Humility in sharing and accepting the gospel

Does admitting that we believe in God, or in religion generally, make us feel vulnerable? Such a confession shows that we are dependent upon something other than ourselves for protection or help, even if it is just spiritual protection. As people, we do not like appearing vulnerable. Society praises self-sufficiency and independence. So when we share the gospel, do we think it makes us appear weak or vulnerable? Do we think it will make others appear vulnerable? In most settings we have norms against making other people look weak and vulnerable, so sometimes we refrain from opening up because we don't want others to have to show us their weaknesses, and thus resent us for having to do so.

That is why humility in so important in sharing, and accepting the gospel. Our humble and sincere attitude, whether that be manifest through our body language or other communication, will implicitly send the message to the person we are trying to share the gospel with that we have no intention of plastering their vulnerabilities on the wall for all to see. They will know that we are not duping them into opening up for our own gain or to make them appear foolish. Rather they will see that we are motivated by something else entirely -- love. They will see our genuine concern and love because we too share that same dependence on something higher ans stronger than ourselves. We too, in our vulnerability, need God and his Son Jesus Christ to strengthen us.

That is the way it had to be. We had to leave God for a time in order to become more like him. We all naturally feel the need for some closer spiritual connection because we felt it before. This is the way it was designed. Without this feeling, without our weaknesses, why would we ever need to humble ourselves by recognizing our need for faith? Humility is the gateway through which all blessings and acts of obedience flow. I used to think that obedience was the nexus by which all other Christlike virtues and attributes were connected. But now I see that even obedience need to be built upon a foundation of humility. Take Christ's ultimate experience in the Garden of Gethsemane for example. Before he obeyed his Father's command to atone for the world, he first humbled himself by saying, "Not as will, but as thou wilt." (Matt. 26:39) Even faith and hope, the beginning of our spiritual experiment, stem from an inherent recognition that we, by nature of our fallen state and separation with God, need something to have faith in. We cannot begin to exercise faith to experiment on the word of God if we do not first humble ourselves and recognize that there is something to experiment on in the first place (see Alma 32).

When we humbly recognize, seek, and submit to the will of the Father, he will trust us with people to share the gospel with. When we humbly recognize, seek, and submit to the will of God, our faith in Christ and desire to keep his commandments will blossom.

Welcome!

Welcome to the State College Latter-day Saint member missionary blog! As the inaugural post, allow me to introduce myself and the purpose of this blog:

This blog was created as an electronic outlet for local members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) to share why they believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ with their friends and neighbors. As global interest in the LDS church rises, we wanted to take the opportunity to answer questions, clarify misconceptions, and share how Jesus Christ's teachings have influenced our lives for the better.

I am a rising 3rd year law student here at Penn State Dickinson School of Law, a husband, father of one boy (soon to be two boys!), and one of the local mission leaders in the State College area. The Gospel of Jesus Christ goes to the very core of who I am. As a 14 year old boy, I read the Book of Mormon for the first time, and after as much consideration, pondering, and prayer as my adolescent mind could muster, received a witness that it is a true book of scripture. The entire purpose and focus of the Book of Mormon teaches of Jesus Christ and his Atonement for our sins. One passage especially emphasizes this purpose: "...there is no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." (Mosiah 3:17) At that time in my life I decided to put my trust and faith in Christ, to build my spiritual foundation upon His rock.

Since that time I have experienced my fair share of trials and hard decisions. At every low point, when I can't think I can get any lower, I hit my rock Jesus Christ, and because of him I am unable to go any lower. Because he overcame for me, I am able to pick myself up and move forward, better and stronger. At every twist and turn I have been able to reference Christ as my true North. I am and will forever be in His debt. I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

-Ben Van Noy