2013 10 1070 president dieter f uchtdorf eng

8/12/2019 2013 10 1070 President Dieter f Uchtdorf Eng

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you will find the authority to act in Hisnameto baptize for the remissionof sins, to confer the gift of the HolyGhost, and to seal on earth and inheaven.1

Those who join this Church lovethe Savior Jesus Christ and they wishto follow Him. They rejoice in theknowledge that God speaks to man-kind again. When they receive sacredpriesthood ordinances and makecovenants with God, they can feel Hispower in their lives.2When they enterthe holy temple, they sense they arein His presence. When they read theholy scriptures3and live the teachingsof His prophets, they grow closer tothe Savior they love so much.

An Active FaithAnother reason is because the

Church provides opportunities fordoing good.

Believing in God is commendable,but most people want to do more

than listen to inspirational sermons ordream of their mansions above.4They

want to put their faith into practice.They want to roll up their sleeves andbecome engaged in this great cause.

And that is what happens whenthey join with usthey have manyopportunities to transform their tal-ents, compassion, and time into good

works. Because we have no paid localclergy in our worldwide congrega-tions, our members perform the work

of ministry themselves. They are calledby inspiration. Sometimes we volun-teer; sometimes we arevolunteered.

We see assignments not as burdensbut as opportunities to fulfill cov-enants we gladly make to serve Godand His children.

Treasured BlessingsA third reason why people join

the Church is because walking the

members of your church actually dowhat you have said?

That and more. We havent evenmentioned family history, youthcamps, devotionals, scripture study,leadership training, youth activities,early-morning seminary, maintainingChurch buildings, and of course thereis the Lords law of health, the monthlyfast to help the poor, and tithing.

The man said, Now Im confused.Why would anyone want to join sucha church?

The couple smiled and said, Wethought you would never ask.

Why Would Anyone Join Such a Church?At a time when many churches

throughout the world are experi-encing significant decreases in num-bers, The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saintsthough small in

comparison with many othersisone of the fastest growing churchesin the world. As of September 2013the Church has more than 15 millionmembers around the world.

There are many reasons for this,but may I offer a few?

The Saviors ChurchFirst, this Church was restored in

our day by Jesus Christ Himself. Here

By President Dieter F. UchtdorfSecond Counselor in the First Presidency

Once there was a man whodreamed that he was in a greathall where all the religions of

the world were gathered. He real-ized that each religion had much thatseemed desirable and worthy.

He met a nice couple who repre-sented The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints and asked, What doyourequire of your members?

Wedo not require anything, theyreplied. But theLordasks that weconsecrate all.

The couple went on to explainabout Church callings, home and

visiting teaching, full-time missions,weekly family home evenings, templework, welfare and humanitarian ser-vice, and assignments to teach.

Do you pay your people for all thework they do? the man asked.

Oh, no, the couple explained.

They offer their time freely.Also, the couple continued, everysix months our Church membersspend a weekend attending or watch-ing 10 hours of general conference.

Ten hours of people giving talks?the man wondered.

What about your weekly churchservices? How long are they?

Three hours, every Sunday!Oh, my, the man said. Do

Come, Join with UsRegardless of your circumstances, your personal history,or the strength of your testimony, there is room for youin this Church.


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path of discipleship leads to preciousblessings.

We see baptism as the startingpoint in our journey of discipleship.Our daily walk with Jesus Christ leadsto peace and purpose in this life andprofound joy and eternal salvation inthe world to come.

Those who follow this path

faithfully avoid many of the pitfalls,sorrows, and regrets of life.

The poor in spirit and honest ofheart find great treasures of knowl-edge here.

Those who suffer or grieve findhealing here.

Those burdened with sin find for-giveness, liberty, and rest.

To Those Who LeaveThe search for truth has led mil-

lions of people to The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints. However,there are some who leave the Churchthey once loved.

One might ask, If the gospel is sowonderful, why would anyone leave?

Sometimes we assume it is becausethey have been offended or lazy orsinful. Actually, it is not that simple. Infact, there is not just one reason thatapplies to the variety of situations.

Some of our dear members strugglefor years with the question whetherthey should separate themselves fromthe Church.

In this Church that honors per-sonal agency so strongly, that wasrestored by a young man who askedquestions and sought answers, werespect those who honestly search for

truth. It may break our hearts whentheir journey takes them away fromthe Church we love and the truth wehave found, but we honor their rightto worship Almighty God accordingto the dictates of their own con-science, just as we claim that privi-lege for ourselves.5

Unanswered QuestionsSome struggle with unanswered

questions about things that have

been done or said in the past. Weopenly acknowledge that in nearly200 years of Church historyalong

with an uninterrupted line of inspired,honorable, and divine eventstherehave been some things said anddone that could cause people toquestion.

Sometimes questions arise becausewe simply dont have all the infor-mation and we just need a bit more

patience. When the entire truth iseventually known, things that didntmake sense to us before will beresolved to our satisfaction.

Sometimes there is a difference ofopinion as to what the facts reallymean. A question that creates doubt insome can, after careful investigation,build faith in others.

Mistakes of Imperfect PeopleAnd, to be perfectly frank, there

have been times when members orleaders in the Church have simplymade mistakes. There may have beenthings said or done that were not inharmony with our values, principles,or doctrine.

I suppose the Church would beperfect only if it were run by perfectbeings. God is perfect, and His doc-

trine is pure. But He works throughusHis imperfect childrenandimperfect people make mistakes.

In the title page of the Book ofMormon we read, And now, if thereare faults they are the mistakes of men;

wherefore, condemn not the things ofGod, that ye may be found spotless atthe judgment-seat of Christ.6

This is the way it has always beenand will be until the perfect day when


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Christ Himself reigns personally uponthe earth.

It is unfortunate that some havestumbled because of mistakes madeby men. But in spite of this, the eternaltruth of the restored gospel found in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished,or destroyed.

As an Apostle of the Lord JesusChrist and as one who has seenfirsthand the councils and workingsof this Church, I bear solemn wit-ness that no decision of significanceaffecting this Church or its members isever made without earnestly seekingthe inspiration, guidance, and appro-bation of our Eternal Father. This isthe Church of Jesus Christ. God willnot allow His Church to drift from itsappointed course or fail to fulfill itsdivine destiny.

There Is Room for YouTo those who have separated

themselves from the Church, I say, mydear friends, there is yet a place for

you here.Come and add your talents, gifts,

and energies to ours. We will allbecome better as a result.

Some might ask,But what aboutmy doubts?

Its natural to have questionstheacorn of honest inquiry has oftensprouted and matured into a greatoak of understanding. There are few

members of the Church who, at onetime or another, have not wrestledwith serious or sensitive questions.One of the purposes of the Church isto nurture and cultivate the seed offaitheven in the sometimes sandysoil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith isto hope for things which are not seenbut which are true.7

Therefore, my dear brothers andsistersmy dear friendsplease, first

doubt your doubts before you doubtyour faith.8We must never allowdoubt to hold us prisoner and keep usfrom the divine love, peace, and giftsthat come through faith in the Lord

Jesus Christ.Some might say,I just dont fit in

with you people in the Church.If you could see into our hearts,

you would probably find that you fitin better than you suppose. You mightbe surprised to find that we have

yearnings and struggles and hopessimilar to yours. Your background orupbringing might seem different from

what you perceive in many Latter-daySaints, but that could be a blessing.Brothers and sisters, dear friends, weneed your unique talents and per-spectives. The diversity of personsand peoples all around the globe is a

strength of this Church.Some might say,I dont think Icould live up to your standards.

All the more reason to come! TheChurch is designed to nourish theimperfect, the struggling, and theexhausted. It is filled with people whodesirewith all their heart to keep thecommandments, even if they haventmasteredthem yet.

Some might say,I know a member

of your Church who is a hypocrite.Icould never join a church that hadsomeone like him as a member.

If you define hypocriteas some-one who fails to live up perfectly to

what he or she believes, then we areall hypocrites. None of us is quite asChristlike as we know we should be.But we earnestly desire to overcome

our faults and the tendency to sin.With our heart and soul we yearn tobecome better with the help of the

Atonement of Jesus Christ.If these are your desires, then

regardless of your circumstances, yourpersonal history, or the strength of

your testimony, there is room for youin this Church. Come, join with us!

Come, Join with Us!In spite of our human imperfec-

tions, I am confident that you will findamong the members of this Churchmany of the finest souls this world hasto offer. The Church of Jesus Christseems to attract the kind and the car-ing, the honest and the industrious.

If you expect to find perfect peoplehere, you will be disappointed. But if

you seek the pure doctrine of Christ,the word of God which healeth the

wounded soul,9and the sanctifying

Guatemala City, Guatemala


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influence of the Holy Ghost, thenhere you will find them. In this ageof waning faithin this age when somany feel distanced from heavensembracehere you will find a people

who yearn to know and draw closer totheir Savior by serving God and fellow-men, just like you. Come, join with us!

Will Ye Also Go Away?I am reminded of a time in the

Saviors life when many abandonedHim.10Jesus asked His twelve disciples:

Will ye also go away?Then Simon Peter answered him,

Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hastthe words of eternal life.11

There are times when we have toanswer the same question. Will wealso go away? Or will we, like Peter,hold fast to the words of eternal life?

If you seek truth, meaning, and away to transform faith into action; ifyou are looking for a place of belong-ing: Come, join with us!

If you have left the faith you onceembraced: Come back again. Join

with us!If you are tempted to give up: Stay

yet a little longer. There is room foryou here.

I plead with all who hear or readthese words: Come, join with us. Comeheed the call of the gentle Christ. Takeup your cross and follow Him.12

Come, join with us! For here youwill find what is precious beyond price.

I testify that here you will find thewords of eternal life, the promise ofblessed redemption, and the pathwayto peace and happiness.

I earnestly pray that your own

search for truth will impress uponyour heart the desire to come and joinwith us. In the sacred name of JesusChrist, amen.

NOTES

1. See Matthew 16:1819; Helaman 10:7. 2. See Doctrine and Covenants 84:20. 3. See 2 Nephi 33:10. 4. See Have I Done Any Good?Hymns,

no. 223. 5. See Articles of Faith 1:11. 6. Title page of the Book of Mormon; see

Mormon 8:17. 7. See Hebrews 11:1; Alma 32:21.

8. See F. F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer(1924), 23.

9. Jacob 2:8.10. See John 6:66.11. John 6:6768.12. See Matthew 16:24.

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2013 10 1070 president dieter f uchtdorf eng

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