Farwell - Ephesians 4:11-15 (Emphasis on 13)
Have you ever looked up into the nighttime sky and wondered how the stars came to be? Have you ever gazed into the innocent eyes of a newborn child, contemplating the phenomon of life? Have you ever felt helpless and alone as you pondered your own existence? These are all events that most people worldwide encounter; including myself.
There are many people far and near that struggle with the certainty of whether or not God really exists and, if so, in what form. Beliefs in God vary from him being a spirit, to him being a life-force, to him actually being a man of flesh and blood. Such wide belief can and does lead to confusion among the masses. Questions arise. If there is a God, then why are there so many differing beliefs?
The God we know is a loving and just God. He is the perfect father. What father out there would want his children to be confused? Do you think God wants us to be confused? Of course not! Like any good father, God has provided a way for his children to learn and understand the truth.
There was one particular person whom existed over a century ago. This man was Joseph Smith. Like us, he had some of the same questions that we have today: why are there so many religions; why are so many holy writings interpreted in so many ways; which religion, if any, is correct? God, in his infinite wisdom and knowledge of Joseph's desires, provided Joseph an answer. As a direct consequence and through many years of revelation, God's church was reestablished.
Today we live in that church. There are several people around the world that might argue otherwise, but I know that this is God's true church and I know that because we are our Father's children that he wants us, all of us, to have the opportunity to learn and know the truth. A scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants reads:
For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. (D&C 123:12)
There are multitudes of people scattered about the world that, for whatever reason, do not know the Gospel. Many of those people aren't bad or corrupt. They don't have the truth that we have but that still doesn't make them any less than us. God listens to all of his children. A prayer to God will always be a prayer to God. There are individuals not of our faith that have asked God for the truth. God won't let them down.
It should be clear that God wants everyone all over the face of this planet to know the true Gospel. Through this church God has provided the truth and he asks of us to provide what we know to all those around us. I have been called as a full-time missionary to preach the Gospel. To many this comes as a suprrise. To others my calling was expected and long awaited. I know I'm one of those that was surprised.
About two years ago my brother, Jeremy, gave me two articles he had previously written. Attached to the front was a page personalized to me. The first paragraph read:
This morning I had a dream that you were given a mission call, but nobody could find you. There are people in whatever mission you are called to that need you, and only you, to help them. Only you and your personality can help them.
At the time that I received these papers I was quite inactive in the church and had no intention of going on a mission. Jeremy told me that if I read the articles and prayed about them that I would soon find the desire to once again attend church. I read them and nothing changed. I simply was not interested. I had lost interest shortly after reaching the age of sixteen and it lasted all the way to last May; three years of inactivity.
That was about the time that a very good friend of mine moved from Ohio and stayed with Bob, my mother, and me for approximately a month while she was searching for a place to stay. Hillary, the friend I'm referring to, had recently been baptized to this church and was on, what one might say, a religious "high." Late at night when both of us were actually home we would stay up and chat. Hillary enjoyed talking about all of her religious experiences and associations with the various missionaries who served in Ohio. The spirit that glowed about her eventually spread to me. I began to gain the desire to return to church and even reconsidered my decision regarding going on a mission.
Jeremy spoke of how only I could reach certain people. Hillary was the only person that could reach me at that time. God knew this and gave Hillary a reason to come to Bountiful to teach me. Hillary is not a called, full-time missionary and yet she still brings people to the truth. Furthermore, Jeremy was right. I read his articles and I have regained the interest to attend church and now I'm going on my mission to teach those people waiting for me. And, though I never prayed, I know that many people, family, friends, acquaintances, etc. did pray for me.
Jeremy and Hillary weren't the only people who played a role in reactivating me. Several other people played very vital roles. Anyone that truly knows me knows that I'm extremely stubborn. This, obviously, makes it very difficult to get certain ideas ore concepts through my thick head. Additionally, I always believed that I was a conversion project of the active LDS peers around me. The combination proved to be quite difficult. But, of course, there were still a small number of people, with the guidance of God, who were able to get a few words to stick.
Another brother of mine, Jason, asked me early last May if I was planning to go on a mission. I had heard the question dozens of times and was extremely sick of hearing it. I had told numerous people "no" before but, for some reason, I replied with a very unsure answer; almost like I, myself, was still considering the question. My reply outlined my feelings of how I would be going on a mission for the wrong reasons. Jason continued and felt it necessary to mention why he had chosen to go on a mission.
Jason did not want to get kicked out of the house. He had heard my mom and step-father speaking on various occasions about pushing Jason out the door and into his own place. Jason thought that if he went on a mission that he could come back home and be welcomed with open arms, possibly prolonging his stay. Jason almost immediately left after returning home from his mission, anyway. Jason also spoke of how if he didn't go on a mission then he would attract women with very different standards than what he wanted in a girl. These were his initial reasons. As time went on and as Jason neared leaving for his own mission, Jason's reasons turned to more spiritual and selfless ones.
To most, what Jason said would mean almost nothing. To me it made all the difference. My heart, through my own experiences and the prayers from my family, was longing to hear what Jason said. Jason didn't know that what he said made a difference. In fact, I don't think Jason even knew that I had started going back to church until quite a few months down the road.
I had spoken to Jason about how one of my largest concerns relative to my mission was that I wouldn't be going for the right reasons. My reasons, like Jason's, were very worldly. My top reason was relative to the kind of girl I would like to attract, secondary was learning another language, and tertiary was I had no real idea as to what I was going to do the next two years, anyway. Thanks to Jason's inspiration, I decided to go. As time wore on, my own reasons, likewise, changed to more spiritual ones.
I could go on to mention all the different people that helped me in choosing to go on a mission, which are many, but that isn't what I'm speaking about. No, I'm trying to make a point. God knows that, just as Jeremy said, there are certain people that need my help. Only I can get through to them. God cares about all of his children; every last one. God has called me to teach those people and is going to give me every opportunity to do so. If that means that everyone around me needs to give me a spiritual lecture then so-be-it. God has a perfect plan and I'm a part of it.
We all have opportunities to help others. Sometimes we don't even know we're doing it. I doubt Hillary did. Occasionally it may take a reasonably long time before we notice any effect; consider Jeremy and his articles. God has a plan to provide every one of us with the truth. We don't need to stare at the stars and wonder how. We shouldn't have to feel helpless and alone. The truth is here. Because God loves us, he will provide every one of us with the opportunity to know him. We are a part of that plan. A scripture in the Bible reads:
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfect of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-12)
For example, John Taylor was a preacher for the Methodist church. He was teaching what he believed to be the truth to his own congregation. His congregation loved and trusted him. The Lord knew that John Taylor was seeking truth and sent Parley P. Pratt to preach the Gospel to him. While at first John Taylor did not believe the words that were being revealed to him, John Taylor eventually gained a testimony in his heart of the true Gospel.
John Taylor commenced a thorough investigation of the doctrines of the Church. "I made a regular business of it for three weeks," he said, "and followed Brother Parley from place to place." He wrote down and studied Elder Pratt's sermons and compared them with the scriptures. At length, the Holy Spirit bore witness of the truthfulness of Elder Pratt's message, and John and Leonora Taylor were baptized on 9 May 1836. He later testified that he had "never doubted any principle of Mormonism since." (The Life and Ministry of John Taylor, xiv)
We know that God works in mysterious ways. He knows what he needs to do to encourage us to be in the right place at the right time. Continuing in Ephesians we read:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)
Unity of the faith. That single part of that scripture says a lot and it's the entire point that I'm trying to make. Yes, there are many, many religions on the face of the world. God knows this. If you continue reading:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:14-15)
God, our Father, loves us. God wants us to be happy. God doesn't want us to be confused. God wants us to be united as one faith. I spoke of my reasons for going on a mission changing from worldly ones to spiritual ones. I'm going to Texas to teach the fullness of Christ. I know that I have to humble myself in order to learn and teach the Gospel. I know that I must have love to teach the people of Texas. These two concepts go hand-in-hand.