Why are LDS So Interested in the Catholic Faith?

[RoodAwakening]

(Taking the cue from BJColbert, with thanks. )

Why do LDS who visit here go to the trouble to come to a Catholic forum…and then, object strongly when someone here disagrees with them? In a very few cases, their participation seems to be for no other reason than to put themselves in the position to call Catholics disparaging names. But, not so in most others. So, I wonder, since I have no personal desire to visit Mormon forums, either to inquire or to harass its members, why **you ** do.

BJ has already made it quite clear, several times, why she comes here, but what about the rest of you? Is it, perhaps, that you’re drawn to the Catholic Church like a moth to a flame–that flame being the light of Christ? Maybe, you have a fascination with the Church, but each individual person simply reacts differently to that interest, with some lashing out at others in anger, which is really directed at themselves?

 

[blueadept]

(Taking the cue from BJColbert, with thanks. )

Why do LDS who visit here go to the trouble to come to a Catholic forum…and then, object strongly when someone here disagrees with them? In a very few cases, their participation seems to be for no other reason than to put themselves in the position to call Catholics disparaging names. But, not so in most others. So, I wonder, since I have no personal desire to visit Mormon forums, either to inquire or to harass its members, why **you **do.

BJ has already made it quite clear, several times, why she comes here, but what about the rest of you? Is it, perhaps, that you’re drawn to the Catholic Church like a moth to a flame–that flame being the light of Christ? Maybe, you have a fascination with the Church, but each individual person simply reacts differently to that interest, with some lashing out at others in anger, which is really directed at themselves?

As there are many misconceptions about the Catholic Church, there is a lot of misunderstandings of the LDS Church as well. I’ve been told by a few of the LDS here (and it has changed over a few times this year), that they come to try to correct some of the misunderstandings of the church. Most of them only come to the LDS forum here only since it exists.

I do want to say thanks for the LDS that do come here. I find it a lot easier to discuss issues when I can see both sides. I don’t get that when I visit a LDS website. I prefer to hash out issues here than with my devout LDS wife. It keeps my home life much more peaceful.

 

[Chris-WA]

By and large most LDS are not interested in the Catholic faith, or any other religion for that matter, other than their own. The few LDS who frequent this website do so for various personal reasons, often connected with friends or family that are Catholic. Others are here to defend Mormonism. But in my 16 years of constantly being around LDS people, it is extremely rare for one of them to ask anything about my religion. Even among my wife’s own large devout LDS family, there is almost no curiosity about Catholicism whatsoever. I think there are several reasons for this:

1. From the time they first start attending Sunday school, LDS constantly hear that they are the true church. By the time they’re in junior high, they’ve heard it so many times there is little chance that they will investigate anything outside the Mormon church.
2. LDS culture is all-encompassing. You can be at a ward activity almost every day or night of the week, which limits possible friendships and associations outside the church. Many LDS only hang out with other LDS, so they only get one perspective their entire lives. It can be a very sheltered existence.
3. Within the LDS church culture, doubt is looked upon very negatively. Doubt is looked upon as weakness, or as something that comes from the adversary (Satan) that must be avoided. I’m sure ex-LDs on these forums could explain this better.

The overall point I’m trying to make is that most LDS are a tough shell to crack. Someone who feels they already have the answers are not as likely to listen to another perspective. Couple that with a culture that shelters LDS from experiencing other viewpoints, and it can be a very frustrating experience to talk with them about religion.

That is why I love to read the LDS posters on these forums. They are the exception to the majority, and quite a refreshing one at that.

 

[tkdnick]

1. From the time they first start attending Sunday school, LDS constantly hear that they are the true church. By the time they’re in junior high, they’ve heard it so many times there is little chance that they will investigate anything outside the Mormon church.

1. LDS culture is all-encompassing. You can be at a ward activity almost every day or night of the week, which limits possible friendships and associations outside the church. Many LDS only hang out with other LDS, so they only get one perspective their entire lives. It can be a very sheltered existence.
2. Within the LDS church culture, doubt is looked upon very negatively. Doubt is looked upon as weakness, or as something that comes from the adversary (Satan) that must be avoided. I’m sure ex-LDs on these forums could explain this better.

The overall point I’m trying to make is that most LDS are a tough shell to crack. Someone who feels they already have the answers are not as likely to listen to another perspective. Couple that with a culture that shelters LDS from experiencing other viewpoints, and it can be a very frustrating experience to talk with them about religion.

That is why I love to read the LDS posters on these forums. They are the exception to the majority, and quite a refreshing one at that.

And it’s exactly those things that just break my heart. It is so completely encompassing that it’s almost impossible to get through to them.

 

[Mom_of_5]

My husbands LDS sister-in-law continually asks why he converted to Catholicism. She won’t take his answer, "I NEVER believed in LDS, I was born into it and didn’t know much about any other religion until I married a Catholic. Sis-in-law is a convert to LDS from a protestant faith. There are quite a few LDS that have converted and many questioning. They don’t let their LDS friends or family know that they have seen the light. Some never leave LDS for the very reason that friends and family make it very difficult for them when they do. (Even those who never attend a meeting and do not follow the Word of Wisdom.) We know that first hand as my DH has had severe problems with some of the family.

LDS have been told terrible things about the Catholic church. Some tell you that doesn’t happen any more…YES it does. The LDS church is based on the Catholic church being wrong. There is no other reason for its existance. As my DH put is, if the LDS faith isn’t right then that only leaves Catholic.

It takes a lot of faith to leave LDS. Those who leave, give up priesthood, etc., go to “outer darkness”. This is the WORST of all sins.

Love and Peace

Mom of 5

 

[PaulDupre]

Mom of 5:

LDS have been told terrible things about the Catholic church. Some tell you that doesn’t happen any more…YES it does.

Thanks Mom, for reaffirming that. The LDS here always deny it.
God love you,
Paul

 

[Casen]

The short answer is I come here for fun.

The reason it’s fun for me is because I like studying and discussing religion. I particularly like Catholicism because of its interesting history and in general I find most Catholics reasonable and friendly and I’ve learned a lot here. When everyone is respectful and honest I have fun here. When the board goes through hostile periods with mean or bigoted people posting I spend less time here.

 

[TOmNossor]

I think my interest in Catholicism is a result of a number of things.

First, I might mention that I was told of the CA website by a Catholic. I posted on a few things in other areas, but seldom did my thought engage the CA Catholic.

• I am a former Catholic
• I consider the Catholic Church to be the only serious competitor to the CoJCoLDS (with respect to truth claims) as I have embraced Newman’s idea, “to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.”
• All I have encountered of God both through scripture and direct communication leads me to know of Him as my Father. Linked to this is His desire to deify His children. I see little of this in Protestant thought (although they are coming around at about the pace that most lay Catholics are), but that which binding upon a Catholic to believe includes some unclarified concept of deification.
• I was a LDS without a testimony of the sort most LDS claim or almost require. One of the “logical pillars” I clung too was, “Joseph couldn’t do it and the devil wouldn’t do it.” With some “help” I was finally able to frame why the “devil would do it.” While my prayers were associated with being or not being a LDS, my study was associated with the Catholic Church. While I am quite convince that thinking like an anti-Mormon only reasonably leads to atheism, the Catholic Church then and now seemed/seems to be the only Christian possibility. This renewed relationship with the Catholic Church has served me quite well. I seems it will take a divine call to extricate me from the CoJCoLDS. While nothing in my puny mind can see why, how, or when such a call might come; at least I know that it is to the Catholic Church that I would run.
• My focus on the BEST the Catholic Church has to offer has frequently made me a better LDS. I have learned a great deal about how committed Christians have interacted with God over the last 2000 years. Some things I find wonderful and can incorporate into my belief structures. A few things I find wonderful, but I must leave behind. And some things I have real problems with. But that which is wonderful and I can pick up makes it all worthwhile. That which I find wonderful and I can respect (in a Holy Envy way even) makes my world more complex, but more beautiful too. And the rest, I guess contributes to my continued communion with the CoJCoLDS.
• And, I believe that there is little point in religious dialogue if it is to be done in the way that it seems most here (well actually, just the most vocal of the folks here) desire to do it. For this purpose I seek to frame the CoJCoLDS in a best light. I do not believe that a Catholic must become a LDS to receive benefit from interacting with the CoJCoLDS, but I see little benefit that will result from the type of interaction that seems more prevalent as of recent here.

I am contemplating a post that will incorporate some of the above things. In truth, I do not quite understand how an experienced Catholic can demand that his religion be framed in a “Best” way and yet deny this opportunity to the CoJCoLDS. If I was ever convinced that every Catholic did this, the Catholic Church would become merely a wonderful idea that is devoid of appeal in practice. But there is still much that is wonderful in the Catholic Church. I cannot partake as a Catholic, but I can still grow through positive interactions.

Charity, TOm

 

[Robert_in_SD]

TOmNossor:

I was a LDS without a testimony of the sort most LDS claim or almost require. One of the “logical pillars” I clung too was, “Joseph couldn’t do it and the devil wouldn’t do it.” With some “help” I was finally able to frame why the “devil would do it.” While my prayers were associated with being or not being a LDS, my study was associated with the Catholic Church. While I am quite convince that thinking like an anti-Mormon only reasonably leads to atheism, the Catholic Church then and now seemed/seems to be the only Christian possibility. This renewed relationship with the Catholic Church has served me quite well. I seems it will take a divine call to extricate me from the CoJCoLDS. While nothing in my puny mind can see why, how, or when such a call might come; at least I know that it is to the Catholic Church that I would run.

TOm;
As a Catholic with a twin brother who converted to the LDS faith, I appreciate your posts because you seem to be very thoughtful about your decision to become an LDS member. I appreciate your comments on your faith, and your “best to best” comparisons.

Peace,

 

[TOmNossor]

Robert in SD:

TOm;
As a Catholic with a twin brother who converted to the LDS faith, I appreciate your posts because you seem to be very thoughtful about your decision to become an LDS member. I appreciate your comments on your faith, and your “best to best” comparisons.

Peace,

Thank you for the kind words. As I struggle against the way some people engage the CoJCoLDS I need to remember that not all folks do this.

It may be difficult for you and your brother (and it may not).

My parents are both Catholic. My father became Catholic after I became a LDS and I think we were both blessed. My father does not want to discuss religion as we do here, and I respect that. He hopes that the “concentric circles” that encompass those who are part of the Catholic Church, but not part of the “visible Catholic Church” encompass me and my wife and son.

I have a friend on a mission and here parents became much more Catholic after she became a LDS (I think they all were blessed). However, they seem to have greater stress than my family does. It can be a tough thing.

Charity, TOm