Faith, Family, Facts and Fruits

My thoughts on Elder Ballards talk, "Faith, Family, Facts and Fruits"

I really enjoyed this talk. Maybe it was because I read it shortly after Mitt Romney’s speech where he talked just a little about religion and our family followed it up with some huge discussions on religion and what “freedom of religion” means. We have also been doing a mini unit on the Constitution as two of my boys are doing their Citizenship in the Nation merit badge.

I don’t know if you have ever been asked to share your religious beliefs with someone, but once I was. She is a devote Catholic, goes to mass often, had her husband convert and her two boys do the youth thing at their church. Her best friend (our mutual acquaintance) shared a bunch of Mormon stuff with her, but one day after book club she asked the question, “Tell me a little about your church.” I don’t know if she knew she asked us realizing that out of the 6 in the room she was the only non-Mormon there. We did tell her a “little” about the church, but she already knew much of the “little” stuff. Thankfully we had numbers on our side so we could remember it all. But oh, it sure would have been nice to pull this talk out and have her read it!

I think after Christmas FHE are over I will pull this one out and we will go over the four F’s of Mormonism.

As I was reading this talk I was thinking what a great “teaser” it was for the full meal deal. Of course I like the “full meal deal” but not everyone is ready for it. I loved how he separated this into four different areas: Facts, Faith, Family and Fruits.

Just the other day my therapist (who has a partner who does the “dirty” work and is Mormon) asked me about birth control and our faith. I had to laugh as she thought that my husband and I didn’t do it because I stopped having children and it was against my religion to use birth control. I told her that how many children we had was up to us: God, Steve and myself.

As I have been reading many editorials in the newspaper lately about our faith (Mitt sure has brought it to the forefront) I’m amazed at that misinformation that is out there. One author (who was a professor of religion at a local college) said that there were many “strands of Mormonism” out there and was disappointed that Mitt didn’t tell us what one he belonged to. I’m not sure what he was referring to, but I was wondering if he meant ward. As a member who attends weekly (sometimes it seems daily) church services I’m not aware of “strands” of membership. ~chuckle~

Just the other day the boys and I were talking about some of the fruits he listed. One in particular was the longer life. Eventually we got to the discussion on how it takes a few years (decades?) before science and scientist come around to conclusions that Heavenly Father revealed long ago. We talked about how all the social scientist are now talking about how important it is for families to take a night and have dinner and reconnect by having a “council” or family game night. WOW! and to think we have been doing this FOREVER!

Just two days ago there was a letter to the editor in our newspaper from someone who went down to help the flood victims in the Lewis County area of Washington. She was amazed at a bunch of kids who came in with buckets, seemed to be happy and even sang songs while working. She asked them who they were and they said they were “Mormons” (they had on some yellow shirts—the ones the church hands out to the volunteers who help in these types of things). She was so impressed it was going to make her look at Mitt Romney again. If he believes in a “church that young people sing and help then maybe he can help heal our nation.” I thought what an interesting comment. Mitt sure has made the nation sit up and take notice of us. I honestly hope that I’m showing forth the goodness and fruits of the gospel so it can change someone’s life. We are being noticed!!!!

As Elder Ballard says, “…there is no problem with those who are personally acquainted with our members. But there are millions upon millions who are not acquainted with any member of our faith.” Those are the ones we need to “let our lights so shine.”