I work in a small office and the staff members are friends who have a good time together. Everyone there knows I’m a member of the LDS Church, otherwise known as Mormons. I respect the agency and opinions of the others regarding their faith, and they do the same for me. So, when I get a moment to mention something relating to the LDS Church, I take it!
Recently, in the office, someone was disturbed about a documentary they had seen the night before about unexplained “ghost sightings”. We all talked about it. I thought personally that there are so many mysteries we’re not meant to understand – we probably need to worry more about how to balance our lives WITHOUT the daily intrusive influence of confusing worldly practices such as ghost hunting.
On many occasions I have talked about Mormon Doctrine or explained Church programs to curious co-workers, but I had never been motivated to speak with such clarity about the Plan of Salvation to them before. I smiled and spoke to the little group who looked at me encouragingly,
“I AM pretty serious about being a Mormon and this is what I believe about spirits… “ I paused, nobody objected so I continued.
“I believe that before every person came to be born on the Earth – we had a meeting in the Spirit World with someone who pretty much spelled out in detail the trouble we were going to have with our mission to Earth and asked us if we were strong enough and willing to do everything we could to get back to our Father in Heaven.”
As I said those words – I got choked up in that way that surprises you when you talk about the Spirit.
The room felt electric and my one co-worker spoke out almost clarifying what she had heard and said,
“You mean you pick your parents!”
It was like I was someone else’s lightning hitting the target! Even though that idea she expressed wasn’t even exactly what I, personally, meant – I knew that she had a moment of understanding of the Spirit. The moment hung there just a second and then someone brought up the TV show again and everything went back to normal.
I testify that the Holy Spirit was in that room – it was like for a moment the probability of the Restored Gospel was revealed to the people there who never may have considered that idea. They just haven’t labeled it yet. As always, line upon line.
As taught in Chapter 33 of the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, “Faith comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God; that testimony is always attended by the Spirit of prophecy and revelation.” Just as we struggle every day to avoid sin, we need to seek out every possible daily opportunity to hear and bear testimony – including on the Sabbath during our meetings and worship services, during times with friends who love us no matter what we believe and while interacting with people who we feel are righteous examples for us and our children.
We should also remember to have the courage to let people we meet know who we are right off the bat – especially out in “the world” – so that we can work toward getting ourselves in order, eventually becoming a righteous example for others. 3 Nephi 14:20 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.
We’re called to be missionaries – and it can be surprising when the opportunities you pray for come about when you least expect it – like at work.
D&C 88:81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. And we can have the faith to expect that even when it seems like we’re never getting through to people – even though we have the fire and zeal to convert the whole room. We ourselves cannot convert anyone – it is only the Spirit who uses us as the lightning.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Let’s have faith to fulfill that promise so long ago that we would all testify of Him and accept the work He wants us to do.
Mormon 3:17 Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;
