I agree that the most attractive form of Mormonism is that it purports to be a religion of miracles, priesthood power, and so on. And, I think it delivers on those things to people of faith in those things. It did for me when I had faith in those things. I don't know exactly what you mean by "having no battles to fight at all," however. No one guarantees that life will be easy just because you joined the LDS Church.Physics Guy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2024 5:36 pmPerhaps part of why Mormonism seems to keep having to re-fight the same old battles is that a big part of the appeal of Mormonism is the promise of not having to fight battles at all. The most attractive form of Mormonism is surely “chapel Mormonism” with its unchallenged literal miracles, priesthood power, and so on.
Again, I am not following this idea that people thought there was no bill, no challenges, so to speak. If people do, then they have forgotten what life is like for everybody, including LDS people. I am not sure the LDS Church can be held culpable for that. I do think that people have unrealistic expectations, and I concede that claims of prophets, miracles, and the like may give people the impression that life should somehow be easier, but I don't believe that I was ever sold that bill of goods, in fact. People in the LDS Church regularly talk of their trials in life. I don't think many LDS people think there will not be any bad times or challenges.Having to weigh excuses for moral failings of prophets is kind of like getting hit with a drinks bill at a resort that was supposed to be all-inclusive. The problem isn’t that the bill is unreasonable as a price for what you received. The problem is that the whole reason you came was that there weren’t going to be any bills.
Your metaphor just doesn't work for me, but that's OK. Maybe I am just misunderstanding you. Whether one is in the mode of faith, or the faithful mindset, or not, makes a big difference here. When one steps out of it, then it is easy to move to the mindframe of bills and payments due, etc. When one is in it, there is often a sense of gratitude for the bounteous blessings already there.Apologists keep on justifying the bar prices, but missionaries and teachers keep on selling the all-inclusive deal with no bills. The fact that there are in fact bills to pay remains news.
The mind is a powerful thing, and it can make of experience so many different things, depending on its state. I don't think it is necessary to take other people's claims on face value for one's self, but I also don't think one can attribute one's own perceptions to another's view or state of mind.
