I dont know how to really put it all so bare with me.

I have always felt a desire to learn more or have god in my life. I have crosses around my house but then feel like Im not honoring them.

I have not attened much church services in my life nor has the word ever been in the home. When I was 13, I was baptised Luthern it was only really so my step grandmother would feel good about my mom marrying her son ( AFTER living with him and having a child for 10years!! LOL ) But ya that was always the reason why both my brother and I along with my mother got baptised. Once we were baptised, um stopped going?!

I felt extremely out of place in the little country church full of old people with maybe 5 children tops. 2 others were my age and "popular" kids and boys at that. I did attend confirmation, hope I remember that right. Where I had a work book and "homework" and wed meet at a ladies house on Wens. I dropped out cuz I just couldnt feel comfortable among these 2 boys. She understood and we kept in contact for awhile. I helped out in VBS one summer with the little kiddos, I enjoyed that and felt like I was learning right along with the kids.

I do feel like I am at a childs level. I dont know much at all other then what I may have caught on tv or threw a videos perspective. I have a childrens bible that I had read some of. I should unbox it and start reading it again.

Ok so there is some history on me. Im even slightly embarrassed to even say I am at a childs level. Im 24 going to be 25 next month and I couldnt tell you much at all about the creator!

I want things to be different for Caden.

Part of my posting this is to ask opinions about a type of religion.

As I stated above I was baptised Luthern ( although that means nothing to me to be honest. I dont know the difference between any realigion for the most part- other then there are extremists in all of them )

I met a few mothers at our park here in the neighborhood and she had invited me to join her at her church a few weeks ago heck its been a month already since I went. She is very nice, my age has a son 1 month younger then Caden I believe. Shes invited me to other functions but I keep declining or if its just a pop in type thing ( moms get together monthly exchange night ) I didnt show up.

The ladies I talked to were all SOO friendly and nice, and I felt very welcomed there. This should be the only real concern when it comes down to it.

I havent went since that night. I drive by the church all the time, itd be a short walk or literally a 3min drive to it.

Im nervous, intimidated and overwhelmed at the thought of attending church. But I want to.

This church is LDS. Whats that mean, I dont know LOL well other then what it means spelt out instead of abbreviated ;) ... but truly its the guys that walk around knock on your doors trying to spread the word that many including myself hide from lol

The neighborhood I live in is apparently filled with em' not that I care, every one I have met is truly nice to me. Its also got me thinking that how many LDS members are dentists?? LOL Since majority of the people apparently also living here and going to this church are dental students and ya thats another thing ... they have "perfect" smiles.... me I have not the whitest not the greatest looking teeth ... so Im always wondering what they think of my smile lol

I should say part of my hesitation is the fact that DH is baptised Baptist (again I couldnt tell you the difference between one religion to the next) other then the south is covered with baptist churches ... but I guess its the region, since Luthern is more known up in MN ect. Dh hasnt gone to church in many many years so imo he really doesnt have much to stand on in what my decision really is. When Mike brought it up to his parents in front of me they kinda had a look and then kinda laughed and shrugged it off. My response to them was - well they were nice to me! and welcoming and I liked it.

I feel like I need this for myself. But how do you know which religion it is that fits you?

How do I make those steps to get into the church?? Without being afraid and using the excuse " I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR?! "

Im being silly arent I?

I did email this lady and say I wasnt going to ride along today to the playgroup but mostly cuz Caden isnt feeling the greatest still, and hes got snotty nose so I dont want to pass anything along. I did kinda slightly bring up that Im nervous and overwhelmed about the church issue since she knows a little of my background. I did mention that maybe I could join again on a Wens evening and sit in with the women again and take it slow.

BUT I also feel like I shouldnt attend a wens function/class if I dont go on Sundays ... the thought of it being 3hrs gets me sometimes too lol 3hrs of feeling like I dont fit in isnt fun to me LOL

OK Im going to stop and hit send because I feel like I need to post this - THANK YOU if youve read this far - means a lot and I appreciate it greatly for any guidence or advice on overcoming my fears.

I know there are a few LDS mamas on here and also a few mamas that are former LDS so I hope they will answer any questions that you have.

My advice to anyone wanting to know more about God is to get a good Bible and start reading it. I usually suggest that you start in the New Testament (toward the back) with one of the books Matthew, Mark or Luke which all tell the story Jesus. If you don't have a Bible then pm me because we have some extras.

As far as finding a church goes, I guess I would suggest attending a few until you find one that you like and that feels comfortable. As hard as it is at first most people at church don't bite! :hahaha: We are currently in a small country church (dh is pastor). It probably wouldn't be our first choice of churches because of the style but we really love it and the people are wonderful. Alot of times churches with community church in their names tend to be casual in both the way people dress and their style of worship so that might be a good fit if you are concerned about having the "right" clothes to wear. But to be honest, most people in church won't care what you wear.

I hope you get some answers and find what you are looking for. Pm me and I will send you a Bible.

Heya mama

Deuteronomy 4:29 (New International Version)
29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

I agree with Robin that the best place to seek God is in His word. Get a good, devotional, easy to follow bible. Or Go to biblegateway.com and put in some stuff and see what comes up? I do that sometimes. Type in Anxiety or type in Wisdom or Grace or whatever it is I feel like I need some guidance on and see what verse comes up that smacks me in the face with Gods word lol.

Church - its hard to find the right church for you sometimes. And sometimes we go to a church that we know isn't truly our home for a while just to be there, just for the fellowship of other believers - for the praise music - for the pastors message - even if its not exactly the right church for us.
As for "i have nothing to wear". Go just as you are. Period. We wear shorts and tshirts to church in the summer sometimes. I wear dresses because thats how I'm led, but no one cares what you're wearing. You go to church for one reason - to hear Gods word and to be around other people who hear Gods word. So what you wear is totally irrelevant :)

Its so not about religion. Its about your personal relationship with God and finding that.

For me it came thru praise music - Christian rock music was what turned my heart to the Lord honestly and got me praising and praying.
lol

I think God touches our hearts exactly where He knows we need to be touched. For me it was music, for other people its opening the bible randomly and finding a passage that speaks to them (or on the net) - but in the end its about opening yourself up to hear and be 'touched'.

Someone once told me this.
Be in a quiet room and sit on the floor. Close your eyes and breathe for a minute. Then say out loud "God please come into my heart and open my mind, my eyes and my heart to YOU and what you have planned for me. Let me hear you Lord. I'm ready to listen."
In Jesus name
Amen

and see what happens.
That is the beginning of prayer. The beginning of seeing the signs and hearing His voice in things that you do.

I don't believe for a minute that you have to be in a religion or part of a church to be in a relationship with God.
I do believe that you can't follow God if you don't know Him and you can't follow Christ if you don't know what He said and did and is for us. All of that is in the bible so you kinda have to read the bible to be able to know God and follow and be who you can be through Him.

I consider myself a "baby Christian" and I've been following Christ for almost 14 years lol. I barely know scripture - am learning to read the bible now. Its HARD to read on my own - I get lost alot in stuff so I got involved in a small group bible study (two now actually) so I can ask questions. The bible is written in old language and has alot of metaphors and riddles and anyone who says they can sit down and read it front to back and UNDERSTAND it is either very scholarly or lying. lol
I got a great book called The Everyday bible Companion
and it really helps me cuz it explains "in that time, this is what they did, so this is why they said this and why its important."
Its really hard to read the bible if you don't understand Jewish culture and history and what was happening culturally at the time. Half of what Jesus says won't make sense without some help understanding what was going on politically at the time too.

So -
heres my advice.
1. Sit down on the floor and open your heart, mind and soul to God. Ask Him back into your life , your heart and honestly think out loud/pray that you be "LED" to what you need to do to be closer to Him every day of your life.
2. Go to church.
Any church, any where as long as its a bible teaching church - based on the word. If they actually read the word, explain the word and help you apply it to your life today then you're probably in the right place for you right now at this time in your life. I searched the internet for my church lol - and knew immediately we needed to leave the church we were at and go to this new church. You'll know
3. Get a bible thats easy to read (Christianity for dummies is fun too lol)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764544829/103-1380807-1028644?v=glance&n=283155
Talk to followers who read the bible and can help you through it, join a small group bible study or just take notes at church and then search the net with your questions.
4. Relax
He already loves you. He already has a plan for you. He has just been waiting for you to reach out and ask.
So go ahead and ask and you will receive - in abundance.
Gods grace is amazing. And when you open yourself up to it , He will fill you up.

ask me how i know ;)

Pm me anytime . I hope some of this helped/made sense lol

Ty both :) I have a bible as well as children bibles lol Im not the strongest reader I have a hard time getting the stuff I read to sink in and stay in my memory its one of my weak points.

Barb Im going to pm ya about something

I thank you both for your input it means a lot ... Im going to ride a long on Sunday with Lindsey and her hubby and baby tate. For me I feel thats a step in the right direction.

Ill go check out the sites given and search for passages. I have a lot of anxiety so I need to see what comes up LOL

((hugz)) thanks guys

I emailed you back - but its funny, I'm doing an entire bible study in 3 weeks on anxiety. I've been researching for weeks lol

Heres a few gems
lol

Philippians 4:6 (New International Version)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God

Ecclesiastes 2:22-24 (New International Version)
22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,

and the biggest one of all

""For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; thy do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then saying What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not b anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"
(Matthew 6:26-34)
and here is a pretty great explanation I found of this passage
http://www.horizonsnet.org/sermons/sm27.html

ty for the passages and link thats helping me see things a bit differently already :)

Personally I'd take the little beliefnet quiz
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

it can tell you if your beliefs fall in line with LDS, or protestant or catholic or whatever and might make you feel a little less discouraged.

thanks for the link to the quiz I know I opened that up a few wks ago I think but never took it ... took it now and will read thru all the things later but on the lines of LDS I was 65%

anyways DH wants to pc now and I need to go start dinner

Thanks

lol
According to that quiz I rate 100% Orthodox Quaker
Yah.
Hrm

These are my top 5:
1. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (91%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (87%)
4. Orthodox Quaker (70%)
5. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (65%)

cool :) I know it's not something that may be completely accurate for everyone, but it kind of gives you an idea of where to look.. if LDS had been the bottom of your list, it probably wouldn't be worth your time, kwim? But it seems like it might be worth checking out for you. You might also go check out a protestant church and a uu church.. I wouldn't know where to find a quaker church, but the others seem to be pretty much everywhere. Just check them out.. don't try to make yourself fit in but rather see what fits YOU and go from there - and you'll be happier overall than if you go with the one size fits all mentality of finding a spiritual home.

Thanks for the input Jodi I appreciate it. :) Appreciate everything everyones said in this thread ((hugz))

Hi! I just wanted to jump in here. I am LDS and I wanted to share some info with you. I see you found that it stands for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Here is a website with all kinds of information that might be helpful. www.mormon.org Hope this helps. I'd be happy to answer questions if you have them!

Thanks Debi - ya Ive always known what LDS stands for but thats all I really knew of it yk? .....

Ill try to get to the site later today Caden is calling :)