Changed his religion three times: was Brother Jones mental?

[_Daheshist]

On my mission while serving in Pacifica, California, I met a Brother Jones (actually, I don't remember his last name, so Jones will have to do). He joined the Methodist Church at 18. Later, he joined the Catholic Church. Finally, he joined the LDS Church. Was this...

a) a sign he was a Seeker of Truth?

b) a sign he was mentally unstable and needed psychiatric help?

[_Dr. Shades]

It could've been either, but lacking any other information, I'd go with A).

[_consiglieri]

Given your history of jumping from religion to religion then back to the same religion and so on, you had better pray the answer is a).

All the Best!

--Consiglieri (Italian for "I bet the answer is b) in your case")

[_Wisdom Seeker]

Was his first name Jim?

[_Joseph Antley]

...why are those the only options?

[_ludwigm]

From "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor"

John Taylor was blessed with humble, kind, and loving parents who taught him to 8 and believe the Bible, to trust in God, and to have hope in Christ. His parents, James and Agnes Taylor, had him baptized in the Church of England shortly after his birth. His upbringing in the Church of England planted in him a great appreciation for sacred lyrics and music, formal biblical teaching, and private and public prayer.

At about 16 years of age he left the Church of England and became a Methodist. The following year he was appointed to be an exhorter, or lay preacher, in that church—a rare responsibility for such a young man.

In 1830 John Taylor’s parents and other family members emigrated to Toronto, Canada, ... He arrived safely in New York, and after a few months rejoined his parents in Toronto, where he continued in the Methodist faith and began preaching. During this time, he met Leonora Cannon, herself a devout Methodist who had recently immigrated to Canada from England. Sharing a deep religious conviction and a love for learning, culture, and each other, they married on 28 January 1833 in Toronto.

Got it? "deep religious conviction"

John Taylor commenced a thorough investigation of the doctrines of the Church. “I made a regular business of it for three weeks,” he said, “and followed Brother Parley from place to place.” He wrote down and studied Elder Pratt’s sermons and compared them with the scriptures. At length, the Holy Spirit bore witness of the truthfulness of Elder Pratt’s message, and John and Leonora Taylor were baptized on 9 May 1836. He later testified that he had “never doubted any principle of Mormonism since.

In the fall of 1837, John Taylor received word from Joseph Smith to move to Far West, Missouri, to fill a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (he was formally ordained in December 1838).

Two and a half year from neophyte to an apostle - it is an acceptable career. He shouldn't change more his longjohn.

In his many discourses, President Taylor continually exhorted the Saints to tend to their duties in all aspects of their lives, whether as family members, Church members, neighbors, or citizens. He taught the Saints that if they would be obedient and put their trust in the Lord, they would have nothing to fear.

In his last public discourse, he told the Saints, “I cannot as an honorable man disobey my God … and trample these holy and eternal obligations under foot, that God has given me to keep, and which reach into the eternities that are to come.” From the day he delivered this sermon until the day of his death almost two and a half years later, he hid in various locations throughout Utah.

"he was a source of great strength and direction for the Saints"

I have no doubt he was.

I am sorry for brother Jones, I don't know him. I know the presidents only.

[_Daheshist]

Back to what religion?

I was raised with no religion, but my father taught me reincarnation.

I became a Mormon, mainly because they don't smoke and drink, and the Reader's Digest articles (advertisements) which presented Mormons as honest, moral, self-less people.

I became a Baha'i, because Joseph Smith prophesied that the "Son of Man" would come in "red apparel" in 1891. Baha'u'llah DID, in red apparel, and climb Mount Carmel in 1891. Becoming a Baha'i was my attempt to "salvage" Joseph Smith, knowing that if he uttered even ONE prophecy that failed, he was a false prophecy. Eventually, I came to see that Joseph Smith could not be salvaged. I left the Baha'i Faith because they deny that Jesus was raised from the dead. The Gospels are "parables" after He died and was buried.

I became a Daheshist because, in 1983, when fasting and praying as to know when Christ would return, I had a "dream" in which I fell into the Sun, and a being there told me "He is in New York City". I dismissed this as a strange dream. IN 2005, well after being a Mormon and a Baha'i, I discovered Dr. Dahesh, the reincarnation of Jesus, who lived in New York City in 1983.

I became a Mormon based upon LIES...the Reader's Digest articles, which I now know were authorized by Gordon B. Hinckley, who was a dishonest man and manipulator. 90% of Mormons are NOTHING like how Mormons were protrayed in those Reader's Digest advertisements disguised as articles about Mormons.

I became a Baha'i to TRY to retain my belief in Joseph Smith, because I KNEW by that time that the LDS Church leaders were NOT inspired of God, and Baha'u'llah seemed to fulfill the 1891 prophecies of Joseph Smith. I realize NOW that, Joseph Smith cannot be salvaged, and the "1891" thing is just a coincidence.

I became a Daheshist based upon my "dream" in 1983, and the FACT that Dr. Dahesh came to my room, and sat on the edge of my bed, in the afternoon, while I was wide awake, not on any drugs or medications, with no history of hallucinations, no head injuries, in 2005.

In other words...

1. I became a Mormon based upon LIES about Mormons I was told in Reader's Digest "ads" disguised as articles (i.e. written and paid for by LDS Public Affairs...some of the most notorious liars around).

2. I became a Baha'i in a desperate attempt to SALVAGE my belief in Joseph Smith, knowing that if Joseph Smith's "1891" prophecies were false, he must be a false prophet.

3. I became a Daheshist based upon two things: my 1983 "dream" and the fact that Dr. Dahesh, who died in 1984, visited me in daylight in 2005!!!

I am a Seeker of Truth.

Given your history of jumping from religion to religion then back to the same religion and so on, you had better pray the answer is a).

All the Best!

--Consiglieri (Italian for "I bet the answer is b) in your case")