Comments on: Would You Convert To Mormonism?

By: john cline

john cline — Sat, 13 May 2006 17:43:41 +0000

I grew up in the church and developed an understanding and testimony of the doctrines before I began awaking to all the social garbage one must put up with in this church. But because I already had a testimony, I stay with it. Had I experienced the social culture of church members first,…..there would’ve be no chance for me.

Almost certain of it.

By: FHL

FHL — Sat, 13 May 2006 03:05:53 +0000

I was a convert half my lifetime ago.

If I had known then, what I know about now, concerning the history of the church and some other things, I probably would not have joined.

When you’re going through the discussions, you are exposed to only a small cross-section of the Church, which makes it a lot easier to buy into. *shrug*

annegb: I thoroughly enjoy seeing your posts. They usually make me smile. =) Like this one.

By: annegb

annegb — Fri, 12 May 2006 19:18:14 +0000

I’d probably be picketing at the SLC temple and calling you guys racists and mysoginist bad words. However you spell it.

By: georgeD

georgeD — Thu, 11 May 2006 15:42:06 +0000

I have had the same thoughts and my conclusion is, I don’t know, but until I can say yes my conversion is not yet complete. That my seem a conundrum but I think that that is where we need to be.

By: a random John

a random John — Wed, 10 May 2006 08:54:30 +0000

There are a lot of assumptions to make in order to answer that question. I’d rather explore the assumptions than answer…
The first question I have is do you investigate other religions seriously now? If no, is it because you already have a testimony of the one you are in? Well what if you were born in another one and had a testimony of it? Now I know that some will say that is impossible and that people can only have a testimony of the One True Church, but I think that many people believe that their religion is as true as it needs to be for them.
So are you not investigating other religions because you are happy with being LDS or because you’ve been taught all your life that the others are wrong? I don’t know for myself.
What would prompt me to seriously consider another religion? What would need to happen for me to ask God if it is true? Do other religions have the same sort of ask and get an answer mechanism? I’ve always felt that the Moroni 10 thing was inspired in more ways than one.

I suppose I should answer the question at hand though. And the answer is “It depends.” Assuming that I had the courage and whatever else was needed to study and pray it would depend on the answer to that. Or at least I like to think it would. And my problem is that I’ve seen people study and pray and not get an answer.
Now again some will say that is impossible, but I’ve seen it happen. How long should one continue to study and pray? Should a truth seeker devote all their efforts to investigating the LDS Church or should they explore other faiths after some amount of time?
I would hope that an answer would come and that I would have the courage to do what the Spirit instructs. One thing that is burned into me from my mission is that the Spirit usually doesn’t intervene unless you need to do something that you wouldn’t normally do. Often it is there to tell you to do something hard.

I’ve rambled enough for tonight!

By: sarah

sarah — Wed, 10 May 2006 08:21:32 +0000

I admire everyone else’s surety. I think I would have been a cynical atheist. And an aimless one too, probably.

By: annegb

annegb — Wed, 10 May 2006 06:36:43 +0000

I think I would have converted because only our church understands the spirit world as I knew it to be as a very young child. The plan of salvation totally resonated with me.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:35:50 +0000

Thanks for all your responses. Very interesting stuff.

Steve EM, I think you’re right, I probably wouldn’t be raging. I don’t rage in any other aspect of my life, why would I when I’m drunk?

D, your case is interesting. I’ve had mixed feelings regarding your situation because on one hand I think there’s no way a gay person would join into a church that has such restrictions on homosexual behavior, but on the other hand I think if anyone, no matter what their situation, if they’re humble enough, if they feel the Spirit that they would be willing to join the Church.

Susan M, thanks for the confidence :)

By: cj douglass

cj douglass — Wed, 10 May 2006 03:33:15 +0000

I’ve always said that the church fails miserably as a social club. Few are the wards I have been to that are nothing more than high school cliques and superficial banter. I continue to participate because of the spirit. So if I invited me to church it would have to be a spiritual meeting to get me to come back. We all know that no one would actually introduce themself to me.

By: Gert

Gert — Wed, 10 May 2006 02:46:31 +0000

I’m with Eric—

Sure I would have converted.

The problem is I never would have shared the Book of Mormon or invited me to go to Church with me.