Do you ever have one of those moments where you glimpse a picture of something or someone you want to be, wish you were, or are striving to be more like? Do you experience a moment where good pride feels your heart so fully that it feels like it's about to leap out of your chest? Do you just want to just up and put your arms around someone and tell them how great they are and thank them for what they've said?
Today was one of those days.
At church, a woman who has only been a member of the church for about 2 months now spoke in Sacrament meeting. She spoke about General Conference and how how it was wonderful that all of the members of the church were receiving the exact same instruction, from a modern-day prophet and apostles, no less. Her heart was full as she described her feelings and how she had been searching for this in her life and how she 100% knew it was true.
I kept thinking to myself about how the political arena continues to either question, doubt, or make fun of our faith, how some call it a cult during this extraordinary time when 2 LDS members are running for president of the United States. Seriously. How on earth can 14 million people claim Christ as their savior, feel his love, have such a strong devotion to family, try to be good people, try to love everyone, try to keep the bodies the Lord has given them clean and pure, yet be called a cult? Here was a woman who was going through her life, living like the other 2 billion people on the earth, just continuing along down a path to nowhere when one day she is introduced to the gospel through a friend. She chose to take the lessons and she chose to be baptized. She's chosen this way of life because it's GOOD. It's not a cult. We are a people who love Christ and choose to follow Him in all we do. Sure, some people say our way of life is hard. We disagree. It's easy to live this life - it's hard when you don't. I'm so glad that I don't have to deal with the effects of drugs and alcohol in my life. I'm glad that I have a husband who avoids pornography and the conflict it brings into a marriage and one's personal life. I'm glad that I believe in chastity and virtue and remaining chaste until marriage. And...I'm glad that because of Christ's atonement for us, that when we slip up and choose to follow the ways of the world, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins so we can feel pure again.
I watched in awe, with a large smile on my face, as this woman shared her thoughts and feelings in her talk about the change in her life and the joy she has found in this church. It was such a breath of fresh air.
Ah, those newbies...they always lift my spirit and remind me of feelings I've often long forgotten.
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