Be careful what you laugh at, eh? :)

...especially when it is other people's faith. I hope we would show the same respect to people of all faiths.

This was shared by a dear friend:

"November 18

Dear Family and Friends:

We recently heard two very interesting testimonies, one that I thought I would share with you.  Brother Cook, a member visiting Hungary from the US shared the following story.

 

Brother Cook told the story of his conversion.  As a young university student in California, as part of his general requirements, he took a US history class.  As part of the class, the professor — Brother Cook stressed he never knew if this professor was LDS or not— briefly talked about Brigham Young and the role of the Mormons in settling the west (they were essentially the only group of immigrants that systematically arranged for each successive group of immigrants to have better conditions to travel across the continent as they built bridges, planted crops that others would harvest, and improved the trail as each group passed over it). 

The professor also discussed in this same lecture the fact that the Mormons were the first uniquely US religion coming out of the early 1800’s.  He also told how the Mormons believed that Joseph Smith read James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” and from that information Joseph Smith went into the forest and prayed and had a vision where God and Jesus Christ appeared to him.  Brother Cook said at that point in the lecture, there began to be out breaks of snickering in the large lecture hall.  Brother Cook then said the professor simply waited for a moment and then said something like, “If you think that is funny, let me tell you another story.  2,000 years ago there was a man who lived on Earth and who said he was Jesus Christ. People laughed at him too.”  That was all the professor said and then he moved on with his lecture.  

Brother Cook said that statement made by his professor caused him wonder if he would have also laughed at Jesus Christ, rather than recognizing him.  It began a 4 year search and study for Brother Cook, about the Mormons. His search resulted in his conversion, baptism, and a life filled with service including serving as a bishop, stake president, and many other ways.  

I hope we all recognize Christ and his influence in our life today.  I am so grateful for my testimony and for the opportunity to serve here in Hungary — even with the hard stuff!  (I know when we return to heaven we will be grateful to have come to Earth and there is hard stuff here on Earth too!)

Have a wonderful week as you contemplate your blessings during this upcoming time of Thanksgiving. 

Love,

Jan and Bob/ Elder and Sister Wiggins"

 

You never know when taking a stand may plant a seed...