Rally

I've been meaning to sit down since last Friday to write a little something about a seminary training that I attended.  It was actually called something like "an evening with a general authority."  It was a live broadcast and the speaker was Elder Holland.  I came away from that meeting ready to fall in-line and march off to battle.

Spouses were invited to attend, but mine was at a state meeting instead so I was the 3rd wheel with my companion and her husband.  While we were driving I wondered what the theme would be.  I was hoping that it was any topic other than "teaching with the spirit."  I didn't think I could handle hearing about that again.  I just didn't want to walk away knowing what I need to do for the millionth time and feeling like a failure.  You know?  Well, apparently Elder Holland got the memo!  The troops needed to be rallied and boy did he.

I scribbled tons of notes because it was all stuff that I needed to hear.  "Be not afraid, only believe" was the theme.  He addressed a few fears that people wrote in that either they had or their students had and then gave us all one of the biggest pep talks of all time.  I would write down my favorite things he said, but I would end up transcribing the entire talk.  I ended up showing the broadcast to my husband and daughter on Sunday after church because it was that good.

One thing that I did write down in my seminary notebook was "I feel like I can do all things when Elder Holland speaks.  He rallies the troops!"  It was also a special moment for me when he quoted Helaman 5:12 which I had just used in a post and I also used the scripture mastery verse about "doubt not fear not" in 6:36 of D and C which he didn't reference specifically, but talked about doubt and fear.  In addition to quotes, I also wrote down feelings I was having like; "how can I live up to the mute comprehension that I feel?"  I was filled with a desire to be more and a knowledge that everything was going to be fine and that there was a work for me to do, but I didn't and don't know what that actually looks like or means.

With a recent and very public ex-communication of someone (who will not get the pleasure of being named), it brought about pages and pages of commentary on the subject.  I thought it very timely that just days before this public event Elder Holland spoke boldly of his testimony during this devotional.  He said; "Not all gospel questions have answers yet. "  With his booming voice and bold surety he echoed something that I've been saying myself "What question could ever overshadow the eternal truths you've experienced."  Like him, I know too much.  I've been shown the hand of God too many times to let questions about historical facts or the bad behaviors of men ever diminish those experiences.  There are things I can't deny.  Witnesses I can't deny.  One particular commentary on this ex-communication was especially sad.  It seems to me that stepping away from the gospel to gain intellectual integrity actually makes you lose it.  The crazy things people come up with to justify their positions read like a spanish novella.  Outlandish and comical in their assessments of sheeple blindly following their evil devilish leaders that want to oppress everyone.  It is especially sad when it is coming from former members of the church and I believe it is poison of the mind.  I seriously don't know where they come up with the stuff they use as evidence.......maybe they are taking their cue from the nightly news (a news anchor claiming to see dead bodies floating past him and being in an airstrike-yeah, didn't happen. But, it made him look awesome and it fit his agenda...so it's totally fine)   Apparently the more horrific and unbelievable your anecdotal evidence is about religious people -especially Mormons, the more followers/sympathizers can be convinced of the error of their ignorant ways.....and blindly follow the enlightened to some state of being where you never feel guilt - only pleasure-  and you love everyone - except religious people, and you have all the answers to life's questions.....except for the important ones like Why are we here?  Where did we come from? and Where are we going?  I'm even willing to take the last 2 out of the discussion if they can answer why we are here.  What's the point of our existence?  How bleak to not know the answer to that and how utterly pointless life becomes.  What a big fat nothing you are in that godless reality- is it any wonder there is such an obsession with having your 15 min of fame if that's all this life has to offer?  Depressing.

Anyway, I needed the boost to keep marching on.  It's good to be reminded of the things you know especially when that reminding comes from someone you look up to.  Someone marking the path and leading the way.  A watchman on the tower.  How grateful I am indeed.