Would You Stay?

Someone in church today made an interesting comment. He said that he would still be a member of the LDS Church even if he didn't believe it was true, because the Church helps him lead a better life. There were several who agreed with him. The Church does teach people to live good lives, and I do think that is a good reason to be a part of something.

But it wouldn't be enough for me. If I didn't believe the Church were true, I wouldn't stay in it. I think there are many religions, philosophies, and beliefs that can teach people to live good lives. If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I believe that Islam is a great religion. I don't think I could say, if I thought neither were true, that the LDS Church teaches people to be better than Muslims. I don't think that any one branch of Christianity is better than another. They all teach truths, and they all teach people to lead good, moral lives. And religion isn't the only way to find those truths. One commenter recently said that she finds truth in a variety of books. I completely agree.

I am a member of the LDS Church for different reasons than that it's "good," or that it teaches me to lead a good life. I am a member because I firmly believe the doctrines of the Church. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that Gordon B. Hinckley is a living prophet today, that the scriptures (all of them, from the Old Testament to the Doctrine and Covenants) are the word of God. I believe that families can be eternal, that I will be resurrected, and that God loves me, plain old little me.

And that is enough for me. The LDS Church is not perfect. Nothing is or was perfect here on the earth, except for Jesus Christ. But I have faith that its doctrines are true, and I hope that I end up a better person because of it.