Crisis

[sarahq]

Hello everybody,
I am in the middle of converting – eight weeks in to RCIA – and for some reason, yesterday, while reading a book by a Lutheran minister, I couldnt’ shake the strong memories of some Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who came to my door several months ago. I felt as if God was asking me to say Yes to him and follow these people into their church. I’m feeling very conflicted. I have many strong reasons for becoming a Catholic: I believe in God’s forgiveness. I believe my Grandmother – who was a devout Catholic-- is with God in heaven. I believe my aunt-- who is a devout Catholic as well as a nurse-- is doing God’s work. I feel drawn to taking the Eucharist which I believe is really the body of Christ, and not just a symbol. But at the same time, I have this strong feeling that God wants me to show my love for Him by following Him into this less popular, more controversial religion. At the same time, I believe Saint/Brother Andre was really a Saint doing God’s work, and I have fond memories of a visit to the St Joseph Oratory in Montreal which I believe was divinely influenced. I know I’m bound to get a certain type of answer on this forum but I’m just wondering if anyone has any advice? Is God testing my faith by asking me to follow him into Mormonism? Will I go to Hell is it turns out I’m wrong and that this feeling doesn’t come from God but in fact comes from the devil? Help me please!!!

Thank you all for reading/responding. I appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless
Sarah

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Why do you read non-Catholic literature at this point? That will only confuse you. Read good Catholic authors and learn about your budding faith. There is so much out there and
you could spend your entire life reading good Catholic theology and still not finish with everything. Sink your teeth into the good stuff.

As for Mormonism, please do stay away. That is a crazy sub-Christian group that has nothing to do with our religion. Jesus warned his followers about a number of false prophets that will appear and lead people astray. Jesus never lied. God will most certainly not lead you into something like that. The devil, however, likes to throw obstacles at converts and tempt them away from the Truth. Pray a lot, especially the Rosary. That is the best weapon against heresy - our Lady will lead you to Christ.

 

[sarahq]

Jesus warned his followers about a number of false prophets that will appear and lead people astray. Jesus never lied. God will most certainly not lead you into something like that. The devil, however, likes to throw obstacles at converts and tempt them away from the Truth. Pray a lot, especially the Rosary. That is the best weapon against heresy - our Lady will lead you to Christ.

So you think Joseph Smith was sent from the Devil?

 

[sarahq]

Why do you read non-Catholic literature at this point?

I was reading this book simply because it was free-- the library had a stack of free books-- and it was Christian. It was called “Yes, Lord” and I didn’t check what denomination it was until I was already a little ways into it.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello Is God testing my faith by asking me to follow him into Mormonism? Will I go to Hell is it turns out I’m wrong and that this feeling doesn’t come from God but in fact comes from the devil? Help me please!!!

the feeling is not coming from God because the Holy Spirit cannot work against the Father and the Son, nor against himself. The Holy Spirit protects and guides the Church founded by Jesus Christ which subsists on earth whole and entire and undivided, one, holy, catholic and apostolic, in the Catholic Church. He cannot work against himself so he cannot tempt someone away from the Catholic Church. It does not follow that the call and the feeling come from Satan–it may be coming from a couple of good people, well-intentioned Mormons, who are sincere but mistaken.

 

[sarahq]

puzzleannie –
So do you think Mormons go to Hell? Is it possible that there are many Christian paths to salvation?

 

[TimothyH]

Hello everybody,
I am in the middle of converting – eight weeks in to RCIA – and for some reason, yesterday, while reading a book by a Lutheran minister,

Stop right there. Reading a book by a Lutheran Minister? Do you see the disconnect here?

I’m not saying that the Lutheran Minister is a bad person, or that his book is a bad book, but you are joining the Catholic Church. Read my lips… C-A-T-H-O-L-I-C Church.

Seriously… You could read thousands of books by Catholic Saints. “The Confession of St. Augustine” for example. Or countless other Catholic books like “The Seven Story Mountain” by Thomas Merton or “The Imitation of Christ” by Kempis. Or “Practicing the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence or anything by Scott Hahn.

With all due respect to Lutherans, eight weeks into RICA is not the time to be reading books by Lutheran Ministers.

-Tim-

 

[sarahq]

Stop right there. Reading a book by a Lutheran Minister? Do you see the disconnect here?

I’m not saying that the Lutheran Minister is a bad person, or that his book is a bad book, but you are joining the Catholic Church. Read my lips… C-A-T-H-O-L-I-C Church.

Seriously… You could read thousands of books by Catholic Saints. “The Confession of St. Augustine” for example. Or countless other Catholic books like “The Seven Story Mountain” by Thomas Merton or “The Imitation of Christ” by Kempis. Or “Practicing the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence or anything by Scott Hahn.

With all due respect to Lutherans, eight weeks into RICA is not the time to be reading books by Lutheran Ministers.

-Tim-

Is it so damaging to read something by someone of another denomination? I’m very conflicted right now. All my logic says to stick with the CC but I have this gut feeling that I’m saying No to God by not following His signs to at least LOOK INTO Mormonism.

Please please-- does anyone have any other thoughts on this? I’d really appreciate any (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[Thankfulness]

Sarah, you have the truth but you are not willing to be faithful?
You listen to all the other voices…
The Catholic Church was begun by Jesus. Centuries later people started these other churches you mention. You prefer to listen to them rather than Christ’s Church?
The bible warns, “The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths.” [2 Timothy 3:3-5]

 

[runningdude]

A friend of mine was led into Mormonism. I can understand its allure.

Really, the only issue I have with The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints is that the religion is incorrect. They have a very strong community, and a lot of structure, which is appealing to certain individuals. On Sundays, they have classes, followed by worship, and more classes. They have youth groups, groups for twenty-somethings, and groups for older ages.

The average Catholic parish mean while has thousands of members, and few that ever participate in any parish organizations, such as committees, etc. From a purely social end, the Mormons have us beat.

However, the truth is that the Catholic Church is simply the framework of salvation. It provides the true Sacraments, and God’s unending grace. The Catholic Church has fewer social organizations, because every organization on Earth is called to be part of the Catholic Church.

I for one really wish that Joseph Smith realized his calling was to build a great social organization within Catholicism, rather than attempt to found a new religion. Mormon’s have a lot of good things going for them, but not the true Sacraments.

 

[PerfectTiming]

Is it so damaging to read something by someone of another denomination? I’m very conflicted right now. All my logic says to stick with the CC but I have this gut feeling that I’m saying No to God by not following His signs to at least LOOK INTO Mormonism.

Please please-- does anyone have any other thoughts on this? I’d really appreciate any (name removed by moderator)ut.

Right now, yes it is damaging. If you’re not yet fully educated in the faith then by reading such material you are opening yourself to their fallacies and lies. It’s very easy to do. At this stage, you should stick to good, solid Catholic resources. Some of these other denominations can seem very appealing and their ideas may at first seem sound by they easily fall apart when compared to the truths of Catholicism. When I was first in RCIA, I didn’t realise the difference and was reading just random Christian apologetics that I found online. I very almost did fall into their snare but thankfully I persevered in my RCIA and learnt how truly wrong these sites were. Now, I don’t feel the need to go on them or read non-Catholic Christian books - when the Truth is available freely to you, why settle for anything less?

In the end, there in only one True Church founded by Christ and that is the Catholic Church. These feelings you are getting tempting you away are not from God, why would He try to turn you away from His Church?

 

[Heuchler]

Hello everybody,
I am in the middle of converting – eight weeks in to RCIA – and for some reason, yesterday, while reading a book by a Lutheran minister, I couldnt’ shake the strong memories of some Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who came to my door several months ago. I felt as if God was asking me to say Yes to him and follow these people into their church. I’m feeling very conflicted. I have many strong reasons for becoming a Catholic: I believe in God’s forgiveness. I believe my Grandmother – who was a devout Catholic-- is with God in heaven. I believe my aunt-- who is a devout Catholic as well as a nurse-- is doing God’s work. I feel drawn to taking the Eucharist which I believe is really the body of Christ, and not just a symbol. But at the same time, I have this strong feeling that God wants me to show my love for Him by following Him into this less popular, more controversial religion. At the same time, I believe Saint/Brother Andre was really a Saint doing God’s work, and I have fond memories of a visit to the St Joseph Oratory in Montreal which I believe was divinely influenced. I know I’m bound to get a certain type of answer on this forum but I’m just wondering if anyone has any advice? Is God testing my faith by asking me to follow him into Mormonism? Will I go to Hell is it turns out I’m wrong and that this feeling doesn’t come from God but in fact comes from the devil? Help me please!!!

Thank you all for reading/responding. I appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless
Sarah

These are just emotions and probably feelings you are having because you are changing your faith base. It would be a lot better if actually had reasons to become a mormon instead of going by your gut. Your emotions can and will be wrong at times. This is the reason people end up sinning, because they go by their gut instead of listening to reason and the truth.

And on another note, if you actually look into the writings of Joseph Smith you will find a lot of crazy teachings especially the teachings regarding Africans. Another thing that really draws the line for me is the fact that Joseph Smith predicted the world would end in about 1890. Since he was probably wrong, this really destroys any argument regarding Smith as a prophet for me.

 

[thistle]

So you think Joseph Smith was sent from the Devil?

YES!

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

So you think Joseph Smith was sent from the Devil?

I don’t know but he was definitely not sent by God. Jesus said not to trust such false prophets, no matter how convincing they sound. If you look at what Mormons believe it sounds like a mix of the Bible and a good amount of science fiction thrown in for good measure. There are many pseudo- Christian sects out there and we must be very careful not to fall for their teachings.

 

[sarahq]

Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut! Like I said, all my reason indicates that the Catholic Church is true. Has anyone else ever had a gut feeling that something outside the CC is true??? Please let me know!

 

[Barbkw]

Mormanism teaches that God the Father had physical sexual relations with Mary.

Mormanism teaches that their saved members of the church become gods.

Mormanism teaches that Jesus, Michael the Archangel and Adam are the same person.

Mormanism teaches that God was once a man.

While married to his wife, Joseph Smith began having adulterous relationships with other men’s wifes. As a coverup for his sins, he instituted a doctrine of polygamy:

In the late 1830s, Smith introduced baptism for the dead by proxy as a means to allow unredeemed souls to accept salvation in the afterlife,[31] and he also taught that the highest level of salvation was reserved for those who engaged in plural marriage.[32]

The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States.

He was killed while jailed in Carthage, Illinois on charges relating to his ordering the destruction of facilities producing the Nauvoo Expositor, a newspaper whose first and only edition claimed Smith was practicing polygamy and that he intended to set himself up as a theocratic king.

Smith had voluntarily surrendered to the authorities at the county seat at Carthage to face the charges that he was accused of. While he was in jail awaiting trial an armed mob of men with painted faces stormed the jail and shot him and his brother Hyrum to death. The Latter Day Saints view Joseph and Hyrum as martyrs.

P.S. Morman theology is so distorted concerning the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that their Baptisms are not recognized in the Catholic Church as valid.