Beliefs > Question & Answer > The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Question

I'm a seventh generation Mormon. Every one of my living relatives is a member of the church. Most are active, many are leaders. I was in the bishopric 5 years ago, stake executive secretary 4 years ago, and have served in every ward calling that a man can be called to. In short, just as the church is your life, the church was my life for over 40 years. My world view burst when after doing some serious investigation ( a process that took me several months) I sadly concluded that although the church has many positive things to offer, its roots were based on fraud and lies. Generally, I have no desire to cause confrontation or to risk shattering other member's testimonies and thus I don't ask active members this kind of question. But in your case, you are actively proselyting and to a certain extent are serving as an unofficial "apologist" for the church That being the case; I ask you this honest question. Have you really studied the writings of researchers whose findings regarding Church History differ from those espoused by the church? Have you read Grant Palmer, Michael Quinn and Todd Compton's books? If so, how do you reconcile these well researched issues raised by these scholars with your faith? If you have not read these books, why not? Thanks.

Response

I can't tell you how sorry it makes me feel to hear stories like yours, of those who have had within their grasp the "Pearl of Great Price" (Matthew 13:46), have clung to the "iron rod" long enough to have supposedly tasted of the "fruit of the tree of life" (Book of Mormon - 1 Nephi 8th Chapter) and were well on their way on the "strait and narrow path that leadeth to eternal life" only to let all this slip from them because they "put their trust in the arm of flesh" (Jeremiah 17:5; 2 Nephi 28:31). I have not and likely will never read the books that have caused you to lose the spirit and I ask "Why should I"? I have inquired of these authors that you suggest I look to for light and truth and I have found that they are people to whom I would not like to look to for my eternal salvation. There are hundreds of LDS scholars who know more than these three who have missed the mark, lost the spirit, allowed Satan to enter into their hearts and set out to become a tool in his hands to destroy as many LDS people as possible. The pattern of these authors you mention goes back to Judas, one of the original Twelve apostles of the Lord, and all the way back to Cain, the son of Father Adam. More importantly, I do not base my conviction of the truth of the restoration of the gospel on what any man has or may do, say or write whether he be a leader in the Church or an enemy. The motivation in my life is not based on whether church members or even leaders made some human error or committed some sin or covered up someone else's error or sin. It certainly could never be based on what someone with an agenda wrote. My witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its ordinances and priesthood power and authority is based on personal revelation as the Lord has promised: "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...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 2:9-10;13-14) "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....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 14:15-17;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." (Moroni 10:4-5) "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) "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." (2nd Nephi 9:28-29) If you have served in the Church for so many years and then were inclined to do this research and base your eternal future on alleged actions and or writings of mortal men, you've missed the point. If this has happened to you because of some blow to your ego, an addiction or some other weakness of the flesh, I would tell you that it is not too late to get on your knees in prayer, repent and return to what you know in your heart, by the promptings of the Holy Ghost, the truth as you once knew. Sincerely, Donny Osmond See related multimedia presentations

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