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zaffiroborant
Guest
Well you picked a rather auspicious Sunday to attend your first Mass
- Status
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Perfect, since we were all muddling through a first time. LOL.Well you picked a rather auspicious Sunday to attend your first Mass
And also with youor spirit.
J
jesuspsr
Guest
Welcome to all of you that are coming home. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you.
Midnight mass is very special for me also.
God bless
jesus g
Midnight mass is very special for me also.
God bless
jesus g
H
HonoraDominum
Guest
There’s a special mass for blessing advent wreaths?! Man, I am so out of the loop. I’ve been Catholic for five years now, and have never had an advent wreath in my home. I just don’t “get” them. Being the only practicing Catholic in my home, I’m not even sure what to do with one. Do I light it pray and then put the candle out? What prayers do I say? I have no idea, really. They don’t teach you about advent wreaths in RCIA.
Oh, exmo here, btw. Left church in 2001, was atheist for a bit, and then had a moment of conversion at a Catholic wedding in the presence of the blessed sacrament. I was baptized (as they do not accept LDS baptisms) into the Catholic church and confirmed on Easter 2006.
I had many temptations as a new Catholic, which I still maintain are tied to my “Mormon scars”. The first was the temptation to do too much too fast. As a Mormon, I always ran to and fro, hoping that if I did enough, I would finally reap the benefit of the testimony that was promised to me in Moroni. Unfortunately, this tendency to rush from one thing to the other to fit it all in during the day carried over to my new Catholicism. To me, busy equaled holy. As a Catholic, I have learned the opposite - the journey to God is not a checklist, but a slow and steady walk towards the Divine. St Francis de Sales says, “Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”
Also, as most exmos know, the Molly Mormon/Peter Priesthood perfect ward and family facade crumbled quickly when put to any test or scrutiny at all. I was always loneliest, always felt like the biggest failure, when I was in the Celestial Room after a temple session. I couldn’t understand why even though I was doing everything I was “supposed” to do that I was so alone and felt so far away from God.
Now I attend daily mass, and my husband goes to church with me about one Sunday a month or so. The other 29-30 days of the month, I’m there by myself. Except I’m not, you see. God has graced me with a great love for Him in the sacrament. One of the few times in my day where I am at total peace is when I am keeping Him company in the tabernacle. I am never lonely, and all the masks of who I am around other people fall off and I am able to be exactly who I am when I am with Him. And I’m not lonely - I’m with Him, with my Lord, my friend, my Savior. I could spend hours kneeling, and praying, and reading, and adoring Him if my vocation would allow it. But alas, I have to be at home at some point so my husband doesn’t forget what I look like. I’d much rather be alone with Christ in the tabernacle than all of the consolations of friends (or pseudo-friends) at the LDS church. Don’t get me wrong, I do have friends at my parish. But I’d rather have time in adoration than anything else I could possibly do, church or otherwise.
Another huge temptation that I succumbed to when I first got baptized was to search for the “perfect” church. The opportunity for choice to someone who had been assigned what time and building to go to church her entire life was too big of a temptation for me to resist. But after six months of tepid spiritual growth and a whole lot of prayers that started out “I thank you, God, that I am not like other Catholics”, I realized that no matter which parish I went to, He was there in the sacrament, and for me that was the most important thing. Eventually I did switch parishes, but on God’s time, not my time.
One more bit of advice, both for catechumens and for exmos - pray often in front of the eucharist and offer up prayers and masses with the intention of the conversion of souls, especially those deceived by the Mormon church. Those of us who have had the grace to leave the lies owe a great debt to the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ on the altars of the Catholic church. We owe Him who gives us the grace of His love and who has drawn us to Him, to pray for those who are still ensnared in the lies of Joseph Smith. Let us pray that He may be loved as He truly is, and that all glory and praise will be for Him, not the glory of the Celestial Room or the glory of Moroni or any other man-made false idols.
St. Edith Stein and Brother Augustin Marie of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us, and for the conversions of souls so that He may be loved in all the tabernacles in all the world, even through the end of time.
T
TheExorcist
Guest
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RebeccaJ
Guest
HD…my first advent I bought some candles and was feeling all oh so Catholic…until I realized about half way through Advent the candles were supposed to be a certain color, which isn’t brown.
Then I didn’t feel oh so Catholic. A stranger from online suggested I watch Feast And Seasons on EWTN. So I did. It was very helpful, but I found myself feeling like there was this long list of things to do, that I was never going to have time for. I think that was the same mormon thing you are talking about, only for me, it shuts me down. I can’t do busy work faith.I am a simple Catholic. I have an Advent wreath and I forget to light the candles. I woke up this morning to the power being out. My husband had found and lit several candles in the early hours, one of which, was an Advent candle! He’s atheist and I asked him why he lit it when it doesn’t mean anything to him. He said it meant as much this morning as it does when it is burning after I light it. Who can argue with that logic?
This stuff isn’t taught in RCIA because it isn’t required that you do these things in order to be a Catholic. We want to do them, beacuse we are Catholic, but after a few years of trying to “get it” and keep up, and many times of finding that I think I get it, but discover I only have sort of gotten it…I am leaning more and more towards not doing these types of things at all.
J
JimmytheButcher
Guest
Provo… hmmm…Welcome!!
Im another.former Mormon.
Live in UT for 12 years. Provo to be exact.
If you mean by “let go of the Mormon church” you mean officially resign, no there is no need to do that if you dont want to.
Did you know that the full name for Provo is ‘Etienne Provost’. He is the Catholic explorer who discovered Great Salt Lake. His funeral Mass was held in the Basilica of King Saint Louis of France, in the city of Saint Louis, Missouri?
I find this thread very heartening. Being a Catholic in Utah is a cause for near dispair. According to the census-data, it is only about 2% Catholic where I live. It almost hurts sometimes because I feel so helpless in regards because there are many folks I care for.
Not too long ago I met a fella at holy Mass who stood out like a sore thumb. He was attending the Catholic church before he had to go over to the Institute. He told me he thinks that the LDS thing “is a scam” but that he feels he has choice but to take classes at the Institute and so he keeps going there anyway. He said that everything about the Catholic Church is beautiful. He also told me that he really, really likes the Trappist monastary in Huntsville.
I have a housemate who is from Kenya. When he got here 7 years ago he like many people from outside of the United States only knew three religions: Islam, Catholicism, and native tribal traditions. He got totally swept up into one of the wards. Since I have met him, he was slowly disassociated himself from the LDS. He told me just a few days ago that he is completely done with it.
I just listened to a talk I found on the Institute of Catholic Culture website.
instituteofcatholicculture.org/media.htm#cults
For anyone who can tune in… 1010AM is a Utah Catholic radio station I only found just this past week.
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Jimmy, there is a good book, “Salt of the Earth: The History of the Catholic Church in Utah, 1776-2007”…also, there is another Catholic here from Cache Valley.
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Telstar
Guest
I have to say that I find it sooo ironic that the Great Salt Lake that the Mormons were so enamored with, from the time they first ‘discovered’ it, was actually discovered by a Catholic, long before they ever got there. And, for him to have ties to Missouri, to boot? Epic! 
I am so happy to hear so many great stories about those of you who have had the courage to leave the LDS church, and come to the Catholic Church. It warms my little pea-pickin’ heart, and makes me feel like all of my little prayers for the conversion of Mormons, really are being answered, in a big way.
Thank you, all, and God bless you on your journey home!
I am so happy to hear so many great stories about those of you who have had the courage to leave the LDS church, and come to the Catholic Church. It warms my little pea-pickin’ heart, and makes me feel like all of my little prayers for the conversion of Mormons, really are being answered, in a big way.
Thank you, all, and God bless you on your journey home!
B
bogeydogg
Guest
I was raised LDS as well.
I too find comfort in the Blessed Virgin although I have not come into communion with the Catholic Church. However I have found great sustenance in the Lutheran Church. I am not trying to proselytize here because that is outside the line, I am merely saying that your feelings of solemnity have been shared by others.
I think you have not been comforted by Presbyterian/ Methodist churches because they are fundamentally Reformed (although not as much in the Methodist Church) in their orientation about the sacraments/priests/etc, I think you would find much more and greater comfort in a high liturgical/sacramental church.
I don’t know if this is what you are looking for, but if I can help please post back and I will try.
God Bless
btw, thank God you left the LDS church.
B
bogeydogg
Guest
I will pray for you. It can be very hard for married people to leave the LDS church.
Please keep going to mass and do not be dissuaded if it gets tough.
God Bless
M
Miriam1947
Guest
Great thread. Thanks, OP.
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JimmytheButcher
Guest
Thank you. I will put that on my ever-growing Amazon reading list. I fear I do not enough money to read all the books I wish for.
I wistfully go to the St. Jerome chapel. It’s a good place to be. If it were not for the Tabernacle there, life would be impossibly trying. It’s the only place that I can find solace.
I found a Hindu fella in there the other night. He was just sitting. I told him I realise that Hinduism at it’s core is monotheistic. He said, “How do you know that? Most people outside of Hinduism do not know that.” I told him that I’ve known women who go into their rooms and shut their doors, and then cover their heads and pray in private. We then discussed a ritual he used to do in his village where they would water a certain plant and sing to it. And give thanks for it’s life-enhancing qualitiies.
He told me that he knows God is in that chapel, and so he sits sometimes.
It was kind of eerie in a way. I know another Hindu around here. She is a lovely girl that really brings a sense of relief to me whenever she stops and listens. She said that she would pray to Mary for me and a woman whom I am interested in and is expressing interest in me.
I told her Mary isn’t a god. She said, “I know she isn’t.” What a lovely girl! She has a boyfriend who wants to be a philsopher but he is stuck washing dishes for a living. I gave him a copy of ‘The Three Philsophies of Life’ and he found it completely riveting.
There’s a couple that I believe would respond to grace entering their lives.
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RebeccaJ
Guest
If you’re ever in slc pm me and you can borrow my copy.
utahmission.com/ is ran by a fellow who posts here named Rich.
I wistfully go to the St. Jerome chapel. It’s a good place to be. If it were not for the Tabernacle there, life would be impossibly trying. It’s the only place that I can find solace.
I found a Hindu fella in there the other night. He was just sitting. I told him I realise that Hinduism at it’s core is monotheistic. He said, “How do you know that? Most people outside of Hinduism do not know that.” I told him that I’ve known women who go into their rooms and shut their doors, and then cover their heads and pray in private. We then discussed a ritual he used to do in his village where they would water a certain plant and sing to it. And give thanks for it’s life-enhancing qualitiies.
He told me that he knows God is in that chapel, and so he sits sometimes.
It was kind of eerie in a way. I know another Hindu around here. She is a lovely girl that really brings a sense of relief to me whenever she stops and listens. She said that she would pray to Mary for me and a woman whom I am interested in and is expressing interest in me.
I told her Mary isn’t a god. She said, “I know she isn’t.” What a lovely girl! She has a boyfriend who wants to be a philsopher but he is stuck washing dishes for a living. I gave him a copy of ‘The Three Philsophies of Life’ and he found it completely riveting.
There’s a couple that I believe would respond to grace entering their lives.
Yes, I know how it is.
A
a_soft_answer
Guest
I’ve been reading on the forum since last November, but just started really participating. I am happy to find others with the same background, leaving Mormonism is something only others who have done so can understand.
And I have a fabulous facebook group of devout Catholic woman who have been guiding me along my way and encouraged me to go to Mass on 27th because I was less likely to stick out like sore thumb (although I did because I put on my nice Sunday dress complete with nylons and half of the congregation was in jeans or more casual slacks).
This past Sunday I had told my husband I wanted to attend Mass again, but wanted to be cautious about it so I didn’t plan a time I was just going to see how Sunday morning went. As we were going to bed Saturday night he asked me if I was going to go and I said “yeah, probably, but I don’t know what time.” and he said very sweetly “well you better pick a time.” The day turned out wonderfully, and I had a very different mass experience because the later hour I attended was very full (I had no clue there were so many Catholics in my area!) and they had a choir and organ music and children!
I have also emailed the priest to kind of introduce myself and am supposed to introduce myself in person next time I am there.
(sorry this is going to be long, but Honora’s post has me reflecting on some things)
I have been seeking God since I was 14. I was raised with no knowledge of Him. At 16 I thought I found Him in mormonism. I was full of faith and ready to devote my life to God and thought I was in the right place. But as life progressed and my faith grew I found myself longing for a true communion with God. I of course looked forward to the temple, thinking that is where I would find fulfillment. As a youth I did baptisms for the dead weekly trying to seek that closeness to God. And then of course I received my endowments and was married in the temple. And I was VERY disappointed in the experience. (I wasn’t too wigged out…I’d done some online reading prior so I knew it would be strange, plus I had a temple prep class that probably crossed the lines of what should be shared about the temple). I just did not understand how going and sitting there watching poorly produced film was supposed to bring me closer to God, and by the end you are out of time before you have to get back to real life, so even sitting to pray in the Celestial Room wasn’t fulfilling in any way, and it is hard to concentrate when you are wearing all that extra stuff, esp the head piece.
Now I understand what I am longing for - and that is the real presence in the Eucharist. I was in awe at Mass of the reverence for the Eucharist, the caution of it falling to the floor, wiping out the chalice.
I am trusting in God’s time, and I know I am going at the appropriate pace for peace in my home, but the thought of it being over a year before receiving the Eucharist is so…so…heartbreaking!
But I do feel like God is allowing me this time to pray for my husband, and to be better prepared myself.
Anyway, thanks for “listening”. And God bless you all.
And I have a fabulous facebook group of devout Catholic woman who have been guiding me along my way and encouraged me to go to Mass on 27th because I was less likely to stick out like sore thumb (although I did because I put on my nice Sunday dress complete with nylons and half of the congregation was in jeans or more casual slacks).
This past Sunday I had told my husband I wanted to attend Mass again, but wanted to be cautious about it so I didn’t plan a time I was just going to see how Sunday morning went. As we were going to bed Saturday night he asked me if I was going to go and I said “yeah, probably, but I don’t know what time.” and he said very sweetly “well you better pick a time.” The day turned out wonderfully, and I had a very different mass experience because the later hour I attended was very full (I had no clue there were so many Catholics in my area!) and they had a choir and organ music and children!
I have also emailed the priest to kind of introduce myself and am supposed to introduce myself in person next time I am there.
(sorry this is going to be long, but Honora’s post has me reflecting on some things)
I have been seeking God since I was 14. I was raised with no knowledge of Him. At 16 I thought I found Him in mormonism. I was full of faith and ready to devote my life to God and thought I was in the right place. But as life progressed and my faith grew I found myself longing for a true communion with God. I of course looked forward to the temple, thinking that is where I would find fulfillment. As a youth I did baptisms for the dead weekly trying to seek that closeness to God. And then of course I received my endowments and was married in the temple. And I was VERY disappointed in the experience. (I wasn’t too wigged out…I’d done some online reading prior so I knew it would be strange, plus I had a temple prep class that probably crossed the lines of what should be shared about the temple). I just did not understand how going and sitting there watching poorly produced film was supposed to bring me closer to God, and by the end you are out of time before you have to get back to real life, so even sitting to pray in the Celestial Room wasn’t fulfilling in any way, and it is hard to concentrate when you are wearing all that extra stuff, esp the head piece.
Now I understand what I am longing for - and that is the real presence in the Eucharist. I was in awe at Mass of the reverence for the Eucharist, the caution of it falling to the floor, wiping out the chalice.
I am trusting in God’s time, and I know I am going at the appropriate pace for peace in my home, but the thought of it being over a year before receiving the Eucharist is so…so…heartbreaking!
But I do feel like God is allowing me this time to pray for my husband, and to be better prepared myself.
Anyway, thanks for “listening”. And God bless you all.
S
sallybutler
Guest
As the saying goes, Welcome Home. Please be aware it will not always be so emotionally satisfying… However, if you continue to seek the truth, no matter what you “feel”, I think you will be very happy with coming to Christ thru His church
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Hey, don’t worry about sticking out.
wear whatever you like, most aren’t paying attention to what others wear.Our encounter with Christ…it wounds us, touches our emotions, but to say it is only emotion is a reduction of our experience.
The year will go by quickly.
C
ccarter
Guest
To Soft Answer a comment. When I went thru the Temple to be Married I really expected something more. We had to keep everything locked up so it couldn’t be stolen. I thought the hand movement of cutting your throat etc was bizarre. Later I learned the Masonic Temple has the same rituals and it was copied. When I am in the Cathedral during Mass I feel Christ there and have so much joy and emotion. The more you learn the more you will be moved to a unknown richness of life. I love to hear about history and how Columbus had his sailors pray the Rosary every day. All the Saints that have given their lives for the Faith we were given. My belief in the LDS dogma vanished llike a thief in the night. I like the Catholic Faith for teaching to not go by emotions and I have been wrong many times until I put Faith and study with it. The thing that has helped me the most is listening to Catholic.Radio. Here in Utah it 1010AM.Keep learning there are great riches ahead. I am a SL member of the Cathrdral of the Madelaine
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a_soft_answer
Guest
I hope I didn’t come across as I was going by emotions. That has been a huge battle to overcome in leaving Mormonism for sure. There have been many times I have found myself being lead by my emotions and I have stopped, stepped back, and let things cool down before making my next move. I just know that what I am learning of Catholicism speaks to my heart.
I have discovered 1010 am, though I have been wondering if sometimes they don’t broadcast because, at least up here in the Ogden area it sounds like it is stuck between 2 stations sometimes, and other times it is loud and clear. I usually just download Catholic Answers Live podcasts and have learned so much from them.
I have discovered 1010 am, though I have been wondering if sometimes they don’t broadcast because, at least up here in the Ogden area it sounds like it is stuck between 2 stations sometimes, and other times it is loud and clear. I usually just download Catholic Answers Live podcasts and have learned so much from them.
T
TexanKnight
Guest
I was not raised LDS, but converted after college. I, too, served a mission that, even after I left the LDS Church, I consider the best 2 years of my life. There was nothing like the feeling and belief that one was working for God 24/7.
I served in a very Catholic country. I was constantly drawn to the reverence and peace felt in a Catholic Church. I would, even as a missionary, often stand in the doorway and watch people kneeling at the Cross. I felt drawn.
But I ignored it.
After I left the LDS Church, I bounced around for almost 12 years, looking and searching. I was, again, drawn to the Catholic Church. I had tried for 12 years to stay away from the Catholic Church due to what the LDS Church had ingrained in my mind regarding the Catholic Church being the Church of Satan. But I could never get over the beauty and reverence I felt. I felt drawn to Mary as a child is drawn to his mother. I felt that there was no way to better understand Jesus than thru His mother.
And don’t we do that in our normal relationships? I rarely was never allowed to stay overnight at a friend’s house as a child unless my mom had met the child’s mother and, if available, father. When I was dating, I did not date a girl seriously without knowing her mother. We learn SO much about someone thru his or her parents. There was truly no better way to learn Jesus than thru His mother.
I also remembered, as a child, it was often easier to ask my mother to ask my dad for something than ask him directly. How then, is it wrong to ask Mary to pray to me?
We never felt safer than in our mother’s womb and, later, arms. How, then, is it wrong to rest in the Mother Mary?
Does this mean I worship Mary? Absolutely not. No more than I worshiped my own mother. I honor my mother. I respect my mother. I love my mother. I do not worship her.
I honor Mary. I respect Mary. I love Mary. I do not worship her.
The pull you feel is your Mother Mary calling you to rest in her arms. It is her calling you to lean on her and let her help you get closer to Jesus.
Be Blessed.
- Status