Once there was a man who dreamed that he was in a great
hall where all the religions of the world were gathered.
He realized that each religion had much that seemed desirable
and worthy.
He met a nice couple who represented The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and asked, "What do you
require of your members?"
"We do not require anything," they replied.
"But the Lord asks that we consecrate all." The couple
went on to explain about Church callings, home and
visiting teaching, full-time missions, weekly family home
evenings, temple work, welfare and humanitarian service, and
assignments to teach.
"Do you pay your people for all the work they
do?" the man asked.
"Oh, no," the couple explained.
"They offer their time freely.
Also," the couple continued, "every six months our Church
members spend a weekend attending or watching ten
hours of general conference."
"Ten hours of people giving talks?" the man wondered.
"What about your weekly Church services?
How long are they?"
"Three hours every Sunday."
"Oh, my," the man said.
"Do members of your Church actually do what you have
said?"
"That and more.
We haven't even mentioned family history, youth camps,
devotionals, scripture study, leadership training, youth
activities, early-morning seminary, maintaining Church
buildings, and of course there is the Lord's law of health,
the monthly fast to help the poor, and tithing."
The man said, "Now I'm confused.
Why would anyone want to join such a church?"
The couple smiled and said, "We thought you would never
ask."
Now, why would anyone join such a church?
At a time where many churches throughout the world are
experiencing significant decreases in numbers, The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of
the fastest-growing churches in the world.
And you heard President Monson today: more
than 15 million now.
There are many reasons for this, but may I
offer just a few?
First, this Church was restored in our day by Jesus
Christ Himself.
Here you find the authority to act in His name, to baptize
for the remission of sins, to confer the gift of the Holy
Ghost, and to seal on earth and in heaven.
Those who join this Church love the Savior Jesus Christ,
and they wish to follow Him.
They rejoice in the knowledge that God
speaks to mankind again.
When they receive sacred priesthood ordinances and make
covenants with God, they can feel His power in their lives.
When they enter the holy temple, they sense they are in
His presence.
When they read the holy scriptures and live the
teachings of His prophets, they grow closer to the Savior
they love so much.
Another reason is because the Church provides opportunities
for doing good.
Believing in God is commendable, but most people
want to do more than listen to inspirational sermons or
"dream of [their mansions]
above." They want to put their faith into practice.
They want to roll up their sleeves and become engaged in
this great cause.
And that is what happens when they join with us.
They have many opportunities to transform their talents,
compassion, and time into good works.
Because we have no paid local clergy in our worldwide
congregations, our members perform the work of ministry
themselves.
They are called by inspiration.
Sometimes we volunteer; sometimes we are volunteered.
We see assignments not as burdens but as opportunities
to fulfill covenants we gladly make to
serve God and His children.
A third reason why people join the Church is because walking
the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings.
We see baptism as the starting point in our journey of
discipleship.
Our daily walk with Jesus Christ leads to peace and
purpose in this life and profound joy and eternal
salvation in the world to come.
Those who will follow this path faithfully avoid many of
the pitfalls, sorrows, and regrets of life.
The poor in spirit and honest of heart shall find great
treasures of knowledge here.
Those who suffer or grieve find healing here.
Those burdened with sin find forgiveness,
liberty, and rest.
The search for truth has led millions of people to The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
However, there are some who leave the
Church they once loved.
One might ask, "If the gospel is so wonderful, why would
anyone leave?"
Sometimes we assume it is because they have been
offended or lazy or sinful.
Actually, it is not that simple.
In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the
variety of situations.
Some of our dear members struggle for years with the
question whether they should separate
themselves from the Church.
In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly,
that was restored by a young man who asked questions and
sought answers, we respect those who
honestly search for truth.
It may break our hearts when their journey takes them away
from the Church we love and the truth we have found, but
we honor their right to worship Almighty God according
to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim
the privilege for ourselves.
Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that
have been done or said in the past.
We openly acknowledge that in nearly 200 years of Church
history, along with an uninterrupted line of
inspired, honorable, and divine events, there have been
some things said and done that could
cause people to question.
Sometimes questions arise because we simply don't have
all the information, and we just need a bit more patience.
When the entire truth is eventually known, things that
didn't make sense to us before will be resolved to our
satisfaction.
Sometimes there's a difference of opinion as to what the
"facts" really mean.
A question that creates doubt in some can, after careful
investigation, build faith in others.
And to be perfectly frank, there have been times when
members or leaders in the Church
have simply made mistakes.
There may have been things said or done that were not in
harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.
I suppose the Church would only be perfect if it were run
by perfect beings.
God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure.
But He works through us, His imperfect children.
And imperfect people make mistakes.
In the title page of the Book of Mormon, we read, "And now,
if there are faults they are the mistakes of men;
wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be
found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ."
This is the way it has always been and will be until the
perfect day when Christ Himself reigns
personally upon the earth.
It is unfortunate that some have stumbled because of
mistakes made by men.
But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored
gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and as one who
has seen firsthand the councils and workings of this
Church, I bear solemn witness that no decision of
significance affecting this Church or its members is ever
made without earnestly seeking the inspiration, guidance, and
approbation of our Eternal Father.
This is the Church of Jesus Christ.
God will not allow His Church to drift from its appointed
course, nor fail to fulfill its divine destiny.
To those who have separated themselves from the Church, I
say, my dear friends, there is yet a place for you here.
Come and add your talents, gifts, and energies to ours.
We will all become better as a result.
Some might ask, "But what about my doubts?" It is
natural to have questions.
The acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured
into a great oak of understanding.
There are few members of the Church who, at one time or
another, have not wrestled with serious
or sensitive questions.
One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and
cultivate the seed of faith--even in the sometimes
sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty.
Faith is to hope for things which are not seen
but which are true.
Therefore, please, my dear brothers and sisters, my dear
friends, first doubt your doubts before
you doubt your faith.
We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us
from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Some might say, "I just don't fit in with you people in the
Church." If you could see into our hearts, you would probably
find that you fit in better than you suppose.
You might be surprised to find that we have yearnings and
struggles and hopes similar to yours.
Your background or upbringing might seem different from what
you perceive in many Latter-day Saints, but that
could be a blessing.
Brothers and sisters, dear friends, we need your unique
talents and perspectives.
The diversity of persons and peoples around the globe is a
strength of this Church.
Some might say, "I don't think I could live up to your
standards." All the more reason to come!
The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the
struggling, and the exhausted.
It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to
keep the commandments, even if they haven't
mastered them yet.
Some might say, "I know a member of your
Church who is a hypocrite.
I could never join a church that makes someone like him a
member."
If you define hypocrite as someone who fails to live up
perfectly to what he or she believes, then we're all
hypocrites.
None of us is quite as Christlike as we
know we should be.
But we earnestly desire to overcome our faults and the
desire to sin and to become better with the help of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ.
If these are your desires, then regardless of your
circumstances, your personal history, or the strength of
your testimony, there is room for you in this Church.
Come, join with us!
In spite of our human imperfections, I'm confident
that you will find among the members of this Church many of
the finest souls this world has to offer.
The Church of Jesus Christ seems to attract the kind and
the caring, the honest and the industrious.
If you expect to find perfect people here, you will be
disappointed.
But if you seek the pure doctrine of Christ, the word
of God "which healeth the wounded soul," and the
sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost, then here
you will find them.
In this age of waning faith, in this age where so many feel
distanced from heaven's embrace, here you will find a
people who yearn to know and draw closer to their Savior by
serving God and fellowmen, just like you.
Come, join with us!
I'm reminded of a time in the Savior's life when many
abandoned Him.
Jesus asked His twelve disciples,
"Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life."
There are times we have to answer the same question.
Will we also go away?
Or will we, like Peter, hold fast to the
words of eternal life?
If you seek truth, meaning, and a way to transform faith
into action, if you are looking for a place of
belonging, come, join with us!
If you have left the faith you have once
embraced, come back again.
Join with us!
If you are tempted to give up, stay yet a little longer.
There's room for you here.
I plead with all who hear or read these words,
come join with us.
Come heed the call of the gentle Christ.
Take up your cross and follow Him.
Come, join with us!
For here you will find what is precious beyond price.
I testify that here you will find the words of eternal
life, the promise of blessed redemption, and the pathway to
peace and happiness.
I earnestly pray that your own search for truth will impress
upon your heart the desire to come and join with us.
In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.