fbpx
37.6 F
Spokane
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeBeliefsAsk A Mormon: Why should I be Mormon?

Ask A Mormon: Why should I be Mormon?

Date:

Related stories

Now Hiring: Freelance Reporters

Now Hiring: Freelance Reporters SpokaneFāVS.com, an online publication covering religion...

Ask A Mormon: Can you be baptized after death?

Mormons believe that “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). He loves all of his children, regardless of when or where they were born. We also believe that baptism, and the covenants we make at baptism, are stepping stones on the path to salvation and exaltation.

Ask A Mormon: Do Mormons believe they will become gods?

Latter-day Saints believe that every life — our spirits, our souls, the essence of who we are — is eternal.

Ask A Mormon: Do Mormons stockpile goods?

Are Mormons Preppers? Why and where and for how long do they stockpile goods? Why is this, is there an eschatological reason?

Tripping to Peace at Salt Lake: Individual States or All New Kingdom?

We must, if we are to survive, see that our existence is vitally connected with the equally important existence of the other.

Our Sponsors

spot_img
spot_img

Do you have a question about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Submit it online or fill out the form below.

Why should I be Mormon?

SPO-House-ad_Ask-A-Mormon_0823139The only reason to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that you’ve received a witness that that’s what God wants you to do.

Now, I can tell you why I’m Mormon and what I love about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how it helps me grow closer to God and be a better person, but that’s my experience and my testimony. The answers I get from God when I ask where He wants me to be and what He wants me to do are not directly transferable to anyone else.

One of my favorite tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the emphasis on personal revelation, the idea that each person has access to direct communication with God through the Holy Ghost to guide her life. If you’ve read the Book of Mormon, studied the scriptures and the doctrines of the Church, met with missionaries, and prayed sincerely asking God what He wants you to do, I believe that you’ll get an answer in God’s time and in God’s way. At that point, it’s up to you to respond in the way you feel God is directing you. And that’s such a personal, individual experience that I can’t tell you what your answer will be or what you should do.

That’s God’s job, not mine.

 

Emily Geddes
Emily Geddes
Emily H. Geddes was born to two physicists and grew up as a Navy brat. Born-and-raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she holds a bachelor's degree in theatre from Brigham Young University, and earned an MBA from Eastern Washington University.

Our Sponsors

spot_img
spot_img
spot_img

4 COMMENTS

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Shaun Lorraine Brown
Shaun Lorraine Brown
9 years ago

I just wanted to say what a remarkable job you did in answering this question.

Paul Susac
Paul Susac
9 years ago

I’ve never understood the whole “personal revelation” thing.

I mean, ok, I get it, but think it through for a minute.

If a stage hypnotist can give you an orgasm, or make you believe that you are a chicken, WHY ON EARTH would you trust your own subjective belief about what god wants you to do?

Atilla the Hun believed that the God’s wanted him to be the vicious warlord that he was. The Aztecs believed the God’s wanted them to practice daily human sacrifice. The list of bad things that happen when people follow divine revelation is as long as history itself.

Clearly there has to be a better strategy for organizing your life.

Paul Susac
Paul Susac
9 years ago

Actually, Emily that was a VERY satisfying answer, thanks!

And yes, to be fair, I AM dismissive, and yes, to be fair there are lots of historical examples of people doing great things with the belief that God wanted them to (Sacred Heart Hospital comes to mind, as does Salt Lake City).

Sometimes I get angry with Theists in general and with Christians in particular, because, I belivf that Christianity stands in the way of human progress. I believe this because 150 years after Darwin, 40-60% of Americans still cling to the ignorant belief that the biblical story of creation is literally true. I also get angry (as I have gotten angry with you) because I see people of faith undermining basic standards of intellectual honesty in order to privilege their sacred narrative.

Apparently intellectual honesty is a sacred value that I hold, and I can be quite unreasonable when it gets challenged.

I also believe that by denying the true nature of our species, Christianity stands in the way of any honest effort to create a society that is respectful of our nature as a species of primates.

But that said, your post has reminded me that religious belief is one of the hard-won survival tools that our species has used to create societies that are bigger than tribes. Not only does religion create a bigger “tribal” group, it also creates a group that is WAY more effective at creating human prosperity than a tribe can. So thanks for that reminder.

I still hold the impression that your practice of consulting God is basically a ritualized form of psychological “gut check.” But who am I to tell you what metaphors to use to organize your experience?

The good news is that we live in a pluralistic society, so the risk of religious fervor driving violence in our society is slim. The bad news is that as the gulf between rich and poor increases (and it will), religious fanaticism will most likely rise along with it. Certainly this has been the pattern throughout history.

So while I really do appreciate your response (great response btw), I think I’ll go right on being antagonistic. I view challenging these assumptions as a kind of civic duty. Granted, I’m a bit lackadaisical in my duty, but still…

spot_img
4
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x