In lieu of our church president's passing, I thought it fitting to post a video tribute (I didn't make this, SethAdamSmith did).
I think my fondest memory of President Hinckley is hearing his testimony (entitled "My Testimony") in the April 2000 General Conference. I think part of the reason I remember this talk so well is because I was in Japan at the time. Back then, the members (and thus the missionaries) waited one-two months for the translated tapes to make it to Japan; then, we would watch a few sessions during Sunday meetings. I had been in Japan for almost two years, so the language was well with me, and I recall being very touched to hear our prophet's testimony in a language other than my native tongue--but one that had nonetheless become my own. (Grief, I can smell the Yamaguchi church house now!)
The quote from that talk which stuck with me the most, and which seems most fitting now, is what he said about Jesus Christ: "None other can take His place. None other ever will."
I am sure President Monson is feeling this exact way right now.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Where would the church be without the Book of Mormon?
I went to the chapel today with the Elders to teach Christina about the restoration, apostasy and importance of prophets. It was her first full "discussion" and she doesn't have even a basic knowledge of the gospel. She is a young mother who lives with her boyfriend and has a 2 month old newborn boy. We were teaching in very simple terms and still having a little trouble in presenting the information so that she could comprehend.
Well, they asked me to explain the book of Mormon, and of course I went into too much detail trying to simplify, and somehow the conversation got to where I asked her where her ancestors were from, and she replied that her aunts' sister was in pensacola....then the Elder took over.
A few minutes later, still trying to portray the importance of the Book of Mormon, I asked her: "If the Book of Mormon is a false book, what would that say about the church you are in?" She responded: "It wouldn't be here." (in heavy southern accent).
I thought, how true. The church would not have endured on the foundation of a false book. We are surrounded by churches with teachings that disagree one with another. We see churches with doctrines that in our opinion fully exploit the actual doctrines, preach falsehoods and man-made gospels. Yet, these churches survive and thrive despite the fallacies therein. We know their teachings to be false, yet they exist.
However, if the Book of Mormon had been false, the Church would not be in existence today. Try to imagine a situation where the keystone of a church, a new scripture, is false, and imagine how many members would be standing thereafter. We have our personal testimony of the validity of the Book of Mormon, sure. But, the fact that the church stands is a reciprocating truth and testimony that the Book indeed is true. Thus, the obvious flip-side: The Book has not been proven false, for the church is still standing.
jasondeloycasperson
Well, they asked me to explain the book of Mormon, and of course I went into too much detail trying to simplify, and somehow the conversation got to where I asked her where her ancestors were from, and she replied that her aunts' sister was in pensacola....then the Elder took over.
A few minutes later, still trying to portray the importance of the Book of Mormon, I asked her: "If the Book of Mormon is a false book, what would that say about the church you are in?" She responded: "It wouldn't be here." (in heavy southern accent).
I thought, how true. The church would not have endured on the foundation of a false book. We are surrounded by churches with teachings that disagree one with another. We see churches with doctrines that in our opinion fully exploit the actual doctrines, preach falsehoods and man-made gospels. Yet, these churches survive and thrive despite the fallacies therein. We know their teachings to be false, yet they exist.
However, if the Book of Mormon had been false, the Church would not be in existence today. Try to imagine a situation where the keystone of a church, a new scripture, is false, and imagine how many members would be standing thereafter. We have our personal testimony of the validity of the Book of Mormon, sure. But, the fact that the church stands is a reciprocating truth and testimony that the Book indeed is true. Thus, the obvious flip-side: The Book has not been proven false, for the church is still standing.
jasondeloycasperson
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Two Thoughts
...and I should probably split this into separate posts, but don't feel like it.
1) As part of the introduction to Joseph Smith's teachings, we watched a portion of The Restoration video in Priesthood meeting today (Ashlee said they did so in Relief Society, also). I couldn't help but notice the three things Joseph's family did that helped get him to the point where he was spiritually self-reliant:
Family Scripture Study
Family Prayer
Church Attendance
And even though he most assuredly did not love every minute of any of these three, it was because of them that Joseph sought to know for himself which church was true.
I don't doubt that our children will have moments of "boredom" in church (Joel will say, "Dad, I'm booooring"), but having them be where they are supposed to be is the only way they will begin asking--and seeking answers to--their own religious questions.
2) Something that has been on my mind lately is this: Is it more helpful and empowering to think, "The Lord loves me," or that, "I love the Lord?"
1) As part of the introduction to Joseph Smith's teachings, we watched a portion of The Restoration video in Priesthood meeting today (Ashlee said they did so in Relief Society, also). I couldn't help but notice the three things Joseph's family did that helped get him to the point where he was spiritually self-reliant:
Family Scripture Study
Family Prayer
Church Attendance
And even though he most assuredly did not love every minute of any of these three, it was because of them that Joseph sought to know for himself which church was true.
I don't doubt that our children will have moments of "boredom" in church (Joel will say, "Dad, I'm booooring"), but having them be where they are supposed to be is the only way they will begin asking--and seeking answers to--their own religious questions.
2) Something that has been on my mind lately is this: Is it more helpful and empowering to think, "The Lord loves me," or that, "I love the Lord?"
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)