Truth Will Out

Lots of people over my lifetime have tried to convince me that my beliefs are wrong. Which, I guess is only fair, because there are thousands of missionaries all over the world trying to do the same thing. Some people told me that it doesn't really matter what church you belong to, as long as you believe in Jesus Christ. Some people argued that their church was correct, and mine was wrong. Again, only fair, in the grand scheme of things. I have tried to think of it from their perspective. Someone knocks on your door, and tells you that their church is the right one, and yours is wrong, and we'd like you to join ours. Then they proceed to tell you that a fourteen year old boy went into the woods, God Himself, and Jesus Christ appeared to him, told him that none of the churches on the earth were correct, and not to join any of them. As if that didn't sound crazy enough, a few years later, he was praying again when an angel named Moroni appeared to Joseph and told him that a book, written on gold plates, was hidden under a rock near his home, and he was to go get them, and translate them. It sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. It sounds nuts. So, let's play the What If Game for a moment. Let's say for a moment, that it's not true. Joseph Smith never saw God, the Book of Mormon is the result of an overactive imagination and greedy mind, and millions of people all over the world have been brainwashed. It wouldn't be the first time. But, let's say it is true. Joseph Smith saw what he saw, translated a history, and restored the true Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. I have had so many people ask me questions like, "If it's really true, what about this?" The "this" can be almost anything. But, unfortunately, that's backwards. The way we learn isn't by knowing everything at once, otherwise my brain would have exploded in about week two of being a chemistry major. I learned first that molecules exist, then what they do, then what we can do with them. The first thing to do is to figure out if Joseph Smith really was a prophet. You find that out by praying. If you don't feel anything, happy living! What we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints invite everyone to do is to pray, and listen. We know that if you pray with real intent, you will feel the truth of it. Real intent means you really want to know whether it's true or not. If you're already convinced it's false, what can God tell you? It sounds presumptuous to say that if you're not getting a yes answer, it's your fault. But, there it is. If you don't care, then don't worry about it. But, wouldn't you want to know the truth? If it is true, and all the blessings we promise, like eternal marriage and families and happiness here on earth, are real, then wouldn't you want that? Does all the finger-pointing matter, when all is said and done? It comes down to this: either it's true, or it isn't. I testify that it is. God and Jesus Christ appeared to a fourteen year old boy, and restored the true Church to the earth. The Book of Mormon is true. It really happened. Once you know that, all else will come. Of that I testify, in the name of my beloved Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.