All things that are good cometh of God

Recently the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints made a few announcements that seemed to cause a bit of what can only be described in my opinion as mass hysteria until further explanation brought understanding, and pondering brought peace. Well, it brought understand and peace for me at least. I know others still struggle. I am trying to be more compassionate to the struggle. 

Here is a link to Understanding the Handbook, and a link to the interview with Elder Christofferson regarding the Handbook Changes. 

I understand that the topic of same-gender attraction is emotional, personal, and often heart-breaking, and can be seen from many different perspectives. However I do not understand a statement made recently by a disenchanted Mormon acquaintance of mine. She said she has left the church because she no longer recognizes the church she once loved. I can't help but ask, really? Really it is unrecognizable? 

In 1995 the First Presidency issued "The Family, A Proclamation to the World" which states, 

"We solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children".

Twenty years ago this was not a radical idea. Today however society is trying to tell me this is a bigoted belief and I should instead get with the times. 

I'm not writing this blog to argue what is sin or normal human behavior. What I am concerned about is the statement  by a once faithful member that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has changed so dramatically she doesn't recognize it. The world has changed. The world has changed, not the Church. I'm concerned that it is a tactic of distraction by the Adversary.  A distraction from the work the Savior Himself gave for His faithful followers to do. 

Two scriptures come to mind...

Moroni 7:12-16

 12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

 13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

 14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.

 15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

 16 For behold, 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.

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Matthew 7:16-20

 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but acorrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewndown, and cast into the fire.

 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 

This morning I read a story in the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church- Ezra T Benson about the creation of what is now known as the Welfare Program created in 1936 during the Depression. In 1946 he was assigned to go to Europe after the war. 

"As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he was assigned to preside over the Church in Europe just after World War II. In those war-torn lands, he led the Church’s effort to provide goods that would help people regain their self-sufficiency. He recounted his experience when the Church’s first shipment of welfare supplies arrived in Berlin, Germany:

“I took with me the acting president of the mission, President Richard Ranglack. We walked to the old battered warehouse which, under armed guard, housed the precious welfare goods. At the far end of the warehouse we saw the boxes piled almost to the ceiling.

“‘Are those boxes of food?’ Richard said. ‘Do you mean to tell me those are boxes full of food?’

“‘Yes, my brother,’ I replied, ‘food and clothing and bedding—and, I hope, a few medical supplies.’

“Richard and I took down one of the boxes. We opened it. It was filled with the commonest of common foods—dried beans. As that good man saw it, he put his hands into it and ran it through his fingers, then broke down and cried like a child with gratitude.

“We opened another box, filled with cracked wheat, nothing added or taken away, just as the Lord made it and intended it to be. He touched a pinch of it to his mouth. After a moment he looked at me through his tearful eyes—and mine were wet, too—and he said, while slowly shaking his head, ‘Brother Benson, it is hard to believe that people who have never seen us could do so much for us.’

“That’s the Lord’s system! Voluntary donations motivated by brotherly love and willing sacrifice, and assisting others to help themselves. Such ensures dignity and self-respect.”

(chapter 21 Teachings of the Presidents of the Church- Ezra T Benson) 

Just this week the Mormon Newsroom released an article and video with Elder Ballard visiting refugees in Europe. The article discusses the aid that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is offering. 

"Our help is to bring a little bit of dignity, a little bit of peace, and reassurance, to a people who have made a great journey across the water..." Elder Ballard also said, "the Lord has made it clear that one of the great responsibilities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that we are to feed the hungry and the poor, to reach out and take care of them."

I'm not claiming that I belong to a church that has perfect people who act perfect all the times. I will claim that I belong to a church that for over a century has reached out in compassion worldwide, and I am grateful that has not changed. That is the mission of the church, and the mission of the church is alive and well. 

The Sunday School lesson I read part of this morning included the following verses in 2 Peter chapter 1...

"2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

At the end of this week of Thanksgiving, I express gratitude for my Savior Jesus Christ, and to be part of a church that bears his name and strives to show brotherly kindness and charity.