I’m not sure I agree with your comments, but I won’t say I disagree either. I think that turning inward is something we need to do within ourselves to take stock in what we are willing to do to change. So I think you are under the impression that the inward look is the only viewpoint to be taken. Though I think you are right that ultimately if you turn to Christ, if that is your decision, you won’t be disappointed.

Now personally I am in the middle of my own introspection and I am trying to realize what I am willing to do. It is when I finish this part of my journey I will be ready to move to the next part. If that includes turning to Christ so be it, but I think ultimately we need to know what type of things we are made of before we expect someone else to help lift our burdens.

We should fix our eyes on Jesus, “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” Why would we need anything else? When we can turn specifically to God made flesh, Jesus Christ.

For your consideration I offer the following video. I’m sure I will be attacked on this forum because the video does contradict the LDS gospel. I can assure you the video is not out of hatred towards LDS people. It simply discusses that we can rest in Jesus Christ. We don’t need anything else. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd7wXySBCOM

God bless…

My comment to turn inward does not mean that we don’t care about people, or try to help others. It isn’t a call to be selfish. But often, when the struggle of faith begins there seems to be a tendency to turn angry toward the church, leaders, Christ, and sometimes religion altogether. The call to turn inward is a plea to recognize that the object of disaffection is likely not those things, but rather an old mentality, or attitude. To fix this one needs to turn inward and find peace with oneself.

I don’t advocate shrinking from anything, especially relationships with people. I apologize if that didn’t come across quite right.

I simply would add that I am not trying to force institutional change, although I am trying to contribute to it. I’m just willing to be patient and non-militant, since I have seen and continue to see very significant institutional change occurring.

By no means am I looking for a return to the past and more “idyllic” times. I was attempting to illustrate the need for a community that allows for individuals to struggle with their faith. The turn inward silences criticism and creates automotan uniformity which is not conducive to allowing an individual to struggle with their faith within the confines of the community. The struggling will go elseward and the community will collapse in upon itself.

Why not simply say g’bye to religion and hello to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly at heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Nowhere did Jesus say turn to yourself, turn to your pastor, turn to your prophet/apostle, or turn to your bishop. Jesus works within us. All of man’s efforts, including our inward efforts, are futile.

God bless all that read this and actually consider what I said with an open heart.

Even in those days, you and yours weren’t doing your discussing out in the open or in church meetings. You were doing it in the “safety” of your own homes. In that way, nothing at all has changed since your childhood – except the size of the dining room table and the fact that the author is doing his discussing out in the open more than your family and friends used to do theirs. I don’t see any difference whatsoever (except perhaps that it’s possible now to be MORE open with the type of discussions you describe while still remaining faithfully within the Church), so I am puzzled a bit by the notion that things have gone downhill since those idyllic days of yesteryear.

You mention in your post that “You’re not interested in making institutional changes as you view the church as your spiritual tool in the toolbox of life.” The loss of the desire for change, albeit an institutionally dictated loss, is a huge loss in the struggle for faith. The path you’ve painted is an inward shrinking away from the challenges of interacting with people. You fade away into a position of no importance or acceptance. Your voice is silenced. I’m not saying this doesn’t happen — it does, but it isn’t right and not the best for the community in the long run. The key word in your post is “struggle.” The struggle is not just an individual struggle but a community struggle, not for uniformity, but for vitality.

Hell, that is why I read this site and post. It replicates to a small degree my church experience of my earlier years, something that is sorely missed judging from your post.

Re #3
This is a great point. I struggle with this as well. Note that I don’t struggle with it in the sense that I share their concern, but I struggle with it because it arises in the hearts of others and is expressed outwardly, usually in a less-than-glowing fashion. It’s not that I’m concerned with my decision, per se, but how others treat my decisions.

I have no answers for this except that we learn to understand, and empathize with those around us. This doesn’t make the hardship go away, but it can give us the peace of mind that we are doing what we think is best. What more can we do?

Re #4
Great questions. Not sure on the answers. Here’s a shot at it though.

1) what if it really is your old tradition that is the cause of your disaffection, and not just your former mindset and attitude?

Assuming that you know this for certain, then you should probably get out. For example I wouldn’t advocate many people returning to their own fundamentalist groups or cults if they were damaging in a very real way. I personally don’t find this in Mormonism though, although I can see why some might. As with most things in life, a question like this is to be examined carefully, weighing all the evidence, etc. However, I would note that even in the case of a true blue cult, the change that comes by transcending the cult, regardless of whether or not you remain a part of the group, is really what’s important.

2) Are you suggesting not only that it’s possible to remain affiliated with the church, but that it’s better to do so?

I think this is answered by this line in my post:

So my point here is not to examine the psychology, convince you to stay, leave, become a cafeteria Mormon or anything of that nature. I just want to speak with you. I want to talk directly to you and tell you at least one possible route you might take.

I am not suggesting anything with regard to the old tradition except how we view it. Whether this results in physical action to leave, or stay, is really irrelevant to my point (although I recognize it is important).

Re #6
Great points. It is sad. But it’s great that you are “on your toes” to avoid such an exclusivist attitude.

It’s somehow great that we are just 200 Mormons among 250,000 people here. We’ll never have the illusion of being able to ignore others. We can’t be an exclusive club, but have to always try to be inclusive. That keeps us on our toes, and that could be why about half of us are current recommend holders.

Like Mike said#3, the struggle IMO is how to explain to others how I feel, and I think family in particular. I’m not a different person then before. I actually feel more at peace and more enlightened (good thing, right?), taking the spiritual responsibility you expressed. Others in the ward may see my attitude as lacking in faith…but I don’t care so much about them. It is mostly how to get my family who have known me for so long to understand this is a good transition in my eyes. I do care about what my family thinks, and I cannot just blow them off…I live with them daily.

I have handled it by always showing love…it is hard for them to argue with me when I love them and love God. But clearly, they are worried about me, and that hurts me. I am not worried about them, and yet they have their issues…why must I be judged because my ideas are not traditional mormon?

Like you said, I turn inward…and find peace. But I think family is the most difficult thing to deal with on my personal struggle. It takes patience, love and communication.

I wonder if others have had success with this.