You also asked if I thought I would convert if I were not born into an LDS home. Because I have always been a seeker of truth, and have enjoyed studying the scriptures, I presume that I would have. Like all good men and women who have come to the point in their lives where they are searching for something more, I think I would have been directed by the Spirit to a place where I would have become acquainted with members and with the doctrine of the LDS Church. Despite the fact that I was raised in the LDS faith, I consider myself a convert to the church because I came to know for a surety on my own, without outside influence from my parents that it is true. So, I am confident that I would have accepted and embraced the beliefs and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had the situation been different. The reason for that is that these doctrines answer every question concerning where we came from, why we are here, and where we will go after we leave this life. They also tell us what we must do to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and to live with Him through the eternities, and many other great and wonderful things.

Your next question was whether I thought that someone could join the LDS Church, just because they appreciated the LDS way of life, without having a testimony of the Book of Mormon or the Prophet Joseph Smith. To that I would say yes. However, I am confident that as they became totally involved and active in the Church, the kind of studying they would do, and the things they would hear and learn, would provide for and strengthen their testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the reality of the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In the long run, without that testimony and understanding, the essential nature of the relationships in the Church are not sufficient to strengthen one’s faith.

Your next question had to do with what I knew about which religion had the most converts. I wish I could give a definitive answer to that question. I am simply not aware. It may be that the Catholic Church has the largest numbers of total increase in its membership due to the million membership that it has. It may also be the largest due to the fact that these families continue to have more children each year. But whether there are actually on a percentage basis more people converting from another religion to Catholicism, as compared to those who convert to any other church, is not something that I can give a clear answer to.

Your last question asked why the Mormon Church does not have its own TV programs. I am surprised at that question because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a very extensive media coverage. It has simple things like family-values commercials (little three-minute vignettes in a family setting which support a particular family value) and presentations on PBS concerning the history and doctrines of our church. It also has the worldwide broadcast twice a year of the two-day General Conference of the Church, where the prophet and his counselors and other general authorities of the Church speak to us and the entire world. (This is broadcast by Satellite to local LDS Churches and all are welcome.)
Additionally, the Brigham Young University broadcasts by cable and satellite a weekly devotional series where leaders of our church give us instruction and counsel on doctrine and scripture. I hope this is helpful to you. (Bev adds: Also if you have Satelite the DISH network, and possibly others, provides BYUTV with shows all day long featuring family education, womens conference, BYU reports and lessons and so on.)


Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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