My thoughts and feelings about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism): Come and See

You may wonder why members of the Mormon faith get so excited about sharing their beliefs with others. After all, there are currently more than 88,000 members of the church who are serving as full-time missionaries all across the Globe. So what exactly is a missionary? "A missionary is a follower of Christ who testifies of Him as the Redeemer and proclaims the truths of His gospel." (Elder David A. Bednar).

My 19 year old daughter is one of those 88,000. Of her own free will and choice, she made the decision to leave the comforts of home for 18 months to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She is serving her mission on the other side of the country and I have not seen my daughter in over 9 months now. I miss her terribly, but at the same time I wouldn't want her anywhere else. It has been a wonderful opportunity for her to spend this time devoted to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. She has literally changed peoples' lives! She has brought meaning to their lives and helped them understand their worth as Children of God. And in the process, she has changed her own life for good as well. Through her weekly emails I have seen the growth that has taken place in her life. She has learned life skills that she probably wouldn't have learned had she chosen to not go on a mission. But more importantly, her own testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and her relationship with Him has been strengthened beyond measure as she has shared it with others. That is absolutely priceless.

So why did she have such a strong desire to share the gospel with others? I was reading a message from Elder Bednar, one of the 12 Apostles in the church. He asks and answers the question, "Why are Latter-day Saints so eager to tell me about what they believe and to invite me to learn about their church?" He says...

"When we invite you to attend church with us or to learn with the full-time missionaries, we are not trying to sell you a product. As members of the Church, we do not receive prizes or bonus points in a heavenly contest. We are not seeking simply to increase the numerical size of the Church. And most importantly, we are not attempting to coerce you to believe as we do. We are inviting you to hear the restored truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ so you can study, ponder, pray, and come to know for yourself if the things we are sharing with you are true."

He continues, "Some of you may respond, 'But I already believe in Jesus and follow His teachings.' or 'I am not sure if God really exists.' Our invitations to you are not an attempt to diminish your religious tradition or life experience. Bring all that you know is true, good, praiseworthy-and test our message. Just as Jesus Beckoned two of His disciples to 'come and see' (John 1:39), so we urge you to come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already believe to be true." (Elder Bednar-"Come and See")

I too invite you to "come and see". This gospel has brought an immeasurable amount of peace and happiness into my life and the life of my family. This peace and happiness is available to all who sincerely "come and see". Jesus Christ stands at the door and knocks. But it is we who have to open the door and let Him in.