![]() ![]() Time and experience and careful thought are needed.” One only needs to look at the beautiful doctrines taught, the striving of goodly Latter-day Saints, the loving service rendered, the rich heritage, the answers to prayers, the worldwide humanitarian involvement, multiple blessings because of the Church to tip the scale to reasons for holding on and waiting upon the Lord for further information.Ĭelebrating the good and forgiving the rest is presented as a motto in dealing with uncomfortable church issues. Wilcox says, “I … wonder, if perhaps media posts or random online searches are not the best places to obtain knowledge concerning the most important decisions of the soul and eternity. There are also “interrupters to our rejoicings” that “blocks us from feeling the peace and joy of the gospel.”īalancing a scale serves as another metaphor to keep our impulses to leave and doubts in perspective when weighed against the reasons to stay. Sin and temptation may also affect our belief. We find individuals who take pleasure in cutting down the faith of others and building a following by sowing doubt and setting themselves up as experts in blogs, podcasts, YouTube, etc. ![]() Many returned later, but for some the decision became a permanent alienation.” Reasons we may feel impulses to leave have been greatly accelerated by those like Sherem and Korihor, who dissuade people from the gospel. “Numerous leaders of the early Church followed the impulse to leave, including the Three Witnesses and members of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Yet … over time my path has widened.” Just holding on and keeping faith in the truths we know allows us to wait for answers and resolutions to things we only have a partial understanding of.Īs some struggle with uncomfortable events in church history, the author reminds us that there are “elements of a mortal, ambiguous world, filled with human frailties and weaknesses.” Impulses to leave the church family of Latter-day Saints is nothing new. He writes, “I wish I could say these struggles with faith are all resolved, but I continue from time to time to wrestle with questions and anxieties. In life, we travel our unique paths, and our paths of faith sometimes take us to a precarious edge we must navigate until the path widens and we regain sure footing. ![]() They find high-altitude nourishment for the strength and agility they need to move securely, even at the edges of very narrow paths. ![]() Wilcox uses the metaphor of mountain goats following mountain trails that lead to narrow steep cliffs, which become extremely precarious. This book is a quick read, with thought-provoking rationale for staying in the church, even if doubts, uncomfortable paradoxes, or difficult personal situations weigh heavily in one’s soul. His argument to stay in the church is adeptly presented with metaphors, carefully selected scriptures, and literary examples while using an empathetic non-judgmental voice. In his book, Michael Wilcox alludes to some of his friends, family members, or even church leaders who have left the church, either slamming the door on membership or stepping away with the door open a crack. Holding On: Impulses to Leave and Strategies to Stay, is a book for those of us who have had questions or doubts about gospel topics, church leadership, feelings of disillusionment, or crises of faith. Peterson for the Association for Mormon Letters Title: Holding On: Impulses to Leave and Strategies to Stay ![]()
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