Conference Protesters Provide Opposition

Conference was, as usual, very good and there were some powerful talks given this time. I think some crazy things are coming. The protesters were there, as usual, ranting and raving about how terrible we are. Frankly, I am grateful for their presence. I like to pause there for a few moments to feel the darkness they tend to represent and then go inside the Conference Center and feel the exact opposite feeling as I listen to the choir sing a beautiful hymn before the meeting starts. The contrast to me is a testimony in itself. No words need be said, just the opposition is amazing. I keep thinking that if any one of them could step outside his hate and anger and stand with me in both places they would have to agree that they carry with them the wrong spirit. But of course they wouldn’t be able to step outside their little world of belief any more than we can get Al-Qaeda leaders to suddenly convert to Christianity. I see these people as the modern day Pharisees, straining at gnats but swallowing camels. They remind me of the last chapter of Acts, when Paul goes to Rome and calls for the Jews there to come talk to him. They ask him about this strange sect that they have heard so many bad things about, in fact here are their words: (Acts 28:22-28.) “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Indeed the Christians, which were a new and very strange Jewish sect, were thought of as atheists because they wouldn’t believe in the state religion (kind of like not saluting the flag today) and they were considered cannibals because it was reported that they ate flesh and drank blood in their meetings, and they had all kinds of perverse relationships with members of their congregations because they called each other brother and sister, etc. The rumors were wild and crazy, and of course none of them were true. Some government positions were given to Christians specifically because of their integrity, “in spite of their strange religion.” How many people today say the Mormons are such good people but are just deceived by some strange mind altering religion. Things never change.