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I asked this question recently in a FB group but in a slightly different way. I asked what was the minimum I needed to believe in in order to be considered Mormon and believe in Mormonism?
There were loads of answers but it basically came down to two things
1. Love God
2. Love His children
I had the same problem as primary president the restoration for the next 6 weeks. I almost told my bishop to release me as I couldn’t see a way through the next few weeks. I decided to delegate every lesson I couldn’t teach.
Today my councillor gave the lesson on the first vision while I sorted things in nursery and other classes. Next week the missionaries are coming in to talk about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the following week the bishopric are teaching about the restoration of the priesthood. Sorted for now, until next time!
I don’t have any advice or an answer to offer but I could have written every word of your post. Its as though you were writing my thoughts.
I was going to say hang in there as that is what I keep telling myself. ‘Hang on for one more day, one more Sunday’ but why? That’s a good question!
This is a problem I need to overcome. The past few months I have just not attended sacrament on fast Sundays. I’m trying to make church work for me by focusing on the good etc but testimony meetings annoy me for the reasons you give plus a few others.
I don’t want my hard work undone in one meeting.
When I feel stronger I’ll attempt to stay and try some of the suggested coping strategies.
Oh to go back to the simple life of ‘knowing’
Oh you have given me much to think about. I was thinking do I have a testimony of what the missionaries teach about the restoration.
Do I believe Joseph smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. Do I believe heavenly messages came to ordain Joseph Smith with the priesthood. Do I believe the Book of Mormon was translated etc.
I just can’t get my brain around how to believe these things as literal facts and therefore couldn’t see answering ‘Yes’ to having a testimony of the restoration.
Do I believe in faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost and service to others as mentioned in Book of Mormon. ‘Yes’ I most definitely have a hope that all that is truth.
Does that mean I can honestly answer yes to that question?
I can’t see how to answer ‘do I have a testimony of the restored gospel?’ I can’t say I do. My bishop says a testimony can be a hope its true. But how can you hope it’s true when you know the true history. To me it seems like saying I know Santa is not real but I hope he is. I know he’s not so can’t have a hope or testimony of it.
I can’t see a way of getting around that question and keeping my integrity.
Well today was the best Sunday in a long while. Our bishop gave a great talk that seemed tailor made for me. The second talk wasn’t so good but ok reminding us to pray, read scriptures, pay tithing, attend temple. None of which I’m really doing so maybe I should try work on the first 2. Primary was good, kids were great, felt a connection to my tribe for the first time in ages so yes good Sunday.
Perhaps it was my positive attitude and mind set mixed with the break last Sunday.
Lets hope next week is as good!
I’m taking everyone’s advice despite feeling the ‘I can’t’ I am preparing for tomorrow. Courage, patience, serenity, humility, listening to speakers to take note of what I could take on board to make me a better person, ignore unhelpful stuff and keep a look out for people who could do with an extra smile, a chat, help with a child etc.
I’m almost looking forward to tomorrow
I read this article in June 2007 sunstone magazine entitled ‘The yoga of Christ and found it a really inspiring read. http://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/146-30-45.pdf I’ve started meditating this week and notice a huge difference in how much calmer I feel.
Every time I start feeling anxious, confused, annoyed etc I’ve tried to take 5 minutes to stop and meditate and really feel the benefit.
Since my faith crisis Ive found it difficult sometimes to pray. The last couple of nights I’ve said a short prayer and then fell asleep meditating. It’s made for a wonderful peaceful sleep. So much better than all the nights of stressed thinking.
Very early on in my faith crisis after a day of fasting and sincere prayer, I awoke at 3am with an extremely powerful feeling that personal revelation overwrites everything be it prophetic council or scripture and the only thing that should be relied upon is the Holy Ghost. This totally confused me. I spent days wondering if it was a message from God, satan or my unconscious trying to justify not wanting to follow the council of the prophet.
Now It makes perfect sense. Why should I rely on what others are telling me God wants me to do when God can tell me directly. We are all individuals living very different lives if makes sense that at times we need our own individual personal revelation.
Yes Kristmace that’s me. This is my more thoughtful intro.
My more stressed out bang in the middle of crisis story can be seen under the same name on newordermormon.
I think I’ve made some progress.
It’s not an easy journey.
Good to know others are on the same journey with me. Who knows where it will lead us
mackay11 wrote:I’ve still not worked out what I don’t believe yet… it’s a long, long bell curve for me. An initial slide down… and a long stay at the bottom.
Everything came crashing down quite quickly for me as soon as the question ‘could the church be not true?’ Entered my mind.
I spent a while trying to reclaim the testimony of the restoration I used to have and got discouraged for not being able to do so. The more I searched for answers the more I realised I know nothing.
Coming to terms with the fact I don’t ‘know’ anything and probably never will ‘know’ anything was a turning point for me I think.
Every time I start to get really discouraged my Bishop reminds me its OK to doubt, to have questions, concerns and frustrations. I’m lucky to have a good Bishop who I confided in very early on in my crisis who explained faith was not about knowing and could even be just wanting to believe or wanting to have a hope of believing.
I think I went from theist to atheist to agnostic to possibly, hopefully theist in the space of 6 months.
Last week was the 34th anniversary of my baptism and I was thinking over my testimony in that time and realised I went from an 8 year olds innocent I hope god exists, to absolutely knowing the church was true back to my 8 year old testimony now of I hope there is a God.
Welcome! Very good to see you here!
It’s great having these forums and advice and support from people who can empathise but even nicer when one of those on the board is your big brother.
I signed up a few months ago but haven’t managed an introduction yet (maybe tomorrow).
Littlelostsheep (who’s not feeling quite as lost today)
It’s amazing how similar peoples experiences are as I read your intro I felt yep! Understand that, felt that, did that, yep! I’m 5 months in to my faith crisis and everyday still hurts. I still don’t know if I’m staying or going. Almost all of me wants to leave but part is hanging on. Why or for what I don’t know.
I find it so sad that what used to bring great joy to so many now brings so much pain but was SO grateful when I found this site and realised I wan’t the only person who felt this way.
