LDS Freedom Forum

I'm interested in this forum because I think it may have something to offer. I'm an ordinary guy who survived two faith crises a few years ago. The first occurred in regards to the Book of Abraham and the second was after I became friends with really smart atheists. I've emerged from these with a more mature perspective and I've developed a strong testimony of faith and service to others.

Welcome! :ymhug:

Those trials of faith are a requirement, most that don't experience them have simply closed off their mind to anything outside their paradigm.

I will emphasize the word *most*.

welcome. I'd like to hear about your thoughts on the book of Abraham, and how you resolved your faith crisis. atheism isn't an issue for me.

Obrien wrote:welcome. I'd like to hear about your thoughts on the book of Abraham, and how you resolved your faith crisis. atheism isn't an issue for me.

It was a combination of correspondence with a prominent LDS Egyptologist, reading as much as I could, seeing the value in what is printed there and what the papyrus contained (the Nibley approach), and determining that there has to be room for pure revelation. As I read the text of the BofA the source doesn't really matter to me anymore. As I've read the various translations of the figures and the hypocephalus I'm intrigued. I read some French and american scholarship and I've come to a conclusion that there may be value in the ancient Egyptian religious texts for modern people. I'm in a scientific discipline and from my vantage point Egyptology has a very low standard of evidence, because evidence is difficult to come by. Therefore it is too difficult to know what is accurate interpretation when a complete data set is not present.

Had the church released the stuff they have now (I.e. Saying that it may not be a literal translation) I probably wouldn't have had that faith crisis.

The atheism crisis was more of an agnosticism crisis. I lived in the Midwest and I didn't want to be associated with anti-evolution fundamentalists. I started to doubt an existence of God. Then I saw the work of God in my own life and started to believe again.

I have come to accept that there is far more grey than black and white with issues of church history, doctrine, etc. and I'm okay with that. I'm a bit of a cafeteria mormon, but I accept that the scriptures are from God and that they have valuable teachings for humanity. I sustain the leadership of the LDS church, but I'm open to God's acceptance and communication with other branches of mormondom, particularly the Community of Christ.

thanks for the rundown. I have done some research on the B of A. I have come to the same conclusion - if the B of M could be translated with a stone in a hat, I can accept however the B of A was written. the truths therein speak to my spirit.

I had a witness by the Holy Spirit re: Jesus as Savior. no issues with belief here.

I'm a believer in gray as well, especially in mortality. the key is to seek with an open mind, and accept with faith what the Lord teaches you. enjoy the forum.

Enjoy the forum. ♡