Advice needed re: Wife/The Spirit/Questioning Mormonism

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_Who Knows
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Post by _Who Knows »

liz3564 wrote:I've learned that there are beautiful truths and ways to feel the spirit in other venues, even other churches. It's a very liberating experience!


I think this is the key - as others have also mentioned.

I guess there just may be some 'spiritual downtime' between losing it in the LDS church, and finding it elsewhere.
WK: "Joseph Smith asserted that the Book of Mormon peoples were the original inhabitants of the americas"
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
_Bond...James Bond
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Post by _Bond...James Bond »

liz3564 wrote:Bond is also wise beyond his years, and gives good advice. ;) Reassure her. Let you know that you love her and are there for her.


That would be me repeating advice from Mr. Bond. Pappy Bond? Sr. Bond? Daddy Double-O 7? I'll work on it.

Who Knows,

Let her go at her own pace. Sounds like she's on the right track.
"Whatever appears to be against the Book of Mormon is going to be overturned at some time in the future. So we can be pretty open minded."-charity 3/7/07
_Who Knows
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Post by _Who Knows »

Bond...James Bond wrote:Who Knows,

Let her go at her own pace. Sounds like she's on the right track.


I'm definitely doing that. I just feel sad (not sure if that's the right word) that she has this 'spiritual' void. And I'm not sure what to tell her, as I didn't really go through that.
WK: "Joseph Smith asserted that the Book of Mormon peoples were the original inhabitants of the americas"
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
_Yoda

Post by _Yoda »

I guess there just may be some 'spiritual downtime' between losing it in the LDS church, and finding it elsewhere.



The beauty of this discovery, WK, is that she doesn't have to lose spirituality in the LDS Church. She can simply broaden her ability to also discover spirituality in other places.

Edited to add---I still attend Church on Sunday, and find spirituality at Church. Now, where I find the most spirituality at Church is when I'm playing the piano for the Primary kids. ;)

This past Sunday, my daughter and I had the opportunity to sing a duet in Sacrament meeting. It was a profoundly spiritual experience for me. You mentioned to me that your wife is also into music. Playing and instrument or singing is a great way to re-capture the spirituality she may feel is missing.

That being said, I was also deeply moved, and felt the spirit strongly when attending a Palm Sunday Catholic mass with a friend. And, it was the music that was key to my feeling the spirit.

I just feel sad (not sure if that's the right word) that she has this 'spiritual' void. And I'm not sure what to tell her, as I didn't really go through that.


What might help with this, is encouraging her to continue her personal prayers. Offer to pray with her. From my understanding, you're not agnostic, are you? You still believe in a God, just not the LDS God. Or am I wrong?

For me, I found solace in continuing my personal prayers. It helped me strike the balance I've been able to come to.
Last edited by _Yoda on Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
_Bond...James Bond
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Post by _Bond...James Bond »

Who Knows wrote:
Bond...James Bond wrote:Who Knows,

Let her go at her own pace. Sounds like she's on the right track.


I'm definitely doing that. I just feel sad (not sure if that's the right word) that she has this 'spiritual' void. And I'm not sure what to tell her, as I didn't really go through that.


It certainly is a tough place to be. I know the feeling of a "spiritual void". You have a feeling of emptyness that comes from the lack of certainty about your place in the universe. When you're in a religion, you have all the answers. When you start questioning, you realize that there are more questions than answers. And not every question can be answered.

I would say, "there are certain things in life that can't be explained. Many things can be answered in life with science and experimentation. Some can't. The only thing we can do is our best. If we do good in this life I'd like to thing we'll be able to find a good place in the next life."
Last edited by Anonymous on Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Whatever appears to be against the Book of Mormon is going to be overturned at some time in the future. So we can be pretty open minded."-charity 3/7/07
_Who Knows
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Posts: 2455
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:09 pm

Post by _Who Knows »

liz3564 wrote:What might help with this, is encouraging her to continue her personal prayers. Offer to pray with her. From my understanding, you're not agnostic, are you? You still believe in a God, just not the LDS God. Or am I wrong?


Actually, yes, I am agnostic. I haven't 'prayed' in probably over 2 years. I find the activity completely pointless. Unless you're referring to some kind of meditation, or deep thinking, or something like that. That's cool with me. I just don't see the point in talking to someone who's not there. ;)

Thanks all for the help.
WK: "Joseph Smith asserted that the Book of Mormon peoples were the original inhabitants of the americas"
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
_Polygamy Porter
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Post by _Polygamy Porter »

Dude, you are me about a year ago.

My wife was in the same sitch.

She tried hard and applied herself to the doctrines and such.

But soon she found herself feeling like she was seeing things in a different light.

"Sometimes in Relief Society I feel like I am an outsider and watching these women carry on and I think to myself, 'This is so cult like'"

She too began to have a tough time swallowing the contrived BS. Over the past year she has questioned everything.

Her being in the Relief Society presidency has helped her see the facade as well.

Make sure you let her talk out how her day went at church, reinforce the new feelings that she expresses.

My wife is coming to her own conclusions and for the better :)

All of my kids are now completely inactive(ages 6 to 13) and they have never been so happy. My wife has now come to her own realization that Mormonism is nothing more than a man made and time manipulated religion.

The future the Porter family looks bright.

You and your wife are almost there. Congrats :)

Your new future is in front of you both, and it belongs to no one but you.
Last edited by Ask Jeeves [Bot] on Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
_Polygamy Porter
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Re: Advice needed re: Wife/The Spirit/Questioning Mormonism

Post by _Polygamy Porter »

Plutarch wrote:Jesus Christ ain't no Santa Claus. You'll burn in hell for hurting your family.

Other than that comment, I would just let your wife continue to seek her own level and be supportive. You should try and keep your family together, particularly if you have kids, more than anything else.

P
Plutarch,

You will burn in hell for what you are doing to your family, provided you actually DO have a family.
_Rollo Tomasi
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Re: Advice needed re: Wife/The Spirit/Questioning Mormonism

Post by _Rollo Tomasi »

Plutarch wrote:You'll burn in hell for hurting your family.

How has he "hurt" his family? Why participate in this thread if you're just going to be a dick?
"Moving beyond apologist persuasion, LDS polemicists furiously (and often fraudulently) attack any non-traditional view of Mormonism. They don't mince words -- they mince the truth."

-- Mike Quinn, writing of the FARMSboys, in "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," p. x (Rev. ed. 1998)
_Yoda

Re: Advice needed re: Wife/The Spirit/Questioning Mormonism

Post by _Yoda »

Rollo Tomasi wrote:
Plutarch wrote:You'll burn in hell for hurting your family.

How has he "hurt" his family? Why participate in this thread if you're just going to be a dick?


Unfortunately, that seems to be his MO...at least on this forum. I would like to think that he is really a decent guy in real life, and this is all for show.
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