again thank you for kinds words
dank jewel

Elizabeth

Thank you, Space Chick and NJ’sWindow, we appreciate your input!

Elizabeth (24), first your story is so uplifting because it shows we can find a balance between Church and non-Mormon family. But the end of your contribution is a sad story. I apologize for Church members who have made you feel forgotten when you needed them. This is not how the Church should operate. Please be assured that we love you. I have no doubt your church family is still fully there, even if individuals fail.

The law in Holland says that you only can have a church marriage afther a civil marriage. So we did that and all our non member family where able to come.
We organized a small reception in our local ward in Rotterdam.
My parents of their own invited family members and friends over to there house afther the reception to come and have a drink at their house to celebrate.
We had left for Belgium to our new home. The next night we had a reception for the belgium side of the family and friends also in the church. My parents and brother where there also.

My parents always loved my lds friends that would often come and spend nights at our place during young adult weekends etc..

The only thing they hated that I , once a month, would leave the house without breakfast because I would be fasting.
other then that I have had no problems with my parents or brother or other family,
because I would not make a problem out of it myself.
If you except people for who they are then they will except you aswell.

Since last year january I was not able to go to church ( I have a burnout and a depression from the abuse of my second marriage) and slowly the intrest of the members of my ward has grown dimm.
It took the RS president one and half year to be able to come and visit me and ask me how I am doing.
Now over time I have grown away from the lds church because of all kinds of reasons and I find that the love of my muslim friends ( whom I call my sisters) is helping me through hard times.
And you know what I am glad I never moved away from my family because now that my church family walked out of me I sure can use the help from birthfamily.

Elizabeth

I agree that sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, especially regarding temple sealings. I like your suggestion of a ring ceremony before the sealing as a great way to include family members that cannot be in the temple. My husband and I were sealed on a Friday, and did not have a large reception that night. Instead we held a ring ceremony the following day with a reception and BBQ, which we think went a long way towards preventing any hard feelings among non-member or inactive family members on both sides.

Sometimes, though, people simply decide to resent the fact that converts have “rejected” their birth religion. My grandmother actually disinherited my mother after my parents joined the church–I always thought it was just a figure of speech, until her will was read when she passed away. This is despite the fact that my parents always joined her for Easter and Christmas services at her church, out of respect for her and a desire to show that we are indeed Christian.

Aaron B (18), I so concur with your analysis. In the “cult investigations” that a number of European countries have conducted, it is sad to see how simple actions by believing people in minority groups can be twisted and represented as irrational and thus unacceptable dealings, due to so-called brainwashing or fanaticism. However, if in a devoted Islamic or Jewish community the same is done, no outsider would dare to make a remark. It’s easy to attack a fragile minority. Some people apparently carry racism and intolerance as a second nature in them and need to implement it. Then small unprotected groups are an easy target.

Razorfish (20), what a great contribution. Your story shows that even those who seem so distant and even aggressive towards Mormonism can be touched. Basically, it’s the story of the conversion of Paul. I’ve seen similar things happen, sometimes with a partner in a couple after 30 years. One of the two who had been a faithful Mormon for decades, and finally the antagonistic husband or wife discovered the depth of the Gospel and the magnificence of conversion. But how much patience and long-suffering it required from the side of the Mormon partner! Such people are the real heroes of our faith, not those who do something spectacular just once.

In the spirit of that last statement, I share this humble account of one part member’s struggle who ultimately replaced her isolation and suffering with that transcendent joy of the miraculous and the sublime. Not that this experience can be predicted or replicated, but rather that hope might be extended to those who suffer or bear the cruel crosses this life sometimes inflicts…that perhaps the Lord’s mercy might be extended to their loved ones (in the due time of the Lord).

Her name was Sister Agnelot. She grew up on the tiny and somewhate isolated island of Corsica. As a teenager she came in contact with two Mormon missionaries who changed her life forever. She yielded to the inspired message she received and was baptized. Unfortunately, the missionaries were soon chased from the island due to threats and other circumstances that threatened their security. They would not return to this island for nearly 20 years. Despite this, Sister Agnelot continued to practice her faith in isolation. Although cutoff from a functioning branch, she continued to live the gospel as best she knew and as she was taught by those young men.

20 years later, missionaries were again restored to this tiny island. Miracles followed and soon there was a functioning tiny branch (essentially a few newly converted families banding together). Sister Agnelot was thrilled at the opportunity to grow in the gospel, but also pained at her husband’s ambivalence and distrust of the Church. He was a hardworking man, who toiled long hours in oppressive manual labor to provide for his family. A chain smoker, he consistently smoked over 50 cigarettes a day to make it through the daily grind of life.

When we started meeting with Sister Agnelot and teaching her more about the gospel and her role in Relief Society (a group of 3 sisters), Jean Luc often was there. He sometimes would sit at one end of the table while we taught Sister Agnelot the lesson or material. He was gruff, despondant, and just barely willing to tolerate our presence in his home. Only the bonds of love for his wife were able to mask the disdain he felt for these two foreigners in his home. We were like ghosts that he wouldn’t acknowledge or talk to, but was for the moment willing to co-exist with.

After several visits a very strange event transpired. Deep in the blackness of the night, he was lying in bed when he heard a voice, “Ouvre le livre !” (Open the book). Surprised and startled he lay motionless when he heard it again. Staggering into the kitchen he saw the Book of Mormon lying on the table. He haphazardly opened the book where it flipped open to Mosiah ch 24. His eyes fell on verses 14-15. Tears began to well up in his eyes as the Spirit filled his body. He felt this was a sign from God that “he would stand as a witness for God” and that the Lord knew of his afflictions and could ease his burdens.

But what about the Book and it’s author. His lingering and pre-existing doubts rushed back to his mind, chocking the spirit he felt. He flipped the pages again where they rested to Mormon Ch 8 verse 14-15. “For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and the long dispersed covenant people of the Lord”

Doubt was suddenly replaced by revelation. He knew the Church was true and that it’s teachings were from God, even if by miraculous means. He recounted this experience to us the following day and was soon baptized in the following weeks.

Perhaps the faith and diligence of Sister Agnelot were responsible for that divine injunction. Certainly her faith and diligence to the gospel and her long suffering prayers and petitions (Mosiah 27:14) similiar to Alma for his son Alma the Younger, were contributing factors in the seemingly divine intervention. Maybe it was her 20 years of isolation, separated from the body of Christ, but still a practicing disciple that contributed. Only God knows why Jean-Luc was inspired to hear the voice. Maybe God needed him as an instrument to build his fledgling flock – but regardless, the voice did come, and his heart was softened.

We do not know the times and seasons that the Lord chooses to intervene in our behalf, but we at least have the promise and hope that he can intervene and soften even the hardest of hearts. Miracles do happen. For any who bear the pain and crosses of this world for the gospel’s sake, I share this experience that they might see at least one example that the Lord does listen to our petitions and at a time of his choosing does intervene in our behalf.