This study of Mormonism helped me to begin thinking more deeply about God and the Bible
15 April 2024 - 10:55 WIB
In my limited study of Mormonism, I became persuaded that it was a far cry from the Bible, and that if I were to accept the Bible as true, I could not accept Mormonism as true. I also could not accept the idea that Joseph Smith was a true prophet from God if what he taught was so different from the Bible. It did not matter how many human testimonies ‘with burning bosoms’ I heard, if the Bible was true than Joseph Smith could not be a true prophet.
However, at this point I still had not surrendered my life to Christ: I was still trying to find my life in relationships with girls and through music
In a fascinating way, by rejecting the errors of Mormonism I then started to become more interested in theology and the knowledge of who God really was.
CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY
At the age of 18, I moved to Las Vegas to study music at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. I presumed I would easily make the top band and be one of the best trumpet players there. In reality, sexy russo mulheres I was probably the worst trumpeter in the studio. I did not make the top music ensemble that year, or my sophomore or junior year-I did make it my senior year, but even then, I was still only last chair! I was humbled and broken-hearted. One of the things I built my life upon-music-was not something I could use to feel good about myself or form my identity, unless my identity was ‘worst trumpet player at UNLV.’
At the same time, I was in a new location without my high school friends and without a girlfriend. I was lonely. To remedy this, I thought it might be a good idea to start attending a Christian student group on campus. So, in a quest mainly for new friends and a girlfriend, I began attending our school’s chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ.
The weekly meetings consisted of teaching, worship songs, and prayer. There were also testimonies and Bible study. One of the student leaders met with me and shared the gospel with me. I thought I already was a Christian and what he shared was old news. But I soon became disabused of this notion as I spent time with the Christians of Campus Crusade for Christ.
During some of our group’s meetings we would break up into pairs and share what God had been teaching us in the Scriptures. I really struggled to share anything or even understand the notion of knowing God of God “teaching us” things. Other students, however, spoke about God in a way that I had never known to be possible: they talked about God as though they had real personal knowledge of Him in their hearts and lives, that God played a key role in their thoughts and hopes, that God was the treasure of their lives. I began to wonder if I really ever was a Christian.
During this season, I believe God was drawing me to Himself. I continued to hear the gospel regularly-God is loving and holy, our sin has alienated us from Him and caused a relational separation from Him, Jesus died for our sins and rose again, all who turn from their sin and trust in Christ will be saved from their sin and be restored to a right relationship with God. I also read an apologetics book called “More than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell. I never really struggled with evidence for God or Christianity, but I was impressed to learn how intellectually compelling Christianity was, especially the case for Jesus’ resurrection and the reliability of the Scriptures.
