Faith Reflection • Mind Body Spirit
As we know, nothing and nobody is perfect — only God is.
We may not always receive every answer we desire, and that’s alright. What matters most is having faith in God and believing there is a far better place waiting for us someday — a true home sweet home, forever.
Today, we live in a world that contains both good and evil. We make choices every day — right or wrong — based on our hearts, minds, and experiences. Perhaps that’s an oversimplification, but I’m only having a little fun here. 🙂 If you happen to disagree with parts of what I share below, that’s completely okay too.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent time studying both Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There were things I genuinely appreciated about both faiths, especially the dedication and kindness of many people I met along the way. However, I also found myself struggling with certain interpretations regarding the relationship between the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.
For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus Christ began ruling as King in heaven in 1914. This is understood as an invisible heavenly event rather than a visible return to earth. Personally, I could never fully teach or share that belief with confidence, so
eventually I decided not to continue.
One memory still makes me chuckle. In another blog, I mentioned studying the Bible with my Gram Ola. She once said that if Jesus became King in 1914, she would have been around three years old at the time. That moment has always stayed with me and still makes me smile.
Later, I shifted toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially because I had many positive experiences with Latter-day Saint friends throughout my life.
One of my closest friends of more than twenty years encouraged me to keep learning and eventually consider becoming a member of the Church. For many years, I politely declined.
Then, eventually, I changed my mind.
I moved forward and was baptized. I also completed the six-week preparation classes before receiving the temple endowment.
It was a meaningful chapter of my life.
However, for reasons I still reflect on today, my heart quietly stopped moving forward.
There were several teachings and claims that I personally struggled to reconcile with my own faith journey. I spent considerable time studying, praying, and reflecting on them.
While I respect the beliefs of faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I ultimately realized that I could not fully accept some of the teachings and historical claims associated with Joseph Smith and the origins of the Church.
Overall, I found the church services welcoming and meaningful. I met good people, made friendships, and experienced moments that I will always remember.
Temple worship was something I reflected on deeply for a long time. I also realized that giving up coffee was personally difficult for me. The Church’s Word of Wisdom teaches members to abstain from coffee and tea, and following that guidance became another personal challenge, especially when my family did not share the same religious path.
Being the only person in my family walking that particular path became emotionally challenging for me.
During my recent cruise through Central America, I had the opportunity to learn more about local coffee production, see how coffee is harvested, and appreciate the work that goes into bringing it to our cups.
I even had the chance to try some homemade coffee-flavored ice cream! It was delicious. I imagined what that experience might have been like if I were still a member of the LDS Church. Perhaps I would have politely skipped the coffee samples, passed on the ice cream, and walked past the coffee selections in the gift shops.
It’s a small thought, but it reminded me how much our beliefs can shape our everyday experiences.
Today, I can appreciate coffee not only as something I enjoy, but also as part of the culture, agriculture, and livelihoods of the people I encountered during my travels.
Eventually, I realized that I didn’t need to force myself to remain somewhere simply because I had once chosen that path.
I could appreciate what I had learned, be grateful for the people I had met, and still continue my journey.
Over time, I found peace as a non-denominational Christian.
That decision brought a calmer feeling into my life and helped strengthen my relationship with God in a way that felt genuine and natural to me.
The purpose of sharing these reflections is not to criticize anyone’s faith or persuade others to follow my path.
Rather, I’m simply sharing part of my own journey.
I respect people of many different beliefs and backgrounds, and I appreciate the friendships and experiences I’ve gained along the way.
I’ve learned that faith can be complicated.
Sometimes we ask questions.
Sometimes we change direction.
Sometimes we discover that something we once thought was right for us no longer feels right.
And sometimes, that’s simply part of growing.
In many ways, that’s why I created Robb Paddy Journey — to connect with good people, share life experiences, and encourage one another as we continue learning, growing, and searching for peace.
Wherever your own journey leads, I wish you peace, wisdom, and God’s blessings along the way.
