Trusting & Mormons

Trusting

An Athonite hermit said: What guarantees a safe journey to eternity is effort, dignity, the sense of being unworthy before God, hope - the spiritual oxygen, consolation, and certainty. Not misery and compelled obedience and forced prayer; not tears and sadness - these all come from Satan. Yes, I ought to weep for my sins, but all the while hoping in Gods love. But I cannot stand it if I cry because the Devil wants me to despair. Many times Satan crushes a person with despair and the devil becomes the victor. But this does not happen when one is like a child on his fathers arm - trusting. Our trust in God is a ceaseless prayer that brings positive results. Despair comes from the Devil. Dont say, Oh, what has happened to me? But give yourself to God totally and hope in Him.

from an Athonite Gerontikon, care of Word from the Desert

Hope - the spiritual oxygen. Love that!!

Not misery and compelled obedience and forced prayer. Amen!

Our trust in God is a ceaseless prayer that brings positive results. Ceaseless prayer! Trusting. Like a child on his father’s arm. That’s the ticket. But how hard it can be! Waaaaah. The world (read that: the prince of this world) would very much like us (me) not to trust in God. Hence the pull to sadness and tears as my faith flags. Where are the Christians who live gently, with humility (with the sense of being unworthy before God), with unflagging hope and trust, yet with effort and dignity? Where are they who offer quiet certainty and consolation? Who’s on that safe journey? I know a few people like that. They are good company!

I met with two young Mormon “elders” today as I came home from my walk. They caught up with me on the street and asked me what I knew of their teachings, and what they could tell me about. They asked me if I believed there could be a latter-day prophet and named a name I never heard before. Now, mind you, I used to run from these people! If they came to the door, it would be up to dh to answer (I always saw them coming first and ran to the bathroom so I’d be unavailable)! Today I didn’t run. :) I didn’t even panic. They were very nice, smiling young men, well-groomed, polite, non-threatening — but so insistent! I told them I had my own strong beliefs. I told them I thought a prophet would be found within the Church. They asked me what church I went to, and I told them. “Eastern Orthodox,” one of them sort of rolled it around on his tongue, not sure what to make of that. They returned to asking me about whether I might believe in their prophet. I said the Church went back to the time of Christ, and that the gates of hell had not prevailed against it. It’s still here today. They said they believed Christ had died for our sins, but they had the Book of Mormon which told of… (something about latter-day events). I said the Church went back 2000 years, to the time of Christ Himself and had carried faith in Him and His tradition down to our own day; the Mormon movement was only 100-150 years old. They asked if I would pray to see if (name) was really a prophet. I said, “OK, if you’ll pray to find where the Church is.” :) They gave me their card, wished me a pleasant walk, and I asked their names again, shook their hands, and wished them a good day. My first “witness”! I don’t think I flubbed it too terribly. I’m sure I could have done better. Thanks, Lord, for helping me not to run away. Remind me, Lord, to pray often for those two young men. Oh, and by the way, is (name) one of your prophets? No? I didn’t think so. Have mercy on him, too, Lord.