Feelings about leaving lds for catholic

[Sophie]

WELCOME HOME JODI AND YOUR LOVED ONES!

At this time of Lent, how incredible to remembers Christ’s words to us, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

I pray for you with all my heart. God bless !

 

[Jodi]

Thanks for your prayers. I also apprieciate the suggestions on some prayers for me to try. I am still getting used to the set prayer idea. So far the Lords prayer is the only one I have word for word perfect. How important is it to get the set prayers word for word perfect? There are so many prayers out there it is nice to get some guidance on a few that are relavent to my current status in life. I don’t have a prayer book yet but I am sure I can find one at the used book store here. I did find a mini pamplet on how to pray a rosery (sp?).

I have noticed that the catholic churches youth programs are not as universal or organized as the l.d.s. church right now. On the bright side it means that I will have a place where I can be an asset to my new parish. After years of callings in my old church I have lots of experience and it would be nice to use in in the right church.

I was thinking that having a catholic sponsored boy scout group would be fun for starters. But I think I am getting way ahead of myself as I probably wont get to come into full communion for a whole year. But the nice part of the wait is that I really will have time to know the Catholic church before I take the plunge .

So far none of my family members have cut me off. They may be disapointed, and I anticipate many lively discusions but it is comforting to know that there hearts have been softened for me.

I have lost some of my friends, they don’t want to exposed themselves or their children to any one who has fallen away. It hurts, my children don’t understand why we can’t play with certain families anymore. Again on the bright side we already knew one of the families in our new parish who has kids our age and what had been a distant friendship has deepened considerably and taken some of the edge off the hurt for me.

I have been asked the question "why do you need a church at all?. My answer is that I know God lives. He is the reason for my existance. My life is not complete without him. Without God in your life there will always be a hole in your heart that nothing else fills.

As for Stingrays original question of how long after I left the l.d.s church did I decide on the catholic. That is kind of funny because it was through a catholic priest that I found the way out of the l.d.s. church. So not much time at all. Although I am very grateful for the R.C.I.A. process. I know that by the time I am baptised I will truely be ready for the sacrament.

 

[MariaG]

posted by Jodi

Logic dictates that if the tree is bad than the branches are lost having no roots to sustain them. But if it is a good tree, bad brances may need to be removed to preserve the life of the tree. So if the great apostacy is true than all are lost and no truth exists. But if is untrue than only one church can hold the truth (catholics) and they (protestants) have cut themselves off from the roots of Jesus.

That is a great analogy!!! I love that the Catholic Church allows one to nourish our faith as well as our intellect.

Thanks for your prayers. I also apprieciate the suggestions on some prayers for me to try. I am still getting used to the set prayer idea. So far the Lords prayer is the only one I have word for word perfect. How important is it to get the set prayers word for word perfect? There are so many prayers out there it is nice to get some guidance on a few that are relavent to my current status in life. I don’t have a prayer book yet but I am sure I can find one at the used book store here. I did find a mini pamplet on how to pray a rosery (sp?).

While it is nice to have it down word perfect so you can pray outloud with others, it is not neccessary. One can say all the words perfectly, but if the heart is not in it, it is just words.

With your concerns, I find the prayer to St. Michael to be hugely comforting. It is acknowledging the battle you are in, but a great way to remember that you have God is on your side fighting for you. One of my sons prayers that prayer every night before bed.

Spelling - Rosary (Not that you wouldn’t have seen it soon )

have noticed that the catholic churches youth programs are not as universal or organized as the l.d.s. church right now. On the bright side it means that I will have a place where I can be an asset to my new parish. After years of callings in my old church I have lots of experience and it would be nice to use in in the right church.

I was thinking that having a catholic sponsored boy scout group would be fun for starters. But I think I am getting way ahead of myself as I probably wont get to come into full communion for a whole year. But the nice part of the wait is that I really will have time to know the Catholic church before I take the plunge .

That is great! You are right. Catholic churches in general do not seem to have strong youth groups. What a great bleesing you will be to your church. Although, just a word of warning. Some churches can be very slow to change. This is where we get to learn patience.

So far none of my family members have cut me off. They may be disapointed, and I anticipate many lively discusions but it is comforting to know that there hearts have been softened for me.

Praise the Lord! What a wonderful thing God has done.

I have lost some of my friends, they don’t want to exposed themselves or their children to any one who has fallen away. It hurts, my children don’t understand why we can’t play with certain families anymore.

Yes, I too lost friends. And some friends of my children, I had to cut off. They kept trying to “save” my children and lead them away from the teachings of the Catholic Church, the teachings of Christ.

I think it is great that God held you in His hand and brought you to the One True Church!

God Bless,
Maria

 

[Matt16_18]

Jodi:

Logic dictates that if the tree is bad than the branches are lost having no roots to sustain them. But if it is a good tree, bad brances may need to be removed to preserve the life of the tree. So if the great apostacy is true than all are lost and no truth exists. But if is untrue than only one church can hold the truth (catholics) and they (protestants) have cut themselves off from the roots of Jesus.

Wow! This is a great apologetics argument.

Thanks for sharing this insight.

 

[CARose]

Jodi,

In reading your last post I need to say that I was saying a chorus of “oh”, “yeah”, “great” and “wow”. You have such a beautiful grasp of God, His Church, your place and more.

WELCOME HOME DEAR, We’ve missed you!!

What you may find, in addition to our experiences of slowly changing parishes is a parish community that is slow to reach out to new people. You may be lucky and find a parish that helps you to feel welcome immediately, and it sounds like God has blessed you with at least one wonderful family with whom you have found fellowship. But don’t be surprised if you find that the primary focus of the worship is on God rather than on fellowship.

Other faith gatherings are typically far more people oriented that what you’ll see at the average Catholic parish. I personally think that the gifts being brought back to the Catholic Church with our reunited bretheren are a great blessing to us all.

I also love your discourse on the Tree. I’ve heard the analogy before and when it was told to me then I didn’t quite get it. But the way you stated it it was so clear as to be brilliant in transmitting the truth of the point. Thank you.

As I’ve said above, I also feel your pain of a family outside the one true church. In my case I am a cradle catholic and nearly everyone has left the church and those that still call themselves catholic do so while claiming a Pro-Choice (pro-abortion) perspective.

I’d like to highly recommend the Rosary to you! It’s been known through the ages as an incredible weapon for the Lord. If you haven’t tried it yet, I can’t think of any better tool to use to battle lifes difficulties.

God Bless and may the peace of the Lord be with you,

CARose

 

[tkdnick]

Jodi:

Bless you! I hope and pray that your journey into the Catholic faith is a wonderful experience! Yes, it will take time to come into full communion with The Church, but enjoy that time. As for “filling” all that time you spent in the LDS with something…fill it with knowledge of the Catholic Church. You have a benefit that many of us “cradle Catholics” don’t - study. You have 1 full year to study/pray/grow before actually coming into full communion. As for your anger…it is perfectly understandable and not uncommon to be angry. However, I would suggest focusing on where you are going instead of where you have been. I do not believe that your time in the LDS church was a waste. It was through the LDS church that you came to know the fullness of truth found in the Catholic Church. I am sure that there are experiences you have had in the LDS church that can benefit your parish. For example, I know the LDS are much better at organizing church functions and having a greater participation than my parish is. I assume my parish is not the only one. You could bring your knowledge and experience to many aspects of The Church. Rejoice, you have been given a wonderful gift!

Feel free to use these forums to ask questions and you are mroe than welcome to use the PM or email functions if I personally can be of any help to you.

 

[Matt16_18]

Jodi:

I have noticed that the catholic churches youth programs are not as universal or organized as the l.d.s. church right now. On the bright side it means that I will have a place where I can be an asset to my new parish. After years of callings in my old church I have lots of experience and it would be nice to use in in the right church.

Good youth ministers are as precious as gold. How fortunate your parish will be to have you as a new member.

I am scared because this is new and I have so much to learn. I am scared because there is big holes in my life where mormonism used to be that I need to fill so they don’t get filled by things that would be hurtful.

Conversion can seem like spring cleaning. It is work, and it can be tiring when there is a lot of junk to discard, but the end result is a house that is more pleasant to live in.

A positive way to look at the process of conversion is to realize that joining the Catholic Church is a win-win situation for you. Not everything that Mormons do, or believe, is wrong. The Catholic Church acknowledges this truth. God does not ask you to give up the good that can be found in Mormonism, he only wants you to free you from the errors that are found in Mormonism. That is why you are in a win-win situation. Like spring cleaning, you discard the junk in your house, but you keep the good things. But God doesn’t just send a truck to carry away the junk from your house; he also sends angels and saints load the good things from the old house to the new place that he is building for you. God isn’t in the remodeling business; he is in the mansion building business. God doesn’t just haul away the trash from the old house; he sends a fleet of angels to deliver to you precious gifts to fill up the new rooms in your mansion.In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
John 14:2

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day …
2Tim. 4:8

 

[reggie]

jodi

You speak of starting a boy scout troop and getting involved in other ways with the youth of your parish. I am sure that you probably developed this love and ability through your association with your lds ward. This is one area that they have a great gift. Now if in fact you do bring this to the church, you have not wasted your time in the lds.

See, God orders all things to good. Your past with the lds is not wasted, it will be used by God to bring even greater glory to Himself through your work with His young people. They need our involvement and direction so badly.

Rejoice, Jodi, you are going to bear great fruit for the good tree of the Catholic church!

 

[Ani_Ibi]

I would speak to the priest about your feelings and unfinished (emotional) business with the lds. It is important to learn to forgive. Forgiveness is not saying something is OK. It is letting go. Talk to the priest and ask for some comfort and counsel.

 

[Jim_B]

Jodi:

I went to mass today and loved it.

Dear Jodi,
Welcome to the faith of the apostles! What you just stated about “went to mass today and loved it”, is the summit of our faith.
Because in the Eucharist you have found Jesus Christ Himself.
One can shop around for nice music, preaching, fellowship, and donuts at the 20,000 protestant denominations.
But with your new-found faith in Jesus Christ, fully present in the Eucharist, you have found the ‘pearl of great price.’

God Love You!
Jim

P.S. - Stingray - the only thing keeping you from becoming Catholic is your own reluctance to investigate what the Church fathers had to say about the Eucharist.
For almost all protestants, they know of St. Paul and then Martin Luther.In between they have a 15 century void. But for Catholics, this era of the Church was rich in the teachings and faith - which were consistent with the apostles. You don’t believe in the Eucharist?
350 AD / St. Cyril of Jerusalem / “The bread and wine of the Eucharist before the holy invocation of the adorable Trinity were simple bread and wine, but the invocation having been made, the bread becomes the body of Christ and the wine the blood of Christ.” (Catechetical Lectures, 350 AD)
I could give you several more, but in the interest of space I’ll stop.
Stingray - St. Paul once persecuted the faith founded on Jesus Christ. He became a great witness to Jesus Christ. I hope you can experience what he experienced on his trip to Damascus.

 

[Tmaque]

Jodi:

I know anger is not the feeling I should be feeling right now. Me and my family have found the truth and have left the mormon or lds church for our new catholic faith. But anger is what I am currently feeling. I resent every hour I wasted over my life trying to believe the unbelievable. Every dollar that went to build a church that wasn’t Gods. Every time I didn’t listen to people around me who where just trying to help me find the truth. I am angry that I was so stupid.

I am eternally grateful for the love Christ has shown me by leading me to the truth. I am grateful for the love of my husband and family. I am grateful that I found out the truth while my children are still young enough to be molded.

I am scared because this is new and I have so much to learn. I am scared because there is big holes in my life where mormonism used to be that I need to fill so they don’t get filled by things that would be hurtful. I am even scared that I wont find any new friends at my new parish.

I am impatient because I can barely stand to wait to become one with Christ in truth. I am impatient because I have so much to learn and my brain only works so fast.

I am sad because I my parents and brother, and sister are still lost. I am sad for all the people I see who truely believe in christ but are mislead.

Is it any wonder than I am emotionaly exausted at times.

Jodi,

As an ex-Mormon myself I can understand your feelings. But, I would like to suggest that you might look at it a bit differently. I believe that all the time I spent in the LDS Church, going on a mission, teaching, reading, praying, was time that God was using to prepare me for the plan he had for my life. I wouldn’t change one aspect of my LDS childhood, youth and adulthood. I learned many wonderful things that I can hold onto even today as a Catholic. All of those experiences made me what I am today and I am equipped with a totally unique set of tools that God can use for his purposes. I’m certain God has a plan for you. Be prayerful, patient, humble and ask him to guide you to the vocation you are uniquely equipped for because of your unique experiences.

I absolutely love being a Catholic. I thought I was fulfilled as a Mormon. I thought I knew inner peace. But, the peace I have felt as a Catholic is more than I ever could have imagined as a Mormon. I’ve only been a Catholic for two years and I still have so much to learn. I can tell you that for me, as an ex-Mormon, the hardest thing to learn is true humility. But, praise God, I think I’m starting to understand the concept a little. I will pray for you. God bless you and welcome home!