I’m writing this in real time. I am floored.
I just reread an Ensign article from a long time ago. This was written by my seminary teacher. She told us this exact story a few years before the church magazine picked it up.
I remembered it being such an amazing story—she would go on these long walks and talk to God. And he was dumping information in her brain! Then she found the Mormon church and it all matched! So she knew He had led her there.
I am starting to draft my personal memoir and included this tidbit, so just for fun I went to the LDS website to see if I could still find her story.
I was a little nervous to read it because I remembered it being such a powerful witness of Mormonism!
But now taking a look, I am utterly struck with how ridiculous it sounds!!
She never says the things God told her matched the LDS church — she said they matched the Book of Mormon!!
Well, there is very little in the Book of Mormon that is at odds with truth God might tell you. Of course it talks about wise and thoughtful, spiritual things.
But wait, she read the Gospel Principles book first (that was a little handbook in the 90’s that literally went topic by topic and explained what Mormons believe). So it probably included a lot of great stuff about Jesus, families, church involvement, caring for the needy, honesty, etc.
She specifically mentions eating well, prioritizing her family, and treating others well.
BUT THOSE THINGS AREN’T UNIQUE TO MORMONISM!!!
Did it occur to her to check the Bible??
Like maybe the story of Daniel refusing the king’s meat and keeping his body pure and clean. Which, by the way, is a topic I have only found fringe Mormons care about that in the least degree! (They were my tribe for 20 years, and we’ve been ignored and shoved aside time after time!)
And treating others well?
You mean like maybe those 4 entire books just hiding in the middle of the Bible about the life of an amazing man called Jesus?
Is that really all that impressive that she found a church that promotes that?
And prioritizing her family?
Yes, Mormons have a lot to say about family. Mormons are very conservative, but aren’t the people in Alabama also?? Those moms don’t care for their families? They don’t attend soccer games, help with homework, and sit down for dinner? I’m pretty sure a lot of Alabama Christian mothers weren’t even in the workplace in the 80’s and 90’s.
So you can see how flabbergasted I am, that she thought it was such a miracle to find the Mormons teaching her these same things God had told her on her walks!
Was there more she didn’t mention?
I mean, was she impressed by the works based salvation? Was she struck by the amazing doctrine of polygamy? Had God told her on her walk that she couldn’t be with her family in heaven if she drank coffee?
What was it that was so earth shattering that only the Mormon church was a match?
But no, she doesn’t even say that.
To her credit, I’d love to see her actual notebook.
But in the meantime, I’m just struck in amazement here, wondering how it never occurred to her to consider that huge worldwide religion called Christianity!!
But alas, the grass is always greener on the other side. I bet she had a bad experience in the Bible Belt and had written those denominations off.
But seriously, why didn’t she mention any unique Mormon doctrines in her story? And the editor of the Ensign didn’t point that out? Mormons are just that sheltered that they think they’re the only ones who care about health, families, and compassion.
I wonder what she thinks of Mormonism now.
All I Possess 