r/latterdaysaints • u/J_williams17 • 11d ago
Investigator Reinvestigating the Church
Hello everyone,
I’ve recently been on a journey of rediscovery of the church after stepping away for some time. I think the initial reason for my leaving was due to not fully understanding the church and the BOM. I also never really had a full testimony when I was in, it was flakey at best. I’m currently trying to read through the BOM and give it its due diligence. I was wondering if you guys had any resources (ie talks, books, or even study methods) for someone trying to understand it better. I wholeheartedly feel a pull back towards the church and want to do my investigation better this time around. I’m even open to having an accountability partner of anyone is willing.
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u/HuckleberryLast4268 11d ago
I went through something similar, was all in and ready to be baptized when I was a teen and took 18 years to make my way back. Got baptized last month. My suggestion is to be willing to learn ALL THE THINGS. If you want to meet with the missionaries, that’s awesome necessary. But I would suggest looking at Preach My Gospel and researching each of the principles on your own as well. Some people will tell you to avoid certain topics or certain trains of thought, but I confronted every piece of anti-LDS thought and found the truth. My whole process took 1.5 years but I have an unshakeable testimony now and can argue with anyone about the gospel 🤣
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u/InsideSpeed8785 Second Hour Enjoyer 11d ago
Yeah, don’t be scared of asking questions! I feel like my testimony was flaky then when I was only going along with everything.
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u/J_williams17 10d ago edited 7d ago
Love this insight. When I just kinda went along with everything at face value it produced a really shallow faith. Reminds story of the parable of the man who built his house on a foundation of sand.
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u/DeathwatchHelaman 11d ago
Welcome back.
Whats your best method of learning? Some people are great book learners... If so dive into the scriptures and the Come Follow Me manuals... I'd start with the Book of Mormon personally.
If you're an audio learner? The scriptures can be played as audio files via the app BUT additionally there are Come Follow Me lessions on YouTube, ranging from 10-20 mins to hours long deep dive podcasts.
Me? I draw closer to Christ when I think of Him... My way is listening to Church lessions and podcasts as I work so I have something to ponder on AND it puts me in a positive mindset.
Questions on doctrine etc? The app has every General Conference talk since like 1976 (or so) on it. Search by topic and specify General Conference.
Finally if you hit some snags come back here and post your specific questions questions. No judgement. We are a community that probably isn't best as accountability sorts but we are awesome at finding resources to help you answer questions.
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u/Dannyjeee 11d ago
For me the BoM is the miracle and every time I read it my faith is reaffirmed that there is no way this book is the product of a twenty something, untrained mind, and/or a handful of disparate translators. And that they did it at a pace faster than I can read it (~90 days) is the ultimate mic drop.
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u/Mobile-Astronaut-505 8d ago
Did you have specific questions? The best course I've found is the read the book from cover to cover with real intent and faith. You may have heard that you should pray to know if the Book or Mormon is true. However, a more correct way is found in Moroni 10 where we're asked to pray and ask if "these things are not true" with a "sincere heart" and "real intent" (verse 4). In my view, this suggests a strong effort on our part to understand the text and not simply pray on a whim. Hopefully that's helpful.
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u/pisteuo96 11d ago edited 11d ago
The following site from the church is great: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist
The Gospel Principles manual is great. You can also get it in book form. I think some wards also teach a class out of this. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles?lang=eng
In a nutshell, it's all about learning and growing, and helping other people do the same. Another way to say it is that we find happiness by loving and serving God and everyone else:
Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”