in both my mind and spirit the spirit enlightened my mind, and I knew for sure the Church was true.Yes, I was 100% sure that the Church for example couldn't be true because of the "racist" things I saw and believed concerning it's history.But I was wrong. I later humbled myself and was able to learn more of that issue from scripture and history that showed me there was much more to the story, that the Church wasn't racist, that there were facts and truth I was missing. I now am a 1,000% sure of what I know. I can say that because I've been and know all sides, and ensured I took an objective approach. I'm a convert to the Church also, so even before I had a process of seeking and determining the truth.My journey was mostly pre-internet. But, there were some individuals in the Church I did struggle with, and the ego's we each had.I think we all in our respective judgments have an equal portion of ego. Though, I find those faithful in the faith are more teachable, while those who have left think they already know it all and can't be taught anything knew. For example with myself. Though I know for certain the truth now, I still study the works of other religions, still study anti-mormonism, etc. But I also study LDS scholarship. While there is nothing new with anti-mormonism (even the DNA issue wasn't new, for it stems from the same arguments anti's had in relation to body type studies), I'm edified every day of the new and interesting things I learn from religious history and LDS scholarship.Anyway, when it comes to any issue with the Church, the actual truth which supports the Churches position is there, and can be known.Other than the rare human moment of falibility, there is basically nothing that harms the Church. For example, I learned Joseph wasn't a pedophile, that the Priesthood ban had nothing to do with racism by the Church, world maybe, but not the Church, that Polygamy wasn't about sex, that women not holding the Priesthood had nothing to do with sexism, etc. I learned a more enlightened, accurate, and truthful version of these issues. I did it by simply putting away my judgments and continuing to learn. Don Bradley has been a focus in this thread, and if you notice his story, it was much the same. He simply learned more, and began to change.Everyone must go through a trial of their faith. Some of us are simply more stubborn, less patient, and arrogant than others. Those well learned mormons who never leave the faith go through much the same, but they handle it wiser, maybe more quickly, etc. I think many of us who leave the faith are also just "tired" of religion, and then the other excuses just pile on. Of course, there are those who go to other religions, and their process is a little different, but when it comes to the judgments against the church, they also are much the same, though different because it's more religious and scriptural comparative.
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