Thank you deeply for giving me so much of your time last night. I appreciated how you were very candid and open about your feelings, your concerns and your desires.
As I mentioned you are not alone. We live in day when there’s a growing amount of subtle (not murderous) persecution that has “filled the world with confusion” (D&C 123:7). Verse 12 describes it as a “subtle craftiness of men." I’m not suggesting you’re being deceived or possessed, but only offer a reminder that while questioning your faith is not inappropriate, it's risky making us vulnerable to outside influences. So know you’re not alone and we don’t judge you or look down on you. We only want to help you navigate the prickly journey you’ve chosen.
Fortunately, in anticipation of this day and every age when confusion has reigned, the Lord has given us ways to sort it all out—to determine absolute truths.
Luke 6:43-45 explains well that the fruit will consistently tell us about its tree and establishes that we’ll never find good fruit from a corrupt tree. It’s a law of nature. So that’s one way to determine truth.
Moroni declares the same thing, suggesting we can know truth by tasting water whether it came from a good or bad fountain (Moroni 7:11). Nature is a wonderful instructor.
In other words, we don’t have to accept others’ opinions or beliefs. We have the confidence from our God, who is full of integrity and does not vary yesterday, today or forever, that we can know truth for ourselves with absolute assurance.
Furthermore, Moroni cautions us not to “judge wrongfully” but we can judge something by determining if it “inviteth and enticeth to do good continually.” While I find it difficult to understand some of Joseph Smith’s actions (if, in fact, they turn out to be true actions…it’s hard to be absolutely certain of anything nearly 200 years later), in my opinion the body of his teachings excels in the test provided in Moroni 7:13-19.
I was impressed, Kyle, how concerned you are knowing you are on the “brink of an abyss” of doctrines and traditions found in every other faith and church on the planet today. While it’s frightening to me, too, I think Michelle was right when she said, “It’s not an abyss.” There are so many good people and beautiful faiths out there that I don’t think it would be classified as an abyss of knowledge, darkness or confusion. Frankly, there are MANY people who enjoy very happy and satisfying lives without the gospel of Jesus Christ as we know it.
The problem, in my opinion, is what the Lord describes in 3 Nephi 27:11 “…they have joy in their works for a season” but it’s not permanent. Only a lasting, eternal joy is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church where His authority can provide the ordinances and covenants that bind us to that promise of eternal and lasting joy.
I hope this is helpful as you walk this difficult, sometimes confusing path in trying to find out what’s real and not real, what’s true and not true, what’s certain and not certain. I hope you’ll allow us to walk that path with you and not turn away from those who love and care about you both very much. The promise of Moroni 10:5 that by the power of the Holy Ghost we can "know the truth of all things" is real. Please pursue it as much or more than you pursue the opinions of others--including mine expressed in this email. The Holy Ghost will speak unmistakable truth to your heart.
Thank you for your friendship, your love, your examples of faithfulness and fidelity. We are so excited about your future and we look forward to witnessing the fruit of your life’s labors.
With great admiration and love,
Crismon Lewis
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