Hi. I'd love to help you, but I'm really not sure how to reply that would help. You are certainly welcome to PM me if you would like. I am LDS, and I'm not sure if that will mean that I can explain things to your satisfaction or not. You mention being in Seminary and studying the Bible and Book of Mormon, but you also say you are not baptized. I'm wondering if you are in seminary by choice, or if your parents are LDS and expect you to take it, or basically what are the reasons behind your studies in this area.

One thing that I really want you to understand is that it is your choice whether or not you believe the scriptures and church teachings. In seminary and through studying the scriptures you will learn about our beliefs and what the scriptures say and how we understand and practice these things. You say that you don't believe in prayer. You might be interested in a thread in this forum about how various people of various beliefs pray. As I understand it, prayer is how you can find out that God is real and that He loves you, and get confirmation from Him about what is true or what isn't. I don't know how else you could know. These are things that are based on faith, and philosophy or debate will not setttle any of it.

I started to ramble a bit there, but I was trying to make the point that it is up to you to find out about the gospel and what you believe, and while your disagreement isn't going to change the gospel or the church's understanding of it, you are encouraged to learn as much as you can, from various perspectives, and we don't believe in forcing our beliefs on anyone.

The eleventh Article of Faith (for those not familiar, the Articles of Faith are an outline of basic LDS beliefs) says </font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

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If you do want to be a Mormon, I would urge you to try praying and seek for answers through faith and pondering the things you are learning, but don't just accept it blindly. I would not want anyone to feel forced or coerced into trying to go along with something that they don't really believe. If you don't want to be a Mormon, then I might not be the right person to advise you, but I still support your agency to choose for yourself, and if I can help you I would be happy to.

TC,
Rap