june.15

alma 17: 1 - 17

what are some things people can learn about the gospel as they see our good examples?

--> we claim to be full of the joy of the gospel.  we claim to have life's answers to happiness and peace.  on my mission, there was a lady we brought to church one day.  she was touched by the speakers and the music.  she loved the feeling there.  but, she was confused about the members she met.  she was confused because many were on their phones the entire meeting.  many were playing games on their ipads or answering emails during the talks.  the same pattern applied throughout sunday school and relief society.  she was also amazed at some of the conversations she overheard.  people gossiping about other people.  people talking poorly about the teachers or people in the ward leadership.  the next time we visited her, she said, "for a church that claims to have so much happiness, your members don't seem very satisfied with their church experience."  this hit me so hard.  i am totally guilty of pulling out my phone during church.  i am guilty of talking about church leaders or teachers or other members of the congregation.  but this lady's comments make me think twice about how what i am saying and doing reflects what i believe.  to be a good example of what this gospel really means to me, i need to be positive and happy, let the light and joy of the gospel show through my eyes and the things i choose to talk about with other people, and consistently do what i am supposed to do.  the people i know that have become the most interested in the gospel are the people that have seen righteous examples of a positive lifestyle of a disciple of Jesus Christ - consistent over time.  that is a lesson to me.