First of all....name that movie and we`ll be best friends
forever. But this week was a good week and can best be described in two
occurances. The best: We got to have a meeting with Elder
Bednar! It was a lot different than what I had expected. It was
almost all Q&A, with him asking questions or us. It was incredible
and such an exquisite joy to be able to feel the Spirit testify that he truly
is an apostle of God, just like the original apostles of Jesus Christ.
Like it says in the 6th aricle of faith, "We believe in the same
organization that existed in the primitive church, namely, apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth." I also got to see many
friends that are serving in other missions.
The worst of the week: Yesterday, we went out with an
older couple in the ward who are always gung-ho to share the gospel with the
whole world, which is good, but there are times they need to be more prudent in
the way they do it. We went to visit a family, and it was the first time
we were going to visit them, so we are asking a few questions and they say that
the father and daughter are studying Judaism. And this member asks,
"but you believe is Christ right?" And they respond, no.
So this member tries to tell them why that is wrong, and is so outspoken that
he doesn`t ever let them finish talking before interrupting them and saying why
that belief is misguided. The whole time he was saying things that were
quite on the line of being offensive and making fun. Luckily, the family
wasn`t contentious and took it all, but I felt so awful at the end. I
left feeling so ashamed and wanted to go back and apologize for that.
Just a reminder to all, criticizing or poking fun at another`s beliefs is NEVER
ok. Just because it is different, or may seem ridiculous to one, it is
genuine and important to another. Using another article of faith,
"We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God, according to the
dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them
worship, how, where, or what they may"
(from her private email to me about Elder Bednar's visit:
...it was awesome. I felt like laughing, crying, I felt such an immense joy
of being in his presence and I got to see him very close up as he was leaving.)