Thanks for confirming the role of Old Testament prophets, and really good point about the illiterate and how a church would have been needed to pastor those people. We forget that books were rare until modern times. This is why it just makes good sense that the Church would precede the book, (as in Catholics compiling the Bible), rather than a book starting a religion (LDS, but even Protestant perspective).
I understand the back-and-forth feelings. What helps me a lot is reminding myself that feelings can be corrupted, or at least imperfect. The Word of God, however, is perfect. The Bible is clear that Jesus started and founded a church and endowed it with truth and sacraments. It was not a fallible human organization as the Mormons insist, it was a divine organization–the very body of Christ–headed by Christ, as the Catholics proclaim.
Was it a strong voice? But yet a peaceful voice at the same time. Like the voice had authority?
You don’t lose sacraments.
I didn’t think so, but it was always a fear
You did remove yourself from communion, which is of course a sacrament. That’s something to fear, or at the least regret.
I guess… But I came back and wasn’t gone for long… like 4 weeks the first time and the second time was like 6 months and when I left the second time… I was DONE
All,
I’ve been lurking in these forums for almost two years and was finally inspired to join & post. The topic of mormon-to-catholic in particular is what pushed me to join, as I seem some folks who have struggled as I have.
Why I left Mormonism… That’s simple. I left Mormonism because I came to believe that Joseph Smith was a fraud. Worse than a fraud, he was a con-man driven by ego and/or delusion to fabricate scripture, steal other men’s wives/daughters, and obsessed with gaining as much worldly power as he could (running for President, calling himself General, etc.). His successor, Brigham Young, was a visionary leader to be sure, but plagued by similar flaws… a power-hungry rampant polygamist, plus a racist and anti-Christian bigot to boot. ****
Why I joined Catholicism… That’s complicated. Basically, I joined Catholicism because the Holy Spirit wouldn’t leave me alone. I didn’t want to go back to Church but the Spirit kept calling to me, nagging me, begging me to come home. Driving a lot for work, I found the Catholic Answers radio show to be entertaining on the long drives, but then it would tick me off and I’d turn it off, for a week or two. Then I’d tune in again. Week by week, it knocked down all my arguments, battered my defenses. Meanwhile, I devoured book after book and… while Mormonism was anti-intellectual, Catholicism was deeply intellectual. The more I read about Mormonism, the more I despised it. The more I read about Catholicism, the more I loved it, warts and all. Mormonism looks so nice on the outside but underneath it is ugly. Catholicism can sometime look ugly on the outside (the abuse crisis, bad popes, etc.), but underneath it is deeply beautiful. For all it’s flaws, it was the church that Christ founded. After going through RCIA, I gave a nice talk to the parish at Pentecost about my conversion. Perhaps I could dig it up and post it.
Anyway, that’s my short story. I left Mormonism because I came to believe that Joseph Smith was a fraud and I joined Catholicism because I came to believe that it was the church Christ founded.
A sinner,
JaminB
Wow, that is so familiar
Paul (formerly LDS, now happily Catholic)
Jamin, I know what you mean about the Holy Spirit nagging. I’m getting that too. I devour a lot of books. Then I get ticked off at how much sense Catholicism makes. Then I keep on going to Mass even though part of me doesn’t want to. It doesn’t help to talk to the priest because more stuff makes sense and I’ll talk myself into becoming Catholic. Sometimes I’m like Brandon Cal and would join if only I could be baptized and not have to submit entirely to all revelations of the Catholic Church (in confirmation). Other times I believe it may be Christ’s Church and so I could join without studying *every single *revelation out there (which seems so daunting a task). The Catholic Church is so beautiful as you say. Scares the heck outta me at the same time.
Kendra,
There was a point in my conversion, where I had the distinct feeling of being on a high diving board, and pressured to jump. I just wanted to go back down the ladder. Or, as if God had led me to a cliff the size of the Grand Canyon. Now what? Really Lord, you just think I’m going to take that leap? It was that, or turn back, and where else was I to go?
Not true for me. The more I learn about Mormonism the more I wish to stay.
Beware of pride boy, your eternal soul is at stake.