Perception.

As a missionary for the LDS church, I spent two years speaking with different people about the church, and asking them to meet with us to learn more about the teachings of the church. More often than not, we were ignored, but there were some that were willing to meet up with us. They came from different backgrounds and various religions. At the end of the day, our goal was to have them read the Book of Mormon because we teach that reading and believing in it is what leads to conversion. Along with that, we would sometimes run into people that were a little more than hostile towards us at the church. We would inevitably ask them if they had read the a Book of Mormon or had visited our website etc.

Their answer was always no. Our response?

"How can you tell us what we believe is wrong if you haven't read the Book of Mormon? How are you forming your own opinions without looking at it from our point of view?"

When we spoke to those willing to meet with us, we would challenge them up read the Book of Mormon, we said, because, they could only know if it was true if they took the time to read it.

Young Adults
As I have thought about that in the years in my mission, I feel that that in the long run, cultural viewpoint is more damaging then positive. The church loses the majority of its members when they are in their 20s, as they learn more about themselves and the world around them.

I believe that a good number of these young adults leave because they have never been given the opportunity to question their faith. A good number of them have spent their lives growing up in the church, and have never had the opportunity to learn anything about the church other then what their parents and community have taught them. Sudden exposure to teachings that are otherwise different from what they grew up learning throws them for a loop. Their faith and belief in the church and its teachings, then, was not true faith, but blind faith.

It's not their fault that that faith was blind. It was the mindset of the environment they were brought up in.

Church Stance on Anti-Mormon Literature
The church discourages church members from reading anti-Mormon literature, as a church publication targeted towards teenagers put it, it "would be a waste to spend a lot of time and energy reading it." The article goes on to say "honest inquiry is good, but everything needs a proper perspective and context." I agree with that, but I believe the church has been lacking in providing that proper perspective. There isn't the sense that open discussion is kosher.

In the church, there's a stigma against it. Why tempt Satan, they say. If you know the church is true, there's no point reading it, it will just shake your faith. Another another church member has said in relation to this topic: "Stick with your feeling of not wanting to read it. If you do read it, it could open up a window of doubt."

Some say they read anti-Mormon literature because they want to know how to respond to it, and the response I've heard over and over again that the way to respond to people against the church is to bear your testimony. While that is important, it's not the end all be all. I'm not suggesting that members should try arguing with antis. No one ever wins. But, bearing testimony about helps as much as arguing.

Church members should consider reading anti-Mormon literature not to be informed so they know how to respond. Rather, they should read it so they start to doubt, then question.

Doubting Thomas by Caravaggio

After the Trial of Your Faith
As the church teaches, true faith is built on the experiences we have and understanding that they are little things that build up people's testimony. But, I believe that a portion of the experiences that build true and lasting faith comes as we doubt it. A person must doubt their faith to truly understand what it is they believe.

In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Ether was quoted as saying "ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." The general interpretation of that scriptures relates more to those that go through hard times, but still have faith in God after that death in the family or loss of a job. But, there's more than one interpretation to that scripture.

I believe Ether also meant to say that any person cannot have a true witness from God until they have a trial of their faith until you question it. When you question, you doubt. It is in the doubting that one comes to either believe in it more than ever before, or gives up that belief. There isn't a right or wrong answer when it comes to faith, because each person has the right to choose.

I have had a number of discussions with people about the Book of Mormon musical. Some Mormons are adamant that they will never watch it, that it is an affront to the religion. I see it differently, and I believe the church does to. When the musical premiered in New York and London, the church bought advertising space in prime locations around the city, and the musical's playbill itself. The church understood that it was an opportunity to have people learn about the church. In the same light, I've listened to a good number of the songs and think they are hilarious.

Here's my point. If you're comfortable in your religion and know that it is true, then you're not offended. The creators of the musical also created South Park, where they have probably made fun of every religion, and then some. There no malice in it. Those members of the Mormon church who are offended and vehemently opposed to the musical are those who aren't 100% sure of their faith, and so get offended because they don't want to have their faith questioned. They don't know what will happen if they truly question their belief.

Doubt Your Faith
And this comes to the crux of my thoughts. Mormons have to question and doubt their faith to be comfortable with it.

When other people question out beliefs, when they ask us to learn more about their beliefs, it is hypocritical to tell them that we are not interested, whether we do it politely or rudely. Mormons are asked to be member missionaries, to get people to learn more about the church. As full-time or member missionaries, we ask people to take the time to learn more about the church because we know it to be true.

How then can we refuse others if they ask a similar thing of us? We cannot be that prideful or rude to decline. I have seen members do that, saying that they know the church is true, so they don't need to accept religious material from others. Then promptly try to get them to take our material.

People in church often say that it isn't blind faith when you pray and you get an answer, when you read the Bible and get a soft feeling in your heart. I disagree. That is the start, that helps you to understand that good things come from religion, that you feel good inside. I also feel good inside when I watch a touching movie or listen to a TED talk. That doesn't mean that the movie is God speaking to me.

Peter Abelard, a medieval French philosopher said "by doubting we come to questioning, and by questioning we come to truth."

The truth will set you free, right?

Brigham Young, the second prophet of the Mormon church was quoted as saying "I am… afraid that this people [the Mormons] have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security."

Yes, it's hard, yes, its scary to doubt, because what if it isn't true? But, if you're so comfortable with your faith and are completely certain is true, then doubting it, reading what detractors say about it won't matter. If you're not sure, then, as the Bible says "Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." It's healthy to question, heck, it's necessary.

Through this process, I've developed a better understanding of the church and my belief system, and am stronger in my resolve and beliefs.

Doubt. Question. Believe. Either way you go, you'll be all the better for it.