This is a great post. Thanks.

You give three recommendations in your post -

1) that we acknowledge, learn, and understand the myriad and interlacing forms of God-talk that much of the world’s populace use or are familiar with;

2) that we know theological history, the history of God;

3) and finally that we ultimately make God the true content of our discourse

I sometimes make some naive, juvenile attempts at being an amature theologian. Do you have some specific suggestions in how a common church member can make progress in these areas? Are there some simple, introductory books you might recommend?

Understanding other religions and their vocabulary helps greatly in being able to share and explain about the church and its history. But it is an individual journey and each person has to choose to take it or not. I have taught my wife and children as best I can. But just as you did they have to study, pray, fast ect. for them selves to get the confirmation of the Spirit. To get that spirital growth and understanding or revelation unto themselves.

ama, thank you for sharing your experiences. I will certainly check out the link.

Rameumptom, thank you. You speak my language.

Elizabeth, your blog shows an endowment, also. It is a personal journey that we share with one another (and with Adam and Eve), taking us from our childish innocence, to the depth, richness and horrors the telestial world has to offer. With faith in the journey, we can be led back to the presence of God. Regardless of who writes the story, each of us must have our own theophany, and this is the path, which leads us to it.

Sadly, many members do not understand that the search does not end at baptism, nor at our own personal First Vision. Those are just the opening salvos in a war we have within ourselves, as we wander seeking the heavenly city that Abraham also sought and failed to find in this life.

Just as with the Vision of the Tree of Life, some wander off from the iron rod, losing themselves in the mists. Others eat of the fruit, but then are ashamed or question the nutritional value of the fruit, and walk away, seeking the answers in the great and spacious building.

When I began studying Hugh Nibley’s writings in the late 1970s, early 1980s, my Dad warned me about seeking too deeply. I see where such dangers could have led me down many paths. But I also see that in searching and seeking truth, wherever it was to be found, it enriched my testimony and made it firmer than had I hid my head in the sand. I do agree we need to have a continued dialogue with other Christians. We struggle with not explaining things well enough, simply because we don’t use their language. Perhaps discourses, such as Elder Holland’s masterpiece on Jesus’ lonely road, will help bridge that gap.

I had a similar experience where my faith was stripped down to practically nothing and I had to put it back together piece by piece, line upon line.

I too feel like I am a rough stone rolling and that part of faith is following the promptings of the spirit and studying and learning and relying on God with the realization that I don’t know really anything and I totally depend on Him.

SMB makes the comment that they feel God wants them to be Mormon and I feel the same way about me although I may not understand everything or necissarily believe all Mormon doctrine I can’t deny the Holy Ghost has told me the Book of Mormon is inspired and the spiritual witnesses I’ve had in the temple and other service meetings in the LDS church.

There is a good blog by John Dehlin that helped me get over the “all or nothing mentality” that I once had and help me stay active in the LDS church. I wrote about this over a year ago in an article called “Why to People Leave the LDS Church?”

God bless on your paths.