Thank you.

(P.S. Love your music since I was a kid and I must admit that your being Mormon made me start being interested). 2nd Email:

In my previous mail I explained a little about my trouble with investigation. I sincerely think that most things I learned about the LDS were very interesting and that they made me feel more and more interested in learning more. Only I felt that I was getting more and more scared the more I knew. Probably, the way I learned of certain things that you consider sacred, was not the right way. Some things, though, came to me in a very plain way through inspiration. Later on, my "findings" were confirmed by the missionaries, which did not make me feel any easier about things like that God had a wife, that Christ had possibly been married, etc.

Honestly, I do not find that the Christ I know from the New Testament is the same you teach about. Although many basic things sound very similar, the doctrine is totally different. I feel that being a Mormon is terribly demanding. Believing in Christ, keeping the commandments, being charitable, does not seem to be sufficient by far. I have the feeling that Mormons will never be good enough, considering all they have to do: Tithing, serving missions, wearing garments, doing genealogy, marrying, serving in calls in the church.... the list of "to do" seems endless and I feel you'll never do well enough. Shouldn't there be a middle thing between the faith of some Christians who think that believing in Christ is enough and they can well lay down and sleep and the people in your church who remind of the the thousands of rules the Jews had to observe? Don't you think it is a burden to live like that?

Thank you very much.

I was very interested in your analogy of learning about our church, that "it was like looking into a well and not knowing how long the fall would be". I have always viewed it like Jesus characterized it when he said, "...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14) It is not a pathway that leads into darkness, but from the darkness into the light. There is a commitment to follow Jesus Christ and even to try to become like him. That is scary to all of us some times, but I submit that is why we are here and it does require a lot of faith often to move into the unknown. That, frankly is the test that results in the "few" who will enter the path.

There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that I believe is good and even critical advice. It councils, "I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 28:30 - 31)

As you know, we declare, with deep conviction, that Jesus Christ himself restored his ancient church, gospel, priesthood and sacred ordinances. This required many heavenly visitations and revelations to restore all of the many facets of the organization and teachings of Christ's ancient church. These divine communications came through the Prophet Joseph Smith, but there were witnesses of these divine manifestations. These many testimonies along with ours of restoration are either true or they are not. Each individual has to determine for himself or herself. I believe that it is the most important thing a person can learn in this life and if it is true, then the most important thing we could possibly do would be to embrace it with heart, might mind and soul, to ensure our eternal success.

The convictions of the truth are not obtained by intellectual understanding alone, but must come by personal revelation. Here are some supporting passages:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:9 - 14)

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:15-17) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:4 - 5)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:5-6)

The real challenge is to exercise enough faith and not be "...carried about with every wind of doctrine...." (Ephesians 4:14).

I know if you will persist you will find the truth. Please Don't give up because, "... the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever." (Book of Mormon - Nephi 9:18)

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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