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Not being perfect is not going to hold God back from sending Blessings. I believe that blessings that are given with real intent of helping the person combined with their faith in it is what obligates God to answer them . As mentioned before if you had to be perfect to give blessings none would ever be given !!! I don’t think you can be an axe murderer and give blessings but if you are really trying God will not hold back !!!!!!!!! I have paid tithing on my surplus for years , I tried the other way on Gross and it never worked I just can’t make my finances work . Tithing is a charitable contribution and I and I alone will decide how much to give. God does not need my money but I do believe in supporting the church and it’s mission. Tithing on my surplus works for me and also for me is a 100% tithe . The Community of Christ members Tithe this way (formerly Reorganized LDS church) . The way I see it tithing is between myself and God and no one elses business !!!!!!!!! Yes my Testimony is battered and bruised but never the less I am still here !!!!!!!!!! Still trying still praying and most important still a member. I am an unorthodox member now I am not a literal believer but a spiritual one. I hope it does not make me a less member !!!!!!!!!!!!! McZee I am in the same boat as you are but I have not yet told anyone my beliefs other than my wife who is slowly accepting the idea. I think we are going to be the fastest growing area of the church as many will come over to this belief system who are on the fence. I guess we could call it a unorthodox nonliteral but spiritual believer . Wow that is a mouthful !!! I have been in the process( because I do Love the church) of becoming an unorthodox believer and kudos to the Brother that has created “Churchistrue” That website means a lot to me and I am slowly coming to terms of being a non literal believer. Even though I do not believe the BOM was translated from the gold plates that doesn’t mean I don’t think it is inspired by God . I believe it is a work of joseph smith but like I say inspired by God to bring us closer and to believe in Jesus Christ . I see many things in the church like this so I am coming to terms with this and although my wife is a literal believer I think I can make my way of thinking work for me and remain in the church. Church is true is Great and I believe it has helped many people like me remain in the church , keep up the good work PLease !!!!!!!!!! I am looking at the Bible and I found Matthew 19:29 that says if you give up lands,houses or a wife in my names sake it shall be replaced a hundred fold !! I am starting to really believe more and more in the Bible. Yes I feel like I am living a lie all the time and it bothers me a lot!!!!!!!!!!! I lost my faith a long time ago but it really hit me hard about 1 year ago . As I negotiated my path of a faith crisis I realized a lot about myself and the faith. I tried to come out to other people and even resign but none of that happened it was all silenced quickly !! Nobody wants to hear it not even my spouse. She tells me she cannot/will not be married to a non believer . I know at some point I will have to make choice (not ready for that yet ) Just because I have been quiet for the past few months does not make me a believer. I believe in Jesus Christ and that is all I need for now but living this lie about living and loving Mormonism sucks !!!! I don’t believe in Joseph Smith anymore than the man in the moon or the current Prophet and apostles . My lie eats at me when I attend church , shake hands etc etc etc . I have never been a guy that gets up and likes to speak so I avoid it like the plague even saying NO to the 1st & 2nd counselors when the try to assign a talk to me. I like the church and the clean living but hey you can have that anywhere that part is up to each one of us. I hope I can get understanding at not criticism at some point but for now peace escapes me on this issue. I observed this talk and was taken back by it . These are not the words of a man of God !!!!! He is no more of an apostle than I am . where is his compassion for people struggling with their faith. He should be kicked out of the 12. Jesus never talked to people struggling with faith like that !!! I think he is just a Jerk and can’t help it. I have to say when I had my faith crisis I ended up adopting this view that I don’t know or care if the BOM is a literal history or not !!! I believe it is a good book that can bring a man or woman to Christ and that is good enough for me . No it does not have to be all or nothing (Gordon B. Hinckley taught this) I love what someone wrote earlier that is Yes this is the true church because it teaches things Jesus Christ taught and so do a lot of other churches are they less true or more true does it matter ???? The church teaches good things and a good way to live so history really doesn’t matter the life lessons that are taught are what matter to this end I recommend you go to the following web site churchistrue.com this web site explains new Mormonism and how to look at things a little differently . The site helped me get through my faith crisis as I am still an active member with a temple recommend , if it takes looking at the church somewhat differently then so be it who cares I am no less of a Mormon !!! Peace . I’m so glad you posted this as it is an interesting discussion. I believe as you do that most members live in that gray area , but I tried for many years to live the all or nothing approach and for me it just did not work !!!!!!! I was very unhappy and depressed as I tried my hardest to live it but I could just not measure up !!!!!!!!!! Since I have gone to the I believe and accept what I want approach it has been much easier for me. Many of you would say that is just being lazy and you might be right but all I know is that the other way I was Suicidal !!!!! So you have to do what works for each of us , I don’t know if I’m right or wrong I just know that is the way I have to live my life . I believe God is more forgiving than we think and I also believe the church is being directed by mortal men who are capable of making mistakes . For example I do not believe Black men should have ever been denied the priesthood , that was something of that time period just as today I do not believe God would have us shun our Gay brothers and sisters he loves all no matter where we are in our life journey. So for me all or nothing is forever gone and I am able to remain active in church a church I love . I also do not believe their is one True church , God wants to save all his children no matter what church they belong too !!!!!!!!! I would like to hear from others post on this subject. Thank You. This may be a little off base but for GC I would like to hear the Brethren reach out to have better relations with other churches as I believe that is possible and it should happen . President Hinckley said and this is not exact to: Bring with you what you have and let us add unto it . This is such a great statement it really reaches out to other churches . I want to see the LDS church work more with other Christian churches and even other faiths as I believe this is what the savoir would want us to do. God speaks to all of us in many different ways and we as members of the church should not minimize or look down upon other churches but as I said reach out to them become friends I.E. brothers and sisters. Letting go of the all or nothing approach was the only way I got through my faith crisis !!!!!!!!!! I am not even sure how the all or nothing thing even came to be but I believe it may have come about by way of Pres. Hinckley. At any rate I am now comfortable with being A Cafeteria Mormon , nothing wrong with it at all !!!!!!!! I am ok with Jesus Christ and the Bible but uncomfortable claiming the church is the only true church on the face of the earth I just can’t buy into that anymore . I have several other examples but I won’t go into any more of them here anyway the cafeteria way works and works very well and no one should ever feel guilty about it . Shawn I’m sorry for your pain but I have gone through similar things that you are experiencing right now. For me it was mostly about Historical things so I decided to just take the church for what it is right now . A good church full of good people trying to do their best. I focused on the Bible and not the BoM and D&C . I loved my family more & more really poured it on and somehow I got through it . I acknowledged Joseph Smith was a prophet but he was not without his problems as is with many of the prophets !!!! He was only a man and a man with issues !! The church has many good things about it I.e. clean living bringing Christ into your life daily scripture family togetherness etc etc etc look for the good. Joseph Smith said ” The fundamental principles of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ , that he died , was buried, and rose again the third day , and ascended up into heaven and all other things are only appendages to these , which pertain to our religion “. I also wanted to say in my original post that although you do not need to read scripture as literal but metaphorical this way is easier for me with the BOM and you can still get the same spiritual affect as intended. The whole point is once again if you want to stay LDS you can find a way . Thank You.
