Plutarch's Dilemma

[_Ray A]

The key is putting what you know is true to the test, and watching the Holy Ghost grow again withen you, and feeling the comforter return. Work on the basics. Faith is there, you just need minor repentence (turning back to God), working on the gift of the Holy Ghost you already have, keeping your baptismal covenants.

Return to the things you know are right, and you'll feel the inward change.

Gaz

But Gaz, is this all emotional persuasion? Something like, "keep bearing testimony and you will get one"? by the way, I don't think you've told Plutarch anything he doesn't already know, so I think it goes a bit deeper than this. Just my wild guess :)

[_grayskull]

Take the net present value of the benefit you derive from escaping the speakers and compare it to the net present value of the cost of losing your soul in the eternities. Assuming you're both honest and rational, I have no choice but to believe that either:

1) You don't believe missing church will affect your salvation, in which case, there is no problem.
2) You are torn - whether you want to admit it or not - and perhaps a darker part of you doesn't buy into it. If this is true, perhaps you need to examine you faith.

Now, one interesting thing. Here you are on an apostate forum filled with ranting ignorants that are beneath you. Yet, you come here voluntarily. I'm assuming even with the grammar errors in church you hold the folks there in higher esteem. It's odd that you'd choose to be with us, but not them.

[_Gazelam]

What is this bias against feeling?

Please educate me on how the Holy Ghost works if it is not through enlightenment of the mind and comfort of the soul.

Gaz

[_Ray A]

What is this bias against feeling?

Please educate me on how the Holy Ghost works if it is not through enlightenment of the mind and comfort of the soul.

Gaz

It is not so much a bias against feeling, as against "specific feeling". Muslims "feel" the Qur'an is Allah's Ultimate Truth. Fundy Christians feel the Bible is inerrant (if they really examined it rationally they would be in for a shock). Koresh's followers "felt" he was a prophet. Jones' followers "felt" he was a prophet, and drank his "Kool Aid" based on their feelings.
Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is historical because of feelings, and in this case feelings ignore both problems and facts. Just for the record, I still believe the Book of Mormon is inspired, but as history it's bunk. JMO. Yet I can still pick up the Book of Mormon and read selected verses and feel inspired by them. So should I conclude from those feelings that everything Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, and Gordon B. Hinclkey said is "God's truth"? (by the way, I wrote all that out from memory, so I may have missed one.)

I have a more "universal" approach. I believe God does work through Mormonism, but I also believe that this should not be translated into "universal truth", and I also believe that Mormonism produces some intolerant disciples. I admire those who can see beyond ritualism and literalism. But I don't hate those who don't. :)

[_Bond...James Bond]

Just for the record, I still believe the Book of Mormon is inspired, but as history it's bunk. JMO.

Ray,

You restore my faith that all people have critical thinking skills. Thanks.

Bond

[_Ray A]

I should also add, I don't believe because a person does not attend church they don't have a strong testimony. Whitmer was an undeviating witness to the end of his life, yet from the mid-1830s never saw the inside of a Mormon chapel/meeting. Most of the inactives I have met are still believers in the basics.

Could there be something wrong with the church?

[_Ray A]

Ray,

You restore my faith that all people have critical thinking skills. Thanks.

Bond

You're welcome, and thanks for your comment.

[_Polygamy Porter]

I don't go because I keep wanting to correct the grammar of the speakers.

TROLL.

Look, the Mormon church is like scAmway. Are you familiar with it?

When you have "friends" over for a date with the circles and whiteboard, your house had better be stocked with scAmway crap top to bottom, otherwise you are not a full believer in what you are selling.

in my opinion, if you come here defending Mormonism, you had better believe in it 100% and be completely active, full tithe pay, temple attending and full of sappy Mormon zeal, otherwise I see no reason in listening to ANY of your arguments that you yourself are obbiously not completely committed to in the first place!

It would be like pushing scAmway and shopping at Alberston's. GET IT?

[_marg]

Just for the record, I still believe the Book of Mormon is inspired, but as history it's bunk. JMO.

Ray,

You restore my faith that all people have critical thinking skills. Thanks.

Bond

How would a comment by Ray be indicative of all people's critical thinking skills?

Ray believes the Book of Mormon is a work inspired by (his) God. How is this an indication that critical thinking was used to reach that belief/conclusion?

[_Kevin Graham]

Yet, I am inactive and don't go.

What should I do?

You're a convert, right?

If so, at what age did you convert?