I'll try to make this one short so you don't have to get bored of reading my rants. I've been thinking lately about the world and about things people say. One of the subjects that gives me great concern but also great amusement is all the hatred the LDS church gets. It's sad to see some people be so vehemently opposed to an organization that does so much good, yet comical to hear people's reasons. I've yet to hear one good reason for someone leaving the church. Sure there are people who have issues with Bishops, Stake Presidents, someone said or did something and made you mad. But those are people. Nobody has been able to tell me how the church has hurt them. "Well, they tore my family apart!" Did the LDS church really tear your family apart or was it the individual choices you were all making? "Well, I just don't agree with the doctrine." What don't you agree with? That Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world? The he suffered so you didn't have to? That the whole mission of the church includes teaching and strengthening each other and helping everyone regardless of their religion? Or is it the fact that we believe God lives? Or that we can return to Him? Maybe you don't agree that God calls prophets today. If that's the case you shouldn't believe the bible. There are also those people who claim to know things yet upon further questioning you find they heard on the TV one day or someone once told them they had heard something. I'm sure glad that's not how we get all our information. "Johnny's mom had a teacher once who heard..."
The funniest to me, I think, is that the LDS is the greatest con/scam ever pulled off. Usually in a con or scam, don't the instigators and perpetrators usually benefit somehow? I'm sure at 14 Joseph Smith couldn't have conceived any kind of scheme large enough to fool his friends let alone the world. I also don't think he planned on being persecuted, arrested, tarred and feathered, being run out of homes, having children taken from him or die, having his friends beaten and raped, eventually getting killed the whole time never claiming, "Okay, stop. It's a lie, I was just kidding." Or those that followed to have to leave their homes and start all over, or giving their hard earned money to build houses of worship or helping the poor, or having to continue to endure pain and suffering. If that was the plan, that is one of the worst cons/scams ever created. Sounds pretty ridiculous, huh?
"Well, what about polygamy? What about your magic underwear? What about your secret temples?" What about them? Polygamy happened. Is that really a reason to deride a religion whose goal is to help people? The Crusades happened. Where are all the anti-Catholics? I've never worn magic underwear in my life and the phrase itself indicates that it's user lacks several pieces of information. As far as secret temples, you can find all the things done in the temple on YouTube. It will just look like weird gibberish to you unless you understand what's happening. "Well, I don't think it's right to deny people access." We don't, be a worthy member of the church and you can go in. Do you hate the Shriners? How many thousands of families have they helped for free? Did you know you can't be a Shriner without being a Mason? "What?!" It's true. They don't allow just anyone to enter their temples, yet people praise them for their good deeds.
I guess what I'm getting at is that it's pretty comical that people, especially in a world where anything you want to know is right at your fingertips, still attack an institution on such frivolous grounds. That's the way it needs to be, though. Since the beginning of time there have always been opposites in all things. The bigger and stronger the church gets the more opposition there will be. It certainly is the wrong religion if someone has a weak disposition for conviction.
I just want to end this not-so-short short post by saying people, regardless of religious affiliation, are imperfect. Have there been church members and leaders who have done things they probably shouldn't have? Absolutely. Does that change the fact that the church is good and true? Nope. Why are we so eager to forgive celebrities and athletes for ruining families, lying, destroying their own lives with drugs, encouraging awful behavior, yet when it comes to a church that really does some good and changes lives for the better, people never forgive or forget when things don't go the way they thought they would? I'll never understand. The beautiful thing is, I'll never have to. I know what I know, I have my convictions. I know there are people that aren't members of the church that are amazing, good people. I know there are bad people in the LDS church. But I also know that doesn't change what's right, and it's certainly shaky ground to base your eternal happiness on. Luckily, me getting back to a loving Heavenly Father and my Savior doesn't hinge on what others say about the church or believe about me. I'm just fine with that.
The funniest to me, I think, is that the LDS is the greatest con/scam ever pulled off. Usually in a con or scam, don't the instigators and perpetrators usually benefit somehow? I'm sure at 14 Joseph Smith couldn't have conceived any kind of scheme large enough to fool his friends let alone the world. I also don't think he planned on being persecuted, arrested, tarred and feathered, being run out of homes, having children taken from him or die, having his friends beaten and raped, eventually getting killed the whole time never claiming, "Okay, stop. It's a lie, I was just kidding." Or those that followed to have to leave their homes and start all over, or giving their hard earned money to build houses of worship or helping the poor, or having to continue to endure pain and suffering. If that was the plan, that is one of the worst cons/scams ever created. Sounds pretty ridiculous, huh?
"Well, what about polygamy? What about your magic underwear? What about your secret temples?" What about them? Polygamy happened. Is that really a reason to deride a religion whose goal is to help people? The Crusades happened. Where are all the anti-Catholics? I've never worn magic underwear in my life and the phrase itself indicates that it's user lacks several pieces of information. As far as secret temples, you can find all the things done in the temple on YouTube. It will just look like weird gibberish to you unless you understand what's happening. "Well, I don't think it's right to deny people access." We don't, be a worthy member of the church and you can go in. Do you hate the Shriners? How many thousands of families have they helped for free? Did you know you can't be a Shriner without being a Mason? "What?!" It's true. They don't allow just anyone to enter their temples, yet people praise them for their good deeds.
I guess what I'm getting at is that it's pretty comical that people, especially in a world where anything you want to know is right at your fingertips, still attack an institution on such frivolous grounds. That's the way it needs to be, though. Since the beginning of time there have always been opposites in all things. The bigger and stronger the church gets the more opposition there will be. It certainly is the wrong religion if someone has a weak disposition for conviction.
I just want to end this not-so-short short post by saying people, regardless of religious affiliation, are imperfect. Have there been church members and leaders who have done things they probably shouldn't have? Absolutely. Does that change the fact that the church is good and true? Nope. Why are we so eager to forgive celebrities and athletes for ruining families, lying, destroying their own lives with drugs, encouraging awful behavior, yet when it comes to a church that really does some good and changes lives for the better, people never forgive or forget when things don't go the way they thought they would? I'll never understand. The beautiful thing is, I'll never have to. I know what I know, I have my convictions. I know there are people that aren't members of the church that are amazing, good people. I know there are bad people in the LDS church. But I also know that doesn't change what's right, and it's certainly shaky ground to base your eternal happiness on. Luckily, me getting back to a loving Heavenly Father and my Savior doesn't hinge on what others say about the church or believe about me. I'm just fine with that.
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