Sitting in Relief Society today the teacher asked a question: If you were to strike up a conversation with a stranger who was curious about your religion, what things would you want them to know about the LDS church (Mormons)? I hope I would be excited to share my feelings about this church that I love so much--not to get the stranger to baptism, but perhaps to cross of void a misunderstanding or confusion.
I might find myself saying: I don't care if you become a member of my church, per se, but there are some things that I love about my church, that I think would bless your life too!
1. Families Can Be Together Forever. Do you have someone you love? Do you wish to have someone you love? In the LDS Church, we believe that families are eternal. We can strengthen and grow relationships here, but the beautiful thing is that it doesn't end here. The family unit can be forever! Because families can be forever, we are a family focused church. We learn about families, we strengthen our relationships, we spend time together, we study and pray and attend church together. We are encouraged to be selfless and understanding within our families.
2. The Relief Society. Did you know that the Relief Society is the largest and oldest organization of women in the whole world? We have over 6 million members in over 170 different countries. Each Sunday--and once a month at optional, weeknight meetings--you can gather and join hundreds of other women around the world as we learn about our Savior and try to learn how to live better the Relief Society Motto: Charity Never Faileth. We are made up of a whole bunch of women--old and young, crafty and sporty, tall and short, thick and thin, mothers and non-mothers, married, single, divorced, widowed, and any other combination you can think of--who make mistakes and are only human, but you will always be able to find a friendly face and a friend who can be a support. Our goal is to uplift and support each other.
3. Our clergy are NOT paid! Everything you do in the Church is volunteer. You are needed! We need more friendly faces. We need more skilled workers. We need more leaders and supporters and attenders. We are a whole bunch of people who are doing the best we can--despite full work schedules, little babies, lawns to tend to and grocery shopping to do. We give of our time, but we find that we receive back tenfold what we give. There is nothing like the feeling of pulling up to a church parking lot on a dark weekday night to find a group of people who need you and who can lift and support you.
4. We have a Living Prophet. Our current Prophet, President Monson, is a fabulous guy. We believe he is the Lord's mouthpiece in this modern day--just like prophets anciently. He gives us direction and love from our Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be led and directed--not left to wonder and wander alone. Plus, have you ever seen General Conference? He is an awesome storyteller!
5. We spend a lot of time working with our Youth. Few other callings in our church take as much time as a youth calling. Adults who are called to work with the youth spend at the minimum, 3-4 hours a week with our youth. Then there are also youth dances, youth trips to the temple, youth presidency meetings, youth training's, youth camps, and youth award ceremonies--not to mention the opportunities to support our youth in a non-religious manner. We, as a Church, pray for the youth in meetings and in personal places. We teach them to be strong, to be courageous, to be humble, to be obedient, to think for themselves. We love them and think about them and hope for the future for them. We are invested in them.
6. Members of our Church are eligible to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. Shortly after baptism, you can be confirmed. The Holy Ghost is a third member of the Godhead, a Spirit, that can be with you always. The Holy Ghost does many things for those who are worthy and who listen: warn, comfort, support, testify, direct, answer questions, give peace, lift spirits, and show love. You can feel the Holy Ghost in many ways, and every person feels it differently. For those who listen and obey, the Holy Ghost will help one to live a life of happiness and service, of faith and perspective.
7. We are a Church full of Service. Look at just about every disaster that happens--you will see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints helping in some manner--food, clothes, water, shelter, teaching skills, counseling, support--and usually it happens within HOURS of the emergency. We open our churches to communities of all faiths, we ship supplies halfway across the world at no small cost, we have an entire humanitarian department of the church. On a smaller level, we are taught to help our friends and neighbors. We set up chairs for meetings, we re-roof houses, we move families in and out of homes, we take cookies and dinners and cards to new mommies, we shovel walks and rake leaves, we pray and pray and pray. Each week, members of our faith take the Sacrament--which is our form of communion. By doing so, we renew our baptismal covenants which teach us to be "willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;...and are willing to mourn with those that mourn;...and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in."
8. We are all imperfect. I love that my friend sitting next to me probably yelled at her kids sometime this week, that some of us have been judgmental to a situation we didn't understand, and that every one of us has a reason to ask for forgiveness. Lots of us will have messy kitchens and will be pressed for time. Many of us have been offended, many of us have offended others. But--many, Many, MANY of us are trying so hard to be better. We seek the power of the Atonement every day to help us be more understanding, more forgiving, more open, more loving, more friendly. We believe that Grace is something that makes up the difference everyday--not just at the end of our lives. As we do everything we can do, Heavenly Father and the power of the Saviors' Atonement make up the difference. We can try again tomorrow to be better than we were today. Sometimes we struggle with the same thing for years. Sometimes we come off judgmental or condemning. Some of us are judgmental and condemning. But so many of us just want to love and be loved. To be better. To help others. To bring the same joy that we feel into other peoples lives. We get wrapped up in ourselves and our families far too often, but you will also see us step outside ourselves and notice another. We are challenged to grow and forgive and try to overcome our shortcomings.
9. We have modern scripture and modern revelation. Have you heard of the Book of Mormon? It really is a miraculous little book--somehow it holds all the answers to every question you might have. How to be a better mother. How to be a good friend. Why do bad things happen to good people. Why do good things happen to bad people? Through the power of the Holy Ghost, the Book of Mormon (and other modern scriptures) become a conduit for personal revelation. The answer I get while reading my scriptures may be a different answer from yours, but each will be tailored to our own lives and circumstances. How cool is that?
10. We believe in and love Jesus Christ, our Savior. He paid the ultimate price and showed us the way to return to our Father in heaven. Through His example, we can become better people and learn the lessons we were sent here to learn. He understands and knows each one of us individually, and he can cater his help and love specifically for us, one by one.
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How would YOU answer the question:
"If you were to strike up a conversation with a stranger who was curious about your religion, what things would you want them to know about the LDS church (Mormons)?"
