First, weather some obscure tidbit of information makes us doubt, or we realize some widely accepted belief is wrong. \u00a0 Does that make everything wrong? Or am I just looking for a reason to ditch my way of life.<\/p>\n
You have probably noticed that I comment on articles. \u00a0 \u00a0One reason is I need more room than is allowed in the comment fields, and the reality for me is that very few people read the comments. \u00a0The most comments I have read on an article may be 8 or 10, sometimes out of the hundreds and thousands of comments. \u00a0I would also like to keep my comments consolidated in one place. \u00a0Because most of the time I am sure my comments on articles are even more lost than the ones I am posting here.<\/p>\n
Todays article is from the New York Times Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt<\/a>. \u00a0 They article tells the story of a former Area Authority that is having doubts because he found out some things about the church he was not comfortable with. \u00a0The first thing he found out that was Joseph Smith was a polygamist. \u00a0I wonder why he didn’t know that before. \u00a0I have heard that Joseph Smith was a polygamist for most of my life. \u00a0I also heard that his wife hated the idea and Joseph was afraid to tell her about it. \u00a0 I didn’t realize, until I looked on the internet it was a bunch of women, Here is a list of 44 women supposedly were married to wikipedia list of Joseph Smith Wives<\/a>. \u00a0I will address later why I think this doesn’t really matter.<\/p>\n There were also a couple of other topics that were mentioned. \u00a0The Blacks and the Priesthood and the Mountain Meadow Massacre. \u00a0 I believe the reasons that blacks did not hold the Priesthood is because of prejudice in the church. \u00a0In my mind, it just that simple. \u00a0 As a Church we have moved past this. \u00a0However, we need to admit that is was wrong. \u00a0I am also open to the idea that someday in the Future women may hold the priesthood and Homosexuals may be able to marry. \u00a0 I don’t agree with those things now.<\/p>\n The Mountain Meadow Massacre is definitely a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened. \u00a0I believe it was a isolated and has no relevance in a religious discussion. \u00a0It was just a bunch of idiots, which I believe, were on both sides. \u00a0And it just happened that the Mormon side of things enacted the most vile part of the story. \u00a0This is not how Mormon’s act now or how 99.9999% of the church has ever acted. That is why I don’t believe the MMM has any relevance in a discussion about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. \u00a0I am sure some could argue that. \u00a0But they can do that where they may.<\/p>\n All of the issues I have raised, except for the MMM, could be looked at in this way. Look at what the church teaches: \u00a0the Ten Commandments, the Teachings of Jesus, and a few new things. \u00a0Eternal Marriage, the word of wisdom and the Relief Society. \u00a0 of those things mentioned in the previous sentence the basic beliefs are love God, Love your neighbor, don’t steal, don’t lie, try to help people, donate to the poor, don’t put things in your body that are harmful and keep sex in marriage between a man and a woman. \u00a0Following these things will help keep us free, healthy and happy.<\/p>\n So let me try to see it from outside what I believe. \u00a0Let’s say Joseph Smith was a liar and the God does not exist. \u00a0That is not what I believe, but that is what many believe.<\/p>\n Let’s look at some scenarios; What if everyone was nice to each other and tried to help each other out. \u00a0There would be more freedom and more happiness than we have now. \u00a0That is obvious. \u00a0What if people didn’t steal and lie. \u00a0There would be more freedom and more happiness. \u00a0What if people didn’t use substances that were addictive and impair \u00a0behavior. \u00a0There would be more freedom, better health and more happiness. \u00a0 \u00a0What if people stayed only had one sexual partner throughout their lives. \u00a0There would be little risk of STD, no broken hearts and broken families. \u00a0There would be more freedom, better health and more happiness.<\/p>\n The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. \u00a0Even if Joseph Smith is a fraud and God doesn’t exist. \u00a0The principles are still sound. \u00a0Proving Joseph Smith is a fraud and that God doesn’t exist is really just \u00a0a ploy to prove the things they taught do not need to be followed.<\/p>\n Why is this never discussed in the articles. \u00a0Show me a way of life that gives me more freedom from negative consequences, increases lasting health, and produces more lasting happiness than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and I may change my views.<\/p>\n The truth of the matter for me is also about fear. \u00a0Life is hard. \u00a0I have made choices in my life that do not agree with the tenants of the church, I have also discovered that sometimes the negative consequences are difficult to handle. \u00a0More difficult than if I would have made choices that matched the teachings of the LDS faith. \u00a0 Life is hard for me and I am afraid if I choose another way it will eventually get harder. \u00a0Like I said before, If someone will show me a way that will be easier for longer I will definitely take a look.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" First, weather some obscure tidbit of information makes us doubt, or we realize some widely accepted belief is wrong. \u00a0 Does that make everything wrong? Or am I just looking for a reason to ditch my way of life. 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