No Coincidences

Tag: missionary

  • Jonah and the Whale

    Jonah and the Whale

    Answer to prayer – but not what you expect!

    One of the most spiritual experiences I ever had, referenced in the post You Sent a Dog to Comfort a Boy, happened in the basement of my Aunt and Uncle’s home.  Go read the post to get some back story on why I was there, ie soul searching.

    During that trip, by some coincidence, my cousin had his farewell to go on his mission.  I went to the farewell and I felt stuff.  I felt an urge.  I felt guidance.  I came to Utah to search my soul and here it was. 

    That night I went back to the bedroom I’d been staying in.  With just Bengie (my aunt, uncle, and cousin’s dog) in the room I knelt, and I prayed.  I prayed like I hadn’t in so long.  I asked what I was supposed to do.

    Have you heard the story of Jonah and the whale?  For those who don’t know, the Bible tells us that Jonah, a prophet of God, was commanded to go to Nineveh to prophesy to its inhabitants.  He was to command them to repent and preach of their forthcoming destruction if they refused.  Nineveh was described as a scary place.  It was a near certainty Jonah would be murdered upon telling the inhabitants of their wickedness.

    I always heard that story and couldn’t imagine, couldn’t comprehend.  GOD told Jonah to do something.  If God tells you to do something – you do it!  It doesn’t matter how afraid you are or how scary it is.  You DO WHAT GOD COMMANDS.  Especially when it’s that clear.  If God told you to do something, you would listen, wouldn’t you?

    That’s what I always thought.

    That night in the basement I asked what I should do next with my life.  The answer couldn’t have been clearer if an angel appeared in the room and said it to my face.  I knew.  I needed to go on a mission.  I can’t stress this enough.  I knew what I was supposed to do.

    Then the doubts.  “I can’t go on a mission.  Where would I even begin?  I have so much to repent of.  I don’t even know who to go to” were my thoughts.  Also, I would have to give a GOING AWAY speech like I just watched my cousin give that very day.  Out of the question.  The thought of getting up in church and giving a talk was enough to make me feel sick.  I couldn’t do it.  I was too afraid.  On top of that I had big plans in the coming weeks.  It was my friend’s birthday and we had partying to do.  You know, the important stuff.  I couldn’t repent NOW.

    In the story of Jonah he gets on a ship to run away (From God- I know, crazy).  But here I was, running away from God.  I pretended like I didn’t know the answer to my prayer, but I knew.  I ran.  I ran away.

    I didn’t get swallowed by a whale.  Instead I moved on, distracted and forgetting.

    After Jonah’s whale incident, he finally agrees to do what God asked of him.  He was spit up on the shore of Nineveh and followed what God asked him to do.

    I think in a way, the few years after that moment in the basement, I was figuratively in a storm and swallowed by a whale.  Not for three days but for four years.  Eventually God had the whale spit me back up on shore. 

    You’d think I missed my chance, right?  I never went on a mission.  For a long time I thought I could never be forgiven for ignoring God.  Then I got my patriarchal blessing.  In it I am told to trouble myself not over lost days.  I can’t explain in words the comfort that simple phrase gave to me.

    Back to Jonah.  He ignored God.  Yet still, somehow, God used Jonah’s mistakes to bring about His work.  I don’t know how God makes up for our mistakes.  It recently occurred to me that in that basement I gave the first sincere prayer in a long time.  Then I ignored God.  I showed a modicum of faith followed by an excess of fear.  After that I found a job in Arizona, I settled down, and have been here in Arizona ever since.  Then I returned to church.  Now I’m here, writing to you, hopefully you’ve stuck with me this far.

    It’s so much better to do what God asks the first time.   I think we avoid a lot of heartache if we do.  But never forget – trouble yourself not over lost days.  God will have you spit up on shore when you’re ready.  When you’re really ready to trust in Him.  It took me some time.  Somehow, He accepted that.  Somehow, He waited.  I’m not saying I’ll ever fully make up for disobedience, not sure exactly how that works.  But I know that Christ will forgive me because He loves me.  There is no greater comfort than that.

  • Book Review: LeGrand Richards Beloved Apostle

    Book Review: LeGrand Richards Beloved Apostle

    LeGrand Richards: Beloved Apostle

    By Lucile Christenson Tate

    Copyright 1982

    _______________________

    I was excited to read this book because LeGrand Richards wrote one of the most impactful books for my life that I’ve ever read – A Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

    I think the best way to honor this book is to honor the amazing man LeGrand Richards was.

    Testimony Archives - BYU Speeches

    He was a mission president, presiding Bishop, and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I believe near the end of his life he was in very close communication with Jesus Christ.

    One of his greatest contributions to the building up of God’s kingdom here on earth has been the writing A Marvelous Work and a Wonder.   One of my favorite books of all time.  I don’t know how a person can read that book and still question the claims of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    In life LeGrand was one of the greatest missionaries of this dispensation.  He was described by someone in this book as the Paul of the latter days.  I was extremely motivated by his example and boldness in sharing the gospel throughout his life. 

    One great missionary story about LeGrand Richards in the book comes from Bruce R. McConkie. Elder McConkie tells of a time he was sitting in the back of a plane waiting for it to take off.  LeGrand got on the plane and shook the hand of every single person. “He started at the front and walked the full length of the plane shaking the hands of everyone aboard – people he’d never seen before – and he asked each one if he or she was a Mormon.” After speaking to each person on the plane he went back up to the front, turned, and said, “There are seventeen of us on board tonight. Isn’t it wonderful to belong to the Church?” Bruce R. McConkie continued, “The plane was full of non-Mormons, some had never heard of Mormons, but that is exactly what he did…all over the plane people smiled, laughed, were pleased. He hadn’t offended. He hadn’t hurt anyone’s feelings and he’d left a good impression and feeling for the Church.” He was a kind, gentle, and somewhat funny old man.  Can you imagine the impact this act had on that plane?  The feeling of fellowship that would be present?  The missionary discussions and promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that could then occur?

    I can imagine someone leaning over, “who is that man?”

    A response, “He is an Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ.”

    To LeGrand Richards:  Thank you.  Thank you for writing amazing books.  Thank you for being an example of service to the Lord, and to others.  Thank you for being a source of truth and light to this world.  All I know of you is what I’ve read.  That’s enough to tell me I greatly look forward to meeting you one day, if I ever get that privilege.

    ________________________

    LeGrand Richards spoke in General Conference a total of 22 times. He was known for speaking purely from his heart and through the spirit. He could go on and on with profound spiritual insights. Here is his second talk in General Conference in October of 1971, “Laying a Foundation for the Millennium.”

  • Which Church?

    Which Church?

    I often have religious conversations.  As often as possible I try to have those conversations with people of different faiths.

    I’ve had great conversations with someone who is devout in their faith of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t believe the Book of Mormon to be true.  We have many great discussions.  Our discussions are always extremely cordial, soft-spoken, and kind.  I think we are both extremely aware and conscious of our tones when we get into topics.  Early on in our discussions things would get somewhat heated every once in a while.  I don’t remember a time when we yelled at each other or it ever got out of hand, but there’s always this feeling when we talk.  It’s a feeling of being on the edge of a cliff.  Like we’re justttt teetering on the edge of it being a full-blown argument.   We could topple over the edge at any moment.

    Our discussions are almost always centered on disagreements.  There are many, many things we agree on.  Obviously, what good is it for us to dwell on those things?  We get to the meat of our differences and try to learn from each other, I love it.  But like I mentioned, there’s always this dangerous balance.  It makes sense since we disagree.

    Our extra-cautious approach protects us.  We both love Jesus Christ and His principles with all our hearts.  We’ve both been saved by Him in powerful ways.  I believe this is what keeps us from toppling over the edge.  The constant fight within ourselves to let love, tolerance, patience, and agreeing-to-disagree trump those powerful emotions brought on by Satan in the midst of a heated discussion centered on doctrine and eternity. 

    I’ve had similar discussions with many different faiths.  Catholics, Presbyterians, Bahai. I’d like to have these discussions with every faith on earth. 

    If we all believe in Christ we should all be able to agree on so many points, right?

    No matter what there’s always that feeling.  Are we going to go over the edge?  Is this going to turn from friendly banter and growth to a “I’m right you’re wrong!” And a storming out of the room?

    This particular friend I started the story about and I have in the past discussed John 17:21:

    “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou has sent me.”

    When we had this discussion my point was this: How can we be one in Christ if so many sects disagree?

    His standpoint is that as long as we believe in Christ we are one.  We are all one under Christianity.  Under this great umbrella, we are all one in Him. That sounds great, and I love that.  In theory that is so beautiful.  There are some immediate problems with this, though. For one, I’ve been told I’m not Christian. Where do we go from that? For another, I’ve mentioned the contention that so easily arises when two groups disagree. As much as we want to be one in Christ, how can we be when there’s that underlying tension of disagreement? While millions of people can have a good Christ-like conversation with other faiths, there are also wars over these topics.

    Let me be EXTREMELY clear about one thing. There is some truth and light in all religions that teach and promote peace and love.  I love any religion that brings someone closer to God and especially if it brings someone closer to Christ.  All religions that love Christ and focus on Christ have light to them.

    There seems to be this issue when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to be THE True Church of Jesus Christ. 

    The millennium is coming.  A time is coming when all Christians in the world will begin to be persecuted.  It won’t matter if we’re Baptist, or Catholic, or Protestant.  What will matter to the world is the belief in Christ.  As the world unites against Christians, what banner do Christians unite under?  Is it Christ alone?  Is there no one organization He would have us look to?  With all the arguments, contentions; standing on the edge, ready to topple off, between different Christian sects, how can we possibly unite as one?  If we do unite, who do we listen to?  What do we follow?

    God is a God of order.  He wouldn’t have us blindly wander as the world unites against all believers.  He can’t have us guessing which way is up and which way is down.  So, where is our banner?  Do we follow the Catholic Church, the Pope?  Do we follow some non-denominational sect?  We’ve never been able to unite.  When the world is in chaos, will that be the time the Christian world pulls it together and joins as one? I don’t see that happening. Especially as the world in general becomes more and more divided.

    We must be one.  We must be united in Jesus Christ. 

    My belief is that the Church to follow is Christ’s restored Church.  There is no more beating around the bush.  The Church of Jesus Christ has come out with a worldwide declaration that makes clear what we’ve always declared: 

    “In humility, we declare that in answer to (Joseph Smith’s) prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” as foretold in the Bible. In this vision, he learned that following the death of the original Apostles, Christ’s New Testament Church was lost from the earth. Joseph would be instrumental in its return.

    “We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored.”

    The declaration is clear.  This is the banner.  The keys of the gathering of Israel were handed down to Joseph Smith by Moses himself.  Those same keys have been passed down for 200 years and are now in the possession of God’s prophet on the earth today, the speaker of the above declaration, President Russell M. Nelson.  Only by God’s official authority could the gathering of Israel be accomplished;  without contention, without fighting, without controversy.

    This is my testimony and I leave it in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

    __________________________

    If you would like to learn more about the gathering of Israel, the keys that have been handed down, the restoration of Christ’s Church, and why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends out so many young men and women to preach the gospel, please click below:

    https://www.comeuntochrist.org/belong/meet-missionaries

    A missionary would gladly teach you more about what we believe. Thank you for reading.