안녕하세요 매이트! G'Day Mates! (sorry, long one...)
So a funny doorknocking story. We get to a door, knock. Wait for a response. Knock one more time and then we hear,
Voice: "There's no one here!!"
Elder Neas: "Oh really, there's no one here? So who are we talking to?"
Voice: "A ghost"
Us: "Ok ghost, you have a good day then"
Ghost: "Thanks, you too"
So we went over to a friend of ours house for some board games and Elder Neas offered them my ability to make Navajo Tacos. This lady and her husband are a young couple. Missionaries have been visiting them for a long time. Not a lot of teaching has been done, but she has always welcomed the missionaries and is sometimes keen to learn more. Her husband is good guy, fireman in the Air Force, and has seen all the... "interesting" YouTube videos about our church from people not of our faith or against it. So he has had heaps of questions. He's not necessarily keen, but he asks plenty of questions and scenarios that keep us on our toes.
While he was asking questions and scenarios, he finally asked, "Ok. Honestly, is there anything that would cause you to leave the church? Like what would it take for you to leave the church? Like what if the person you dislike the most becomes one of those counselor guys (we had just explained about the Prophet and his counselors, and didn't fully get it haha)?" We were surprised, made an honest effort to think, but came up with nothing. After our time with them, Elder Neas and I drove back to the flat and talked about it a little. We had both tried thinking what it would take, but nothing. Elder Neas said: "maybe if they banned (b/c Elder Neas is part Korean) Asians from holding the Priesthood. But even then, it would be more awkward than anything, but I'd still know the church is true. Everything links back to the Book of Mormon. I know it's true. So everything else just stems from that."
So I guess I'd like to ask you the same thing: What would it take for you to leave the Church?
A "blessing", if you'd call it that, that I've noticed while I've been on my mission is that I've been exposed to many questions about the Church that I've never thought of. Mostly from people arguing or honestly asking. A lot about the Book of Mormon (Revelations/Deuteronomy, "adding to the Bible"), about Church History (Polygamy, African Americans not being able to hold the Priesthood, etc.), about the legitimacy of Joseph Smith's First Vision ("Well I could go in my backyard and have a vision and start my own church!"), about the reasoning behind all our mission rules ("why do you call each other Elder?", "why can't you play Playstation with me?"), etc. For a lot of them, I think, "hmm.. You know, I've never thought of that" or "I'm not actually sure why." However, through the response of companions or someone else it all falls back on the Book of Mormon. Do you believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God just like the Bible? Well, how do you know? Have I done all the research? No. Am I very knowledgeable of the scriptures? Goodness sakes, no (I'm working on it though, don't worry). Have I seen an angel or had a vision like Joseph Smith? No. However, we learn in Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith...". In Moroni 10:5 we learn that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." When Jesus Christ was asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?", why was Peter's response praiseworthy of Jesus? "Blessed are thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is heaven." (Matthew 16:17).
Through the Holy Ghost, we receive the witness and testimony from our Father in Heaven that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In addition to this, as I have studied the Bible and the Book of Mormon I have received that witness from the Holy Ghost that they are the Words of God. The reason why, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we put so much emphasis on the Book of Mormon (so much that, to others, it seems that we esteem it as higher than the Bible) is because if it is true. If it is truly the an additional witness that Jesus is the Christ (which it is). If it truly "teach[es] all men that they should do good" (2 Nephi 33:10), then... Joseph Smith truly did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. That Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore the original church established by Jesus Christ when He was on the Earth, that was lost once all the Apostles were killed, and the proper Priesthood authority was taken from the earth. That Joseph Smith truly had the Priesthood of God restored to the earth through him, and has been passed on to every worthy male in the church since him. Then God still continues to call prophets today, and President Russell M. Nelson is truly a prophet of God in our day like Adam, Moses, Isaiah, Moses, etc. That there is a reasoning behind all our Church history and we must trust God, that there was a purpose behind it, even if we don't fully understand and that it was for a "wise purpose".
However, all this ultimately comes down to whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Ultimately, in Moroni 7:16, "the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God."
I know with all my heart, that I have received that witness from the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ and that His church, that contains the FULNESS of His Gospel, is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We don't mean to undermine other churches, only that they are missing bits and pieces. Still containing truths like Jesus is the Christ, but missing things like the full Plan of Salvation, that not only talk about just Heaven and Hell after judgement, but the Degrees of Glory - Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). Ordinances like Baptism for the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). And more. So if you don't have that witness, know that I have one and lean on my testimony. Just study the Book of Mormon with a sincere, honest desire to know if it truly came from God. Pray and seek truth from the source of all truth. Spiritual questions MUST REQUIRE spiritual answers. My answer came over a series of days, weeks, months, years. I haven't seen an angel, flesh and blood haven't shown me, but from our Heavenly Father in a way that only I could understand and know with a certainty that it was from Him. It's different for everyone, but we have to put in that honest, humble, sincere effort. I promise you won't be disappointed. But don't be disappointed if it doesn't come right away. It takes time. It took some time for me, but it came. And when it comes, it's the greatest feeling that you could ever feel. And you cannot help but know that it is from Heavenly Father. So please try it. Fortunately, the Book of Mormon is free anyways. Just find your nearest missionaries and I'm sure they can hook you up with a free copy. Love you all. Happy early Valentines Day! My "date" will be one of the Maitland Elders since we'll be doing trade-offs then. So either Elder Wu or Elder Fellingham. Who will the lucky guy be? Haha hope you have better luck with Valentines Day dates than me. Have a great week!
Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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