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Sunday, I rose to the pulpit during F&T. It’s the first time I have done that in many, many years. I “bore testimony” of the love that is exhibited in the ward. I didn’t mention the new policy and tried in all ways to keep it positive and uplifting. I talked about an experience of a missionary I know who was working with a gay man to help him feel love from God and welcome in the Church. I expressed gratitude for the ward’s acceptance of me in spite of my being a bit different and said that I hoped the ward would always be able to accept people whether or not they are different from us. What was surprising was how many people said “thank you” when I saw them later… not the generic “I enjoyed your testimony” but heart-felt expressions of gratitude for what I had said. It was eye-opening. I get the feeling that there are many people from among the rank-and-file members of the Church who are trying to find a way forward in love, in spite of the new policy.
“thank you too” Thank you. Come bear testimony in our meeting any time you want, my ward is so predictable. I did have a good experience this past week though. A sister who I see as very orthodox bore her testimony about the beginning of Luke 15 where the Pharisees and scribes accuse Jesus of receiving sinners and eating with them. She said how glad she was that Jesus received sinners because we’re all sinners and would have no hope if he didn’t. I sought her out and thanked her afterwards. Thank you for doing this and recording it here. I will try to hope (against a certain amount of evidence to the contrary) that a similar thing could happen in my ward. I like that without mentioning the policy you were specific about the gay man being taught by the missionaries.
Thank you. I mentioned in my testimony on Sunday that I can’t say intellectually that I know there is life after death or that my parents are together again, but that my heart wants to believe it and my spiritual experiences over the years allow me to believe it.
I saw a couple of people nodding quite vigorously in the congregation.
Old-Timer wrote:Thank you.
I mentioned in my testimony on Sunday that I can’t say intellectually that I know there is life after death or that my parents are together again, but that my heart wants to believe it and my spiritual experiences over the years allow me to believe it.
I saw a couple of people nodding quite vigorously in the congregation.
Ray, I really like the way you phrase this. I refer to myself as a non-literal believer, and what you say here really resonates with me.
On Own Now wrote:Sunday, I rose to the pulpit during F&T. It’s the first time I have done that in many, many years. I “bore testimony” of the love that is exhibited in the ward. I didn’t mention the new policy and tried in all ways to keep it positive and uplifting. I talked about an experience of a missionary I know who was working with a gay man to help him feel love from God and welcome in the Church. I expressed gratitude for the ward’s acceptance of me in spite of my being a bit different and said that I hoped the ward would always be able to accept people whether or not they are different from us.
What was surprising was how many people said “thank you” when I saw them later… not the generic “I enjoyed your testimony” but heart-felt expressions of gratitude for what I had said. It was eye-opening. I get the feeling that there are many people from among the rank-and-file members of the Church who are trying to find a way forward in love, in spite of the new policy.
On Own Now, way to go! When I hear stories like this is gives me a lot of hope for the church. Thanks for sharing your testimony with your ward, and with us.
Great job — we can still influence our communities even though we are different!
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