Questions about the Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ

Former Mormons often make lists of questions that have caused them to doubt and eventually leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These are hard for me to read, partially because I do have answers to some of their questions, like why there are multiple accounts of the First Vision. However, they also bring up many questions that I don't fully understand, often related to Church history or how to correlate science and the Bible.

None of us have a perfect understanding of the world around us--how it works, where it came from, or what it means. We often have to compare conflicting ideas and opinions to come to our own beliefs. In these cases, each of us personally has to weigh the different ideas and decide which is true. 

For me, the arguments in favor of the Church's validity outweigh any unanswered questions I may have. That's because when it comes to the "questions of my soul," the restored Church of Jesus Christ is the only place I have found satisfying answers. So here is my list of questions that have led me to believe in the Church and its teachings.

Where did the energy and matter in the universe come from?

What was before the Big Bang? What caused the universe to form?

Is everything we are--the beautiful world we live in, the loving relationships we form, and the amazing works we create--just the result of random chance? 

How could intelligent life spring from a non-intelligent universe? 

(Note: I am aware that many people answer this with the analogy that a team of monkeys writing on typewriters for an infinite amount of time will eventually recreate the works of Shakespeare. But that just opens up more questions, such as who gave them the typewriters and who identifies what Shakespeare's writings are. It seems that all intelligence must be preceded by intelligence.)

Why have of hundreds of societies used God or a similar Higher Power for their source of moral guidance?

Or in the words of atheist historian Will Durant, why "is [there] no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion"?

What about the Bible? How did the teachings of some wandering Israelis and a carpenter's son become the most influential book in modern civilization? And that carpenter's son, Jesus of Nazareth, how was he able to teach revolutionary moral ideas that upended everything people had been taught previously? How did this humble man teach truths that had as much of an impact as the ideas of Plato and Aristotle? He told them to love their enemies (because all people are your neighbors) turning the other cheek instead of retaliating. He answered a moral dilemma by simply telling his followers to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and render unto God that which is his, one of his many proverbs that we continue to quote today. Jesus' message was that God loves the poor and penitent not the self-righteous and wealthy; he went against social norms by inviting them to be humble like children, because the greatest man should be a servant. If such a wise man were not the Son of God, why did he say he was? And why do millions of people still believe him?

What about the Book of Mormon? Where did that come from? I don't believe that Joseph Smith or any of the people around him could have written it themselves. While I have read some possible explanations of the book's origin, none of them seem to answer the most difficult question, which Elder Tad Callister posed in a recent BYU devotional:

Even if Joseph had obtained historical facts from local libraries or community conversations—for which there is no substantiating evidence—the real issue still remains: Where did he get the deep and expansive doctrine taught in the Book of Mormon—much of which is contrary to the religious beliefs of his time? For example, contemporary Christianity taught that the Fall was a negative, not a positive, step forward, as taught in the Book of Mormon (see 2 Nephi 2).

Likewise, contrary to contemporary beliefs, the Book of Mormon refers to a premortal existence in Alma 13 (see Alma 13:1–11) and to a postmortal spirit world in Alma 40 (see Alma 40:11–14). Where did Joseph Smith get these profound doctrinal truths that were in fact contrary to the prevailing doctrinal teachings of his time? Where did he get the stunning sermon on faith in Alma 32? Or one of the greatest sermons ever recorded in all scripture on the Savior’s Atonement as delivered by King Benjamin (see Mosiah 2–5)? Or the allegory of the olive tree with all its complexity and doctrinal richness (see Jacob 5)? When I read that allegory, I have to map it out to follow its intricacies. Are we supposed to believe that Joseph Smith just dictated these sermons off the top of his head with no notes whatsoever? (From "The Book of Mormon: Man-made or God-Given?" given on Nov 01, 2016)

And if Joseph did make it up, what did he find in the hill by his home? Why did so many people try so hard to steal it from him? What was it that Isaac Hale, who hated Joseph, felt in a box?  What about the Three and Eight witnesses to the plates, why did none of them ever deny that the ancient record was real?

I know that many of the early church leaders left to form their own denominations, but why did some of them, like Martin Harris, come back? Why did Oliver Cowdery and William McLellin claim that Joseph Smith's revelations answer questions he couldn't have known they had?

Then there's Solomon Chamberlain, who had a vision similar to Joseph Smith, telling him that none of the churches were true. I've seen critics who use this as evidence that Joseph borrowed his visionary story from the accounts of others. Then why did Solomon believe that the restored church was a fulfillment of his vision? Wouldn't he, more than anyone, have known if Joseph had invented or plagiarized the story?

And what about all those who remained faithful--Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, or Wilford Woodruff? They were closest to Joseph Smith, and they believed everything he taught, even when it wasn't easy. Why were they willing to give their lives for this cause?

Why did my own ancestors believe in this gospel? Why did William and Catharine Morgan cross the country in handcarts in the same year that over 200 pioneers died making the same journey? Why did the Van Tussenbrooks send their 11 children one or two at a time from Holland to Utah? 

Why do I feel a connection to these people when I am doing family history and temple work? Isn't the love and connection we feel to other people a sign of a higher power? Does that really end with death?

What about the current leaders of the church? How can they bear sincere testimony that Jesus Christ directs this church? If the Church were man-made, they would know it. But every six months, I hear talks by men like Thomas S. Monson, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Jeffrey R. Holland, and I can't possibly imagine that they are trying to deceive us. And if there were some sort of conspiracy, wouldn't there be a general authority who would crack at some point? From what I can tell, in the last 100 years, no general authority has left the church for any reason except personal misconduct.

How is this church growing so rapidly in age of fading religiosity?

How do young, inexperienced missionaries have so much success in changing people's lives and bringing them to a new religion?

Why does the Church of Jesus Christ do so much good in the world through humanitarian and education services? 

Why are religious people more likely to donate to charity and give service?

What about my own experience? Why do I feel such power when I read the Book of Mormon, as if it were written by prophets who kept a record for future generations? Why is religious music so beautiful and inspiring?

Why has the doctrine of grace and the Atonement given me comfort and peace, helping me feel that I can change and be forgiven of any mistake?

Why does the gospel of Jesus Christ make so much sense and feel so true?

How have I received impressions of things that I needed to do or places I needed to go that I could not have known beforehand?

In fact, I have heard hundreds of people testify of experiences that cannot all be explained by coincidence or imagination. 

There has to be something greater out there, and for me personally, the Church of Jesus Christ answers the questions of where we came from and why we are here far better than any other source I have found.