Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Why am I Still a Mormon?

I have spent the greater part of my life not only studying the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (the Mormon Church), but also in reading all the anti-Mormon literature I come across. 

In doing so, I have waded through some really interesting stuff. Stories of gold digging, séances, magic mushrooms, plagiarism, men on the moon, collusion,  polygamy justifying adultery, narcissistic behavior, piles of arrests, imprisonment, etc. These fables continue to be expanded and embellished with each telling. He said, she said, she said, he said, accusations abound from every quarter.

From my observation, the only consistent facts that continue to rise to the top are: 
  1. Those who would slander and malign Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church generally have a spirit of anger, hatred and lack of reverence for both the commandments of God and the laws of man.
  2. Those who support or sustain Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church generally are more even tempered, compassionate, and live lives that tend to be in harmony with the laws of God and the land.
But, I digress, back to the accusations of corruption, collusion, and deception.

No, wait a minute, there is no way for me to untangle the jumbled web of contradiction, innuendos, and implied falsehoods. I wasn’t there when Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I wasn’t there when Joseph received any revelations or taught the principle of polygamy. I was not to know if he was a gold digger. I was not there to know if Joseph was an adulterer.

So, if I can’t unravel, expose, and document the truth or error of the Restoration, why am I still a Mormon? If I can’t prove it, why do I still believe and live it?

There is a simple answer. The Holy Ghost continues to tell me it is true.

Well, the intellectual readers just left.

You see, when I am kind, thoughtful, generous, and compassionate, I feel the Spirit confirm to me again that it is true. Whenever I am angry, rebellions, selfish, and depressed, doubts arise.

Then, if I begin to believe my doubts; I cease to pray, I don’t read the scriptures, and I stop serving others. But when my testimony is strong; I seek guidance from God through the Spirit, I have hope in the Atonement of Christ, I find joy in reading God’s word, and depression flees. I am aware of those around me who need love and encouragement. Serving God by serving others brings immense joy to my life. Those around me are ignited by the Spirit I bring, they are happier, more fun to be with, and they brighten my day even more.

When I believe it is true and exercise my faith that it is, the Holy Spirit confirms to me that it is true, and I am filled with indescribable joy. This happens all the time and it is not restricted to just me. Anyone can do it. Jesus said that if any man would do his will he would know of the doctrine, whether it was of God or whether it was of man.

I am still a Mormon because I prefer happiness and joy over depression and despair, direction and confidence over apathy and doubt.


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