Jeff Neal: Apostate?...

   Had yet another interesting discussion the other day with an LDS co-worker. It went along the lines of something like this... I noticed that this coworker was wearing garments and I didn't realize he had done his endowment. So I asked him where he went on his mission and he replies someplace like Wisconsin and I replied that that was interesting and then out of the blue he stated that I really don't seem LDS... .. Ahh.. o.k. So I considered that... For example I can't stand Glen Beck and I think he's a false prophet and a deceiver. One of those wolves that Christ mentions... I am not judgmental or self righteous. I don't like the emphasis of self-serving-perfection. I am open minded. I'm not a right wing republican (independent fyi). So I can see where it would be hard to place me with a lot of LDS folks. Oh and I don't believe every little bit of false doctrine that gets spread throughout Mormon culture. Yes Jesus blessed the water into wine NOT grape juice.. So I replied in my typical frank and sassy way that "well ya know, sometimes I really don't feel like I am LDS." Anyways I basically start saying that there are some cultural issues within the church and frankly IMO things are not that all well in Zion, within our church and throughout christianity in general in the U.S. , and spiritually I struggle with some of the attitudes and the distortions of doctrine that can occur within the group.

   So this guy starts accusing me of being apostate because I question things and I don't prescribe to every load of horse shit that gets broadcast from the pulpit. So I ask the guy, does God work exclusively through the Mormon church?.. And he says.. :"well, he CAN work through non-Mormons." I said, "I didn't ask you if he could, I asked you if he does".. And he didn't want to respond to that, then I asked him what percentage of christiandom is represented by Mormons? And he said well probably very little (in the world there are 2.1 billion Christians and there are 12.9 million Mormons, that means LDS represent .6% of people that believe in Christ). So I asked him again, does god work exclusively though LDS people? Well at this point he gets defensive because he feels that I am challenging his belief system (which I am apparently) and he calls me an apostate and sais that in the millenium the rest of the people will be converted to LDS. And that Jesus wasn't christian he was mormon, and that only mormors will go to heaven. Which all of this I don't really believe and to me it's the kind of elitist, I'm-more-special-then-anyone-else nonsense that has been spoon fed to people for a very long time (this attitude is common in MANY religions, not just LDS). So I ask him.. "well do we know for sure?.. Do we have ALL the answers?.. Didn't Joseph smith say that what we learn on this Earth is just a small fraction of our eternal progression? Doesn't it say in our Artiles of Faith that there are many truths that are yet to be revealed to man and that we are to embrace ALL that is good?.. Not just what is sold at the Beehive bookstore.." And he gets flustered.. and then he pauses and with his hands cups them in a small shape and responds, as if someone whispered it in his ear. "We know soo little..." "what!?.." I responded.. "We know so little.." This time a bewildered look comes across his face and I am amazed at what I am witnessing.. Me being my obnoxious self said, "Not sure I heard you correctly.. Could you say that again?" And he repeated it a third time. At that point I just looked at him and said, "THANK YOU! I couldn't express it better myself!"
   
   We really do know so little. A lot can be said for humility! A lot can be said for loving our brothers! Regardless of religion race etc! Remember the Good Samaritan? Who was the protagonist? Who were the antagonists (besides the robbers of course). My young coworker said that we weren't finished and that we would carry the discussion on at a later time. I said that that wasn't going to happen and that he should think about the conversation we just had.

   The interesting thing  is that he was arguing against everything that I was saying but at that moment he was compelled to express to ME how little we know.  And this isn't about being right or wrong for me. This is all about being ready. Being prepared. Having our lanterns filled for then the bride groom comes. So many people think that when Christ does eventually show up on the Earth again that he will micro-manage everything. But doesn't that seem more like the way Lucifer wanted to operate here on Earth? I believe that we are living in amazing times. I believe that Christ may be here very soon. How do we know that the millennium hasn't technically started already?! But I think he expects us to live the way He taught us BEFORE he gets here, not after. And to me that means that we need to all love God and love our neighbor because on those two principles is based ALL the laws of the prophets. We will be held accountable for not extending our hand in charity. We will be accountable for looking the other way, and crossing to the other side when our brother needs our help. We need to respect and love ALL of our brothers. For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his Only Begotten. It wasn't just for the Mormons, the Baptists, the Seventh Day Adventists, the JW's the Catholics. It was for the world, that means every person that ever lived.

  I am grateful for my LDS upbringing and the amazing opportunity that I had to serve as a missionary in Rio. I take very seriously the covenants that I have made in the temple and with my wife. Although I may not always agree, I acknowledge the roles that the leadership have. I try to respect and honor my priesthood, and through it I have been blessed and have blessed the lives of others. But I believe that there is more to come. And that we all need to work together to combat the many evils and temptations that are affronting the whole world.

    For those that have not been kept up to date with us, these last few years have been extremely trying. We have had many hardships and we are still trying to get through them. But I can honestly say that I am grateful for these difficult times because they helped me grow in a way that has given me perspective and understanding that I wouldn't have otherwise had. I am grateful for such an amazing supportive wife and four extremely energetic children that bring me endless joy.

   Sorry for the rant. And if you are offended I would suggest you seriously evaluate your oil level. I felt that I should post this and I have learned the hard way that ignoring impressions, regardless of how trivial they may seem, is a good way to get a divine beat-down. Trust me I have had more than my share.. But like I always say, despite myself, I have been greatly blessed.