incredible

it's absolutely amazing to me how 2 people, who both have similar and strong faith in Christ, can understand so drastically different the exact same words. no wonder the dark ages and apostasy happened. i recently posted a link on facebook to Elder Holland's talk from October General Conference and a Christian friend of mine responded to it. we work in the same office building and have had interesting but minimal conversations about religion. he posted in response and shared a broadcast of a sermon on a biblical understanding of the trinity. out of interest and friendship I just sat and listened to the entire one hour sermon, looking up the scriptural references as it went along to try and truly understand their point of view and perspective. what was crazy though, was that every scripture they read, and every point they asserted, was that the trinity is 3 separate beings, but still one God. but then they claimed that Mormonisms view on all of it is that we believe in them as 3 separate Gods. If  you read carefully Elder Holland's talk, which was the link I shared, it's quite difficult to misunderstand or misconstrue what he says we believe about the Godhead.

like I said, it's no wonder the apostasy happened, and that people are still so lost in darkness. I just wish that people would be open minded enough, especially when you have a good relationship with someone, to be willing to discuss it all without being super defensive and critical. The pastor in the sermon I listened to was quite educated and made several valid points, referencing passages that I was not extremely familiar with, but that still asserted clearly that the Godhead is 3 distinct beings, but still one God. It was enlightening. Sad that my friend though would still disagree with me on all of it. All the attention that the Church is getting in the media right now too I feel has skewed his perception of us, in a negative way. Which makes me sad. He has so much faith in Christ, and is most certainly a Christian in belief and actions, but so blatantly unwilling to learn more of Christ if it's outside his preconceived notions or just because of what he's heard. Sad. It makes my heart hurt. It hurts the way it hurt so deeply every single day as a missionary. It hurts that way it hurts when I see my family or friends make poor decisions or doubt or struggle. Maybe that's charity? God's love for them right?