My religious life has not been easy... Let me tell you my story, read carefully because every part is important. I will explain my beliefs at the END.
Well...lets see... I was Catholic all of my life, a "card carrying Catholic" also a "Cradle Catholic". Born into the faith and knew nothing about it.until a bit ago. My family is Catholic, they believe it all. But, my parents weren't the kind of parents who wanted to force their daughter to go to Church or believe anything. So, I never got any religious instruction.
I was baptized Catholic around the time I was four by Father Joseph Gerzone author of Joshua and the Joshua books.
If you read the story about me and my best friend, you will know what happened. I had been feeling very spiritually deprived and was talking to Jill one night and she told me about her religion, Mormon, and I loved it! As soon as she started telling me about it, I felt better. I finally found peace and happiness. After reading half of The Book Of Mormon and going to Church twice, I decided to learn more. That's when the Missionaries came to my house and I had to take six discussions and commit to being baptized, and it was all worth it!! (at the time)
I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on March 10, 1996. Jill and her sister, Sharon were there. At that time, I felt very good, it seemed to be the best day of my life. I know that God loves me and I know that I am his daughter. I believe in God, the Father, His son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I believe this is the most important thing in life...because after life...what is there?? God!!
The Church has changed my life around. Questions were answered and I found out many of the things I believed in before hand were true. I know there is a God and I know Jesus Christ died for me (and you) and our sins. I also learned about forgiveness. I wasn't the perfect kid or teen. I made lots and lots of mistakes... but after asking for forgiveness and praying... I was baptized and confirmed... I knew without a doubt that God forgave me and I had a clean start. I became a new person. There is nothing in the world I wanted more...and having it was so wonderful!
The Church believes in many things, including Family... Families are for eternity. You get sealed to your family (parents, siblings, spouse, and children) in the Temple for eternity. Children are big in the Church. All this WAS okay with me.
Other beliefs are that your body is a temple. Smoking, drinking, drug use, sex, and poor nutrition can hurt your body and shouldn't be done.
I do not smoke, drink, or do drugs. I won't have extra-marital sex. I believe these things will make me a better person and bring me closer to God.
God is here, I know that. He sees everything I do, He knows all about me. There is nothing God doesn't know. God loves me and I love Him.
If you would like to know more about the Mormon religion or their beliefs go to the MORMON home page.
Click here if you would like to see some of my favorite Scriptures.
Now for the more recent part:
In August of 1996, I began asking questions. I had gotten two very different answers from two Bishops. I got confused, why were the answers different. So, I began asking more questions and couldn't get answers. All I got was "Pray about it", "You don't need to know", and "It's sacred not secret". Those answers bugged me. Why couldn't they just tell me? So, I asked a friend who found out the answers, but they were bad answers, they made me upset. So, then I started talking to Janet and she told me the Catholic view and what she knew about the LDS religion.
Now, I was really confused. I didn't like what I heard. What I beleived in... were lies. I had believed in this religion for only a few months, but I was hurt now. I felt betrayed. I felt alone.
I was doing a lot of research on religion for a while. I decided whichever religion could prove themselves BY THE BIBLE... I would stay in. I don't know what is right, what is true. I have to find out. Right now, I believe the truth lies with God. I'm not sure the whole truth is here on Earth. I believe some of the things that Mormons believe, but not nearly enough to stay. I am leaning towards the Catholic Church. They have proved everything so far. But, that is not definate yet. Most of what they believe, I belive is right. My whole family is Catholic and I figure they can't all be wrong (heheh). I don't know everything that is right, or that is true. I have found some out and will continue to learn for the rest of my life. I found it was easier to look to God and inside myself than search books, so that's what I did.
I have even tried a Southern Baptist church (which I really liked), Lutheran, and some non-denomonational and inter-denomonational churches.
I was comfirmed and given my first communion on March 29, 1997 at St. Andrew's the Apostle Catholic Church in Chandler, AZ. It was a beautiful ceremony and I felt right at home.
What I believe in... I believe in God, our Heavenly Father, creator of all. I believe in Jesus Christ and the atonement. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the comforter. I believe in some sort of pre-existence and some sort of spirit world in between Heaven and Hell (whether it's purgatory or not... I don't know). I believe that all babies and young children who die go to Heaven. I believe in baptism for the remission of sins. I believe God loves me and that I need to find the truth.
So, where is the truth???
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