Just a Testimony

Today is a fast Sunday.  I don't know if I'll go up to the pulpit today, but I know I want to share my testimony somehow.

I just read an article in the Chicago Tribune News about how 150 people in Salt Lake City conducted a ceremonial mass "resignation" from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I don't bring this up to say that I'm outraged with their decision or hurt or offended--people leaving the church is not a new thing, though it is a rare thing.  I bring it up to illustrate the tragedy of this decision, and the strange horror it is to see people "celebrate" such a decision.  They point to supposed inconsistencies in the Church's practice on polygamy, the political activism of the Church against gay marriage, they accuse the Church of teaching doctrines opposed to scientific fact, and cite a number of other such reasons why they are quitting the church.  The most astounding reason to me that they offered for their decision was this--the Church promotes obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have grown up in the Church all my life.  I remember as a child being taught the principle of obedience.  Always it was presented with the fact that God loves each of us and wants so dearly to see us again.  I learned that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are my best friends.  I felt their tender love and care through their ordained and set apart ministers in the priesthood and in other organizations in the Church.

I felt their love as I learned that they created this world for me.

I felt their love as I learned that I lived with them in my heavenly home for a really long time before I came to this earth.

I felt their love as I learned that God has prophets on the earth to teach me how to return home safely.

I felt their love as I learned about Jesus Christ--how He had come to earth in a poor little manger just for me,  how He had lived a perfect, exemplary life of service just for me.  I felt the love of God the Father and the Son as I learned how much Christ hurt and suffered just for me.

I felt their love as I learned how a little fourteen-year old boy named Joseph Smith helped open a way for me to have Christ's atoning sacrifice work for me now in this time.

I felt their love as I read stories in the Book of Mormon about many different people who were cared for and loved by them.

That is why I am a member of the Church.  I have felt the Spirit.  God has told me what I must do to go back home.  I know that this earth is not home.  I am not at home here.

I know someday that I will be judged for all my thoughts and actions.  I feel I can't ever fully express my gratitude for what the Savior has done to make it so I don't have to worry about being unprepared for that examination.

I hope that whoever reads this will feel like I do--I hope that whoever reads this will know that I know that there is no other way to go back home without turning over one's life completely into Christ's hands.

Matthew 7:13 and 14 reads
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

I am in no position to judge anyone, I never have been.  I can't coerce or force anyone to do anything.  But if I do have friends or family who read this who feel the least bit lukewarm about the Church--if there's someone out there who doubts if these old men really are Apostles and Prophets--if there is anyone who feels the Church is off course in one way or another--I would beg.  I beg you to not give up on going back home.  I know that it is hard, it is so hard.  I know that God loves you.  Please don't make him hurt.  Please don't make him feel any more grief than He has felt already.  The last thing that God needs is for you to give up on Him.  His Church is true.  It is His Church.  His Church can take care of us and love us and guide us back home.

Why would anyone ever leave it?  There could never be any reason to justify giving up on the single opportunity I have to go back home.

I think that if everyone knew how much God feels the hurt when we fail to keep his commandments, and if they knew how happy He is when one of His children repents, no one would ever, ever even entertain the idea of turning against the Church., or leaving it behind, or criticizing its leaders, or putting forth anything but their best efforts to remain faithful.

I wish there was more forceful language I could use to persuade everyone the truth of what I feel.  But I know that the Spirit will confirm the truth of all things.  Please do what the Spirit asks you to do.  Don't ignore Him.  Please listen to God.

And with all testimonies, I should close with words that convey this meaning--I say what I say as a representative of Jesus Christ who has entered into covenants to serve Him and to become like Him, and as I have written and felt, let it so be.  I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.