[Mikedavis]

Jazernorth wrote:

I don’t know about the church as “the church” and have had issues with some of it’s teachings.

I took a financial class from Dave Ramsey’s FPU course and once I learned this perspective I had no issues paying tithing. I look at it as this church is just as good as any other and since my family attends it makes sense.

Here is the link: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/daves-advice-on-tithing-and-giving/lifeandmoney_church/

Hopefully that helps as it isn’t a mormon thing but more of a bible thing.

Thanks Jazermorth, I will read this

[Mikedavis]

Hmmm. Perhaps I should clarify. My personal belief is that if a person is able to tithe they should, but tithing should be based on available funds after a person has paid their living expenses. I also think a person has a duty to serve the lord and his church in any way they can. I am a little dubious about going to the temple, but mainly because I feel Masonic rituals and incantations have little (if anything) to do with the lord. That said, I am basing my understanding of temple practices solely on information found in books and video posted to YouTube that mostly originates from disinchanted ex members of the church and is perhaps not the most reliable. I guess in a way as a new member I’m suffering from information overload? In my own case this situation is not helped by the fact that I work alongside three lay preachers from the evangelical church who have made it their mission to “save me” from Mormonism! However as I have told them, if I want to go to a rock concert and wave my arms in the air I would rather go and see Pink Floyd!

[Mikedavis]

Jazernorth wrote:

Cadence wrote:

Certainly because in the Millennium it will all be sorted out and those who could not do things now can do the extra credit necessary to get a passing grade. But if you could do in now and do not,well then you are in a heap of trouble.

I’m sorry, but this can’t be true. This seems to be the normal answer that TBM give and I can’t accept it. I can argue a bunch of “what-if” scenarios that would make this statement become confusing and hard to justify.

If God does exist and pays attention to us (still undetermined by me), then he will be the judge and there is no amount of “doing” or “not doing” according to man that will “secure” or “not secure” someone into the Celestial Kingdom.

I have to say I tend to agree with you. I don’t believe the LDS teaching that people must “work their way into heaven” by paying dues, partaking in “borrowed” Masonic ceremony’s or donning Masonic underwear. It has to do with acceptance of Christ living his gospel, and trying to do more right than wrong. But that said, what do I know? After all I’m a new convert and admit I have much to learn.

[Mikedavis]

Ray. I am so sorry for your loss and so gratful for you sharing your Dad’s story. If it is any help you can be assured that he has touched and perhaps even altered the lives of at least 5 people he had not even met.

[Mikedavis]

Thank you Ray and everyone else who took the time to answer this.

My entire family and I are new to the church and have been troubled by the fact we had been taught that in order to enter the celestial kingdom and be together as a family in the presence of god they must do A,B,C etc. And that anyone who falls short for ANY reason (for example who doesn’t enter the temple) is excluded. I/we have a much clearer understanding now.

[Mikedavis]

Tobin wrote:

I’ll add my 2 cents:

1) I currently don’t pay tithing and see no reason to ever do so again. I do believe one should dedicate as much as you can to help the poor and needy however. I wouldn’t mind seeing tithing become a 10% guideline as a good thing to set aside 10% or more of your income for such an endeavor. In fact, if the Church were to set up transparent programs for the poor and truly needy, I’d even contribute more than 10% since I can afford to do so.

2) The Church should get out of the underwear business. It is demeaning to the faith. My view is create a bunch of decals we can attach to our undergarments to remind us of our promises. I see nothing wrong with such symbolism.

3) I see nothing wrong with a sacrament meeting once a week and asking people to share their thoughts afterwards. I would have a common meal as well after the sacrament meeting. And I would champion various meetings to do volunteer work in the community during the week. I would make all other meetings optional.

4) I would give local congregations back control of their finances and focus on making them serve their communities. Richer congregations would be expected to help more since they would have more resources to do so.

5) I would change the structure of the bishopric. It should be the Bishop, the Elders Quorum President, and the Relief Society President as his counselors. I would make the Relief Society equal with the Elders Quorum and allow them to call upon God’s priesthood again as they could before.

6) All Church education should be dedicated to helping members achieve higher professional degrees and skills. I would have programs for children such as an after school program for parents that work and to help children with their school work. For adults, I would focus more on what the scriptures say, the history in which they were written, and bring a sense of scholarship to the material presented about the Church and gospel. I would have a highly paid and trained set of professional teachers as well.

This has to be one of the most profound posts concerning the LDS church I have ever read.

[Mikedavis]

Hi

Well I guess my very first post has to be to thank you for recommending this forum.

Unlike yourself, I’m a new convert to the church. I have a lot of questions most of which I am told by the church “I should not be asking” this attitude worries me deeply. Anyway, since the church won’t answer my questions I have been left to find the answers by myself, which is why I’m here.

My faith Jesus Christ is strong. I believe in the church, but only up to a point. For example I am very apprehensive about the BofM (history, geography, DNA issues etc.) as well as some of the strange masonic based ceremonies I see widely posted on YouTube that take place in the temple. It also concerns me that the temple is not a place of worship, but a place to participate in these strange practices. I guess at the moment I would describe myself as a Christian who was baptized into, and now attends the LDS church.

MD

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