Why Do You Come To This Discussion Board

[Duncan]

Wow...you're old!

if you ever go into stand up comedy you should open with that! I am 34, so I began on here probably around 2003ish sometime

[Stargazer]

1 Simply and succinctly describe your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

I am not hesitant to describe myself as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As to the adjectives and descriptives which might be placed in front of "[fill in the blank] LDS", I think the best one would be "practicing." I sustain the First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 as prophets, seers and revelators.

2. Explain why you participate on this board.

I don't know what brought me here; it's too long ago. What keeps me coming back is the scintillating conversations and the brilliant commentators on all sides who post here. Some are more brilliant than others, perhaps, but they're all good!

3. Explain what you hope to gain or accomplish by your participation here, both interactively and personally.

I have fun here. I hope that my participation is of value to others, and I especially hope that I am contributing to the apologetics conversation.

[teddyaware]

1 Simply and succinctly describe your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

I am have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ all my life, and was baptized at the age of eight by my older brother. I have a testimony that the Gospel, as the Church proclaims, is truly all that it claims to be. In order to be more succinct, I'll leave it at that. If one wants to know more, I'm open to private messages.

2. Explain why you participate on this board.

I participate on this board to seek greater light and understanding through the words of others. I have found this place to be a source of inspiration where the Holy Ghost can then prompt me upon what I ponder from this forum. I have been here for almost six years, and I'm more of a lurker now. I also participate to share the witness I have of the Savior, the reality of His life, and the happiness that comes from partaking of His grace.

3. Explain what you hope to accomplish by your participation here, both interactively and personallnd

Personally, I seek to strengthen my personal knowledge of the Gospel by the things I read here, and to better understand the positions of others, including what leads them to take said position. Interactively, I aspire to inspire others to call upon our Father in Heaven in the name of His Son Jesus Christ to seek for themselves the truth of all things. I have been given a testimony of the Savior so that I may share it, not keep it to myself, and I obey the commands of the Lord in bearing witness of Him.

Having answered your initial questions, I will opt to provide just a little more background for the interested reader. I'm preparing to serve a full-time mission for the Lord, and in doing so have had to overcome many things, including feelings of same sex attraction. I'm not perfect, but in mercy the Savior has given me an understanding of His Atonement, and how to successfully apply it. So here I am...striving to keep His commandments in all things, that I may be worthy of the great blessings He has promised me: freedom from all that besets me, if I serve Him.

As I was pondering your extraordinary reponse to my qestionnaire, the Spirtt quietly whispered to me, saying you were one of the noble abd great ones Abraham beheld in the pre-mortal world -- your special trials were given to you that you might glorify God in a marvelous way. God bless you always, my valient brother. You have my deepest admiration and respect.

Edited January 19, 2013 by teddyaware

[Monster]

Been a member all my life and still attend. I come here wondering if someday someone will have more to verify there claims than "I know". I am not a believer and wonder how those who do believe can do so in all honesty. I am open to new information and a change of attitude but I am looking for something more tangible that a warm fuzzie.

[Storm Rider]

I was seven when my family was baptized in the wilds of Alaska. Since a wee lad I have always had a close relationship with our Heavenly Father and he has been the focus and source of my love, joy, peace, grief, frustration, and pain. I am a Latter-day Saint because I find the restored gospel to have a preponderance of truth and it teaches me the purpose of this life. However, I also find the Church to be full of sinners as myself and some of them are leaders and they have made errors. I wish the Church could be perfect and have always been a source of total truth, but we get in the way and influence things inappropriately. I come to this board because so many of the participants inspire me and help me to gain a deeper understanding of the gospel, the Church, and being a better disciple.

[blackstrap]

but I am looking for something more tangible that a warm fuzzie.

In view of your avatar , have you considered a ' Tribble ' ?

[canard78]

1 Simply and succinctly describe your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

Born in the covenant, got my own spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon at 10yrs old. RM, temple married. Being non-American (serving in smaller units) I've been called to serve in a range of areas (Branch Pres, High Coucil, WML, EQP, Seminary teacher, YMP, and counselors to the same). I have had many strong spiritual experiences which give me a firm belief that God is real and personally interested in me. There are many aspects to gospel living that I have a knowledge of (Alma 32) style - the impact of reading the Book of Mormon, the sanctity of the temple, the emotional power of forgiveness and repentance, the change in behaviour of trying to live a Christlike life.

In the last few years I've been trying to develop a wider understanding of the world's cultures. I took a job in Asia in 2012. I also developed an interest in church origins and started reading primarily on FARMs(NAMI)/FAIR. I have also read some critical sources, while always cross-referencing claims where possible. I realised how limited my understanding of the foundational events of the church was. This process has raised several unanswered questions which have challenged my testimony and certainties.

2. Explain why you participate on this board.

Most of my questions are not 'sunday school suitable.' I respect the church's desire to keep the history correlated and simple. So I come here to be able to discuss it with a range of people of different opinions. Some of the contributors have been excellently balanced and well-informed in their replies and I thank them sincerely for their time.

Those were the main reasons for starting... now I worry it's a bit of an addiction! ARP for MDDB anyone?

3. Explain what you hope to gain or accomplish by your participation here, both interactively and personally.

I am 'unconcluded' and 'unresolved.' I would like to change that.

Participation is a way of managing my uncertainties and getting other perspectives on aspects of the church that have limited answers. I also hope to be able to provide a perspective that will help people understand the experience of 'shaken faith syndrome,' and perhaps help those that need it rebuilt while rebuilding my own. I also hope to challenge some of the answers given by FAIR that are overly simplistic and don't really answer the question. The intention is to come up with a better answer than currently exists.

[Buzzard]

I found this board as a result of a Google search, for what I no longer remember. I enjoy hanging out with fellow LDS-and friendly non LDS-though I confess to having been intimidated a time or two by the intellectual prowess of some of our participants,

As for my personal beliefs, I am what some would dismiss as a TBM. I am curious about our history, but God gave me a gift at a young age-a sure conviction of the truth of the BOM, and I always figured that that if the BOM was what it claims to be, the rest just falls into place.

[RobertAC]

Good questions! Here are my responses:

1 Simply and succinctly describe your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

I was raised Unitarian, but I converted to Theravada Buddism. Over time, my beliefs in the supernatural have become more skeptical. I would describe myself as an atheist/agnostic on the issue about God being an actual being (as opposed to a metaphor or an archetype). Because Buddhism does not express a belief or disbelief in God's exisetence, I have not had any religious conflict between my faith and my beliefs.

2. Explain why you participate on this board.

Since an early age I have been fascinated with Mormonism and all of the denominations that recognize the Book of Mormon as being divinely inspired. Regardless if one subscribes to the religious beliefs of Joseph Smith or Brigham Young, one cannot deny that they were important historical figures, and Mormon history is a fascinating study.

I have also enjoyed discussing religion and philosophy with a number of Mormons. It may be a stereotype, but a lot of Mormon men I know tend to be attorneys and intellectuals, so there is always something to talk about.

3. Explain what you hope to gain or accomplish by your participation here, both interactively and personally.

I like the idea of religious dialogue and discussion. People may not be able to find agreement, but they can agree to disagree and learn from the differences.

Plus Mormons have a wicked sense of humor. It's in their genes. After they shed their horns, they can tell a great joke and laugh at one too.

Edited January 22, 2013 by RobertAC

[3DOP]

I've been participating on this board for just shy of a year now, and I'm fascinated by the fact that there are so many paticipants here who are either athiests, agnostics, non-LDS, anti-LDS, former LDS, disaffected LDS, waivering LDS, "middle way" LDS, "critical of the brethren" LDS, "unorthodox" LDS, "semi-orthodox" LDS, intellectual LDS, scholarly LDS, infromed and knowledgeable LDS, main-stream LDS, etc...

So I have a three-part questionnaire for those of you who wish to participate on this thread:

1 Simply and succinctly describe your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

2. Explain why you participate on this board.

3. Explain what you hope to gain or accomplish by your participation here, both interactively and personally.

I'll Start with myself:

1. I am a convert of 43 years who joined the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I was almost 21 years old. My conversion was miraculous and I have never had a crisis of faith, nor doubted the Church is true for the duration. I am main stream, with a bit of a specualatve theologian/deep doctrine prober in the mix. I know by revelation God the Father lives and that Jesus is the Christ. In the same way I know the Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God; know the Book of Mormon is true, both doctrinally and historcally; know the true priesthood authority of God has been restored; know the standard works and established doctrine of the Chuch are true (while realizing official clarifications might come); know the Church is led today by living apostles and prophets; know that if I were to apostatize and become a bitter enemy of the Church, I would likely become something nigh unto a son of perdition because I really do know for a surety the Church is true.

2. I participate on here because I love discussing the gospel; love leaning more about the gospel; love defending the gospel

3. By my paricipation I hope to learn more about the true gospel; perhaps teach others of things they may not have before considered; learn about trends in false doctrine; analyize legitimate challenges to the Restored Gospel; broaden my spiritual horizons. help others come to a better understanding of the truths of the eternities.

Do not ask posters to give personal information such as their religion please.

1. In keeping with the admonition in red, I'll refrain from giving personal information such as my religion. I believe that Pope Benedict XVI is the 264th (it might be 263) successor of St. Peter. As Bishop of Rome, I believe he is the vicar of Christ on earth.

2. I participate primarily to clarify for those who may not understand, the beliefs of those who think that Pope Benedict XVI is the 264th (263rd, 265th) successor of St. Peter, etc., etc. I usually wait for such a subject to come up. I probably start a religious thread twice or three times a year. Although it is still secondary at this time, I find that over the years I am participating more because I have developed a respect and affinity for many traditional LDS folkways, and enjoy the company. I think am becoming more inclined to start and participate in social hall type threads.

3. If I can verbally share the joy that my organized religion brings me, I hope to influence those who share it to keep it, and those who don't share it to wonder if there is perhaps more value to it than previously thought. I have also enjoyed sharing common appreciation for music, sports, literature and history. It is always a pleasure to find like-minded people.

[Tacenda]

1. In keeping with the admonition in red, I'll refrain from giving personal information such as my religion. I believe that Pope Benedict XVI is the 264th (it might be 263) successor of St. Peter. As Bishop of Rome, I believe he is the vicar of Christ on earth.

2. I participate primarily to clarify for those who may not understand, the beliefs of those who think that Pope Benedict XVI is the 264th (263rd, 265th) successor of St. Peter, etc., etc. I usually wait for such a subject to come up. I probably start a religious thread twice or three times a year. Although it is still secondary at this time, I find that over the years I am participating more because I have developed a respect and affinity for many traditional LDS folkways, and enjoy the company. I think am becoming more inclined to start and participate in social hall type threads.

3. If I can verbally share the joy that my organized religion brings me, I hope to influence those who share it to keep it, and those who don't share it to wonder if there is perhaps more value to it than previously thought. I have also enjoyed sharing common appreciation for music, sports, literature and history. It is always a pleasure to find like-minded people.

I'm stepping in here to say how much I've enjoyed learning somewhat of your beliefs! LDS all my life and no experimentation in others faiths. your posts are invaluable to me and the board, we need balance here!

[BlueDreams]

1 Simply and succinctly describe your religious beliefs or lack thereof.

I’m LDS, happily so. Have been all my (oddball) life. I believe the basic tenets of the faith, find deep meaning in them, and enjoy learning more about the gospel and the temple especially (right now at least…specific topics within the gospel that I'm intrigued by often changes).

2. Explain why you participate on this board.

At first I kinda stumbled on it. When I was young I had a lot of questions and would google things. I was looking for differing views and writing things out help solidify some of my thoughts so I participated in a number of boards. I bounced onto a number of sites of various types (usually religious). After almost 10 years (valentinus, don’t you dare call me old…I’m pretty sure I’m a little younger than you!) I’m still here because I like the board. It suits me and from time to time a topic that I’m interested pops up and I read (whether I comment is another thing all together).

3. Explain what you hope to gain or accomplish by your participation here, both interactively and personally.

I don’t know, I enjoy a little introspection. So sometimes it’s just to have something to chew on. Sometimes I enjoy a little shock value on what just came out of someone’s post. Sometimes I’m bored. Interactively that I could give a different perspective to an argument/discussion from time to time.

With luv,

BD

Edited January 23, 2013 by BlueDreams

[approdis]

I come on here to gain knowledge of the truth

[Stargazer]

Been a member all my life and still attend. I come here wondering if someday someone will have more to verify there claims than "I know". I am not a believer and wonder how those who do believe can do so in all honesty. I am open to new information and a change of attitude but I am looking for something more tangible that a warm fuzzie.

If all I had was a warm fuzzie I would have found my way elsewhere, long ago. My convictions are based in experiences in the quiet with God.

If I were to explain some of them, you might still classify my experiences as mere warm fuzzies (as skeptics like to do), but those experiences have included subtle yet unmistakeable evidences to me of the existence of God in general, and of the CofJCofLDS in particular as being His authorized and authoritative church. Nothing "in your face", but I find it hard to dismiss them.

I achieved this state by allowing myself to be guided as I explored the gospel. I followed where the Spirit led. The attitude to start with is the attitude of desire. Alma chapter 32. This is not achieved by maintaining a skeptical attitude. God doesn't generally bust down your doors, and if you're not interested He's unlikely to do anything to get your attention.

That being said, I recognize that there may be some folks who seem to urgently seek God, but don't seem to find Him. I have no explanation for it, but the vast majority of those who honestly seek, do find.

Just my 2 cents

[3DOP]

I'm stepping in here to say how much I've enjoyed learning somewhat of your beliefs! LDS all my life and no experimentation in others faiths. your posts are invaluable to me and the board, we need balance here!

Thanks Tacenda. Much appreciated. To show how much I am changing, you get one of the rarest of novelties from me: Not that I don't smile. I mean I don't use those smiley thingies. I forget what you call them. Heh.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Scott Gordon's got nothing on you Pa Pa!

ETA: Wait! Is he still the president?

I miss Scott, and a long list of others who used to post daily. I think I have 53 friends in my folder, but many have moved on.

[Calm]

He is still the president of FAIR.

[bhive]

I joined because I was trying to read a thread that was longer than a few pages... You can't read more than 10 pages per 24 hours without joining.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

He is still the president of FAIR.

No longer the board...guess he wore himself out here. You are correct Scott is President...I just did not have the time to run all things.