I come from a very large family. On one side of the family alone, I have 31 first cousins! The other side of my family is much smaller, but little do you know that I'm adopted, and have a whole third side of my family, with whom I am just as close, and love just as much as the other two. So, all told, I have 3 grandma's; 3 grandpa's; a mom; a dad; a biological mom; a biological dad; 14 brothers and sisters (including adopted and half-siblings); 15 aunts and uncles (excluding their spouses); 53 first cousins that I could think of (meaning I'm on speaking terms with them); 19 nieces and nephews; and last, but in now way least, 1 wife.
Of that number, I can only think of 6 who were not baptized ever into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yet, of the great majority of us who were, very few of us remain active in that Church. With that activity versus inactivity, a wide chasm has developed between many members of my family - and with that chasm have come deeply sensitive feelings. While none of us are openly hostile with one another (indeed, we are quite a close family, I feel), there still remains a sort of cold war between us, in that one side (the "actives") tries desperately to bring back the other side (the "inactives"), while the said inactives try desperately to persuade the actives that we aren't right.
Whew! Did that make sense?
Ironically, very little "debating" happens face-to-face. The majority of it happens through comments on Facebook, or blogs. One will post a status or message about religion or politics (which generally refer to some aspect of religion), and, like flies to rotting meat, my family members attack or defend the comments and messages with every fiber of their being.
In doing so, I have noticed that many active members of my family - in their extra passionate moments - will often say something not true, or else something they don't have the right to say, and they will use their own doctrine to argue and rebuttal.
This, far more than any anti-Mormon literature, frustrates me, and causes me to groan long and hard.
I have also noticed that this is not just happening in my family, but with active members of the Church everywhere; situations in which members do not understand the difference between preaching and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so, it is to this end which I intend to write. I wish to share my thoughts and experience on how to effectively share the Gospel, and help others feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives. In doing so, (and in order to not make of myself a hypocrite), I want to make clear that these are, indeed, my thoughts. Everything I have to say is not the doctrine of the Church, and is not approved by any leading member of the government of the Church.
However, I do hope that what I have to say will be helpful to those who wish to share the gospel, but don't know how to go about doing it - or who frequently do go about doing it, but don't understand why it might not be going over so well.
Enjoy!
