Our Eleventh Hour
Dear Younger Self,
When your closest friend comes to you and tells you that she is gay and that she cannot keep her temple covenants, don’t assume that she isn’t still worthy of God’s love. When she tries to give you her scriptures and garments, saying they aren’t part of her life moving forward, don’t assume all is lost and that she is rushing head first into spiritual outer darkness. Don’t encourage her to go out and have a gay relationship, obviously…but don’t estrange her from your life.
Do the best you can to love unconditionally. Let her know that you love her every chance you get. You could be the only lifeline she still maintains with the Savior for a very long while. Help her remember who He is by how you act and speak to her. Be full of love and understanding. She will come to a crossroads in her life and decide to turn to the Lord…trust me! I know! Trust in God. If you can be secure in anything, be secure in God’s love and grace toward each one of us. That is what you love so much about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Remember when you needed the Lord’s patience with you in each weakness, each secret, each painful memory that you carried…He brought peace every time. You must be willing to afford that sweet message to ALL others. Why would you assume it’s only for you? God knows your heart and your dear friend’s as well. You are not so different from each other.
God invites all to come unto him and join his work, even until the last, or eleventh hour. Your eleventh hour may not match your friend’s in worldly time. We cannot always see God at work, your ways are not His. Take comfort in that eleventh hour and that many will come during that time. Be ready to dig in and work and welcome those who’s eleventh hour arises, and thank God for his eleventh hour hire on your behalf.
Be true to what you know is God’s law. Don’t misrepresent what you believe to accommodate the feelings of others, even if you care deeply for them. The Lord has said that marriage is between a man and a woman. I don’t know the answers to all things, even now, but I do know that many will fall away because they don’t want to live commandments. There will be much heartbreak over this issue in your lifetime, but be strong in your faith. Good things will come for those who can overcome this.
You’ve seen miracles occur in people’s lives who’ve chosen the Lords way instead of man’s carnal nature. You’ve seen it very up close… You’ll hear many stories of people “coming out” and leaving their faith behind. But never forget when you saw a loved one come back from that to full blessings restored. The transformation…the joy, the mercy, the tender and humble testimony that is more precious than any other thing you’ve witnessed…A true and living witness of a real, authentic broken heart and contrite spirit.
Hold to those memories when it doesn’t seem fair or right to advise gay friends or family to turn to God for answers. God changes natures. He can change and heal any willing soul, to the eternal blessed and happy state that none can do justice in describing, of this be sure.
Stand alone if you must, because the world will tell you how ironically unchristlike you are for defending traditional marriage. The prophets are as firm on this point as they have always been, but there is an emphasis on showing love and kindness to those with same sex attraction. This is so so critical!
Your friend will come to know the greatest peace and love through Christ, the Lord, as anyone who ever lived. She will praise Him for the rest of her life, and her testimony will burn into the hearts of others who hear her speak of Him. She will teach you so many wonderful things, things you currently only think you know.
Love, Your Future Self
When your closest friend comes to you and tells you that she is gay and that she cannot keep her temple covenants, don’t assume that she isn’t still worthy of God’s love. When she tries to give you her scriptures and garments, saying they aren’t part of her life moving forward, don’t assume all is lost and that she is rushing head first into spiritual outer darkness. Don’t encourage her to go out and have a gay relationship, obviously…but don’t estrange her from your life.
Do the best you can to love unconditionally. Let her know that you love her every chance you get. You could be the only lifeline she still maintains with the Savior for a very long while. Help her remember who He is by how you act and speak to her. Be full of love and understanding. She will come to a crossroads in her life and decide to turn to the Lord…trust me! I know! Trust in God. If you can be secure in anything, be secure in God’s love and grace toward each one of us. That is what you love so much about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Remember when you needed the Lord’s patience with you in each weakness, each secret, each painful memory that you carried…He brought peace every time. You must be willing to afford that sweet message to ALL others. Why would you assume it’s only for you? God knows your heart and your dear friend’s as well. You are not so different from each other.
God invites all to come unto him and join his work, even until the last, or eleventh hour. Your eleventh hour may not match your friend’s in worldly time. We cannot always see God at work, your ways are not His. Take comfort in that eleventh hour and that many will come during that time. Be ready to dig in and work and welcome those who’s eleventh hour arises, and thank God for his eleventh hour hire on your behalf.
Be true to what you know is God’s law. Don’t misrepresent what you believe to accommodate the feelings of others, even if you care deeply for them. The Lord has said that marriage is between a man and a woman. I don’t know the answers to all things, even now, but I do know that many will fall away because they don’t want to live commandments. There will be much heartbreak over this issue in your lifetime, but be strong in your faith. Good things will come for those who can overcome this.
You’ve seen miracles occur in people’s lives who’ve chosen the Lords way instead of man’s carnal nature. You’ve seen it very up close… You’ll hear many stories of people “coming out” and leaving their faith behind. But never forget when you saw a loved one come back from that to full blessings restored. The transformation…the joy, the mercy, the tender and humble testimony that is more precious than any other thing you’ve witnessed…A true and living witness of a real, authentic broken heart and contrite spirit.
Hold to those memories when it doesn’t seem fair or right to advise gay friends or family to turn to God for answers. God changes natures. He can change and heal any willing soul, to the eternal blessed and happy state that none can do justice in describing, of this be sure.
Stand alone if you must, because the world will tell you how ironically unchristlike you are for defending traditional marriage. The prophets are as firm on this point as they have always been, but there is an emphasis on showing love and kindness to those with same sex attraction. This is so so critical!
Your friend will come to know the greatest peace and love through Christ, the Lord, as anyone who ever lived. She will praise Him for the rest of her life, and her testimony will burn into the hearts of others who hear her speak of Him. She will teach you so many wonderful things, things you currently only think you know.
Love, Your Future Self
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