Central Park and the Gospel

So last week after the General Relief Society Broadcast I was talking with a friend about how sad it is that more people don’t make it a priority to be at these events, or to watch/attend General Conference. We talked about how often people in the church feel like they know the doctrine and they are trying to live it, so they are good! But that’s one of the amazing things about our church. The revelation doesn’t stop. It’s not a one time deal where you hear it once and you’re good for eternity! We are blessed with constant revelation and General Conference is one of the best ways that we are able to hear that modern day revelation.

I just started reading Sherri Dew’s book “No One Can Take Your Place.” And in it she talks about all of the times she’s been to New York City and Central Park, and how she was never really impressed with it. She felt like the only reason New Yorkers made such a big deal about it was because it was the only grass in Manhattan. Then one morning she didn’t have any time restraints and took a different path through the park and found herself going farther into the middle of the park and seeing things that she’d never seen before. And the more she saw, the more she was impressed and amazed. She realized that before that day, she’d merely cut across the corners of the park and walked along the edges. And it wasn’t until she charged right into the middle of the park that she found the true beauty and magnificence of what was hidden there. She didn’t appreciate it for what it really was, until she’d gone into the heart of the park and not just walked around the edges.

Think about this in relation to the gospel. Do we just walk around the edges of the gospel and saunter a little way into it only to turn around and pronounce that we’d “been there and done that”? Or do we truly charge right into the heart the doctrine? She says, “Have you begun to discover the joy and potential that result from knowing and pondering and understanding what we believe? Is it possible that there is more – perhaps much more – to what the Lord has revealed than you currently understand?” and she goes on to say, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with so much depth and breadth and richness. Sometimes, I fear, we’re a bit ho-hum about what we know and have and enjoy. Is there any chance C.S. Lewis was describing us when he mused in this oft-quoted reflection: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at the sea… We are far too easily pleased.”

I think that this is how I feel about General Conference. I am always amazed at how much I learn every conference. And yes the topics are often the same but they are prepared and presented with the help of the Spirit and we can all benefit so much if we would listen with all of our hearts. I’m so sad to know that people are struggling and don’t take advantage of such great opportunities to hear Heavenly Father’s voice through the mouth of His servants. Your prayers will be answered this weekend. You will hear something that will change the way you look at things. And you will be touched by the spirit if you prepare yourselves and listen to the messages. Let’s stop walking around the edges of the gospel and dive into the very heart of it! Let’s not take a weekend off during Conference but take the weekend to reaffirm our testimonies and be filled with the spirit as we listen to modern day Prophets tell us what the Lord wants us to hear right now that will help us in our lives today.

I’m so grateful for my membership in this church and for the happiness that its teachings bring me every day of my life. If you want to know more about what we believe click HERE for answers to commonly asked questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.