Faith of Our Fathers

Today is General Conference. Twice a year members of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints, listen via satellite, audio, internet or any other medium to the teachings of Jesus Christ and messages of the gospel delivered  by prophets and apostles.

I put out plenty of toys for Jax to play with and we listened to different gospel topics. My favorite talk was given by the Second Counselor in the First Presidency, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. 

He spoke on the "Faith of Our Fathers." The message he delivered reminded me of my favorite song we sung last year in our Primary program "Holding Hands Around the World." In summary, he explained that no matter what our background or the past religious traditions of our ancestors, the message of the Savior is THE single most important message of our one and only Father in Heaven. 

I witnessed this balance first hand in Chicago. Many of the members in our ward there were political refugees that had imigrated their families from countries in West Africa such as Ghana and Nigeria. They would hold their families' traditions and customs very near to them. They would come to church dressed in their traditional headpieces and attire. At the same time they embraced the gospel and the "new" traditions they had been introduced to through their membership in the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints. 

The church is in such a global position. We have more members outside the United Stated then inside. All of the cultural differences, customs and traditions are vital to keeping the faith individualized for each and every member. I am blessed to be a member of a church that doesn't see the world or different cultures as "us against them." 

One of my most spiritually strengthening times was being in an inner-city Chicago ward. I saw first hand how desperately people needed the gospel to survive. One man stood armless (due to civil wars in his country) on the stand as he bore testimony of his knowledge of the Savior's love and sacrifice for him. Another family, The Johnsons, lost everything by moving to the US. The organization they hired to bring them to the US, took everything from them and didn't fulfill the promises they had made to them. They struggled to make enough money to feed their children. When they were introduced to the church they never took for granted the blessings they received through their membership. All seven children were in primary and I had the pleasure of teaching them. What a gift!