Former Mormon Searching

[GeorgiiMichael]

And there's always the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It's certainly not a "sit down and read it" kind of book, but it's got the answer to almost any question you might have about what the Catholic Church believes and why. It's a good resource to have just to look up questions you have, if there isn't anyone around you can ask.

Of course, I do know some converts who decided that before they'd decide to convert, they'd just sit down and read through the whole thing, but they are definitely outliers in that regard.

[Clare Brigid]

One of the best books that teaches what it means to live a Catholic life, while simultaneously catechizing in the deepest possible way, is Christ, the Life of the Soul, by Blessed Columba Marmion.

 

If I were you, I would do the following:

 

1.  Pray at regular times every day.

 

2.  Read one chapter of the Gospels daily; eventually, learn the method of lectio divina.

 

3.  Read the [url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html]Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church[/url].

 

4.  Go to Mass every Sunday.

 

5.  Read Christ, the Life of the Soul, a little at a time.

 

6.  Let the pastor of your local parish know that you are interested in becoming Catholic.  You might also find a priest who is willing to teach you privately.

 

7,  Make some good Catholic friends.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Clare Brigid

[NotreDame]

The one thing I miss about the LDS church that I haven’t found in the Catholic church is a sense of community. Parishes are really large and can feel kind of impersonal. In the LDS church you were assigned a ward, so you went to church at the same place and the same time every week and you saw the same people every week. Wards tend to be very close and the members watch out for each other, if someone in the ward has something happen and needs help, you can bet just about all the members of the ward will hear about it before the day is out and you will have more help than you know what to do with.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.  I find all this really fascinating.

 

I get what you are saying about community.  I grew up in small eastern rite parishes where everyone went to the same mass on Sunday, each person knew everybody else, and kids grew up and played together.  One of those parishes is still going strong, but one is dying off (eg. no more russian immigrant community.)

 

I'm not sure how the roman rite used to be.  I imagine it used to be different and there was more community when everyone's kids went to the same local parochial school.  I still think you can find some level of community, but you have to work for it - it's not automatic, that's for sure.  It's not always at the parish level either.  A lot of times a youth, young professionals, or young couples group will be at the diocesan level.

 

I hope you and arfink can find some nice groups to be a part of!

[mortify ii]

Welcome EILISH, I only hope the Catholic nation does not discourage you from Catholicism, we are living in interesting times, to say the least.

 

I'd recommend Frank Sheed's Theology and Sanity, Newadvent.com has excellent resources on the writings of the Church Fathers. This Tremendous Lover by Fr Boylan is a modern spiritual masterpiece that I highly recommend.

[mortify ii]

The one thing I miss about the LDS church that I haven’t found in the Catholic church is a sense of community.

 

I found this missing as well, especially in most Novus Ordo parishes. My background as some of you know was as a Muslim, and the sense of brotherhood among the Muslims is very strong. Even between complete strangers there is a sense of filiality. What happened to our Christian charity and sense of brotherhood? Our Lord said we will know each other by our love.

[Clare Brigid]

This Tremendous Lover by Fr Boylan is a modern spiritual masterpiece that I highly recommend.

 

Great recommendation.  I have this, and his Difficulties in Mental Prayer, which is excellent for learning to pray.

[Mercy me]

My biggest piece of advise is to ask questions.  There is meaning to everything in the church.  If something doesn't make sense, challenge it.  You will find the depth of the reasoning to be amazing.  There is a why to every teaching.  If something is not clear keep asking.  You will be amazed at the depth here.  Ask away! And welcome.

[Mercy me]

I second the recommendation of Scott Hahn's book.  He has a rare gift for making the complex understandable.  

[BG45]

Hi, welcome to PM and the Church!

 

First, I want to third The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn, it helped during my own conversion to Catholicism (as did his Rome Sweet Home, which was the testimony of he and his wife, but when they talk about arguing over Catholicism, he breaks things down really well).  Catholicism for Dummies is, quite frankly, amazing.

 

MercyMe has it right on, ask as many questions as you need, because there's always a "why" for why something is done one way or another.  That was one of the best thing, in my opinion; as a Baptist, I was told to "shut up and believe".  Once RCIA started, the priest was scandalized by the idea that people wouldn't be encouraged to question something!  Prayers for you as you start your discernment about Catholicism, and glad that Mary saw you through your son's deployment to Iraq.  Having seen Reddit's r/exmormon, it's heartening to see someone questioning, but not leaving God behind as many do.