Finding the Good
Posted in: What's the Buzz
A highly recommended read is Tad Walch’s blog he calls “Church Beat.” Tad is a writer for the Deseret News. On a recent post Tad recalled President Gordon B. Hinckley’s March 2000 visit to the National Press Club where he “had the National Press Club laughing out loud” as the
“Church leader shared his belief in Jesus Christ, prayer and service while having fun at the expense of himself and the nation’s journalists.”
During his presentation, President Hinckley shared a few of the Church’s beliefs, and shared his thoughts on why the Church was growing as it was at the time. I thought I’d share these points as they remain salient and powerful to this day:
“Our desire everywhere is to make bad men good and good men better.”
“We teach, we train, we build, we educate, we provide opportunity for growth and development. We give hope to those without hope, and there is nothing greater you can give a man or a woman than hope.”
“The genius of our work is that we expect things of our people. They grow as they serve and there are numerous opportunities to challenge them.”
“We are a church in whose name is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We bear witness of him and it is his example and his teachings we try to follow. We give love. We bring peace.”
“We think we are improving people’s lives. We think that we are causing them to stand taller, straighter and be better people, and when all is said and done that is purpose of any religion. We are trying to do our part and trying to do it in a very aggressive but practical and hard-headed way, if you please, so that we build on a strong foundation for the future.”
Of this, there is no doubt: In our day, as in that day 22 years ago, we have “heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth (is) in commotion…” (D&C 45:26). And yet, our Prophets continue to exclaim that this is the most wonderful period of our existence on this blue planet. How can this be? Through all the commotion we see and experience every single day? It is because of what President Hinckley outlined at this meeting. And continues to be reinforced by each successive President of our magnificent Church.
The pages of this publication aim to celebrate this outlook and attitude with every single issue. Our mission is to find “anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” (Articles of Faith 13) around us and within our community. Because in such a world, we all need such things. I hope you enjoy this issue. Thank you for reading…
To view President Hinckley’s presentation, visit this website: https://www.c-span.org/video/?155887-1/standing
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