Hey everyone! I'm not a Latter-day Saint, but I've been reading a little about your beliefs lately. During university, I interacted with quite a few Mormons, and they were always incredibly friendly towards us Hindu students. We often ended up having some really interesting conversations about faith and spirituality.

While doing some research, I also discovered that the LDS Church Foundation donated $25,000 towards building the Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, back in 1999. I thought that was such a beautiful gesture!

Anyway, that sent me down a rabbit hole, and I stumbled upon a fascinating similarity between the Bhagavad Gita (2.12) and Doctrine and Covenants (93:29).

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna:

Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.

And then I came across D&C 93:29:

Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

I find it fascinating how both passages seem to suggest that something about our existence is eternal, neither created nor destroyed.

Of course, the beliefs differ. Hinduism focuses around reincarnation and moksha, while Latter-day Saints believe in premortal existence, resurrection, and eternal progression. Still, I find the similarity really interesting!

I'd love to hear how you interpret D&C 93:29 and whether I'm understanding it correctly. I've always had great respect for the Latter-day Saints I've met and would love to learn more about your beliefs while sharing my own perspectives.

Much love to you all! :)

Sources:

https://clipfile.org/2002/02/15/mormons-help-hindus-build-hare-krishna-temple-in-rural-utah-a-labor-of-love-mutual-respect/

https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/2/verse/12/

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/93?lang=eng

Hi everyone!

I'm in my early twenties and I'm French. I live in a small town in France and grew up in a culturally Catholic family. I was baptized and received the usual Catholic sacraments, but I've never really felt particularly close to Catholicism.

For the past few months, I've felt a genuine attraction to religious beliefs and spirituality, and I've been exploring different traditions, particularly Islam and various branches of Christianity. I don't know exactly what I believe yet, but I feel drawn to exploring these questions and understanding what place spirituality could have in my life. I'm not necessarily looking to convert anytime soon. I'd rather learn about different beliefs sincerely and see whether one of them might resonate with me.

Recently, I had a dream in which I found myself in a Mormon church. I don't know whether it had any particular meaning, but it sparked my curiosity about the faith. What's even more interesting is that there's actually a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in the small town where I live! This has made me want to learn more about your beliefs and perhaps attend a Sunday service one day to discover the community and meet some members.

However, there's one aspect that makes me wonder whether I could fit into this religion: my political views.

I'm strongly left-wing, anti-capitalist and an environmentalist. I support wealth redistribution, strong public services, reducing social inequalities, and significant government intervention in the economy. My political convictions are an important part of how I see the world.

I know the Church places importance on charity, mutual aid and helping those in need, which are values I appreciate. However, I'm curious about how Latter-day Saints approach economic inequality and capitalism.

Are there members who identify as socialists, communists or simply strongly left-wing? How do they reconcile their political convictions with the Church's teachings? And could someone with my views feel welcome in a local congregation?

I'm not considering an imminent conversion. I'm simply going through a period of spiritual exploration. I feel genuinely drawn to religious beliefs, but I also have a lot of questions. I'd like to explore Mormonism without feeling that I have to set aside my personal convictions.

I'd really appreciate hearing from current members, converts, former members, or anyone familiar with the Church.

Thanks in advance for your answers!

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? Our Stake conference, with a visiting authority, was this past weekend. We attended the adult session on Saturday evening and the general session on Session. The talks by members and the stake presidency were all good and uplifting. Each prepared beforehand in the standard way: focused around one faith-promoting topic, relevant doctrine, personal experience, challenge to members to incorporate/improve around the principle, conclusion. Those talks were concise and spiritual. However, in both sessions, the talks of the visiting authority was more of a rambling approach. It seems that he had taken notes of the other talks, then gave a comment on each of them. Then he mentioned his insight on 8-10 talks from the recent general conference. Then he touched on 3-4 other topics, again no strong “direction”. There was no common theme or faith-promoting principle. Seemed to be a scattershot approach — touch on 15-20 different spiritual topics — hoping that everyone in the meeting finds at least one thing that speaks to them. I think they are instructed from higher-up to do this? For me, it was distracting. I prefer a well-constructed talk, like in General Conference, that really focuses on a needed spiritual area - gives me supporting doctrine, and challenges me to improve in that area. I’ve noticed this for the past few years in Stake Conference in our area. Others seeing this? How can I improve my attitude around this? I guess be more open-minded to let the spirit tell me what to focus on and not get distracted by the shotgun approach?

Hello everyone! I’m not a Latter Day Saint, I’m a southern Baptist, but I have this strong urge to learn more about the church of Jesus Christ, so I was able to get my hands on a Book of Mormon and I’m having a lot of trouble reading it, I’m 17 and it’s a lot of old English, I can’t make it past the explanation page, (is it really necessary to know?) , as much as I’d love to talk to a missionary, my parents are just not in agreement of me joining the church, they said it’s okay to explore religion but I don’t think they’d be okay with me throwing in the towel. I’ve grown up in an extremely small town church with a predominantly elderly congregation and help run the sound system, nobody would be able to do it besides me, and I don’t have any plans to leave soon, but I definitely want to learn more,

I know this is a bit all over the place but if anyone has suggestions on understanding it better, I’d love to hear. Thank you 🙏

I've been a member of the church my whole life, but have certainly gone through my own personal conversion. Especially during my teenage years leading into my mission, I remember feeling the "fire" of the gospel, so to speak.

As time has gone on, I find myself becoming more numb to the gospel, for lack of a better word. I especially realized this when relistening to old conference talks from the early 2000s. I could feel the remnants of the "fire", but it just doesnt feel the same anymore.

I know the church is true. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have a solid testimony of every aspect of the gospel - but I dont feel the passion, the fire, the joy I once did. I feel like I've become caught up in my many callings and responsibilities. I've become more cynical and I hate it.

I think the biggest realization came in this last conference. I tried really hard to prepare spiritually. I came with deep desires to feel the spirit, and questions that I needed answers to. By the end of conference, I realized that I felt as if I had simply sat and watched TV for eight hours, instead of getting the same joy and rejuvenation I used to get from conference.

Mostly I'm just sad. I miss feeling the joy of the gospel. I talk about it with the missionaries, ward members, and my family, but I dont feel it. I feel as if the fire has simply gone out.

I know the church is true - but my desire to stay is gone.

Theres a lot more I could ramble on about, but this is already long enough as is.

My husband and I are currently separated while figuring out the future of our marriage, and one of the hardest parts has been navigating his family.

This is his second marriage, and I’ve felt that some family members have been guarded and judgmental toward me from the beginning. I understand they’re protective of him, but I’ve often felt misunderstood and that there’s little room for my perspective.

I initially attended family gatherings and tried to build relationships, but eventually stepped back, especially while experiencing a serious mental health crisis. Some family members took my absence personally. I’ve apologized and explained that it wasn’t a rejection of them, but some responses have felt critical, dismissive, or conditional.

My husband has also shared our marital struggles with his family, and I sometimes feel judgments have been made without hearing my side. I’ve genuinely tried to take accountability, extend grace, and repair relationships. I know I’m not perfect, and I recognize they’re hurting too, but I wish there were more compassion and understanding on both sides.

As a Latter-day Saint, I’m struggling to balance Christlike love, forgiveness, and healthy boundaries.
For those who’ve experienced difficult in-law relationships, especially during separation, what helped? When do you keep trying to repair things, and when is it healthier to step back? I’d especially appreciate hearing different perspectives. ❤️

Hi friends!

I want to know if anyone has any advice for dealing with pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and scripture study/prayer/etc. Before I was baptized I LOVED spending time with the scriptures, had a very regular prayer habit, and enjoyed all things church. I spent almost 2 years investigating before being baptized almost three months ago.
However, I have struggled since making the covenants to engage with the scriptures and prayer like I used to, because my brain tells me that since I’m SUPPOSED to do those things, they can’t be done. I’m really struggling with it and I’m wondering if anyone else has struggled with the same and figured out a workaround. My testimony is strong and I’m thrilled to be a member, but my brain is fighting me.

When I was in college I got called to be a RS secretary. We prayed over all callings and I felt we were very in tune with the spirit when selecting ministering people. I felt strongly that people we were calling were wanted by the Lord.

I recently have been called to the primary presidency and it’s a very different experience. Everyone but me refers to filling callings as ‘just needing a warm body’. When new families move in, someone will tell the president to ask for them because ‘we need new blood’. I know things are different in a family ward because people have kids, job, and a variety of things. The ward I’m in specifically has an issue with people being willing to serve.

I get that logistically this is all true. We do need people in there to teach and can’t do it alone. Our church is very volunteer focused and there will be a variety of reasons that some may not be able to serve.

I’m just struggling with coming to terms that a calling can both be inspired by God and you are truly just a body to fill a role. I just feel like this attitude diminishes the work people put into their callings, including myself. Like maybe I wasn’t even meant to be called and just I’m the first one who said yes.

Hello! I am a student in Canada, non-member, and I was hoping to find someone who is a member who can answer two short questions about Sacrament Meetings? I have an assignment due tomorrow which required me to attend something belonging to a group that I am not a part of; in that event I was supposed to interview someone who is a part of it. I attended a Sunday Sacrament Meeting and I was not able to finish the interview that day.

The interviewee will remain completely anonymous as per my assignment instructions. I will provide the questions in my post below, so if anyone wishes to answer they may reply to my post and just state how you are associated with the Church, and the answers to the questions. Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing some replies!

1: What does this event mean to you?

2: What is something important that people should know about this event?

I feel like I post here too much asking for advice but I don’t know what else to do so please bear with me :(

I’m leaving for my mission in 4 weeks. I’ve had a different preparation experience when submitting my papers in, I had to do mental health assessments from the church and I had to wait a longer amount of time for my call. And that took about 9 weeks to complete. And when I got my call my parents were disappointed. Mostly my dad.

I got called stateside and my parents really wanted me to go foreign, especially serve in the Philippines, just like my older brother did. My dad served there, my brother, so my dad really wanted me to as well. And it’s difficult pressure because he knows that we can’t choose where we are assigned. So when I got my call, he wasn’t happy, he wasn’t excited, after everyone left during my mission call opening gathering, he asked me “why not Asia”?

I knew before getting my call that I won’t be serving foreign because I need medication on my mission. And I told them that and told them to not expect me to go foreign. And they insisted that I will. They kept saying “I know you’ll serve in the Philippines that’s why it’s taking longer than usual”

So now that it’s getting closer to me reporting to the mtc. My mom started questioning me, she’s been doubting me and saying “what if you can’t handle the mission?” “You’ll struggle there because you have mental problems” “if that’s the case you should just not go”

In response I told her, if I couldn’t do it, then Heavenly Father wouldn’t have assigned me to that mission, he wouldn’t have called me on a mission. And that was able to make her stop questioning me

A couple weeks ago my dad pulled me aside and told me to be respectful to people on my mission, to not be mean, to not talk back. I was confused because I’m a nice person? And even my mom was backing me up and telling my dad that I am a nice person

Last night, I was showing my parents what options of slacks I’ll be packing. Their initial response was to hate again per usual, they said that it’s too big on the waist, it won’t fit me, and I’m short so I’m planning to tailor my pants, and I told them that I’m getting my pants tailored and so I was showing them what the pants would look like if I did tailor them

And my dad was telling me to fold the pants so I know how much to cut off. I told him i already knew how much so I don’t have to, and the material won’t hold its shape if I do fold it so there’s no point. And I told him that very calmly for 3 times. He kept talking over me, and I got overwhelmed because he started raising his voice at me and I backed up and firmly told him to stop do not yell at me, I didn’t do anything wrong

And that exploded everything. It upset him so much. He went into his room and he was talking my my mom, I over heard them talking about me, he was saying that I have behavioral issues, that I’ll treat my companions horribly, that I won’t be a good missionary, I have no respect, that they’ll cancel their flight to the mtc and send me off alone.

And hearing that broke me, I was already starting to feel insecure because of what my mom was questioning me about weeks prior. And that conversation I had with my dad as well. I started to believe that the things they’re saying about me

I’ve always had a rough relationship with my dad growing up, we can never get along so it’s either we don’t talk and if we do it’s him yelling at me and I stand up for myself when he’s yelling because I can’t tolerate his behavior anymore because we’re both adults now. We can talk our feelings out instead of yelling and blaming and hating each other.

Tonight I apologized to him very sincerely, and the first thing he does it mock my apology. And that made me be even more defensive and I was telling him that I am sorry and that he shouldn’t have yelled at me because I wasn’t doing anything wrong and he was saying that I don’t listen, whatever whatever. It ended up being what our convos sounded like even if I apologize.

I don’t have my own room at home ever since moving back from college so I’ve been sleeping in the living room. I decided not to sleep at home tonight so that I can rest better. Because my parents are the type of people that will wake you up just to yell at me. They are the type of parents that always insist that they are correct and that their way of life is correct. They are very controlling and if we don’t do what they want, it’s wraps for us.

It’s difficult when your own parents are your biggest haters in your life. The church talks about love at home and how family is supposed to be supportive and filled with love and that it’s supposed to be our safe space. But it’s not. I feel suffocated. My siblings as well. The eldest is married has his own kid and he’s moved out the house, and yet my parents try to control him and how he lives his life and my parents are very judgmental and unsupportive of what we want to do in our life.

I want to serve a mission, I’m not doing this to prove anything to them, I’m not going on a mission in hopes that they’ll miraculously change the way they treat their children. I’m going because I truly love god. I’ve had the biggest desire to serve, and I’ve waiting and gone through so much preparation and different treatments and waiting periods and now that I’m close to leaving on my mission, but my parents are the biggest blockages in my life right now.

I don’t want to spend the last 4 weeks trying to fix them, or being stressed out that no matter what I do they will never cease. I know there’s many people out there who support me, and are genuinely proud of me.

How do I navigate this? How can I continue living under their roof if they’re constantly sucking the literally life out of me. How can I block out their rude remarks about me? How can I do this the way Jesus would? What can I do so that i don’t start my mission off with stress and anxiety from my toxic environment at home?

TLDR: toxic parents with doubts about ability of child going on a mission. Toxic house hold, suffocating parents. How to navigate this?

Much love to all of you thank you