Answers to Challenging Questions

Missionaries frequently get asked challenging questions about beliefs and practices (current and past) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Questions like:

• Do Mormons believe in polygamy?
• What is the LDS view on gay marriage?
• What is the Church’s position on blacks and the priesthood?
• Why can’t women be ordained to the priesthood?
• And many more

In an effort to help prepare missionaries to answer these sometime difficult questions, I am setting up a new section of the website where we will explore some of these topics. The purpose will be to educator missionaries on these subjects by providing them with good and trustworthy sources of information. I have touched a little on some of these difficult subjects in the past, like my post on Mormon Polygamy and my discussion of the four accounts of Joseph Smith’s first vision, but with this new section I will do so even more.

Searching for answers to these challenging questions can be a source of building faith and testimony. As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said, “a question that creates doubt in some can, after careful investigation, build faith in others” (“Come, Join with Us,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 23). If missionaries are better prepared to answer these challenging questions, their faith and testimony will grow, and they’ll be able to better help investigators who may have similar questions.

It is natural, for both missionaries and investigators of the Church, to have questions about the Church’s doctrine, history, and position on social issues. It is my hope that the articles in this section will help us all increase our understanding of how God conducts his work and deepen our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.

“Though argument does not create conviction, lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish” (Austin Farrer, Light on C. S. Lewis, p. 26.).