I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I choose to believe in Him, and I choose to believe in the redemption that is offered to me through Him. The doctrines that are taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the doctrines that I choose to live by. There are several questions that I have about doctrine, because I honestly don’t understand everything. However, the blessings and understandings that I have been given have overwhelmingly shown to me that this message offers to me the greatest potential for good that I can hope to find here on the earth. Even if proven wrong, I would continue to follow the precepts that are taught to me through the scriptures (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, Old & New Testament).
I am saddened by those who have been treated poorly by members of the church, under the supposed “direction” of the church. I have never heard anyone in authority encourage any members of the church to be unkind, disrespectful, or promote any kind of segregation. I don’t understand the kind of thinking that it takes to do these unkindnesses. Christ says, “Love one another.” In 2 Peter 1:7 “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” Never have I seen, read, or heard any doctrine that asks me to judge, belittle, or reject people. It is simply not Christ’s way. It is my responsibility to treat people with respect, kindness, and charity. I can certainly live a whole lifetime improving on and striving toward those goals. It is not an easy task, but this is one of the many reasons that I am a member of this church.
One thing that I have learned over time is that the gospel message and the church organization are separate things. The mission of the church is threefold. They are to: perfect the saints, to redeem the dead, and spread the gospel (Ephesians 4:12, D&C 138:58, Mosiah 18:9). The gospel is the message, the doctrine, the truth. The gospel comes from Christ himself, it is the wonderful message of redemption, that we have the ability to change, improve, and become more like Him, and return to Heavenly Father with our families and live forever with them. My mother passed away 15 years ago, and I hope (and believe) that there will be a time (in 50 or so years), for me to be reunited with her and enjoy the laughter and love that we enjoyed in this life. I can choose to hope and believe in this, because I believe that Heavenly Father would want His children to have the comfort of those loving people around them.
The church is the vehicle that delivers the gospel. I believe that imperfect people are given the responsibility to run the church. I wholeheartedly believe that they (more often than not) try their very best to do the things Christ would do. However, we are simply humans, who (more often than not) make mistakes, sometimes little ones, and sometimes very stupid ones. I have heard many stories about dumb things people who are in authority say to persons to whom they have some responsibility for. For example, a recent widow (friend of mine) was visited by her bishopbric, and was told that she should either remarry ASAP or go back to school. WHAT?! What a ridiculous thing for a religious leader to say to her. She had a good job, and was perfectly able to care for her needs on her own, thank you very much. Let alone that she had just lost her best friend and didn’t want to replace that relationship. In reflecting this situation, it sounds like someone, a human, thought he was being helpful, but got the whole thing backwards. I am sure that we have all said and done things that didn’t come out in neither a very kind nor Christlike manner. And that is one of the many, many reasons that I am happy to believe in Christ and repentance-so that I can have an opportunity to apologize, be forgiven and to forgive. I choose to believe that we are all on our own individual paths to enlightenment, and that my path is the one that helps me to be a better person, and not necessarily will work for everyone. And I thoroughly respect that about my friends, family, and those I come in contact with. In fact, that thought is the 11th Article of Faith, it says, “We claim the a 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.” It is not my intent to convince anyone that my beliefs are the only right beliefs for them. I am only testifying that the truths that I have found are the right truths for me.
I also believe that the gospel offers the greatest potential for blessings available to humans. When I made my covenants with Heavenly Father, I didn’t promise to do strange things. I promised to try my best, to be kind and unselfish, to be loyal to my husband and family, and to do my best to be a good person. In return for those covenants that I made, Heavenly Father promised me that I could return to live with Him, that I could be with my family, and that I could have the opportunity to become more like Him after I die. I can’t imagine greater blessings than these.
When I have had times in my life when I felt lost, alone, and full of regret, it has been the gospel that has lifted and bouyed me up. I have felt the peace in my soul that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It has been a very sacred experience for me, and one that has helped to solidify my testimony of the gospel.
I absolutely have unanswered questions about the gospel. Questions that I suppose may never be answered in this life. But this I know: that when I follow Christ’s teachings, and live the gospel, that I am a happier person. That when I pay attention to the whisperings of the spirit, I am better able to help those around me. That when I follow commandments, I have countless blessings as a part of my life. That as I do the things that I have convenanted to do, I have peace in my heart. Christ asks me to “mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things” Mosiah 18:9) He asks me to repent and forgive of the mistakes I make. He asks me to have charity (the pure love of Christ) towards my fellow men and women (Colossians 3:14-15, 2 Nephi 26:30, Ether 12:34, Moroni 7:44-48, and many others). As I am on this individual path to Heavenly Father’s home, I would like to bring those people with me if I can. But, I will not do it through force, anger, bullying, belittling, or any other way that interferes with the freedom to choose. That is simply not Christ’s way, and therefore not a viable path for me.
