TheDiscipleMD
Many years ago, one of my clients surveyed my office and spied the pencil drawing of my five children. He got up and examined it. He said they looked like me. He asked me about them, and I gave him a quick rundown of their lives. He looked at me and said, “You are a very blessed man!” Then he asked me something curious, “Do you think it is because of your religion that you are so blessed?” I was surprised by this question, as I didn’t recall talking about my church to him at any other time. I told him that it certainly played a large part in it. I told him that my wife and I have been married for some thirty-odd years, (at the time) and that I always loved spending time with my kids, and that we believe that marriage and families can be eternal. He told me that the word “marriage” was never used by Jesus Christ in the scriptures. I disagreed with him, and this led to a discussion of the subject of marriage as taught in the New Testament.
He told me that in his Christian religion he had been brought up to “shun” Mormons because they would lead him to Hell. He was told never to talk to them. He told me he had never known a Mormon but found out I was one a couple of years before after we had a casual conversation. He said I seemed like a nice guy, which appeared to surprise him. He asked if it was hard growing up a Mormon in Maryland, and was I teased a lot. I replied that although I differed from the other kids, they seemed to respect my values. We then had an extended conversation about my church and its doctrines and he went away knowing a little bit more about the restored church of Christ.I learned a few things from our conversation.
One) Many people still don’t know much about my church.
Two) He recognized that I was blessed, which I am, and
Three) That part of it resulted from my faith, which I also believe to be true.
When the Lord promises blessings upon those who follow the commandments, we often forget that the Lord’s promises are fulfilled in how our lives have turned out as a whole. We all face challenges; that is part of this life’s journey. But if we do an inventory of our lives, we will probably find that many challenges, trials and sufferings have been avoided due to obedience to the Lord’s commandments. Just this past Sunday, a young woman stood and told of how she had gone astray from the commandments and suffered the consequences of living a sinful life. She spoke of addictions and that she was ashamed of some of the terrible things she had done to others. Fortunately, she was standing to bear testimony of the power of repentance and that she wanted to change. She is on the right path back, and with the Lord’s help I am sure she will succeed. But that road is now filled with thorns and thistles sown by her own hand. So often, we forget to recognize the blessings that come with living an obedient life. May we remember the bounteous blesses that are ours! May we not lose sight of these blessings as challenges come our way!
“And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.” (Mosiah 2:22).
Pencil drawing by Robert Schaeffer