Why can’t agnostics join the church?
Question
Why can’t agnostics who have a genuine Christian hope be admitted into the church? The baptismal requirements do not say one must believe in the Book of Mormon. Why is hope not enough?
Thomas
Answer
Thomas
Your question doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. An agnostic is someone who doesn’t think there is enough information to determine if there is a God. He takes a skeptical approach to questions. Someone with genuine Christian hope is one who has faith in Christ, who believes and hopes in the atonement and resurrection. Thus the person you are describing seems to be a paradox. Perhaps you meant something else?
Having faith in Christ is a requirement for baptism. An agnostic who gains faith in Christ is no longer an agnostic. Some other requirements for baptism are the willingness to repent, obey the commandments, and join with the Church.
Someone who does not believe in the Book of Mormon would presumably also not believe in Joseph Smith as a prophet, modern revelation, and pretty much the Church itself. Those ideas, those doctrines, are pretty foundational and fundamental to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A person can’t really be said to be willing to join with the Church if he rejects the foundations upon which the LDS religion is based.
Gramps
Having faith in Christ doesn’t mean that one accepts the historical account of the B of M. Why does baptism require that the person , at that point? I am strong in my faith in Jesus Christ, I love the social values of the LDS church but I don’t know if I can accept the B of M as part of those beliefs.
One of the biggest fundamentals within the LDS religion is a belief and knowledge that Christ’s church was restored via Joseph Smith. Also that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. While faith in Christ is extremely important, having a belief in the restoration of the church lays the groundwork for much of our doctrine. If you don’t believe that the restoration happened or in Joseph Smith or in the Book of Mormon, it’s hard to grasp other doctrines within the LDS religion.
I’ve been seeing these “beliefs” quite a bit lately. Usually, in members who are in opposition to the doctrines of our church. I am a “homosexual.” I will be in repentance for the rest of my life. I will never have a partner to share life with. I really suffer a lot, but, I know The Father has christened this church his. One must believe in the doctrines and leaders of this holy institution in order to move forward spiritually. Good social and Christian values can be had in many churches if that’s all that is desired. Please read the scriptures and pray always and ask for blessings from the priesthood. Letting doubt seep in is dangerous. Don’t listen to those who fell away because of unbelief. Believe me, there’s nothing worse than living without the tender mercies of our Lord and the blessings of his priesthood. If you are here, then you are here for a reason. The Lord knows your heart and has blessed you beyond your knowledge.
Frank, I may not understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think you have to be constantly repenting your whole life. We all have trials and temptations, but as long as you don’t act on them there’s no need for repentance. Well, I guess we also should repent of the desire to sin like the Nephites did, but that’s different.