I remember going to my first class as a 6th grader- it was language arts. I was standing by my desk, and the bell hadn't rang yet. Above the noises, a boy yelled out, "Hey Rachel! You're a moron- you go to the moron church!"
He was standing a few desks away. I turned to him, shook my finger at him, and said, "I am a Mormon! Don't you EVER make fun of my religion again!!"
He never did again-even all through my high school years.
Even though he never made fun of me again, many others did.
Almost daily, either someone asked me questions about my religion, made fun of my strict lifestyle, or divulged all kinds of crazy things they had been taught about my religion in their church. I would then clarify the miseducation they had received.
I often wondered why members at my friends' churches would gather just to talk about the Mormons. There were only a small handful of us in the entire high school, and we were all good kids.
Despite all of this, I became the Student Body President running with the campaign slogan of "Rachel Likes People!"
My friends knew that when they were really going through something tough in their lives, they could trust me to pray with all my heart to God on their behalf. Although they didn't understand my religion, never once had any of my friends questioned my belief in Jesus Christ because they could see my faith in HIM through my love for them.
This past week, some strangers doubted my belief in Jesus. They said that I believe in a different Jesus than them. It perplexed me that there would be such a discussion. We're worshipping the same Jesus- the One and Only Messiah. Their comments hurt deeply at the time, but now I see the wisdom in God's ways. HE was strengthening me!
One of my favorite CS Lewis quotes is as follows:
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
I know the pain I felt is minimal to what many others continually face, but I learned something beautiful. As I felt pain and turned to my Savior who took upon himself all pain, I felt a strengthening and a building within me that I never thought possible!
I had been given the opportunity this week to bear simple testimony again and again that Jesus Christ is my Savior and my God. I had been given the opportunity to state over and over that I am Christian.
It has been one of the deepest, most penetrating spiritual experiences of my life to feel my Savior's loving arms wrap around me each time I testified of those truths. I know that I am HIS witness, and I thank HIM for that honor.
What a miracle! In the process of testifying of my king and Savior, Jesus Christ, I received an even stronger testimony of HIM.
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ReplyDeleteThank you Cristee for clarifying your intentions. I appreciate your concern for me.
DeleteMany times when people are quoted, the rest of the details are omitted; and therefore, the real message is lost.
President Hinkley was referring to the difference that we, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, believe that Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate beings.
Because we believe that Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God, the Father, we believe we have been blessed with further understanding that they are not in one body as previously taught my the Nicean creed.
They are the Godhead. When the Bible says that they are one, we believe the interpretation is that they are one in purpose. That is the difference of which President Hinkley speaks.
I would consider my husband and I as one. In fact we are taught to be as one. We are one in the purpose of raising our children to learn of their Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, we use the Bible daily to teach of HIM so that they may know the ONE whom they want to emulate... the Biblical Jesus.
Gordon B. Hinkley continued:
"Am I Christian? Of course I am. I believe in Christ. I talk of Christ. I pray through Christ. I'm trying to follow Him and live His gospel in my life."
He also said:
"Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the greatest figure of time and eternity. Believe that His matchless life reached back before the world was formed. Believe that He was the Creator of the earth on which we live. Believe that He was Jehovah of the Old Testament, that He was the Messiah of the New Testament, that He died and was resurrected..."
Thank you for getting to know me through my blog. I realize that you may not agree with my perspective, but hopefully you understand better President Hinkley's quote. If you sincerely have questions, I'm happy to answer those.
I hope you continue to read.
Take Care and God Bless You.
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