Faith of Our Fathers and The Testaments

Sunday we had an excellent Sacrament Meeting. The talks were based from a 2008 April Confernece talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He said, "My own ancestors were living an ocean away at the time. None were among those who lived in Nauvoo or Winter Quarters, and none made the journey across the plains. But as a member of the Church, I claim with gratitude and pride this pioneer legacy as my own."

My parents were the first to join the church on my side. I have always felt the same way as President Uchtdorf.

President Uchtdorf went on to say the following: "As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, “we believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” And “we believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” We believe in the great plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, whereby God’s children may experience mortality and return to the presence of the Father—a merciful plan established from before the foundation of this earth.

This is the plan and the faith of our Father!

I testify that the doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the faith of our Heavenly Father. It is His truth, revealed to His servants the prophets from the days of Father Adam until our own time. The Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith to restore the faith of our Father on this earth, never to be taken away again. God desires that all of His children receive it, irrespective of their background, culture, or tradition. True religion should not originate from what pleases men or the traditions of ancestors, but rather from what pleases God, our Eternal Father."

My grandmother is a huge example of this to me. She had been a member of the Methodist church for 65 years before she seriously began to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to know if it was true. She received her answer and she knew that she needed to be baptized. She knew this meant leaving a church that she worked to build and had loved her whole life. She knew that God knew that she knew it was true. She was in her early 80s when she was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She chose to leave the traditions of her fathers and follow Her Faith in The Father and in His Son Jesus Christ. For this, I will be eternally grateful.


Sunday night we had the opportunity to watch The Testaments: Of One Fold And One Shepherd with our friends, Jason, Jenn, Alex, and Zach Mouso. If you haven't seen this yet, it too is a must see. The movie portrays what it must have been like for those living here in the Americas at the time of Christ's birth and death. It depicts the coming of the Savior to the people here after his resurrection. I've seen this movie several times and haven't ever been able to watch the entire thing without crying.

The Mousos will be getting baptized this Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Marana building. We are so excited for them. Jason's dad is coming all the way from Georgia to see their baptism. Jenn's mom will also be there as well. We are all looking forward to Saturday!