The following is an e-mail from Christian Johnson. I thought it could use some more visibility.
Family and Loved ones,
I think you all will really like this talk. One thought I had while reading it was that we as Latter day Saints have no reason to hide or protect ourselves from other religion’s views. If we reach out to others, I believe the spirit will help us discern truth wherever it may be. We can be resonators of truth wherever we go. This is the way in which the Lord’s work touches others, it builds off of the gospel truths that individuals already have. President Hunter said, “We seek to enlarge the circle of love and understanding among all the peoples of the earth. Thus we strive to establish peace and happiness, not only within Christianity but among all mankind.”
I really like this statement. “As early as 1855, at a time when Christian literature generally ridiculed Muhammad as the Antichrist and the archenemy of Western civilization, Elders George A. Smith (1817–75) and Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered lengthy sermons demonstrating an accurate and balanced understanding of Islamic history and speaking highly of Muhammad’s leadership. Elder Smith observed that Muhammad was “descended from Abraham and was no doubt raised up by God on purpose” to preach against idolatry. He sympathized with the plight of Muslims, who, like Latter-day Saints, found it difficult “to get an honest history” written about them. Speaking next, Elder Pratt went on to express his admiration for Muhammad’s teachings, asserting that “upon the whole, … [Muslims] have better morals and better institutions than many Christian nations.””
Joseph Smith said, “The Prophet Joseph Smith, in one of his most eloquent pronouncements on tolerance and compassion, encouraged the Saints to expand their vision of the human family, to view people of other faiths and cultures as our Heavenly Father does and not according to the “narrow, contracted notions of men.” He taught that the Father will take complex personal, political, and social circumstances into account at the last day and render final judgment based on a divine, merciful perspective that surpasses our limited human understanding:”
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=bbaba1615ac0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Love,
Christian
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I especially liked the statement of Elder Nelson, That we should be "intolerant of transgression but tolerant of neighbors with differences they hold sacred. Our brothers and sisters throughout the world are all children of God.”
ReplyDeleteAnd the Muslim beliefs about fasting, "Muslims view fasting as having a dual purpose: to bring about a state of humility and surrender of one’s soul to God, and to foster compassion and care for the poor in the community. Thus, fasting and almsgiving go hand in hand: denying of oneself cannot be complete without giving of oneself."
I do not recall ever hearing any church leaders expound on the Muslim faith before. But I have heard church members bad-mouth and slander Muslims and Islamic beliefs. This always made me sad that they did not know any Muslims themselves, or if they did, they were ignorant of their character and beliefs. This was very well put and I recommend it to all.
I have found, on my mission and knowing devout people of non-christian faiths, many of them have very strong morals, even more so than some of our Christian neighbors. The other religions all have strong truths in them. They just don't all ephasize the same truths. It is like, some got one bit of truth and another got another.
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