Question: I have grown up as a Catholic. About a year ago I took up an interest in Mormonism, and even had two missionaries bring me a book of Mormon to read. I've considered converting, but everytime I do, I feel that by leaving the Catholic church I would be leaving a huge part of myself behind. I therefore want to ask you these questions:
1) Is it possible to have beliefs in two different religions? Can you be a part of two churches? 2) How do you know if you should convert? What do you have to consider in order to make the right choice?
Response: I can just imagine how difficult it would be to give up the traditions and beliefs of a life time.
Let me take your two questions one at a time.
1) Your belief in Christ won't need to change. Your love for him will stay with you. You seem, however to be interested in trying to find his true church, much of which will teach what you already believe about his gospel and way of life. He taught his followers to live good, pure lives and to love and serve others. It is a simple message of God's love for us and his desire that we prepare to come back into his presence. Christi, as you pray and search and listen to your feelings, you will know in your heart the answers you seek.
Here's an interesting statement that I heard from a Catholic Bishop named Bishop Sheen of New York. He said that there are only two possibilities in the claim to be the true Church of Jesus Christ. One is that it has continued down through the ages and still exists or it was lost and restored in these latter times as proclaimed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If Christ's Church is here today, it has to be one or the other but cannot be both.
2) You are not alone in your feelings. It seems like everyone who has ever come to the point where they are considering changes, has to give up his or her former life. That is what was meant when Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) When asked if that means to enter back into the womb and be reborn, Jesus explain that we must be born of the water and of the Spirit which is to say we must be baptized in water and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (see Acts 8:17-18).
By going down into the water and coming forth again out of the water, it symbolizes rebirth as we are born from an enclosure of water. It also symbolizes being washed and cleansed ("... arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins"... [Acts 22:16]) as well as being buried and resurrected . "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
The phrase, "a newness of life" is what is meant by being born again. This is never an easy step, but all who come to him must make that "mighty change" as stated in the Book of Mormon "...the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts" (Mosiah 5:2).
You need to prayerfully consider the question of authority to baptize and the proper mode of baptism as Christ taught and exemplified " ... when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:" (Matthew 3:16). As you search for these and other answers, remember the Lord's promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7)
If you will read the Book of Mormon and pray "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." (Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:4) Once you feel this manifestation of the spirit, you will know what to do and have the strength to do it.
Let me know if I can help further.
God Bless You.
