Having been born into the church, I really have never known another way of life. Please don't misunderstand. I don't want another way of life. My point is that because I've never experienced living outside the gospel, I may not fully appreciate everything that I have and who I am because of it. I have watched and listened to people who were converted to the church during adulthood, and I have actually felt a little bit of envy. Their testimonies are so, so strong, and they don't hesitate to share them. They want everyone to feel as they do. It's like they've finally found that pot of gold they didn't even know they were searching for and they know that there's more than enough for everyone they meet. Because I haven't lived without that pot of gold, I just figure that everyone's got one and I might just be imposing upon them by trying to share mine.
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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
I've reached an interesting point in my reading in the Book of Mormon. The Nephites, up to this point, have always been the more righteous group of people. They've fought for their liberties and for the right to worship God. They've gone on missions and fought righteous wars and through all of it, the Lord was with them. And then...
...and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites, because of their firmness and their steadiness in the faith.
For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.
Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy. (Helaman 6:1-3)
The Lamanites had finally found their pot of gold, while the Nephites decided they would be fine without it. What I love about this chapter is that the Lamanites weren't content just having the gospel. They wanted to share it.
Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb. (Helaman 6:5)
They had such strong testimonies that they were willing to go among their former enemies to preach repentance. The scriptures don't talk about their feelings, but I would think that there would be some trepidation on the part of the Lamanites. They had to have been a little concerned about mingling with the Nephites after all the history of bloodshed and hatred between the two groups. Yet they had found the happiness that comes with being a member of Christ's church, and they wanted to share it. To me, this shows not only incredible courage, but a true belief in the things that they had been converted to. The Lamanites had truly seen both sides of the coin. They knew how it felt to be on the outside of the truth as well as to have that truth completely change their lives. They became a happy people. They were free to go wherever they wished - "whether it be among the Nephites or the Lamanites". They became industrious and rich, and they "flourished exceedingly".
I will never be able to say that I am a convert to the church, but hopefully someday, I will be able to say that I have truly been converted. That my testimony is so strong that there will be no one with whom I wouldn't share it. I am getting closer to that reality each day that I study the scriptures. I am feeling closer and closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am realizing that it is not an imposition for me to share the happiness and fulfillment that I have become accustomed to in my life because of the gospel. This pot of gold isn't at the end of the rainbow - it's the reason for the rainbow. It is a gift. And who doesn't like presents?
Oh, how I remember this shot. After the long struggle of a hike that many of us thought we might never survive only to be rewarded with the sight of a beautiful double rainbow. It seemed like the Lord was saying, "I know your struggles. I am here. I will never forget you."
ReplyDeleteI am probably remembering it to be more dramatic than it really was, but I do remember the rainbow....and it was a gift.
You're not remembering it more dramatic than it was...it was exactly like you said. What a wonderfully awful, hard, amazing day that was!
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