PS What is Post #25 doing — advertising?

It is like a recharge for a tough weak . It recharges my happiness, it is nice to listens to the teachings

I too find myself asking why did I go to day all I did was fight with my children to behave, Then my wife reminds me that a Prophet has asked us to attend our meetings.
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This shows the importance of understanding all that has been revealed about our pre-mortal life, so that we can realize who we really are, as you said.

God loves us. He wants us to grow. But growing requires choices and mistakes. We could not return to our Father after making mistakes unless we were cleansed of our sins. He asked His Son, Jesus Christ, to make a sacrifice for us that we could not make for ourselves, and Christ voluntarily did so. We know of these things because God sent prophets to teach us about this plan and to give us guidance on His will for us.

I think of trying to live without that basic knowledge – lost, in doubt, and seeking direction- and living the Gospel lifestyle is easy.

“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the awords of eternal life” (John 6:68).

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. … Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (“Born of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6).

Along with all the aspects that make up the true gospel of Jesus Christ (which Connor mentioned above), if lived, loved, and believed, it truly changes people. I’ve seen that change happen not only in my life, but in others’ lives as well. I think with that “change in human nature” that comes with living the gospel, it naturally follows that people are what we call “active” in The Church of Jesus Christ.

The last few years have been difficult for my family as our church is divided by controversy and suffers from declining enrollment. I was impressed by the confidence all of you expressed not only in your current ecclesiastic leaders, but also in your founders. I believe the secret is to have religious education begin first in the home, and that parents should teach by example. We, as parents, need to show our faith to our children in the hope our values and traditions will be passed on.

I believe in the truth of the doctrine that has been restored through Joseph Smith. I believe we have living Prophets and Apostles that receive revelation today that can be found nowhere else. I believe this because I have had a personal witness of the truth of these things.

Yes, the church is made up of mortals with varying degrees of imperfection and weaknesses (like me) but this church is THE church of Jesus Christ, the only church with the keys and ordinances of the gospel.

And most importantly for me, this church gives me the answer to why I am here on this earth and what I need to do in my life and what happens to me after death. This doctrine to me is the “big picture” that no other religion comes even close to answering.

That’s my 2 cents worth.

Its not always the easiest, but I have no question that in the long run, I’m the happiest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It’s true, after all.

It is following the lines of least resistance that makes rivers crooked and men weak.

I like this statement because it is an eternal truth. Those who do things because they are easy or “fun” never experience truth joy or fulfillment because worthwhile persuits require hard work and choices.

My membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is viewed with this lense. Sure it’s hard; and so many Church requirements appear restrictive to most. But the irony is the bonds make us free! Those who experiment upon the word and seek to know for themselves discover the happiness that is the result of living a “Mormon” life.

But don’t get me wrong, I am not faithful just because I like a good challenge. To the contrary, I live the challenge and enjoy the results because I have listened to the wisdom of Christ:

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:18-20)

Try the fruit offered by the Church for yourself. Specifically, read the Book of Mormon and test it for yourself. I testify it is true; I know it from my own experience and the results from abiding by its precepts.

It’s the DOCTRINE. As a convert, I can tell you that for me it is the doctrine that drew me and has kept me.

My first reading of the New Testament raised enough questions to fill a sheet of notebook paper. I then took those questions to ministers/pastors of many faiths, but no one could answer them. A few months later, a new friend shared the story of Joseph Smith’s vision of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. One of my questions was why God intereacted with people in the scriptures, but did not appear to be doing so any longer. Joseph’s firsthand experience set that issue aright.

My friend described to me missionaries for the Church: white shirts, black name tags, clean-cut, but up to that point I had never encountered them. Three months later, I did encounter them and easily recognized who they were and also recognized this was more than a coincidence.

And the rest is more than history. Take away the social aspects, but as long as the doctrine is revealed by those who have been given the authority to do so (by those with the authority to do so) in an unbroken chain to the Restoration of Christ’s Church in this Last Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, and, having received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, as long as i am worthy to receive direct revelation for life, then I am IN.

“Some suppose that our high standards will repel growth. It is just the opposite. High standards are a magnet. We are all children of God, drawn to the truth and to good.”

Both of my parents were members of other faiths before joining the LDS church some 26 years ago. I remember both of them, especially my dad, being annoyed by those of other faiths, even his own at the time, who proclaimed one thing and did another. People who could passively attache themselves to a certain sect and think that by mere association they were saved, or better than their peers or whatever else. Those people who chose to affliate themselves with a certain denomination with their lips, but with their hearts and minds were very much removed from their faith. While this kind of behavior can be found in any organization no doubt I believe one of the greatest motivators for him to join the LDS church was because he saw 1) an increased knowledge of doctrine that allowed him to come closer to God and understand His plan for us 2) he saw on a regular basis that membership in the LDS constituted members being actively engaged in the building of the church, serving, and attending to their duties as was not seen as drudgery but rather people lived what they believed. These duties were not reserved for the paid clergy. They were actively engaged in their own salvation, and took an active interest in that of others and showed it by the things they did and how they spent their time.

It is my belief that true principles, when lived, naturally eminate peace, happiness, and an asurety that one is living in a way that pleases God. And there can be no greater knowledge. if such are the fruits of true princples it would not seem difficult to see why youth, or any member of the LDS church want to continue to experience that peace & happiness. When the result is positive, no matter the effort to achieve it would it then seem likely that one would persue that course in life as opposed to not enjoying those blessings? I believe, in short, that the youth of the LDS church are faithful and vibrantly active is because they possess this knowledge, and of their own free will and choice decide to live by its precepts walk in this light and thus it cannot be hid, just like Christ mentions in the beattitudes (Matt 5:14-16)

i don’t think we think see life as a Latter-day Saint as harder, as I said above. I feel that because we embrace a more full view of truth we emobdy more fully Christ, and it’s never a burden to do that. Many times we do not recognize that others see something in us. It is a natural, outward result of what we feel inside our hearts.

With all due respect to other religions and their programs I see many of my friends who passively participate in their church. Anything worthwhile was never obtained passively. Nor do I believe that any part of God’s program is intended to be passive. For imbedded in each facet of the gospel is us choosing to follow Him in one way or another. I think that the youth of our church welcome the increased standards and other things we are asked to live and recognize that as necessary to increase their faith. No matter how involved a pastor may be with his fold, if the programs don’t have the doctrinal foundation they need they cannot reach the hearts of the people nearly as well as those which are founded upon all the principles of the gospel as Christ taught it. It is my belief that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers further insights that other cannot, and thus its general membership is more happy and more faithful. The truth really does make one free.

While obviously our leaders encourage participation from all members I believe the active status of a member depends on the level of commitment by local leaders to involve everyone. I love that our church gives callings, or responsibilities to every member who will accept them. By serving along side other members it is we, the congregation who teach, serve and build the congregations in our area and not just a priest or pastor. because we are asked to actively participate I feel that is a main reason why we continue to get stronger because it has a snowball effect. the more we learn, the more we serve, the greater the desire to continue doing those things because they bring us happiness. happiness and joy are gifts of God that He bestows to let us know that we are living as He desires us to, and ultimately we are on the path that will allow us to return to His presence.

While it is necessary, and you will find LDS bishops and other leaders encouraging, prodding, and leading the youth you will also see that a person who has “caught the vision” for himself does not need near as much coaxing. I feel that every piece of doctrine we are taught from our youngest years to the newest instruction from our global church leaders is given to us not to accept blindly but to inquire of the Lord for ourselves if it is true. When this occurs, when a person really searches out for himself and comes to a knowledge of a truth, be it a youth or not, he is more motivated to live it because he knows why he is living it.

Much much more can be said on the subject I did not mean to ramble but those are the thoughts and feelings that come to mind at the time. I encourage anyone if they have been intrigued by the level of faithfulness of LDS members to search out for themselves, even if it is only to satiate their desire to understand why we are the way we are and then to inquire of God if those things come from Him and if it would be important for you to implement them in your life also and enjoy the same things that prompted the above question. Thank you for your inquiry :-)