Momron Church When Did Family Home Evenign Start
Soon later graduating from high school, Stephanie realized she wanted to join the Mormon Church. Only she was reluctant to tell her parents. In an commodity for Mormon Times Stephanie wrote,
"While my begetter and mother are wonderful people, they did not have an understanding of the gospel at the fourth dimension. Both agnostic themselves, it wasn't religion in general that they were worried about. It was our [Mormon] religion and the many stereotypes associated with it that acquired concern. I faced a challenge: How do I explicate to them why I want to get baptized?"
While abroad at college, Stephanie took the advice of her branch president back home and wrote her parents a letter that conveyed "all of [her] feelings without interruption." Her hope was that their hearts would be softened.
The alphabetic character had its desired outcome and Stephanie was baptized into the Mormon Church with the support of her parents in December 2009. She included the full text of her alphabetic character in the Mormon Times article, prefaced with her goal regarding her readers, whether members or investigators: "Hopefully my letter will in some manner strengthen your testimony."
Stephanie's letter of the alphabet is long (over 1400 words) and unmistakably heartfelt. She tells her parents, "I love the church and the profound event it has had on my life." I encourage yous to read Stephanie's entire letter, but I volition summarize here. The main points influencing Stephanie'south desire to join the Mormon Church were these:
- Conservative morals
- Positive peer pressure level
- Belonging to a community of kindhearted and open people
- Hearing members' testimonies on Fast Sundays (and sharing her own)
- Being welcomed rather than judged
- Existence challenged to become apprehensive and become a amend person
- The promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost at baptism, which would provide guidance
- Being allowed (as a member) to give talks, serve on committees, pay tithing, and participate in missionary work
Stephanie gave her parents many reasons that explained her decision to be baptized in the Mormon Church, and they offered her love and support in return. Stephanie probably understood what types of things would resonate positively with her agnostic parents and wrote her alphabetic character accordingly. Even and then, I am struck by both the focus of the letter, and what'due south missing from it.
In seeking to accomplish her goals (i.due east., explain why she wanted to get baptized, convey all of her feelings, and soften the hearts of her parents) Stephanie testified eloquently of the Church – its people, its programs, and its positive influence on beliefs; but she did non testify of Christ.
I don't mean to be pedantic, but I think it is illustrative that Stephanie's letter of the alphabet mentioned the Mormon Church 26 times while bringing up the name of Jesus but twice (once in the full proper name of the Church, and once in identifying the members of the Mormon godhead). Stephanie'south ain testimony (and the testimony of the others which she hopes her letter will strengthen) is all almost the Church building and what it can do for members. She doesn't talk well-nigh her love for God or her desire to worship and serve Him. She doesn't talk about what Jesus, as Savior, has done for her, or what it ways to be loved by Him. Instead, Stephanie testifies,
"I love the church…"
"I love the church building…"
"It's my dearest for the church…"
It sounds to me like Stephanie (and other Mormons) would have no problem affirming LDS apostle Marion G. Romney's 1961 General Conference proclamation that "This Church…is the fashion, the truth, and the life" (Briefing Written report, April 1961, 119. Also quoted in Book of Mormon Student Manual Faith 121 and 122, 1989, 26).
I wonder if they fifty-fifty know that Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:half-dozen).
williamsriefterin.blogspot.com
Source: https://blog.mrm.org/2011/05/why-join-the-mormon-church/
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