Before I found the truth, I would have nothing to do with religion or listening to someone else's view of God and Jesus. I tried my hardest to convince myself I didn't need to listen to something that I believed boiled down to fables that had been twisted and changed over the years. Granted, I also had never read any of these "fables".
I tried to created an idea of the world on my own. I tried melding my moral beliefs into a agnostic life. I knew I was a good person, whatever that means to people, but I still felt that there was something missing; something wrong...somewhere.
I wasn't even looking for God when I stumbled upon what I now believe to be truth. I was bored and at work. For a while I had been writing a lot in my journal and posing questions to myself that I wanted answered. Although I had come to accept myself as an open homosexual, I still had doubts. They would creep in when I had started to date someone. When I was single and not content, my thoughts were way too selfish to think of anything else, but once I had gotten comfortable and started to see myself with that person, it just never made sense. I've always been a man of many thoughts that flip and turn and twist and sometimes crash and burn. My mind became a jumble and anxiety would overwhelm me. Ever since I was a child, I'd wake in the midst of the night fearing existence. What I was raised to believe didn't quite sit well with me. Even before I thought I was gay, there was something missing between me and my religion. I was raised in the Utah-based Mormon church that was founded by Brigham Young. I say it was founded by him, because I do not believe it is the same church that was founded by Joseph Smith. I stopped attending that church when I was 16, but never officially left. Over the years I had thought about returning, but never seriously. I always pushed it away. A few years ago I actually did go back...in an attempt to be what I thought I should be. That didn't work.
Not until I stumbled across the truth behind all the churches today, did I discover something that was undeniable. I learned about Constantine and how he took control of the the church of Christ a few hundred years after all the apostles were gone. I learned about how he changed the Sabbath from the 7th day of the week to the first (in order to get pagans to more easily convert, because they already worshiped the sun god on Sunday). I learned how important it is to know and keep the original Sabbath, as it was a law instituted for God's people for a thousand generations (~40,000 years). I learned how he introduced the trinity and idolatry (crucifix worship). I learned about Revelations and how it states that no one would enter the Kingdom of God for 1260 years, which is the time between the last form of the beast (last form of the once church of Christ) coming about and the organization of the Church of Christ under Joseph Smith. He began to restore (RESTORE) the church to how it was from the very beginning with Adam. And then James Strang (Joseph's true successor) restored the complete 10 Commandments (which no other church has). Take a look in your New Testament and see where Jesus states that one of the commandments (listed with others of the 10) is to Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself and see if you see that listed in 10 Commandments for your church. I've learned the truth behind the birth of Jesus and how he is of the SEED of DAVID and the SON of JOSEPH. He was not a demi-god born of a virgin(as we know them), But a baby born of a mother(who was pure so in that time called a virgin) and father (mother from the tribe of Levi, father a descendant of David as was prophesied he would be). He says
I learned that he had to be JUST LIKE US in order to die for us and it mean anything. In order for him to truly go through the same things we did and come out perfect, he had to be flesh and bone and susceptible to the same things..Just like we are.
I've learned that it all makes much more sense then "Mystery, Babylon the Great" would have you think.
I've learned that evolution and God go hand in hand. I believe that we are all meant to evolve into something more than we are now. To be LIKE GOD (as Jesus is), but NOT GOD, as God is only being that is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. All power, all light, all intelligence is a gift from God. We have all been endowed with a portion of His spirit to guide us in this life. Some more than others, depending on how faithful we were before we were given a body of flesh and bones to reside in during our probation.
The weather is energy, so is fire. All life comes from the Sun. We all truly do come from the dust. The dust truly did originate in the stars. Scientists have newly discovered this thing they call Dark Matter. It is an invisible matter that scientist know is there because they can see light refracting within it, but cannot see it. They know it exists because of physics, they can calculate the mass of a galaxy and see how fast it is going, and they know that there is more to every galaxy out there because the figures don't match up.
I find it difficult to order all my thoughts on God and this life He has given us and the guide he's given us that has been manipulated over the years. There's so much information. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with it all, but I keep reading and studying. I just pray for light, knowledge, and most of all truth.
When I first started in investigate this website www.mormonbeliefs.com I was VERY skeptical. I came from a Mormon background. I really had no desire to go back. The secret things that happened in the church kinda freaked me out. I learned about Mason rituals that are the same performed in the Utah-based mormon church. But this (James Strang's church) is different. This is what the church was BEFORE it was manipulated over and over by many different leaders. I just kept praying. I wanted to have an open mind, but still be skeptical and thorough. I've read every page on the website. And I've visited the man in person who created the website. I've been baptized and then ordain an elder in the Melchesedick Priesthood.
Don't think this makes me think I'm perfect. I'm far from it. I struggle each day to be a person who does good by people and God. I struggle to keep the 10 commandments. The hardest one is "thou shalt not bear false witness". I've gotten so used to being flippant about telling a small lie that makes things easier. Sometimes certain situations can be avoided if you just fib a little. I had gotten very comfortable with saying what needed to be said, but now I struggle to be an honest person. It seems like a small, maybe unimportant thing, but it's not. It's very important.
God created the 10 Commandments as laws of love. They are rules for us to follow that can keep peace if followed.
First off:
1. Love the Lord thy God with all they might, mind, and strength: He wants us to love the one that has a created EVERYTHING in existence. How can we not? We wouldn't be able to experience life with out him.
2. Thou Shalt not take the Name of they Lord thy God in vain.: He only wants those that he has appointed to act for Him, to actually act for Him and use His name (authority). If it wasn't for all these man-appointed religious leaders making up stuff on their own, things would be a bit more simple.
3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: Wow, this is a big one. Most people DON'T remember the Sabbath because they have no idea that Sunday is not the original day designated as God's day.
4. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF: There's that love again. Could imagine if we all treated each other as we'd like to be treated? I think more people would respect each other.
5. Honor thy Father and thy Mother: Our parents are our spiritual brothers and sisters. They are people with more experience (or once were, read the news and see how many people actually parent these days) that if taught in the law of God would be able to teach their children and all would know of His glory.
The rest of the laws all deal with treating others as we'd like to be treated.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors inheritance.
Are any of those laws up there things that you think are bad to follow?
I know many people who read this just wont get it. I know that most people wont actually. We all have been raised to believe what our parents believed and theirs before them. Many traditions have taken over where actual law once was. Much has been added because of man's ignorance and desire.
God lives. Jesus lives. And although we will die one day, we too will live again. Everyone who has potential for good will be saved from destruction and then enter a kingdom of glory depending on their works. Most people don't understand that Christ's sacrifice is for all and it will cause all of us to become immortal and be resurrected, but it doesn't mean that we will have eternal life (closeness to God). Some will be cast away with Satan, his angels, and become sons of perdition.
Again, most people will be shaking their heads, probably in disbelief, but do you who are shaking your heads realize that in the New Testament it states that when Jesus was crucified, he was in hell for 3 days preaching the truth to the spirits in prison before his resurrection? It's because even though they were dead, they STILL had the opportunity to learn the gospel, and be saved. I think in Acts it even talks about baptism for the dead.
Anyway. If anyone even reads this, feel free to ask questions or to visit my better versed friends' websites at
www.mormonbeliefs.com Goes into A LOT of detail about other mormon churches, basics of the truth, and more.
www.strangite.net -- another elder who has decided to do his own work through a website as well.
With the way the world is today, I can't help but believe that talking to people on the streets or preaching on a soup box ever does any good. I know it never worked with me. I just kept on walking and had a very choice words to say under my breath upon passing.
If you are searching for some truth, please look further. This stuff might sound outlandish, but if you let yourself open up a bit and just hear it all out (more than just reading what I've written) you may just be surprised.
But, I know that most people wont. I know that there will only be few left who believe (another prophesy in the Bible).
This blog is my attempt to put something out there and still retain me being me and not put together a sermon or a piece of academic writing. I'm a normal flawed human who just happens to know that God lives and loves us and has used His servants to do His work from the very beginning. I don't like controversy. I don't like arguments. And I very much dislike stepping on people's toes or causing confusion, but I feel obligated to put my voice and beliefs out there for anyone looking. Confusion is going to happen. But prayer and belief in answers being given in His own due time will help you to overcome that. If you TRULY and DILIGENTLY seek, you will be answered in a way that you understand. Read the information provided. What can it hurt?
No one is asking for your social security number or any personal information. Sins are real, but they can be forgiven. Roll your eyes if you must, but I pray that whoever is meant to receive this message and attain the truth will have their hearts soften and will find it.
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