How can the mormons help me feel God's love? I belong to another church but I've never felt God's presence in my life. I have a lot of troubles. My mom is sick and I need spiritual guidance. Many people have told me that feeling God's presence is beautiful and that it brings great peace that can change your life. I'd like to know how to feel it so I can also help my mother have greater faith in this very hard time.

Anonymous, 2/23/2010

El Santo Gringo from La Jolla, California:

Mormon missionaries in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil.

Hi friend. It's excellent that you're trying to improve your spiritual life. Too many people nowadays are not concerned about their own spiritual development. They seem to only care about the temporary pleasures that the world can offer. It's very gratifying to receive messages from people like you who are sincerely seeking spiritual peace. God blesses those who sincerely try to grow closer to Him. The spiritual peace and life changes that come from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ are very sweet. I've tasted some of the sweetness in my own life, and it only gets sweeter as time goes on.

Spiritual peace is not something that happens all at once. To develop spiritually requires constant effort. It requires prolonged dedication. For those who are willing to invest the time and dedication required, however, spiritual development can bring tremendous peace and strength even during hard times.

I'd like to invite you to meet with Mormon missionaries, who can tell you more about our beliefs and can help you begin a new spiritual journey. These missionaries are always looking for people who are sincerely interested in learning more about our church; I'm sure they'll be very happy to speak with you. Fortunately, you can request a missionary visit online. Alternatively, if you meet a Mormon missionary in the street, feel free to talk to him or her. Missionaries are usually very friendly and very excited about sharing their beliefs with others.

I also invite you to visit the Mormon chapel nearest your house. Fortunately, you can now learn the address the meeting schedule of Mormon chapels online as well. When you visit, explain to those you meet that you're only now getting to know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm sure they'll be very happy to help you get to know the church as well. Good luck! May God be with you.

Would you like a free copy of the Book of Mormon?

Richard from Orem:

Pray for it. Ask and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. I'm not saying that once you ask you'll get what you are looking for right away, but when you ask the key will turn in your favor, and in God's time he will let you know he is there, and you are his child.

Other thatn that, whenever I desire to feel closer to God I seek out his truths. Scriptures, Book or Mormon, Bible, talks from God's anointed prophets... www.mormon.org is full of good spiritual videos, youtube mormon videos are great as well, finding hope LDS will probably get you to some good websites as well, www.Lds.org and view some movies from there, tune in to BYU TV and catch a devotional (thurs around 11: 00)... There are tons of good ways to feel God's love... You could probably start with a prayer asking for help as to where to go and for God's spirit to attend you too.

Best of luck and I'll be praying for you to have goodness come your way (but you'll need to seek after it too)(pray as if everything depends on God and then get up and go to work as if everything depends on you)

Manaen from SoCal:

My nature changed about a decade and half ago when, for the first time, I felt God's love wash through my heart. For me, this came at a time of self-inflicted crisis when I finally hit bottom, and so acquiring the contrite spirit and broken heart that is most able to receive his healing love.

Two addresses by leaders of our church that have helped me to understand God's love are:

(1) "When Thou art Converted" by D. Todd Christopherson.

A key section: "In the Book of Mormon, Amulek tells us we should pray about everything in our lives. He says, 'Pour out your souls [to God] in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.' Your Heavenly Father wants you to pray about your hopes and fears, your friends and family, your school and work, and the needs of those around you. Most of all, you should pray to be filled with the love of Christ. This love is given to those who are true followers of Jesus Christ, who ask for it with all the energy of their heart. This love is the fruit of the tree of life, and tasting it is a major part of your conversion because once you have felt your Savior's love for you, even the smallest part, you will feel secure, and a love for him and for your Heavenly Father will grow within you. In your heart you will want to do what these holy beings ask of you. Go often to your closet, your secret place, your wilderness. Thank God for your blessings; ask for his help; ask him to bestow upon you the pure love of Christ. Sometimes fasting will help."

(2) "The Power of God's Love" by John H. Groberg. He relates how he discovered God's love during his mission in the south pacific. The story of his mission was released as a Disney movie, "The Other Side of Heaven." He also wrote a book by the same name.

In talking about the hunger that came after a great storm devastated the island where he was serving, he said:

"After a few months our island was struck by a powerful hurricane. The devastation was massive. Crops were ruined, lives were lost, housing was blown away, and the telegraph station—our only link to the outside world—was destroyed. A small government boat normally came every month or two, so we rationed our food to last four or five weeks, hoping the boat would come. But no boat came. Every day we became weaker. [... ] The ninth week began with little outward change. However, there was a great inward change. I felt the Lord's love more deeply than ever before and learned firsthand that his love 'is the most desirable above all things... Yea, and the most joyous to the soul" (1 Nephi 11:22–23). I was pretty much skin and bones by now. I remember watching, with deep reverence, my heart beating, my lungs breathing, and thinking what a marvelous body God has created to house our equally marvelous spirit! The thought of a permanent union of these two elements, made possible through the Savior's love, atoning sacrifice, and resurrection, was so inspiring and satisfying that any physical discomfort faded into oblivion. When we understand who God is, who we are, how he loves us, and what his plan is for us, fear evaporates. When we get the tiniest glimpse of these truths, our concern over worldly things vanishes. [... ] When filled with God's love, we can do and see and understand things that we could not otherwise do or see or understand. Filled with his love, we can endure pain, quell fear, forgive freely, avoid contention, renew strength, and bless and help others in ways surprising even to us."

Joseph Smith was the first president of the Mormon Church. He received a message from God to restore Christ’s ancient church in modern times.

(This echoes a comment by Joseph Smith: "A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith, p. 174)

This talk and the two that follow it have been a healing combination when I hear them. They are: "The Power of God's Love," "Bringing Peace and Healing to your Soul," and "Peace of Conscience, Peace of Mind."

I hope this helps!

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Richard from Orem:

Manaen from SoCal: