![]() ![]() It was in this home that Moroni, the angel, appeared to the boy Joseph, calling him by name and telling him that God had a work for him to do and that his “name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people” ( JS-H 1:33). ![]() ![]() It was in this humble home that the 14-year-old Joseph determined to go into the nearby grove to ask of God and experienced an incomparable vision of the Father and the Son. One was a restoration of the small log home in which the Joseph Smith Sr. Our kindness may be the most persuasive argument for that which we believe. Love and respect will overcome every element of animosity. Let us strengthen our own faith and that of our children while being gracious to those who are not of our faith. Let us be true disciples of the Christ, observing the Golden Rule, doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us rise above all such conduct and teach our children to do likewise. If it is, I apologize to those who have been offended. He sets forth another instance of a child who, it is alleged, had a religious medal ripped from his neck by an LDS child. In it he says that his little daughter has been ostracized by her schoolmates who are Latter-day Saints. I am in receipt of a letter from a man in our community who is not a member of the Church. 2:9).Ī holier-than-thou attitude is not becoming to us. But we need not do so with arrogance or self-righteousness.Īs Peter expressed it, we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” Why? That we might “shew forth the praises of him who hath called out of darkness into his marvellous light” ( 1 Pet. But there is a degree of fellowship as we labor together.Īs we carry forward our distinctive mission, we work under a mandate given us by the risen Lord, who has spoken in this last and final dispensation. There need not be and must not be on our part. We are pleased to lend our strength to their efforts.īut in all of this there is no doctrinal compromise. These people are not of our faith, but they are our friends, neighbors, and co-workers in a variety of causes. We can and do work with those of other religions in various undertakings in the everlasting fight against social evils which threaten the treasured values which are so important to all of us. We give financial support to his organization. We can and do work with those of other religions in the defense of those values which have made our civilization great and our society distinctive.įor instance, there recently came to my office a Protestant minister who is a most effective leader in the unending battle against pornography. We must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly toward those not of our faith. We must recognize the great good they accomplish. We can respect other religions, and must do so. It is not a reformation of perceived false practice and doctrine that may have developed through the centuries. Let us never forget that this is a restoration of that which was instituted by the Savior of the world. But we can never surrender or compromise that knowledge which has come to us through revelation and the direct bestowal of keys and authority under the hands of those who held them anciently. We must not become disagreeable as we talk of doctrinal differences. We simply, quietly, and without apology testify that God has revealed Himself and His Beloved Son in opening this full and final dispensation of His work. President Packer and Elder Ballard recently spoke of this in other settings. Were this not so there would have been no need for a restoration of the gospel. We acknowledge without hesitation that there are differences between us. How we regard ourselves is what is important. For instance, there are some of other faiths who do not regard us as Christians. No one, regardless of what he or she may say, can diminish that love. We are met to reaffirm our love for Him and our knowledge of His love for us. We are met to worship the Lord, to declare His divinity and His living reality. I commend and thank all who have to do with the complicated logistics of this great undertaking. I think there is nothing to compare with it. These proceedings will be heard and seen across this nation and Canada and in much of the remainder of the world. My beloved brethren and sisters, we welcome you most warmly to this general conference, which has become a great world conference of the Church. ![]()
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