so, a friend was asking today for advice about going to church, and how she has drank coffee all week and does not even feel bad about it. etc. she does not know if she is welcome at church. she absolutely believes in the Gospel has a testimony of the priesthood, and no longer believes in the the trinity. so she does not feel comfortable going back to the baptist church. she is asking, if she does these things that are against the principles of the Gospel, is she still welcome at church.
This was my answer to her: "You are ALWAYS allowed to go to church! NO MATTER WHAT! Whether you are a member or not it does not matter! I have a couple of talks that I will share as soon as I get home from church. But as hard as it is. GO TO CHURCH, go to worship our GOD! don't go for anyone else but you and GOD! No one will kick you out. pm me if you need to talk. I'm hear to answer any of your questions." " Also the best advice I can give you is to PRAY! pray to Heavenly Father, ask him? He loves you, and he knows you and the desires of your heart. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your name! He knows everything about you! He created you! he is ALWAYS there for you! And he knows exactly how you feel."
I wanted to look up a talk from conference that just will strike to her. because sometimes it helps a little more to hear it from our modern day prophets and apostles, and not just read it in the scriptures. so, i remembered that a couple of years ago Elder Uchtdorf gave a talk where he says "YOU matter to him" I, along with others have felt at one time or another not very welcome in church. but that is ONLY because of PEOPLE. People are not perfect! but the Gospel of Jesus Christ IS perfect! and Christ came to this earth, thousands of years ago, and set up his church, which is the same church that Joseph Smith restored. Jesus Christ then Atoned for not only our sins, but for EVERY feeling that we will ever feel! he is there to rejoice with us, he is there to weep with us, he is there to mourn with us, and to comfort us when we are in need. He loves us! he knows us! he knows our names! he knows us better than we know ourselves, and he knows the desires of our hearts! one of my favorite scriptures is Alma chapter 7:11-13.
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
The talk that came to me the most though was the talk from April 2015 afternoon session by Elder Renlund of the quorum of the 70. titled latter- day saints keep on trying! in that talk he quotes a young woman saying, “Oh, Thoba, the Church is like a big hospital, and we are all sick in our own way. We come to church to be helped.” this talk is so amazing and has stuck with me since he gave it almost exactly a year ago. i could listen to it over and over again. he also says, "President Thomas S. Monson has taught, “One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.”8 Even if we’ve been a conscious, deliberate sinner or have repeatedly faced failure and disappointment, the moment we decide to try again, the Atonement of Christ can help us. And we need to remember that it is not the Holy Ghost that tells us we’re so far gone that we might as well give up."
I KNOW that our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us more than anything! he knows us, he knows the desires of our hearts and he wants us to return to him. Jesus Christ not only atoned for our sins, but so that we can go to him with anything and he can know EXACTLY how we feel. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true! I know that through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that SAME church that Christs originally set up, was restored. I know God lives, that Christ lives. I know this for myself. I have felt their love for me and know that i can go to them with anything! I hope that anyone reading this will feel the spirit and come to know for yourselves that they love you also. Trust in Them! They love you!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
