First of all, I really admire your family's faith in God and your strong moral standards. I, too, have had a strong faith in God, and have tried to live by the same type of moral standards, my whole life. Since I was very young, I have felt profoundly compelled to search for deeper spiritual meaning, and a more personal relationship with God. This has lead me on a spiritual journey that has, so far, spanned more than 25 years. This journey has included an indepth investigation of the LDS Church, which I eventually joined. However, despite years of searching, reading, studying, and praying (in great earnest), I am still struggling to know if the Mormon Church is true or not. I have to admit, there are some deeper doctrines that scare the stuffings out of me (eg: polygamy, becoming gods, etc...). That, along with being mistreated by some other members, caused me to leave the Church several years ago. I am only now taking a second look, and praying for guidance as to whether or not God wants me to return.

I can't possibly ask all the questions I have here in this forum; but I guess I'll start with this: 1) Do you believe that only Mormon families will be together forever? 2) What would you say to a convert who was alone in the Church....who was very active with callings and giving service to others.....but who felt very isolated, lonely for her own family, and hurt at constantly being told by other members that her non-Mormon family could not be together forever....and that she'd have to get used to the idea of polygamy, because she'll have to settle for being a sister wife in the eternities? Well, I know that's a lot to throw at you......but that was part of my experience....and it was very painful. It really wounded my spirit. How would you counsel someone with that experience, who is feeling really lost and asking for help to find her way?

I hope this isn't too much, Donny. Thank you for taking the time to share your beliefs and testimony. If you get a chance, please acknowledge this. It would mean a great deal to a struggling, but earnestly seeking, spirit. Thank you.

I am very sorry that you had your feelings hurt. That seems to be the most common cause for individuals who are new in the Church to become inactive members.

I feel like your prayers are being answered in your willingness to take a second look. I sincerely hope we can resolve your concerns so you will know, as I know, the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the very same church that the Lord established during his earthly ministry, having been lost and now restored in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. It might help for you to review some of the basics of the Church by checking out the multimedia presentations http://www.donny.com/info/beliefs_multimedia .

I will attempt to answer your concerns with this rather lengthy and detailed explanation:

1) Do you believe that only Mormon families will be together forever?

The prophet Joseph Smith taught that we will have the same "sociality" in the next life that we have in this one. I do know from learning of those who have had near death experiences that we will know and associate with those we love in the world of spirits after this life. Of course, if some are wicked and some are righteous, they will not likely be together, will they?

The scriptures teach that after a space of time in the spirit world, we will be resurrected with glorified bodies relating to the kingdom of glory for which we have qualified. Paul explains:

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: (1 Corinthians 15:40 - 42)

We know that the Celestial Kingdom will be the eternal destination of those of a celestial resurrection compared to the glory of the sun. Revelation to Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon (note that there were one or more witnessess in these important heavenly manifestations) indicates that the inhabitants of this kingdom with be the Father and His Son and those who accepted the fullness of the his restored gospel and live by the his commandments. The Terrestrial Kingdom (compared to the glory of the moon) will be the home of those of the a terrestrial resurrection and will be the honorable and good of the earth but who have rejected the prophets and the restoration. The Telestial Kingdom (glory of the stars) will be the home of the wicked. (See D & C 76:50-113)

The reason I have gone into these various kingdoms of glory that will follow the resurrection and judgement is because, here again, if different members of a family abide in different kingdoms, they will not be together in the hereafter.

We are given to understand that inhabitants of a higher kingdom may visit those of a lessor, but no one can enter a higher kingdom. This implies that there may be contact, but the promise of those who are sealed together in the temple and remain worthy of the Celestial Kingdom will be a part of patriarchial order that will be an important part of the celestial order of things. The optimum hope and promise, then, of the temple binding of families, is that they will remain worthy and be together in this family order for all eternity. If someone in that patriarchial order during this life falters and fails to endure in worthiness, the patriarchial chain will fill in to accomodate the missing link and the order will be intact.

We know that a marriage performed outside the holy temple is as the typical ceremony indicates: "...until death do you part." The sealing or binding power that was given Peter by the Lord: " And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19) we have learned and are sure applies to the priesthood keys by which families are bound forever in the eternities. These keys were restored when Peter, James and John and later Elijah the prophet appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery who was with him. By the power and authority of these priesthood keys, couples who marry in the temple are sealed or bound for time and all eternity and their children are promised to them forever.

The most important promise of all is that a couple who is sealed in the temple who keep their covenants will be able to participate in the next generation of eternal lives, that is as a resurrected couple they will be blessed with spirit offspring and they will be "...heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;" (Romans 8:17) "...and their joy shall be full forever.' ( Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9: 18)

This kind of eternal progress is not at all understood in the world but is the ultimate purpose of our Heavenly Father for his children, but reserved for those who will follow Jesus in preparing for it and are worthy to enter into the temple covenants. Those who cannot accept their divine nature and purpose and do not prepare will be damned, that is to say their progress will be stopped or will end.

Now concerning your second question:

2) What would you say to a convert who was alone in the Church....

There are thousands of members of the Church who are faced with this test of their faith or these same challenges. Clearly, the programs of the Church have been built around families. Only in this last generation, has there been so many singles. I call this a test of faith, because the truth is that each of them will have all of the eternal opportunities that our Heavenly Father has for any of his children.

If you will stay on the path or if you are off, get back on the path and keep your baptismal covenants and prepare yourself to go to the temple and then keep those covenants, there is nothing that will keep you from having an eternal family. This may include members of your family who are not now able for one reason or another to investigate the Church and learn for themselves of the truth.

Do you remember learning of the passages:

18 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: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (1 Peter 3:18 - 19 )

6 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. (1 Peter 4:6 )?

We know from these passages, and of course from the fulfilllment of the Pophecy:

5 ¶ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers , lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Old Testament | Malachi 4:5 - 6) as Elijah did return as promised and restored priesthood keys to perform ordinances such as baptism and temple ordinances in behalf of the dead. The gospel being taught to those in the spirit world and the essential earthly ordinances that are required available to all by proxy makes the true gospel available to every last person who has ever lived on the earth.

Your family, including your ancestors, are good candidates to receive the gospel when in an environment where worldly conditioning will not interfere. The key for you is to be an example of the truth and demonstrate your conviction of it by your persistance in staying on the path (for you, maybe getting back on the path by becoming active and enduring to the end.) You have a good opportunity, through your faith to be the very instrument to help create your eternal family.

Now, what about your chance for participating in eternal progression, in other words being sealed to a worthy companion for all eternity? I would say to you that here again, if you persist in faith and endure to the end, you will qualify for all of the blessing and opportunities that our Heavenly Father has for anyone. The person who tried to tell you that you must accept polygamy and be satisfied to be a second wife, has no basis for telling you such a thing. I am sorry that they told you that. You are a daughter of our Heavenly Father and deserve all of his blessings if you are personally worthy. There is plenty of time, the millinium, for example, and plenty of worthy sons of our Heavenly Father who will need this time to see these opportunities materialize.

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31 :17 - 21)

But, behold, 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 | 2 Nephi 9 :18) I realize that in your circumstances, there may be more faith required than others, but as you know, everyone has serious challenges and must exercise faith to endure them. Please know that Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to return to activity and to endure in faith.

If you have other questions, please feel free to email them to me.

Your brother,

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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