Beliefs > Question & Answer > Comparing The LDS Church and Other Religions

Question

Four weeks ago I found your site by coincidence. I've written in your guestbook, was warmly invited to join the Dutch Osmonds Fan Club, and through them went to see Merrill in Concert in Apeldoorn last night, where I also met Troy and gave him my details for someone from the Mission here in Holland to contact me. I a Catholic, born in Singapore on 13 Dec 1958 to an English mother, Dutch Father and brought up in Singapore until my mother passed away when I was 19, and I went on my own to England where I lived until 13 years ago, when I fled to Holland escaping from an alcoholic husband, and had to start up all over again, learning a foreign language as well. I have been reading a lot of the questions on the Beliefs page, and what gripped my attention was where it was described that the Prophet Joseph, searching for an answer as to which was the right church, went and prayed in the woods, and was granted a vision seeing both God and Jesus appear to him. I too have had precisely that same vision approx. 6 years ago, as well as two others, but this brought goosebumps to me. I am still searching for a church and that is why I asked Troy (Merrill's son) last night to pass on my details so I can discuss things and learn from someone at the mission here in Holland who speaks English, as my Dutch is not the greatest, and I express myself more in my own language. I wanted you to know this, because if it hadn't been for your site and the Section on Your Beliefs, which also explained that it is very similar to the Catholic Faith, I would not even be considering it. From what I can gather from the information on the site, and from what I " see " of how you Osmond Family behave, you live out your faith daily (and not just on Sundays). But I do have 3 questions (worries) that I would like to ask if I may, and both of them revolve around your belief of marrying and being with your Family again in Heaven: (1) Basically in one of my other visions, I found myself in Heaven surrounded by a brilliant white light pouring down on me and filling me with love and such joy and peace as I have never before felt. And it was a flash of an instant but basically, one is just so filled with the joy and receiving the love of our lord, that one is not even aware of where you are. You are just so totally focused on receiving his love, and loving him back in return. Shortly afterwards I became aware that there were other people there too and I turned to look around, but it was for just a few seconds, each of us nodding to each other as if to say " isn't this glorious, isn't this wonderful",and then turning back and focusing back on God. It did not occur to me to even look to see if I could see my mother or grandparents, Receiving the love of God and the joy of it was all that everyone was focussing on. This might have been just a " glimpse" of the beginning of my future arrival in Heaven I don't know - maybe later I would want to search for family - but that wasn't the feeling I got there. Don't know what you think or make of this. I can tell you that his love was so wonderful and EVERYBODY was getting exactly the same!! (*I haven't done anything with this because I am so scared he's asking me to evangelicise for him and I am not a holy person and scared of what might be asked of me) (2) I have sinned against my husband I think, according to your beliefs. I left him whilst we were still married, and instigated Divorce proceedings when I arrived in Holland. 1 year later he died suddenly as a result of the drink, for which I still find it hard to forgive myself. 13 years later I am still single, not looking for a partner, because I don't believe I deserve to be happy, because he did not get that chance. I'm trying very hard to forgive myself now though - not easy at all. However, I read somewhere that if you are a Widow (which I consider myself), and you re-marry, you can choose with whom you wish to be married and go to Heaven with. I don't know what to think or do. I am not even anywhere near to taking any steps to even Date yet, but just the thought that I might find someone and re-marry within the Mormon faith - if I did not choose my dead husband, I feel that I would be condemminig him to a lifetime in Hell. Any advice here please? This is so hard. It feels like you are either approving or rejecting one or the other, and I cannot believe that that is what God wants. (3) Considering nr 2 above, would I even be allowed to join the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and would I even be allowed to re-marry? Don't worry, if you don't have time to answer these questions, I most certainly will put them to the person who comes to visit me here from the Mormon Mission. I think your beliefs page and related links are fabulous, as is the audio presentation. God Bless you and Keep Guiding and Protecting You. And thanks for giving so many people such joy, laughter and pleasure.

Response

What a treat it is to hear from you and receive an email like this. Thank you for your kind remarks and thank you especially for sharing such a personal and spiritual experience. You must be a very choice daughter of our Heavenly Father to be able to have such a wonderful spiritual experience. I'm glad you were able to attend Merrill's concert and meet my nephew, Troy. I am also glad that you asked him to send the missionaries to you. Let me know how that turns out. They, by the way, will be able to give you a copy of the Book of Mormon and the video you mentioned in your other email. I would be happy to send these to you, but it will take a considerable amount of time for you to receive it in the post and they have them there to distribute to those who are interested. Now, regarding your questions: 1) What a great blessing it was for you to feel the love of our Saviour. I know that he loves every one of us and that love is a very powerful force just like you described. I have known of many others who have had similar experiences and all describe his love as a most precious thing. There is an account in the Book of Mormon in which the Prophet Lehi had a dream of a beautiful tree with a fruit, which he described as exceedingly white and most delicious to the soul. (Book of Mormon - 1 Nephi chapter 8) His son Nephi had a vision in which the interpretation of the dream was given (See 1 Nephi chapter 11). He was taught that the fruit was the "...love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things...Yea, and the most joyous to the soul." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 11:22 - 23) This was demonstrated to him by a vision of the birth, ministry and suffering of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Now just imagine the rest of such a heavenly experience which can be shared with your loved ones. These eternal relationships are truly possible through the blessings offered in the Holy Temples. Many have had spiritual experiences like yours, but involving their loved ones. You will soon come to understand how all of this works. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, wants you to come unto him, but don't be afraid: He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (New Testament | Matthew 11:28 - 30) 2) I cannot see where you should feel guilty for leaving an alcoholic or abusive husband. Each of us must account for how we live our lives and he will yet have every opportunity to receive, accept or reject the gospel for himself. Did you know that the gospel is taught to the spirits of the dead who, in the world of spirits, await the resurrection and judgment? "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (New Testament | 1 Peter 3:18 - 20) "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (New Testament | 1 Peter 4:6) I believe that if you will become a true follower of Jesus Christ, you will have the opportunity to spend the eternities with a righteous companion. If you find a worthy man in the Church, I believe you will know that he will be the one. If not, you may still have the chance to unite with your husband, if he accepts the gospel in the spirit world and repents. I believe your choice will be right and will bring you the kind of joy you felt in the vision of being in the presence of Christ, for all eternity. Your former husband's choices will determine his own eternal destiny and you needn't put that burden on yourself. It will all work out right. Just trust the Lord who you know loves you. 3) You will be welcomed into the Lord's Church with open arms and hopefully will meet a wonderful man, with whom you can be happy here and hereafter. Thanks again for your great email and for your generous comments. Please let me know how things go with the missionaries and never hesitate to ask questions. Sincerely, Donny Osmond See related multimedia presentations

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