Catholic to Mormon: A Conversion
84Preface
I want to make sure that people who are reading this know that this is my story. It is not meant to convert you, or make you a believer. This is my personal story (abbreviated) and I wanted to share it. My hope is that if someone is considering conversion that they will read this and have a better idea of what happens and what you might experience. Also - maybe it will provide inspiration to someone.
But this is a personal story. It is my story.
My Journey
I was Catholic. I also happen to be Polish, so Caltholicism is intertwined with my culture.
But I was Catholic. And I wasn't one of the salad-bar Catholics who attended Mass on Christmas and Easter, and picked what they wanted to believe. I believed. I attended Mass weekly. I ran the altar server program at our church, I taught religion classes to kids, and I helped teach the teenagers. I am a godmother to a little girl, and a Confirmation sponsor to many teenagers.
Additionally, I ran a choir. We were a pretty good choir. We spent a lot of time practicing. Choir and music were one of the ways that I expressed my love of God, Jesus and my faith in the church. I spent time practicing hymns on the piano at home, and would often play sacred arrangements. I love the sacred music. To this day one of my favorite pieces of music is Ave Maria.
But I never really knew my faith was waning. I didn't recognize that I believed, but I didn't feel. I didn't see any of that. I kept myself so involved that it was just what I did. I had a church social circle and everything. It was what I did.
Until one fateful day.
The Invitation
That day occurred when a friend invited me to church with her. Actually, she invited me to listen to her speak. At the time I considered it a casual invitation. It is only now that I can understand how much it must have cost her to ask someone who was so obviously devoted to another faith. But she did ask. And I said yes. She was a friend, I wanted to support her in something that seemed like a big deal to her. So I went.
It was so peaceful there. Everyone was reverent and respectful. People actually seemed to care about what they were there to hear. The music was so fabulous. Everyone sang, not just the choir people were involved. And there was a sense of peace, a sense of fulfillment. I hadn't felt that peace in a long time - in such a long time that I didn't realize what I was missing until I felt it again. The Sacrament meeting felt right. I don't know how to explain it. But it was that feeling of contentment and satisfaction you get when you know everything is right - it was that feeling.
She asked if I wanted to stay and go to Sunday School with her. So I did - why not? It was a Sunday, and I didn't have anything better do to. So we went to Sunday School. I thought it was a bit strange - Sunday School for adults? In the Catholic church, Sunday School is for kids. Adults are expected to do their own studying. But it made sense that they would have a class, so I went. It was a class, just like many other religion classes I had been too. We also attended Relief Society that day (Relief Society is a class just for women, then men go to Priesthood). And then I went home.
And I wondered at that sense of fulfillment I felt. Would I feel it again?
Learning More
I knew very little about Mormons. I had some friends in high school who were Mormon, but didnt know much. I have a cousin who is Mormon, but I still didn't know much. As I said before - my family is VERY Catholic, so we didn't really talk about her religion all that much. All I knew was that they didn't drink alcohol or coffee, and they believed in a prophet who had come to Earth recently.
So I set about finding out more. I got up the courage to ask some questions of my friends who were Mormon. Since going to church with her, I had been invited over to play games, and hang out (which was preferable to the other options I had with other people - namely going to bars and being sober while they drank themselves drunk). They were fun to hang out with. These people had lots of fun being who they were, and accepted me for who I was. There were no demands, no pushing. I made the first move towards asking for information. They never pushed me.
So I asked some questions. My friend (the one who had invited me) gave me a Book of Mormon, with a personal invitation and note written on the inside. She had taken the time to write me a note inside. It was so neat to read her testimony that she knew this book was true, and that she invited me to learn for myself if it was true. I still have that Book of Mormon. It isn't the one I use anymore, but I will never get rid of it because it means so much to me.
I didn't really know what the Book of Mormon was, so I asked. We spent a few minutes talking about Joseph Smith and how he was a prophet, and how he translated the Book of Mormon from plates. This task was finished in 1829. I didn't really believe her. I thought to myself - yeah right. No one can do a task like that. I believed, at the time, that the only book that came from God was the Bible. I had taken enough scholarly religion classes to realize that the Bible isn't complete. It was compiled by men, and there were various criteria for being included. So it doesn't include everything ever written. But I believed those men were guided by God, and so the Bible is from God. I didn't believe there was another book from God. How could there be? Why would he do that now?
But, despite all my doubts, I remembered my sense of peace. I decided to read the Book of Mormon for myself. I did. And I had a huge long list of questions. Most of the questions were things I was curious about after reading it, and things that I wanted to know about how Mormonism interacted with Catholic beliefs.
But what I really wanted to know was - how do I know if this is true?
My friends did their best to answer my questions. But it got to a point where they really wanted me to meet the missionaries to ask the rest. I was hesitant, but eventually agreed. I met the missionaries in a big group, there were a lot of my friends there, and I asked my questions. I got honest answers, even when the answer was "I don't know but I can find out for you." It was a fabulous time of learning and discovering.
I was clear to the missionaries that I was Catholic, that my family was Catholic, and that I wouldn't be converting. My family would kill me. And they accepted that, and still met with me anyways.
But I still didn't believe Joseph Smith was a prophet. I believed everything else. But I didn't believe that.
This seems like a radical change in beliefs (it's not - Catholicism and Mormons are closer than either of the two will admit). But here's what I did to figure out whether the Mormons were true, and whether I was going to change. I prayed. I prayed for an answer if what I was learning was true. I got the same feeling of peace that I had at Sacrament meeting. I knew it was true. But I also knew I wasn't going to formally do anything about it. I could change what I believed, but I better not be converted - my family would kill me.
And then, one Sunday evening when we were meeting with the missionaries to cover more of my questions - the weirdest thing happened. One of the missionaries asked me to be Baptized in two weeks. And I said yes! I was shocked. I swore, when my mouth opened, that no was going to be my answer. But I said yes. My friends were shocked too. Afterwards, all of them admitted to me that they thought I would say no. But I said yes.
Oh me - what had I committed to? What type of leap of faith was I commiting?
The Immediate Aftermath
So I was Baptized, Confirmed, and became a full member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
My family wasn't happy, but they got over it. They love me. They see how happy I am, how well I am doing, and they are happy for me. The church has been good for me. It has kept me on the right path, provided structure and substance in my life. It has been a guidepost for what path I need to take. These are the things that a church is supposed to do. You are supposed to follow the teachings and beliefs, which lead you on the right path. So my family, seeing how good I was doing, got over it.
Some of my friends, old students, and acquaintances did not. I got any number of emails and call about how the Mormon church was a cult. How it was not a Christian church. How everything the teach is wrong. I tried to calm the fears of these people, telling them how they were wrong. Mormons are Christians, they are not a cult, and how their teachings are right for me. Some listened, some didn't. Some sent me emails with links to anti-Mormon sites. I discarded those. I had read enough of that while I was trying to figure out what the Mormon church was.
I got some bad reactions, and some good. But here's the thing - it was the right decision for me. I cried about some of the people I was losing, but in the end, this was the right decision for me. I made the choice - for me. If these people didn't care about my happiness, then they shouldn't be included on my list of friends. This was my choice. It made me happy. Those who care about me eventually realized this (once they got over their shock) and love me anyways.
Here's the thing - I knew it was the right decision for me. And that is what matters.
Conversion is On-Going
The actual event of the conversion is a one-time event. You are Baptized, Confirmed, and then you are a member of the church.
The actual process of conversion is on-going.
I was an adult when I converted, and so I was fully aware of what I was doing. As an adult, and now a mom, I have a responsibility to myself and my family to learn what I can and teach it to others (my son). In order to do this, I must remember my conversion every day. I must remember why I chose to be Mormon. It can be hard. But it can be done.
When you think you are losing your testimony and belief in the church, you have to search for it. Things can become routine - like going to church - and so you do it because you have always done it. Then you have to go back to the feelings you had that first time you attended church, and convert your heart back to God. It takes constant work and dedication.
I joined into a YSA (Young Single Adult) Ward. It was difficult at first. Everyone there, well most people, has grown up in the church. They had a basic understanding of things that I lacked. They knew the songs, beliefs, and language of the church. I had to learn these things. Thank goodness I had friends. President Gordon B. Hinkley once said that all converts need a friend. I found this to be so true. I needed some support - especially since I wasn't getting it from my family.
But I got the support. Eventually I met my husband and we were married in the temple (that is a whole different story). We have a family (our son) and continue living our beliefs today.
It is hard work. It requires dedicating my heart every morning - on difficult days I have to dedicate my heart to God many times. It also requires the same diligince I had during my conversion process. It requires remembering the feelings I had when I was a new member, and trying my best to get those feelings back.
When I say conversion is on-going I mean that you never stop learning. To stop learning is to be static and forget what you are supposed to do. How can you grow as a person if you stop learning? How can you grow spiritually if you stop learning and accept things as they are told to you? You cannot. Conversion is a learning process, and that process is on-going. It is a lifetime of work. But I think it is worth it.
What Happened to the Joseph Smith Issue?
A sticking point for a lot of people who are learning about Mormons is the issue of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It is had to get people to believe that a kid (he was a teenager) could be the messanger of God, and restore the Priesthood. It is also hard to believe that the Book of Mormon is intended to be from God. For most people, the Bible is it.
I am not sure that I truely believed when I was Baptized. I believed everything else about the church. I believed in latter-day prophets, in revelation, in the temples, in the creation, in the spirit world, and in Jesus and God. I had a hard time with Joseph Smith. I believed in the Book of Mormon. I had read it. If you take the time to read it, and feel the spirit, it moves you. How could I not believe in it after feeling the Spirit moving through me, and seeing how it complements the Bible. So I just took a leap and said I believed in Joseph Smith as a prohpet of God.
You know - it took a lot of work. It took some study. It took some serious prayer and time on my knees. But in the end I really just gave in to the feelings and promptings of the spirit. Surrendering control like that can be hard, but I did it. Here's the thing that got me - Jospeh Smith was 14 when he went into the forest to pray and recieved his answer. He was persecuted and died for his beliefs. What more did I need? If you ahve ever read the Book of Mormon, you would see that someone who was that young, and basically illiterate, could not have done the translation without a higher power. This is what convinved me, that and the Spirit.
I work on it on a daily basis, and there are days when my testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon falter, and those are the days when I have to work harder.
Conclusion
So this is my story. It is somewhat of an oversimplification of what happened. But, some things had to be ommitted.
I just wanted to share this very personal story, and hope that it helps those who are struggling with their faith, or struggling with accepting someone's conversion.
What I want to get across is no matter who you are, and who you know, if you care about someone, support them in their quest to know God. They can only be better for it.
For Further Study...
You can google "Mormon" and "LDS" all you want. The results will be positive and negative. It is up to you to determine what you are going to believe. Please take notice that those who write the negaitve information do so without and comments or input from current Mormons. Most of these writers tend to be ex-Mormons. Being Mormon is hard, there are a lot of rules. But that doesn't justify hatred of the church.
You Tube also has a variety of videos on Mormons. Just know who you are listening to. The official church website has a variety of viedos on it, that are true to the faith. Otherwise, you run the risk of unofficial information.
Links to Mormon Sites
- The Official Church Website
This is the link to the official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - The Basic Beliefs
This is a link to the basic beliefs of Mormons. It has everything you need to know to begin a study of the Mormon faith. - LDS Resources
This is a link to the LDS resources. You can order more information from here. - Desert Book
This is a link to Desert Book. They offer a wide range of LDS products, including study guides and the like. - Wikipedia on Mormons
I don't promise that this is true information, but it is the Wikipedia entry for the Latter-Day Saints.
Links to Videos on LDS Beliefs
The LDS Church
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View Mormon Messages
Browse and share recent Mormon Messages. - 6 months ago
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1940 U.S. Census Project
Family history volunteers have already indexed more than 33 million records. Learn more. - 7 days ago
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Love Her Mother
How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today's increasingly toxic world? - 2 weeks ago
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i sorry what you went through. but i have to tell you that the lds faith is not true. the lds faith stands on the great apostasy. I have to tell you that the apostasy has not happened yet. the gospel did not need to be restored.
No need to be restored.
The Great apostasy has not happen yet.
John 15:2, Every branch (believer, disciple, true Christian) that beareth fruit, He (God) shall prune it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (The true Word of God will continue forever.) The branches are the believers and/or teachers and the fruit are those who are taught. God will get those people ready (prune) and the cycle will continue forever.
This is what God promised.
The Great apostasy is talked about in 2 Thessalonians Ch 2. When the people thought that the day of the Lord had already began.
2Thess 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (The Great apostasy) AND that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (Satan).
The Great apostasy (the Great falling away) will happen when the anti Christ (the son of perdition "damnable to die") comes and teaches his false doctrine (Rev 13). The people will be tricked into worshiping the beast (Satan) and will be turned away from the true Christ. The Great Apostasy.
Jesus promised us that he would never leave us or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; John 14:16 we will always have the Holy spirit we will always have Jesus
I just want to say that I really enjoyed your hub. I am sad that so many people had hurtful things to say, but everyone gets to have their own opinion, I guess. I am also pleased to see that most people leaving comments have been supportive. I think that your story is great. You are obviously a kind and loving person.
Thanks for sharing your conversion story. I really like how you didn't end with baptism but continued on to say that conversion is a life-long process. I liked you hub and I hope that you continue increasing your testimony.
Jordan says, "The catholic church was founded in the 300s, not with Peter, that is fact. The meeting was lead by a pagan ironically."
Really? Apparently you never heard of the Didache? It is essentially the first catechism of the catholic church (small "Cs" intentional), written in the late first or early second century. That means it was written WITHIN 100 years of Christ's death and resurrection (Note: there is no 0 century, and no year 0). "The combination 'the Catholic Church' (he katholike ekklesia) is found for the first time in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written about the year 110." ( http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03449a.htm )
The Council of Nicaea in 325 was *not* the beginning of the Catholic Church. Constantine converted to Christianity in ~312, so he most certainly was *not* a pagan during this council. You may find the results of this council here: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3801.htm . There have been SEVERAL councils since, including the more recent First and Second Vatican Councils.
Only the priests of the Catholic Church and some Eastern Churches obtain their authority through Apostolic Succession. Yes, Saints Peter and Paul *are* fathers of the Catholic Church. The Mormon and Protestant ministers do not have this authority because they have not celebrated the true sacrament of Holy Orders and are not a part of this succession.
Also, if you actually read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you'll find many, many references to the Bible, itself. Catholic beliefs are not just made up. They are rooted in Scripture. The Bible is a much greater authority than any other "manual" put out by any other religions. If you take a look at any Catholic liturgies, you will also find that they are all rooted in Scripture: the prayers, readings, everything.
As a Catholic who one day questioned the validity of my religion, I decided that it was only fair to learn more about my own religion. What I found was a religion that gave me evidence. Catholicism is a religion that encourages people to search for the truth. No Catholic ever told me *not* to read something, and not to challenge my beliefs. In fact, not to challenge beliefs while seeking the truth is dangerous. I'm still learning, and my faith in the church is becoming even stronger.
Regarding infant baptisms, baptism is only ONE of three sacraments of initiation into the church. Baptism is not truly complete until one also celebrates Confirmation and the Eucharist. It's complicated, but you can learn much more about it from the Catechism: http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/index.shtml .
There is a reason why the Catholic Church is called "Catholic." It is the one universal, Christian religion.
nwunderlich, I'm totally with God regarding free will. Go ahead and practice whichever religion you like, and God bless you if it somehow brings you closer to the truth. I truly believe Mormonism is a false religion full of heresy, but that doesn't mean that your journey with the Mormon Church is not meant to be. Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open. Ask God for wisdom. Do not let man keep you from searching for the truth, from reading true texts. If the Mormon Church says that you can't read something, then there is a problem (I don't know if this the case, but I do know some religions do this). Also, remember the words of Jesus Christ:
"If anyone says to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!' do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect. Be watchful! I have told it all to you beforehand.
– Mark 21-23
"Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."
– Matthew 24:11-13
What I find true about many people who leave the Catholic Church is that they just don't get it, and they don't search out the proper texts for the truth (they read what other religions have to say about the Church, but those other religions spew a lot of falsehood). What is even more remarkable is how some convert to religions whose doctrines clearly conflict with even the KJV Bible.
Thank you for being truthful about your leaving the Catholic Church and not using the Hub to convert or should I say attact others to the Mormon Church. However, I ask that you continue to pray to God to give you clarity on what the truth is and I hope you find it one day before it is too late.
Hi there,
Thank you for your amazing testimony. I too am a catholic, born and raised and my mother is still a very firm catholic believer. I am planning on being baptised into the LDS faith in a couple of weeks and am really worried about the reaction of my family.
But like you, this is right for me and my faith with God. I feel completely at peace with this decision which has not been easy.
Your testimony has really helped me so thank you
Anna
hi im a mormon from birth and we believe in 1 god not many gods and jesus what the book of mormon is true and mormons are christians and we dont hate on other chuches and we use the same bible as the catholics do im very happy for u that u for the chuch nwunderlich and mary your not acting very christian like lds chuch is good we can only have 1 wife we dont believe in satin so i dont know where your getting that stuff at
sorry if i miss spelled anything
god bless scotty
This was really useful. Since I am Mexican my entire family is catholic but my boyfriend is Mormon. He started telling me about his religion since I was curious. After a while I began realizing I was never in touch with my religion. I have made the decision to convert and we decided that my boyfriend would be the one to baptize me after he got back since he's going to leave to his mission. It's good to know that there are others who have been through what I'm going thru. Thank you.
nwunderlich, Great testimony of Peace and Good Tidings; you have obviously not resisted the Spirit of the Lord.
I too am a converted Mormon, from Catholic, but did so as a teenager. I fell away during High School, only to return for good as a mature adult - and what a relief!
I am not perfect, but I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church, as Jesus Himself revealed to the prophets how it is organized - with Him at its head. I also am still learning, and this adult Sunday School is a big part of that learning. It is wonderful to have such excellent and dedicated teachers, who welcome questions. If they cannot answer them, others in the class can, and do. God is not the author of confusion, and the Mormon church has the distinct advantage of continuing prophesy and REVELATION.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience.
I'm a catholic and i think Mormonism is not the right path but a cult .. I'm sorry to say but i believe that god know this is true and you are following a false path with a false prophet .. your either logical or dumb ? you pick.
Hi Tom,
You wrote, "Remember we walk by faith not by sight." If that is true, then all religions are justified. We must have faith, but faith in the truth which can be substantiated. Absolutely nothing in the Book of Mormon can be substantiated. There are no archiological sites, no records, no proof that Lehi and his descendents ever existed either in the Americas or in Jerusalem. It is truly a book of deception. Saying it is true over and over again does not make it true.
Amy, I just wanted to add that the Book of Mormon does not mention anywhere about baptisms for the dead, special undergarments, or that God is three different beings that are one in purpose. The Mormon Church does not have the authority to institute such actions or belieds. Authority rests in the Catholic Church and it was never taken away. Jesus said that His Church shall prevail, the Catholic Church that He started.
Mary
Anna,
There are many things wrong with the Catholic Church as well as every religion that exists in this world. We are human beings and we sin. Remember, Satan attacks the Catholic Church because he hates it the most. The true presence of Christ is found there and Satan hates that. Satanists only go into Catholic Churchs to steal the contents and use them in their Satanic rituals, because they know Christ is only truly present in the Catholic Church.
Yes, there are some Catholic doctrines that you will not find in your Bible because you have the wrong Bible. The King James version you are using is not the first edition with contains all of the original books of the Bible. In the late 1600s, some Protestant ministers removed some books from the King James Bible and republished it. That is Bible that Protestants use today as well as the Mormon Church. If you don't believe me, look at the first edition of the King James Bible and see for yourself.
Mary
Thankyou
Isn't it ironic that all of the bashing and hateful words are coming from the catholics themselves? You call yourself christian but certainly aren't acting Christlike! The Catholic church does not have the correct authority to do many of the things that it does. Nowhere does it state in the Bible infants must be baptized. It is a tradition that the catholic church came up with in the 3rd century. Nowhere does the Bible talk about having Godparents; another tradition. Priests are not to be without a wife, so many passages in the Bible state a man and woman are to be married and procreate. That is why we are here!! And we wonder priests are molesting little boys???? Because they should be having sex with their WIVES! The catholic church has many things wrong with it. Start with Constantine in 312 AD, he wasn't even baptized until he was about to die and then the day prior still prayed to his pagan sun God. Unbelievable. All of you catholics need to study your own history before you start condemning others for the truth that they have found in another religion.
Thanks for an honest story. I wish more people would be more truthful about how they feel... whatever they feel passionate about.
I think it's a shame that others wish to inform you of what you should be feeling. In light of their comments I will say
- 'Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom' Let's seek advice from the only source of truth worth listening to.
Lets not be so proud to assume that we have exclusive rights to truth.
Remember we walk by faith not by sight.
Dear nwunderlich,
I’m sorry if I offended you or hurt your feelings, but I am deeply concerned about your spiritual well being. When you were a practicing Catholic, you received Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and received His blessing at Adoration. Now that you have removed Christ from your home through Mormonism, I grieve for you, for the fact that you have turned from the true Christ.
You see, Mormons are not Christians. It’s a term they started to use a few years ago to attract more followers to their faith. They are actually polytheists. They believe there are many gods from many worlds, but that they are expected to pray to only the God of this world, “Heavenly Father.” Christians believe in the Trinity (One God in three persons.) Christians believe Jesus is true God and true man. Christians do not believe that there are many gods in other worlds, but that there is only one God.
I’m glad that you have found the peace you sought, but remember: just because something feels good doesn’t mean it is good. I look at Catholicism and Mormonism like this: There are two schools in your town. One school has kind, loving people who are always there to help you, but everything they teach is wrong. They teach 2+2 is 7, that the world is flat, and that apples are light blue. The other school has people who are from lukewarm to kind and loving, but everything they teach is the truth. What is more important to you, how others make you feel or whether you are taught the truth?
Remember that 55% of the Bible can be proven historically, but 0% of the Book of Mormon can be proven historically.
I know Jesus is both true God and true man. I know He died and rose from the cross so that I may have eternal life. I know the Trinity is real and that someday I will return to Heaven, my true home.
This time, read the Bible with your heart, and if you can, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the writings of the early Church Fathers.
You are always welcome to come home to the Catholic Church, the only church established by Jesus Christ and were the great apostasy has not occurred yet (that will happen in the end times.)
Mary
what ever makes you happy
My experience with the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith is very different than yours. For me the Book of Mormon contains false doctrines like "saved, after all we can do” (2Nephi 25:23), "Adam fell that men might be" (2 Nephi 2:25), and "infant baptism is an evil abomination" (Moroni 8). For me Joseph Smith is a false prophet who brought the heresy of "three gods" (History of the Church, 6:474).
Mormons are not Christians. The Bible reveals that Christians are disciples and that disciples continue in the words of Christ. Mormon's continue with the words of Joseph Smith instead of the words of Christ who taught one God. When Jesus saw people that were like sheep without a shepherd he was moved with compassion toward them and he began to teach them many things.
I am scared to leave the LDS church because of what my family will say. I know it is not the true church. There are so many problems with the BoM. There is so much archeological evidence for the Bible and there is NONE for the BoM--because it is NOT TRUE. This is only one problem I have with the BoM. I am interested in the Catholic Church. I would like some things to be different in the Catholic church, though. I feel like it is calling me and I need to accept this call and them help make some of the changes (stuff that doesn't matter as far as 'the truth' of the Catholic church is concerned, but things I would like to see changed).
I really want to thank you for this. I'm twenty year old cradle and devout Catholic who has felt lost for the last two years. After much deliberation and praying for guidance I have found my answer- but now without a great deal of questioning and hardship. My family is Italian Catholic, and have been very adamant in attempting to change my mind. They feel like the Catholic Church is common sense and keep asking me what mistakes they made in raising me for me to make a decision like this. As hard as it has been, I feel like I'm doing what is best for me. I finally feel like I'm home.
God bless!
I am always confused by attacks from members of other Christian denominations. I, for one, am grateful for the preservation of the Bible, and many of the other beautiful things that have been done by the Catholic church. I see no reason to attack it--or any other faith that is bringing people light. Maybe it is just easier to dismiss the unknown as "evil" than to study them out for oneself. It is simple to find out. The fruits of the spirit (peace, joy, love) reveal where Christ is. I have felt the fruits of the spirit when I go to the temple, attend sacrament reading, and read the words of Christ (in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon). Therefore, I have remained a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I did do a lot of studying with the Catholic Church. In fact, I made the choice to go to a Catholic college (St. Mary's in Moraga). I taught the Confirmation Class for years. I rad the Altar Server program at my church. I had a choir and wrote music. I did believe, I really did. But I came to feel farther and farther away from God.
There isn't rhyme or reason to it. It just happened. It has nothing to do with me not praying, or not reading the Bible, or not studying my faith. I know the history of the Catholic Church as well as I know the history of America - perhaps better.
I am just a convert. It is my choice.
Mormons are Christians. Those who say that Mormons are otherwise are simply wrong. For all the love people seem to have of God, they don't seem to let others find their own way. I believe in my way, but it is not right for everyone. Some people find other ways to God.
But here's the thing, the Mormon church doesn't spew hate about anyone. One of the main tenents - when it comes to other religions - is live and let live. Mormons provide the opportunity for someone to convert if they want to - no one is forcing anything on anyone else or saying that you will go to hell because you are a different type of Christian.
What happened to the ability to post about something that is important to me? It is meant to share my story with others, and allow people to know that they aren't alone in choosing to convert. And that they aren't alone in having people react badly to their conversions.
Instead of insulting me, why not celebrate that I have found the peace I sought? I celebrate when anyone, of any faith, finds the peace they desire and works on being a better person.
You are going to hell.
I too was raised Catholic but converted to Mormonism at the ripe old age of 37. I have to say that I never felt the spirit like I do in sacrament or Sunday school. The LDS church does a great job of making men better. I faced great opposition from my family and they have tried to humiliate and shame me back in to the Catholic church. I have remained a stalwart member of what I believe to be the true church on the earth today. I believe with all my heart that a fouteen year old boy by the name of Joseph Smith actually saw God and Jesus Christ and heard what they said to him. Joseph Smith was humiliated, threatened, had family and friends killed before his eyes. How could a grade three educated person ever dream up something so preposterous as the Book of Mormon and start a new religion for no financial or worldly gain if he was not told to do so by a loving Father in Heaven. No one could have possibly dreamed this up and suffered the way he did if it was not true. LDS church members have much expected of them in the form of lifestyle, tithing, and service. It is all done without expectation of reward other than a reward in Heaven. Joining the LDS church is the very best thing I have ever done. I have no regrets. I will continue to love and serve all of Heavenly Father's children. I have no malice to the Catholic church nor it's members. Thank you for sharing your story.
I grew in a family with a Catholic dad and a Protestant mom. We went to the differing churches on occasion. We also attended a 7th adventist church on frequently. My best friend was Jewish and I hung out with mostly born again Christians. I learned to appreciate the good in all these beliefs. I also had many Mormon friends in high school who invited me to their Church. I will tell you that what Mary has written about Joseph Smith and Moroni is simply a defensive reaction because she somehow is feeling threatened by the fact that nwunderlich has found the peace and joy she was searching for. Why must religions tear down each other to try to make it sound like they have the truth. There is only one truth and one God. All of us must do our best to find that truth and in the end the Lord will know who was truly seeking and they will be saved. Jesus is called the Saviour because that is what He does is save people not damn them. I believe somehow God will save the majority of His children because that is what a loving Father does. We are not to judge but be peacemakers. The Mormons have a good thing going... strong families, live longer than most, very service oriented...I have read things Joseph Smith said and he was a pretty amazing man or prophet as they call him. I don't find anything threatening in the Book of Mormon either... it talks about following Christ as much as the Bible does. God must approve of something they are doing. Let's not try to destroy what nwunderlich has found because we may not understand it all.... let God be the judge and let us love one another. Perhaps Mary would benefit by allowing the LDS missionaries to come and share what they really believe before writing more insensitive remarks? May we all continue our search for truth until God reveals it to our hearts and minds.
I am a Catholic and have neither read anything demeaning in this post nor do I believe that a Catholic should apologize for writing the Truth. As the Bible says, "The Truth shall set you free."
Pope Saint Felix III wrote, "Not to oppose error is to approve it and not to defend truth is to suppress it." He also wrote,"...to neglect to confound evil men...is no less a sin than to encourage them."
Nwunderlich obviously went through the motions of being Catholic but never truly understood the Catholic Faith. Did she read the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of the Church Fathers. It sounds as though she "taught" the love of God but didn't understand that God is three persons in one; and that Jesus is True God and True man. Mormonism rejects Jesus as True God and only looks at the Bible passages that show Jesus as True man.
She has not only put her soul in grave danger, but the souls of her family. Joseph Smith is not a prophet but a Freemason who saw Satan disguised as an angel.
Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Nowhere in the Bible is the name Moroni mentioned, because there is no angel in heaven named Moroni. The rituals and symbols of the Mormon Temple mimic those of the Freemason Temple. Read up on Freemasons and you will find this true and that this organization began in 1717, before the Mormon Religion was started.
Greetings nwunderlich!
I must say it was very enjoyable and even a bit intriguing to read the testimony of someone whose journey was in the opposite direction of mine. I was born and raised a very devout Latter-day Saint in a multi-generational LDS family (pioneers on both sides!) but a few years after serving my mission I converted to the Catholic Church and still to this day remain a faithful servant of Jesus.
Quite a bit of your testimony resonated very well with me. I too received the same sense of peace in the Catholic Mass as you did in the LDS Sacrament meeting, and quite a bit of my theological struggles ended with me walking away a stronger person just as yours did for you.
I don't care to get into a huge theological pissing contest here on whose church is the "true" church (and I apologize for fellow Catholics who felt the need to demean you in their responses). I know God works in very mysterious ways and being the sinner that I am, I'm in no capacity to judge your decisions. I certainly don't agree with your beliefs (obviously), but what I can say is you've joined a virtuous church with wholesome morals which does quite a bit of good for the world. One of many LDS qualities that I've taken with me on my conversion to Catholicism is the strong emphasis on St. Paul's admonition. Just like you, I'm seeking after every good, benevolent, and praiseworthy thing, and for that I truly commend you!
By the way, thank you for speaking about the Catholic Church and Catholics in general in such a kind manner. It's certainly a refreshing surprise considering the amount of anti-Catholicism I was exposed to as a practicing Mormon.
God bless you all of your days and best of luck in all your endeavors!
~Bryan
Hi Jordan,
I will pray to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit to descend upon you and remove the veil of deceit that covers the eyes of your soul.
The Catholic Church began with Peter and you can find references to the Church in the writings of the early Church Fathers. Some church Fathers are St. Clement, St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Irenaeus. Also, remember in Matt 28:20 Jesus said he would be with His Church until the end of time. In John 14:18 Jesus says that he will not leave us orphans.
I don't understand how someone can go from believing in "One God" to believing in many gods. Mormonism believes that God the Father was begotten by another god who was begotten by another god, who was begotten by...and so one. That's polytheism. The first commandment says that "I am the Lord your God, you shall not have other gods besides me."
How can someone who belonged to a Church that defends life from conception to natural death, join a church that sanctions abortions?
I don't understand how such nice people have allowed themselves to be deceived by the devil. But then, the devil has also deceived Jehovah Witnesses, and Moslems.
Those who teach others to hate the cross:
Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Moslems, and Satanists.
Those who teach Jesus is not true God and true man:
Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Moslems, and Satanists.
Those who teach the original Bible (which was compiled by 400 AD by the Catholic Church) is corrupted:
Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Moslems, and Satanists.
Those who teach others to hate and distrust the Catholic Church:
Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Moslems, and Satanists.
I will keep you in my prayers.
i am not going to criticize you for your choice, i mean feelings are certainly better then nothing, but catholic to me is about serving, why do humans even deserve a feeling, Jesus died for our sins and that is far enough to go to church for the rest of ones life, Jesus judges on the content of ones heart so religion is not as important as your kindness to others, Jesus is a fair god, and i can testify to that lol
Hey i just wanted to say that i grew up catholic too!!! i converted to the LDS church and can truly relate on many issues. My friend always got after me for not believing about Joseph Smith at first, since i believed the Book of Mormon, which meant he was a prophet. Anyway, thanks for your testimony.
Okay and all you who say the apostacy never happened, learn some history. I learned abou it while i was still catholic and knew nothing of the LDS faith. The catholic church was founded in the 300s, not with Peter, that is fact. The meeting was lead by a pagan ironically. And many things were twisted from truth, like baptism for example. So the priesthood didnt survive meaning a falling away, and no real church with authority. Also in repsonse to Matt 16 18-19, the actual true translation in Greek is not hell but hades, which changes the meaning completly and it is easy to explain to Mormons. But, Hades is not hell, but the place where dead lie, so Jesus said that the afterlife cant keep away his message. Think about all those who died before he came, they need the gospell too you know.
Mormons are not Christians, they are polytheists.
Christians believe in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Christians pray to all three. Christians do not believe Satan's lie that man can become god.
Genesis 3:4-5
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Mt 28:20 Behold, I am with you ALWAYS, until the end of the age.
There never was a great apostasy. If it happened when and where did it begin? Who started it? Who defended against it? Where is it in the history books?
If there was a great apostasy, why do Mormons use the Catholic Bible that was given to the Catholic Church around 380 AD?
Mt 7:15; Acts 20:29; 2 Thess 2:3; and 2 Pet 2:1 refer to the great apostasy that will occur before the end of time (which has not occured yet.)
Jesus is God not just a man and prophet. Jn 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
I just published the book "Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest," which is immediatley available on Amazon and other retailers. You can find out more about the book at www.catholic2mormon.com. This book is the story of our conversion, with a comparison of 40 doctrines between the two celebrated Christian denominations. I hope this will inspire others to take the same journey we did.
Love in Christ - Eric Shuster
There was no great apostacy. Jesus said that His Church would not fail.
Matt. 16: 18-19 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
There is but one God and Mormon men cannot become gods. Lucifer tried to become a "god" and look what happened to him.
Gal 1:7-8 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Hi
Irish-Polish Catholic here! I get it from both sides! Plus the guilt! Your site is just what I was looking for. Thank you for sharing your journey. God Bless
it seems that your conversion was all about "feelings" - i really don't believe that Faith is about feelings. Love isn't a 'feeling'... it's a decision, a daily choice which is made. Does that make sense?
God's Peace.
I am glad you like it. It does take daily recommitment. And it is sometimes harder to do then you think it might be. Sometimes, when we grow up with something, we stop questioning it and just accept it as truth. But then we encounter something that makes us question those beliefs. How you deal with that, and where you go, depends on the person. This is simply what happened to me :) I reaffirm my greatfulness to my friends for introducing me to the Gospel every day. I love them very much and I wouldn't be where I am now without them.
nwunderlich,
I stumbled onto this Hub this morning and am so glad I did. Thank you for sharing this most personal story of your conversion to the LDS Church. You are so right in your statement that conversion is ongoing. Daily recommitment to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is required of each of us. Again, thanks for sharing.
Thanks guys!
"Nice hub!"
CEO E.S.A.H.S. Association
I am Polish Catholic. I know how difficult it must have been for you to follow your calling while stepping outside your family's culture and belief. I commend you for having the courage to follow the path you believe to be right for you.
I identify completely with "...my family would kill me..." But as it turns out, your family loves and accepts you, and there was no murder involved.
Perhaps some day you will write a Hub about your family's reaction to your conversion?
Thumbs up to you, Natasha.
Lekataumalolo 3 months ago
passing the word....
i am neither here to attack nor Defend.
i am here merely to have an open discussion, and maybe correct some incorrect information.
I am a Latter day saint member, my mother was a devout catholic and was baptised into the latter day saint faith by her own choice and my father was 3rd generation latter day saint.
Being from a religous backround but also an astute and avid believer in science have graduated from Auckland University with a BA in History majoring in pacific origins, i have some what at times not questioned some things of no paticular denomination but christianity as a whole, and with my education and FAITH, have come to my own conclusion that science and religon, like the book of mormon and bible work hand in hand.
in regards to your comment regarding the LDS faith basing its belief on an APOSTASY or Falling away.
you have brought up a very good scripture: regarding 2 THES:
that if you looked into or cross referenced would have made things a little easier.
In a watered down version for those not wanting to read it or overdoing things, Paul was addressing the people reassuring them not to worry about the saviours return as there would be a falling away first.
the falling away is in regards to the presiding priesthood power on Earth, now we all believe that the presiding priesthood power was with the apostles and when they had all passed on this is the begining of the "FALLING AWAY"
Another refrence you can look at is AMOS 8: 11-12
Heavenly father has restored the FULLNESS of the GOSPEL and the priesthood keys on the EARTH once again,
Our church invites all those to pray and find out more about the LDS faith.