I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.
Abraham Lincoln
I don't look at the sky and feel small or insignificant. I look up in awe as I think about how the elements and particles that make up my mind and body were made in the belly of stars.We are more than parts of the universe, we are the universe. But we alone can realize the scope and breadth of the natural world and the universe beyond.
We are self realizing beings but we can also understand the universe in a way no other life form on this planet can. We are unique. We are the fruition of the grand design of the universe.
I can't look at the night sky without my mind moving to God.
But between each one of us and God stands a religion or church that for some stands in the way but for others serves as a conduit to Him.
Our church leaders are fond of saying that we are the one true church on Earth. But what does that even mean? I think for some it means our Gospel narrative is completely and unequivocally correct.
But to say that in terms of the church itself being true is false. It is false because an institution is neither true or false. That would be like saying BYU is the one true university on Earth. It makes zero sense.
It's also harmful to think there is no religious or spiritual truth anywhere else. Joseph Smith didn't seem to think his church was the sole receptical of religious truth.
Joseph Smith said this about truth; “Mormonism is Truth… One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may. (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 199)
Later, Joseph bolstered this sentiment with this statement, “We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true Mormons.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 316). We are supposed to continually seek as Jesus taught and to seek truth wherever we may find it as Joseph Smith taught.To think that we know it all already or to only consider something as true based on who said it, ie church leader, rather than consider what was actually said, is foolish.The problem with Mormons and Catholics is this: Catholics are taught that the Pope is infallible, but no one believes it. Mormons are taught that the Prophet is fallible, but no one belies it.I have gained insight into myself, my family and my faith through meditation alongside prayer that many balk at simply because it's not a traditional LDS practice. There is so much to be gained! Why not try it out? Studying other world religions has helped me deepen my faith rather than cheapen it as some have claimed.I keep studying, I keep seeking, I keep meditating, I keep praying because that is the only way I have ever found answers.On Earth we only have each other, sisters and brothers, children of God. We are taught to love God and to love every one of His children. We must treasure what we have, we must treasure each other. But we can't do that by being exclusionary. We can only do that by being inclusive.And I find the one true church rhetoric to be exclusionary. Saying "This is what I believe..." Is much more positive a way to discuss religion than saying "My church is the only true church so your church is false."We can deepen our own faith without discounting or degrading the faith of others. Whatever God you believe in, we all came from the same one. So we all deserve the respect due to a child of God even if we differ with regard to anything but especially our faith.
