
- I realized that I need to be more comfortable speaking about our beliefs. I internalize them very well, I must say, but I need to study using a different approach, one that will provide a way for me to talk more simply about it....to help it make as much sense to them as it does to me.
- That really, the whole purpose of The Church, The Gospel, is so that God will always be the center of everything we do.
She expressed her frustration with so many churches or institutions, and said she read a book about how NONE of them were from God, but that they were all man-made and unneeded, because all God really wanted was for us to have HIM be the center of all we did. Of every act, of every word, of every thought. She said for the first time, it made sense to her about who God was, and what He wanted for us. She also stated how many people have been turned off by God, or stopped believing in Him, because of so much confusion about who He is.
I had the opportunity to share my testimony with her about what I knew to be true.
And then my testimony grew that what you study is what will come to your mind in the very moment you need it, just like it says in John 14:26 and D&C 100:5-6
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
...speak the thoughts that I shall put into you hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; for it shall be given unto you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.
I could not help but think of all those, who are friends and family, for whatever reason, feel like this is it, like this life is all we have, that there is no reason for anything else, and that everything else is what we've made up so we can have a "crutch" or a comfortable blanket to cover the realities.
There came at that time so many thoughts into my heart. Embarrassing as this might be, the thoughts were not the scriptures (see, the tricky thing is you can't remember what you haven't been studying) but the writings of C.S. Lewis, in one of his sweet Chronicles. At this point, the queen (the devil) convinces all of those around her that there is NOTHING besides what is right there in front of them. She was the queen, this was as good as it gets, there is nothing better, there is no Christ, there is no heaven. To this, the hero says: (PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS GREAT)
All you've been saying is quite right, I shoudln't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. Suppose we HAVE only dreamed, or made up, all those things- trees and grass and sun and moon and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made up things seem a great deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours IS the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by my play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's a small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say.
Well said, Mr. Lewis, well said. But isn't it wonderful that Aslan really did exist? And even BETTER that Christ does, and that its TRUE??
7 comments:
Remi, thanks for changing my life. One Mr. Lewis quote at a time. Aishe (who's at my house) says "Way to share the gospel."
Ok. Remi, So its early and I have looked at a fe wother blogs and didn't comment...too early.. but you has me wothj this post. I had to comment. This is a wonderful post. You are a great missionary! :) CS. Lewis is quoted much b y apostles for a reason. Thank you for shareing this!!I'm gonna have Daniel read it too.
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We got a new Bishop on Sunday,
Bishop Davis
Bishopric is now Bro. Coleman and Bro. Hanks. Amazing huh?
I love your love for the gospel. There's a scripture in Alma that talks about the zeal that the people had for the gospel of Jesus Christ and whenever I read it, I always think of how it describes YOU.
Count me in.
Amen to this. What a beautiful quote. I'm about 75 pages into the first book of the series and have already marked about 17 passages! The chapter where Aslan creates the world is really beautiful. Thanks for inspiring me to read these books as well as think more deeply about our beliefs.
Oh Remi! Thanks for your comment! I am glad it made you smile! Miss u live u!!!!
I want an Aslan t-shirt.
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