When You Are Troubled By Something In The Church.

[KevinG]

Be honest!

I'd like to claim prayer... But that's probably #2 to hitting the interwebz for arguments between critics and apologists.

[JLHPROF]

Be honest!

I'd like to claim prayer... But that's probably #2 to hitting the interwebz for arguments between critics and apologists.

 

I go to the books, but it's usually to scripture and prophetic teachings, not some scholarly blog post or article.  I don't like apologists or critics telling me what my religion teaches.  I go to the teachings themselves.

 

And then I draw my own conclusions, hopefully by the spirit, but regardless of whether they agree or disagree with the Church position on the troubling thing.  But I try to keep it based in what God has said, not man.

[KevinG]

Good point. I should have split Internet from books from scriptures. My next poll will be perfect. :-)

[Kenngo1969]

I voted "Other."  Quite frankly, I don't have the basics down well enough yet to be all that troubled by things that, with my limited intellect, I couldn't understand anyway.  It'd be like worrying about the MATH 7900 course I'd need to take to get a Ph.D. when I haven't even mastered MATH 1010 yet.

 

In a spiritual context, it's like me going to God and saying, "God, I don't understand Adam-God [or fill-in-the-blank-with-esoteric/controversial-teaching here]."  God would simply smile, put his hand on my shoulder, and say, "How is your scripture reading coming?  Fasting?  Praying?  Home teaching? ..." ad infinitum.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Kenngo1969

[Calm]

What does a trusted friend on the Internet count as?

I always make sure I understand what the issue is first off....it has been rare that such doesn't resolve questions.

Edited February 20, 2015 by calmoriah

[LJP]

I'm embarrassed to say that I have been going to the internet for answers but that has led to further questions and even frustration and confusion about the church. However I am not leaning on the internet nearly as much anymore and am turning to the scriptures and prayer and inspiring works. I feel much better doing it that way.

Truly I am relieved that Kate Kelly and John Dehlin were excommunicated because I found myself reading or listening to their claims and felt so confused but when they were disciplined and exed, I knew that they were not a good source to turn to.

[The Nehor]

I generally assume that the person who did the troubling thing is an idiot.

 

If you mean troubling issues they are pretty rare now. I have been on the interwebz too long to have missed many of them. If something does start to bother me I remember vivid spiritual experiences of the past and ask God to gave me a taste of them again to fortify me. Then, if I feel like it afterwards, research and seek revelation.

[Tacenda]

I'd still be a believer if the truth of JS' s polygamy hadn't appeared out of nowhere on the internet, and eventually appears on the LDS.org site. Technology sucks!

[The Nehor]

I'd still be a believer if the truth of JS' s polygamy hadn't appeared out of nowhere on the internet, and eventually appears on the LDS.org site. Technology sucks!

 

If you desire to believe you are already on the way back.

[JLHPROF]

 

If you mean troubling issues they are pretty rare now. I have been on the interwebz too long to have missed many of them.

 

Mine aren't issues in the past but in the present - things that the Church does now that trouble me, not things that the Church did 100 years ago.

[The Nehor]

Mine aren't issues in the past but in the present - things that the Church does now that trouble me, not things that the Church did 100 years ago.

 

I have not faced many of those. A few minor local decisions that seemed off the wall but I consoled myself that I knew a lot less about the situation and if they were wrong people are allowed to screw up and if I scrutinize other people's screw-ups then that is license for the Lord to look more closely at my own and I have a few doozies I would rather he not examine at length.

[Thinking]

The first time I had a question I met with my bishop. In fact I met with 3 different bishops (moves and boundary changes) before I asked to be released from my calling.

[Coreyb]

I said books, but I gotta say that very rarely am I troubled by anything anymore in the way the poll seems to suggest. When I hear about things I find reprehensible I don't get shocked or disturbed, just saddened and hopeful to find ways with which to make the future better.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Coreyb

[Stargazer]

I voted "Other" because the question of the nature of the Church and God's relationship to it was settled for me many many years ago. I don't seem to find anything that comes up troubling in any significant way. I trust the Lord and I trust His Church. I recognize that His Church is administered by humans, and humans are imperfect, so there will be missteps and mistakes from time to time. And I'm fine with that. It will all fall out right in the end.

I guess my secondary answer is to come here to this forum to see what some of the brilliant minds here have to say. And some of you, the ones who complain and whine about the Church no matter what is going down (and you know who you are), you contribute to this as well, for the more you fuss and fume and get indignant the more I realize that you are completely off-base. And this helps confirm things for me.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Stargazer

[Tacenda]

I voted "Other" because the question of the nature of the Church and God's relationship to it was settled for me many many years ago. I don't seem to find anything that comes up troubling in any significant way. I trust the Lord and I trust His Church. I recognize that His Church is administered by humans, and humans are imperfect, so there will be missteps and mistakes from time to time. And I'm fine with that. It will all fall out right in the end.

I guess my secondary answer is to come here to this forum to see what some of the brilliant minds here have to say. And some of you, the ones who complain and whine about the Church no matter what is going down (and you know who you are), you contribute to this as well, for the more you fuss and fume and get indignant the more I realize that you are completely off-base. And this helps confirm things for me.

Glad I could help you out Stargazer!

[Stargazer]

I'd still be a believer if the truth of JS' s polygamy hadn't appeared out of nowhere on the internet, and eventually appears on the LDS.org site. Technology sucks!

I still don't know why Joseph's polygamy is such a hard pill for you to swallow when the OT is chock full of polygamy which God never condemned -- except in certain limited cases like David's taking of Uriah the Hittites wife, which He definitely landed on like a ton of bricks.

In your case I'd suggest sincere prayer asking God to help you understand things better (other people have done so and gotten grace on the matter, so I don't know why you couldn't). But perhaps you tried it and failed, and my suggestion is too little too late.

You seem like a very sweet lady, and I know the Lord loves you deeply, so I believe if you opened yourself to the spirit you'd eventually receive peace on the matter.

[Stargazer]

Glad I could help you out Stargazer!

You're welcome! Now, don't assume that you are in category 2.

[Bobbieaware]

I'd still be a believer if the truth of JS' s polygamy hadn't appeared out of nowhere on the internet, and eventually appears on the LDS.org site. Technology sucks!

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was only doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully judging a holy practice that was beyond your understanding you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

[Thinking]

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was only doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully judging a holy practice that was beyond your understanding you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

 

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was not doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully accepting it as a holy practice you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

[Stargazer]

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was not doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully accepting it as a holy practice you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

I see you've been channeling Christopher Hitchens again.

[JLHPROF]

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was only doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully judging a holy practice that was beyond your understanding you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

 

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was not doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully accepting it as a holy practice you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

 

Of these two what ifs, I know which way Gods revealed will points...In order to go with the second what if, I would have to go so far as to doubt there even is a God.

[Stargazer]

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was not doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully accepting it as a holy practice you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

I know you're viewing the topic at the moment, so will try to get this in before you respond further.

If the Old Testament reflects God's will accurately, God couldn't possibly have forbidden polygamy, inasmuch as he seems to have commanded it to be practiced from time to time (e.g. Abraham/Sarah/Hagar). So how could God complain Joseph wasn't doing His will, when polygamy was clearly OK and never EVER condemned in the Bible?

[carbon dioxide]

A what if question for you: What will you say to the Lord if He tells you that the prophet Joseph Smith was only doing his will with regard to the practice of polygamy, and that as a consequence of wrongfully judging a holy practice that was beyond your understanding you cheated yourself out of greater happiness in eternity?

IF that was the case and I don't believe it is, I would say to the Lord "Hey you must accept some of the responsibility for it by authorizing it in the Old Testament." 

[Stargazer]

IF that was the case and I don't believe it is, I would say to the Lord "Hey you must accept some of the responsibility for it by authorizing it in the Old Testament."

Hah! Beat you to it, I did! Point!

[Bobbieaware]

IF that was the case and I don't believe it is, I would say to the Lord "Hey you must accept some of the responsibility for it

by authorizing it in the Old Testament."

You quoted the wrong posters question. It was board participant 'Thinking' who twisted the wording of my original question to Tacenda. My question was phrased so as to put Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage in positive light. Compare Thinking's question to mine and you'll see what I mean.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Bobbieaware