My wife introduced me to an African-American Mormon recently. I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to seem rude, but I was very curious how he could reconcile his faith and race. I just don’t understand how you can know what “prophets” like Brigham Young have said about blacks and still be OK with it all. If LDS prophets “will never lead the church astray” then… how are you ok with that? Well, rationalization is a powerful thing.
I ran into the Director of Religious Education and got the official Easter Vigil tally. 33 total. 21 baptized including the infant of one of the elect. 12 candidates confirmed. Out of the 21 baptized, 3 are former LDS - a woman from my old stake (we didn’t know each other until we met in RCIA) and two of her children. :extrahappy:
There is a fundamental problem here of course between our two views. You would say it is not the Holy Ghost, just some false good feeling, and I would say it is. If it is the Holy Ghost whispering truth then I see no problem being baptized within a short span of time. If it is not then all the evidence, training, and waiting in the world is not a sufficient reason to be baptized.
Not every last word the president of the church says is true. They are directed by God, they hold the keys, and they are his witnesses, but they are men and can err or be misunderstood. As always, a person must follow the spirit of the Lord. This is fundamental to our teaching. It is why a person enters the waters of baptism and it is what keeps them engaged through all the difficult challenges they face.
Time should be spent discerning whether it’s just feeling good or the Holy Spirit, pushing people to make commitments before they’ve had time for reflection is like all the connotations associated with used car salesmen.
How do you know?
How very cool is that! (the bold). You certainly have a very successful RCIA program there.When I was the Lay Director of RCIA (18 years), I would tell all inquirers from the very beginning that absolutely no topic was out of bounds.
**Just doing a quick scan of the records before I left, we had over 200 people come through, and complete RCIA, with about an 80% retention.
We’ve even had a few converts go on to become priests, and religious brothers and sisters.
**
Our particular RCIA program was noticed by the Bishop, and most of our program became the standard for our diocese.
I can’t tell you how many times people would comment on how they were impressed with how open and frank we are/were about sensitive issues.
ETA: I would also like to mention, that every inquirer was also told there were no pressure tactics employed. You can quit at any time, just let us know, we’ll say a quick prayer, send you on your way, and not hound you.
The only exception would be if you came up to me 5 minutes before the Easter Vigil and try to back out. You are NOT messing up my seating chart or exit procession.
So if I had a good feeling about leaving the LDS church that I ascribed to being the Holy Ghost whispering the truth to me, would you agree? If not, what would it be?
I would bet he would say it was Satan pretending to be the Holy Spirit or Ghost. Or do the LDS have another name/persona/concept of the evil one?
The Adversary.
I figured JS would twist that up too
Very well. Perhaps talyorf could comment on what was intended and we can see where it leads.
No, Mormon has been able to answer my question. It is ignored just a you did.
Perhaps I misunderstood the question. Were you asking how I know it’s the HG? I thought you were asking how I knew Taylorf’s thoughts.
I would never presume to question your experience. It’s yours, not mine. We might come to more of an understanding if we talked in detail but I think this is not the forum.
You’ve just moved the question back a notch, but it is still the same question.
There is knowledge and intelligence of the flesh and there is knowledge and intelligence of the Spirit. Intelligence from the spirit enlarges the soul, if enlightens understanding. It is revelation directly from the Holy Ghost. Where once there was confusion now knowledge takes it’s place. Where once darkness covered the mind there is light and there is joy. This is the heart of the gospel, it is the music behind all we do and the harmony that pervades the forms. You have felt it to some degree but perhaps you have not recognized it for what it is. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. …I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony” (John 3:8,11 NIV).
John was speaking about Jesus, He is the Gospel, the Good News. He is not referring to Joseph Smith or a Book that would be published ~1800 years later. Manipulation of a person’s emotions is not something to marvel at.
Rebecca, I have explained it to you. Read what I have written and search your heart. In the context of my above statement I care not what religion you are. Conversion comes through the Holy Ghost.