Do exmos feel guilty about their apostasy?

[_Who Knows]

I went through this with my brother, i had to teach him to recognize the spirit, when i did he said "Oh, that's what that was"

Care to share your 'explanation'?

[_Gazelam]

I contrasted for him the feelings he had with Family, and the feelings he had at church and when he did the things he knew were right, to the feeling he had when he visited palces he knew he should not be. I had knowledge of parties he had been to, and other places he should not of been. I called to his recollection that hollow cold feeling he had when the spirit left him.

He knew exactly what I was talking about, and he could compare it to the testimony of the spirit when he attended church meetings and heard the testimony of the Gospel.

Gaz

[_Polygamy Porter]

I have no room in my life for guilt.. most of my time is spent engaged in sins of the flesh and drinking copious amounts of hard liquor.

When I finally do feel guilt, I will probably be forced to drinking, not for pleasure, but to take the pain away.

[_Polygamy Porter]

[_Polygamy Porter]

[_Who Knows]

I contrasted for him the feelings he had with Family, and the feelings he had at church and when he did the things he knew were right, to the feeling he had when he visited palces he knew he should not be. I had knowledge of parties he had been to, and other places he should not of been. I called to his recollection that hollow cold feeling he had when the spirit left him.

He knew exactly what I was talking about, and he could compare it to the testimony of the spirit when he attended church meetings and heard the testimony of the Gospel.

Gaz

So tell me. How do you know that's the spirit? What is it specifically about those things that leads you to believe it's the result of the spirit?

[_Runtu]

"I had only traveled a short time to testify to the people," said Brigham Young, "before I learned this one fact, that you might prove doctrine from the Bible till doomsday, and it would merely convince a people but would not convert them. You might read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and prove every iota that you advance, and that alone would have no converting influence upon the people. Nothing short of a testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost would bring light and knowledge to them - bring them in their hearts to repentence. Nothing short of that would ever do."

I think this is something that is difficult for some that have been raised in the church as opposed to converted. When you are brought up around the Holy Ghost, it can be harder to recognize him. I went through this with my brother, i had to teach him to recognize the spirit, when i did he said "Oh, that's what that was"

Then a member insulted him, and he hasnt been back since. Was that Murphys Law guy a Mormon?

Gaz

I know what "the spirit" feels like Gaz. I taught people on my mission to recognize it. I felt it myself and still do. You seem to assume that none of us was ever "converted," because if we had been, we'd still be in the church. Ask yourself, then, why the church is always warning its members to strengthen their testimonies, lest they lose them. If it's something that you learn to recognize, how is it you can forget the truth? You aren't going to forget that fire burns, but you can forget that the spirit tells you the truth?

I can't speak for others, but I learned through sad experience that the "spirit" testifies of the truthfulness of things that are demonstrably untrue. Now that I'm out of the church, I still feel that "spirit," but I recognize that it exists independently of the church and does not indeed prove the church true.

[_Trojan Tapir]

I contrasted for him the feelings he had with Family, and the feelings he had at church and when he did the things he knew were right, to the feeling he had when he visited palces he knew he should not be. I had knowledge of parties he had been to, and other places he should not of been. I called to his recollection that hollow cold feeling he had when the spirit left him.

He knew exactly what I was talking about, and he could compare it to the testimony of the spirit when he attended church meetings and heard the testimony of the Gospel.

Gaz

Gaz,

I've never had more powerfully warm and good feelings in my whole life than those I've felt since officially leaving the Mormon church. In fact, I would have to say that the process of submitting my resignation letter was not only incredibly liberating, but peaceful. It often gave me a "burning in the bosom." If I didn't know any better, I might interpret these feelings as God's way of signalling to me that I was making the right decision. I don't believe in God (I'm agnostic), and I've seen "the spirit" guide people in the wrong direction countless times, so I certainly don't believe that these feelings were his way of confirming to me the fraudulent nature of the Mormon church (I've figured that one out without God's help), but this is the type of feeling that Mormons (and people of other religions) interpret as the "Holy Ghost."

Surely you will simply write off my experience as being a misinterpretation of feelings, but I must admit that I'm curious as to exactly how you'll do it. Was it Satan disguised as the Holy Ghost giving me a good feeling to try and trick me into believing that leaving the Mormon church was the right thing to do?

[_Gazelam]

There is a way to discern the Holy Ghost. First of all, the Holy Ghost is always accompanied by the spirit of revelation. In other words, you wil never have the company of the Holy Ghost without learning something.

D&C 50:19-25

19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
20 If it be some other way it is not of God.
21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;

The Gospel tastes good. It edifys and instructs and causes growth. It testifies of Christ and increases knowledge of the Gospel. It brings knowledge and a foundation of your place in the scheme of things and gives purpose and direction to life. Anything contrary to this is not of God.

Gaz

[_Who Knows]

There is a way to discern the Holy Ghost. First of all, the Holy Ghost is always accompanied by the spirit of revelation. In other words, you wil never have the company of the Holy Ghost without learning something.

D&C 50:19-25

blah blah blah

The Gospel tastes good. It edifys and instructs and causes growth. It testifies of Christ and increases knowledge of the Gospel. It brings knowledge and a foundation of your place in the scheme of things and gives purpose and direction to life. Anything contrary to this is not of God.

Gaz

Again, how do you know that's specifically the holy ghost? Because the scriptures say it is? Because the LDS church says it is?

There's got to be some other reason.