I really like my friend, roommate and yoga teacher Deb. Great sense of humor, very low-key, open minded, flexible, clean, helpful (sounds like a scout motto or something). Anyway, one night at the restaurant, she says, "We haven't argued about anything. Pick a topic we can have a good discussion about." Well, that's easy. I started with the first article of faith. What Christian in the world won't argue about that??? I even drew the plan of salvation on my notebook for added discussion. She didn't buy any of it. But it sure did ease my conscience!
And last night we took another classmate to dinner with us, Melissa. All the usual questions women ask each other, "how many children, where did you meet your husband, where have you lived, do you have siblings, etc..." Turns out she is a twin and one of eight children and lived in Ogden, Utah till she was 12 and then moved to California. "Oh really, are you a Mormon?" "Well I was raised a Mormon and my family is still practicing that religion but I personally am not a practicing Mormon." That broke my heart. Her brothers have served missions. Parents active.
Made me stop in my tracks, so to speak. It's so easy to take your testimony for granted. And to be quite honest, easy to feel your testimony wobble ever so imperceptively when your beliefs are questioned and you can only answer, "I don't really know why or how, but I do know!"
All I want to say, is that we have answers that seem so clear, but it doesn't seem clear if you aren't ready to hear it. And to keep it all clear in your own brain you certainly need prayer, SCRIPTURES and conference talks to stay grounded. So everyone, keep up with your prayers and scriptures....and don't ever break your parents' hearts! (That of course means earthly and heavenly parents)
6 comments:
What a great experience you are having!...thanks for sharing it with us.
Wow. I can't believe with you around that the 1st article of faith hadn't come up sooner. :)
I've been surprised how many inactive people are living just in my neighborhood. One just got baptized earlier this year!
I recently had breakfast with a friend who has been inactive for 15 years. She is a return missionary and so is her husband. They were not married in the temple. Her 15 year-old step daughter was just joined the church and she wanted to ask me some questions. We talked for three hours and I gave her a few books/talks to read. It was a really powerful experience. I haven't had many chances to share my testimony in such an intimate setting. She is reading and praying. I hope that she will find her way back to the gospel. Interesting tidbit, I visit taught a girl in Germany who was a return missionary and inactive. Her husband was not a member. However, Her husband was taught and joined the church. They are now active and sealed in the temple. It is hard to understand how you can fall a way from the church after the sacrifice of a missionary service. I am grateful that the Lord never gives up on anyone.
(Sorry this was such a long comment. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I really admire your courage in sharing gospel)
I should clarify that Vanessa (the mom, friednd, return missionary) and I had breakfast and talk religion. Not her step-daughter. That comment is pretty confusing. I wish you could go back and edit those things.
Lara. Thanks for sharing your experiences as well. It's "hard" yet so great. Keep up the good work.
Way to go Sister Herway! My pre-missionary self is just so proud of my mum.
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