Annoyed and Upset!

The last seven days have been really difficult and frustrating for me. Over the last seven days, I have had three distinct opportunities to share the gospel and unfortunately it was unsuccessful. I remember watching this speech Elder Holland gave last March to a group of law students at Harvard University on the topic of religion. He spoke for about 15 minutes on what we as Latter Day Saints believe and then there was about a 30 minute Q&A session that followed. He has always been a great example to me with everything, but especially sharing the gospel. I always have admired him and his ability to speak to people and preach the gospel in a way others would be receptive. I must say that he represents our church so well and I was so proud of him and to be associated with him after he gave that speech (not that I wasn’t before). He is so respectful of others and their religious choices, but he also made sure to speak boldly of the truth and the things we believe. I needed a “pick-me-up” and his example. He is incredible. Anyway, after that was over, I saw over in the right hand column a video that was titled ‘Glen Beck tires to prove the Book of Mormon on air’. I always enjoyed watching the Glen Beck show and because he is so forthcoming and bold, I was curious what he said. It wasn’t long after the video began when small captions below the picture kept popping us about how Glen Beck is a liar, he is crazy, and all these other horrible things about him and the church. This really ticked me off, but this was only the tipping point. This weekend I attended a wedding of a family member, with two of my aunts. Anyone reading this knows I am the only LDS member of my family, so anything on a religious subject is always pretty controversial. The subject of religion was brought up one night as the three of us were talking. I think it got brought up because one of them mentioned they could not eat meat that Friday because of Lent. Anyway, in a nut shell, we began talking about how different religions began to break off of the original church and that was how many of the religions today were started, a reformation. I could not help but feel my beliefs and my church were being targeted as just another one of those churches who broke off from the original church. A great opportunity to correct them I thought….WRONG! I really did not have the opportunity to share the truth about our church and the Restoration because of the closed minded and hardened hearts of my aunt. I respect them for following their church and their beliefs but I did not appreciate the feelings she shared about her view of my religion. I guess the thing that bothers me the most about this is that people in general who really don’t know anything about the church make assumptions, give no place for correction, and then are content with their judgments without even looking for the truth. They get their false information from anywhere and everywhere else but the true source, the Church and its members. If you want to learn how to play tennis, do you ask a golf instructor to teach you? OF COURSE NOT!!! I admit it’s a poor analogy but you get the idea. If you want to know about the LDS church then ask a member of the church who is in good standings and actively participates in it. So that was that, then a few days later I was out with the sister missionaries. We were on our way out from a lesson and stopped to talk to a man on the side walk. We started to talk to him for a few brief seconds and he quickly cut us off telling us "I totally disagree with you." He brought up several subjects to see what we would say about them, things like the Book of Mormon and prophets and if we believed in Jesus Christ. When we began to answer his questions and told him that the Book of Mormon was another testament of Jesus Christ and why it was needful, he said "I totally disagree." The sisters and I walked away after a few minutes and they expressed to me that he was not willing or able to accept the gospel or to feel the promptings of the spirit at this time. I don’t know if I am just overly sensitive to this because of the many recent experiences I have had this week or what, but it really bothers me. The more I study the scriptures and go out with the sisters the more I come to appreciate and love the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. Anyone who says that the Book of Mormon is not necessary or even that it is not of God, clearly has never read it. And if they would read it, even if simply on an educational basis, would at least come to know that there is no other book on earth that professes Jesus is the Christ more than this one. One simple cannot deny that it is another testament of Jesus Christ if they would set their assumptions aside and simply read it. The more I read the Book of Mormon and study the Bible at the same time, I am even more convinced that what is said in the Doctrine and Covenants is true that "It is the most correct book which, if men will abide by its precepts, will get them closer to God than any other book. It is the Book of Mormon." But one would not know that if they have never read it. Sure you can take ones word for it, but to know for yourself, you must read it, ponder and pray about it and then will you come to know for yourself that it is a true book of scripture that does testify of Jesus Christ and that it is the true word of God. I am overwhelmed and I am sure this entire post is going to make me sound like a mad woman but I had to write my feelings down somewhere to save someone’s ear! It is so evident that prophesies of the latter days are being fulfilled and the adversary is trying so hard to throw off the Lords work. There are negative and misleading teachings of the church everywhere. You can’t even type in LDS in the Google search box without a ton of ugly things popping up. It just makes me want to try even harder to share the gospel and set the record straight with as many as I can, to as many that will listen. I love the sister missionaries and the opportunities they give me to go with them so often and teach people. It is such a rewarding thing and it’s a wonderful sight to see how people’s lives change when they accept the gospel and are baptized. I’m grateful for this gospel and for the Book of Mormon.