knowing the love of GOD... now that's life!

I had an interesting experience today while we were out trying to find people that would receive us and desire to know more about the Gospel. 

While we were walking towards a house, a man who was holding the door open half way yells out, "I am not interested". He continues, "I'm agnostic. Get out of here". We told him we were here to increase his faith in God but we wouldn't have anything of it. While walking to the next house, others from inside followed us around to their windows and, once opening, squealed like pigs at us. I'll tell you, it sounded like it came straight from the devil himself.  The screech was heart-wrenching and cold, and if you have ever wondered what it might sound like to be held captive by Satan, this sound would have summed it up.  Clearly, they don't see eye to eye with God. They continued until we left the area and from that brief encounter, I learned so much.

Wilber may be cute and all, but certainly not when he's squealing.

Why they lacked decency and respect is because they did not know who their Heavenly Father was! They told us they were not interested and we understood that and left.  Of course, I wanted to let him know our purpose because its just like saying you don't like a certain food without ever tasting it or smelling it - a portion must be given to make a choice.  After giving that portion, and receiving the "Get out of here", we knew that now was not their time to receive the word of God and that's ok.  Everyone is given their free agency, it being the greatest gift God has given to us.  There was nothing we could have said or done that would have changed the outcome.  They did not receive us because they do not want to receive God's teaching in their life.  I wouldn't have mattered whether we were Mormon or some other faith - I feel that likewise, they would have rejected all that tried to uplift their spirits and increase their faith in Christ.

How do people get to this point?  

Not long after having this experience, we met a much kinder man down the way that, though not wanting to learn more about what wonderful message we have to the world, told me that God does not mourn when his children do not do whats right.  Telling him of this recent experience we just had and of how said it was, he told us, "Well, it isn't sad.  Its life.  People have their choices".  While I agree wholeheartedly that we have our choices, I know that God loves us and wants us all to succeed.

He rejoices with us when we are obedient to his commandments and are choosing the right because He knows that it is only through obedience to them that we will feel and obtain eternal happiness.  When we choose wrongly and are disobedient, He weeps with us because He knows we are pushing ourselves away from His love and His help.  Should we continue down this path and way of life, we will find ourselves completely separated from God.  There is a path that we all must follow - there is only one path - and it is the one tred by Jesus Christ.

 "...And many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads" (1 Ne. 8:32).

If there is anything I can ask of you, I plead that you do not reach that point where you are lost from His view.  Though you will not recognize it if you allow that time to come, you are out of His reaching because you will not turn back to the One who created and loves you - you have dulled your senses and removed Him from your heart and because of that, you will not heed his warnings nor seek His hand of guidance.


What am I to do?

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye edo them."  (Mosiah 4:9-10)

How thankful I am that I can know of my Heavenly Father, of His love for me, my family, and all those who seek Him out diligently... and this is life!