Article of Faith 11

     This past week I helped drive home a lady from work. When we pulled up to her apartment, she asked if I would like to come in. I said sure and we sat down and had a friendly conversation. She knows I'm Mormon, so she had asked me questions for a good couple minutes about some more specifics on what we believe. I was glad to answer her questions to the best of my ability. After a while of sitting there reflecting on what each of us had to say, she then mentioned how she likes it how I was so accepting of other faiths. When she had said this, I had immediately thought to the 11th Article of Faith, which states, "11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
     As members I think we sometimes  get caught up in our own clicks and circles and such, and forget that the commandment is to live in the world but not of the world. One of the aspects of living in the world is that we socialize with people who may not follow this same principle, and the reason is because how else would we fellowship and help others learn of our faith?
     We're all in this together, yet we're all here for the same purpose, no matter what you believe, no matter what your faith. We're all trying to find our way and do what we feel is best, and we should always respect that. Another point is when the church was first starting out. Now, with this reference I don't mean to point any fingers or to offend anyone in any potential way, just wanting to be sure that's clear. When the church was first starting, our people were persecuted, killed even. Our religion was not accepted, and even today many disapprove of our beliefs.
     Our faith knows persecution. If we treat others the same way then what better are we then the people who drove us out and killed hundreds, even thousands of us?

     I love all of our brothers and sisters and wish for them to find the truthfulness of this Gospel, but everyone has their agency. All we can do a lot of times is just be an example. But let us not bring down others nor their beliefs, no matter how foreign they may seem. Everyone has the right to worship how they see fit. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.