In a reflective mood

Most times, when I write my blogs, I tend to keep very neutral about faith; faith is after all a very delicate subject and I don't want people to stop reading my posts, or worse, commenting badly on them.  But I just felt that today is the day to put the record straight, to tell you my thoughts and feeling about faith - and Christianity in particular. I guess that I might upset a few; conversely others will applaud, but I hope that I can convey the feelings that I have in a way that is sincere.

 

I am a Mormon.  My church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I believe that I know where I have come from, why I am here and where I am going.  I always  assumed that there was a God and Jesus Christ; after all, millions of people all around the world couldn't be wrong, but I had never done anything about it.  Church in my formative years was for weddings and Christenings. As I grew older they were places for funerals also, but that was the extent of my knowledge.  I sat through Religious Education lessons in school and don't  recall any reaction to them - spiritual or otherwise.

 

As my participation in church life has grown, so has my spirituality.  I like to think that I have always been a good person (not to be proud, but my junior school reports attest to me being kind and helpful!) but to be a true believer, a true follower of Christ, I have to do more.

 

Christianity is not any different from the Muslim faith, or the Buddhists, Hindus or any other religion. I truly believe that we all have the same core principles at the centre of our religions, and that is love, charity and service.  We have a different God or Gods, our practises might be alien to other faiths (and in our case, even to those of the same faith), but we are all striving to be better people, to make the world a better place and to be loving to all; in that I think I can safely say that we are all united.

 

My particular faith has certainly had its fair share of detractors; some that have fallen away from the church are vociferous voices, others that do not understand our values or beliefs call us names and worse, and some mock the piety and conviction that we show.  That is their right, after all we are a society that believes in freedom of speech, but I just find it sad.  What does it matter that I choose to pray at least twice a day, that I do not shop or work on Sundays ( I totally accept that many have no choice about Sunday working) or that I believe in marriage and fidelity?  What does it matter that I choose to abstain from tea and coffee, alcohol and tobacco? I have often used the adage, "If they are talking about me, at least they are not talking about someone else" so I guess I can use it for my church also.  I would just like to mention at this point (simply because I can and it has just come to me),  the Broadway show "The Book of Mormon" which will be seen in London in the New Year.  I have no desire to see it and I am not making any comment, but I absolutely love the statement that came from church headquarters regarding the show: "The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ”. 

 

As a faith, we have chapels to worship in, but for many worthy members, we also have temples.  The temples are sacred places and not to be taken lightly.  You can only enter a temple to take out additional covenants after being a member for a year.  In the temples one can receive personal revelation (that is in no way implying that you can't receive revelation anywhere else, but I always think we are a little bit closer to heaven in the temple and thus it is more special) and there is always a wonderful feeling of peace that pervades the place.  Let me tell you a bit about the London Temple.   This temple is actually in Lingfield, Surrey (on the way to Eastbourne) and it is right on the flight path of Gatwick airport.  When in the temple grounds you can almost reach out and touch the planes as they fly low overhead as they prepare to land.  You would think that it would be very noisy wouldn't you? You barely hear them and yet there is one moving across the skyline every few minutes.  It is almost as if the temple is in a bubble and all worldly troubles and noises are locked out.  The grounds are beautifully kept and as you wander around you can feel the stillness and peace, just like as if you were inside the temple. The large grounds and the visitors centre are open to everyone, so perhaps the next time you are passing you might like to pop in and recharge your batteries and leave feeling better than when you arrived.

 

I have been going to the temple regularly (at least once a month) for the last couple of years.  I have to confess that my temple attendance before that was spotty at best (simply because I had issues not connected to my faith), but over the last twenty four months I have grown to enjoy going (which might have something to do with the fact that I don't usually have to drive!) and to love what I am able to do.  The work that I choose to do in the temple helps me to do service for others, feel of the spirit and gives me the strength to get through the trials that will, and do, beset me in the world that we all have to live in.  If any would like to know more about temples, please visit www.lds.org  where it can inform you far more eloquently than I  - and show some beautiful pictures as well.  Any temple belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a very special place and I have only managed to visit two others, but the feelings are exactly the same.   The work that I do in the London temple is a privilege and a joy.

My faith makes me a better person, but I know that I still have huge flaws.  It helps me recognise things about myself; it shows that I have great potential (if I choose to access it) and it comforts me in time of need or distress.   Many prayers have been answered through hearing a talk on the Sabbath day, sitting in a lesson in Sunday school or reading something at home.  We say, as no doubt other religions say, that often our prayers are answered by angels without wings; those people who have reached out, felt of the spirit and thus answered the prayer in whatever way necessary or practical.

At this special time of year, this time of year that we choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (even though we know this is not the correct date), many feel (are prompted maybe?) the need to reach out and help others.  This is commendable and a wonderful gesture, but what about the other eleven months of the year when there are still homeless people, still women fleeing from abusive marriages, still so many things to be done to help the environment and make this world a little better to live in?  Does it really matter that I am a Mormon and you are a Baptist, Roman Catholic or any other religion, Christian or otherwise?

As a person, I just want to knock heads together and say "Let's just get on and do something to make a difference" rather than have to listen to others berate my religious beliefs as if I am some kind of brainwashed "poor thing".  I listened to the missionaries who came to my home.  I made informed decisions on their answers to my questions.  I felt comfortable in the chapel when I accepted their offer to "Come to church".  And I felt of the spirit and agreed to be baptised when I listened to someone whom I now consider an idol (not like a film or rock star, but someone that I admire greatly) but who I didn't know at all when I first heard him speak. Since then I have come to realise that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the place for me.  I am at home there and the church has certainly changed my life around.  The reason we have missionaries that go knocking on doors or accost you in the street is that we simply want you to have what we have.  If that is not what you want right now then that is your choice, but please allow us to have the opportunity to tell you a bit about us, and share a great message about Jesus Christ.

When all is said and done, by becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, I have chosen to try and emulate Him .  I don't always succeed, and I don't always do as much as I should, but I try.  And that is all that He asks of me.  I hope that I can do enough good in this world so that when it comes to the last days I can hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."  What better accolade is there......?