Telling my old mission comp...

[_why me]

So, we should all leave Mormonism and join the catholic church? I agree that Catholicism is definitely a notch above the Mormon church but it seems like you are in the wrong place to try to win converts since not many here are looking for a new religion....

I was born catholic and lived the catholic faith for the first 18 years of my life. Not much of a change or a change of life to attend Mass again.

[_schreech]

So, we should all leave Mormonism and join the catholic church? I agree that Catholicism is definitely a notch above the Mormon church but it seems like you are in the wrong place to try to win converts since not many here are looking for a new religion....

I was born catholic and lived the catholic faith for the first 18 years of my life. Not much of a change or a change of life to attend Mass again.

Ahhh...so "we should all leave Mormonism and join the catholic church? I agree that Catholicism is definitely a notch above the Mormon church but it seems like you are in the wrong place to try to win converts since not many here are looking for a new religion...."

You seem to be very confused...Do you actually believe that anyone here takes you seriously considering you would rather be a catholic?

[_sock puppet]

See, that's the problem. It's general enough that the HG could have been telling you that Rocky Road is a better ice cream flavor than Vanilla. It was man that misled you by convincing you that your confirmation was directed at Mormonism.

I understand that you need to believe this. Denying the HG can be serious. And denying the spirit can be problematic. And so, I can understand why you equate it all to ice cream.

At least with ice cream, you get something of value in return for what it costs you.

[_thews]

Do you think some people are just afraid to stop believing?

Absolutely. This is why when asked what they believe, most Mormons will start with, "Well we believe..." It's a collective mindset that's reinforced every time they say they know the church is true. Because you climbed out of Plato's cave to seek the truth, he's wondering if the dancing shadows on the wall are real; they fear that they are not real.

I respect your plan in this whole thing. Why burst his bubble if he's happy? On the other hand, there's a lot of ways to point out the inconsistencies just using the Book of Mormon itself. Questions that involve the so-called Urim and Thummim and what happened to them (D&C 10:1-3) have answers, and most Mormons don't have a clue about seer stones and rock-in-hat.

If I were you, I stay on the side of caution and just be friends, but if you really are friends, maybe he wants to know? Hold out the red pill and the blue one and explain once one knows the truth they can't go back. If he chooses to want to know, even if it's a plan of his to bring you back, start with one thing and show him some data. Whatever he accepts or rejects is up to him. Is your life happier since you learned the truth? The answer is that it doesn't factor into this. The truth is the truth and what one does with it is up to them. If you are good friends, I really don't see how you can avoid the above conversation.

Well I've been sittin' here, thinkin' about you
'Bout what it is that you, you want from me
You know it seems that I still don't know you well
Know many faces I have seen
Still I try, to make you happy
Still I try, to make you sing
Now if you're wonderin', what I think of it all
Just read the back of this postcard
The air here, breathing's great

Postcard - Widespread Panic

[_zeezrom]

Would you be afraid to believe again?

Hell no! Believing is fun. It is exciting. It is amazing. I love believing in things. Why Me, I wish I could sit down with you and tell you how I feel and I hope you would listen. Sadly, I've tired of saying much to you because you don't seem to listen at all.

I'm very happy to believe. Currently, I choose to believe in things that are pretty distant from current Mormon theology and maybe a little closer to Joseph and Brigham's early church. It is heresy but I choose to believe it, knowing it is sort of a game to bring inspiration to my heart and mind. It is like looking at art or reading good fiction (i.e. Brontes). I poo poo on the idea that nonbelievers can't be inspired by outrageous ideas. Of course we can!

Here is what I'm afraid of, Why Me:

1. Paying money to a lost cause and losing the opportunity to save for my retirement in the process
2. Wasting time at the temple when I could be with my wife in meaningful conversation
3. Working over the weekends on church jobs when I could spend it with my family and take care of the home.
4. Watching my children grow up with the fears and troubles I had due to the guilt and fear produced by the church hierarchy
5. Watching my children go through a loss of faith after being surprised the church is not what they thought