To Whom Shall We Go

Recently there are those with whom I am acquainted who have fallen away from the Gospel and have chosen to follow the path of the world. In the last general conference Elder Ballard addressed this topic based on this scripture John 6:66-

66 ¶From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

A couple of key points from his talk--

In that moment, when others focused on what they could not accept, the Apostles chose to focus on what they did believe and know, and as a result, they remained with Christ...
Today is no different. For some, Christ’s invitation to believe and remain continues to be hard—or difficult to accept. Some disciples struggle to understand a specific Church policy or teaching. Others find concerns in our history or in the imperfections of some members and leaders, past and present. Still others find it difficult to live a religion that requires so much. Finally, some have become “weary in well-doing.”  For these and other reasons, some Church members vacillate in their faith, wondering if perhaps they should follow those who “went back, and walked no more” with Jesus...
“To whom shall [you] go?” If you choose to become inactive or to leave the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where will you go? What will you do? The decision to “walk no more” with Church members and the Lord’s chosen leaders will have a long-term impact that cannot always be seen right now. There may be some doctrine, some policy, some bit of history that puts you at odds with your faith, and you may feel that the only way to resolve that inner turmoil right now is to “walk no more” with the Saints. If you live as long as I have, you will come to know that things have a way of resolving themselves. An inspired insight or revelation may shed new light on an issue. Remember, the Restoration is not an event, but it continues to unfold...
Never abandon the great truths revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Never stop reading, pondering, and applying the doctrine of Christ contained in the Book of Mormon.

For those who choose to leave, for whatever reason, give up so much more than they ever realize. Here are a few examples--created in the image of God, the true nature of God, the purpose of life, eternal families, and exhalation--to name a few...

I am thankful for my knowledge of the Gospel and am reminded of a recent talk by President Monson when he said "choose the harder right..." Sometimes we don't understand everything that we want to but if we hold to the faith that we do have and keep seeking, the answers will come, and we will be strengthened. It can be "harder" at times, to keep your faith rather than taking the easy path of doubt, but the rewards of keeping your faith will be endles.

Mother In Heaven

In the church we have a doctrine unique to the christian world--that is that we are all spirit children of a loving Father and Mother in heaven. In Joseph Smith's life time we do not have any document specifically addressing this doctrine, but shortly after his death Eliza R Snow wrote a poem entitled "My Father In Heaven" which is known as our hymn "O My Father."  " This text declares: “In the heav’ns are parents single? / No, the thought makes reason stare; / Truth is reason—truth eternal / Tells me I’ve a mother there.”"

" In 1909, the First Presidency taught that “all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.”"
And in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” issued in 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared, “Each [person] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.” (From LDS.org)
Our knowledge of our Mother in heaven is somewhat limited, but we do know enough to understand the sacred nature of this doctrine.

Now just one quick side note and this is NOT church doctrine, but only Roger's conjecture...
In Genesis 1:26 it reads "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
My conjecture--We know that Christ created the earth under the direction of the Father and that this verse finishes up the creation with forming of man and woman. God says "let us make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness," but at that time as spirit children of God we were already in the image and likeness of Jesus, so maybe when God said "let us make man in our image..." he was speaking to our Mother in heaven...

At any rate I am thankful for the knowledge that we are spirit children of a loving Father and Mother in heaven.