How long should one wait to find out if Mormonism is true?

[_neworder]

Trying to explain how the spirit feels is very difficult, especially if you have never felt it. As missionary we taught that it was a good feeling inside. You know, the warm fuzzies and all of that. I then found out that this is not a reliable method because I felt what I thought was "the spirit" when hearing faith promoting stories and later found out they were not true. Also you feel these same feelings when listening to moving music or watching a movie that really touches you.

As a missionary you would tell the investigator that if they had any "Good Feelings" that this was "the spirit" telling them that these things are true. Many times you would try and convince them God was talking to them through the spirit.

When digging deeper into how people "know" that Mormonism/Book of Mormon is true. Many state that they had some supernatural experience that can not be described as just an emotional feeling. I have heard it started that it is almost like direct knowledge being transferred to your spirit. When you are having an experience like this, you just "know" that it is direct from God and can not deny it. It is not an emotional feeling, but something super natural. This makes me wonder why missionaries must explain to an investigator what the spirit feels since if you really did have an experience like this, you would not confuse it with something else since it is "direct knowledge" sent from God.

Some people though pray over and over and even read the Book of Mormon many times and never have one of these supernatural experiences where they "know" it to be true and can never deny it. My wife and I are one of them despite reading the Book of Mormon a dozen times and pray about it. Even on my mission we taught a guy that has been studying Mormonism for years and read all the LDS scriptures and would even come to our Zone Meetings and just could not join because he has not yet received "an Answer".

I have said a few thing that can be debated but this is really the question I want to focus on.

How long should one invest in prayer, reading, studying, fasting, living the religon, etc. before God gives you this "I know" testimony that you can not deny?

One only has so many years in a life and spending anymore than a few years seems like a waste even though many have spent much longer. Should one give equal time to other Churches such as the Jehovah Witnesses to find out if their church is true?

It seems that at some point if you have not received this "testimony you can not deny" that you need to move on.

[_Gazelam]

I've come to think in recent times that people get the witness that they need, initially at least.

My "supernatural experience" may have resulted from my needing a 2x4 in the head like a stubborn mule to keep me in my row. Others can reflect on the influence of the spirit in their lives and these lesser manifestations are enough for them to go on.

The Holy Ghost does testify of this work, and he will manifest himself to those who do the work in the church. He shows up in home teaching assignments, in priesthood blessings, etc...

[_bcspace]

Your entire life and beyond. I daresay the failsafe testimony you seek is not even given to most LDS at any time before the judgement.

[_moksha]

Why seek truth when the question your should be asking is, "Does it meet my spiritual needs".

[_truth dancer]

Hey BC,

Your entire life and beyond. I daresay the failsafe testimony you seek is not even given to most LDS at any time before the judgement.

Well.... I'm guessing other religionists would suggest one spend their "entire life and beyond" investigation and praying for a testimony of their chosen faith tradition.

Basically, anyone who is working (praying, fasting, obeying, having faith, attending meetings, etc. etc. etc), to "know" a particular religion is the one and only true one is going to be screwed if they spend their entire life hoping the religion they chose is true only to find out that, for their entire life they were barking up the wrong tree.



~td~

[_solomarineris]

How long should one invest in prayer, reading, studying, fasting, living the religon, etc. before God gives you this "I know" testimony that you can not deny?

To my experience, the prayer is the the most degrading form of wishful thinking there is. I am strictly speaking from a personal view here; I'm not saying anybody is stupid just because they pray. As a kid every time I was in between rock & hard place I prayed. Did ever a magical solution appeared out of nowhere?
Never.

[_harmony]

The answer to the question is: you already know. You just need to trust your relationship with God to guide you where you need to be (and that may or may not be in the LDS church).

Open up your Gospel According to Harmony books and follow along on page 10:

God communicates with each of his children differently. There is no "one size fits all", because none of his children are alike. For some, a 2x4 upside the head is occasionally necessary. For others, it's so subtle, the person doesn't even know God's whispering.

The truthfulness of the LDS church is not what's important, on an individual basis, because the church is not God. (Some of us tend to forget that, so a reminder is often timely). The church is simply an earthly institution set up to help people prepare to meet God. It isn't a one-size-fits-all operation, no matter what men may try to tell us.

What's important is building one's personal relationship with God, and through that relationship, which incidently, does not have to include things like fasting, daily prayer, kneeling, or even being a master of scripture, recognizing God's promptings as subtle guidance. Some people never recognize those promptings as coming from God, but they follow them nonetheless, and that's okay. God doesn't need all the credit. The outcomes are what's important.

Not everyone is going to be comfortable or happy in the LDS church; it's simply not going to happen, and it's not supposed to happen. If, after making a sincere effort to have a pure heart and listen to what God prompts you to do, and you are not happy in the church, then remind yourself of the basic of gospel: men are that they may have joy. And understand that your unhappiness is because God is telling you something. It may not be the answer you expect, but it is an answer. You perhaps need to find your joy on another path.

God has not deserted you, nor has he ignored your prayers. He continues to give you your answers, even if you don't recognize his ptomptings as answers. You know the answer to your question, neworder. It may not be the answer you thought you'd get, nor may it be an answer that is easy or fits in with your extended family or friends, but that doesn't mean it's not the answer God has for you.

Perhaps you just aren't following your own path and it's causing you some angst. Making that adjustment may give you peace. Deciding to trust your relationship with God isn't always easy, but it can free your soul from questions to which you already have the answers.

[_Thama]

Your entire life and beyond. I daresay the failsafe testimony you seek is not even given to most LDS at any time before the judgement.

And this idea is why the interpretation of Moroni's promise given by missionaries and Church leadership is less like a honest attempt at receiving an answer (yes, no, or silence all being possibilities worthy of being considered), and more like an excellently constructed self-brainwashing algorithm.

[_Nightlion]

How long should one invest in prayer, reading, studying, fasting, living the religon, etc. before God gives you this "I know" testimony that you can not deny?

All my life since my Alma The Younger conversion at the age of Eighteen the Lord has been jealous to teach me first before I hear something new from the world. This just happened again last week.

A subtle nuance was introduced that caused me to add another layer to my New Mormon Theology. Having done that I then heard the author Deepak Chopra say the same sort of thing. So now I going to read more of his stuff to see what counts with him as a spiritual experience.

The point he made is that religion fails to require an original experience.

[_bcspace]

Basically, anyone who is working (praying, fasting, obeying, having faith, attending meetings, etc. etc. etc), to "know" a particular religion is the one and only true one is going to be screwed if they spend their entire life hoping the religion they chose is true only to find out that, for their entire life they were barking up the wrong tree.

Your view is so......South Park.

So I do all that work and decide on Catholicism. Then, in the afterlife, I find out that the Mormons were right. I convert and await someone to baptise on my behalf.

Seems to me that the "Mormon religion" is the only one that doesn't screw me over.