10/11/13

Heidi's Smile and Question!

Heidi asked her family this question a couple evenings ago. It made me smile when I read Elisa's emailed words:

"Last night we were talking about The Book of Mormon and why it is called the Book of Mormon. Then we said that's why people call us Mormons, etc. Heidi (without missing a beat) said, "So if his name would have been Bob we'd be called Bobs?" 



Ha!  I love that we think alot alike Miss Heidi!  
(Plus, I like dogs too!)  
Sure do miss you.  
The following cut n' paste is a little part from my journal 
A conversation I had with my father when I was about 8 yrs.old (long long long ago!) 


"I asked Daddy if Jesus was a Mormon. He told me that he was not. I wondered why I needed the book if Jesus didn’t have a copy. My father smiled. I think he liked it when I asked questions because he knew I wanted to know the truth. The truth was that if Jesus wasn’t a Mormon then why in the world did I want to be one? He told me that The Book of Mormon was a book of scripture all about Jesus Christ and His gospel plan. That’s when I learned that we are only Mormons because people nicknamed us that. Mormon was only a man, although a very good one, who became a prophet and compiled ancient records and journal writings into a book. My Father said Mormon wrote in the book to tell us why he loved Jesus Christ, and to tell us about The Gospel, like some of the other authors did. 
 Before Mormon died, he gave the records, mostly engraved on gold plates to his son and told him to take very good care of them. His son, Moroni, buried those records before he died and they stayed buried for a very long time until Heavenly Father wanted us to have those testimonies again. I like that!
I thought about that conversation a lot; it was interesting that we were called Mormons because there are so many prophets and men of God who have written scripture. So, we could have been nicknamed Pauls because he wrote lots of letters in the Bible. We could have been the Lukes. He wrote the story of Jesus’ birth that we would always read on Christmas Eve (right before we’d open our new pajamas and act surprised). We could have been Jeremiahs or Exechials or Nephis or nicknamed Joshuas or Ruths but somebody wanted to call us ‘Mormons’. 
At church we call each other ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ because we know that we are all related. Daddy told me that we should be called ‘Christians’ because we worship Jesus Christ. He said that we shouldn’t feel bad when people get things confused a bit. When people call us by a good man’s name, whatever the nickname is, then that is pretty good. When people know the truth and call us by a perfect man’s name: Jesus Christ, then that is even better. We know who we are.  We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. I was okay with that and glad that Daddy helped me understand it. If Mormon had gathered these writings together into a book and gave his life for it then I decided I had better take care of it. I never put it on the floor again. It went on my dresser next to my Bible, which I knew was more journals written about Jesus. All of the authors in both books adored Jesus and wanted to share all they knew about him.
Daddy said there will be more writings about Jesus that will come forth as witnesses that He is the Son of God. That really makes sense to me. God would not quit talking to people just because one book was already made. He loves you and me as much as those who wrote in their journals long ago. We are His children too!"
My Heidi,
I am forever thankful to be a Christian.  
I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. 
It means that we can be a family forever and ever, 
because the Priesthood Keys have once again 
been restored to the Earth.  I love that!
And...I am ok with being called a Mormon.   
People can call me about anything they want to.  
(and sometimes they do!)    
Doesn't change a thing!!!   
Love you Honey!

1 comment:

Elisa said...

I loved you're comments and what you said in you're journal


LOVE, Heidi