Missionary Update

So we’ve met with he LDS missionaries twice now, and it has been a very enjoyable experience. It’s always fun to talk religion and share the Baha’i beliefs with people who initially said, “Whats that?” And the young men who come are sweet guys who are kindly willing to entertain our questions. It is impressive the steadfastness these guys demonstrate in their faith. We always said that if we were to choose a faith based upon the quality of people in it, we’d be either Mormon or Baha’i. Funny that one of us took that joke a step farther

Joe, not a Baha’i, has always said that he could see how one could come to the Baha’i Faith through the Mormon writings. I never really looked into it much, but now that I have, I can see it. The prophecy that Joseph Smith set forth about “the 2 to come in rapid succession” and the dates of their arrivals are so crazy accurate if you’re looking back on it from a Baha’i perspective. and Joe really gets in there and explains the Baha’i perspective with eloquence and passion. He is quite the persuasive speaker. Every time they leave I look at him and ask, “Did you mean what you said? So, why is it again that you aren’t Baha’i? “

So tonight they began with the question, “DO you believe, based upon what we previously discussed, that Joseph Smith could have been correct?” I am quite positive that they’ve never had someone respond with, “I’m pretty sure he was right, and I’m pretty sure his prophecy has already been fufilled.” They were unshaken, though. I politely asked, “Are you watching for one to come? What do you make of these prophecies?” There were some verbal gymnastics (this was the only time I felt like there was a stretch from the obvious meaning of what was written) and said that they were in fact not awaiting anyone. I can handle that.

It’s so great to have these guys over and feel a bit pressed to back up my beliefs. Don’t you always feel like answering questions about your faith calls you into understanding your own beliefs in a more concrete way? I hope our unwillingness to bend in the “there’s not one true church” department isn’t too frustrating for them. My feeling is that we will entertain missionaries weekly for life. Every 6 weeks we’ll get a new pair and when we’re 80 those young fellas will still be coming to take a whack at that one stubborn family in the 3rd ward. We’ll love it every time. What a surprising blessing this is turning out to be.