How much do we believe?

[CardiacCoug]

This "percentage of belief" thing has me confused.

If you have a perfect knowledge of "all things LDS" (including the fact that polygamy and racism were true and inspired) but you're an abusive jerk, is that 100% belief?

If you believe in living a Christlike life and do a decent job at living a pretty Christlike life but you're confused about the rest of "Mormonism" and abstract religion generally is that 0% belief? 10% belief? 90% belief?

[UtahDan]

This "percentage of belief" thing has me confused.

If you have a perfect knowledge of "all things LDS" (including the fact that polygamy and racism were true and inspired) but you're an abusive jerk, is that 100% belief?

If you believe in living a Christlike life and do a decent job at living a pretty Christlike life but you're confused about the rest of "Mormonism" and abstract religion generally is that 0% belief? 10% belief? 90% belief?

Yeah I'm not sure what that means either. Not to pick on him, but by way of example, oxcoug scores his beliefs re: Joseph at 99.99% but thinks that Joseph screwed up massively, a belief that takes him well away from the mainstream of LDS belief and thought.

So if all we are asking is how much of our own definitions of what is true we believe, then I'm all in. I believe 100% of the things I believe.

[Slim]

To me, this just seems like you are progressing to a different stage of faith (Fowler Stage 4, perhaps) -- not that you are necessarily just not a believer anymore. Same with K-Dog.

In my mind, it's OK to think that God's existence and the Church's truthfulness is unlikely. I don't see how anybody could think otherwise. If you're willing to exercise a little bit of faith and if you're willing to sacrifice for the Church and your family's well-being in spite of your doubts, that's gotta count for something in the unlikely event that there is a God and the even unlikelier event that the Mormon Church had it right all along.

I sure hope so. I feel like I'm fumbling in the dark with this faith/religion stuff. It just doesn't come naturally for me and never has.

[CardiacCoug]

So if all we are asking is how much of our own definitions of what is true we believe, then I'm all in. I believe 100% of the things I believe.

Right. I'm gonna go ahead and give myself a 100% on this belief scale.

I believe 100% of the truth and none of the bullshit.

[Portland Ute]

Belief in core principles of Mormonism as a religion (i.e., Book of Mormon as a theological text, priesthood, First Vision): a bit less but pretty high. 95%, I'd say. Note that it was about 10% in law school.
ood chunk here, the leadership knows and appreciates my viewpoint.

Would you mind sharing how you got from 10% in this area back to 95%?

I would find this of personal interest.

[Portland Ute]

I'm at the lowest point of belief in my life to date. I'd give the odds of there being a God at probably about 10%. I'd put the odds at the whole restored gospel thing at somewhere around 1%.

I've become rather bitter about spiritual things lately. I grew up really hard core LDS. We are talking no coke, 100% seminary attendance, wouldn't even say the word "butt" LDS. I was always a skeptic though. I mean I kind of just went along with everything because I was scared of what would happen if my parents were, in fact, correct. I remember even as a kid that when people would say they have "always known" the church was true I would think "How is that even possible! How can you just KNOW that??"

I did the whole Moroni's promise thing and prayed about the church numerous times before my mission and never felt ANYTHING. I went on a mission hoping to have some spiritual experiences (I didn't). I certainly learned how to word things and tell stories that make it sound like I did.

My issue is this: If God is out there and wants me to believe in/follow him then why does he make himself so scarce? Why is it that every experience I have and everything that happens around me seems totally void of any divine intervention? If God exists and is anything like people say he is then he wouldn't ignore someone that tried so hard for so long and followed all the "steps" to gain a testimony. Either he is not out there or else he is extremely cruel.

I hear you brother. I don't know that I would put he %es quite as low as yours, but the rest sounds exactly like me.

I remember going up into the mountains behind my house several times prior to my mission to read the BOM and pray and never really having any extraordinary feeling or experience.

Quite honestly, I went on a mission because I thought I might finally get that "Aha!" moment. It never came and I was not a deviant missionary. I kept the rules and really did want to find people that were interested in finding out what I was trying to find out.

I don't know. I'm stumped.

Your comments resonate with me. I can empathize with you.

I continue because I hope that I eventually, as K-Dog says, have a high water mark.

I'm starting to think that maybe for some, the essence of the gospel is the the journey and the search for the elusive rather than the destination or confirmation.

[TripletDaddy]

You're a good son.

ha.

now THAT is a blast from the past.

[SeattleUte]

I think a person's belief in spiritual things ebbs and flows like the tide during the course of their lives. Sometimes you are willing and able to believe all that is taught to you about your spiritual self. Other times, you are loathe to believe that you have a spiritual self. Those extremely low tides have a tendency to result in people leaving their spiritual upbringing and, for some, they never return. As some of you know, I have been in one of those low tides for a few years now. Given the LDS culture and my wife's love for the LDS faith, I have continued as though I'm a true believer when in fact, I currently don't believe there is a God. Therefore, at this point in my life I would say that I believe <1%. How about each of you? How much do you believe? For sake of discourse, let's say you don't believe at all in the spiritual world as a <1% and you believe fully and completely in your faith as >99%. Where do you stand and, if relevant, how does the amount of belief you possess effect your life and your ability to honestly portray your inner thoughts and personal opinions to those around you?

Wow!

[Pheidippides]

Would you mind sharing how you got from 10% in this area back to 95%?

I would find this of personal interest.

I think the more interesting question is not how I got to 95% but why I was at 10% in the first place. The answer is that law school was the first time I really came face-to-face with a lot of the "seedy underbelly" of our history, and I had a difficult time processing that. I had, until that time, unconsciously believed in the infallibility of leaders - once I let that go, it was easy to step back and evaluate.

The answer as to the 10% to 95% return has to do with the death of my daughter and the events surrounding that experience. It's also the reason why the first element is at 100%. A lot of things changed with that experience. And while I'm an internal critic of many things in the church, that experience is the reason why the criticism is internal and not external.

[KillerDog]

So far I'm really pleased with the responses to the post. I'm happy to find out that there are others who don't believe but participate. I try and be a good Mormon, I just don't believe. It is a hard thing in the Church though because any statement of lack of belief is taken as a statement of personal unworthiness. I don't see any point in being LDS in my actions if I'm not going to get the benefit of being esteemed a valuable member of the ward. Therefore, I keep up the facade and hope for a return to belief and in the meantime, I have served as a High Councilor, High Priest Group Leader and Executive Secretary.

[clackamascoug]

Maybe the diversity of answers here is a reflection set forth by the Lord through "Gifts of the Spirit." I'm not going to guess why, but a testimony is a gift not given to all. For those not given that gift, it must be a harder road to travel. There must be a purpose behind the randomness of gifts.

13 To some it is given by the aHoly Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to abelieve on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
15 And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the adifferences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his bmercies according to the conditions of the children of men.
16 And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the aSpirit may be given to every man to profit withal.
17 And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of awisdom.
18 To another is given the word of aknowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.
19 And again, to some it is given to have afaith to be healed;
20 And to others it is given to have faith to aheal.
21 And again, to some is given the working of amiracles;
22 And to others it is given to aprophesy;
23 And to others the adiscerning of spirits.
24 And again, it is given to some to speak with atongues;
25 And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.
26 And all these agifts come from God, for the benefit of the bchildren of God.
27 And unto the abishop of the church, and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church, are to have it given unto them to bdiscern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.
28 And it shall come to pass that he that asketh in aSpirit shall receive in Spirit;
29 That unto some it may be given to have all those gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby.

[woot]

Maybe the diversity of answers here is a reflection set forth by the Lord through "Gifts of the Spirit." I'm not going to guess why, but a testimony is a gift not given to all. For those not given that gift, it must be a harder road to travel. There must be a purpose behind the randomness of gifts.

Random wouldn't be very just. I'm guessing those gifted with a testimony were more righteous in the preexistence.

[mUUser]

happy to find out that there are others who don't believe but participate....I have served as a High Councilor, High Priest Group Leader and Executive Secretary.

Dang, Bro! You must be VERY convincing that you're on fire with the Spirit. Those are not typical callings for the mildly interested or the wavering.

[RC Vikings]

There must be a purpose behind the randomness of gifts.

I wish I knew the reason. It seems so easy for some and so hard for others.

[byu71]

There must be a purpose behind the randomness of gifts.

[/SIZE]

I believe our spirits have been developing long before we arrive on earth. Perhaps, just like on earth, we have an aptitude for certain things. I don't want to sound like I am taking away from a benevolent father who just hands out gifts, but I wonder if sometimes those gifts just aren't a result of our growth.

I have known from a very early age that I didn't develop the gift or was given the gift to "just know by the Holy Ghost". My gift is to believe on the word of others. I have convinced myself one gift isn't better than another.

I am content with the gifts I have, while at the same time appreciative of the gifts others have.