Standing for Something

So I admit that my first few blogs have been all riled-up and angry. And, yeah, there is a lot in this world that I see as needing change. But today's blog is going to be a little different.

I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are commonly called the Mormons. Every 6 months our church holds a world-wide General Conference. The Conference is broadcast from the Church headquarters in Salt Lake City to our some 13 million members around the world. The Conference is always the first weekend in October and the first weekend in April. Well, today was the first day of our October General Conference. I spent the day, glued to my television, taking notes over impressions that I had as I listened to the inspired words of men that I believe to be the servants of God. I had 4 amazing hours today of instruction about how to bring my life closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

After such a spiritually up-lifting experience, I feel the need to tell the world what I believe in and what I stand for. It is not necessarily important whether or not you share my beliefs. But I think that we all have a deep, inner need to stand for something in this world. I think it is a basic human desire to live for something--not just live. Despite my intense desire to right the wrongs and fight the injustices of the world, what I really live for and stand for is peace and love. But not just any peace and love--the peace and love that can only come from Jesus Christ. So here goes, here I make my first attempt to share with the world what I truly believe:

I know without any shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ lived and died for you and me. I know that He loves us so much that He--a God--came to this earth to suffer the pains of mortality so that we would not have to suffer if we would but follow Him. He is literally my personal Savior. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Way, the Truth, the Light of the World. I know that He atoned for my sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and that I can repent of my mistakes because of that atonement. I know that because of Christ I can have hope for a better world, hope to live with my Father in Heaven again.

I know that in a small grove of trees, on a Spring morning, Jesus Christ and God the Father appeared to Joseph Smith. I was not there, but the Holy Spirit has testified to me that this is true. I know that Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon and that this book is truly the word of God. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of the Lord on the earth today. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's true church on the earth. Jesus Christ is the leader of this Church and President Monson guides the Church under Christ's direction.

I know that the Priesthood, the Power of God, has been restored to the earth. And because of the Priesthood Power, I can be sealed to be with my family for all eternity. I know that the temple is the House of God and it is where we learn to be like God. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and watches out for me and blesses me more than I can ever possibly deserve. I love Him and I love my Savior. I hope to live in the presence of my Heavenly Father and His Son again one day. And I know that the only way to have peace in this life and happiness in next is to follow Jesus Christ and live like Him.





My dear brothers and sisters--for that is what you are to me, brothers and sisters in Christ--may the peace of Christ be with you this day and always. Amen.