Thursday, October 9, 2014

Come and See - Meet the Mormons

The theme for MOPS this year is be you, bravely.
So this is me being me, bravely.

If you've been following my blog for a while
or checked out my church tab
you probably know that I am a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
That's right...
I'm a Mormon.


This past weekend was general conference #LDSconf
& I'll be sharing my highlights soon.
Basically a bunch of inspiring, uplifting, & thought provoking quotes...

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
had a special message directed to people who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
He addresses the following question in his talk:
"Why are Latter-Day Saints so eager to tell me about what they believe and to invite me to learn about their church?"

In short he says,
"When we invite you to attend church with us or to learn with the full-time missionaries,
we are not trying to sell you a product.
As members of the Church, we do not receive prizes or bonus points in a heavenly contest.
We are not seeking simply to increase the numerical size of the Church.
And most importantly, we are not attempting to coerce you to believe as we do.
We are inviting you to hear the restored truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ
so you can study, ponder, pray, and come to know for yourself
if the things we are sharing with you are true.

Some of you may respond, "But I already believe in Jesus and follow His teachings,"
or "I am not sure if God really exists."
Our invitations to you are not an attempt to diminish your religious tradition or life experience.
Bring all that you know is true, good, and praiseworthy--and test our message.
Just as Jesus beckoned two of His disciples to "come and see" (John 1:39),
so we urge you to come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already believe to be true."

He goes on to share an experience involving two of his sons when they were little.
This story of brotherly kindness includes a lot of dish soap, a lot of ointment, and a lot of band-aids.
It helps describe why we are so eager to share our beliefs with those we meet.
I'll just let you read it (;

In part of his closing remarks,
"The invitations we extend to you to learn about and test our message grow out of the positive effects the gospel of Jesus Christ has had in our lives.
Sometimes we may be awkward or abrupt or even relentless in our attempts.
Our simple desire is to share with you the truths that are of greatest worth to us."

I encourage you to watch or read his entire talk since there is so much that I didn't share with you!

I'd also like to invite you to go watch 'Meet the Mormons' at a movie theater near you this weekend!

If you haven't heard of the movie here's what it's about...
It's a documentary that tells the stories of six Church members from around the world.
The Humanitarian
The Coach
The Fighter
The Bishop
The Mom
The Candy Bomber

Here's the official trailer:

From the official movie website:

"'Meet the Mormons' examines the very diverse lives of six devout members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filmed on location and across the globe, Meet the Mormons takes viewers on a journey into the day-to-day realities of individuals living in the U.S., Costa Rica, Nepal and beyond. From their individual passions to their daily struggles, each story paints a picture as rich and unique as the next while challenging the stereotypes that surround the Mormon faith."

"Regardless of their religious persuasion, viewers repeatedly find 'Meet the Mormons' to be entertaining, uplifting, and inspiring. It is meant to inform and to show people what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are really like. Viewers have an opportunity--in a very real and personal way--to witness people striving to follow the Savior and to see the difference that makes in their lives. In addition, net proceeds from the film will be given to charity--specifically the American Red Cross."

With that being said...
Watch or read Elder David A. Bednar's talk when you get the chance,
& watch 'Meet the Mormons' this weekend!
If you have any questions about the church, feel free to ask me!
Just trying to share ointment & band-aids with you (:
{see Elder Bednar's talk to understand the reference}

xoxo
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