I loved being a part of the Mormon church. My parents had spent a great many years separated from each other. I am one of five children, and there was never a true family relationship at home. My mother worked way too many hours, and without my father around, we children were left to our own devices. But, the Mormon church helped us to see some positive changes. Suddenly, we were having family time. My parents seemed to be getting along. And the church had us so involved in social activities, it was like a breath of fresh air to this lonely 10 year old girl. Unfortunately, my father has never been one to stick with anything for long. He told us he had started really looking in to the Mormon faith and had decided it was a cult. He pulled us back out of the church. After that, he left us again. And the story gets pretty long, lonely and sad I guess. When I was 17, I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. I accepted Him as my lord and savior and have never questioned that decision. I still made some really poor decisions. The biggest was marrying a man that is not a christian. Becoming "unequally yoked" as the bible puts it. We have 5 great kids now. And life is a struggle on a daily basis because he and I tend to look at things from two totally different standpoints. I choose to homeschool...he doesn't understand it. I believe bringing up my children in church, speaking openly with them about my spiritual beliefs, teaching them to pray, these things are where true happiness lies. He believes that if he could just have more money...more stuff...he could be happy. But, I believe that since he has chosen not to believe, that it's my responsibility to make my family "holy" as it says in I Corinthians 7:12-16. He has attended a Mormon church in the past. He refuses to go to the Baptist church we attend. But, he has recently made it clear that he would attend a Mormon church if I would agree to it. Bottom line is this, I want my children to know Jesus. I want them to be happy in life, to find God's purpose for them. I also want my husband to come to God. I believe we would find a partnership in Christ. To have a spiritual partner is truly something I desire. Ok, so why am I telling you all of this? I am studying the information you have on your website about Mormanism. I would love to just let go and believe as you have. The one thing I do truly believe is that the LDS church has done wonders for the family structure. I would like my children to have a closer family structure so unlike what I had growing up. Our church has it's plusses. But, there is a struggle to try and get more programs going for the kids. There are so few of us that are willing to volunteer to give time for the kids. If I want a good youth group, I have to start one. It is always just a huge struggle to make things happen there for the young people. I give a huge amount of credit to the LDS church for their youth involvement. Even after all these years, I remember all the wonderful activities I was involved in while a member. Just one big spiritual question for you though. Revelations 22:18-19 says "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to these words, God will add to that person the disasters written about in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away from that one's share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which was written about in this book. " I always read that in the way that no one should anything to the bible. Now as I reread it, I wonder if it just means the book of Revelations. I have heard people discredit the Mormon religion because it has added to the bible by using the Book of Mormon. I guess I'm just trying to get my mind around a lot of the beliefs I was raised with. But, I see what the LDS church has done for you and your family. I see where my church lets our family down in so many ways. I love them, but for years and years, they have put the children's needs on the back burner. I just don't understand that and want more for my family. And lastly, if the Mormon church would help bring my husband to God, it is worth it to me to really check in to it more thoroughly. Thanks for letting me unload! I'm not sure you will ever read this but just putting it all down on paper..or cyberspace, helps me to sort things out a bit. Take care! I have followed your career since I was a child and have the greatest respect for you and your family. I am reading your book now, and am learning alot about how your parents managed raising a large successful family. I am always looking for good examples in this area since I had none while growing up. You were truly blessed to be born in to the family you were born in to!

Thank you for your kind comments. I agree with you that our Church has inspired programs for the youth. I am so very grateful for my family life both as a child and now as a parent.

If you will be open and honest in your search and in your prayers, you will find that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is so much more than a good place to raise a family, but is truly the original church and gospel organized and taught by the Lord himself anciently, then lost from the earth during the dark and middle ages but is now restored to the earth in these latter days.

Here is the passage you read in Revelations 22:18-19 "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Your thought that the above scripture has reference to the book of Revelations is correct. One evidence of this is a similar passage in the book of Deuteronomy 4th chapter 2nd verse: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." We would not want to discard the words of the Bible from that book on, would we? So people are unaware that the Bible is not compiled chronologically. In other words, the book of Revelations was not the last book to be written in the Bible.

Another powerful evidence is the truth of The Book of Mormon itself, which can be verified scripturally, archeologically, linguistically and especially spiritually. As the last prophet who wrote in the Book of Mormon promised, "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)

I would recommend that you take advantage of the opportunity to accompany you husband to the "Mormon" church and ask if the Missonaries who are there can come to your home and teach you and your family about the basic teachings.

Let me know if I can help in any way and please keep me advised.

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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