I think his point about making fun of religion in the way it did is pretty insightful. It continues to make those invested in religion seem as if they just don't get the world or the situations around them. I believe this truly does exist as a thought about many Mormons. However, his point is that this couldn't be further from the truth. He gives some excellent examples, but the one that touched me the most is this because it's true for me (at least I hope so):
Meanwhile, what of those thousands of remarkable and selfless Mormon missionaries who opted to pay their own expenses during the past seven years to serve in Africa while their peers were focused on careers or getting on with life? They have returned home, bringing with them a connection with the African people that will last a lifetime. Many will keep up their Swahili language or their Igbo
dialect. They will keep in their bedrooms the flags of the nations where they served. They will look up every time they hear Africa mentioned on the evening news. Their associations with the people whose lives they touched will become lifetime friendships. And in a hundred ways they will become unofficial ambassadors for the nations they served.
I love the Guatemalans very much and know African elders love those people very much.
The quote I love most about love is the following (used in Elder Hafen's terrific book, "Believing Heart") - "Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less." by a Jewish Rabbi.
Elder Hafen talks about this in his book by saying roughly the following (it's been several years since I read it - like at least 6), "many times people say that the wife who has a bad husband or a bad child is blinded by love. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, that wife or mother knows the bad in their loved one better than anyone else. However, it is because of the love that she has that she chooses to see less of their faults and weaknesses for the greater good. Surely it's true that 'love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less."
I love that attitude because it's certainly correct in so many ways. Well, missionaries get to know the people in foreign countries better than anyone, and a lot of times those people are very, very poor and have many problems. However, as you get to know them well, you also get to know all the great things about them, and this causes great love. African missionaries believe that those people are the greatest on the planet, but of course they're wrong because my Guatemalan friends are the greatest on the planet :)
We're busy for a couple of days, so I probably won't post for a while.
Have a great day!
LaDon
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